Disclaimer: These things are annoying, but I'd prefer not to get, sued, or worse, have my story removed *shudder*. So, I should let you all know, I don't own anything. Seriously, the computers not even mine! That belongs to my parents. Joss and J.K. own everything else.
A/N: You all miss Buffy don't you? Yea, me too. So let's take a break from the magical land of Oz (damn I'm funny), and check up on our blonde slayer. And pay attention, everyone's favorite Slytherin will be dropping in as well. And I know, I'm still rushing, sorry.
Perfect Darkness- I understand what you're getting at, but for someone who is only just developing their writing skills (me), coincidences are a must. This is my first story, and in all honesty I started writing it about five minutes after I got the idea. And there's about to be one more coming up, so you don't have to read this chapter if you don't want to.
Malli- I think you maybe my favorite reviewer. Yea, my grammar does suck, but I also hate how exact the grammar check is on my word processor, I lose my patience quickly. I think the pairings I have in mind are going to work well. I only have one problem; Cordelia is coming back, what the hell do I do with her?
immortalwizardelf-fan- Thanks for the support. I've matured Ron a little, as he is older, and experience more things since book 5, but there's no way he would resist the chance to brag.
Lolly6- Yes, that line was a stroke of brilliance on my part. Sorry, I have a bit of an ego, a couple of flames my help to keep the size of my head in control. Thanks for the review! And I love you penname, not sure why.
Tanydwr- Oz is going to stay Oz, even if he isn't an Osbourne anymore. I plan on him keeping the name he's had most of his life.
Oh, and Lola- if you end up reading this, otherwise I'm talking to myself, you should review. I know you're knew to this, but it isn't that hard. Just hit the button that says GO next to the words 'Submit Review.' Thanks hun.
ON WITH THE FIC
Chapter 4
Buffy had come to a decision. She didn't like L.A., she used to, but not anymore. It was hot, and sticky. A lot of places just reeked of urine, heck, a lot of people here reeked of urine. And it was these people she met, and serve, on a daily basis. It was all in a day's work, that is, when you worked at one of the sleaziest diner's in the city. 'I deserve this,' Buffy reprimanded herself, 'I deserve this for what I did to my friends, my watcher, my mother, my…Angel.'
A single tear rolled down her cheek, as she wiped down the filthy counters, with a filthier rag. It had been just over three weeks since she killed her love, and left Sunnydale. Even if L.A. sucked, she refused to go back to the hellmouth she had once called home. Her friends ought to have a better life, a normal life, and that was something they could never have with Buffy there. Sure, they now new about the things that went bump in the night, but with her gone, these creatures would not deliberately seek them out. They were safer with out her, Buffy convinced herself.
Her eyes roamed over to the clock at the far end of the diner. Her shift was over, Buffy sighed with relief. Now she could go back to her apartment, and take the shower she had needed since Buffy started work that morning. It was only six, but Buffy felt like sleeping away the rest of the night, until work the next day. Just like she had for the last three weeks. 'Seventeen, and I'm already caught in a rut,' Buffy thought, removing her apron and making her way to punch out.
"Hey Harris," a deep voice called out from behind. Buffy smiled a bit, she had used Xander's last name when she asked for the job. Everyone at the diner now thought she was Anne Harris, high school dropout. 'Not too far off,' Buffy mused to herself as she turned to the man calling after her.
"What's up, Bill?" she asked the cook, and her boss at the diner.
"Where do you think you're going?" He countered back.
"It's six, Bill, my shifts over. I was planning on going home," Buffy replied back, silently wishing that this conversation wasn't going where she thought it was.
"Nice try Harris, but we're short one for the nightshift. And you're filling in until April shows up."
"But Bill-" Buffy started only to be cut off by Bill himself.
"The only butts I need, is yours behind that counter. Now," He ordered, pointing to the counter.
"Sure, whatever you say," Buffy responded, "I'm getting time and a half for this right?" Bill raised his eyebrow at her question. "Right, how silly of me to think you'd uphold the law."
"Just be happy I'm forgetting you're a minor Anne," Bill said, turning back to his grill. Buffy stayed quiet this time, not wanting to lose her job. Anywhere else would ask for her Social Security Number, and she wasn't up for telling the truth right now.
