A knock sounded on the door and Buffy immediately jumped to her feet. She opened the door to find her husband, Harry, Ron and Hermione, and...Spike. "What is he doing here?" Buffy asked Angel.
"He wants to tell you something. Though I can't stand to hear him talk anymore. Crying and moaning. A bit annoying really." Angel pulled chairs over for the kids and they all sat down. They were extremely tired and beat after running around the forest all night.
Angel and the kids had entered the room, but Spike remained at the doorway. "Aren't you going to invite me in?" he asked them.
"So, he has enough manners to wait to be invited in, but cares less whether he kills Hermione or not?" Ron was livid and did not trust this man one bit. He talked as if he wasn't human, that he never had a soul. He kept saying that Professor O'Connor was cursed.
"It's complicated." Angel said as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Come in Spike, but if you even look at one of these kids or Buffy wrong, I will kill you."
Spike stepped through the doorway, "Already dead mate." He whispered as he walked past Angel. "Cozy little set-up you have here. Free food, free living arrangements, not to mention, the whole teacher thing you two got going."
"Sit down Spike." Buffy hissed at their visitor. "We are Professors here at the school. We teach Defense Against the Dark Arts here."
"Bollocks. You two aren't as much teachers as I am a socialist. Be realistic."
"Spike, if this is what you came to tell me, then you better leave this room right now. I could do without the criticizing." Buffy walked over to the door and swung it open violently.
"Alright. The thing I needed to tell you was that I've changed."
"Not from where I'm standing." Angel said sarcastically.
"Changed? You can't change Spike. It's you. You kill and love it."
"That's just it...I don't anymore. I can't even bear remembering those I have killed. Angel should have told me how much it hurts, how much it burns. It eats me alive day after day." Spike fell to his knees on the floor.
Buffy stared at him shocked. "Your soul...you got your soul back."
"Yeah, and I did it for you!" Spike sobbed.
"Spike! You got cursed with a conscience. Big deal, it has been done before."
"No. This is different. I wasn't cursed like Angelus. I got my soul. I went halfway across the world to get it. Three bloody tests and trials. Agony, defeat, pain. All of it...just for you."
"Okay, we've been really quiet, but right now we're all confused." Harry said finally.
"Yeah, what the bloody hell is going on?" Ron blurted out.
Buffy got up and told the kids to follow her. She walked them to their room and left them there. "You three don't need to be involved in this. It's our problem and none of your concern. Just get some rest. Classes start tomorrow."
Buffy watched the three Gryffindors enter their room, then headed back to hers. Before she even opened the door, she could hear Angel and Spike arguing. "No Spike! You aren't staying anywhere near her!"
"And you're not the one to tell me what to do!" Spike screamed.
"That's right. I am." An aged voice responded.
Buffy ran quickly into the room. "Professor Dumbledore! I'm so sorry about all the noise. Spike was just leaving."
"On the contrary Mrs. O'Connor. I think that Spike should stay for awhile. In his own quarters, of course." Dumbledore waved Spike to himself.
"So, are you like the principal here?" Spike asked.
"No, William." Spike's eyes bulged at his last name. "Yes, Spike I know quite a lot about you and Angel, but we're going to keep that quiet for now. But, to answer your question, I am the headmaster of the school."
"Ahh. So, where am I staying mate?"
"Your room is by the Slytherin's common room. It's closer to the dungeons. Nice and dark. I hope you find it welcoming." Spike turned to leave, but Dumbledore stopped him. "Oh, and William. If you threaten any of these students or teachers lives, in any way, I will find the appropriate consequence. For I know many spells, that involve a great deal of summoning sunlight."
Spike stared at Dumbledore and then hastily left the room.
Reviews please! Oh, and thanks to Sara for sticking up for me and my story, and all those other B/A fans! You're definitely right about the pair.
