Maximum Exposure

            Breakfast in the lighted dinning room of the second story was different then normal. They were taken by surprise by the fact that there were no modern supplies and the only way they could cook was with the magical appliances they had installed which to a little getting used to.

"Xander, plans aren't usually your strong point…" "Thanks for pointing that out Buff…" She smirks and continues, "but never the less this idea is perfect. You know the signs so you s can sniff out any possible slayer and will have access to some records." Faith snicker in the background. "Keep that up boy toy and you may be some us to us after all." She smirks as she takes a sip of her coffee while leaning against the wall.

            Ignoring the comment Xander continues. "So while you girls run the shop here, I'll check out the school, and maybe get a date with one of the younger teachers…" He smiles, while the other girls sigh. "Is that all you think about Xander?" Buffy asks, knowing that quite possibly, it was.

            "Can't fool you ladies can I. I'll be back latter, I hear it's just across that dark forest there so I'll just use that as a short cut. See you later ladies…"

            Hours later, at the doorstep of the Hogwarts, Xander whistles. "Now that's what I call some good craftsmanship, I mean this place could probably stand forever…" He says taping on a statue near the door, accidentally breaking off one of the smaller pieces. "Uh, opps." Looking around to see if anyone was watching he throws the piece as far away as he could. He then stepped up to the large double wooded looking doors and knocked.

            The doors open to an elderly looking witch in green robes wearing spectacles and a pointed hat. In a husky accent closer to Irish the women spoke. "May I help you?" Xander looked at her. "Yeah, well, I found this paper in Hogsmede, where I just recently moved and since I felt I wasn't doing enough around the store, I thought maybe a nice job as a private school would."

            The woman's piercing eyes searched him up and down. "The headmaster would probably like to meet you. Follow me." She turned around, her robes sweeping behind her as Xander entered the place, almost being knocked down by two robed students. "I have to ask, are you a muggle?" The word caused Xander's eyebrow to rise. "Isn't that what dogs have?"

The woman allowed herself a small smirk at his naivety. "You're thinking of an animal's muzzle no. I'm asking you if your non-magical folk." Xander grins. "Yep, nothing really special about me, I'm as average at they come." He says truthfully when he compares himself to his group of friends. "How then did you come to find out about the wizarding world?" She asks as they walk down the large and heavily decorated hallways.

"Oh I have a few friends who knew about it and thought hey, my current life was pretty boring so why not?" The woman ahead nodded. As the approached a state the women yelled out, "Yellow popcorn fluff."  The statue twisted into a stairway that led the two into a glorious room, decorated with many portraits.

"Hey, neat effect, I thought televisions didn't work here." Xander mentioned as the pictures started to move and mumble. A voice opposite from them answered his question. "They don't young lad. They aren't your normal pictures, their magic. Xander turned his head and saw what could be only as described as the perfect representation of Merlin.

The elderly man's dark robes cover him from the neck down, with his hat covering his head. Long white hair streamed down from the hat, meeting with his long white beard. The elderly face was curved into what seemed to be a constant smile. What really go Xander though was the way the man's eyes not only twinkled with the sight of someone who seemed far younger, but with power that he's only seen in a few others. "Thank you for escorting our guest Minerva. I know you have much work to do so you can take your leave."

The woman nods and leaves the way she entered. "Now then, first the introductions. I am, if you haven't heard of me, Dumbledor, headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry." That stopped Xander cold for a moment. "OF what!!!" Dumbledor chuckles. "It's a school to teach magic to one who have the power. I think you might not know wh…" "No no, that's ok. I thought this was a private school. Just a little surprised is all." Then in his best Sean Connery impersonation, Xander introduced himself. "I'm Harris, Xander Harris."

Dumbledor continues his smile. "So you found my post. Our current janitor, Mr. Fitch is on leave for the year for personal reasons. What experience have you had?" "Well, I'm a carpenter by trade, and work really well with my hands, in fact, that's how I acquired this trophy not too long ago." He points to his eye patch so no  further questions would be asked.

Dumbledor nodded. "So, you walled that long trail around the forest just to get here did you?" Xander shook his head. "Naw, just went through that dark forest between us."

That caught Dumbledor unprepared. "You did what?" "Yeah crossed the forest. No problems at all. It was a little creepy but no trouble." Dumbledor opened his mouth to say something then closed it, smiling again. "Yes, I think you'll fit in here wonderfully." Making Xander glad that no further examination was required. " Mr. Harris, is you wish you can start your job tomorrow." Xander nods. "Great, I was hoping I could start soon." "And if your sure enough, would you like to join us for dinner tonight so I can introduce you to the students and teacher. And I would like to thank you for taking this position."

Xander smirked. "Right back at you D-man." Smiling, Xander walked out of the room. Dumbledor grinned. "D-man…hmmm. Curious." He then set back down and continued his work.

            Later on that night, at dinner as the students gathered in, Harry was sitting next to his friends at usually when Dumbledor called for silence. Looking up, the three listed intensely. "My dear students. Before we begin dinner, I would like to introduce this year's caretaker of Hogwarts in place of Fitch. Mr. Xander Harris."

            The applause that came next wasn't there as much for the new caretaker as it was for the fact that Fitch and hi dang cat were gone for the rest of the year. Then Harry say what seemed to be a goofy looking man in his early 20's stand up and wave intensely. The main feature that caught his eye (pun intended) was Xander's lack of one.

            Suddenly he spoke. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. Yep, call me Xander. The Xan man is goint to clean up this place like you've never seen…" Silence ranges after the words causing Xander to become slightly embarrassed. "Uh er, well that's about it." Sitting down besides Hagrid, Harry could then see that Snape was giving the new caretaker very dirty look that would have cowered any student. Xander on the other hand looked at Snape and gave him a very goofy grin that caught the slime ball off guard. Harry was begging to like this guy.