A / N : I'm sorry for the delay, RL is really getting into the way. I'm
hoping I'll write more soon, but I have to get some free time to do so. I
have a few more chapters already written, so they'll be coming soon. I'm
also thinking of starting another story (this one will also be continued,
don't worry), but we'll see about that.
A / N 2: I now have a page with my fic, courtesy of Ralkana, so please check it out, as it will probably be updated a bit more often than ff.net. You can also follow the happenings in my life and see how the fics are going on my LiveJournal : . Please leave a comment, I love getting in contact with all of you!
Enjoy the chapter, and let me know what you think! Feedback is food for my fickle feisty muse! *g*
Disclaimers and such in Chapter 1
Chapter 5 : As Long as We Are Among Humans, Let Us Be Humane Days went by quickly, each bringing something new. Buffy grew accustomed to her new home, and Hermione's essay helped her better understand the differences between the two worlds. The professors and the staff treated her well, just like she was one of them, and the few exceptions that didn't do so didn't really matter to her. But one of her colleagues interested her more than the others, and that was just the one she bumped into. She carried nothing so no damage there, but he had his arms full of books. Books that were currently all over the floor. 'Great, really Slayerish. I can't even watch where I'm going...' "I'm really sorry, Professor Lupin, I was careless. Here, I'll help you," she apologized as she bent down to pick up the books. Lupin just smiled; he wasn't offended at all. But he had an idea... "It's okay, we all have such days. You could come to my office for a cup of coffee or tea, if you really want to compensate. I would like to get to know you better. You seem quite mysterious." Buffy pretended to be considering the offer for a while, and when she had all the books in her arms, she turned to Lupin, "Same goes for you. I'd be glad to join you for a coffee." *** Buffy followed Lupin to his office. She noticed it was sparsely furnished, with only a desk, a few chairs and a shelf filled with books. She had an office too, but she didn't use it very often. It was situated apart from her private rooms, as most of the staff's offices were. Hers was, she had noticed on their way to Lupin's office, situated pretty close to his. As a matter of fact, their offices and one or two unused ones were the only rooms on seventh floor, or at least on that part of the floor. Everything else was just blank walls, except for an enormous tapestry depicting something that to Buffy looked like trolls doing their version of ballet and a wizard watching them. 'Nothing should surprise me anymore...' After she sat on one of the chairs, Buffy spoke first. "I didn't know your office was close to mine. But then again, I don't spend much time there, so..." "There are probably a lot of things we don't know about this castle. Sometimes it is better left that way," answered Lupin, with a somewhat melancholic look in his eyes. It seemed as if he was remembering some things that weren't quite pleasant. Then, the look disappeared, and he turned his attention back to Buffy. "However, in this case, I must say it is a nice discovery. I've wanted to talk to you since we both came here, but there never was an opportune moment. Maybe now that moment has come." Buffy didn't quite know what to think, but she felt that Lupin could be trusted, and she too wanted to ask him about some things that confused her. "I was never much for beating around the bush, so I'll be honest. From what I've heard, you've already taught here. Why did you leave? I mean, the kids like you, so it couldn't have been that. What's your story? If you don't want to share, fine, but I think you do. Otherwise you wouldn't have asked me here."
He smiled again, "Quite right, Miss Summers. May I call you Buffy?" Seeing her nod, he continued.
