History Lessons

"I know he's evil," Cordelia Chase nodded her head; speaking in a flat monotone, proving that she's heard this speech many times and was sick of the same argument, "But he is also a human. We do not kill humans. It goes against everything you are."

"I'm a vampire. Killing humans is exactly what I am."

"Never thought I would say this," sighed a breathy voice, "But I agree with Barbie over here. He's human – granted a yummy piece of evil human, but he's still a human."

"Then you can kill him."

"Angel!"

First there was a growl then a snarl followed by a whine, "Well why not? I mean she killed a human before."

"We've been over this many times before. I was depressed and in the mood for the fight. I didn't realize he was human until I already staked him. Get over it already, I did."

"But Faith-"

Turning around so that her stake was directed over Angel's heart, Faith snarled at him, "I'm a different person now."

It's been like this for the past hour. Spike sat in the corner of the office just watching them all argue and whine then argue some more until Faith busted out the wooden stick and threatened the boss with it, then it would start all over again. Angel was pissed with the pretty boy, Lindsey McDonald, over from Wolfram and Hart because of an innocent that was killed by one of Lindsey's demon clients. Apparently Angel couldn't get to the poor bloke in time, and now it was eating him up inside. The worst part of it all was that they couldn't even find the bloody demon to kill it. So Angel was doing what he always did best… brooding.

Spike noticed that unlike himself and the broodster, the two girls changed the most. Cordelia was no longer the queen bitch that he remembered trying to kill back in Sunnydale, and she grew up; both mentally and physically. She still dressed like a tart, but in a more classy way. Instead of a tiny frilly skirt, she wore long white jeans that hugged her lengthy legs a little too tightly. And instead of the tight baby tees, she was now wearing a red blouse that hung off her shoulders and showed the butterfly tattoo on her lower back. Instead of constantly toying with her long black locks, she dyed it a golden color and allowed it to just fall past her shoulders in forgotten curls. Of course no one expected her to change completely. Even if she was suddenly a Seer, she was still only nineteen.

Then there was Faith. Dear old Faith who fled Sunnydale seeking redemption and joining the good fight alongside Angel. Spike snarled at such a thought. Faith may have changed in the sense that she was no longer killing humans – even if it was only that one time, they never let her live it down – and in the sense that she was just a bit more matured, but she was still the bad chick she always was. Her hair was still black on black with golden streaks in it that she crimped to her shoulders. She still wore too much eyeliner; bringing out the darkness of her brown eyes. She still wore red lipstick that was too crimson for just normal daily wear and she still had her many tattoos and piercings. Looking her over, Spike shuddered. They once shagged under a spell, and he still didn't recover from it. It wasn't that she wasn't good or anything, but more so that she wore too much leather – more than him. Tight black leather pants started right at the top of her arse, so that if she were to bend she would show her crack, but of course they were too tight to shift at all on her. The dark green shirt looked more like a bandana that was meant only to cover her chest, and the black leathered boots that she wore had heels that would be able to stake a vampire.

"Hullo?"

Hearing a British voice, Spike excitedly jumped up and ran towards the door; excited to have a chance to hear another Brit speak. Giles was boring company, but he was starting to miss the old watcher. "Hullo, love."

Hearing another British voice, Hermione looked up and screamed. "What did you do to her, Spike?" Cordelia shouted, following Faith and Angel towards the screaming girl and confused vampire.

"I didn't do nothing," frowning, Spike looked down at the girl, "Go on, love; tell them I didn't do nothing to you."

Holding both of her hands to her chest, Hermione could feel her heart trying to escape her. "Sorry," she said, eying Spike with curiosity once more. "Bloody hell."

"What?" turning around to the people he guessed he could call friends, but preferred them to be partners or potential meals, Spike rubbed his forehead. "I don't feel all bumpy."

"You aren't," Cordelia assured him. Walking over to the still panting girl, Cordelia leaned forward towards her. "Are you alright? Did Spike do anything to you?"