The dinner rush came, and left, and now Buffy was left with the usual, poor tipping, low lives that frequented the diner. Most of them were drug dealers, drug users, and prostitutes, she knew that, but she just couldn't find it in her heart to care. She must have served one guy eight cups of coffee, but no matter how much caffeine Buffy gave him, it wasn't the fix he needed. The guy was strung out, and looking for a pick me up. From his arms, Buffy could see that his weapon of choice was heroin. It was a horrible thing to witness.
~~~~~~
At about ten minutes to nine, April, in all her whorish glory, finally arrived to start her shift. She ran in, and quickly got behind the counter, throwing on an apron, and giving Billy a kiss on the cheek.
"Oh Billy," April said in that awful, nasal voice, "I'm so sorry I'm late. I couldn't find a sitter for Justin till now. Please forgive me?" She gave him a pout with puppy dog eyes on the side.
"Don't worry 'bout it babe, I got Anne to cover for ya," he remarked giving a nod towards Buffy's direction. April sneered at the slayer.
"Thanks, Anne," the skanky brunette spat out Buffy's middle name.
"Don't mention it," Buffy mumbled back, not in the mood for a catfight with April. The other girl moved to take Buffy's place at the counter, and Billy slapped April's ass as she did. April let out a surprised, but happy, squeak, and then turned to give the cook a "sexy" stare. Buffy, to say the least, was disgusted.
After punching out, for real this time, Buffy exited the diner through the back door, which led to an alley lined with dumpsters. She took a stake out of her bag, and put it in the front pocket of her waitress uniform. Buffy liked to carry one on her for safekeeping. The stake was Kendra's old one, Mr. Pointy, and Buffy had grown rather partial to it. If she ever got the chance, this was the stake she'd use to kill Drusilla. 'But I don't slay anymore,' Buffy reminded herself, 'this is just in case I get attacked.'
Then, no more than ten feet in front of her, a loud 'pop' sounded, and a young man with white blonde hair appeared. He was dressed completely in black, and wore a long black cloak as well. The man spun back and forth, looking for God knows what, and in his hand he held a thin stick, about ten inches long. Finally, his eyes landed on Buffy, he straightened up a bit, and cocked his head to the side, "Who the bloody hell are you?"
Buffy could have laughed, this boy not only looked like Spike's kid brother, but he was British, it wasn't the Cockney accent Spike bore, but it was close enough. She didn't laugh though, because the power she felt from the boy was rippling towards her, so much so that she needed to take a step back.
"Okay, are deaf or something? Mute maybe?" The man questioned Buffy once more. "Maybe you could just flail your arms about if you understand what I'm saying?"
This time, Buffy did laugh, and she laughed hard. Doubling over, with tears streaking down her face, Buffy laughed, for the first time in three weeks. Realizing this, Buffy straightened up, and wiped her eyes, "Oh, sorry, but I needed that. No, I'm not deaf, or mute for that matter."
"Obviously," the man drawled out with a smirk. He was kind of cute, in his own arrogant way, but was too much like Spike for Buffy's taste. "Now, I repeat, who the bloody hell are you?"
Before she could answer the Brits question, four vampires leapt down from the buildings, two on either side. Buffy reached in to her pocket and whipped out the stake, taking two steps forward, so that she was now right next to the man. He looked shocked at first, but then resolve set in, and he put is back to Buffy, so that they could each protect the other.
"Do you know what these things are?" Buffy asked to the man behind her.
"Yes," he answered back.
"So, then you know how to kill them?" Buffy asked as the vampires circled the two humans.
"Yes," repeated, his voice now ringing with confidence. That was all the response Buffy needed; it appeared the vamps felt the same way, as they chose that moment to lunge at their prospected victims.
Buffy blocked the attack of the first vamp, by grabbing the arm he tried to punch her with and slamming him into one of the dumpsters. The second was right behind him, but held a metal pipe he had picked off the alley. He swung deftly at Buffy's head, and she only just missed being knocked unconscious, by ducking down low.
Doing a sweeping kick, Buffy knocked the vamp to the ground and drove the stake into its heart. In a puff of dust the vamp was gone, but was quickly replaced by the one Buffy had threw before. Buffy took the first shoot, landing a hit on the vamps jaw, then another in his abdomen. On her third punch the vamp grabbed Buffy's arm, twisted her around, and moved in for the kill. Buffy managed to wiggle her arm free, and flip the undead being over her back. She quickly disposed of him.
