Disclaimer: See what you're reading right now? Good. I don't own it, any of it. Yes it's depressing, but it's the truth. I do own a story about two cats named Chester and Arthur, but that's not the point, now is it?
Author's Note: For all of you looking forward to Boston, you'll have to hold off for a bit longer. It's time to check up on Buffy and Draco, and what they did in the days that the Scoobs were researching. Faith will be along soon enough, just be patient. Oh, and this is going to be my longest chapter yet.
A/N 2: I have recently become very undecided about two of the pairings I have been planning. I know it's going to muck a lot of crap up. The drama is going to make things more interesting. So here comes my first poll, which, in all sincerity, I may completely disregard, anyways.
POLL- Pick Buffy's boy toy for the fic Harry, Draco (it may hurt Ginny though), Spike (Lover's Walk marks his return, but he could come sooner), or well anyone you guys may want. I'd prefer if you stuck to the wizards though. ***Angel is NOT an option here.
TO MY REVIEWERS:
Immortalwizardelf-fan- Wish granted, Buffy and Draco is right here.
Renna- I was originally planning on a B/H, but if you've read my second A/N, you know I'm now up in arms about that. You want it that way, vote for it.
Malli- I would be deeply shamed if I ever forgot Faith was from Boston, I'm from MA! I lived in Boston for six years, therefore, any places I make mention to, they exist. In fact, Faith will probably be living in my old apartment. Maybe. Also, I'm trying to keep Giles as rational as possible, he didn't start getting desperate until the end of the summer.
Tanydwr- Okay, I guess my writing of Ch. 6 wasn't very clear. The reference Hermione found to Occisors was about Oz and Ginny's prophecy. There is only one prophecy. And Faith and Buffy are the Rulers, no one else. Hope this clears things up.
Silver Warrior- Switch it. Willow's group is meeting Faith, and Giles' is getting Buffy.
Odevine1- Thanks, and Willow will very be in the next chap.
Dawnlady- I will never forget Oz. Way too cool of a guy. Thanks for the review, hope you like this update.
TIME TO FIC-IT!
Chapter 7
The door swung open behind Draco, and someone stumbled over him, falling onto the wall opposite the door. This had sufficiently woken the wizard up from his uncomfortable place on the floor.
"Urgh mmph," Draco stated articulately, while rolling over onto his back. Looking at the person who so rudely awoken him, Draco was greeted with the sight of a very pissed of Buffy. "Mornin' Blondie," he drawled, his trade-mark smirk already taking it's place.
"What the hell are you still doing here?" Buffy asked, leaning against the wall she fell into.
"I said I wasn't going anywhere," he reminded the girl. Buffy stuck her tongue out at him. It was at this time that Draco took in Buffy's appearance. He hadn't noticed the night before, but now it was obvious that this girl was a waitress. A waitress, with a name tag. 'Hah' Draco thought triumphantly, as he rose to his feet. Leaning in closely, Draco read the tag, "Know your name now." Buffy blanched at his comment, but then recovered, realizing what the wizard had seen.
"Sorry pal, but that's my middle name," she imparted, walking back into her apartment, holding the newspaper she had gone into the hall for. Draco followed, not giving a damn what she said the night before. Plus she left the door open, it was her own fault. "And don't bother asking anyone for my last name," Buffy advised, "I gave them a fake."
Draco, only slightly crushed, surveyed the apartment he now inhabited. "Blondie, your apartment is horrible," Draco replied from where he sat on Buffy's bed. He was right, it wasn't that her apartment was messy, Buffy herself, no matter what her mother said, wasn't a messy person. The apartment itself, was bleak, it needed a new coat of paint, for starters. The bed was lumpy, it having come with room, as well as a couch, a television, a refrigerator and a stove. It wasn't really an apartment, as much as it was a studio.
"I know, but it's all that my job can afford," Buffy mumbled, as she exited the bathroom, her toothbrush was sticking out the side of her mouth, and some of the paste was trailing down her cheek.
"That's a great look you've got going," Draco mocked, making a motion to his cheek to signal she had something there. Blushing, Buffy returned to the bathroom, to rinse out her mouth.
Buffy came back out less than a minute later settling down on the bed by Draco, and looked around her gloomy home. She turned to the wizard, "Do you want anything to eat? I have leftover pizza, some yogurt, ice cream, and pie form the diner I work at. Pie is the only thing I trust from them, cause they don't make it themselves."
"You mean you don't mind me being in here?" he asked cautiously. 'No need to get oneself kicked out if the girl is being hospitable.' Buffy shook her head, a softness in her eyes.
"I'm not too fond of having you sleeping in my apartment," Buffy started, looking Draco head-on, "But I also know that you're a wizard, which means you could probably get in here if you wanted to." Draco nodded his head in agreement. "I'm not a complete ass, I may not let you sleep here, but I'll feed you."
Draco grinned at this, though in the back of his mind he was beginning to wonder what was going on between him and this blonde. Things were moving in what could potentially be a very bad direction. 'I have a girlfriend,' he reminded himself, 'I have a girlfriend, now all I need is this girl to stop smiling at me. Damn, she has a nice smile.' Shaking his head to break the train of bad thoughts, Draco answered to question of food, "I would love some pizza," adding a dazzling smile to boot.
With a smile of her own, Buffy nodded and moved to the fridge, taking out the pizza box. She pulled the coffee table in front of the couch over to the bed and put the pizza on it.
"Sorry, I don't have a microwave, so it's going to be cold," Buffy told him.
"It's fine, if I knew what a microwave was, I might be disappointed. As it is, I prefer my pizza cold," Buffy's smile grew at his words.
"I love cold pizza! It tastes better, and there's a lot less of a mess."
Draco nodded in agreement, and opened the box, "Peppers and onions," he breathed, "a woman after my own heart," he smiled to Buffy once more. 'If I didn't have a girlfriend, and Blondie couldn't kick my ass, I would be very interested in this girl.' The annoying voice of the previous night popped back into his head, 'You are interested in this girl, you prat.' Draco scowled inwardly, 'If I'm a prat, than so are you. And I don't like Blondie! So just…shut up!' 'Oooo, tough man. I'm scared now.'
