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Capt40
Chapter One: New Beginnings
“I appreciate you’re coming here.”
“Mmm.”
Albus Dumbledore peered over the rims of his spectacles at the man seated across his desk. He saw his own countenance flicker in the man’s shiny bald head and wondered again what had happened. The visitor had barely spoken at either of their previous meetings, and this one was no different. Lack of understanding gnawed at the elderly wizard, a feeling to which he was quite unaccustomed. Since they had met five years before, the young man had been nothing if not friendly and outspoken. Something had changed. Though Dumbledore needed his help for the upcoming year, he determined at that moment to provide the young man with aid for his troubled soul as well.
“Do you understand the assignment.”
“Sure. You get the others?” Dumbledore strained to hear his voice, even in the silent office.
“I believe so, though I have not heard back from Ms. Rosenberg. Mr. Giles assures me that she will be amenable, however.”
“And the third?”
“He has accepted as well. We have something of a history together. His acceptance was not in doubt.”
“Good.” Dumbledore’s concern finally overcame his natural reserve.
“Dave, I must ask. What has happened to you?”
“Life, Albus. Life happened.” The young man got up and strode out of the office.
“I pray you can stop it from happening here, my friend.” Dumbledore’s voice echoed heavily in the empty office.
“I don’t know if this is such a good idea, Giles,” Willow said, propping her feet up on her bags in the living room of Giles’ flat.
“Nonsense, Willow. I will need the assistance.” Giles sat across from her in his father’s chair, sipping tea. They still had a few hours before their train.
“But … so much magic. I don’t … what if … it could be bad,” she concluded. He smiled softly at her.
“As I said when I came to Sunnydale with the offer, it will be difficult. However, I am convinced you will be able to master your magic much more easily away from the Hellmouth.”
“Or there will be plenty of wizards to shut me down if I can’t,” she added bitterly. Not that she had much left for her in Sunnydale, with Tara leaving her. Buffy and Xander begged her to stay, but after her problems with dark magic, she knew the Hellmouth was too dangerous for her.
“Would you prefer I lied to you, Willow? Hogwarts does indeed provide ample safeguards against such an occurrence. But you are by no means being incarcerated.”
“I know that. I just … I’m scared, Giles.” Her eyes dropped to the floor. “What if I can’t control it? What if something happens?”
“Then there will be an equal number of wizards to help you as there would be to ‘shut you down,’ I believe was the term.”
“I need some time. Before I can start with the magic again. I guess to purge the badness, y’know? No magic for awhile.”
“That’s quite alright, Willow. Professor Dumbledore fully understands. No one will push you into something you are not ready for. And I will certainly be there for you, should you need me.”
“I know. Just last minute tummy flutters, I guess. We’ve been through this before, over and over.” She still seemed sad and withdrawn. Giles briefly wondered where the young girl with the ready smile and resolve face had gone.
“Also, you should remember that you will have the chance to teach, as well as to learn. I think you will be quite good at that. It is quite rewarding, you know.” That perked her up, he saw, and soon they were chatting about lesson plans and assignment topics for the school year that was three weeks from beginning. It was a discussion that lasted well into the night.