"Spike?" looking back at the blonde, Hermione started to chuckle. "No, sorry about that, it's just that you look like somebody from school. I just ran into another clone of his, and I thought you were him too," then taking in a closer look, Hermione examined him. His eyes were the color of rain; just a shade between Luna's and Reid's eyes. His hair was just as albino white as Malfoy's and Reid's, but instead of hanging it over his face in a sexy bad boy type of way he had it gelled back like how Malfoy wore it before third year. Then Hermione took in his outfit and started to chuckle. The black t-shirt was extremely tight, showing off the creases on his stomach, whereas she couldn't tell the difference between his leather pants and the girl's leather pants. "But I can see the difference now. Malfoy wouldn't be caught dead in leather."

Laughing at the girl's words, Faith was absentmindedly playing with her stake while walking over to her. "Just like I say; leather belongs on me, not Spike."

"Can we help you with anything?" Angel asked, amused at the girl's forwardness about dissing Spike, but also confused as to why she was there in the first place.

Looking over at the person who just asked her something, Hermione took him in; brooding brown eyes and shaggy dark brown hair, reminding her of a thicker and shorter version of Professor Lupin. "Yes," she nodded her head, "I'm looking for Angelus."

The air thickened and everyone paused their simplest movements. Angel sniffed the girl, but she didn't smell like the dead; she had a heartbeat and he could already feel the warmth radiating off of her. She was obviously human. Faith and Cordelia both exchanged worried glances, but neither of them got any bad vibes off this girl. Spike moved in closer and began to examine her. He was proud of how she stood there, allowing him to closely look at her. Stopping behind her, he sensed her tensing up and his eyes landed on the stick in her back pocket. It wasn't a stake – that much he knew.

"You're a witch."

"Spike," Cordelia hissed, slapping him, "That's not nice. We just met the girl."

Chuckling while Spike bared his fangs at her, Hermione pulled out her wand. "It's not an insult. I really am a witch. See, I have a wand and everything."

"Oh," pouting, Cordelia cocked an eyebrow as she stared at it. "Since when do witches have wands?"

"Since the beginning of time," Faith rolled her eyes. Getting closer to Hermione, she cocked an eyebrow as the young witch scooted closer to Spike out of pure instinct. Wasn't she just frightened by him? "Wesley taught me all about a British school for witches and wizards. It's called Hogwarts."

They all saw the girl's eyes light up at her words, "That's where I go. I'm going to be in my fourth year come this September. Did this Wesley person go there as well? What house was he in? I'm in Gryffindor."

Chuckling at the girl's eagerness, Faith shook her head, "Sorry Doll Face, but Wesley only heard about it while he was in school learning to become a watcher."

Remembering hearing about the Watchers Council and how it was something like the Ministry of Magic, but mainly for the slayers, Hermione nodded her head. "I've heard of them," then looking around, she put her wand back into her pocket, "So which one of you is Angelus?"

"Why do you keep saying that name?" Cordelia asked her. "I'm willing to buy into this whole Hogwarts school thing because I've heard of weirder things than that, and now that you mention you're a witch I can sense there's something magical about you, but you keep mentioning Angelus. Why is that?"

Hermione saw the nervous glance Cordelia shot at the brooding man, and walked over to him, "They taught about you in my school."

"What makes you think I'm Angelus?" Angel asked nervously, picking at the hem of his cotton t-shirt.

Pointing at Cordelia, Hermione used her 'grown up voice,' "She keeps nervously glancing at you. If you're not Angelus then-"

"Stop calling me that," Spike snorted at the whining tone that escaped Angel. "I don't go by that name anymore. I prefer Angel."

"Oh," then sticking her bottom lip over her upper lip in a triumphant grin, Hermione stuck out her hand. "Hermione Granger. It's nice to meet you Angel."

Shaking the awkward young girl's hand, Angel nodded his head in Spike's direction. "The blonde pouf is Spike."

"Did they teach about me too, love?"

Seeing the hope in the Malfoy clone's face, Hermione thought back to first year when Malfoy first sat on the stool to be sorted. Slapping her forehead as she tried to erase the image of a happy Malfoy, and ignore the feelings she got from thinking of a happy Malfoy, Hermione looked up at the blonde. "No, sorry, Professor Lupin taught us only about the five main vampires throughout history."

