GILES: "A Slayer hunts vampires. Buffy's the Slayer. Don't tell anyone."

The Harvest

Chapter 3

Harry woke early the next morning. For several minutes he lay listening to the sounds

of his roommates' breathing. After a while he got up and wandered down to the

common room. To his surprise Hermione was already there, working as usual.

"'Mione, we haven't even started term yet, you can't be working already"

Hermione jumped at the sound of his voice. "Oh, morning Harry. Just re writing the

essay Professor Snape set us. I thought of some more things to add."

Harry winced at the reminder of the summer essay Snape had set them. To describe

it as brutal would be an understatement. Wordlessly he leaned over to give Hermione

a hug. "What was that for?" she asked, smiling.

"No reason. Just felt like giving you a hug. You know I love ya right?"

"Should I be jealous?" Ron's voice came from the staircase. Harry laughed. "Nah,

love ya too. The whole lot of ya!"

"Aw, Harry, you're making me blush" Seamus called as the others all laughed.

"Come on guys, I'm starving. Breakfast awaits."

"Neville, do you always think with your stomach?" Dean asked

"Leave him alone" Ginny was, as always quick to defend her boyfriend.

"You mean I can't tease him any more. How boring!" Dean retaliated as Neville

playfully punched him on the arm.

"Children, children, can we please have breakfast now?" Harry cried, amid laughter.

Slowly, everyone made their way to the Great Hall, where breakfast as laid out

waiting. As they tucked in the senior prefects came down the aisles, handing out the

timetables to every student.

"Wow, DADA first thing!" Ron exclaimed

"Makes a change, don't we always have a lesson with Slytherins first?" Dean asked.

Harry's face fell as he read on further. "We do. We now have DADA with them as

well as potions."

Ron groaned loudly, crashing his head onto the table. Similar groans could be heard

from the Slytherin table as they read the same information.

"Well, just look on the bright side, at least we'll be first to find out what these new

teachers are like," Hermione offered tentatively.

"'Mione, it's the Slytherins! For a whole year! It doesn't get any worse than this!"

"Ron, you're being a bit melodramatic. And with Dra.. Malfoy being in the position

he is, maybe it won't be so bad. He may keep his mouth shut for once," His gorgeous

mouth, perfectly formed lips. Inwardly Harry groaned. It was no denying it. He

found Draco attractive. How was he meant to behave in DADA as well as potions?

He looked up to see Ron looking at him oddly. "What?"

Ron sighed. "Just accept it Harry, you're attracted to him. Call him Draco if you

want. Just…wait awhile, see if he's improved. IF he seems like a decent person, I

may be ok, if you decide to pursue him."

"Pursue him, Ron, I don't even know if he's gay, I mean he always seemed to be

with Pansy."

"I know, I know, you'll just have to find out. IF he's improved his extreme

personality problem!"

"Ron, if he's as obnoxious as before, there's no way I'd be interested."

"That's fine then"

"Boys, if you hadn't noticed time is moving on and we have a lesson to get to."

Hermione interrupted. Harry glanced around and saw the Hall had almost emptied

itself. With a gasp he and the others, left the Hall also.

Harry, Ron and Hermione rushed down the corridor almost crashing into the

Slytherins and Gryffindors already there.

"Oh look who's decided to join us," Pansy's voice was sarcastic as she came strolling

up with Crabbe and Goyle following. Harry turned round to comment when he saw

Pansy staring past him at Malfoy who was walking slowly. Malfoy raised his head

and his mercury grey eyes burned with defiance. Harry was, once again, struck by

how amazingly good-looking he was. Control, he thought, don't be ruled by your

bloody hormones. Pansy was smirking as she opened her mouth to make another

remark, when the classroom door opened.

"I wouldn't," a middle aged British man stood at the door. Behind him were the two

brunettes, Fire and Water and the blonde, Buffy from the night before. There was

also a tall bleached blonde man in a long leather coat.

