And We're Doing This Because?
Disclaimer: I don't own them in anyway, shape, or form. I am just playing with them. Oh, I suppose that I should state where exactly my puppets have come from, shouldn't I? Okay, well, mainly they are from Buffy and my favorite Harry Potter peoples. (So here's a fair warning for all of you, I like, (I mean really like), Professor Severus Snape. Handle it or don't, I could care less.)
Rating: G to PG.
Genre: A little bit of everything if the muse strikes me. Mainly a bored piece, and plot less too. Totally AU, though it has parts of GoF, OotP, HBP, and DH in it.
Pairings: Undecided, but doesn't really matter.
Author's Note: I read through this recently and realized that there were some rather awkward parts. Hopefully, I fixed them. crosses fingers
654321
Hogwarts:
Sixth Year.
"You can't be serious!" Professor McGonagall whispered to Professor Dumbledore.
"On the contrary, Professor, I think it's an excellent idea. Wouldn't you agree, Severus?" He turned to face the potions master, a twinkle in his blue eyes.
The dark eyes of Professor Snape slowly turned towards him, reluctantly breaking eye contact with one Harry Potter. Though he would never admit to it aloud, he had no idea what they were talking about but was sure it had nothing to do with potions. "I highly doubt that my opinion means much in this situation, Headmaster," he drawled in that silky voice of his, turning back to his favorite past time-Potter baiting.
The twinkle grew in those eyes. "Oh, but, my dear boy, I'm afraid it does."
His eyes narrowed as he turned to face Albus again. It was a look his students knew well and feared for good reason. "What do you mean?"
"Well, if Professor Lupin does take his sixth year classes to Sunnydale, you will be going along with him. As added supervision, of course."
Severus thought that it was a good thing that his hands weren't currently holding anything, they surely would've been destroyed because they were clenched together so tightly. "And why would I want to do that?" The voice was low and deadlier than he'd ever used before on the headmaster, on anyone for that matter. Professor McGonagall gasped but he ignored her. "Professor Lupin knows how to brew his own potion. I've drilled it into his thick skull enough times and, as he is slightly more intelligent about potions than my students could ever hope to be, he should be able to do it without any supervision."
"I'll take that as a compliment, since it came from you, Severus," Remus said, careful to hide his amusement about this situation by sipping some water. He was curious as to why Dumbledore would ask this of the Potions Master. It was no secret that they didn't get along, despite the fact that he had tried to mend fences between them ever since he'd returned to Hogwarts to teach. And it was on Severus' word that he would make sure that he was no danger to the children by making sure he took the potion every night that had swayed the Board of Governors to Albus' side.
"Ah, but no one here understands a Hellmouth quite like you do, dear boy." Dumbledore pointed out, smiling genially. "There are forces that gather in that place that Remus knows nothing of."
"The Hellmouth?" Remus whispered, shocked, throat suddenly parched though he'd been sipping his water. He'd heard of such things, but it had been a long time since anyone had seriously spoken about them. Now that it had been mentioned, it made sense that Severus was being asked to go with him. When they were in school, Snape had written a few papers supporting the theory that there were other planes of existence on this earth, natural ones, not created in the world but out of it the way the wizarding homeland was.
Most of the students had laughed at him, but James had been intrigued by the idea. He could clearly recall the way the two young men had bonded because of their discussions. Then the night in the Shrieking Shack happened and the two had never really talked again, though James had desperately tried to reopen the lines of communication. It was something James never quite seemed to forgive Sirius for.
Severus gritted his teeth in frustration. The memory was clearly still sharp in his mind. "So get him a book. He can read and search for information on the phenomenon, can't he?"
"Of course he can, it is not his research ability that I am concerned about. It is..."
Dumbledore began only to be interrupted when his potions teacher shoved his chair back and stood up. "Then I'll loan him a few from my study and give him some pointers. Good night." Black cape swirling behind him, he disappeared around the corner.
"That didn't go very well at all, did it?" Minerva commented, hiding her relief. She was far from comfortable with the idea of sending the children away from the school especially since Voldemort's return.
