Chapter Four – A New Player

After a day of magic classes Buffy was beat. She and the other Scoobies, along

with the Hogwarts trio, made their way back to the Gryffindor common room. The six of

them had just had a five-minute meeting with Giles where Giles tried to get Buffy to go

patrolling. Buffy however refused. She said she was too tired and for a change Giles

listened to her. Now the six new friends sat down in the Gryffindor common room and go

ready for a nice story swapping.

"Well, you guys can go first. We already told you our latest 'adventure'." Xander

told the other three. So Harry, Ron and Hermione launched into the story of their first

year. They took turns giving the details. When it came to what happened in the last

chamber, Harry took over.

"When I got to the final chamber I thought for sure I would find Snape there.

However, I found Quirral. It turned out he had been sharing his body with Voldemort. I

had gotten the stone and he wanted it. He found that he could not touch me without his

skin burning so I touched his face. He eventually died." Harry left out the part that he

passed out.

"Have you ever had evil teachers?" Ron asked the Scoobies. Willow and Buffy

smiled at each other while Xander looked at the ground. Buffy then jumped excitedly into

the story.

"Okay, so there was this teacher who was a giant praying mantis, but she looked

like a woman, anyway she would give off this chemical called pheromonemy or

something like that." Buffy said.

"Pheromone." Willow automatically corrected.

Buffy plowed on. "Right. So anyway, she would have these boys come over to

her house and would basically have them fertilize her eggs while she ate their heads off."

Buffy said fairly causally. Harry, Ron and Hermione's eyes widened. "Guess who was

boy number two?" Buffy asked staring at Xander.

"He didn't!" Hermione said laughing along with everyone else.

"He did." Willow said between giggles.

"Okay, let's make me look good now." Xander said starting to change the subject.

"Like when I bought Buffy back to life."

"We told them that already Xander." Willow told her friend.

"Oh darn it! What didn't we cover yet?" Xander asked the group.

"I have a question." Hermione spoke up. "Buffy, Why did you call Angelus Angel

in Defense Against the Dark Arts?" This was something Hermione had been pensive

about since the class. Buffy's face became solemn. Willow moved to solace her friend

but Buffy abruptly stood up.

"Let's just say things between him and I were a complete fiasco." Buffy said.

Then silence fell waiting for her to continue but a new voice broke the silence in the now

empty common room.

"It wasn't that bad, was it Buffy?" Buffy could never forget that voice. It was

Angel. At this, Willow and Xander joined the standing Buffy who just turned to face

Angel.

"Well look. It's the return of Dead Boy!" Xander said. He knew Angel hated that

name.

"I thought I told you not to call me that." Angel said shooting an angry look at

Xander.

"What are you doing here?" Buffy asked trying to hide her emotion.

"Had a friend who told me something bad was coming here. I just thought I would

come and help out." Angel said looking at her. "I see you've got it covered though."

Angel turned to leave but Buffy called after him.

"Angel." He turned around. The Hogwarts students' eyes widened at them

mention of the name. "Could you stay? Could you just, help us out?" Buffy asked, her

voice getting softer as she spoke.

"You know that I'm still going to leave after this is over right?" Angel

questioned.

"I know but we could really use your help." Buffy and Angel both know this

wasn't true. They knew that Buffy was really just buy more time with Angel, but he was

glad she was. Angel nodded at Buffy. "Thank you."

"So Buffy, who are your new friends?" Angel asked turning to the Hogwarts trio.

"Oh, right. This is Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger," Angel

nodded politely at them, "and the is Angel." Buffy said unable to keep the reverence out

of her voice.

"Uh... Buffy?" Hermione asked nervously. "Is he a vampire?"