"And who exactly is going to stop me?" The Gryffindors gasped as the Slytherins,

with the obvious exception of Malfoy, smirked. "You?" Pansy continued. "How

exactly are you qualified to teach this subject?"

"Oh, it's you," Fire strode forward, only to be restrained by Water and Buffy placing

their hands on her shoulders. "I seem to remember promising to teach you some

manners." Her hazel eyes flashed menacingly, her hair flashing bright shots of auburn

and blonde as she moved.

"Fire…" Water drawled warningly. "Be nice to the pathetic bully. Let her keep

some illusion that she is of any importance."

Pansy's face darkened and she stepped forward only to be stopped by the blonde

man. "Give me a reason. Just one," he muttered

"Spike, do try to be civil, just once in your life." The elder man scowled. "And if it's

not too much trouble, can we please start?"

The students slowly shuffled in. Harry tried to catch Draco's eyes, but couldn't.

Pansy backed away from the blonde man whose eyes followed her to her seat. The

British man then sat at the desk while the others gathered round. The blonde sat on

the desk, before Buffy pulled him off.

"Perhaps some introductions are in order, I am Mr Giles and my less than

charming…I don't want to say friend… acquaintance here is Spike. I believe you've

already met Burry, Fire and Water. You wish to know what qualifies us to teach

defence against the dark arts? To put it simply, we've been fighting the dark arts, the

forces of darkness for many years now. I am a representative from the Council of

Watchers."

"Guess what they do?" Spike interrupted. Giles glared at him. "Yes, thank you

Spike. Spike, incidentally, is a vampire. No need to worry though, he's

quite…harmless." He smiled at Spike who seemed quite offended. "Hey, I'm still the

big bad around here." At this both Water and Fire loudly cleared their throats.

"Except you two of course little misses oh so powerful demon girls." Water grinned

and Harry was suddenly reminded of a wolf grinning at his prey. He shuddered

slightly at that image.

"Demon?" Hermione's voice was shaking.

"Don't worry kiddo, we wouldn't harm a hair on your pretty head" Once again

Water's voice drawled lazily. "Don't be so quick to make the presumption all

demons are evil. We just have the power to be. Lots of power. To be very evil." She

giggled slightly to herself as Fire grinned widely.

Giles sighed wearily. "So, if I may finish, I'm a Watcher, Spike's a vampire and

these two are demons"

"What about her?" Draco's voice was softer than normal as he gestured at Buffy.

Giles glanced around at the petite blonde.

"Give it up Giles," Buffy said. "Secret identities just aint what they used to be"

Giles sighed. "Very well" he paused and looked into space for a moment before

nailing the class with a steely glare. "'In every generation there is a Chosen One. She

alone will stand against the Vampires, the Demons and the Forces of Darkness. She

is the Slayer.'"

"And she's the Slayer?"

"Yes, for around six years now. She's lived longer than most, mainly because, unlike

most other Slayers in the past she does not fight alone."

"You guys help her?"

"Us, and some others you will meet. Willow Rosenburg, whom you met last night,

and Tara McClay are very powerful witches. In addition to Water and Fire here, are

their brothers, Air and Earth. Um.. Xander, Gunn and Fred. Wesley, another

representative from the Watchers Council."

"He got fired," Buffy interrupted. "After Faith went psycho and I quit following the

Council's orders."

"Ah, yes, forgot that. Anyway, where was I? Anya, a former vengeance demon,

Angel and err.. Cordelia, who gets visions from the P.T.B. Have I missed anyone?"

He glanced at Buffy

"Dawn," Buffy murmured softly

"Of course. Dawn, Buffy's sister." Giles looked up to see bewilderment in the

classes' eyes. "What? Oh, P.T.B, our shorthand for the Powers That Be" The class

still seemed confused. Giles smiled gently. "It will all become clear in time"

"Quite a group," Pansy's sarcastic tones filled the room. "But that still doesn't

explain how you can teach us. Sounds like we're more powerful than you"

Buffy glanced at Water. "Looks like she can give you a run for your money in the

sarcastic stakes." She turned, her face suddenly serious, "Give me three ways to kill

a vampire?" She snapped. "No, too slow, by the time you floundered like that he

would have already ripped your throat out." Spike nodded in agreement. Water spoke

up lazily as usual. "Decapitation, fire or a good ol' stake through the heart." She

grinned at Buffy. "They also explode if they drink Holy water."