"And I'm one of them?" Angel grinned then smirked at Spike. "Too bad Spike, maybe next time you'll be fierce enough."

"How am I not fierce enough?" Spike scoffed. "I would rather think that William the Bloody is a more vicious name than Angelus. I mean honestly; a killer with the face of an angel. How pathetic is that?"

"William the Bloody?" Hermione's ears picked up that name, and she snapped her head up to stare at Spike. "William the Bloody wears leather pants?"

"Oi!" Spike shouted at her, "I'll have you know I can still kill you. Unlike Angel over there, I don't have a soul in me."

"I don't need to stab a stake through you to kill you," Hermione stated in a bored voice; earning a snort from Angel, hidden chuckle from Cordelia and an amused grin from Faith. "Before you could even realize what I'm doing, I could set you on fire or even stupefy you while slowly decapitating you. And I could do all that from where I'm standing. William the Bloody may be a legend, but I am a witch," when Spike scoffed at her, Hermione quirked an eyebrow, "Then again, maybe I wouldn't have to resort to magic. I outran a werewolf during a full moon. I'm sure I'd have no problem defeating a vampire in leather."

Faith was holding onto her stomach at this point. Her laughter flooded the room until she was heaving over with one arm on Cordelia's shoulder and panting. "I like her," she announced. "Wesley told me the Council always described the witches and wizards as stuck up little brats, but she's got spunk. Can we keep her?"

"She's not a pet," Cordelia rolled her eyes, but it was obvious that she too, liked the young witch. "I'm Cordelia Chase," she introduced herself, "And this over here is Faith Lehane."

"The Seer and the slayer," Hermione smiled politely, walking over and shaking both of their hands. "It's nice to meet all of you."

Mumbling under his breath while Angel and the others led Hermione back into the office and out of the little entrance way, Spike reluctantly followed them. Faith seemed too intrigued by the wand sticking out from the girl's back pocket while Cordelia shot Hermione an odd look. Angel seemed to be watching her closely as well. While he was still Angelus, he had a run in with a witch from Hogwarts. He was with Drusilla, Darla, and Spike at that time, so he knew Spike was reminiscing on that incident as well… determining by the annoyed glare on his face. They were torturing a little village just north of England when suddenly Spike was spinning around in the air. They all stopped what they were doing and turned around. They saw a girl holding a wooden stick in her hand, and although she was no more than sixteen – the perfect age for a slayer – she wasn't rushing them with it. They all heard her say something under her breath, and the next thing they knew Darla was being slammed against a house. Drusilla was the only one who could see the girl for what she truly was, so she gathered up her family and left before they could all be killed.

Angel glanced over at Spike who stayed far away from Hermione and saw the weary look he gave her. "So Hermione," Angel started, "What is it you need my help with?"

Sitting down on the chair, Hermione pulled her wand out of her pocket and placed it in her lap just out of habit, but she noticed the way Spike cringed at the sight of it, causing her to wonder if he cringed when he first saw it earlier. "I'm being stalked."

"A young witch like yourself?" Spike questioned with a serious face right before it turned into mockery, "Why don't you just stupefy him then slowly decapitate him?"

Rolling her eyes, Hermione used her adult voice again, "Honestly William, grow up! If you are going to act like a Malfoy, then maybe I should just twirl you around in the air?"

"You-you…" Spike began to stutter while Cordelia and Faith dropped their jaws this time. Now it was Angel who was laughing loudly. "You little… you called me…" pointing his finger at the girl, Spike couldn't believe what she just called him. Then he remembered the last part of her sentence as well. "Twirl me around the air? Oi! How did you know about that?"

Smirking a smirk that would have made the Malfoys proud – honestly Hermione, stop thinking about Malfoy so much – Hermione held up her chin, "As I said, we learned about you in school. Professor Lupin, who was our Defense Against Dark Arts professor last year, felt that we should know how to defend ourselves against vampires should we ever be attacked by one. First though he taught us about the five most feared vampires throughout history. We spent a week on each one. The first one was Dracula; of course. Then it was Darla, Angelus, Drusilla and William the Bloody."