"It is an omen, I tell you. An bitter omen of evil things to come," Professor Trelawney tittered, looking at the headmaster. "You should listen to what they are saying, this trip is a bad idea."
The headmaster leaned back with a sigh, a slight smile twisting his lips. "Don't worry, my children, he'll go." He seemed utterly unconcerned by what had occurred and the teachers were silent knowing that he was up to something.
Harry sat between Hermione and Ron, watching it all with a confused expression on his face. One minute he and his teacher had been staring at each other, engaged in their usual silent battle of wills, then the headmaster had ended it by turning the professor's attention away from him. Snape then got angry about something that had amused Dumbledore. He had a sinking feeling that it had something to do with him, though he couldn't figure out what it could possibly be.
In his double potions class the next day, Harry waited along with the rest of the Gryffindors (and more than a few nervous Slytherins) for the boom to descend. That his own house was terribly nervous was a sign that his mood must be far worse than anything they'd yet experienced from their unpredictable teacher. When nothing happened, they left the class shaken and terrified, unsure about just what they were supposed to do.
Professor Snape had not made one negative comment to them-not even when Neville melted his cauldron for what had to be the 1,000th time-that year. He had just sighed and gestured for the boy to watch Hermione do the potion, and told him to take careful and very detailed notes which he would collect at the end of class. No points were taken from Gryffindor and he had okayed all of their potions.
Remus tried hard to get their attention, but felt a deep frustration when they continued to sit in a zombielike manner. "I'll be right back. Hermione, would you watch the class? Draco, would you mind helping her?" They nodded their acquiescence, eyes dull and it propelled him into action.
So now he was storming down the hall, not really aware where he was going. Right now, he was letting his emotions lead him along to the dungeons. One push and the door slammed against the wall. Standing in the entryway, he glared down at Severus Snape, who merely looked mildly upset at the interruption. "What did you do to them?" Remus demanded, shaking with anger.
That eyebrow of his rose, he turned to the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff prefects. Immediately standing, they approached his desk, fear in their eyes. He handed them his notes, a thin smile on his face. "Watch the class, teach them this and nothing but this. This shouldn't take long. When I return, I will test this class on every detail outlined in my notes. If I receive contradictory stories, you all will be subjected to Veriteserum until I get at the truth. Do I make myself clear?"
He didn't wait for an answer, gesturing for Remus to come into his office. The door closed behind him and he cast a partial silencing spell. They would hear the class-but the class would not hear anything they said. "Now, Professor Lupin, if you would be so kind as to explain that little comment of yours, I'd appreciate it. After all, it must be something important because you left your class to interrupt mine."
"I have been trying to teach my class-the one you just finished with," Lupin began, struggling to regain control over himself. It was rather hard when the man just stood there, arms crossing his chest, waiting with that infuriating eyebrow raised imperiously. When he saw Severus start to speak, he rushed on. "They are sitting there as if someone had hexed them."
"And, of course, you thought of me. I'm flattered that you think that I could inspire them to ignore your very important lessons on how to defeat boggarts and the like." The sneer in his voice was more blatant than it had ever been. "Contrary to popular belief, Lupin, I do not actually follow through with any of my threats to the students-though there have been cases when I wished to make exceptions. But I have never done so. I terrify my students, yes. It does the lazy brats good to have someone keep them on their toes rather than pamper to their every whim. But I do not actually hex or harm them-that would be far to easy and serve no actual purpose in the long term sense. I was a model of behavior today-even after Neville destroyed my property for the one-thousandth time this year alone. I retained control over my temper and have ordered a special cauldron for that boy, one that he won't be able to destroy. I have no idea why your students are sitting in a stupor."
He moved to the door but Remus blocked his path. "What is it now, werewolf?" Exasperated.
"That won't work on me anymore, Severus. You've done to good a job fine tuning my potion for those words to mean anything," Remus' voice was quiet. "Are you telling me that you behaved yourself in a manner that they are unaccustomed to?"
"Very good. You know how to listen and summarize my words, do you want a medal?" He semi-applauded, then dropped the act, suddenly very tired. "Remus, if you have nothing further to discuss with me, I suggest that we get back to our respective classes before someone thinks I've killed you. I am in no mood to handle Black and his homicidal tendencies towards my person."
"In a minute," Remus continued to ponder Snape's words and the implications behind them. "They aren't used to you being so kind to them."
Severus snorted. "That was not even in the realm of being humorous. I am anything but kind."
"Well, kinder than they know you to be," Remus reasonably pointed out, with a look that clearly said he knew that, while he was no angel, Severus was a kind person. "Do me a favor, go yell at them or something so that I can teach."
The potions master stepped back, eyes wide with disbelief. For a moment, he felt like laughing hysterically. "Let me get this straight. You, who have been trying to get me to be kinder and gentler to all my students-especially one Harry Potter, now wants me to go into your classroom and rip into them so they'll pay attention? Has that potion finally killed what passed as your brain?"
"No. I just never realized how much fire they get from being in your class," he mused, looking at him thoughtfully. "The Gryffindors rankle under the injustice you deal them. The Slytherins have a hero in you. They know that they can turn to you, they trust you. You give them an alternative by your belief in them. A belief that no one else in the school shares. I finally understand the method to your madness, Severus."
His eyes rolled, exasperated. "I hope you don't expect me to agree with such a cockamamie theory but if it gets you off my back, then you go right ahead and believe it. Let's get this ridiculous charade over with, shall we?"
"Doesn't work, Severus. I see it now, Lily was right about you all along," Remus said, before following him out into the classroom. It was a long, silent walk to the DADA rooms but if he was right, then everything would soon be normal.
Severus stopped and looked at Remus, a question in his eyes at the silence in the room. "Are you sure they stayed here and didn't take off? Harry Potter is in that class, after all."
Without responding, Remus opened the room and both teachers walked in. The students still sat as though they were carved in stone, staring down at their books.
"See what I mean? I can't work with this." He gestured at them, a grim look on his face.
Snape nodded, though he personally found their lack of movement refreshing. Unfortunately, if he wanted to stay at Hogwarts, he needed to rectify this rather curious happening. "Now isn't this an astounding sight, a class that actually knows how to behave when the teacher is away...Or did someone sneak in and hit you all with a petrificus totalus and you all forgot the counter curse? Why am I not surprised, this class does have Gryffindors in it, though I would have expected better of my Slytherins."
Remus was unprepared for the venom in the voice but shoved aside his guilt. He couldn't teach a bunch of zombies, this behavior couldn't be tolerated now that Voldemort was back. The class shook as though awakening from a trance or deep sleep, the Slytherins started to smile victoriously as their Head of their House stalked into the room. The Gryffindors felt a stir of something...it wasn't quite anger but it wasn't fear. It was something else. Hermione and Draco sprang away and glared venomously at each other.
"How very interesting that you would all drop your guards like that, especially when you have the double trouble team of Potter and Weasley in the room." Leaning over their shoulders, he hissed into their ears, though everyone could hear him. "Are you boys losing your touch? And at such young ages too. You'll forgive me if I don't find it that a great loss. Many of us will sleep better at night knowing that our offices will never be invaded again by your greedy little hands again."
"It wasn't us," Harry snapped, glaring up at his nemesis.
"Really?" Snape stood, towering over them, arms crossing his chest. That infuriating eyebrow of his rose once more. "Then maybe you wouldn't mind telling me who it was?"
Harry remained silent.
"Or does your famous Gryffindor courage condone theft?" He turned to leave, suddenly pausing to turn and look back at them, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "Fifty points from Gryffindor for Neville's pathetic excuse for notes and fifty more for Mister Potter's reluctance to right a wrong done against me."
Remus sighed silently, torn between relief and anger at what he had allowed be done. He watched his class turn back into the children he missed. The murmurs of 'injustice' and 'you got exactly what was coming to you' reached his ears. Whether you realize it or not, Severus Snape, you are an important part of their lives. They need that adversary, and hero, in you to get by. He thought absently, in a sense, I think we all do.
