Title: A Place For My Head
===============================================================
Chapter 2
"I wanna shut the door and open up my mind"
August 15, 2004
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Dull sounds echoed through the training room as fist met canvas. Harry huffed a little as punch after punch thudded against the bag hanging in the corner. Sliding back a little, a hard side kick followed. With a twist, he turned and sent a back hand into the bag before following up with a roundhouse. Shifting back into his stance, he upped the pace of the workout, increasingly rapid strikes firing out at the bag.
"You know, someone might mistake you for a Slayer with that kind of intensity." A pause followed. "Well, until they realized you didn't have any boobs."
A dry chuckle came out as Harry turned towards the door. "Sarcastic as always, Faith. What are you doing up?"
Grinning slyly, the Slayer glided into the room, stretching her arms over her head. "I could ask the same of you, tall, dark, and British. I'm used to being up this late, but I'm not on patrol duty tonight. Since I was up, thought I might get some work in." Arching over backwards, her hands touched the floor in a perfect bridge. "You've picked up on things quickly, it seems."
When Harry had arrived at the Watcher and Slayer training center in Bath, he had no idea how much physical combat training he was facing. Giles had explained that new Watchers would be expected to be able to assist their Slayers in their duties, and that meant training. On top of hand-to-hand combat, there was both melee and projectile weapons training. And once every couple of weeks each Watcher trainee would be required to fight one of Slayer trainees. The rationale was that if you could at least keep up with a Slayer, you were capable of assisting in combat situations. It also ensured that the egos of the men didn't inflate to the point of foolishly trying to keep a Slayer from doing her duty because she was a "girl."
"I've had some defense training in the past."
Faith had bent forward, her hands on her feet, and she looked up in indignation. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but when you got here, Watcher-boy, you couldn't throw a punch that would harm a piece of paper."
Harry just grinned. "I didn't say the training was in hand-to-hand defense."
Faith shook her head in annoyance. "I know you're hiding something from us, but Giles trusts you. Actually, I kind of think he considers you his heir-apparent."
"I don't know about that, but I will be looking forward to moving on to a real assignment. My combat skills seem to be almost there, but my demonology studies are coming a lot slower."
Faith jumped a couple of times in place, the blood starting to flow nicely. "It ain't all fun and games, you know? There's violence, death, blood... with the occasional crap-the-world's-gonna-end moments. Up for a spar, Scar-head?"
Harry grimaced. "I really wish you wouldn't call me that. Brings back bad memories." All he got in response was a kick towards his head that he ducked instinctively.
"You beat me, and I'll stop." Grinning devilishly, she launched several punches towards Harry that he was able to dodge or block, the latter leaving bruises he knew would hurt tomorrow. He spun away from one punch, grabbing Faith's arm and pulling her towards him and tossing her over his hip. She immediately thrust her legs up into his chest and giving her enough space to flip to her feet.
She ducked a straight punch from Harry and quickly jabbed him in the ribs, following up with an elbow to his shoulder blades that floored him. He rolled out of the way of the foot stomp towards his lower back, and swept her legs out from under her. Pouncing on her, he shot a knife strike towards her neck and paused just inches away. "Why'd you go easy?"
Faith just grinned. "Just wondered what it would be like being pinned under you with those green eyes staring down at me," she said with a teasing note to her voice. Harry just laughed and moved to help her up.
"I always figured you would prefer to be on top, Faith."
"So you have learned something in your time here."
===============================================================
Several more months passed quickly. Harry was easily one of the top fighters in the Watcher class. He figured that out of the 8 recruits, he was one of the few to already have experience "fighting the good fight." He wasn't the best shot with a crossbow, but he was quickly growing very proficient in short-range and hand-to-hand combat.
He struggled a lot more with the demonology classes. He had never been the most studious at Hogwarts, though his study habits had improved at Oxford. He had buried himself in the class work then, using it as a distraction from his memories of the war and the feeling of incompleteness without Ron and Hermione by his side.
Here in Bath, though, he had found some people who befriended him. First and foremost was Robin Wood, former high school principal and son of a Slayer. They bonded, recognizing a kindred spirit in the other. They had both lost parents at young ages, and struggled with growing up with that sense of loss. He was just now going through the Watcher training, having to wait while he recovered from the wounds he had received in the fight with the First, then with helping Giles and the 'Scooby Gang' set up the new Council. His combat skills where already pretty good, but he needed to learn more in demonology and the supernatural before officially taking over as a Watcher.
Faith had slowly become a friend, at first only because Robin had seemed to bond with him. She didn't trust easily, and sensed that Harry was hiding something from them. It took a while, but Harry finally convinced her that he was being true, even if he didn't share everything about himself. Or maybe it was just because he was one of the few of the males at the center that could take her over-the-top flirting without blushing four shades of red.
