Chapter Two

Explanations All Around


Buffy walked up to Giles’ place and knocked on his door. After a moment, Giles answered the door. “Buffy, you’re alive!”

“Gee, thanks for your faith in me,” snarks Buffy.

Giles looked at her with a small smile and replied, “I meant that it was great to see you. I was so worried. Willow is in the hospital and Xander didn’t know what happened after he got me away from Angelus. He, Oz, and Cordelia are at the hospital waiting to see if there are any changes in Willow’s condition.”

Buffy looks down guiltily, “ It’s all my fault this happened. If I hadn’t gotten together with Angel, he would have never lost his soul and everyone wouldn’t have gotten hurt. Even after he lost his soul, I should’ve tried harder to kill him instead of waiting until there was no other option. It’s my fault that Ms. Calendar and Kendra are dead. Giles, I’m so sorry!”

Giles looks at his slayer with pity. “It’s not your fault, Buffy. You couldn’t have known what would happen. Plus everyone would have been in danger even if all of this mess had never occurred. We live on the Hellmouth. There is always danger no matter what. And in the end, you did your job and saved the world.”

Buffy looks up sadly, “Thanks Giles. I know logically that it isn’t my fault, but I can’t help but feel guilty for the ones I couldn’t protect. Also, there are some other things that I found out tonight that I need to tell you and the Scoobies.” Buffy goes on to tell him about the fight with her mom, her being suspected for Kendra’s murder, the fight with Angelus, the return of Angel, the way she had to send him off into the portal, and Whistler’s visit. She told him about the prophecy and how she was adopted, and that her real parents were evil wizards. Then she told him about the new life the PTBs were sending her into. When she had finally finished her entire explanation between the ‘oh dears’ and ‘good lords’, she saw that Giles was polishing his glasses in shock. “Giles, are you okay?”

“Well, I must say that this is rather shocking. However, I have heard of the wizarding world before during my training to become a watcher. As you know, slayers are made of magic and in the past the Watchers Council used to work closely with the Ministry of Magic before both sides became distrustful each other. Both organizations thought that the other was starting to become too corrupted, so the Council stopped it’s dealing with the Ministry, which is why the slayers these days don’t learn magic. I do have one question though. What about your duties to the Hellmouth?” Giles asked Buffy.

Buffy smirks at him. “Well, I asked the same thing to Whistler and he said it will all be taken care of. When Kendra died, a new slayer was called. She will be sent here to protect it while I’m gone. The Council won’t know the reason why I’m leaving this town.”

Giles sighs. “What about your mother?”

Buffy snarls, “She was the one that kicked me out!”

“I know, but don’t you think she deserves an explanation, Buffy?” Giles looks at her questioningly.

Buffy sighs in defeat. “I realize that, but it still hurts that she didn’t believe me when the proof was right in front of her face. The first time I told my parents that vampire were real, they shoved me in a mental ward. This was in L.A. when I was first called. My grades started slipping. I had problems in school, with my parents, and accepting my destiny. I had nightmares and had a hard time sleeping. My parents were fighting all the time. Life was just miserable and then we moved here. I thought it would get better but it didn’t. I came to a new school and the same problems began appearing again. This last fight with my mom came up because she saw me stake a vamp and I had to explain myself. She still didn’t want to accept it and told me that if I left, I could never come back. Plus there were the police looking for me after Kendra’s murder. I knew that I had to fight Angelus so I chose to save the world instead of saving my relationship with my mother. I was planning on running away before I spoke with Whistler. I didn’t know what else to do.”

Giles looks down at her shocked once again. “Oh my dear girl! I didn’t realize how bad it was before Sunnydale. I understand that she has twice broken your trust, but she is still the woman who raised you, thus she deserves at the very least is an explanation. She loves you. You love her. You might need some time to get over this, but I know you will forgive her in the end. Your heart is very generous and forgiving. You love deeply, which is why betrayal hurts you more than others. This alone shows your character as a person, Buffy. I couldn’t be more proud of you if you were my own daughter.”

Buffy tears up and gives him a hug. “Thank you Watcher mine.”

After they separated, there was a knock at the door. Giles went to open it and there stood a tall, elderly looking man with half moon spectacles and what could be described as robes. He looked at Giles with a twinkle in his eye and inquired, “Is Buffy Summers here?