"In these lessons," Buffy continued. "We will teach you how to identify and kill as

many demons as we can fit in, how to fight in unarmed hand to hand combat and

every spell, curse or counter curse you can handle. And you are going to work your

arses off. In return we'll do our best to rid you of this evil wizard problem you have."

"Should be easy compared to that psycho hell god we fought last year," Spike

commented. "And defeated I might add."

"God?" Neville squeaked

"Yeah right," Water's mutter was barely audible. "Lowly demon with delusions of

grandeur more like."

"You ok?" Buffy asked as Fire glanced at her sharply.

"Of course" Water was swiftly back to her smooth sarcastic demeanour. There was a

short uncomfortable silence before Giles spoke up. "Well, we should start as we

mean to go on, our first lesson will be about a subject we are unfortunately all too

familiar with. Vampires. What do any of you know about vampires?" As expected

Hermione raised a tentative hand. "Yes… I'm sorry what is your name?"

"Hermione Granger, Professor"

Giles started. "I'm sorry, I'm not used to being referred to as professor"

"You'd better not call me professor," Water commented. "Makes me feel old."

"You are old." Buffy stated.

"No need to be rude."

"I'm sorry Miss Granger, my colleges do not know the meaning of manners." Giles

interrupted. "You were about to say?"

"Well, um, vampires can't survive in sunlight, sir"

"That's right, however we must make the distinction between daylight and sunlight."

Spike took over. "A vampire can survive quite happily in shadow or on a cloudy day.

It's only the direct rays of sun that are deadly to a vampire, not light itself."

"Another common misconception is that holy water or garlic will kill a vampire,"

Buffy continued. "Only if eaten. Otherwise they just burn. As does a crucifix"

"The only easy ways to kill vampires," Giles finished. "Are through beheading,

direct sunlight or a wooden stake through the heart."

"Has to be wooden and directly through the heart." Spike interrupted.

"Yes," Giles agreed. "Vampires are also incredibly strong, always avoid dealing

with them one on one." With that he glanced at his watch. "Ah, look at the time,

well, write an essay on the behavioural patterns of the vampire with references to

famous historic vampires and ways to identify and kill vampires. Due in next lesson.

Thank you very much." With that he stood and he and the others left the classroom,

leaving behind excited chattering. Once outside Giles glanced at his companions.

"Well, what do you think?"

Water looked thoughtful. "Generally they seem to be ok. That girl with the attitude

could be a problem, as could those two goons that were with her. That boy, the one

Dumbledore told us about…"

"Draco Malfoy, the one with the silver blonde hair?" Buffy asked

"That's the one. He's smart, we should watch him, and the Gryffindors."

"You're not talking about those two airheads?" Fire exclaimed. "What were their

names?"

"Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil." Buffy informed her

Water grinned slightly. "Ok, the Gryffindors apart from them. The boys and Miss

Granger. They seem smart; they could have potential."

"Potential for what?" Spike asked. "You talk like we're facing a bloody war."

"Aren't we?" She shot back. "Come on Spike, don't be so naïve. This wizard guy,

Voldemort, we could need some help on this one. From what Dumbledore said he's

powerful. And don't forget, that Potter kid has faced him a few times. He's a killer;

He doesn't care who he kills as long as it's a sentient being. He kills for the fun of

killing and that becomes an addiction."

"You sound like maybe you know something on the subject?" Buffy said softly. Fire

looked sharply at Water, a warning in her eyes.

"Well, maybe I do." Water muttered. "Come on Fire, we've got to see the guys."

With that she turned and swiftly strode away. Fire glanced around at everyone before

following her friend. Buffy stared after them. "What is the deal with those guys?"

