Dumbledore was successful at getting in touch with the Scoobies back home. Buffy then wrote a letter saying that she and Spike were fine, but still recuperating and would be staying across the pond for a while. Everyone was very glad that they were alive and safe.
“I never knew that there was a school for teaching witches and wizards.” Buffy said to Spike. “I mean, Willow and Tara learned it on their own. They should take out an advertisement or something.”
“I’m sure they like to be discreet, pet.”
“Yeah, but they’re make more money if more people knew about them. I know Willow would pretty much sell her soul to get into a place like this.”
“We are not an establishment interested in making money, Miss Summers.” Dumbledore had come to visit the two surprise guests and see how they were coming along. “We do not charge the students who come here, we educate them because it is for the betterment of our magical society as a whole.”
“But, don’t you get paid? I mean, you must get paid.” Both Spike and Dumbledore chuckled at this.
“Yes we are given our Salary. It is paid by the Ministry of Magic, our government.”
“You have government jobs? The benefits must be pretty sweet.” Dumbledore chuckled again.
Over the next few days Buffy, Spike, and Dumbledore had many conversations about their lives. Well, mainly Buffy and Spike’s time in Sunnydale. What they did there. What the fought there. Buffy was finding it easy to get to know Spike better without her friends constantly reminding her how evil he was. Spike had been willing to die for her.
Dumbledore was especially interested in learning about Buffy’s Slayer status. “In the Wizarding world we have heard of the Slayer, but she has always been regarded as a myth.” Buffy laughed outright at that.
“You mean to tell me,” Spike asked. “That a bunch of blokes that can turn whomever they please into toads don’t believe in someone that’s destined to protect them from the nasties in this world?”
“We have a different kind of Nasty here, Mr. Spike.”
“Just Spike.” He corrected for the hundredth time. “And what do you mean a different kind of Nasty? There isn’t anything that my girl here can’t take.” Buffy beamed at his compliment.
“I’m beginning to see that.” Dumbledore said. “Now, you’re a vampire?” Spike nodded. “Why do you care for her so?”
“Because she’s the be all, and all, mate. That’s all there is to it. I would die for her.” Cause she looks at me like a man. Spike said this all unabashedly. Dumbledore smiled at him.
“There is something I think the pair of you would be able to help me with.” Dumbledore then set to telling the newcomers all about the big Evil that threatened the wizarding world, about how he was conquered by a baby boy named Harry Potter, but that, years later, he had risen again. This boy, Harry was sixteen now, and would eventually have to face and conquer Voldemort again.
“And what do you want us to do?” Buffy asked.
“I want you to help Harry. He has a lot in front of him, and he needs to learn to defend himself physically without magic, and he needs to learn to persevere. He needs to learn things that you can teach him.”
Buffy and Spike sat in silence. Though Dumbledore could tell that their glances to one another spoke volumes. “We’ll do it.” Spike finally answered.
“Now, I want to use the utmost discretion in this. So I am going to make both of you temporary Professors here at school. You won’t have classes, so to speak, but you will have duties.” Buffy and Spike nodded.
“When does the term start?” Buffy asked.
“The first of September. If you like, I can arrange it so that you can return to your homes and collect whichever personal effects you think you might need.”
“That would be great, thanks.”
The reunion back in Sunnydale was a tearful one. Dawn was so happy to see the sister that she had thought she lost she refused to let her out of her sight. Spike was at his crypt gathering things that he would need and Buffy felt strangely alone without him with her.
“Dawnie, if I tell you something, do you think that you could keep it a secret?” Dawn’s eyes went wide with excitement but she zipped and locked her lips before crossing her heart. “I think that I have feelings for Spike.” Dawn’s eyes bugged out of her head. She squeaked and threw her arms around her sister.
“Buffy!!! That is so great. I am so proud of you! And it’s about time!” The sisters hugged and giggled.
“I haven’t told Spike yet. But he was willing to die for me, Dawn. And being away from the other Scoobies has really made me realize that he isn’t evil. He isn’t bad. He’s better than Angel ever was.”
“Yeah, they always hated Spike. I mean, I know that he tried to kill you guys like every other day, but that was so like, three years ago! He’s changed so much.”
When Buffy was finished packing she looked at her assembled friends sadly. “I’m gonna miss you guys. But I’ll write all the time.” She turned to Giles. “Swear to me that you’ll take care of Dawn as if she were your own daughter.”
“I swear, Buffy. Be careful.”
Buffy met Spike at his crypt. Dumbledore had explained to them about port keys and arranged for some bit of rubble of Spike’s to be theirs. When she entered his crypt, Spike was smoking a cigarette and sitting in his favorite chair. “I’m gonna miss this chair.” He confessed. Buffy smiled at him. “I used to be willing to pay anything to see you smile at me like that, and now you do it for free.” Buffy blushed.
“I’m seeing you in a new light, Spike.” Buffy told him. “Being away from the others, makes it easier to see you for what you really are.”
“And what might that be, love?” Spike stood so he could look into her eyes.
“A good man.” Buffy whispered to him. Spike felt like he would split in two from the happiness that swelled within him upon hearing her say that. Buffy hugged him and kissed his cheek. “I owe you so much.”
“You owe me nothing, Buffy.” She smiled.
“I think we have to do the potkey thingie now.” Spike looked at Buffy’s watch.
“You might be right about that, pet.” They arranged their luggage so that they could have one hand on their luggage and one on the portkey. In a great woosh of air, and a pulling around their navals they disappeared in a swirl of air.
squawks
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!