SLNS: Running away I made as a one-shot. This story is a different plot, running on the back of my one-shot. AH, I'm hoping to answer that in my little story review for the sequel of this one. But Draco, after the events of this story, will return to Hogwarts, and Harry of course. This is primarily a Harry/Draco series. However, there are other pairings, such as Dawn/Spike, which I will start on this chapter. I suppose this story is mainly Dawn/Spike and thier friendship with Draco. As well as Draco coming to grips with his life. The third of the series will focus back on Harry/Draco with the pairing from this story in the background.
princess kyra:Thank you! I hope you enjoy this chapter, as well. Oh, and be sure to read and review the preview to my third story in this series.
Angeleus:Yep! Harry/Draco slash.
A/N2: At the end of chapter two is a prieview to the thrird part of this series, 'Maybe Forever'...ach, sounds like a bleeding romance novel :flinch:
Chapter Two:Meeting the Scoobies.
Dawn kept chattering all the way to a rather drab magic shop. Draco raised an eyebrow in curiousity and slight awe. How were they hiding in plain daylight? Were they witches and wizards as well? Was this Giles person a wizard or witch?
Dawn flew through the doors of the shop, greeting a blond woman behind the register with a cheerful wave. The woman smiled and waved back. Draco was still being dragged along at a breakneck pace. The girl pushed though a door in the back that said 'Personel Only'. She stopped as she spotted a few figures in the room. She exclaimed pleasantly, "I see you are all aready practicing."
It was true. All around, people were jumping and kicking, practicing with a weapon of some sort, or sparring. Draco watched, bemused as a blonde girl high kicked a dummy and it's head flew off. A man with graying hair who reminded him slightly of Proffessor Lupin, sighed and started leturing the girl, who only continued beating up the poor, defenseless dummy. A man with dark brown hair was sparring with a girl with red hair. they were moving though the motions slowly, tring to prefect them. A dark haired woman was flinging knifes into a dummy that was already riddled with them.
At Dawns pronouncement, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at her, smiling. The dark haired man was the first to notice Draco. He could see the guy do a mental backflip and look between him and Spike, obviously wondering if thier was a connection. Draco smiled. "Hello." That got everyone else's attention. The blonde girl turned to glare at Dawn. "Why did you bring him here?" She asked harshly.
Everyone else seemed to ignore her as Dawn explained. When she got to Draco's explinations on vampires, the blone spoke up again. "How do we know he didn't do that himself and isn't a vampire?"Everyone looked at her like she had gone crazy. Dawn shook her head at the girl.
"Buffy, he said he couldn't prove it." Buffy glared some more. "He could be after me." She said in an annoyingly high pitched tone. "I mean...you agree with me, right Willow? Xander?" The dark haired man and red haired girl shook thier heads.
Xander said calmly, "Buffy, I doubt he is after you. Besides, Spike would have sensed it." He added reasonably. Buffy huffed and turned away, hitting the dummy once more. Xander rolled his eyes and turned calm brown eyes to Draco, smiling. He offered his hand. "Xander Harris, nice to meet you, Draco." Draco took the hand with a smile.
Willow offered her hand next. "Willow Rosenburg." Draco shook her hand and nodded.
The gray haired man nodded at Draco. "Rupert Giles, though these brats call me Giles." Draco smiled. "Right. Mind if I call you by your first name?" Rupert seemed suprised, but then nodded and smiled. "Yes, you may." He looked at Draco carefully, noting his robes, then his eyes lit up. He whispered softly, his eyebrows close together, "Severus..."
Draco
noticed this. His eyes narrowed. "Severus?" He asked suspciously.
Rupert nodded, eyes swimming with too many emotions. "Yes, he...I knew
him..." Draco looked at him, still cautious. "Knew him? From where?"
Rupert noticed how stiff Draco was and looked curious. Then his eyes
lit up with new emotions. "Do...Do you know him?" He asked hopefully.
Draco looked a Rupert confused. "What did he look like?"
Rupert nodded. "The last time I saw him, he was 18, He was tall. about 6'2". He mostly wore these dark clothes, robes most of the time. He had long black hair that many people called greasy. He had black eyes, as well. His most pomenent feature would be his nose." Rupert finished. Draco looked nervous. "Yes, Severus Lynn Snape, correct?" Rupert's eyes had hope burning brightly in them. He breathed. "You do know him?"