His life seemed to be settling into a routine, but there was a part of him that deeply missed the world he had left behind. Well, not so much that world, but some of the people in it. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and the rest of the Weasleys he missed desperately. Part of him wanted to go by, just to touch base, but knew he didn't have time.
New Orleans had seen resurgence in vampire activity in the past year, so a small team was being sent. He was on one of two Watcher and Slayer partnerships being assigned there. Robin and Faith would be coming along, Robin having finished his training and Faith rotating back into active field work. Harry had heard that Willow Rosenberg and her Slayer/girlfriend Kennedy would be arriving to take over for the leadership roles that Faith and Robin were vacating.
His Slayer's name was Ashley Davis, a 16 year old whose Watcher had been killed by the Bringers the previous year. She had been able to get away, and the Council had not been able to find her before the First destroyed it. She had been found by Giles and the new Council, and felt she was now ready for active duty.
He finished writing the letter in front of him, and looked it over one last time.
Dear Ron and Hermione,
I know that it's been awhile since you've heard from me; actually it's
been since I left. I want you to know that I am well, and that for
the first time in a long time I feel that I'm doing what I want to do,
and not just what I'm supposed to do.
The reason that I'm writing now is that where I'm going and what I'm
doing is something that could possibly mean I can't contact you for
some time. I always could before, and I didn't, but the very fact
that I could meant that actually contacting you could wait.
Well, it can't wait anymore. I just want you to know that I am fine,
and that I love you two as much as I always have. I know in my heart,
that even with me running away like I did, you will be at my side if I
ever need. Thank you for being my friends.
Good luck in your life together. If you have any children yet, please
give them a kiss from their 'Uncle Harry.' I do miss you, and think
of you constantly.
Until we see each other again, Your friend forever,
Harry
Sighing a little to himself, he caressed the names of his two best friends. Folding the letter, he turned and gave it to the post owl he had gotten from the nearby Owl Post office. Watching the bird fly into the distance, he grabbed his bags, slung them over his shoulder, and strode from his dorm.
Robin looked up from the trunk of the car they were taking to the airport. "You ready for this?"
Harry breathed deeply, staring into the distance for a second. Turning to his friend, he smiled. "So, what do you say we go save the world?"
A/N: There's chapter 3, the longest yet! And I think the best, but that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.
===============================================================
Chapter 2
"I wanna shut the door and open up my mind"
August 15, 2004
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Dull sounds echoed through the training room as fist met canvas. Harry huffed a little as punch after punch thudded against the bag hanging in the corner. Sliding back a little, a hard side kick followed. With a twist, he turned and sent a back hand into the bag before following up with a roundhouse. Shifting back into his stance, he upped the pace of the workout, increasingly rapid strikes firing out at the bag.
"You know, someone might mistake you for a Slayer with that kind of intensity." A pause followed. "Well, until they realized you didn't have any boobs."
A dry chuckle came out as Harry turned towards the door. "Sarcastic as always, Faith. What are you doing up?"
Grinning slyly, the Slayer glided into the room, stretching her arms over her head. "I could ask the same of you, tall, dark, and British. I'm used to being up this late, but I'm not on patrol duty tonight. Since I was up, thought I might get some work in." Arching over backwards, her hands touched the floor in a perfect bridge. "You've picked up on things quickly, it seems."
When Harry had arrived at the Watcher and Slayer training center in Bath, he had no idea how much physical combat training he was facing. Giles had explained that new Watchers would be expected to be able to assist their Slayers in their duties, and that meant training. On top of hand-to-hand combat, there was both melee and projectile weapons training. And once every couple of weeks each Watcher trainee would be required to fight one of Slayer trainees. The rationale was that if you could at least keep up with a Slayer, you were capable of assisting in combat situations. It also ensured that the egos of the men didn't inflate to the point of foolishly trying to keep a Slayer from doing her duty because she was a "girl."
"I've had some defense training in the past."
Faith had bent forward, her hands on her feet, and she looked up in indignation. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but when you got here, Watcher-boy, you couldn't throw a punch that would harm a piece of paper."
Harry just grinned. "I didn't say the training was in hand-to-hand defense."
Faith shook her head in annoyance. "I know you're hiding something from us, but Giles trusts you. Actually, I kind of think he considers you his heir-apparent."
"I don't know about that, but I will be looking forward to moving on to a real assignment. My combat skills seem to be almost there, but my demonology studies are coming a lot slower."
Faith jumped a couple of times in place, the blood starting to flow nicely. "It ain't all fun and games, you know? There's violence, death, blood... with the occasional crap-the-world's-gonna-end moments. Up for a spar, Scar-head?"