"Having fun," Buffy's voice interrupted the wizards inner dialogue. Amusement was unmistakable in her voice. Draco grinned sheepishly, and pointed to his forehead.
"Things can get a little bizarre in there sometimes," the platinum blonde joked, and Buffy chuckled in response.
"I can only imagine."
"I wouldn't recommend it, could get dangerous," Draco said, the knowledge that he was flirting only coming to him after he spoke. 'Damn it!'
"So," Buffy started, munching on a slice, "tell me a bit about yourself, and your girlfriend."
Draco was apprehensive; his past wasn't something he liked to get into. Though looking at her he realized this wasn't someone he had known his whole life. She didn't harbor any negative feelings towards him. He could tell Blondie his story, his side, and all she would do is listen. Sure some of it was dark, but she clearly had seen some dark things. Vampires for instance, who knew what else. She could handle this sort of thing.
"Oh crap!" Buffy shouted, "I have to be at work in fifteen minutes! Oh, I'm sorry Draco, but I really have to go. I can't get fired, I need this job," she explained, her eyes slightly pleading.
"Well, then what the hell are we doing here? Let's get going," Draco instructed, standing up. He offered his hand to her, and she took it, pulling herself up from the low bed. Buffy smoothed out the creases in her skirt, while Draco did a few invigorating spells to make himself more presentable for the day. Each grabbed a slice of pizza and headed off for the diner.
"Okay," Buffy started, as they walked down the grubby street, "what are you gonna do while I'm working?"
Draco chewed the piece of food in his mouth as he contemplated his answer. He swallowed then, "I hadn't put any thought into that…In all candor, I was planning on following you around the entire day. That's probably not the best idea though, is it?"
"No, not exactly. But I can't really have you running around a city you've never been to, surrounded by things you don't understand," Buffy replied, then paused to come up with the most plausible answer, "Oh! This is perfect."
Draco looked at her suspiciously, "What's perfect?" Buffy was eyeing him very strangely.
"We've been short a busboy at the diner, you'd be just right to fill in, temporarily of course," Buffy said, with a thoughtful expression. Draco, however, wasn't at all pleased.
"No. No way, I don't do muggle work," he stated, adding, "let alone degrading muggle work. We have busboys in the wizarding world, but at least they get to use magic. Sorry Blondie, but I don't think so."
Buffy was livid, "Fine, you come up with a better idea, MagicBoy."
"You bet your ass I will."
~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~
"Luke, get over to table three an' clean up them dishes," Billy called from the grill. Buffy was trying her hardest not to die from laughter.
"Yea, Luke get to it," she whispered to Draco, who was sitting on a stool at the counter. Complying with the cooks order, he got up and cleaned up the mess made by two infested looking prostitutes at table three.
So he hadn't come up with a better idea, but Draco didn't have any muggle money, nor did he know how to use it even if he did. Buffy had told her boss that Draco was a friend visiting her from London, and wouldn't mind busing for a couple of days while he was there. Billy gave in to the girl's request, and allowed "Luke", a shortened version of Draco's middle name, to work at the diner. It was minimum wage, and under the table. 'A Malfoy, doing the work of muggle peasants. Father would just eat this up. Rot in Hell you bastard,' the wizard thought to himself as he wiped down the disgusting table, with an even worse dish cloth.
Walking through the swinging doors and into the kitchen, Draco began to clean off the tableware the way Blondie had shown him. His hands were already raw from the scolding hot water, adding from several burn's Draco had obtained from accidentally touching the grill numerous times. The once flawless hands would never be the same. 'Screw this, tomorrow I'll just walk around this city until Blondie's off work.' 'Oh that's smart,' his other voice argued back, 'Show the girl how determined you are by giving up after the first day. I'm sure she'll be thinking very highly of you.' Draco grimaced, 'I don't like when you're right.' 'Ha.'
"Stop daydreamin' boy, and wash the friggin dishes," Billy yelled out, flinging a bit of hot grease at Draco to get his attention.
"Ahhh! Son of a bitch! What the hell was that for?" the platinum wizard screamed. The grease was stinging into the back of Draco's neck, leaving another burn to scar his skin.
"I'm not paying you to waste the hot water, now get back to it, or I'll shove the spatula up your ass," Billy threatened as Buffy entered the kitchen, having heard Draco's scream from outside.
"The food already taste's like you did, Bill," the slayer quipped, getting her a snort form the cook.
"Right you are Harris, but keep it down, can't let all the family secrets out," Billy replied, still laughing a bit. Draco looked between the two, not understanding why Billy liked her, but not him. 'I doubt you look that good in a skirt,' Draco's alter-ego voice suggested.
"Ewww, Bill that's disgusting. Never tell me what's in the special sauce," Buffy grimaced, then turned to throw a wink at Draco, before returning to the front counter, where several druggies were looking for a refill on their java.
"Don't ever tell her I said this, or April for that matter," Billy started, looking Draco in the eye for the first time that day, "but Anne's a great girl. You're lucky to have her."
Draco didn't attempt to correct to cook, just smiled and nodded his head agreeing, "Yes, I really am."
For the rest of that day, not one complaint was heard out of "Luke."
~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~
It was Saturday morning, and also Buffy's day off. For the past three day's Draco had accompanied her to work, busing his tables, and rinsing off the plates. When April failed to show up on time again, Draco took up her shift, so Buffy could go home and take a shower. He hadn't mind, especially when a few of the patron's tipped him extra for "having a nice ass." That was last night, and today Draco was curled up into his usual position outside Blondie's door. He snored lightly, stirring for a second, then falling back into sleep.
The door to Buffy's apartment creaked open, "Hey, MagicBoy, time to get up, it's nine." Draco shot up, looking half asleep, and half pissed off.
"Nine? Blondie, we have to be at work…now!"
"Chill, it's our day off. Bill gave us the same hours for simplicity's sake," Buffy reassured him, opening to door wider, as to allow the other blonde in. Draco conformed, and entered the small living area. Each settled down at the end of her bed, clicking on the television.