Draco nodded. "Severus Snape is my godfather." He said calmly. Rupert smiled broadly. "I'll be damned," He whispered. "How is he doing?" He asked, his smile fading away.
Draco shook his head, answering truthfully, relaxing. It seemed the man did not know who -he- was, at least. "Not well."Rupert's face fell. "He is depressed quite often. He hardly sleeps, rarely eats, works himself to death, really. The only thing keeping him alive at this point is the school nurse feeding him..."Draco thought, he couldn't say potions in front of muggles, oh well, hed deal with it later. "Nutritional and dreamless sleep potions regularly."
Rupert looked utterly depressed. "Oh," he said softly. He noticed Draco's hesitation about magical things. "Don't worry, they are well aware of magic. Willow and Xander are self taught witches." He added as an afterthought. Draco's eyes widened. "No wands?.."He asked. Giles shook his head, "No need."
The dark haired woman finaly stepped forward. "Well, now you two can catch up later." She turned to Draco. "Drucilla."
(I really wanted to leave it there, be lucky I don't like cliff hangers...)
Draco nodded at her. "Pleased to meet you." He turned. "All of you."Dawn smiled happily. Then, Draco kind of paused, and looked around. "Um, Where am I?"
At this, several of them burst out laughing. Dawn finally managed, "Sunnydale." Draco paled. "The Hellmouth?" He asked. Dawn nodded, still giggling slightly. "So, you're a mojo person?" She asked. Draco looked at Rupert, who nodded. Draco did the same. Dawn smiled widely. "Great! Welcome to the Scoobies, Draco."
Now-Preview to Maybe Forever
Harry looked at Malfoy's empty seat. He, Parkisin, Zambini and Snape had each gotten a letter from him before he left...before he ran away. Harry had had no idea that his leaving would affect him so much. When they had first heard about it, Ron had said it was a great thing. No more Draco Bloody Malfoy. Then again, he had made life at Hogwarts interesting.
No more Malfoy to glare at at meal times, no more Malfoy to pick on and be harassed by, no more Malfoy to challage him during Quiddich, no more Malfoy to challange and annoy him at every turn. Harry's grades dropped, as did his performance in Quiddich. With no one to compete against, what was the point really?
Harry had, at first, turned the letter away. Now, he opened it. In the middle of History of Magic, thank merlin. He spread the parchment across his desk, tring to quell his nervousness about why Malfoy would write a letter to him, of all people.
Harry,
Harry started at the opening. What? Yes, it said his first name. Not Potter, not Potty, not Pothead...Harry.
I know you are not going to read this, but I guess that is why I am writing it. One day, you might, but I doubt it. When you do, you'll be old and have a zillion grandkids and be married to the Weasley girl, Ginny, I think her name is.
Harry looked at the letter in suprise. He doubted it. He had never liked Ginny, never would. Added to the fact that Malfoy knew Ginny's name added to the shock.
Harry, I wish you the best of luck in your life. Right now, I am sixteen. I have only two close friends, my godfather and am in love with someone who wouldn't give me the time of day.
Harry really doubted that...Unless it was Hermione or Ron, of course.
I
have no reason to stay here. I have always wanted to travel. To see new
places. I now can. I don't think I'll ever come back, really. I have no
reason to.
Harry felt a slight pang. What about the person he said he was in love with?
I wish I could stay, for the person I love, but I cant. I do not want to join Voldemort, nor do I want to be killed by him. I have left. I do not like the tangle of lies I have lived in, I do not want to continue as I have been. In between.
Harry knew what he meant. It was horrible to be in that state. He never wanted to be in it. He did feel sorry for Dra...Malfoy though. Having to leave the person he loved like that.
I am leaving for you, Harry. So you can live in peace. So you do not have to have one more person to worry about. I love you, Harry James Potter and I wish you all the happiness I could never give you. I will never feel sorry for leaving you. If it means you are happy, then so am I.
With all my love,
Draconis Lucius Malfoy
Harry clenched the letter tightly, reading it over again and agian. He didn't see what he thought he saw...did he? After reading it several more times, it was confirmed. Draco Malfoy had said he loved Harry Potter. And Harry realized with a start, he cared about Draco, as well. Not love, per say, but in time, it could have been.
Harry didn't wait for the class to end. He bolted out the door, letter tightly in hand.
There, the end to both chapter two of 'Where in the name of Merlin am I' and the preview to 'Maybe Forever' the preview I did was just the letter to Harry that Draco wrote. Please review for both. I need reviews...please :pout:
