A New Beginning – by NearlyHeadlessNic

Chapter four --- Anger, Thoughts and Leaving.

Buffy wondered aimlessly through the paths of UC Sunnydale's campus in the dead of the night, patrolling. Whilst her eyes were shifting from dark corners and behind bushes expecting to find demons or vampires, her mind was elsewhere.

Giles was a wizard? How can that be? She had known him for just over three years and never once did he let it slip that he knew more about the super-natural world then he was letting on. Buffy knew Giles was very knowledgeable in the subject of demons and magicks, she just assumed he was taught all of it when he became a Watcher. But of course, as with all assumptions, she was wrong. He must have learnt it in this school he, Harry and Hermione had been going on about, it was called Hogwarts. But why not tell Buffy? Why keep it a secret?

Buffy looked up at the moon, it was full, beaming down on the earth beautifully. For her, the moon was stunning, but she knew that for some, it caused pain and suffering. She thought of Oz, stuck in the cage. It wasn't his fault he got bitten, but Buffy admires him for doing what he does every month.

Buffy's friends were everything to her. Willow the witch, her best girlfriend and Xander, who recently got back from his 'Seeing all fifty states' trip without actually seeing all fifty states, and then there was Oz, the werewolf and excellent guitarist.

Buffy thought of Giles once more. Her Watcher was the closest thing to a father she got. God knows Hank Summers didn't fill that role very well.

She decided not to see Giles for a couple of days. To punish him for the secret keeping. He needed to suffer. Buffy was only going to go to Giles if she needed help with slaying. Only if she needed help.

The bushes rustled and Buffy peered over them, only to see three guys dressed in camouflage at a distance. They were carrying some serious weaponry and squatting as if on edge, awaiting orders.

Buffy didn't know who these guys were and she knew that the only person who might have a clue was the person she was avoiding.

Damn.

--

Harry was sitting at his desk, actually doing his homework assignment. He felt immensely proud that he was doing it without Hermione's help but with the pride there was another feeling, regret.

Somehow, Harry regretted coming to Sunnydale. It was a temporary solution to move away, become a muggle and to not be in contact with another witch or wizard. But two days from coming here, they were noticed. Harry can't lie, he feared being noticed, but at least Rupert Giles said he wouldn't tell anyone, but how much can Harry trust this man?

From their talk, Harry and Hermione found out that Giles was a wizard on the light side, a member of The Order of the Phoenix, and did research for Dumbledore. Then he had to move to California because a Slayer had been called to the Californian Hellmouth, but had been doing the research from there, though not as intensely as he was when he lived in England.

Harry relaxed back in his chair, his mind too full of thoughts to work. He decided he will ask Hermione to copy the assignment, he knew she would sign and roll her eyes but she won't refuse. There was a knock on his door.

"Come in," he called.

The door opened and a burly man walked through. Harry recognized him from somewhere, but couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Harry Potter right?" the guy asked. He was tall and broad in the shoulders, he had mousy brown hair and brown eyes and smiled kindly at Harry.

"Yeah, that's me." Harry replied, although slightly cautious. Some random guy just walked into his room asking if he was Harry Potter. What if this guy knew who he actually was? Two people figuring it out in two days would not be good.

"Hi, I'm Riley, Riley Finn," he greeted offering his hand, which Harry shook. "I'm a TA, with Professor Walsh. I have seen you in class."

Relief erupted in Harry's stomach; he relaxed once more and smiled briefly at Riley. Harry offered Riley to sit down on his bed and Riley did so.

"I have a proposition for you," Riley began and Harry looked curiously at the man, "No, nothing dodgy I assure you. Myself and Professor Walsh have seen you and have decided that you could be a new recruit."

"A recruit for what?" Harry questioned suspiciously.

Riley glanced at the door with a worried look on his face. "Can you promise me that what I am about to tell you goes no where outside this room?" Harry nodded in response, interested about what Riley was about to say, "The Initiative is a top secret government organization to fight the Hostile Sub-Terrestrials that roam the night. We fight and capturemonsters, demons, vampires and other super-natural beings,and the scientists of the organization experiments and practically neuter them. We want you to become one of us. You will train for six months and then live above the Initiative in my house on campus."

Harry was surprised, he had heard of the Slayer, then met her and hardly believed it, but this group called The Initiative ...he hadn't and yet they still fought the things that the Slayer did. In a way, they sounded like the Order but in another way, they were different. Harry sat in silence, thinking. Riley was eagerly waiting an answer and was disturbed by the quiet.

"Wecan see your potential and would like to recruit you. I know it seems absurd to think that there hostile creatures which are on theearth andI can assure you, humans are not the only race on earth." He continued.

"Thank you – but no." Harry answered, "Don't worry I won't tell anyone what you just told me. But no thanks." He added bluntly.