Giles responded cordially, “Who may I ask wants to know?”

The man replied, “Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”

Buffy looked over Giles’ shoulder and saw the man. Her slayer senses were going crazy as she felt the power in this grandfatherly type man with twinkling eyes. She immediately felt at ease with him because he also exuded a comforting warmth as well as power. “It’s okay. Let him in Giles. He has come to offer me a place at his school.”

Dumbledore looked slightly taken aback at this. ‘How did she know what I was going to do?’ He wondered. “Ah… well yes. I was going to do exactly that my dear, but how did you know?”

Buffy gave him a little smile and replied, “ Let’s just say that I answer to a much higher power than you and have been requested to and help fight your war. I also know who my parents are, what I really am, and the entire prophecy regarding your Big Bad Voldy. By the way, this is my watcher, Rupert Giles.”

Dumbledore was shocked, but hid it well behind a smile. “It seems that explanations are unnecessary then. When are you available to leave for Hogwarts?”

“I need a couple of days to get my things together and leave my friends and mom with explanations of what I’m being sent to do,” Buffy responds. “I do have a question though. If Giles wants to, is there any arrangement that you could make for him to be at the school? A slayer can’t be without her Watcher.”

“I’m sure I can find him a spot as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.” Dumbledore smiles benignly.

“Thanks, Dumble-D. Giles, what do you say? Will you come with me?” Buffy questions softly.

Giles smiles gently at his slayer. “Of course, Buffy. It is my duty to help you and I will not leave you to your own devices now.”

“Good. Then it’s settled the both of you will accompany me back to Hogwarts. There are a couple of other things that you both must know. First, I am in an organization called The Order of the Phoenix. We are a group of wizards and witches that are fighting against Voldemort. I invite the both of you to join the Order since your experience and knowledge will prove valuable to the cause. Secondly, Voldemort has joined forces with dark creatures such as demons, vampires, and werewolves. I know that since you are the Slayer that this is your area of expertise in how to deal with them.” Dumbledore says gravely.

“I knew something like this would happen!” Buffy says moodily.

“Yes these are very hard times and we will need all the help we can get,” Dumbledore states. Well, I must get going. I will return to collect you in two days. Please have everything ready to go with you.” And with a loud pop, he disappeared.

Buffy looks at the empty spot where Dumbledore was just standing and mutters, “Too much weirdness for tonight.”

Giles also looks at her and says, “I would have to agree with you there.” Well, lets get some sleep for tonight and tomorrow we can talk to everyone else. “Good night.”

Buffy looks at the retreating figure and says quietly, “Good night Giles.”


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The next morning both Buffy and Giles went to her mom’s place and explained everything that she needed to know. They talked more about vampires and demons, as well as slayers and their duty. Then they mentioned magic and Buffy’s necessity to go and learn magic. Joyce just looked at the both of them with serious disbelief.
“Buffy, I think you need to see some professional help. Haven’t you caused enough trouble? I will not tolerate anymore of your lies!” Joyce raged at them. “I thought that leaving L.A. would help you, but you have only gotten worse. I just don’t know what to do anymore.”

Giles took of his glasses and started to polish them with his shirt. “Oh, dear.” He knows that this is starting to look very ugly. Any moment now his slayer is going to blow up.

Buffy responded angrily, “Mom, I’m not making this up! Vampires are real! You saw it for yourself. Remember the man you saw turning into dust? Vampire! I’m a vampire slayer! One girl in the world chosen to fight against evil, yada, yada, yada. The Chosen One. I am a Champion chosen by higher powers that goes beyond you! Magic is real and I am a witch! I’m going to magic school. It is my destiny!”

“But how do you expect me to believe all of this is real?” Joyce looks at her daughter questioningly.

Giles decided it was his turn to speak and said, “ I assure you, Joyce. Buffy is not making any of this up. I have seen that vampires and demons do indeed exist as well as the slayer chosen to fight these creatures. You have witnessed many strange things while living in this town. How can you continue to be in denial when the truth is right in front of you? As for magic, I know it to be real since I, myself, has had several experiences with it even though it isn’t the same type of magic that Buffy has. Even you have experienced it at one point during one of those strange situations you have found yourself in around Buffy. Do you not remember how it was always odd that Buffy just so happened to be around those said situations and somehow was resourceful enough to save the day? Come on now Joyce, you know what really is the truth. You just don’t want to admit that you could have been wrong about Buffy all these years.”

