An Evil Man's Ballad

Hermione was ecstatic. It had been two weeks since the attack from Lucius Malfoy and she had only one more week until it was time for her to return back to London. She wasn't ecstatic that she was leaving – because the thought alone made her cry – but she was ecstatic that Angel finally agreed to allow Faith to take her to Caritas. Hermione had been begging to go ever since the day she found out about it, but Angel claimed she was too young to go into a bar filled with demons that would most likely end up trying to kill her, not to mention that the bar served alcohol. Faith argued for her, but in the end she always said that she wouldn't go behind Angel's back… something about him being the one who saved her and what not.

Hermione and the Sons became usuals at the office and would always accompany the odd band of vampires, slayer, and Seer on their little missions to help rid the world of evil. Reid was always forced to wear a beanie with the hood of his sweater over his head because they didn't want to chance running into Lucius and having him find out about Reid, but they never ran into him. They suspected that he was lying low, trying to rally up as much vampires and demons as he could, but they didn't let it worry them for now. Angel and Spike just made it a point to kill anything with pointy teeth, claiming that they were helping to lessen Voldemort's followers with each stake at a time.

Cordelia and Angel weren't coming with them tonight because of a last minute vision of hers that called them into the sewers. So it was only Faith and Spike who arrived at the hotel to pick up with the witch and four Sons. Reid's eyes lit up when he saw Faith walking down the street and he didn't see the knowing smirk that Hermione had plastered on her pink painted lips. "You look hot, Doll Face," Faith grinned once they reached them.

Hermione blushed and she laughed when Spike gave her a funny look. "Oi! You're only thirteen; you don't need to be wearing all that junk on your face."

"I already heard this speech from Reid them," Hermione rolled her eyes. "And it's only a little eyeliner and some lip gloss," then she smiled up at Faith who just linked her arm into hers. "Thanks Faith. You look quite hot as well."

Spike muttered to himself while the four Sons walked with him, just a couple of feet behind the now giggling girls. Every now and then Faith and Hermione would look back at them then start laughing again. Reid was speechless. He was used to seeing Faith with leather and makeup, but for some reason it was different this time. The midnight blue leather dress was strapless and showed off the top half of her breasts as it tightly hugged her body and stopped at her thighs. Her leathered boots only made her seem like a dangerous seductress whereas the blue eye shadow, eyeliner, and lipstick gave her an angel in a devil's body disguise. Even Hermione seemed more dressed up than she normally would be; a short black jean skirt with a red colored tube top – making her look more like a young woman than a young child. The Sons grumbled with her all day as they watched her rub the potions into her hair to tame it. It took four hours to get rid of the bushiness and make it sleeker looking. Instead of her normal slippers, Hermione threw on a pair of black and red sneakers that added a seductive innocence to her outfit. For most girls, a little bit of eyeliner and lip gloss while wearing shoes, a skirt, and a tube top would be a normal school day. But they could tell that it was extravagant for Hermione.

They knew that she had her wand in the purse she held onto, while Faith also had her purse filled with stakes, crosses, a crossbow, holy water, and daggers – all thanks to a spell from Hermione – and the thought made them laugh a little. One look at Faith and everyone would already see that she was a bad girl, and they had no idea how correct they were in presuming so, but then they would take one look at Hermione and see the young and protected little sister figure, but they were also wrong. Anyone could take one look at Hermione and see a sheltered innocence, but they would be dead wrong; this one young girl had seen more evil than most girls her age had. She fought in more battles than anyone could guess just by looking at her, and with one look at her outfit for the night and the makeup on her face, they would expect to find makeup, pictures, a cell phone, and even an iPod inside her purse, but the kicker was that they would instead find: a wand, potions, healing salves, a dagger – courtesy of Faith – and some empty vials.

"Butterbeer for the young lady," Lorne grinned as he approached the table.

Hermione's eyes lit up as she accepted the bottle and she moaned in ecstasy at the taste. "Oh thank you. I thought I would have to wait until I went school shopping before I could drink this again. I didn't know you served butterbeer here."

