The Champion

Summary: Denying Death has consequences. Buffy Summers discovers this as she is resurrected after drowning at the hands of the Master, awakening the memories of her first life as Acacia Potter, the Girl-Who-Lived. Now she has to reconcile her past with her present and be the Slayer Sunnydale needs, while dealing with Death's demands.

Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Harry Potter, or anything else mentioned in this fic. None of it belongs to me. I appreciate all of the encouraging reviews. As for the select few who like to post reviews about how unoriginal my story is, if this isn't your cup of tea, just click out and go somewhere else already. I write for fun, not for reviews.

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Chapter 4: When She Was Bad (Changed) Part 2

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"Come, the niceties will be observed…. Dumbledore would like you to show manners…. Bow to death, Harry…."

I refuse. I will never become your Champion.

"I don't care! I don't care. Giles, I'm sixteen years old. I don't wanna die."

I was never meant to survive.

"I speak now, Harry Potter, directly to you. You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour, you have not come to me, have not given yourself up, then battle recommences. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, Harry Potter, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman, and child who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour."

You don't get it, Hermione. I'd love to bury my head in the sand, ignore the war that is unfolding around me, but they expect me to lead! I'm supposed to be the Savior.

You will join me, my Champion. It is inevitable.

Hazel eyes snapped open as Buffy bolted upright with a sharp gasp, disoriented. A loud thud made her curl tighter in her chair, muscles tensing. Her eyes darted to the sound, noticing that it was a heavy tome that she had spread over her lap that had fallen to the floor when she moved.

"Buffy?"

Jumping at the voice, she turned her head to see Giles standing close by, his brows furrowed in concern.

"Are you alright?"

For a long moment, she simply stared at him, hazel eyes a touch too wide as she fought down the panic and fear that coursed through her. The dream had been a combination of her worst moments, all tangled up from both lives.

It had left her particularly vulnerable, as they always did.

Perhaps that was why, when her Watcher asked her if she was alright, she answered him honestly.

"Not really."

Seeing the worry grow in his eyes, she inhaled sharply and offered a smile that she knew was strained, fraying at the edges. "It's okay. Just a few night terrors. Dying tends to have that effect on people."

"Indeed," he sighed heavily, leaning back against the bannister. "Death has an effect on everyone who comes close. I must say, it's changed you."

Ducking her head, she leaned down to pick up the heavy tome that had fallen, avoiding his eyes as she fidgeted with it. "Kind of inevitable really. It certainly puts things into perspective."

"Buffy, I wanted to apologize," Giles started, making her pause. "The Council has more of an influence on me than I would like to admit. They view Slayers as dispensable, as chess pieces they can move around. I had that mindset until I came here...until I met you. You were prophesied to die, a truly terrifying revelation for a sixteen-year-old girl, and you went into it willingly. I am so sorry that you had to do that. I...I don't know what I would have done if you…"

He faltered and she lifted her eyes from the book, taking in her Watcher. There were tears in his eyes as he blinked them back rapidly, his glasses in his hands as he rubbed at them furiously.

A wave of love crashed through her, love for the man who had done his best to guide her, to mentor her.

Setting the book down on the chair, she took two long strides to him and snaked her arms around his waist, hugging him as tight as she could without Slayer strength breaking his ribs. She pressed her face into his shoulder, breathing in the smell of books, tea, and the cologne he wore.

"Oh!" he startled, dropping his glasses, as he froze awkwardly, hesitating. "Buffy, uh…"

"I love you, you know that?" she asked, hiding her face, knowing she wouldn't be able to avoid crying if she looked at him. "Willow and Xander are great, but you're my Watcher. I can feel the bond between us growing. I know you're always on my side, the one that'll stay when the chips are down. I'm not the conventional Slayer, I know, and I'm sorry for that. But I do want you to know that I trust you more than anyone else. I appreciate everything you've done for me."

He inhaled sharply at her words, his arms coming up to wrap around her, returning the hug tightly.

Searching inside, Buffy felt that thin string tying his soul to hers growing wider, strengthening. The bond that she had been subconsciously denying, refusing to get attached to anyone after losing Merrick. The Slayer and Watcher bond was one she hadn't believed in, but she knew better now.

She reached for it directly now, focusing on sending a wave of affection and appreciation towards her Watcher. He gasped aloud, surprised, then sent a fierce wave of relief back at her, emphasizing his happiness that she had come back from her prophesied fate.

Drawing back from the embrace, Buffy took a step back and grinned up at him brightly, feeling the bond thrum happily between them.

He smiled back, shy but warm.