"Breakfast?" Buffy offered. Draco smiled, nodding his head. He had come in late the night before, and didn't get a chance to eat. As there was no way he would eat anything served at the diner.
"Anymore of those chocolate puff things?" he asked hopefully. They had gone shopping after work on Thursday, Buffy telling the wizard that there were certain things he needed to try before dying. They consisted of Buffalo wings, Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream, Oreo Cookies and, his new favorite, Chocolate Cocoa Puffs. Draco had been convinced it was magic when the mild turned colors in the bowl.
"Would I let you down?" Buffy replied, getting up to retrieve two bowl, the cereal, and a carton of milk. Pouring them each some, Buffy handed Draco his bowl and a spoon. She pulled the coffee table over once again, and both began their meal.
Looking up from his bowl to watch the screen in front of him, Draco was faced with a dire question, "What are we watching?" Television had been presented to him before meeting Buffy, though the show that was now on, was completely foreign to the wizard.
"The Power Rangers," Buffy replied, with a mouth full of chocolaty goodness, "part of the Saturday morning line-up. The pink one is my favorite. Spiderman is on next, you'll probably like it. Young men prancing around in tights, it's right up you're alley."
"I'm not gay, as I have repeated told you for the past three days," Draco responded in a dry voice.
"So says your manly hair," Buffy joked, and Draco laughed too. It wasn't the first time someone had poked fun at the wizards hair style, but it was the first time he didn't care. "Now, how bout you tell me about the life of Draco Malfoy, you never got around to it on Wednesday."
Draco began to squirm, he had decided to tell Buffy it came up again, but it didn't make the story any easier to tell, "You want all the gory details?"
"Better believe it," Buffy said, then sensing his discomfort, "it can't be that bad, right?"
"Oh it can, and it is," Draco stated grimly. "I wasn't always the nice young man you see before you today," Draco started after clearing his throat, and taking a sip of the orange juice Buffy had got for him, "For the first sixteen years of my life I was a right little prick. I had all these prejudices, partly because I didn't know any better. But mostly because of my father. I would have liked nothing more than to become just like Lucius Malfoy. To a be a Death Eater, and right hand man to the Dark Lord," at Buffy's confusion he went into the story of Voldemort, which eventually tied into the story of Potter. He spoke what he new of Potter's great adventures, along with his friends, Granger and Weasley. Draco then drew back to his own tale, "As I said, my father was a follower of Voldemort, and being Lucius' son, I was expected to do the same. I wanted to do it, and the summer before my seventh year at Hogwarts I was to receive the Dark Mark.
"Only the year before a problem arose, I was in love. I was in love with someone who was for everything I was against. The sister of one of my biggest enemies, and the daughter of one of my father's greatest rivals. The miraculous part was that she loved me back, she accepted me, and helped me to realize how wrong I was. How wrong my father was. Ginny Weasley saved my life, I'm sure of it," Draco stopped when he heard Buffy's gasp. He had told her about the Golden Trio, as well as the youngest Weasley. He had told Buffy of his deep loathing for all of them. It was a shock for her to hear that he now loved the girl.
"Keep going, please," Buffy begged. And with a grin, Draco obliged.
"I couldn't tell my father about us, that was obvious, but I needed help getting away from him. So I went to Potter, and I went to Dumbledore. The only way to escape Lucius was by making friends with his enemies. Surprisingly enough, they understood, well Potter took some coaxing from Ginny, but eventually he was on board. And the plan was brilliant."
"The summer before my seventh year at Hogwarts, I took the Dark Mark," Draco stopped, and lifted up the sleeve on his right arm and showed it to Buffy, she gaped at Draco. Gently, she ran her fingers over the mark, and sucked in her breath. Draco continued, "It was also that summer that I began my life as a spy for Dumbledore. I would go to the meetings; even some private ones between the Dark Lord and my father, then report what I heard to Dumbledore. Voldemort had planned one last great attack, this one on the entire school. It would happen during the End of the Year Feast in the Great Hall, myself and fellow student Death Eaters were to begin the attack, stunning as many teachers as possible, Dumbledore being the most important to take down."
"Now on the spy side of things, I had a very different job to do, right before the Death Eaters were to attack the teachers, myself and Pansy Parkinson, a trusted Slytherin who had many of the same views as I, were to stun all the other Death Eaters. We succeeded in that, but not minutes after the doors to the Great Hall burst open, and we had a full fledged fight on our hands."
"My father, having realized what happened, came after me, and just as he was about to perform the killing curse, Ginny attacked him from behind. They dueled, and Ginny prevailed, she used a disarming spell to knock Lucius back into a wall, where he then slipped into an unconscious state. I took out one or two Death Eaters myself, though they weren't as skilled as my father. And finally, Potter completed his destiny, and killed the Dark Lord," Draco finished, the last sentence he waved his hand while speaking, as though it were an after thought.
Buffy's jaw was practically touching the rug, her eyes were the size of saucers, and she stared a Draco. "That," she spoke, "has to be the most amazing story I ever heard. I had respect for you before, but now. Wow, I'm just…in awe. I want to meet Ginny. I want to meet Harry too."
"Who wouldn't, he's the greatest wizard there ever was," Draco replied somewhat bitterly. Buffy, noticing this tried to sooth his self-hatred.
"Draco, I'm sure Harry is a great guy," Draco snorted at her comment, "but he has nothing on you. From what you've told me, Harry was doing exactly what his parents would have wanted. Exactly what everyone he knew wanted. You went against family and friends, he had it easy compared to you, sure he lost a lot of people. But so did you. The people he loved died, so it was impossible for him to speak with them again. Draco, your family is still alive, but decline to speak with you. Harry might be the hero of your world, but he did what he did because of a prophecy, you did it because you knew it was right." When Buffy had finished, both were near tears, but neither allowed them to fall.
A knock sounded at the door, breaking both from their thoughts. Buffy stood to get the door, Draco following close behind, knowing that it was rare for her to receive visitors. Not bothering to look through the peephole, Buffy swung the door open.