Giles sighed. "I have no idea. They are undeniably powerful; we've seen some of

the devastation they can cause. And their knowledge of the supernatural is

phenomenal. But, in all my research, I've never come across any demon resembling

their description. All they will tell is that they're old and powerful."

"And not evil." Buffy added. "They're always very quick to point that out."

"You ever seen Water's reaction to Glory?" Spike commented. Giles sighed. "No,

Spike, but I'm sure it is of no consequence."

"It may be," Buffy said. "In the class today, she seemed resentful of Spike

mentioning Glory's power. She muttered something about delusions of grandeur.

Maybe there's some history there."

"But to be on Glory's level…" Giles trailed off. He didn't have to finish his thought

aloud. To be on Glory's level the elemental demons would have to be very powerful

indeed.



*********************************************************************

Harry looked at the others as the teachers left the classroom. Ron looked in shock.

"You ok?" Harry asked

"An essay. On vampires. On our first day. This isn't fair."

"Well, I think it's a good idea, gets us warmed up for the year and lets us know what

to expect." Hermione commented. "And these teachers seem to know their stuff, we

could really learn something this year."

"Demons, vampires, hell gods." Dean seemed stunned. "Don't you think

Dumbledore threw us in a little over our heads?" Harry opened his mouth to reply

when he stumbled as Malfoy pushed past him. "Hey, look where you're going!"

Malfoy turned and was about to reply when Pansy strolled up with Crabbe and Goyle.

"Oh please Malfoy, get out of my way. Don't get above yourself thinking you're of

any influence. I mean your own parents can't stand the sight of you." Malfoy's eyes

burned with anger and was about to retaliate when Harry jumped in. "Shut up

Parkinson, at least Malfoy has some talent unlike yourself. How are you going to

cope this year without your personal helper explaining everything to you?"

"Watch your mouth Potter, or you may find someone shutting it for you," Pansy

sneered as Crabbe and Goyle flexed their fists.

"Witty comeback as always Parkinson. How clever. Have a good year."

Crabbe drew back his hand threateningly.

"Oh, hello Professor," Hermione said looking round the corner behind them. Crabbe

and Goyle looked confused before Pansy pulled on their arms, pulling them away.

"You haven't heard the last of this Potter. Or you Malfoy. We'll see you in the

common room later."

"You shouldn't have jumped in like that," Malfoy snapped.

"You're welcome," Harry returned.

"Always one to stick your nose in Potter, can't you just stay out where you're not

wanted?"

"Well, gee Malfoy I only wanted to help."

"Why?"

Harry floundered. "Well… I guess I feel sorry for you."

Wrong answer. Malfoy whirled around, eyes flashing dangerously. "Potter,

understand this, I don't need your help, and I certainly don't need your pity." With

that he turned and virtually fled down the corridor.

"Well, that was weird," Seamus commented.

"Not really," Harry groaned. "Don't forget the infamous Malfoy pride. I just hope I

haven't made the situation worse for him."

"Malfoy can take care of himself, Harry." Ron said gently. "Come on, we've got

other things to worry about, like this essay for a start…" Ron's voice faded as he

wandered off with the others. Harry jumped, realising he had been left behind. "Hey,

wait up." He yelled as he ran after them toward the Great Hall for lunch.

The rest of the day went by without incident. All the Gryffindors with the exception

of Hermione had Divination that afternoon and apart from the usual predictions of

Harry's gruesome death it was very quiet. Fortunately Professor Trewleny was in a

tranced out mood and didn't bother setting any homework. After dinner all the sixth

year Gryffindors went up to the library to work on the Vampire essay. They were

joined by Ginny who was furious with Snape for setting a potions essay on the first

day. Harry tried to concentrate but couldn't help staring at the lone figure of Malfoy

who was also in the library. He watched as Malfoy stood to go but stumbled as some

third year Slytherins barged past without acknowledging his presence. Malfoy simply

stood to one side until they had left before slowly wandering out by himself. After he

left Harry could focus on his essay. Before long it was 9 o clock and the group

decided to head back to the common room. There they relaxed, Ron playing chess

against Dean and Seamus and Hermione continuing to work on her essay. Neville

and Ginny were curled up together on one of the sofas near the roaring fire. Harry sat

on a large cushion content to simply watch his friends until curfew. It was amazing

how different they all were. Hermione was studious while Ron was quick to fly off

the handle. Seamus was flirty and bouncy while Dean was quiet and contemplative.