Looking up to see how her new companion was fairing, she was quite shocked when yelled out something in Latin and a ball of fire erupted out of the stick he held. It hit the vampire squarely in the chest, and it screamed in pain. Seconds later the vamp was gone. Buffy looked around the alley for the fourth vampire, but didn't see it. Turning back to the man, she raised her eyebrow in question.
"Already took care of that first one," he stated with a broad smile. The man was quite proud of himself. "After all that reading I did on vampires, they were rather easy to take care of, I don't know what all the fuss is about," he added with a shrug. "Now it seems I should restate my former question. What the bloody hell are you? I saw you fling that vampire into the big metal thing, and you moved it. I'm no genius, but I would be right in saying that's not normal for a muggle, is it?"
Buffy looked at him oddly, "What's a muggle? And what was thing you just did with the flames coming out of your little stick? Why do have a little stick? And why don't you know what a dumpster is??" Buffy was most confused at this last part, 'who doesn't know what dumpsters are? Demons even know what they are.' Buffy finally came up with the most important question, "What the bloody hell are you?"
The man once again smiled, "My name is Draco Malfoy, and I" he took a deep bow, "am a wizard."
For the second time that day, Buffy was in hysterics. She laughed uncontrollably for several minutes. Regaining her composure she looked at the man. He didn't appear amused at all; in fact he was dead serious. "A wizard. You're joking right?"
"No, I'm not joking. I'm quiet sincere, which is abnormal for me," he stated with a hint of a smirk on his lips. He waved the stick around a bit. "This is my wand, and the flames that came out of it were from some magic I did. I don't know what a dumpster is, because where I'm from, we don't have dumpsters. And lastly, a muggle is a non-magical person, I thought that's what you were before, but the power I feel coming from you, and what I saw you do to that vampire, well it has changed my view of you a bit," he spoke most of this to Buffy in a very condescending tone, though the last part was drenched with admiration. "So, I've told you what I am. Now, I believe it's your turn."
Buffy looked at the boy she had just met. How could expect her to trust him so fast? Sure he helped her out with a couple of vamps, nothing she couldn't have done on her own. This was too soon, he hadn't done a thing to show what side he was on. "How do I know you aren't evil?"
Draco let out a snort, "You don't, that's where the whole trust thing comes into play."
"I've only just met you, give me one reason why I should trust you," Buffy demanded. Her eyes held a threatening glare, and Draco needed to take a step back. The raw emotion and power that this girl gave off was intense. This girl had something to hide, something big, Draco would bet his life on it. She was right, however, what could he say to gain her trust? 'Why do I even want her trust?' 'Because you have no idea where you are or how to find your girlfriend,' a different voice in Draco's head responded. 'Oh, right then. Well now I have to get her trust.' "I helped you kill those vampires," he offered, playing on a thought she had earlier.
"You've seen what I can do. Do you really think I would have needed your help with the other two?" Buffy cocked an eyebrow at the wizard. He opened his mouth to respond, but the closed it shut, deciding questioning her abilities wasn't the best way to become her friend. 'Wait a second. Friend? When did I go from trust to seeking her friendship?' His other voice spoke up to respond once more, 'The only way you can get that trust is by becoming her friend.' 'I don't like how often you're right, or that I'm talking to a voice in my head,' Draco argued back to the voice. 'I AM you, you idiot. So you're the one who's right. Or is it we? Look, now you've gone and confused us!' 'I have not!' Draco stopped the inner conflict, and shook his head. Buffy was looking at him oddly, not that he could blame her.
"Do you know that you make faces when you're thinking? Sort of like you're having a conversation with yourself. You even rolled your eyes," Buffy told him. Draco paled, well he got whiter than usual. He didn't know he did that, but she saw him do it. Oh this was highly embarrassing for the boy. "I thought I was the only one who did that," she added, looking at her shoes. Draco was beginning to like this girl, in the platonic way, of course.
"Well, let's just assume it's something all humans do. Otherwise I may get a little insecure," Draco said, hoping his words would reassure the girl, while opening the lines of communication. She, for the first time, flashed Draco a genuine smile.