"Buffy?" Giles asked in disbelief, and the man beside him looked over the watcher's shoulder to the person behind the slayer.
"Malfoy?" Harry questioned, very confused. Draco smiled to the dark haired wizard.
"Potter, what brings you to L.A.?"
Buffy wasn't moving, she was too befuddled to do much. Looking from Giles, to Draco, to who she figured to be Harry Potter, Buffy began to cry.
"Blondie?" Draco called softly to her right, taking her elbow, "What's the matter?"
Snapping out of her thinking, Buffy moved out of Draco's grasp, and ran to the bathroom, locking the door.
"Buffy!" Giles exclaimed, making to go into the apartment, only to be stopped by Draco.
"I don't think so," Draco told the man, "she was fine before you two got here, so I think I should be the one to talk to her."
"Not likely," Harry spat, the contempt between to two had never completely left.
"Sorry mate," the blonde responded, "but she doesn't know you," and before Giles could cut in, Draco added, "and I'm not involved with whatever caused her to run from you."
Closing the door, Draco said one last thing, "You can wait here, until I return with…Buffy," he smiled, now knowing the girl's name.
Walking down the short hall, Draco tapped lightly on the bathroom door, "Blondie? I didn't let them in, but they're still outside. Why don't you let me in so we can talk?" There was a rustling inside the room, and a very blotchy Buffy opened the door, allowing the boy in. She sat on the toilet with the cover down, and Draco crouched in front of her.
"You know, I had a prophecy of my own," Buffy said, deciding it was time she told the wizard of her past. His past was obviously something he didn't like to get into, and he deserved to know the truth about her life.
"Really?" the boy questioned, sitting cross legged now. Buffy nodded.
"In fact, Harry isn't the only with a destiny," Buffy started, "I'm the slayer."
Draco grinned, "Well that explains everything! The strength, and what not. You know, most wizards don't believe in the Slayer, think it's a myth. My Aunt was a Slayer, probably the one before you." Buffy's eyes got a bit wider, but didn't question what he said. "Alright, I'll bite. It's your turn anyway. Tell me the story of Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
"Fine," Buffy agreed, smiling slightly when he said her name, "but we're going back, to when I first found out I was a slayer." Buffy, spoke eloquently, which was rare on her part.
Draco heard a magnificent story, about a girl, obsessed with her self and material items, suddenly torn from the life she new, when her destiny was handed to her. The girl did not want this destiny, but she fought the darkness like she was told, she fought until her destiny took her mentor, Merrick away. She fought until she was kicked out of Hemrey, for burning down the gym, killing the vampires within it. Draco was told how she could not escape her destiny even when she moved away from L.A., to a small town called Sunnydale, two hours south.
That's when the story got better. This girl found her self living on a hellmouth, and was forced to fight the evil that surrounded her everyday. Only this time she had help, her new mentor, Giles, and a growing band of friends. The brainy, but endearing Willow. The goofy, yet brave Xander. The love of her life, who was a vampire himself, Angel. Others came, a cheerleader, a werewolf, and a gypsy posing as a teacher. They all helped her to fight the darkness.
At the end of her first year at Sunnydale High, the slayer faced her prophecy, the one proclaiming her death at the hands of the Master. And die she did, for about a minute. Her friend Xander was able to bring her back to life, with some muggle technique called CPR. Her death had led to the calling of another slayer, even though the first girl was still alive.
The story grew greater, and Draco leaned forward in anticipation of every word coming out of Buffy's mouth. His admiration grew and grew, hearing of everything she had to face. But when she told him of the night she lost her virginity, and her love, Draco thought he may weep with Buffy. The demon within her former lover stalked the girl and her loved ones, killing Jenny, the gypsy and girlfriend of Giles. Angelus found Acathla, and made to unleash hell on earth. Buffy stopped him, but not before her friend Willow, who was well on her way to becoming a great Wiccan, resouled the vampire. It was too late, and Buffy sent Angel to hell, with a kiss on the lips, and a sword in the gut. Forced with the guilt of killing her first love, Buffy fled Sunnydale, and returned to Los Angeles.
Draco looked at the girl beside him, her eyes wet with tears, and her head bowed down the floor. Even in her sadness she looked every inch a hero. 'Oh, Potter really is gonna love this one,' Draco thought with a smile. Draco then stood up, "Right then, pack your things, I'm taking you home."
Buffy looked up at him like he had six heads, "You're what? No. Well, maybe. What about Ginny?"
"That was Potter out there," Draco told the slayer, "And he came to America with Ginny, as well as the other two, Hermione and Ron. I'm assuming that was Giles he was with," Draco inquired and Buffy nodded, "which means the rest a probably in Sunnydale with your friends."
"I wouldn't be surprised," Buffy said, standing from the toilet, "my friends always find away to meet the oddest people."
"One to talk, Summer's."
"Shut up, Malfoy," Buffy replied, both leaving the bathroom. She paused by her bed, looking around the room, looking very nervous.
"Summer's," Draco said from behind her, "I'm not a very affectionate person, so you'll have to excuse me if this is odd." With that he walked up to Buffy, and drew her in to a hug. Though he said it wasn't his thing, it was as warm as any hug Buffy had ever received in her life.
Less than a minute later the pair broke apart, and Buffy went to her closet and removed two duffel bags. Draco did a couple of spells, including a shrinking one, so they could fit all of Buffy's things, in addition to the food they had bought, into only one of the bags. Then he shrunk the other and placed it into the bad as well.
Buffy smiled at him, "So I get to meet the famous Harry Potter?"
"Oh, don't start, he hates it when people call him that anyway," Draco said shaking his head. "If anything you should call him Scarhead, he loves it, I swear."
"Yea, and I think it's cute when my mail says Bunny, instead Buffy," she retorted, cocking an eyebrow and the Slytherin.
"Worth a shot."
Draco and Buffy walked out the door to her apartment, leaving the rent money on the stove, and joined the pair of agitated Englishmen awaiting their presence in the hall way.