"I sense something about you. It's like...power coming off you, both physical and mental. It sort of envelops me when we are really near. Not the frightening kind of power, more like a comforting one. That's how I know I can talk to you about me, although it isn't much of a secret anymore. I am sure you've noticed I go missing 3 three days a month? I have the flu, or my head hurts, or something similar... At least that's the version the students hear. Do you have any idea of the real reason I'm missing?" Something clicked inside Buffy's head... Three days...Three nights... Memories came to her. Tranquilizer shots. Library cage. Taciturn guy. Oz. "You're a... werewolf?" Somehow, that fact didn't surprise her as she thought it should. "I am. With the help of Wolfsbane Potion, I am able to keep my mind when I transform, as long as I take it in the week preceding the full moon. Dumbledore and most of the professors know that. That's why I left, because the parents wouldn't let their children be near a werewolf. However, circumstances have changed. People have much more important things to worry about. So I came back. Now, how did you know what I was? Not that I'm surprised you did, but I'm still curious." She thought about what she was going to tell him. He seemed sincere, genuinely interested. But Buffy had learned in her years as the Slayer that sometimes things weren't what they seemed... "I had a friend that was a werewolf. We went to high school together. He was a great guy. Never talked much, but everything he said meant something. Him being a werewolf didn't mean he was different from us, except he was a monster three nights a month. So what? We all have our bad days." "What happened to him?" "It's a long story," started Buffy, but seeing the I-have-enough-time look on Lupin's face, she continued. "Or maybe not so long. He was dating my best friend. They were really great together. But then, another werewolf came, a female one, and he was attracted to her. It went kinda bad, and he figured he was a danger to all of us, especially his girlfriend, Willow. He went in search of peace. When he thought he'd found it, he came back, but things had changed. I don't know where he is now. I miss him sometimes." She remembered all the good times they'd had together, Willow, Oz, Xander and her. Even Cordy, sometimes. She couldn't help but wonder. What if he'd never left? Or if Willow hadn't chosen Tara? What would've happened? 'No point dwelling on the past. I can't change it. I wish I knew at least where he was now...' Lupin's voice broke her out of her reverie. "I think I know the feeling. Being afraid for the safety of your dear ones. I had good friends too, when I was here at Hogwarts. The four of us, we were inseparable. Many things have happened since then... But you still haven't told me anything about yourself." Buffy couldn't bring herself to lie to him, so she chose to be honest, as much as she could at that point. "I can't. Not yet. I don't want to lie, and I'm not ready to tell you the truth. Can you deal with that? I would like for us to become friends, and maybe one day I will tell you. Everything is just too complicated. I'm sorry, here you told me all about you...." Lupin cut her off. "It's okay. You don't have to apologize. When the time comes you will know. Don't worry," he said and then changed the subject. "Have you ever been to Hogsmeade? There are all sorts of...." And so they continued to talk about Hogsmeade, Disneyworld, cable TV, and a million other things. They talked all afternoon, until dinner, when their stomachs said it was time to stop. *** TBC...
A / N 2: I now have a page with my fic, courtesy of Ralkana, so please check it out, as it will probably be updated a bit more often than ff.net. You can also follow the happenings in my life and see how the fics are going on my LiveJournal : . Please leave a comment, I love getting in contact with all of you!
Enjoy the chapter, and let me know what you think! Feedback is food for my fickle feisty muse! *g*
Disclaimers and such in Chapter 1
Chapter 5 : As Long as We Are Among Humans, Let Us Be Humane Days went by quickly, each bringing something new. Buffy grew accustomed to her new home, and Hermione's essay helped her better understand the differences between the two worlds. The professors and the staff treated her well, just like she was one of them, and the few exceptions that didn't do so didn't really matter to her. But one of her colleagues interested her more than the others, and that was just the one she bumped into. She carried nothing so no damage there, but he had his arms full of books. Books that were currently all over the floor. 'Great, really Slayerish. I can't even watch where I'm going...' "I'm really sorry, Professor Lupin, I was careless. Here, I'll help you," she apologized as she bent down to pick up the books. Lupin just smiled; he wasn't offended at all. But he had an idea... "It's okay, we all have such days. You could come to my office for a cup of coffee or tea, if you really want to compensate. I would like to get to know you better. You seem quite mysterious." Buffy pretended to be considering the offer for a while, and when she had all the books in her arms, she turned to Lupin, "Same goes for you. I'd be glad to join you for a coffee." *** Buffy followed Lupin to his office. She noticed it was sparsely furnished, with only a desk, a few chairs and a shelf filled with books. She had an office too, but she didn't use it very often. It was situated apart from her private rooms, as most of the staff's offices were. Hers was, she had noticed on their way to Lupin's office, situated pretty close to his. As a matter of fact, their offices and one or two unused ones were the only rooms on seventh floor, or at least on that part of the floor. Everything else was just blank walls, except for an enormous tapestry depicting something that to Buffy looked like trolls doing their version of ballet and a wizard watching them. 'Nothing should surprise me anymore...' After she sat on one of the chairs, Buffy spoke first. "I didn't know your office was close to mine. But then again, I don't spend much time there, so..." "There are probably a lot of things we don't know about this castle. Sometimes it is better left that way," answered Lupin, with a somewhat melancholic look in his eyes. It seemed as if he was remembering some things that weren't quite pleasant. Then, the look disappeared, and he turned his attention back to Buffy. "However, in this case, I must say it is a nice discovery. I've wanted to talk to you since we both came here, but there never was an opportune moment. Maybe now that moment has come." Buffy didn't quite know what to think, but she felt that Lupin could be trusted, and she too wanted to ask him about some things that confused her. "I was never much for beating around the bush, so I'll be honest. From what I've heard, you've already taught here. Why did you leave? I mean, the kids like you, so it couldn't have been that. What's your story? If you don't want to share, fine, but I think you do. Otherwise you wouldn't have asked me here."