"You guys learned about Darla and Drusilla too?" questioned Cordelia. "Your school sounds fun," she then pouted, "You guys had a class that taught you all about that stuff? The only cool thing we had was a principal that got eaten by a giant snake."

"We learned about that as well," Hermione nodded her head, not understanding why anyone would think that was cool. She loved her headmaster like a grandfather. She didn't want to see him get eaten by a giant snake.

Faith was straddling a chair directly across from Hermione and leaning forward so she could rest against the back of it. "Forget about all that. We already know all about them. You said that you outran a werewolf during a full moon?" Hermione nodded her head. "Sweet," Faith grinned, baring her teeth. "Was that for some sort of exam for your class?"

"No," shaking her head, Hermione chuckled at the irony of it. "Actually, our Defense Against Dark Arts professor, Professor Lupin – well he was the werewolf."

"What?" Angel, Cordelia, and Faith all shouted.

Spike only snorted, "A school where a teacher tries to kill their students? Sounds a lot like Sunnydale to me."

"He didn't mean to," Hermione quickly jumped to her favorite Professor's defense. "My best friends, Harry and Ron and I snuck out because Harry's map showed us that Harry's godfather was in the Shrieking Shack-"

"The Shrieking Shack?" questioned Faith then she flashed a feral grin again, "Kinky. Go on."

"Wait-" Angel held up both his hands. "A map showed you guys your friend's godfather?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded her head slowly, "It's a magical map. I'm highly against it, but it comes in handy. It shows you everyone in the castle and where they are exactly. It's brilliant actually. So anyway, we snuck out and we found Sirius Black – Harry's godfather – Harry tried killing him and that-"

"Your friend snuck out of school to kill his godfather?" Spike was intrigued at this point.

"Well see, Harry's parents were killed when we were only one, and Sirius was their best friend – hence why he's Harry's godfather – and the next day Sirius was arrested for murdering thirteen muggles and his-"

"Muggles?"

"Non-magic people," Faith answered Cordelia, "And I heard about Sirius Black. Wesley taught me all about him. He was sentenced to Azkaban right? For betraying James and Lily Potter and trying to kill their one year old son, Harry, then the next day he killed thirteen muggles and his other best friend Peter Pettigrew. I heard that he escaped Azkaban last year. I'm guessing you guys found him, and that your best friend is Harry Potter?"

Nodding her head in approval, Hermione was impressed. So watchers and slayers learned about them as much as they were taught about them, eh? That was cool. "Yes. Well, you see when we got there Professor Lupin ran in just as Harry was about to kill Sirius. To cut a long story short, we found out that Peter Pettigrew was still alive and living as Ron's pet rat, Scabbers. Professor Lupin transformed into a werewolf just as Professor Snape got to us and Harry and I played as bait while Professor Snape took Ron out to the hospital wing because Professor Lupin slammed him into a tree and he was still a little banged up from when Sirius dragged him away through the Whomping Willow and into the Shrieking Shack-"

"Whomping Willow?" Cordelia was trying to keep up without asking too many questions, but she was still confused. What the hell was this girl saying?

"It's a tree," Hermione said, "It hits you and whatnot. That's not important though. Sirius dragged Ron away and Ron was injured so Professor Snape took him away and took Sirius away as well to lock him up for the Dementors to come."

"Dementors?"

Annoyed that Hermione kept getting interrupted, Faith shouted, "Guards of Azkaban. They kiss you to kill you, but instead of dying they just suck out your soul and you're forever paralyzed in an empty shell, forced to constantly relive your worst memories over and over. Sirius spent twelve years in Azkaban for the murders he was apparently framed for. Can Hermione finish now? I want to hear the rest of this."

"Right," Hermione was shocked. No one's ever wanted to actually hear her talk before. She's usually always being shut down before she can really begin. "So erm… where was I?"

"Professor Snape took away your friend and Sirius while you and your other friend were running away from the werewolf professor," Spike answered.

"Oh right, thanks," Hermione smiled at him then continued, "We were running for a while, but someone came in and took the attention from us. So we ran back to the school."

"Who was it?" Angel asked before shying away from the death glare that Faith was sending his way.