Little did the four know that Willow and Ron, having left the night before, were waking up in Boston, with the worst hangovers of their lives.
Author's Note: For all of you looking forward to Boston, you'll have to hold off for a bit longer. It's time to check up on Buffy and Draco, and what they did in the days that the Scoobs were researching. Faith will be along soon enough, just be patient. Oh, and this is going to be my longest chapter yet.
A/N 2: I have recently become very undecided about two of the pairings I have been planning. I know it's going to muck a lot of crap up. The drama is going to make things more interesting. So here comes my first poll, which, in all sincerity, I may completely disregard, anyways.
POLL- Pick Buffy's boy toy for the fic Harry, Draco (it may hurt Ginny though), Spike (Lover's Walk marks his return, but he could come sooner), or well anyone you guys may want. I'd prefer if you stuck to the wizards though. ***Angel is NOT an option here.
TO MY REVIEWERS:
Immortalwizardelf-fan- Wish granted, Buffy and Draco is right here.
Renna- I was originally planning on a B/H, but if you've read my second A/N, you know I'm now up in arms about that. You want it that way, vote for it.
Malli- I would be deeply shamed if I ever forgot Faith was from Boston, I'm from MA! I lived in Boston for six years, therefore, any places I make mention to, they exist. In fact, Faith will probably be living in my old apartment. Maybe. Also, I'm trying to keep Giles as rational as possible, he didn't start getting desperate until the end of the summer.
Tanydwr- Okay, I guess my writing of Ch. 6 wasn't very clear. The reference Hermione found to Occisors was about Oz and Ginny's prophecy. There is only one prophecy. And Faith and Buffy are the Rulers, no one else. Hope this clears things up.
Silver Warrior- Switch it. Willow's group is meeting Faith, and Giles' is getting Buffy.
Odevine1- Thanks, and Willow will very be in the next chap.
Dawnlady- I will never forget Oz. Way too cool of a guy. Thanks for the review, hope you like this update.
TIME TO FIC-IT!
Chapter 7
The door swung open behind Draco, and someone stumbled over him, falling onto the wall opposite the door. This had sufficiently woken the wizard up from his uncomfortable place on the floor.
"Urgh mmph," Draco stated articulately, while rolling over onto his back. Looking at the person who so rudely awoken him, Draco was greeted with the sight of a very pissed of Buffy. "Mornin' Blondie," he drawled, his trade-mark smirk already taking it's place.
"What the hell are you still doing here?" Buffy asked, leaning against the wall she fell into.
"I said I wasn't going anywhere," he reminded the girl. Buffy stuck her tongue out at him. It was at this time that Draco took in Buffy's appearance. He hadn't noticed the night before, but now it was obvious that this girl was a waitress. A waitress, with a name tag. 'Hah' Draco thought triumphantly, as he rose to his feet. Leaning in closely, Draco read the tag, "Know your name now." Buffy blanched at his comment, but then recovered, realizing what the wizard had seen.
"Sorry pal, but that's my middle name," she imparted, walking back into her apartment, holding the newspaper she had gone into the hall for. Draco followed, not giving a damn what she said the night before. Plus she left the door open, it was her own fault. "And don't bother asking anyone for my last name," Buffy advised, "I gave them a fake."
Draco, only slightly crushed, surveyed the apartment he now inhabited. "Blondie, your apartment is horrible," Draco replied from where he sat on Buffy's bed. He was right, it wasn't that her apartment was messy, Buffy herself, no matter what her mother said, wasn't a messy person. The apartment itself, was bleak, it needed a new coat of paint, for starters. The bed was lumpy, it having come with room, as well as a couch, a television, a refrigerator and a stove. It wasn't really an apartment, as much as it was a studio.
"I know, but it's all that my job can afford," Buffy mumbled, as she exited the bathroom, her toothbrush was sticking out the side of her mouth, and some of the paste was trailing down her cheek.
"That's a great look you've got going," Draco mocked, making a motion to his cheek to signal she had something there. Blushing, Buffy returned to the bathroom, to rinse out her mouth.
Buffy came back out less than a minute later settling down on the bed by Draco, and looked around her gloomy home. She turned to the wizard, "Do you want anything to eat? I have leftover pizza, some yogurt, ice cream, and pie form the diner I work at. Pie is the only thing I trust from them, cause they don't make it themselves."
"You mean you don't mind me being in here?" he asked cautiously. 'No need to get oneself kicked out if the girl is being hospitable.' Buffy shook her head, a softness in her eyes.
"I'm not too fond of having you sleeping in my apartment," Buffy started, looking Draco head-on, "But I also know that you're a wizard, which means you could probably get in here if you wanted to." Draco nodded his head in agreement. "I'm not a complete ass, I may not let you sleep here, but I'll feed you."
Draco grinned at this, though in the back of his mind he was beginning to wonder what was going on between him and this blonde. Things were moving in what could potentially be a very bad direction. 'I have a girlfriend,' he reminded himself, 'I have a girlfriend, now all I need is this girl to stop smiling at me. Damn, she has a nice smile.' Shaking his head to break the train of bad thoughts, Draco answered to question of food, "I would love some pizza," adding a dazzling smile to boot.
With a smile of her own, Buffy nodded and moved to the fridge, taking out the pizza box. She pulled the coffee table in front of the couch over to the bed and put the pizza on it.
"Sorry, I don't have a microwave, so it's going to be cold," Buffy told him.
"It's fine, if I knew what a microwave was, I might be disappointed. As it is, I prefer my pizza cold," Buffy's smile grew at his words.
"I love cold pizza! It tastes better, and there's a lot less of a mess."
Draco nodded in agreement, and opened the box, "Peppers and onions," he breathed, "a woman after my own heart," he smiled to Buffy once more. 'If I didn't have a girlfriend, and Blondie couldn't kick my ass, I would be very interested in this girl.' The annoying voice of the previous night popped back into his head, 'You are interested in this girl, you prat.' Draco scowled inwardly, 'If I'm a prat, than so are you. And I don't like Blondie! So just…shut up!' 'Oooo, tough man. I'm scared now.'