He smiled again, "Quite right, Miss Summers. May I call you Buffy?" Seeing her nod, he continued.
"I sense something about you. It's like...power coming off you, both physical and mental. It sort of envelops me when we are really near. Not the frightening kind of power, more like a comforting one. That's how I know I can talk to you about me, although it isn't much of a secret anymore. I am sure you've noticed I go missing 3 three days a month? I have the flu, or my head hurts, or something similar... At least that's the version the students hear. Do you have any idea of the real reason I'm missing?" Something clicked inside Buffy's head... Three days...Three nights... Memories came to her. Tranquilizer shots. Library cage. Taciturn guy. Oz. "You're a... werewolf?" Somehow, that fact didn't surprise her as she thought it should. "I am. With the help of Wolfsbane Potion, I am able to keep my mind when I transform, as long as I take it in the week preceding the full moon. Dumbledore and most of the professors know that. That's why I left, because the parents wouldn't let their children be near a werewolf. However, circumstances have changed. People have much more important things to worry about. So I came back. Now, how did you know what I was? Not that I'm surprised you did, but I'm still curious." She thought about what she was going to tell him. He seemed sincere, genuinely interested. But Buffy had learned in her years as the Slayer that sometimes things weren't what they seemed... "I had a friend that was a werewolf. We went to high school together. He was a great guy. Never talked much, but everything he said meant something. Him being a werewolf didn't mean he was different from us, except he was a monster three nights a month. So what? We all have our bad days." "What happened to him?" "It's a long story," started Buffy, but seeing the I-have-enough-time look on Lupin's face, she continued. "Or maybe not so long. He was dating my best friend. They were really great together. But then, another werewolf came, a female one, and he was attracted to her. It went kinda bad, and he figured he was a danger to all of us, especially his girlfriend, Willow. He went in search of peace. When he thought he'd found it, he came back, but things had changed. I don't know where he is now. I miss him sometimes." She remembered all the good times they'd had together, Willow, Oz, Xander and her. Even Cordy, sometimes. She couldn't help but wonder. What if he'd never left? Or if Willow hadn't chosen Tara? What would've happened? 'No point dwelling on the past. I can't change it. I wish I knew at least where he was now...' Lupin's voice broke her out of her reverie. "I think I know the feeling. Being afraid for the safety of your dear ones. I had good friends too, when I was here at Hogwarts. The four of us, we were inseparable. Many things have happened since then... But you still haven't told me anything about yourself." Buffy couldn't bring herself to lie to him, so she chose to be honest, as much as she could at that point. "I can't. Not yet. I don't want to lie, and I'm not ready to tell you the truth. Can you deal with that? I would like for us to become friends, and maybe one day I will tell you. Everything is just too complicated. I'm sorry, here you told me all about you...." Lupin cut her off. "It's okay. You don't have to apologize. When the time comes you will know. Don't worry," he said and then changed the subject. "Have you ever been to Hogsmeade? There are all sorts of...." And so they continued to talk about Hogsmeade, Disneyworld, cable TV, and a million other things. They talked all afternoon, until dinner, when their stomachs said it was time to stop. *** TBC...