~~~~~~
"No," Buffy stated, with vehemence in her voice.
"And why not," a fuming Draco asked. After their encounter in the alley, Draco had walked with Buffy back to her apartment. He explained his situation to her, telling the slayer of his need to find his girlfriend, Ginny. Declaring adamantly that without her help he'd be lost for days, and may possibly never find his red head. Buffy agreed to help the boy, and took this as a success in the first step to their new friendship. Ignoring the fact that he still didn't know her name (referring to her as Blondie for the time being, she didn't seem to mind), or anything else significant.
Now they stood outside her apartment door, where she refused to let him in, "I just met you Draco! Do you honestly expect me to let a perfect stranger spend the night at my home?"
"I have no where to go," he persisted, "I'm a helpless wizard with no knowledge of the muggle world! Take pity on my kind soul."
Buffy shook her head at him, "I'm sorry Draco, but no. You'll have to find someplace else," she said, then added with a smirk, "You're a good looking guy, I'm sure there's a girl out there would love to take you in for the night."
"I'm taken, you know that," he scolded the blonde. Sighing he asked, "At least give a bloke something to eat." Buffy shrugged and told him to wait out there while she got him something.
She returned a minute later with a spook, and container of peach yogurt, and a Diet Coke. He looked at the slayer like she was insane, "What the hell is this?"
"Eat it and find out," she replied turning from him, and going back into her apartment. Buffy then shut and locked the door, leaving Draco in the hallway, completely befuddled.
"I'm not going anywhere, Blondie," he yelled to the door.
"Whatever," she called back, her voice slightly muffled by the door.
Sitting down on the cold, hard wood floor, Draco opened the yogurt. It looked like white gelatin. After some mixing, Draco realized there was peaches at the bottom. 'I love peaches,' he thought to himself, and risked a bite of the now orange-colored substance. Apparently, Draco liked yogurt, and after opening the can, it seemed liked Diet Coke as well.
He finished his "meal," and keeping true to his promise, Draco did not leave. Removing his cloak, and folding it into a square, he lied down on the floor, placing the cloak under his head. He drifted off to sleep several minutes later, dreaming of Ginny, Blondie, the Golden Trio, and some balding man with cheese slices.
A/N: You all miss Buffy don't you? Yea, me too. So let's take a break from the magical land of Oz (damn I'm funny), and check up on our blonde slayer. And pay attention, everyone's favorite Slytherin will be dropping in as well. And I know, I'm still rushing, sorry.
Perfect Darkness- I understand what you're getting at, but for someone who is only just developing their writing skills (me), coincidences are a must. This is my first story, and in all honesty I started writing it about five minutes after I got the idea. And there's about to be one more coming up, so you don't have to read this chapter if you don't want to.
Malli- I think you maybe my favorite reviewer. Yea, my grammar does suck, but I also hate how exact the grammar check is on my word processor, I lose my patience quickly. I think the pairings I have in mind are going to work well. I only have one problem; Cordelia is coming back, what the hell do I do with her?
immortalwizardelf-fan- Thanks for the support. I've matured Ron a little, as he is older, and experience more things since book 5, but there's no way he would resist the chance to brag.
Lolly6- Yes, that line was a stroke of brilliance on my part. Sorry, I have a bit of an ego, a couple of flames my help to keep the size of my head in control. Thanks for the review! And I love you penname, not sure why.
Tanydwr- Oz is going to stay Oz, even if he isn't an Osbourne anymore. I plan on him keeping the name he's had most of his life.
Oh, and Lola- if you end up reading this, otherwise I'm talking to myself, you should review. I know you're knew to this, but it isn't that hard. Just hit the button that says GO next to the words 'Submit Review.' Thanks hun.
ON WITH THE FIC
Chapter 4
Buffy had come to a decision. She didn't like L.A., she used to, but not anymore. It was hot, and sticky. A lot of places just reeked of urine, heck, a lot of people here reeked of urine. And it was these people she met, and serve, on a daily basis. It was all in a day's work, that is, when you worked at one of the sleaziest diner's in the city. 'I deserve this,' Buffy reprimanded herself, 'I deserve this for what I did to my friends, my watcher, my mother, my…Angel.'