"Having fun," Buffy's voice interrupted the wizards inner dialogue. Amusement was unmistakable in her voice. Draco grinned sheepishly, and pointed to his forehead.
"Things can get a little bizarre in there sometimes," the platinum blonde joked, and Buffy chuckled in response.
"I can only imagine."
"I wouldn't recommend it, could get dangerous," Draco said, the knowledge that he was flirting only coming to him after he spoke. 'Damn it!'
"So," Buffy started, munching on a slice, "tell me a bit about yourself, and your girlfriend."
Draco was apprehensive; his past wasn't something he liked to get into. Though looking at her he realized this wasn't someone he had known his whole life. She didn't harbor any negative feelings towards him. He could tell Blondie his story, his side, and all she would do is listen. Sure some of it was dark, but she clearly had seen some dark things. Vampires for instance, who knew what else. She could handle this sort of thing.
"Oh crap!" Buffy shouted, "I have to be at work in fifteen minutes! Oh, I'm sorry Draco, but I really have to go. I can't get fired, I need this job," she explained, her eyes slightly pleading.
"Well, then what the hell are we doing here? Let's get going," Draco instructed, standing up. He offered his hand to her, and she took it, pulling herself up from the low bed. Buffy smoothed out the creases in her skirt, while Draco did a few invigorating spells to make himself more presentable for the day. Each grabbed a slice of pizza and headed off for the diner.
"Okay," Buffy started, as they walked down the grubby street, "what are you gonna do while I'm working?"
Draco chewed the piece of food in his mouth as he contemplated his answer. He swallowed then, "I hadn't put any thought into that…In all candor, I was planning on following you around the entire day. That's probably not the best idea though, is it?"
"No, not exactly. But I can't really have you running around a city you've never been to, surrounded by things you don't understand," Buffy replied, then paused to come up with the most plausible answer, "Oh! This is perfect."
Draco looked at her suspiciously, "What's perfect?" Buffy was eyeing him very strangely.
"We've been short a busboy at the diner, you'd be just right to fill in, temporarily of course," Buffy said, with a thoughtful expression. Draco, however, wasn't at all pleased.
"No. No way, I don't do muggle work," he stated, adding, "let alone degrading muggle work. We have busboys in the wizarding world, but at least they get to use magic. Sorry Blondie, but I don't think so."
Buffy was livid, "Fine, you come up with a better idea, MagicBoy."
"You bet your ass I will."
~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~
"Luke, get over to table three an' clean up them dishes," Billy called from the grill. Buffy was trying her hardest not to die from laughter.
"Yea, Luke get to it," she whispered to Draco, who was sitting on a stool at the counter. Complying with the cooks order, he got up and cleaned up the mess made by two infested looking prostitutes at table three.
So he hadn't come up with a better idea, but Draco didn't have any muggle money, nor did he know how to use it even if he did. Buffy had told her boss that Draco was a friend visiting her from London, and wouldn't mind busing for a couple of days while he was there. Billy gave in to the girl's request, and allowed "Luke", a shortened version of Draco's middle name, to work at the diner. It was minimum wage, and under the table. 'A Malfoy, doing the work of muggle peasants. Father would just eat this up. Rot in Hell you bastard,' the wizard thought to himself as he wiped down the disgusting table, with an even worse dish cloth.
Walking through the swinging doors and into the kitchen, Draco began to clean off the tableware the way Blondie had shown him. His hands were already raw from the scolding hot water, adding from several burn's Draco had obtained from accidentally touching the grill numerous times. The once flawless hands would never be the same. 'Screw this, tomorrow I'll just walk around this city until Blondie's off work.' 'Oh that's smart,' his other voice argued back, 'Show the girl how determined you are by giving up after the first day. I'm sure she'll be thinking very highly of you.' Draco grimaced, 'I don't like when you're right.' 'Ha.'
"Stop daydreamin' boy, and wash the friggin dishes," Billy yelled out, flinging a bit of hot grease at Draco to get his attention.
"Ahhh! Son of a bitch! What the hell was that for?" the platinum wizard screamed. The grease was stinging into the back of Draco's neck, leaving another burn to scar his skin.
"I'm not paying you to waste the hot water, now get back to it, or I'll shove the spatula up your ass," Billy threatened as Buffy entered the kitchen, having heard Draco's scream from outside.
"The food already taste's like you did, Bill," the slayer quipped, getting her a snort form the cook.
"Right you are Harris, but keep it down, can't let all the family secrets out," Billy replied, still laughing a bit. Draco looked between the two, not understanding why Billy liked her, but not him. 'I doubt you look that good in a skirt,' Draco's alter-ego voice suggested.
"Ewww, Bill that's disgusting. Never tell me what's in the special sauce," Buffy grimaced, then turned to throw a wink at Draco, before returning to the front counter, where several druggies were looking for a refill on their java.
"Don't ever tell her I said this, or April for that matter," Billy started, looking Draco in the eye for the first time that day, "but Anne's a great girl. You're lucky to have her."
Draco didn't attempt to correct to cook, just smiled and nodded his head agreeing, "Yes, I really am."
For the rest of that day, not one complaint was heard out of "Luke."
~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~
It was Saturday morning, and also Buffy's day off. For the past three day's Draco had accompanied her to work, busing his tables, and rinsing off the plates. When April failed to show up on time again, Draco took up her shift, so Buffy could go home and take a shower. He hadn't mind, especially when a few of the patron's tipped him extra for "having a nice ass." That was last night, and today Draco was curled up into his usual position outside Blondie's door. He snored lightly, stirring for a second, then falling back into sleep.
The door to Buffy's apartment creaked open, "Hey, MagicBoy, time to get up, it's nine." Draco shot up, looking half asleep, and half pissed off.
"Nine? Blondie, we have to be at work…now!"
"Chill, it's our day off. Bill gave us the same hours for simplicity's sake," Buffy reassured him, opening to door wider, as to allow the other blonde in. Draco conformed, and entered the small living area. Each settled down at the end of her bed, clicking on the television.
