Maybe, you should do neither. Murder is a crime.

It’s not murder, it’s self-defense.

Oh, do tell how.

Well, he attacked my freedom of speech and freedom of laziness. So, the only proper way to amend this is by killing him.

That has no logic in it. That would not hold up in a court in any country.

How about I plea temporary insanity?

Now, that might work.

Besides, Angel’s already dead so it wouldn’t be murder.

I think his having a soul makes him still technically alive.

Oh whatever, loser. Don’t want me to have my fun.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t. I’m just telling you the logical outcomes of what would happen if you choose to do so.

Oh, well. I plea temporary insanity.

I smirked to myself and continued to doodle in my notebook. After a while, I began to get a feeling that someone was watching me so I turned in my seat towards the source of the feeling. Of course, as in every cliché book/movie/whatever, no one was there. Chalking it up to an overactive imagination, I went back to my doodling.

“I have a question,” Fred announced next to me and I jumped in my seat, startled.

“Yeah, what?” Angel replied, lounging against his desk.

“How is it that you’re able to stand in sunlight? Shouldn’t you be dust by now?” Fred continued.

His question gave me an extreme sense of deja-vu as I remembered asking Angel that same question. I never got a straight answer.

“That’s another lesson for another time,” Angel answered, giving yet another cryptic answer. I guess I’d have to bug him into telling me. I grinned at the thought of threatening to chop him into little bits, unless he told me why he could stand in sunlight. Angel probably screamed like a girl.

Angel glanced at his wrist and said, “Class is over. For homework, I want you to list all the attributes that define a hell god and why those attributes could correctly describe any of the Gods on pages 12-16.”

“How long should it be?” asked a brunette in the back.

“Why does every class ask the same questions? As long as it takes to answer the question fully. I don’t want a novel. Do you actually think I want to spend my time reading that? Short, concise answers are what I want. Class dismissed.”

I hurriedly went to pack up my bag. I was so excited to be teaching hand-to-hand. I grabbed my bag, slung it over my shoulder, and prepared to leave.

“Buffy, want to hang with us?” Fred asked, walking over to me.

“I can’t,” I replied, starting to walk away.

“Why not?” he asked.

I stopped mid-stride and answered, “I have a class to teach.”

I didn’t stay to hear his response and jogged to my dorm, carefully avoiding the other people in the hallways. Damn, Hogwarts was a big castle.

I reached my dorm in record time. Dropping my bags in the doorway, I raced to my room. I pulled off my robes and searched through my trunk for a pair of shorts, and finding them, pulled them on. I looked down at the shirt I was wearing. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, it read in large bold letters. That’s probably not appropriate.

Probably?

Shut-up.

I pulled the shirt off and grabbed the white tanktop that lay on the floor. Throwing that on, I put on a pair of sneakers and tied my hair back.

I turned slightly to look into the big mirror on the wall. Gazing at myself, I noticed a dark spot under my shirt and lifted it. I rubbed the scar there unconsciously. I’d always had it, ever since I was a young child, and it’d begun to fade as the years went by. Still, if I looked close enough, I could see it. It bothered me.

Sighing, I put my shirt down and with energy I didn’t know I had, hoisted my sparring gear bag over my shoulder and jogged out the room.

In repeat performance of this morning, I jogged straight into Angel. This time, though I hate to admit it, it was my fault. He glared at me for a moment before looking me over in surprise.

“What’s with the outfit?” he asked.

The words “what’s with you staring me down” were at the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t want to get another detention, so I said, “I’m teaching a sparring class.”

“A sparring class? But wait, Buffy…”

I couldn’t hear his voice as I jogged off towards the room where we were supposed to meet for the class. As I ran down another staircase, I heard someone mention hand-to-hand.

“Not really. No, you?”a voice said. I walked closer to see Ron, Hermione, and Harry standing in the hall.

“I’m actually really excited. I can’t wait to kick Malfoy’s ass,” Ron stated, pumping his hand in the air enthusiastically.

“Or have Goyle and Crabbe kick yours. What about you Hermione? You ready for this?”

“I’m with Harry on this one. I really don’t want to go in there.”

“It’s not like you have a choice. You cut my class and I’ll kill you,” I said, choosing that moment to announce my presence.

“I’d like to live, so I think I’m going to go,” Harry said in response and I gave him a bright smile.

“You guys should go change before the class. That’s what the fifteen minute free is for. I can’t see myself kicking someone in wizarding robes. Can you?” I advised them and they walked off to go change. I turned back in the direction I w headed only to realize I didn’t know which dungeon it was being held in. I frowned.

“Buffy. Finally. Didn’t you realize I was talking to you?” Angel said walking towards me.

Annoyed, I replied, “Didn’t you realize I was ignoring you?”

“Well, then you’ll be happy to know that I’m teaching hand-to-hand with you,” he stated smirking. “And since you look pretty lost, I’ll lead you down to where the class will be taking place. Are you coming or not?”