654321
Sunnydale:
Junior Year.
Willow put down "A Wrinkle In Time" with a bored sigh, having read it for the sixth time in three days and stared at the white ceiling. It needs to be painted, she idly thought. She was bored out of her very intelligent mind and seriously considered calling Cordelia just to hear another human voice-even one that delighted only in reminding her of just how pathetic her life had become.
The monotony of life in Sunnydale only existed when the Watcher's Council visited from England to examine the efficiency of Giles' ways of teaching his Slayer-especially since he adamantly refused to give her the Slayer handbook. The Slayer being the one and only Buffy Summers and one of her best friends. They were friends, a fact that irritated the council to no end. They had agreed to stay away from Hellmouth activities for Buffy and Giles' sakes.
"A slayer" she could almost hear their snide voices, "has no need of friends. Human contact only contaminates the purity of the relationship that must exist between the slayer and her watcher."
"I'd love to teach them a thing or two about contamination and I'd bet they would choke. Stupid pricks," she muttered, viciously punching her pillow. Flopping back down on her bed, she stared up at the ceiling. "I guess if I squint really hard, the stucco on my ceiling actually looks like a bunch of clouds. Oh, look-there goes mountain goat now, chasing after that runaway flower he looked forward to eating for dinner."
"Talking to yourself? That's not a good sign, Willow mine. Though as long as those voices don't answer, I suppose you're safe enough," Xander commented, leaning against the wall of her bedroom, watching her curiously. "You know, I think you're going about as crazy as the rest of us-if not more since you have a tremendous brain."
"Tremendous?" she questioned, eyebrow quirked. "Careful, Xander, you're beginning to sound like a walking encyclopedia. Someone may think you actually pay attention in school, then where would your career as a fast food serviceman be?" Tying up the laces on her boots, she stood and followed him out the door.
"You think you're so cute, don't you?" Xander mock pouted, pleased to see the bounce back in his friend's step.
Locking the door, she glanced up at him with a teasing smile. "And you don't?"
"Hmmm...if I say no, are you going to hit me?" he asked her, following her to Oz's van.
She laughed, shaking her head in amusement. "Of course not, you move far to fast for one who aims like I do," she slung her arm through his. The best thing about Xander, she mused, is that you don't have to pretend anything. He may sometimes be an over-bearing big brother, but at least he's there. He made life in Sunnydale with the demon nightlife seem normal and okay, it was one of the reasons she loved him. "Where are we going?"
Buffy answered her with a shrug. "I have no idea. We're all being kidnapped." There was an undercurrent of relief in her voice that spoke to them of her immense gratitude. Not only was she glad to be away from the Watcher's Council for a few hours, it was something that would distract her mind. Earlier that day, Ms. Calendar has approached them and told them the truth about who she was-and what had happened to Angel. She shivered, grateful for the press of bodies around her as she realized that Angelus was back. The Council had made her study him enough that she knew he was nothing but trouble.
She just hoped that if he came back, she'd be strong enough to forget their past and fight him without giving into his taunts.
"Works for me." Willow turned to Giles, unable to stop her teasing words. "Long time no see, friend. Do you remember us?"
He sighed, rubbing his forehead. "It hasn't been that long, dear girl."
The look she shot him said more than her words did. "Says you. It has seemed like the dullest of all eternities for me."
"And there's that brain of hers that I warned you about," Xander commented, shutting the door with a snap. "Didn't I tell you that it would be a bad thing to cut her off from such intellectually stimulating pursuits."
"Because our crime club's activities are so stimulating," she snickered, unable to help herself. The van was silent for just a moment before it suddenly filled with their laughter. And, she thought, resuming her former conversation with herself, he can always make us laugh.
Oz looked at him as they pulled in front of Cordelia's. "You're channeling Willow, Xander."
"Better than hyenas," he said with a slight shudder. Looking up at the big house in trepidation, he gave a long sigh. The house was in the rich part of town and never failed to make him nervous. "I'll be right back."