"Breakfast?" Buffy offered. Draco smiled, nodding his head. He had come in late the night before, and didn't get a chance to eat. As there was no way he would eat anything served at the diner.
"Anymore of those chocolate puff things?" he asked hopefully. They had gone shopping after work on Thursday, Buffy telling the wizard that there were certain things he needed to try before dying. They consisted of Buffalo wings, Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream, Oreo Cookies and, his new favorite, Chocolate Cocoa Puffs. Draco had been convinced it was magic when the mild turned colors in the bowl.
"Would I let you down?" Buffy replied, getting up to retrieve two bowl, the cereal, and a carton of milk. Pouring them each some, Buffy handed Draco his bowl and a spoon. She pulled the coffee table over once again, and both began their meal.
Looking up from his bowl to watch the screen in front of him, Draco was faced with a dire question, "What are we watching?" Television had been presented to him before meeting Buffy, though the show that was now on, was completely foreign to the wizard.
"The Power Rangers," Buffy replied, with a mouth full of chocolaty goodness, "part of the Saturday morning line-up. The pink one is my favorite. Spiderman is on next, you'll probably like it. Young men prancing around in tights, it's right up you're alley."
"I'm not gay, as I have repeated told you for the past three days," Draco responded in a dry voice.
"So says your manly hair," Buffy joked, and Draco laughed too. It wasn't the first time someone had poked fun at the wizards hair style, but it was the first time he didn't care. "Now, how bout you tell me about the life of Draco Malfoy, you never got around to it on Wednesday."
Draco began to squirm, he had decided to tell Buffy it came up again, but it didn't make the story any easier to tell, "You want all the gory details?"
"Better believe it," Buffy said, then sensing his discomfort, "it can't be that bad, right?"
"Oh it can, and it is," Draco stated grimly. "I wasn't always the nice young man you see before you today," Draco started after clearing his throat, and taking a sip of the orange juice Buffy had got for him, "For the first sixteen years of my life I was a right little prick. I had all these prejudices, partly because I didn't know any better. But mostly because of my father. I would have liked nothing more than to become just like Lucius Malfoy. To a be a Death Eater, and right hand man to the Dark Lord," at Buffy's confusion he went into the story of Voldemort, which eventually tied into the story of Potter. He spoke what he new of Potter's great adventures, along with his friends, Granger and Weasley. Draco then drew back to his own tale, "As I said, my father was a follower of Voldemort, and being Lucius' son, I was expected to do the same. I wanted to do it, and the summer before my seventh year at Hogwarts I was to receive the Dark Mark.
"Only the year before a problem arose, I was in love. I was in love with someone who was for everything I was against. The sister of one of my biggest enemies, and the daughter of one of my father's greatest rivals. The miraculous part was that she loved me back, she accepted me, and helped me to realize how wrong I was. How wrong my father was. Ginny Weasley saved my life, I'm sure of it," Draco stopped when he heard Buffy's gasp. He had told her about the Golden Trio, as well as the youngest Weasley. He had told Buffy of his deep loathing for all of them. It was a shock for her to hear that he now loved the girl.
"Keep going, please," Buffy begged. And with a grin, Draco obliged.
"I couldn't tell my father about us, that was obvious, but I needed help getting away from him. So I went to Potter, and I went to Dumbledore. The only way to escape Lucius was by making friends with his enemies. Surprisingly enough, they understood, well Potter took some coaxing from Ginny, but eventually he was on board. And the plan was brilliant."
"The summer before my seventh year at Hogwarts, I took the Dark Mark," Draco stopped, and lifted up the sleeve on his right arm and showed it to Buffy, she gaped at Draco. Gently, she ran her fingers over the mark, and sucked in her breath. Draco continued, "It was also that summer that I began my life as a spy for Dumbledore. I would go to the meetings; even some private ones between the Dark Lord and my father, then report what I heard to Dumbledore. Voldemort had planned one last great attack, this one on the entire school. It would happen during the End of the Year Feast in the Great Hall, myself and fellow student Death Eaters were to begin the attack, stunning as many teachers as possible, Dumbledore being the most important to take down."
"Now on the spy side of things, I had a very different job to do, right before the Death Eaters were to attack the teachers, myself and Pansy Parkinson, a trusted Slytherin who had many of the same views as I, were to stun all the other Death Eaters. We succeeded in that, but not minutes after the doors to the Great Hall burst open, and we had a full fledged fight on our hands."
"My father, having realized what happened, came after me, and just as he was about to perform the killing curse, Ginny attacked him from behind. They dueled, and Ginny prevailed, she used a disarming spell to knock Lucius back into a wall, where he then slipped into an unconscious state. I took out one or two Death Eaters myself, though they weren't as skilled as my father. And finally, Potter completed his destiny, and killed the Dark Lord," Draco finished, the last sentence he waved his hand while speaking, as though it were an after thought.
Buffy's jaw was practically touching the rug, her eyes were the size of saucers, and she stared a Draco. "That," she spoke, "has to be the most amazing story I ever heard. I had respect for you before, but now. Wow, I'm just…in awe. I want to meet Ginny. I want to meet Harry too."
"Who wouldn't, he's the greatest wizard there ever was," Draco replied somewhat bitterly. Buffy, noticing this tried to sooth his self-hatred.
"Draco, I'm sure Harry is a great guy," Draco snorted at her comment, "but he has nothing on you. From what you've told me, Harry was doing exactly what his parents would have wanted. Exactly what everyone he knew wanted. You went against family and friends, he had it easy compared to you, sure he lost a lot of people. But so did you. The people he loved died, so it was impossible for him to speak with them again. Draco, your family is still alive, but decline to speak with you. Harry might be the hero of your world, but he did what he did because of a prophecy, you did it because you knew it was right." When Buffy had finished, both were near tears, but neither allowed them to fall.
A knock sounded at the door, breaking both from their thoughts. Buffy stood to get the door, Draco following close behind, knowing that it was rare for her to receive visitors. Not bothering to look through the peephole, Buffy swung the door open.