“What the hell are you talking about? McGonagall never mentioned this. I’m not working with you,” I blurted out. Why is this happening to me? Why is is all of this happening to me? I’ve never been bad, or at least I’ve never been convicted of any heinous crimes, so why am I getting this punishment? Doesn’t one of the amendments prohibit cruel and unusual punishments?

You’re in England now.

Don’t they have a constitution?

How should I know? I’m American.

“She didn’t. That was…smart of her.” He looked down at his shoes and I looked him over.

Yummy! Manly goodness all wrapped up in a pair of loose sweats and a tight muscle shirt. I want a piece of that.

Would you quit that?

Angel sighed, ran his fingers through his hair, and looked back up at me.

“Look Buffy. I’m just as annoyed about these circumstances as you. I don’t even want to teach…Nevermind, Could we just try to be civil for the duration of this?”

I replied with fake enthusiasm, “Of course we can.” Yeah, like I’d ever be civil with you. I can’t wait to kick your bottom in front of all those students. It’ll be Christmas come early.

We walked down to the dungeons in silence. I contemplated how I would abuse him today, while sneaking glances at him. Only so I could learn his movements, of course.

Right…And I’m the Easter Bunny.

Aren’t you?

“Buffy,” he said suddenly, “About your detentions. They will start next week. Professor Snape also asked me to inform you that I will be supervising your Potions Detention as he has an important meeting with an old friend that he can’t possibly miss.”

“Shut-up!” I yelled in shock. I swear it’s a conspiracy. Someone is trying to punish me.

May God have mercy on your soul.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Angel packing his bag as well. I picked mine up, and started walking towards the door. I really didn’t want to have to walk up with him. It was bad enough I had to teach a class with him. My mind wandered back to our earlier conversation. I had a week’s worth of detentions with him, plus the one with Snape. I’d have preferred to have them all with Snape instead. At least he wasn’t a jackass. jerk, maybe, but not jackass.

“Buffy, wait,” a voice called out behind me and I stopped mid-step, nearly falling to the ground. I felt myself turning red as I turned to face the speaker.

Angel smirked at me as he said, “Sorry about that. I forgot how clumsy you were.”

I glared at him, and recovering what was left of my dignity, walked away. He jogged up behind me.

“How about we walk back together?”

I stared at him. Was he being nice?

“Why?” I asked.

“Why not?” he replied. I started to walk and he walked beside me. “Besides, we both know how easily you get lost. Wouldn’t want to have to send out a search party just because you didn’t know how to get to our dorm from the dungeons.”

I was pissed, not because of what he said, but because he was mostly right. I hadn’t really been paying attention when we walked down here, so I didn’t know how to get back to the dorm from here. But he was wrong about getting easily lost. Once I knew how to get somewhere, I always knew it.

We walked back up the stairs in silence. When we finally reached our dorm, I pushed past him to reach the door first. The sad girl on the tower stared at me expectantly and I gave her the password.

I jogged back to my room and threw my bag down. I grabbed up my robes again and some underclothes and then ran to where I thought the shower was.

“What’re you doing in my room?” Angel asked as he peeled off his shirt.

Oh god, oh god, oh god, oh god.

All thought processes seem to have left me and all I could think of was how perfect his torso was. Does he work out every day? So perfectly sculpted. Cue drool…

“Buffy?” he asked, walking toward me and I could swear I squeaked.

“Sorry, I thought this was the shower. So I’m just going to go now.”

I sprinted out of the room and towards the last door on the right. On the top of the door was the word ‘SHOWER’. I walked inside and shut the door behind me. As soon as it was shut, I slid to the floor.

“He’s so hot,” I whispered to myself.

How am I ever going to live with him?

Just don’t rape him in his sleep and everything’ll be fine.

I mentally berated myself for even thinking of that. Though, it wouldn’t be so bad. He has loads of sexual experience if the Watcher Diaries were right. He’s probably great in bed…

A look of horror crossed my face.

“I’m turning into Faith.”

I pushed the thoughts of Angel and beds out of mind and stood up. I really needed a shower.

“Homework, homework, homework, aah yes, DADA list on attributes of hell gods. Pages, pages, pages 12-16!”

I pulled out my Defense Against the Dark Arts: Level Newt and flipped to page 12.

On the top of the page it read, “Gods Aa-Ac”. I was bored already. I took out a pen and my notebook and listed the attributes of a Hellgod. When I was finished with that, I listed all the gods on pages 12-16. There was barely any information about them. Well, it did have a lot of information, but I didn’t want to use it. I didn’t even want to read it. I laid back on my bed and sighed. I hated homework.

“Gods, Goddesses, and How they Fell,” I stated, sitting up. I could research the gods in that book. It’d been interesting.

Getting up, I put my shoes back on and prepared for a visit to the library.

I wonder what brought this on.

Luna looked up from her book at Draco Malfoy. He kept muttering about some stupid runes and stabbing his book. It was getting quite annoying.