Neville and Ginny seemed the most likely couple, both being, at times, painfully shy.

Strange, though, Harry mused, that being in their relationship had brought both of

them out of their shells and given them so much more confidence. He yawned, the

heat from the crackling fire making him sleepy. He passed the others on the way up

to bed, however when he got there he found he couldn't sleep. The other boys had

long come up them selves before Harry managed to nod off.

As Harry slept he heard a voice crying out to him in his dreams. The voice was in

pain and begging Harry to help. With a start Harry woke, shaking. He blinked a few

times before reaching for his glasses. Staring at his watch he saw that it was just gone

2am. He breathed deeply as he lay back done. It was a dream. It was a dream. He

thought to himself. Just a dream. But he couldn't get back to sleep. As soon as he

closed his eyes he heard the voice again. He got up and pulled on a pair of jeans and a

tee shirt. Grabbing the invisibility cloak he headed to the door. With a quick glance

back at his sleeping roommates he left.

Climbing out of the portrait hole he paused, trying to gather his composure.

However he still heard the voice and had a flash of realisation of where he had to go.

Flinging the invisibility cloak over his head he ran down the corridor. He didn't stop

running until he came to Professor Lupin's old room. He banged on the door

furiously until it was opened by a very tired Water. She pushed her long curls out of

her face and looked at Harry in bewilderment. "What are you doing?" She asked, her

voice raspy from sleep. "It's 2 in the morning."

"I didn't know where else to go."

Water looked at the boy's emotional face. She had to look up to see in his eyes.

Great, she thought, I'm like the oldest person in the building and I'm one of the

shortest. Seeing the desperation in his eyes she wordlessly stood back, allowing

Harry into the room. She pulled her silk robe tighter around herself. Giles had

warned her about English weather, but she was still freezing.

"What's up?" A sleepy male voce asked. Harry started as a tall, handsome,

muscular man got up from where he was lying on the sofa. Fortunately he was

wearing boxers, but nothing else.

"Nothing, Air, go back to sleep," Water said softly. Turning to Harry she grinned

wryly. "My brother. It's never a good idea to wake him up. He'll be fine now, but

hell in the morning. So, what's up, why are you knocking at my bedroom door at 2

am?"

"I heard someone cry out for help."

"Where?" she was suddenly awake.

Harry suddenly felt stupid. "In my sleep. But it was real, I swear." He looked at

Water to see if she believed him. She nodded. "I've seen too many things to doubt

the powers of the mind. Where was the cry coming from?"

"I don't know."

"Yes you do. Close your eyes. Concentrate. Hear the voice. Where is it?"

Harry did that. The pain from the voice was almost too much to bear. He was close

to giving up when he suddenly saw the place in his mind. Looking up at Water he

said. "Follow me." Water turned and raised her right hand. A crossbow from the

opposite side of the room came floating across and gently settled in her hand. She

raised her left hand and a crucifix also came floating across. Harry could see the ends

of the crucifix had been filed to sharp points. Water tied her robe up tightly. Looking

at Harry she nodded and they wordlessly left her room.

It didn't take long for Harry to find the corridor the voice had come from. Rushing

forward he saw a slumped figure on the floor. He could see the moon from outside

the window reflected in the blood on the floor. The two other figures, towering

above, turned at the sound of Harry and Water approaching. With a swift glance at

each other they fled. Water started to follow them as Harry knelt down and turned the

figure on the floor over. Despite the huge amount of blood covering the hair, the

reflection of the moon left no doubt as to whom it was. Only one person Harry knew

had hair that beautiful shade of silvery blonde. It was Malfoy. He looked up as he

heard the soft swoosh of an arrow from the crossbow release. There was a loud thud

as it connected with its target. However when Water came back she came back alone.