Cordelia grumbled as she climbed into the van and sat between Xander and Willow. But they were surprise to see a hint of relief in her face as they drove away. For a moment they sat in awkward silence, not knowing what to do about it because the only time they had ever really gathered was to talk about the demon life. Even planning for Buffy's surprise party had been in whispers between bouts of research. Oz turned on the radio. As the music swelled in the van, Giles started to sing along. The tension in the car dissolved as his voice carried them away.
"G, you really missed your calling in life," Xander said when the song was over.
Giles sighed, exasperated. "How many times have I told you not to call me that?"
"He's right, though. If you ever decide to give up being a librarian, you could have quite a career in music." Oz turned the car into the parking lot of a newly opened recreational plaza.
Xander got out and helped the girls, then gestured to the building. "Today we'll be learning the fine art that is paint balling. And don't worry about being called away for crime club activities, I talked to Amy earlier and she used a spell to neutralize the demons here. And with Giles' help, she was able to ban them from entering Sunnydale."
"Cool." Buffy nodded, having only tried it once with her father when they had their one and only actual father-daughter dates. She was surprised that Xander had remembered that she had wanted to try it again, for longer this time.
Cordelia gripped as they walked into the air conditioned building. "I would just like to go on the record as saying that this is not my idea of fun. Do you have any idea how much these new nails of mine cost and that I just had them done?"
"But just think of what shooting Princess Vespa's hair did for her aim?" Willow teased. "We'll all be extra-careful not to hurt your hands. We wouldn't want to lose a minute into the game, would we?" A slight question in her voice as she thought about something. "But what about Oz's lycanthropy? Sorry, but I feel that I must ask this question. Would something like this bring the wolf out?"
Giles shook his head. "Don't worry about it, Oz was worried to. According to my research the only thing this activity will do is give him more of an advantage."
"Okay, then I want to be on his team." Willow smiled mischievously, happy when he smiled back at her, shyly. Sometimes she wished they were dating again. "You know, the winning side. I'll sit back and let him do all the work."
"Funny, Will," Xander said, catching the last part of their conversation. He walked towards them with two sets of keys and some instructions. He explained what the man at the counter had told him. "The girls can change in dressing room 15, we guys are in 16. We'll meet in 10 minutes on the field, which should give us enough time to change. The man also suggested we do some stretches so that we get used to the feel of the clothes."
After the game:
"Oh, I don't think I'll ever be able to move normally again," Willow moaned, rubbing her shoulder in small circles. She was bruised and felt sore in places she hadn't even known actually existed in the human body, medical texts aside.
"You need to learn how to tuck and roll, Willow. As well as ducking," Buffy said, getting to her feet quickly. "Well, I'm off to grab a quick shower. Whose with me?" She ignored the glares from the others who were still on the ground.
Xander looked at Buffy and joked. "Tempt not a desperate man."
"Desperate to die?" Cordelia asked, glaring at him.
"She's got you there," Oz murmured, the only other one who could still move with some ease.
Willow accepted his hand, rising gracefully to her feet. "You know what? I think I'll change my mind about becoming a werewolf if they can recover this quickly. What do you guys think?"
Cordelia shook her head, getting up slowly. "I don't think having all that hair would be a good look for you, you're still struggling with emerging from that girl next door look. I vote with coming back as a slayer."
Buffy snorted. "Oh, right. That whole chosen one thing is a real privilege, along with the everyone wants you dead before you turn 18 thing."
"Let's just say that there are upsides and downsides to everything," Oz calmly said, helping Willow and Cordelia to stand up after they fell back down. After their showers, they got into the van and headed back to town. "Did you have anything else planned for us?"
"Dinner," Xander said, handing him the instructions. As they drove along, they talked amongst themselves.
"What on earth..." Giles murmured, seeing something on the roadside. "Pull over, Oz."
Without question, he pulled up near the bus. Giles got out and walked over to the tall, dark haired man who seemed to be in charge. "Might we be of some assistance?"