“You know, if you’re having trouble with your runes, perhaps I could help,” Luna offered.

He looked up from his book at Luna in disbelief. “Loony,” he muttered aloud.

Luna continued to stare at him and Draco twitched under her unwavering gaze. He looked back at his book, determined not to look her way again.

“Well, if you won’t take my help, how about asking someone in your year. Hermione’s really good at Runes. She tutored me once. You could ask her. I’m sure she’d say yes,” Luna offered again.

Draco looked at Luna again, this time his eyes widening in disbelief. This girl was loonier than he’d originally thought. Asking Granger…he’d rather eat dirt.

Draco stood up and walked away. As he walked, Luna could swear she heard him say, “Psycho Ravenclaws.”

Luna leaned back in her seat. She rubbed her eyes and went back to her reading.

Anything else to do? Transfiguration: practice. That’s done. Potions: Essay. Not due til next Monday. Ancient runes: did that in class. History: Not going to do that. Charms: Practice. Done. Herbology: None.

I have nothing to do.

My stomach grumbled ominously and I sat up again.

Aah, something to do. I wonder what’s for dinner.

I rubbed the last of the sleep from my eyes and then standing up, walked over to my window and threw it open. Looking out into the night sky, I watched an owl swoop down towards the darkened woods.

I walked back to my bed and took out a pen and piece of paper. I began to pen a letter.

Hey guys,

Long time no see. Lol. Really I miss you guys. Anyways, you wanted to know what Hogwarts was like so here’s the scoop.

I didn’t get sorted into any house. Willow will tell you what I mean. Apparently I don’t belong in any one house. So now I’m sharing a dorm with, get this, Angelus, scourge of Europe. Too bad he has a soul now so I can’t stake his bottom for what he did to those poor puppies. People, I mean people. Anyways, the excitement doesn’t end there. I’m a teacher of the hand-to-hand class. Along with Angel. I’m currently in the middle of two separate schemes. One involving house rivalry and the other matchmaking. Hogwarts is much more interesting than I originally thought it would be, believe me. Anyways, talk to you guys later. I hafta go mail this.

For you Willow, yes the grounds are huge. And yes the library is magnificent. You’d die if you saw it.

For you Xander, yes there are plenty of girls. I’ll see if I can hook you up with one. Just kidding. Why would I do that?

For you Tara, yes the air here is amazing. It’s quite calming.

For you Faith,yes the men are totally f***able. Angel looks much better than that picture, too. I’ll have to get you some moving pictures for your “private collection.”

Signing the letter, I slipped it inside the envelope and sealed it. Then I put my shoes on and flicked off the light. Opening my door slowly, I peered outside. All was quiet. I walked out and shut the door quietly behind me. Slowly, I walked towards the porthole.

“Where’re you going?” Angel asked, leaning against his doorframe.

“To mail a letter,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. He’d surprised me.

“It’s past curfew,” he stated matter-of-factly.

“So?” I said and he sighed.

“Do you even know how to get to the owlery?”

I shrugged in response.

“When you leave the dorm, turn right and follow the stairs all the way up. You won’t miss it. Come back soon. I’m not getting in trouble because of you.”

He turned around and walked back into his room. I shrugged at his odd behavior and followed his directions. Walking outside, I turned right and followed the stairs to the top. The walk was long and gave me time to muse on my day. I’d accomplished a lot in a short time. I’d made a few good friends, angered a few teachers, and made a reputation. This year was off to a good start already.

When I reached the top, I entered the owlery. I was drawn to the large window at the far right and walked towards it. The view was amazing. The stars were so bright. It was eerie in an oddly calming way.

“Buffy, is that you?” a voice called and I jumped off my perch near the window, turning red and faced the speaker.

“Hi Hermione. What’re you doing here?” I called, my voice strained from surprise. I hated letting others hear me sing. It was embarrassing.

“I’m making sure that everyone is in bed, which you should be. What’re you doing by the way?” she asked curiously her gaze travelling towards the letter I still held in my hands. My eyes widened in surprise and I grabbed Athena off her perch. Athena opened her beak and I positioned the letter inside it so it wouldn’t fall out. She hooted at me.

“Thanks Athena,” I said before letting my owl fly off into the night.

“Sending a letter this late at night, Summers? Don’t you know that’s against the rules?” sneered Draco from behind Hermione. His voice sounded rough. Perhaps from too much talking.

“Yeah, Malfoy. Don’t you know that I don’t care?” I quipped back and he looked like he was about to speak but closed his mouth again.

“You should get going. Since this is your first offense, I won’t have to write you up but next time I won’t be so lenient,” Hermione stated, in a monotone.

“You have no idea how many times I’ve heard that phrase,” I said with a smile. I’d heard the phrase way too many times to count. I walked past Hermione, towards the door.

“By the way, what were you singing, Summers? I’ve never heard anything like it,” Draco asked.

“Of course not, Pureblood. That’s muggle music for you,” I replied before exiting the room.