A single tear rolled down her cheek, as she wiped down the filthy counters, with a filthier rag. It had been just over three weeks since she killed her love, and left Sunnydale. Even if L.A. sucked, she refused to go back to the hellmouth she had once called home. Her friends ought to have a better life, a normal life, and that was something they could never have with Buffy there. Sure, they now new about the things that went bump in the night, but with her gone, these creatures would not deliberately seek them out. They were safer with out her, Buffy convinced herself.
Her eyes roamed over to the clock at the far end of the diner. Her shift was over, Buffy sighed with relief. Now she could go back to her apartment, and take the shower she had needed since Buffy started work that morning. It was only six, but Buffy felt like sleeping away the rest of the night, until work the next day. Just like she had for the last three weeks. 'Seventeen, and I'm already caught in a rut,' Buffy thought, removing her apron and making her way to punch out.
"Hey Harris," a deep voice called out from behind. Buffy smiled a bit, she had used Xander's last name when she asked for the job. Everyone at the diner now thought she was Anne Harris, high school dropout. 'Not too far off,' Buffy mused to herself as she turned to the man calling after her.
"What's up, Bill?" she asked the cook, and her boss at the diner.
"Where do you think you're going?" He countered back.
"It's six, Bill, my shifts over. I was planning on going home," Buffy replied back, silently wishing that this conversation wasn't going where she thought it was.
"Nice try Harris, but we're short one for the nightshift. And you're filling in until April shows up."
"But Bill-" Buffy started only to be cut off by Bill himself.
"The only butts I need, is yours behind that counter. Now," He ordered, pointing to the counter.
"Sure, whatever you say," Buffy responded, "I'm getting time and a half for this right?" Bill raised his eyebrow at her question. "Right, how silly of me to think you'd uphold the law."
"Just be happy I'm forgetting you're a minor Anne," Bill said, turning back to his grill. Buffy stayed quiet this time, not wanting to lose her job. Anywhere else would ask for her Social Security Number, and she wasn't up for telling the truth right now.
The dinner rush came, and left, and now Buffy was left with the usual, poor tipping, low lives that frequented the diner. Most of them were drug dealers, drug users, and prostitutes, she knew that, but she just couldn't find it in her heart to care. She must have served one guy eight cups of coffee, but no matter how much caffeine Buffy gave him, it wasn't the fix he needed. The guy was strung out, and looking for a pick me up. From his arms, Buffy could see that his weapon of choice was heroin. It was a horrible thing to witness.
~~~~~~
At about ten minutes to nine, April, in all her whorish glory, finally arrived to start her shift. She ran in, and quickly got behind the counter, throwing on an apron, and giving Billy a kiss on the cheek.
"Oh Billy," April said in that awful, nasal voice, "I'm so sorry I'm late. I couldn't find a sitter for Justin till now. Please forgive me?" She gave him a pout with puppy dog eyes on the side.
"Don't worry 'bout it babe, I got Anne to cover for ya," he remarked giving a nod towards Buffy's direction. April sneered at the slayer.
"Thanks, Anne," the skanky brunette spat out Buffy's middle name.
"Don't mention it," Buffy mumbled back, not in the mood for a catfight with April. The other girl moved to take Buffy's place at the counter, and Billy slapped April's ass as she did. April let out a surprised, but happy, squeak, and then turned to give the cook a "sexy" stare. Buffy, to say the least, was disgusted.
After punching out, for real this time, Buffy exited the diner through the back door, which led to an alley lined with dumpsters. She took a stake out of her bag, and put it in the front pocket of her waitress uniform. Buffy liked to carry one on her for safekeeping. The stake was Kendra's old one, Mr. Pointy, and Buffy had grown rather partial to it. If she ever got the chance, this was the stake she'd use to kill Drusilla. 'But I don't slay anymore,' Buffy reminded herself, 'this is just in case I get attacked.'
Then, no more than ten feet in front of her, a loud 'pop' sounded, and a young man with white blonde hair appeared. He was dressed completely in black, and wore a long black cloak as well. The man spun back and forth, looking for God knows what, and in his hand he held a thin stick, about ten inches long. Finally, his eyes landed on Buffy, he straightened up a bit, and cocked his head to the side, "Who the bloody hell are you?"