"We don't normally," the demon smiled down at her. He liked the young witch, "But when Angel Cakes called me to make sure that it was alright if they brought you here, I ordered a couple cases. I know it's legal in your world for you to drink it now, and I figured it's only fair that you get to drink as well, since you are in a bar."

Grinning, Hermione nodded her head. "Thank you, that was very kind of you."

"Anytime my fair lady," Lorne winked then gave the four Sons a bottle as well. "The same goes for you four. I would feel safer knowing that you four are drinking alcohol that is legal for your age, then drinking whatever Faith and the blood man here are going to order."

"Thanks," they all said, then once Lorne was out of ear shot Tyler leaned into Hermione. "What is this?"

"Butterbeer," Hermione grinned, taking another sip from her bottle. "It's really good. They serve it in all the pubs in the wizarding world."

"They allow thirteen year olds to drink beer?" Faith asked with an envious voice. "That's not fair."

"Only butterbeer," Reid was already enjoying his bottle. "You need to be at least seventeen to drink firewhiskey. I've missed this. I used to sneak some of Lucius's bottles when he wasn't home, after I learned the truth of who I really was."

"I want a taste," Faith said, pulling the bottle away from a reluctant Reid. Putting the bottle to her lips, she tilted the bottle then swallowed a large gulp. Her lips curled up into a wide grin and she nodded her head, "This is good."

Grinning, Hermione nodded her head in agreement, "Told you so."

Looking around the bar as Reid and Faith began to argue about the bottle that she didn't want to give back to him, Hermione snickered as Spike began to get into an argument with Caleb and Pogue about something that she didn't want to understand. Tyler seemed to have the same idea as her though and he looked around as well. He seemed too amused at the idea of all sorts of breeds of demons hanging out together and drinking while laughing. There was a pink skinned demon with green horns that drank what looked like a mixture between mud and orange juice that was flirting with a scaly looking demon with red slanted eyes and a long tail.

"Hello, little darling."

Already recognizing the familiar voice, that she spoke to only once before, Hermione turned around to face Lindsey. Spike and Faith were the only two who stiffened while everyone else looked confused. "Hullo Lindsey."

"Lindsey?" Pogue frowned, "The lawyer Lindsey?"

Nodding his head to Pogue's, Spike snarled up at the lawyer standing at their table. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm taking swimming lessons," Lindsey replied coolly. "What else would I be doing in a bar?"

"You may not be a vampire, but I'll stake you anyway," Faith glared at the beautiful, evil, man. "After all, you of all people know how much I love to do that. At least this time it won't be an innocent human that I'm killing."

Reid gave Faith a weird look at her words. She killed a human before? "Calm down, Faith," Hermione told her friend, "Violence isn't allowed in here. Is there something I can help you with, Lindsey?"

"I just thought I'd give you a heads up," Lindsey shook his head.

"Another one?" Tyler cocked an eyebrow. "Why?"

Ignoring the boy's question, Lindsey leaned in closer to Hermione and softly said, "He's gone now; he left three nights after the cemetery incident. They're planning something for the World Cup."

Hermione groaned and downed the rest of her butterbeer. "I was hoping to just have fun at that. Do you know what they're planning?"

"No," Lindsey shook his head, "But you should be careful."

Nodding her head, Hermione flashed him a small smile, "Thank you."

"The offer is still on the table, little darling."

Still smiling, Hermione shook her head. "And I'm still declining it."

Nodding his head, Lindsey straightened his back then looked around at all the glaring eyes on the table. Smirking, he ran both hands through his hair and Hermione had another flash of Draco in her mind at the sight of it. It made her softly whimper. "I told you that Angel would protect you."

"It's what he does," Hermione chuckled while nodding her head, as she somewhat repeated the lawyer's own words from the night that he approached her.