Joyce stares at Giles hard, and then with a sigh says, “Okay, I believe you. It’s just hard to take all of this in.” She suddenly feels tired.

Buffy then realizes that there is one more thing that she must bring up with her mom: her real parents. “Mom, how come you didn’t tell me that I’m adopted?”

Joyce’s eyes widened at this new revelation. She asks, “How did you find out about that?”

“So it’s true then. I found out about from the same ways I found out about the supernatural. Those said higher powers that like to play with my life informed me of it earlier,” Buffy replies bitterly. “How could you not tell me something as big as this? And you wonder why I never told you about my calling before this! My whole life is one big lie!”

“I-I’m sorry, Buffy. I didn’t think you needed to know unless you needed something from your birth parents. I figured that it wouldn’t matter as long as you were brought up in a loving home,” Joyce managed to get out.

“Oh now you’re sorry! You weren’t sorry when I told you before and you had me institutionalized. Where was sorry all of those times you and dad fought about my problems? You even managed to call me a liar and kick me out of the house when I told you a second time of my calling. Let me ask you, where is the loving home you speak of?” Buffy raged at her mother.

“I don’t know what to say, Buffy! At the time, I thought it was for your own good. I love you! You’re my daughter. I never meant for all of this to cause so much pain to you.” Joyce sobbed.

Buffy looks at the woman she has considered her mother all her life and sighs deeply. “I know this mom, but I can’t help but feel betrayed. I know that over time I will be able to get over everything and forgive you, but right now is not the time. I am still angry with you for lying to me my whole life and for all the other hurtful things that you have done like institutionalizing me. For my safety as well as to heal emotionally, I am going to Hogwart’s. I will write to you and let you know how I am doing. Maybe you can come visit later or I can come back here if it’s not too dangerous during breaks. I’m sorry, but I just need time.”

“I guess there is nothing I can say to change your mind then. I hope everything works out Buffy. No matter what happens, I love you.” Joyce says with acceptance.

“I love you too, mom. Now I have to go get my things packed and then I have to tell my friends before I leave. I guess I’m really saying goodbye for now.” And with that, Buffy walked up the stairs to start packing. After another hour passed, she and Giles bade her mom goodbye and walked out the door.


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When they got to the hospital, they found that Willow had woken up and was talking to the others. Buffy’s explanation with the Scoobies was a lot less hard to explain. They were sad at the loss of their best friend, but understood that she needed this new life. Plus they would still keep in touch through letters and there were the occasional visits they could have.
“We’re really going to miss you, Buff. It just won’t be the same without you,” Xander said.

“I can’t believe you’re witch! I don’t want to lose you. You’re my best friend.” Willow tearfully added. Both Willow and Xander gave Buffy big hugs. Soon after Oz and Cordy joined in.

“Awww. You guys! I’ll miss you too, but we’ll still be in touch with each other. I’ll try to make visit back here soon. Also, you know that if you ever need me, all you have to do is contact me and I’ll be there as fast as I can.” Buffy replied.

“Buffy, I hate to interrupt, but we better get back to my place to get my things sorted out. Professor Dumbledore will probably come back tomorrow and I want to be ready.” Giles interrupted. With one last goodbye, the slayer and her watcher left.


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The next day, as if on cue, Dumbledore appeared in Giles’ living room. “Whoa! How did you do that?” Buffy wondered. Giles just appeared in shock.
“I apparated, my dear. We will be using a portkey to return though since we have all of your things to take with us too.”

“Apparate? Portkey?” Buffy looked confused.

“Apparating is like teleporting and a portkey is a device made magically that allows you do the same, but is better when traveling in big groups or have many things in need of transportation. Both are forms of wizarding travel.” Dumbledore informed her. He then took out a tin can. “Now everyone make sure you are touching everything you are bring and touch this. It will take us back to England where we will get your school supplies. Don’t let go of anything until we get there otherwise consider it to be gone.”

Buffy gave him a skeptical glance, but did it anyway. Giles, following her lead did the same. A moment passed and they all disappeared.