AN: Very short chapter.
Spike sat in his new room. It was in the dungeon of the school, down the hall from Snape. It was a very nice room. Nicer than his crypt. Much nicer than his crypt.
"Hello Spike"
The man turned around and saw the ghost of an old friend.
"Tara."
The ghost of the young girl was exactly as Spike remembered her. Her smile was still lovely and she still seemed to have that sparkle in her eye.
"Wish I could hug you but you're a little too ethereal for me."
Tara laughed lightly.
"You don't mind me suggesting you as a professor do you?"
Spike shook his head, "I don't mind at all. I wasn't doing anything of any use to anyone. Just wallowing in my own self-pity."
"Still miss Buffy?"
Spike thought about it for a moment. He smiled to himself when he realized that he could answer honestly.
"No. Last I heard, she married Angel and they have a son."
Tara nodded, "That's what Willow said. Cute boy. They named him Giles Adam. Willow found herself a nice girl. Another witch. They seem very good for each other. Dawn isn't married but she is pregnant."
Spike shook his head. Dawn was barely 19 now. She was much too young to be a single mother. Well, nothing he could do about it.
"Have you heard of a young woman named Hermione Granger?"
Tara thought about it for a moment.
"Yes. Yes I've heard of her. Charming girl. Highly intelligent. Very lovely. I saw her earlier. She said hello but looked very sad. Why?"
Spike just shrugged and Tara laughed.
"Spike...do you have a crush on a student?"
"Shut up."
Before being able to reply, someone knocked at his door. Tara winked at him.
"I'll see you later, Spike."
Tara went through the wall and a moment later, Severus walked in. Spike stood up.
"Hello Severus."
The other man smiled.
"I hope the trip over here wasn't too nauseating for you."
Spike smirked, "No. It was quite enjoyable."
Severus raised an eyebrow, "Enjoyable? I never found train rides enjoyable. I especially can't see how riding a train with all those brats could be enjoyable. Care to discuss this?"
"I don't know. Probably the company and the view."
This made Severus a bit confused. If he remembered correctly, Granger was assigned to help the professor get...bloody hell.
"Spike, don't tell me you have...feelings for a student."
The new professor laughed.
"Severus. I said the company was enjoyable and the view wasn't that bad either. I wouldn't be much of a man if I didn't notice that Hermione is a very attractive young woman. I'm a vampire but I have a soul and I know the boundaries between a student and teacher."
Severus sighed, "She really has grown up."