Faith and Spike both eyed each other suspiciously at the idea of Lindsey McDonald speaking kindly to Hermione; it almost seemed as if they were old friends or something and not enemies. Reid continued to stare at Faith as he tried to figure out if she really did kill a human before, and the others all looked up at the stage. Hermione's jaw was the first to drop when she saw Lindsey sit on a stool in the center of the stage with a guitar in his arms. Faith only smirked at the thought of the pretty boy embarrassing himself, and the others were all curious to see what was going to happen. Hermione noticed Lorne standing in the corner of the room, watching Lindsey closely with a grim look on his face.

Mmm yeah…

Hermione began to wonder what the future of a man who works for the devil would look like. Would it be as empty as he's supposed to be? Would it be as confused as he is? Or is it nonexistent? The day after the attack from Lucius, Hermione began to read through some of Angel's books and she did a little research on Wolfram and Hart. Apparently when Lindsey told her that they take the term 'fired' literally, he meant it. When you become a lawyer for that particular firm you have to sign a contract that means your bosses own your soul. When you die or try to leave the job, your actual soul is claimed by them… along with your body. You serve them for eternity, and if they feel like it you're also tortured for eternity. Hermione understood now that Lindsey was actually risking his life by trying to warn her of his own company's clients' plans for her.

Well living with me, it ain't easy

But I do it every day.

Sometimes – even now –

I wanna run away,

But there you are;

You're trying to please me.

Yeah you stand your ground,

It's more than I deserve

"Well damn!" Faith didn't remove her eyes from the stage.

"Bloody hell!"

"Hermione!" Tyler gasped.

Not blushing for the words that just escaped her mouth, Hermione had a glazed look in her eyes. "What?" she asked, also not looking away from the stage, "He's good. Plus I love this song. And he's hot. Leave me alone."

Rolling his eyes at the young girl's antics, Reid looked over at Faith and slightly snarled. She had the same look in her eyes that Hermione did. "He's not that good," he muttered.

"Shhh," Hermione and Faith both hushed Reid at the same time.

I've taken more than I've been giving.

And I've taken for granted, this life I'm living.

And I don't know why heaven above

Blessed me with your sweet love;

I know I never tell you what you're worth,

That's 'cause it's more than I deserve

"Look at the bloody ponce," Spike rolled his eyes. "It's like he thinks he's some singing god or something else like that."

"William," Hermione chanced a quick look his way and the venom in her voice matched the fire in her eyes, "Shut up or I'll silence you again."

Ignoring the scoffing sound from all the males at their table, Hermione turned back to the stage and she felt something pinch her insides. Lindsey's eyes met hers and her breath got caught. She couldn't pinpoint exactly when she started listening to American music, but she did. She loved all the different varieties there were to choose from, and she loved it all. This song had been one of her favorite ones from when she first heard it, and now hearing it from the deep, angelic tone of a hot country guy in person – especially one who was risking his own life to save hers – had Hermione's insides bursting into tiny little tickling bubbles.

It felt like a crush that she didn't understand. She knew that it wasn't a crush, because she already had a crush on someone and this felt different, but she liked this giddy feeling that he was giving her; it was like she wanted to bounce in her seat, but she thought better of it – there was no point in giving her new friends more ammo to tease her with. Blue eyes stayed on her as the beautiful singing words flowed evenly out of his mouth, and Hermione felt her heart clench. For a moment she pictured someone else on that stage singing to her – someone with blonde hair and silver eyes; someone whose father just tried to kill her two weeks before.

It's just your style to wear a smile

-Oh baby, you wear it very well-

And if I had my way, I'd dress you in nothing else.

So come over here and lay down a little while

Cause you right now;

You're more than I deserve

Tyler elbowed Pogue who elbowed Caleb and the three of them all snickered at the way Reid growled when Lindsey looked away from Hermione to stare at Faith. Reid didn't realize it and neither did Faith, but once Lindsey winked at Faith and the slayer actually blushed with a silly grin, Reid scooted his chair closer to her and placed his arm over her chair as if claiming what didn't belong to him. Reid and Faith didn't realize the brash move he just made, but everyone else at the table did. Even Hermione caught the motion and grinned to herself before trying to shut Draco out of her mind.