"Buffy?" Giles asked in disbelief, and the man beside him looked over the watcher's shoulder to the person behind the slayer.
"Malfoy?" Harry questioned, very confused. Draco smiled to the dark haired wizard.
"Potter, what brings you to L.A.?"
Buffy wasn't moving, she was too befuddled to do much. Looking from Giles, to Draco, to who she figured to be Harry Potter, Buffy began to cry.
"Blondie?" Draco called softly to her right, taking her elbow, "What's the matter?"
Snapping out of her thinking, Buffy moved out of Draco's grasp, and ran to the bathroom, locking the door.
"Buffy!" Giles exclaimed, making to go into the apartment, only to be stopped by Draco.
"I don't think so," Draco told the man, "she was fine before you two got here, so I think I should be the one to talk to her."
"Not likely," Harry spat, the contempt between to two had never completely left.
"Sorry mate," the blonde responded, "but she doesn't know you," and before Giles could cut in, Draco added, "and I'm not involved with whatever caused her to run from you."
Closing the door, Draco said one last thing, "You can wait here, until I return with…Buffy," he smiled, now knowing the girl's name.
Walking down the short hall, Draco tapped lightly on the bathroom door, "Blondie? I didn't let them in, but they're still outside. Why don't you let me in so we can talk?" There was a rustling inside the room, and a very blotchy Buffy opened the door, allowing the boy in. She sat on the toilet with the cover down, and Draco crouched in front of her.
"You know, I had a prophecy of my own," Buffy said, deciding it was time she told the wizard of her past. His past was obviously something he didn't like to get into, and he deserved to know the truth about her life.
"Really?" the boy questioned, sitting cross legged now. Buffy nodded.
"In fact, Harry isn't the only with a destiny," Buffy started, "I'm the slayer."
Draco grinned, "Well that explains everything! The strength, and what not. You know, most wizards don't believe in the Slayer, think it's a myth. My Aunt was a Slayer, probably the one before you." Buffy's eyes got a bit wider, but didn't question what he said. "Alright, I'll bite. It's your turn anyway. Tell me the story of Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
"Fine," Buffy agreed, smiling slightly when he said her name, "but we're going back, to when I first found out I was a slayer." Buffy, spoke eloquently, which was rare on her part.
Draco heard a magnificent story, about a girl, obsessed with her self and material items, suddenly torn from the life she new, when her destiny was handed to her. The girl did not want this destiny, but she fought the darkness like she was told, she fought until her destiny took her mentor, Merrick away. She fought until she was kicked out of Hemrey, for burning down the gym, killing the vampires within it. Draco was told how she could not escape her destiny even when she moved away from L.A., to a small town called Sunnydale, two hours south.
That's when the story got better. This girl found her self living on a hellmouth, and was forced to fight the evil that surrounded her everyday. Only this time she had help, her new mentor, Giles, and a growing band of friends. The brainy, but endearing Willow. The goofy, yet brave Xander. The love of her life, who was a vampire himself, Angel. Others came, a cheerleader, a werewolf, and a gypsy posing as a teacher. They all helped her to fight the darkness.
At the end of her first year at Sunnydale High, the slayer faced her prophecy, the one proclaiming her death at the hands of the Master. And die she did, for about a minute. Her friend Xander was able to bring her back to life, with some muggle technique called CPR. Her death had led to the calling of another slayer, even though the first girl was still alive.
The story grew greater, and Draco leaned forward in anticipation of every word coming out of Buffy's mouth. His admiration grew and grew, hearing of everything she had to face. But when she told him of the night she lost her virginity, and her love, Draco thought he may weep with Buffy. The demon within her former lover stalked the girl and her loved ones, killing Jenny, the gypsy and girlfriend of Giles. Angelus found Acathla, and made to unleash hell on earth. Buffy stopped him, but not before her friend Willow, who was well on her way to becoming a great Wiccan, resouled the vampire. It was too late, and Buffy sent Angel to hell, with a kiss on the lips, and a sword in the gut. Forced with the guilt of killing her first love, Buffy fled Sunnydale, and returned to Los Angeles.
Draco looked at the girl beside him, her eyes wet with tears, and her head bowed down the floor. Even in her sadness she looked every inch a hero. 'Oh, Potter really is gonna love this one,' Draco thought with a smile. Draco then stood up, "Right then, pack your things, I'm taking you home."
Buffy looked up at him like he had six heads, "You're what? No. Well, maybe. What about Ginny?"
"That was Potter out there," Draco told the slayer, "And he came to America with Ginny, as well as the other two, Hermione and Ron. I'm assuming that was Giles he was with," Draco inquired and Buffy nodded, "which means the rest a probably in Sunnydale with your friends."
"I wouldn't be surprised," Buffy said, standing from the toilet, "my friends always find away to meet the oddest people."
"One to talk, Summer's."
"Shut up, Malfoy," Buffy replied, both leaving the bathroom. She paused by her bed, looking around the room, looking very nervous.
"Summer's," Draco said from behind her, "I'm not a very affectionate person, so you'll have to excuse me if this is odd." With that he walked up to Buffy, and drew her in to a hug. Though he said it wasn't his thing, it was as warm as any hug Buffy had ever received in her life.
Less than a minute later the pair broke apart, and Buffy went to her closet and removed two duffel bags. Draco did a couple of spells, including a shrinking one, so they could fit all of Buffy's things, in addition to the food they had bought, into only one of the bags. Then he shrunk the other and placed it into the bad as well.
Buffy smiled at him, "So I get to meet the famous Harry Potter?"
"Oh, don't start, he hates it when people call him that anyway," Draco said shaking his head. "If anything you should call him Scarhead, he loves it, I swear."
"Yea, and I think it's cute when my mail says Bunny, instead Buffy," she retorted, cocking an eyebrow and the Slytherin.
"Worth a shot."
Draco and Buffy walked out the door to her apartment, leaving the rent money on the stove, and joined the pair of agitated Englishmen awaiting their presence in the hall way.
Little did the four know that Willow and Ron, having left the night before, were waking up in Boston, with the worst hangovers of their lives.