Harry grimaced. "I really wish you wouldn't call me that. Brings back bad memories." All he got in response was a kick towards his head that he ducked instinctively.
"You beat me, and I'll stop." Grinning devilishly, she launched several punches towards Harry that he was able to dodge or block, the latter leaving bruises he knew would hurt tomorrow. He spun away from one punch, grabbing Faith's arm and pulling her towards him and tossing her over his hip. She immediately thrust her legs up into his chest and giving her enough space to flip to her feet.
She ducked a straight punch from Harry and quickly jabbed him in the ribs, following up with an elbow to his shoulder blades that floored him. He rolled out of the way of the foot stomp towards his lower back, and swept her legs out from under her. Pouncing on her, he shot a knife strike towards her neck and paused just inches away. "Why'd you go easy?"
Faith just grinned. "Just wondered what it would be like being pinned under you with those green eyes staring down at me," she said with a teasing note to her voice. Harry just laughed and moved to help her up.
"I always figured you would prefer to be on top, Faith."
"So you have learned something in your time here."
===============================================================
Several more months passed quickly. Harry was easily one of the top fighters in the Watcher class. He figured that out of the 8 recruits, he was one of the few to already have experience "fighting the good fight." He wasn't the best shot with a crossbow, but he was quickly growing very proficient in short-range and hand-to-hand combat.
He struggled a lot more with the demonology classes. He had never been the most studious at Hogwarts, though his study habits had improved at Oxford. He had buried himself in the class work then, using it as a distraction from his memories of the war and the feeling of incompleteness without Ron and Hermione by his side.
Here in Bath, though, he had found some people who befriended him. First and foremost was Robin Wood, former high school principal and son of a Slayer. They bonded, recognizing a kindred spirit in the other. They had both lost parents at young ages, and struggled with growing up with that sense of loss. He was just now going through the Watcher training, having to wait while he recovered from the wounds he had received in the fight with the First, then with helping Giles and the 'Scooby Gang' set up the new Council. His combat skills where already pretty good, but he needed to learn more in demonology and the supernatural before officially taking over as a Watcher.
Faith had slowly become a friend, at first only because Robin had seemed to bond with him. She didn't trust easily, and sensed that Harry was hiding something from them. It took a while, but Harry finally convinced her that he was being true, even if he didn't share everything about himself. Or maybe it was just because he was one of the few of the males at the center that could take her over-the-top flirting without blushing four shades of red.
His life seemed to be settling into a routine, but there was a part of him that deeply missed the world he had left behind. Well, not so much that world, but some of the people in it. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and the rest of the Weasleys he missed desperately. Part of him wanted to go by, just to touch base, but knew he didn't have time.
New Orleans had seen resurgence in vampire activity in the past year, so a small team was being sent. He was on one of two Watcher and Slayer partnerships being assigned there. Robin and Faith would be coming along, Robin having finished his training and Faith rotating back into active field work. Harry had heard that Willow Rosenberg and her Slayer/girlfriend Kennedy would be arriving to take over for the leadership roles that Faith and Robin were vacating.
His Slayer's name was Ashley Davis, a 16 year old whose Watcher had been killed by the Bringers the previous year. She had been able to get away, and the Council had not been able to find her before the First destroyed it. She had been found by Giles and the new Council, and felt she was now ready for active duty.
He finished writing the letter in front of him, and looked it over one last time.
Dear Ron and Hermione,
I know that it's been awhile since you've heard from me; actually it's
been since I left. I want you to know that I am well, and that for
the first time in a long time I feel that I'm doing what I want to do,
and not just what I'm supposed to do.
The reason that I'm writing now is that where I'm going and what I'm
doing is something that could possibly mean I can't contact you for
some time. I always could before, and I didn't, but the very fact
that I could meant that actually contacting you could wait.
Well, it can't wait anymore. I just want you to know that I am fine,
and that I love you two as much as I always have. I know in my heart,
that even with me running away like I did, you will be at my side if I
ever need. Thank you for being my friends.
Good luck in your life together. If you have any children yet, please
give them a kiss from their 'Uncle Harry.' I do miss you, and think
of you constantly.
Until we see each other again, Your friend forever,
Harry
Sighing a little to himself, he caressed the names of his two best friends. Folding the letter, he turned and gave it to the post owl he had gotten from the nearby Owl Post office. Watching the bird fly into the distance, he grabbed his bags, slung them over his shoulder, and strode from his dorm.
Robin looked up from the trunk of the car they were taking to the airport. "You ready for this?"
Harry breathed deeply, staring into the distance for a second. Turning to his friend, he smiled. "So, what do you say we go save the world?"
A/N: There's chapter 3, the longest yet! And I think the best, but that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.