Buffy could have laughed, this boy not only looked like Spike's kid brother, but he was British, it wasn't the Cockney accent Spike bore, but it was close enough. She didn't laugh though, because the power she felt from the boy was rippling towards her, so much so that she needed to take a step back.
"Okay, are deaf or something? Mute maybe?" The man questioned Buffy once more. "Maybe you could just flail your arms about if you understand what I'm saying?"
This time, Buffy did laugh, and she laughed hard. Doubling over, with tears streaking down her face, Buffy laughed, for the first time in three weeks. Realizing this, Buffy straightened up, and wiped her eyes, "Oh, sorry, but I needed that. No, I'm not deaf, or mute for that matter."
"Obviously," the man drawled out with a smirk. He was kind of cute, in his own arrogant way, but was too much like Spike for Buffy's taste. "Now, I repeat, who the bloody hell are you?"
Before she could answer the Brits question, four vampires leapt down from the buildings, two on either side. Buffy reached in to her pocket and whipped out the stake, taking two steps forward, so that she was now right next to the man. He looked shocked at first, but then resolve set in, and he put is back to Buffy, so that they could each protect the other.
"Do you know what these things are?" Buffy asked to the man behind her.
"Yes," he answered back.
"So, then you know how to kill them?" Buffy asked as the vampires circled the two humans.
"Yes," repeated, his voice now ringing with confidence. That was all the response Buffy needed; it appeared the vamps felt the same way, as they chose that moment to lunge at their prospected victims.
Buffy blocked the attack of the first vamp, by grabbing the arm he tried to punch her with and slamming him into one of the dumpsters. The second was right behind him, but held a metal pipe he had picked off the alley. He swung deftly at Buffy's head, and she only just missed being knocked unconscious, by ducking down low.
Doing a sweeping kick, Buffy knocked the vamp to the ground and drove the stake into its heart. In a puff of dust the vamp was gone, but was quickly replaced by the one Buffy had threw before. Buffy took the first shoot, landing a hit on the vamps jaw, then another in his abdomen. On her third punch the vamp grabbed Buffy's arm, twisted her around, and moved in for the kill. Buffy managed to wiggle her arm free, and flip the undead being over her back. She quickly disposed of him.
Looking up to see how her new companion was fairing, she was quite shocked when yelled out something in Latin and a ball of fire erupted out of the stick he held. It hit the vampire squarely in the chest, and it screamed in pain. Seconds later the vamp was gone. Buffy looked around the alley for the fourth vampire, but didn't see it. Turning back to the man, she raised her eyebrow in question.
"Already took care of that first one," he stated with a broad smile. The man was quite proud of himself. "After all that reading I did on vampires, they were rather easy to take care of, I don't know what all the fuss is about," he added with a shrug. "Now it seems I should restate my former question. What the bloody hell are you? I saw you fling that vampire into the big metal thing, and you moved it. I'm no genius, but I would be right in saying that's not normal for a muggle, is it?"
Buffy looked at him oddly, "What's a muggle? And what was thing you just did with the flames coming out of your little stick? Why do have a little stick? And why don't you know what a dumpster is??" Buffy was most confused at this last part, 'who doesn't know what dumpsters are? Demons even know what they are.' Buffy finally came up with the most important question, "What the bloody hell are you?"
The man once again smiled, "My name is Draco Malfoy, and I" he took a deep bow, "am a wizard."
For the second time that day, Buffy was in hysterics. She laughed uncontrollably for several minutes. Regaining her composure she looked at the man. He didn't appear amused at all; in fact he was dead serious. "A wizard. You're joking right?"
"No, I'm not joking. I'm quiet sincere, which is abnormal for me," he stated with a hint of a smirk on his lips. He waved the stick around a bit. "This is my wand, and the flames that came out of it were from some magic I did. I don't know what a dumpster is, because where I'm from, we don't have dumpsters. And lastly, a muggle is a non-magical person, I thought that's what you were before, but the power I feel coming from you, and what I saw you do to that vampire, well it has changed my view of you a bit," he spoke most of this to Buffy in a very condescending tone, though the last part was drenched with admiration. "So, I've told you what I am. Now, I believe it's your turn."