I've taken more than I've been giving.

And I've taken for granted, this life I'm living.

And I don't know why heaven above

Blessed me with your sweet love;

I know I never tell you what you're worth,

That's 'cause it's more than I deserve.

Oh, you're more than I deserve

Lindsey's eyes met Hermione's once more and she blushed when he grinned at her with a nod of his head. Shyly smiling back at him, Hermione nodded her head as well and she could have sworn that she saw laughter in his eyes as he looked away to face the rest of the attentive crowd once more. Her cheeks were flustered and she jumped in fright when another bottle of butterbeer was placed in front of her.

"He's good, isn't he?" Lorne grinned down at her.

Spike scoffed again with the rest of the males at the table while Faith muttered a quick, "Yeah-huh."

Nodding her head, Hermione took a long sip from the bottle and wanted to curse the demon's ability to read her aura. "Yes, he is."

"He comes in at least once a week just to sing," Lorne confided in her. "I always offer to tell him what I see, but he always shakes it off."

Frowning, Hermione glanced back at Lindsey and rolled the bottle between her hands, "He's scared that you don't see anything…" she stated in a matter of fact voice.

"You really are the brightest-witch-of-your-age," Lorne winked down at her then left again.

I've taken more than I've been giving.

And I've taken for granted, this life I'm living.

And I don't know why heaven above

Blessed me with your sweet love;

All I know is I never tell you what you're worth,

That's 'cause it's more than I deserve;

It's more than I deserve.

"I don't get it," Caleb said, "What's so hot about a guy with a guitar?"

And I don't know why heaven above

Blessed me with your sweet love;

I know I never tell you what you're worth,

It's more than I deserve.

Giving a slight bow as he stepped off the stage, Lindsey's eyes met Hermione's once more and he gave her a shy smile now. It was nothing like the bold wink and seductive grin that he gave to her while he was on stage, and Hermione grinned as she realized what it was. Lindsey McDonald was comfortable while singing. In the real world, he was this snarky lawyer who killed people and represented other people that killed people; he constantly looked over his shoulder to make sure that he wasn't about to be murdered, and he silently plotted against his bosses to help protect a young-targeted-witch. Then he got onto a stage with his guitar and he sang. Nobody was trying to kill him and nobody was giving him orders; he was free and he could be himself. Hermione realized something else. She liked him when he was himself.

Wiggling in her seat, Faith turned back to the table and fanned herself, "Damn!"

"You said that already, love," Spike pointed out.

"I didn't know he could sing like that," choosing to ignore the comment from Spike, Faith took a sip from Reid's bottle once more and winked when he opened his mouth to stop her but then shut it instead; knowing he would lose the argument in the end. "I mean, damn! It's not fair. He's got the looks and the voice. If only he wasn't such an evil bastard."

"He can't be all that evil," Hermione said suddenly, turning to Faith. "I mean, he does keep warning me and offering me protection."

Hermione saw them all open their mouths to reply, but she stood up before they had the chance to. Looking over at the bar, she saw Lindsey watching her curiously. Taking in a deep breath, Hermione told herself to just calm down. She knew she wouldn't be as good as Lindsey was, and the stage wasn't her comfort zone. The library was the one place that she felt she could most be herself, but she wasn't anywhere near a library – she was in a demon bar, walking towards an empty stage. If only Harry and Ron could see her now. Hermione Granger, the prude of Hogwarts, was about to sing in front of a bar full of demons and vampires.

Disclaimer: I don't own Christian Kane or the song More Than I Deserve, but if I did… I would do very naughty things to him and force him to sing to me every second of the day(: how much of you guys have seen Angel and have seen Lindsey singing in that one episode where he got his hand back? Hot right? As long as nothing goes wrong (knock on wood) I should upload a chapter tomorrow. There's only 3 chapters left after this one(: are you guys excited? I'm excited!