"Should've done that earlier but I was being dumb," she shrugged, grin dying down to a small smile. "I'm sorry for that."

"It's quite alright," he smiled, picking up his glasses and slipping them back on. "You had your reasons."

Reasons that seemed foolish now. Even a blind man could sense that Rupert Giles was her lifeline, the mentor she had always wanted but never had. Dumbledore had been a cheap, cruel parody. His manipulation had devastating effects on her ability to trust. Acacia had been completely closed off, keeping her walls up against everyone.

Buffy didn't want to be like that. She knew she couldn't say anything about Death or the Hallows because it would put her family in danger but she didn't want to be Acacia. She wanted to be as open as she could.

"Giles, I have something I need to tell you," Buffy spoke hesitantly, unsure of whether she was making the right decision. "If I tell you something crazy, something that I want to keep between us, will you believe me? Will you keep it just between us?"

Giles studied her thoughtfully, contemplating his response. He was taking the question seriously, sensing the waves of indecision and doubt that rippled along their bond. Buffy wasn't hiding her emotions, wanting to put her trust in him.

"Buffy, I will always believe you, no matter how crazy it sounds. I trust you. Your trust is difficult to earn for most, but you've given it to me freely. I will not betray that. If you wish this to stay between us, then it will."

His eyes were solemn, holding steel conviction. He was being truthful, being as open with her as she was with him.

Determination and faith rolled across the bond, making her smile softly. She knew she was making the right choice.

"Alright," she affirmed, giving a firm nod. "Mom's picking me up soon. I'll be by tonight to check in and tomorrow night, if you don't mind, I'll come over and tell you all about it, okay? Something tells me this conversation is going to be a long one."

"Oh-of course," Giles blinked, pleasantly surprised. She had stopped checking in after patrol for the few days before summer break after the Master's defeat, too overwhelmed to bother. But she wanted to make that a regular habit again because she missed her Watcher.

"I'll see you tomorrow then," she confirmed, smiling brightly.

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"Hello," Buffy managed awkwardly.

"Hi, mind if I come in?" Angel smiled crookedly, seated on her window sill.

"Be my guest."

"How are you?"

"I'm okay, been better, been worse," Buffy shrugged, uncomfortable.

The silence stretched between them.

"This a social call?"

"This isn't a social call," Angel denied, face darkening in disapproval at her flippant tone. "The Anointed One. He's been gathering forces all around town. I'm not sure why."

"Great," she drawled, rolling her eyes as she shoved the covers off her. Sleep was futile at that point anyway. "I'll talk to Giles about it tomorrow and see what he says."

"You don't seem too concerned," the vampire frowned.

"Should I be?"

"Don't underestimate the Anointed One just because he looks like a child," Angel scolded, not liking her attitude. "He has power over the rest of them. They'll do anything for him."

"I can handle myself, thanks."

Her tone was sharper than she intended and hurt bloomed in his eyes, making her heart ache. Buffy could see him physically withdrawing at her less than stellar welcome, shoulders stiffening as he straightened and moved to leave. The part of her that still loved Angel, that was infatuated with his mysterious aura that hid depths untold, made her speak, forcing the words from her lips.

"Wait. Please."

He paused and sat down gingerly on her window seat, muscles tense in preparation for leaving at the slightest hint of provocation.

"Okay," she sighed heavily, raking a hand through her messy hair. Her eyes shifted over to him as she pondered what to say, how to tell him that she wasn't interested in a romantic relationship at all. "I'm sorry, Angel. I don't mean to be so rough with you. I just...I'm dealing with a lot right now."

"It's okay. You can talk to me, you know," Angel offered a small smile, tension draining from his shoulders. "You're not alone, Buffy."

"Thanks, Angel, I appreciate it. I get it now, you know. Why you don't want us to be involved," she elaborated, seeing his confusion. "The truth is, I'm not in the right frame of mind to be getting involved romantically with anyone right now. Death changed my perspective about stuff. I've realized that I have no idea who I am, not really."

His dark eyes were soft with sorrow, yet held understanding as he nodded in acceptance.

"Are you okay, Buffy? Honestly?"

"I'm in a bad spot right now but I'm working on it. I'll be okay," the Slayer pointed a finger at him threateningly, the gesture somewhat dulled by the spark of happiness in her eyes. "Just because we're not starcrossed forbidden lovers doesn't mean I want to stop spending time with you. You're going to be one of my best friends, mister, and if I don't hear from you every few days, I'll be tracking you down. Got it?"

A surprised chuckle left him as he shifted, giving a small smile that seemed more genuine than any she'd seen from him so far.

"Yeah, Buff, I got it."