Buffy looked at the boy she had just met. How could expect her to trust him so fast? Sure he helped her out with a couple of vamps, nothing she couldn't have done on her own. This was too soon, he hadn't done a thing to show what side he was on. "How do I know you aren't evil?"
Draco let out a snort, "You don't, that's where the whole trust thing comes into play."
"I've only just met you, give me one reason why I should trust you," Buffy demanded. Her eyes held a threatening glare, and Draco needed to take a step back. The raw emotion and power that this girl gave off was intense. This girl had something to hide, something big, Draco would bet his life on it. She was right, however, what could he say to gain her trust? 'Why do I even want her trust?' 'Because you have no idea where you are or how to find your girlfriend,' a different voice in Draco's head responded. 'Oh, right then. Well now I have to get her trust.' "I helped you kill those vampires," he offered, playing on a thought she had earlier.
"You've seen what I can do. Do you really think I would have needed your help with the other two?" Buffy cocked an eyebrow at the wizard. He opened his mouth to respond, but the closed it shut, deciding questioning her abilities wasn't the best way to become her friend. 'Wait a second. Friend? When did I go from trust to seeking her friendship?' His other voice spoke up to respond once more, 'The only way you can get that trust is by becoming her friend.' 'I don't like how often you're right, or that I'm talking to a voice in my head,' Draco argued back to the voice. 'I AM you, you idiot. So you're the one who's right. Or is it we? Look, now you've gone and confused us!' 'I have not!' Draco stopped the inner conflict, and shook his head. Buffy was looking at him oddly, not that he could blame her.
"Do you know that you make faces when you're thinking? Sort of like you're having a conversation with yourself. You even rolled your eyes," Buffy told him. Draco paled, well he got whiter than usual. He didn't know he did that, but she saw him do it. Oh this was highly embarrassing for the boy. "I thought I was the only one who did that," she added, looking at her shoes. Draco was beginning to like this girl, in the platonic way, of course.
"Well, let's just assume it's something all humans do. Otherwise I may get a little insecure," Draco said, hoping his words would reassure the girl, while opening the lines of communication. She, for the first time, flashed Draco a genuine smile.
~~~~~~
"No," Buffy stated, with vehemence in her voice.
"And why not," a fuming Draco asked. After their encounter in the alley, Draco had walked with Buffy back to her apartment. He explained his situation to her, telling the slayer of his need to find his girlfriend, Ginny. Declaring adamantly that without her help he'd be lost for days, and may possibly never find his red head. Buffy agreed to help the boy, and took this as a success in the first step to their new friendship. Ignoring the fact that he still didn't know her name (referring to her as Blondie for the time being, she didn't seem to mind), or anything else significant.
Now they stood outside her apartment door, where she refused to let him in, "I just met you Draco! Do you honestly expect me to let a perfect stranger spend the night at my home?"
"I have no where to go," he persisted, "I'm a helpless wizard with no knowledge of the muggle world! Take pity on my kind soul."
Buffy shook her head at him, "I'm sorry Draco, but no. You'll have to find someplace else," she said, then added with a smirk, "You're a good looking guy, I'm sure there's a girl out there would love to take you in for the night."
"I'm taken, you know that," he scolded the blonde. Sighing he asked, "At least give a bloke something to eat." Buffy shrugged and told him to wait out there while she got him something.
She returned a minute later with a spook, and container of peach yogurt, and a Diet Coke. He looked at the slayer like she was insane, "What the hell is this?"
"Eat it and find out," she replied turning from him, and going back into her apartment. Buffy then shut and locked the door, leaving Draco in the hallway, completely befuddled.
"I'm not going anywhere, Blondie," he yelled to the door.
"Whatever," she called back, her voice slightly muffled by the door.
Sitting down on the cold, hard wood floor, Draco opened the yogurt. It looked like white gelatin. After some mixing, Draco realized there was peaches at the bottom. 'I love peaches,' he thought to himself, and risked a bite of the now orange-colored substance. Apparently, Draco liked yogurt, and after opening the can, it seemed liked Diet Coke as well.
He finished his "meal," and keeping true to his promise, Draco did not leave. Removing his cloak, and folding it into a square, he lied down on the floor, placing the cloak under his head. He drifted off to sleep several minutes later, dreaming of Ginny, Blondie, the Golden Trio, and some balding man with cheese slices.