"Harry and I," seeing their confusion, Hermione started to laugh. "I had this time-turner to help me keep all my classes, seeing as how the classes were all at the same time. Malfoy," they notice his name came out as a snarl, "Faked a tiny little scratch into a huge broken arm thing, and Buckbeak was sentenced to death-" seeing their confusion, Hermione quickly explained; "Buckbeak is a hippogriff. The games keeper, Hagrid, who became a professor last year, has a fascination for beasts and whatnot, and seeing as how it was a Care for Magical Creatures class, he brought in hippogriffs. Malfoy," she snarled again, "Startled Buckbeak to where the poor hippogriff jumped up and scratched him. Buckbeak was sentenced to death."

"Oh," no one knew what else to say to that. Demons, witches, vampires, and werewolves – they could live with. But hippogriffs? Those are creatures of myth.

"Harry and I went back into time to save Buckbeak and to set Sirius free from wherever Professor Snape locked him up at. Needless to say, the distraction that Professor Lupin had when Harry and I were to escape were ourselves. We spent half the night running from him, before Buckbeak ran in and saved us. Professor Lupin ran off in defeat and we managed to save Sirius."

They were all silent for a couple minutes allowing everything to sink in. "When was this?" Angel finally asked.

"Two weeks ago."

Spike's eyebrows lifted into his hair while Angel's jaw hit the ground. Faith's hand began to itch for a fight after hearing all of this while Cordelia asked Hermione for her age. They were reminded of Buffy when she answered. There were a couple more questions; mostly asking her what else happened to her while she was in school. Shifting in her seat uncomfortably for the first hour, Hermione found herself explaining to these strangers, everything that's happened to her from the moment that she stepped onto the train to go to Hogwarts. Faith helped her explain certain things to the others who were confused, whereas Spike helped translate certain English expressions into American expressions. Hermione never knew that they spoke so differently when it came to certain words and phrases.

It took nearly three hours for everything to become explained and for everything to sink in. Cordelia and Faith both slapped Spike a couple of times every time Malfoy's name would be mentioned because apparently Spike looked like the boy, making him want to kill the little prat just for getting him slapped so many times. It wasn't until Angel looked at the clock on the desk and saw that it was just past ten, that he remembered Hermione came to him with a purpose; not to fill them in on her life story.

"Hermione," Angel said, interrupting what looked like another argument between the blonde vampire and the witch, "You said you came here because you were being stalked?"

"Oh right," turning her full attention onto Angel, Hermione squirmed at the looks from the two older females. "I walked to the sweets shop near the hotel we're staying at, and this vampire approached me. I was prepared to kill him like I was taught to, but he told me I was very…" she blushed at this part and tried to hide behind her hair.

Spike noticed the girl's reaction and felt a protective need towards her. Walking over, he sat on the couch next to her and gently nudged her with his arm, "What is it, love? What did he tell you?"

"He told me I was very," clearing her throat, Hermione stared at her feet on the ground, "He told me I was very beautiful, and then he told me that he was planning on becoming the next master and asked me to be his queen. I very politely declined his offer, but he continued to follow me around. Then he suggested a few other things that I'd rather not repeat. But it all ends in me mothering his demon spawns."

Faith was quick to spring into action. Continuing to twirl the stake in her hands, she began stretching her body. "Right then, let's do this."

"What does he look like?" Cordelia asked.

Biting her lower lip, Hermione shuddered, "Tall, pale, golden like hair that sticks up a bit, green eyes; he's actually quite handsome, but a complete nutter. I would have killed him, but he hasn't actually tried to kill me or attack me. He just keeps following me around. At night I see him hanging outside my hotel room's window. I went into the lounge the other night and he was there waiting for me. I asked a boy for directions to a shop and the vampire got all territorial with me, saying that I smelt good and I belonged to him. Honestly, I'm about ready to kill him. I called Professor Lupin and owled Sirius. They both sent me here to you. They said you could help me."

There was light chuckle. There was a giggle or two. There was a little snort. There was a smirk. Then there was laughter… loud laughter causing Hermione to sink deeper into her seat in embarrassment. Angel tried to talk between his laughs, but it was pointless. Every time he opened his mouth to say something he would only laugh some more. Spike tried to control himself when he could see how embarrassed the girl was, but it didn't work. Even the older girls were having a hard time trying to keep calm.

