Chapter Five – More Old Friends

"Technically.... yes." Buffy said slowly. Hermione paled slightly. Harry and

Ron's eyes just the familiar widening. "But he's a good vampire. He has a soul."

Hermione still looked confused. Buffy sighed. She hated having to be the one to explain

everything. "When you become a vampire the demon gets your body but it doesn't get

your soul. That's just- gone. Angel had is soul restored."

"How can you be sure?" Hermione asked skeptically. "That's supposed to be

really powerful old magic that is said to have been lost." Angel let out a rare smile. This

girl was smart.

"It was lost." Buffy continued. "Then it was found, and how do I know his soul

was restored? Well I just happen to know the person who restored it."

"Who?!" Hermione's eyes were wide with excitement.

"Willow." Buffy said simply. With that everyone turned to Willow who gave a

shy smile.

"That's really powerful magic Willow" Hermione said seriously.

"Yeah it was a little grueling, but I survived." Willow said, shrugging off

Hermione's concern. Angel was starting to feel a little uncomfortable with the topic of

conversation.

"You seem like a diligent reader." Angel said to Hermione.

"She really needs to move into the library." Ron spoke up.

"Sounds like Giles. Except I think he did move into the library before we blew it

up." Buffy commented.

"Speaking of Giles, where is he Buffy?" Angel said turning to Buffy.

"My guess – the library." Buffy barely finish the sentenced as Angel was turning

to leave. Buffy knew what that meant. "Angel!" Buffy half yelled. Angel stopped dead

and turned around. "What is going on? The only time you ever go running to Giles is

when something really bad is going to happen. What is it?" Angel knew he couldn't fool

her but he really didn't want to worry her until he knew if what his informant had told

him was true.

"Nothing." He lied. She wasn't fooled. Buffy was glaring angrily at Angel.

"Buffy, Voldemort has help."

"I know, their called Death Eaters or something like that." Buffy said not worried.

Angel was shaking his head.

"He had more help, fanged help." Buffy had gotten the message. Her eyes

widened.

"Well, at least now we know when this is going down. I mean it would have to be

at night right?" She asked Angel. Once again Angel was shaking his head.

"Remember what happened when the mayor tried to ascend?" Angel said. Still

wearing his scowl.

"An eclipse." Buffy said knowledgeably. "We should go to Giles." Buffy said

resuming her commanding attitude. The others nodded and followed her out of the

Gryffindor common room.

"It's after hours," Harry said, who was in front of the group, "if we run into

anyone, just tell them we are going to see Professor Dumbledore. Most of the teacher will

let us go as long as we don't run into-"

"POTTER!" A snide voice called out.

"-Snape." Harry finished his sentence.

"My, my, my!" Snape said as he walked to the front of the group, right in their

path. "What are three Gryffindors and three Gryffindor guest doing out of bed at this

hour?" Then he noticed Angel. "And who are you?"

"Someone you really don't want to get angry." Angel said, his voice almost at a

growl.

"Professor Snape, we really, really need to see Professor Dumbledore. Could you

please get out of our way?" Hermione asked entreaty. She wasn't going to tell Snape they

were really going to see Giles. He had no authority at Hogwarts.

"Miss Granger, what could you possibly have to say to Dumbledore that could be

so important that it can't-" A dagger flying past his ear curtailed Snape. Apparently Buffy

was done asking nicely. The group stood aside so that Snape could see Buffy, who was

just in front of Angel, at the back of the group.

"I have had a really hard week." Buffy began glaring angrily at Snape, making

every effort to keep from yelling. "Right now I have people to see and a world to save, so

unless think you are lucky enough to miss the next thing that comes flying at your head

then I suggest you move." Ron was looking at Buffy with such admiration. Snape,

however, was not about to be threatened by a little girl.

"Are you threatening me Miss Summers?" He questioned.

"No, I'm making a promise to you. If you feel the need to get in my way, then I

will move you out of my way and I have doubt that you will be able to get in my way

again." Snape could tell that Buffy was not kidding. Angel was smirking behind Buffy.

Snape just stood there as Buffy walked to the front of the group, closely followed by

Angel. Buffy walked pasted Snape with out looking back and the rest of the group

followed suit.

When the group finally made it to the library Angel had filled Giles in on

everything he knew. Giles, as predicted, was not too thrilled. "Well, I suppose the best

thing to do would be to be sure to be constantly armed with weapons." Giles finally

concluded.

"Giles that's it!" Buffy exclaimed. "We could be dead this time tomorrow and

your only suggestion is to load up?!"

"Yes, Buffy. Frankly I don't really know what to do here. If Angel hadn't show

up we would not even be that prepared. Now I suggest you take some weapons and get to

bed." Giles gestured at the chest full of weapons at the right of him. The teens all grabbed

several weapons. Angel also helped himself to some weapons as well. He and Buffy

easily took to most. "Angel I'll talk to Professor Dumbledore about getting you a

dungeon." Giles said to Angel. Angel nodded his thanks. With that the teens trouped off

to bed.

Then next morning the Scoobies plus Angel joined Harry, Ron and Hermione at

the Gryffindor table for breakfast the next morning. The six teens were having a nice

conversation while Angel sat quietly, deep in thought. Angel stayed that way for quit

some time until something Ron said brought him back to reality.

"Who's that guy with the black coat and bleached hair that just walked in? He

looks like a bigger version of Malfoy!" Ron was now staring at the man standing at the entryway to

the Great Hall. Most people in the pandemonium didn't even realize he was there. Once

The Scoobies shifted slightly so they could see the man, Angel did as well. Once they

saw who it was, they were all temporarily stunned. Angel was the first to recover, also

alerting Giles, who was at the staff teacher to the situation.

"Spike!" Angel growled. All the noise suddenly stopped.