"Got the bastard in the lower leg, but he still got away. How is he?" She asked as she

knelt down next to Harry. "Bad, we need to get him to the hospital wing." Water

nodded and scooped Draco up into her arms. Using her phenomenal strength she

carried Draco to the infirmary, her crossbow and crucifix/ stake floating behind her as

Harry went on ahead. He woke Madam Pomfrey who seemed too sleepy to do her

job. Harry worried until he saw her grab a small glass vial by her bedside. Drinking

from it, she instantly woke up and turned in preparation for Water rushing in with

Draco. Madam Pomfrey gestured for Draco to be placed on the bed before she pulled

the curtain around, shutting Water and Harry out. Water turned to Harry. "You may

want to stay here. I'm going back to see if I can find details about what happened."

Harry nodded numbly and Water turned and walked out of the hospital wing. Swiftly

reaching the spot where she had shot the attacker she saw Filch finishing cleaning up

the blood that had been spilt. Draco's blood still glistened further down the corridor.

"What are you doing?" She shrieked at Filch. "That was bloody evidence."

"It's messing up my corridor," Filch replied. Water tried to suppress a shudder. He

really was a loathsome man.

"There's been an incident here, that blood was the only chance of proving who the

guilty party was. You idiot, you've just helped a vicious attacker."

"What's going on here?" Snape's silky voice floated down the corridor towards them.

"May I ask, what you are doing in the corridors at night. Mr Filch here is doing his

rounds. What excuse do you have for harassing him?"

Water glowered at him. "I have as much right to be wandering these corridors as you

Snape. I'm a teacher here, same as you. There's been an attack. The victim is

someone who may concern you. Draco Malfoy."

Snape started. "And I suppose he was attacked by a vampire. Or is there another

creature that is stopped by a stake through the heart?"

Water grinned predatorily. "You'd be surprised how many things a stake through the

heart will kill."

Snape felt a shiver go down his spine. She unnerved him so much. She, and her kind

were so eerie, their quiet confidence, undeniable beauty. He glanced back at the

demon, who was staring at him, an elegant eyebrow raised menacingly. "Where is the

boy now?"

"In the hospital wing, with Potter."

"Potter? What's he got to do with any of this?"

"He found Malfoy."

"He was wandering around after hours?"

"Yes." She glared at him, daring him to comment. Snape sighed. "Very well. I

shall head over there now. Do you have any idea who did this?"

"Well I would if this idiot hadn't just cleaned up the evidence." Filch shifted

uncomfortably. Water sighed with barely contained anger. "I did get one in the leg,

with a crossbow bolt." Snape nodded. "I'll be off. You should wake the

headmaster." Water nodded. Snape took off down the corridor toward the hospital

wing. Water looked around the scene grimly before taking off in the opposite

direction towards Dumbledore's quarters.

Snape entered the hospital wing softly. The first thing he saw was Potter sitting on a

chair, his head in his hands. Potter looked up and saw Snape standing there. He

adopted a panicked deer caught in headlights look before Madam Pomfrey pulled

back the curtains. Both men looked at her, the same silent question on their lips. She

nodded wearily. "He'll be fine." Potter's face broke into a wide relieved grin. "Can

I see him?"

"Yes, he hasn't regained consciousness yet so be warned."

Snape moved forward and pulled back the curtain fully. He gasped as he saw the

bruises and cuts on Malfoy's face. "I have to see Dumbledore," he muttered.

"Poppy, you'd best come with me." With that they both departed leaving Harry alone

with Draco. He suppressed a feeling of nausea as he looked at the injuries. Who ever

had done this would pay he silently promise Draco. He pulled the chair up to Draco's

bedside and prepared to wait until he woke.



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