Frustrated, Hermione stood up and walked towards the door. "Wait-" Spike finally shouted, "Sorry, love. Get back in here."

"It's just that," Cordelia was wiping her tears away at this point, "It's just that we've all dealt with the occasional stalker. Angel, do you remember that time back in school when Buffy had to literally run in and save me when my stalker tried to keep my body parts?"

"And that one time that Oz got territorial when some poor bloke sent Red flowers every day?" Spike was still laughing.

"Somebody tried to keep your body parts?" Hermione questioned.

Laughing, Cordelia nodded her head, "Sunnydale is built on this Hellmouth, you see-"

"I know," Hermione nodded her head, "We've learnt about it in our History of Magic class. Professor Binn is a bore, but that was a lesson that kept us all awake. It's also why the slayer Buffy Summers was drawn to Sunnnydale."

"Well our school's library is built directly over it," Cordelia explained, finally calming down enough to talk. "See, in school, I was the prettiest one," ignoring the eye rolls all around her, she continued talking anyways, "And all of the girls were jealous of me. I was the richest person with Daddy's money, and I got everything I wanted. There were a lot of times that I was being stalked. One time the boy wanted to keep my body parts. Another time, one of the boys wanted only one part of me to build the perfect girlfriend. Then there was this girl who I guess killed herself or something like that, and her ghost tried killing me. It started with her stalking me though."

"So we weren't laughing at you," Angel told Hermione – who was even more confused now than she was before – while trying to stifle his chuckles, "We were laughing at the memories."

"I was laughing at the stupid vamp," Faith shook her head. "Honestly? She smells good? He expects a thirteen year old girl to just jump up and marry him because he thinks she smells good?"

Playing with the loose string at the end of her shorts, Hermione looked at everyone as if they were mental. "Tell me your stories," she said, throwing even herself off, "I told you all about me and my friends and Hogwarts. I want to hear about Sunnydale and what you guys went through. They don't teach us about those sorts of things in school; only the magical parts, but not the everyday trials."

Cordelia spoke first, and the most. Spike only opened his mouth when his name was mentioned so he could defend himself, and Angel did the same. Faith was nervous at first; scared that this girl would judge her for her past, but it seemed like Hermione already knew all about her killing a human. She kept waiting for Hermione to give her an odd look or flinch away from her, but it never happened. Hermione didn't seem to care about Faith's past; she was too intrigued with how similar their friends were to her own. Hermione had just as many questions for them as they did for her, and she was excited to hear all about their adventures from their own mouths.

"Alright, love," Spike said once he saw Hermione yawn. Standing up, he held his hand out for her, "It's one in the morning."

"What?" ignoring Spike's offered hand, Hermione jumped to her feet and looked at the clock on the desk, "Oh Merlin, I've gotta get back to the hotel."

"Sorry all we did was talk," Angel said sheepishly, kicking the ground, "But we'll scout the area around your hotel for the vampire who's stalking you."

Smiling, Hermione nodded her head, "Thank you all. I had fun tonight. I'm so used to everyone telling me to shut up that it wasn't until I explained why my parents brought me here on vacation, that I realized I actually told you lot everything."

"It's alright," Cordelia smiled assuring her, walking over, "I enjoyed hearing your stories. I mean it sucks about what's happening to you and your friends, but it's nice hearing that we aren't the only young ones out there fighting the good fight. You're strong kiddo, remember that."

Grinning, Hermione stuck out her chin as she always did when she was proud about something, "We are aren't we? I only wish to be half of what you guys are. I can't wait until I owl Harry and Ron? Oh – I can tell them about you guys, can't I?"

Laughing, Faith nodded her head, "Sure you can, Doll Face."

"C'mon, love," Spike shouted, already holding the door open for her, "We'll walk you back to the hotel."

"I'm going to run ahead to see if I can spot the vamp before Hermione gets there," Faith announced. Stopping at Hermione, she pulled her into a hug. "I hate seeing young kids getting dragged into a war, but it happens to the best of us. It only means we're survivors."

