Little A/N: to all those who reviewed that B/Sev was bad, I'm sorry but I've been setting that up since chapter one so you shouldn't have been surprised. Lisette it would be nice to get a review every so often… hint hint, nudge nudge

Chapter Eleven: Leaving?

Saturday morning was quiet. For Buffy who was used to living with twenty odd people, most of who were lively, revved-up, super-powered, teenage girls, quiet was like a Godsend. She had a subdued breakfast with the rest of the staff, since many had heard of her family problems from the day before. Snape had refused to sit any closer than two seats away from her, but he did send veiled glares to those who stared at her too strongly.

"Buffy, my dear, how are you this morning?" Albus broke the uncomfortable silence.

"I'm doing just fine," she confirmed.

"I am terribly sorry for what happened yesterday. I had not anticipated him to be that hostile or tactless. I do hope that you are not too upset with me for allowing him here."

"Don't worry about it, I'm sure he's already forgotten I even exist," Buffy tried to joke and Dumbledore briefly looked abashed before composing himself. "I was wondering whose class I was going to be helping in on Monday though."

The professors looked amongst them, trying to decide just who would take on the role of having to watch the slayer all day. Seeing their anxiety, Buffy felt that maybe she really couldn't fit in here either. She couldn't fit in anywhere. While Severus was nice enough to have her the first time, she knew that it would be out of the question to let her intrude again. Having her around seemed to make the little witches and wizards unable to concentrate on anything and that was dangerous in a class like potions.

"You know Albus," the blonde offered, "Being around all this magic made me remember Ethan. He was a friend of Giles. I'm sure I could stay with him. I could probably just go there now, apparate you know, I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

The thought of even seeing Ethan again made her blood freeze, but Buffy knew that he was the only one who might not kill her on sight. He seemed to find her amusing and maybe he would take her in as a favor to Giles' memory. She wouldn't have to stay long, she reasoned, only until she could contact Oz. They hadn't talked since he'd left during college, but she knew if she could find him that he would help her.

Dumbledore had heard of Ethan from Rupert and knew how the man felt about him. In fact, Giles had specifically said that Ethan wasn't to come into the same town as Buffy, so sending the girl straight to him wouldn't quite be what he promised. He thought back to the day before, and remembered how on guard the slayer had been, ready to be sent away at a moments notice. He again hated himself for not sitting her down and explaining that he planned to have her here a good long while.

"Buffy, no," he refused. "You'll be staying here. I'm sure Poppy could use some help in the infirmary." The headmaster looked pointedly at the nurse.

"Yes, I can always use a hand. I'd sure the children would feel much better it you were there to cheer them up," Madam Pomfrey twittered. "In fact, I'm sure that by Monday there will be more of them than I can handle."

Buffy gave her a smile in gratitude, but still felt awful about being somewhere that she was obviously not trusted. She couldn't understand why they didn't trust her though, because besides Albus and Severus, none knew she was the slayer. It could have been apparating that had them so spooked, but she hadn't done anything extraordinary since. Truth be told, she'd been trying extremely hard to be the muggle everyone thought her to be, her speech to Draco not withstanding.

"I don't feel so well. If you'll all excuse me, I think I'll go lie down," she muttered not waiting for a response. Both Snape and Dumbledore sending worried glances at her retreating back, but neither going after her either.