Hey this is a new fic I'm writing since I've kinda got a bit stale with 'The Last Battle.' Don't worry I will be updating that too, but I'm going to try out this one so let me know what you think. If you don't review I'm not going to continue!

I know this timeline has been done to death but I'm going to have a go at it anyway, see how it goes. It's set after Season 2 of Buffy, when she's run off to LA, and after Book 5 of Harry Potter.

The title may change, it's only because I couldn't think of anything and Tupac – Changes was playing at the time and it fitted.

Reviews please, coz I really love to read them!

Chapter 1

The small blonde haired girl brushed away her tears carelessly as she stared blankly out of the window. The bus rolled on through the town, passing memories, and leaving them in its wake to watch it depart. Presently she closed her eyes, shutting them against the tears and the light and the pain. She wanted to be alone in her head, to shut out thinking and feeling, to push them so far away that maybe she could keep them at bay forever, and remain an empty shell. Sleep took her and she fell where her troubled mind released itself into her dreams.

"What'll it be?" Buffy said wearily, pen poised over her order pad.

"I'll just have a coffee," the man sitting at the chipped Formica table said, closing his menu. Buffy nodded, and walked off the counter where she quickly and deftly filled a cup. Picking it up, she carried it over to the man's table where she set it down. The man pulled it towards him, and Buffy turned away, to serve the lady sitting at the next table.
"Thanks Buffy," he murmured softly.
Buffy froze in her tracks. Turning slowly, she surveyed the man sitting in front of her. He read the paper in front of him casually, not noticing her stare and absently-mindedly tugged at his grey beard. Buffy examined him, him apparently still oblivious, taking in his grey hair, wizened face and small spectacles. He looked up at her, and then jumped slightly as he noticed her staring at him.
"What did you say?" Buffy demanded.

"Thank you, I believe it was," the man answered, his silvery moustache lifting in a cautious smile.

"But a name, you said a name," Buffy stammered. The man looked at her curiously.

"Your name badge says 'Anne." he said, still smiling. "So I am guessing that is your name." Buffy scowled at him.
"Look," she said, her voice rising in fury. "I heard you. Let's just cut the crap and you tell me who you are." The man removed his spectacles and began to polish them. The sight of this just angered Buffy more.

"I don't need this," she snapped. "Who sent you? Giles, was it Giles? Well you can tell him from me that I'm fine where I am, he couldn't help before, so why is he bothering now?"

"No one sent me, I assure you Miss Summers." The man said. "I came to see you as I have a proposition for you." The scowl on Buffy's face dissolved, to be replaced with a bemused look.
"This is not a particularly good place to talk, let us go elsewhere." The man said standing and placing a crisp five dollar bill on the table. Buffy looked at him puzzled. Despite her better judgement, she was drawn to this man; there was something about him which was familiar yet still different. Wordlessly she took off her apron.
"I'm going on my break Kathy," she called to the other waitress, and followed the man out of the café.

They walked side by side along the street and Buffy noticed the strange cloak the man wore, it was richly embroidered and hung to his ankles, which were clad in leather boots. He walked quickly and she had to move her short legs quickly to keep up with him. Suddenly he stopped.
"We'll try in here, I think," the man said, gesturing to a greasy bar in front of them. Buffy looked up at it. She honestly wouldn't have noticed it if he hadn't pointed it out, and she saw that the people walking down the busy street apparently didn't notice it either. She followed the man inside, where the interior was a big improvement on the exterior, furnished with many velvety armchairs. The man ordered drinks for them, and then brought them over to the small table which Buffy was seated around.  Buffy took a deep drink from her glass.
"Buffy Summers," the man began. "I know who you are, that is why I am here. I have heard much about you, from a mutual friend of ours, Rupert Giles."

"I knew it," Buffy burst out furiously, "I knew you'd been sent to get me back. Well you can tell Giles that he's going to have to do better than this. I've got nothing to go back to." Buffy's voice caught in her throat and she took a couple of deep breaths to calm herself down.
"On the contrary, Miss Summers, Rupert has no idea that I am here." The man said calmly. "I merely meant that Giles has told me a great deal about you." Buffy narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously.

"Who are you?" she said. "You can tell me everything you know about me, that doesn't prove squat." The man chuckled.
"I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." he said looking at her with his clear blue eyes. "And I have a proposition for you."

"Wait hold on a second," Buffy said, shaking her head. "Witchcraft and Wizardry? What is this?"

"I have a school," Dumbledore explained, "Where pupils that show magical ability can come and learn."
"Like Wiccan magic?" Buffy asked.
"Not exactly, we use wands," Dumbledore said, and with this he produced his. He quickly transfigured his glass into a kitten, then back again. Buffy was taken aback.

"Unfortunately I do not have much time," Dumbledore said. "Are you going to trust me?" Buffy looked from him to his wand, and then nodded slightly.

"I know what happened to you," the man said carefully. "I know why you are here, and why you feel you cannot return. Of course you cannot remain here."
 "Why not?" Buffy said wearily. "I'm doing ok; I've got a job, and an apartment. I'll be ok."
 "You are better than this," Dumbledore said quietly. "You are stronger than this.  I have a proposition for you." Buffy cocked her head.
 "There is a boy at my school; he is sixteen years old and in grave danger. His name is Harry Potter." Dumbledore said slowly. "He is like no other boy; he has a prophecy to fulfil, in which only he can rid our world of the darkest Wizard ever living. I want you to come to my school, to Hogwarts, to act as protection for him."
 "What's in it for me?" Buffy said, arching an eyebrow.
 "A place that does not hold any pains of the past, where you can live and be what you are meant to be. Where you are taken care of, do not have to waste your power as a waitress." Dumbledore explained.
 "What makes you think I am so unhappy here?" Buffy said, angry again as she was so often nowadays.
 "You are falling apart and I cannot allow that to happen." Dumbledore murmured. "Los Angeles is not for you. You are a small girl in a dark city where the past haunts you." Buffy looked at him defiantly, as a tear snaked its way down her cheek.

"You don't know anything about me," she whispered. "You couldn't understand."
 "I can," Dumbledore said quietly. "That is why I want you to come with me. Please, Buffy, I can help you, let me help." Buffy looked at him for a long time, looking into his piercing blue eyes and then nodded.
 "Okay," she muttered. "I'll come."