Smiling, Hermione hugged her back, "If being a survivor means I get to be like you then it's a war worth winning."

Pulling away, Faith pinched Hermione's cheek and winked; "Five by five, Doll Face, five by five," then she disappeared.

Cordelia was suddenly pulling the startled Hermione into a tight embrace as well, "I slipped my number into your purse," she told her. "You call me if you need anything. I want to see you again."

"Oh shoot," opening her purse, Hermione saw the two cards, "I forgot to text Reid with my number."

"Reid?" Spike quirked an eyebrow; she was too young to be thinking of boys.

"One of the boys I ran into on the way here," Hermione reminded him. "The other one who looks like Malfoy," Cordelia rolled her eyes at the snarl in Hermione's voice. "I told him I would text him so he has my number as well. He wanted to talk to me about Hogwarts, and make sure I was alright."

"Well you can text him after you text me," Cordelia said, poking Hermione gently with her finger. "Text me as soon as you get back to the hotel so I know you're alright."

Nodding her head, Hermione smiled. "I promise. Thanks Cordelia."

"I'm going to check the streets around us," Angel announced, slipping past Spike and Hermione. "Spike will walk you back to your hotel, Hermione, alright. If you see the vampire, you let him know. And I'll be close by."

Nodding her head, she had a determined look on her face, "Will do Angel. Thanks."

"You ready, love?" Spike asked, holding out his arm.

Nodding her head once more, Hermione accepted the offered arm and stepped into the darkness with William the Bloody holding onto her, "I'm ready, William."

Demanding that she never call him that horrid name again, Spike kept a close watch on the streets they were walking on. It pained him to see Hermione was doing the same. She still had innocence around her; an innocence that he prayed she kept. Buffy was losing her innocence already; becoming strictly only a warrior who continued to fight. Buffy only knew how to fight now; there was nothing left for her to do. Looking down at Hermione, Spike could see the fight in her eyes and the strength in her walk, but she was still innocent. He could see the laughter etched into her face as she laughed whereas when Buffy laughed, it was dry and empty. When Hermione smiled she had dimples embedded into her chin and on her cheeks. Buffy had dimples once too, but now she hardly ever smiled. And if the rare occasion did present itself, she lost her dimples.

"Are you related to the Malfoys?" Hermione asked, pulling Spike out of his thoughts.

Looking down at her, he shook his head. "Nope, there are no pureblooded wizards in my family line."

"Are you sure?" Hermione asked, "You really do look like Malfoy!"

"You talk about him a lot, love," feeling a shiver that he knew wasn't brought on by the cold, Spike slowly started grinning; "Are you thinking about him right now?"

Hermione wanted to deny it, but she knew there was no way Spike would ever meet Malfoy or anyone from her world, so she started to slowly nod her head. "Ever since the day I slapped him. He confronted me two days later about it, and threatened that he would kill me if I do anything like that ever again. I know I should be frightened by him, but he doesn't scare me. I laughed at his threat and the scowl he gave me would send a normal person running with tears in their eyes, but it only haunts me. I don't know why I'm always thinking of him, but there's always that constant reminder in the back of my mind. Everything that I hear or see, my mind manipulates it into a memory of Malfoy."

"Aww," Spike cooed, "It seems like someone here's got a crush on the bad boy."

Glad that the night's darkness was hiding her scarlet colored face, Hermione tried to deny it; "It isn't a crush, it's-"

"Then why are you blushing?" seeing Hermione drop her jaw, Spike chuckled then tapped his forehead with a finger, "I'm a vampire, remember. It's my job to sense everything. I think I'm going to call you Scarlet from now on."

"Scarlet?" Hermione gasped. "But why?"

"You keep calling me William."

"It's your bloody name."

"And your face is scarlet colored," Spike chuckled then grinned to himself, "Yes, I quite like that name – Scarlet."

A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited, and alerted this story(: Honestly, I didn't think that so much of you would actually like a cross between the 3 stories. And I also want to clear up any confusions: eventually this story will be a Dramione- as it moves onto the sequel at least, but that does not mean that Reid will not get a relationship as well.(: