eum laudant

By Rose Williams.

Rating G

I wrote this for the character death challenge on tthdrabbles livejournal community. It
is two 200 word eulogies which have wanted to be written for a little while
now.

The title means ‘they praise/ eulogise him.’

Harry Potter/ Buffy crossover. I own nothing of either.

 

WARNING: about character death.

 

 

* * *

I did not know Mr Giles well. I met him many years ago, in
my sixth year at Hogwarts. He taught me things no one else could about
Voldemort and how to fight. But I learnt more from him then he thought.

He was a troubled man. I was sixteen years old, and there
was a lot I didn’t understand. But he knew what Voldemort could do. And
he knew what my destiny could do to me.

He could be dark and restless as well as strong. I
appreciated that he was doing what he had to do. Somehow I could help him, just
by doing what I had to.

I still don’t know what had happened to him. But his
past appeared at odd moments; when he told me that my death would not mean the
end of the world; when we sent Draco Malfoy in as a scout; when he played chess
against Remus Lupin.

All I wanted for him, at the end of two years under his
tutelage, was a chance for him to rest. A chance for him to be who he was, and
to allow his hidden side some freedom. I wish him every peace.

 

* * *

 

Despite what many people thought about our relationship,
Giles and I weren’t close. We were barely friends, let alone lovers. I
was the Slayer, he was my Watcher. That defined our relationship for close to
seven years.

In the next two years Harry learnt more about than I had
ever cared to know. In our history he betrayed me twice, left me when I needed
him most, and paid the price when I couldn’t do my duty.

I knocked him out when he wanted to protect me and shut him
out when he tried to tell me what I didn’t want to hear.

It was only in the last few years that we began to have the
relationship we might have had as friends. I began to learn that he was a
complex man, much more than a Watcher, a researcher or a friend.

He will be missed so desperately by those to whom he was
mentor, friend, lover, teacher, father; to those who ever met him, or spent
anytime with him. I wish I had taken more time to know him. I don’t know
where he thought he might go, when the end came. I just hope he’s happy.

* * *