Riley looked rather taken aback, "Well ok, but if you change your mind." Riley got up and walked to the door, "You do realise that you'll get all the girls if you join," He said as a last resort.

Harry laughed, "I don't think I need help in that department," He said cockily and Riley smiled and left.

Well, it turns out Sunnydale has a good and dark side too.

--

Hermione was sitting down on a couch in The Basement, a coffee place where it was comfortable and homely for students to relax in. She had her feet hiked up underneath her and in one hand she held her large cup of coffee and her book in the other. This was her sanctuary, a place where she could unwind and take it easy. She had completed her Psychology assignment earlier and decided to take the night off.

Hermione read for a while, not noticing how long she sat there. People came and went, sitting at tables, drinking cappuccinos and lattes and talking quietly. She was engrossed in the fictional story about Heathcliff and Cathy, and only looking up when a chapter had finished to see how the people around her had changed.

On one of these occasions where she glanced up, someone was looking back. He smiled nicely and went back to his work that he had set out on the table. Hermione smiled and went back to her book, but couldn't help but wonder about him. Why was he looking at her?

Hermione glanced up again, and he was staring at her. Hermione smiled and he winked at her. He seemed a nice enough guy with his blue eyes and his shiny black hair. Hermione went back to Wuthering Heights, finding about Cathy's acceptance of proposal from Edgar Linton.

Hermione felt something, the air around had moved and a shadow came across her. She looked up to see a pair of bright blue eyes.

"Hi," the guy greeted. It was the same guy who was looking at her.

"Er … hi," Hermione replied, slightly cautious.

He sat down beside her and read the front cover of the book she was holding.

"Wuthering Heights, a classic." He stated, smiling at Hermione.

"I know, I must of read it about ten times." Hermione said.

"Your English?" He asked.

"I am, born and bred in Oxford," She replied.

"Oh - so why are you here?" He asked, making conversation. Hermione looked peculiarly at him, "In America I mean. There are tons of great colleges in England, why did you come to UC Sunnydale of all places?"

"Oh, well my friend, Harry and I needed to get away from England. We're sort of well known there for not too good reasons. It really doesn't matter." Hermioneexplained awkwardly.

"You didn't kill anyone did you?" The mysterious guy asked jokingly and laughed. Hermione forcibly laughed with him.

"No, nothing like that."

"What's your name?" He inquired andsmiled flirtatiously.

"It's Hermione, Hermione Granger."

He put his hand on Hermione's and stroked it.

"That's a pretty name, from Shakespeare I think,"

Hermione was impressed, not many people knew where her name came from, "So what's yours?"

"I'm Parker."

--

Buffy breathed before she opened the door, making sure she was in slayer mode. She was just here to talk business, nothing else. She turned the doorknob and walked in. The apartment was eerily empty.

"Giles?" She called.

No answer.

"Giles?" She repeated, this time a bit worried.

Again, no answer.

She approached his desk, which had an envelope with her name on. She picked it up cautiously and opened it. Inside was a folded note, as well as a key. Interested by the key and Giles' disappearance, she read the note.

Dear Buffy,

The appearance of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger has led me back to

my home country of England. I won't be long, but I have given you the

key of my home. This is for you and the Scooby gang to look up any

unknown demons or rituals that you may come across during slaying while

I'm gone.

I realise you might be angry with me for not telling you I am a wizard. But

all will be explained when I get back.

Giles.

Giles had gone to England, and hasn't said how long for. However much Buffy was angry with her Watcher, she still needed him to be there for her.

--

Harry was lying on his bed, thinking. He missed England, he wanted to head back and see the people he cared for again. He wanted to visit Ron's grave again, he hadn't since his funeral, it was too hard and then he and Hermione went into hiding, and he wasn't able too.

He wanted to visit Remus, the last Marauder, one of his Dad's best friends and Harry's mentor. But looking out the window, he couldn't just apparate to his house. The moon was full tonight.

Harry's thoughts wondered to Ginny, his very close friend who he didn't even get to say goodbye to when he left. Ginny was his first love and only love so far. Harry looked at his watch; it was nearing eleven o'clock, meaning that it was nearing five in the morning over there. Harry thought that if waited around two hours, Ginny would be awake and he could go and visit her.

Harry could apparate, and be there in a second. Talk to Ginny about his new life, he could tell Ginny, he trusted Ginny with his life.

After seeing Ginny, he could go to Ron's grave to see him, and tell him about his best friends' new lives, together in California and meeting the slayer, who happened to be very hot. Next he could see Remus, it would be light then, the transformation would be complete and Remus would be at his home, recovering.

The more Harry thought about it, the more he wanted to do it.

--

Note: As you know, I am including The Initiative in this story, because I think it is an excellent plot. But it won't be playing a major role as it did in season four of Buffy.

Oh and I don't own Wuthering Heights - which was the book Hermione was reading.

So, review please…all reviews welcome…