"If you know anything about getting this contraption to work, you may be." A smooth, accented voice purred, glancing over at the six who walked towards them. Piercing eyes raked over them, resting momentarily on Buffy, Giles, Oz, and Willow, seeming to sense their distinctive oddities. "I am Professor Severus Snape and this is my colleague, Professor Remus Lupin."
"Rupert Giles." He shook the extended hand, then introduced his companions.
Xander walked over to the driver, telling him how to pop the hood on the bus. Walking to the front, he started to poke through it. After a moment of studying the engine, he stepped back, shaking his head, half defeated. There was just no way he could see anything inside it properly. Spotting them standing to the side, he called out, "Wills, I could use some light."
"Light? Oh, sure. Not a problem." Holding out her hand, a glow appeared in the palm and floated towards him. "How's that?" she asked, unaware of the stunned and interested looks she was getting from the strangers or Giles' exasperated, tense glare.
He nodded, going back to his work with her beside him, holding it aloft. "Buffy, do you have a nail file or something that you don't need? This needs to be tightened." As his head was stuck inside the body of the car, his voice sounded strangely hollow and had a slight echo to it.
"Hang on." The blonde knelt down and went through her pack, pulling out one that was slightly battered and green tinged. Xander accepted it from her even as she said, "Sorry about its condition, I used it to dispose of a particularly disgusting slime..."
Giles interrupted Buffy, pulling her to the side, questioning her. And hoping quite desperately that she hadn't been overheard. The last thing they needed was for these strangers to poke their noses into affairs that didn't concern them in the slightest, though he had the funniest feeling that he should know them. "When was this? And why didn't you notify me?"
"Giles, it wasn't a big deal." She shrugged. "It wasn't even that big."
"On the contrary, it could mean quite a lot. Besides, to a demon, size is nothing. Are you sure you disposed of it?"
"Remembering all the slime decorated the place and how many showers I had to take to get rid of all the slime and demon parts, I'd say, yes."
"Eww. Spare me the details. Why do I hang out with you freaks?" Cordelia disgustedly asked, moving back to the van.
"Because we have fun," Oz answered, studying Remus Lupin. It hadn't escaped his notice that the older man was watching him closely. "So, are you?"
"Yes." It should have been enough but...there was something different about Oz. Something he couldn't put his finger on that couldn't be explained away as his merely being a werewolf. "Would you come with me?"
Oz shrugged and followed him away from the company. As Willow stepped back, she watched them go, then turned her attention towards the students on the bus. They were also studying them with interest-especially one young man with eyes as green as her own. "Wills? I need you to conjure a tool or something for me."
She walked back towards him, curious. "Won't the file work?"
"No. The slime made it too thick for the job I needed it to do. See." He showed her the bad fit, before handing it to her. Hands on her waist, he lifted her up so she could measure the width of the bolts.
She sat on the car before deciding that floating slightly above it be better-less heat to burn her butt. "I don't understand why this matters, what's wrong with the bus?"
"I think it's this connection, it doesn't seem to be as tight as it should be. It's either that or the battery needs to be replaced. Everything else is as it should be. Thanks." He accepted the nail file she'd thinned down and twisted the bolt until it was tight enough. Putting the file into his back pocket, he and Willow walked to the driver's window. "Try it now."
The car started up and ran. "Something still doesn't sound right," the driver roughly commented.
"You're right. But it should last until you get to a gas station."
Willow started to walk back to the van, wondering where Giles had gone off to, when a hand closed around her shoulder lightly but firmly. From the feel of the hand, she read the latent strength in it easily. "Mind if I have a word with you?" The voice of the professor was oddly soothing.
"Of course not, Professor Snape." They walked over to the side of the road, away from the bus and the students. "What is it?"
He studied her, trying to read where her strength came from. Finally, he gave up. "Would you mind answering a few questions?"
"Depends." She studied him, shrewdly guessing. "Its about what I did, isn't it?"
"Yes." Severus hid his surprise. He hadn't expected her to admit to what she'd done so innocently, so freely, and without a trace of guilt. Yet there was something about her that was crafty, would easily allow her to fit in with Slytherin House.
She smiled, "I could always just relieve your mind from the...abnormalities in my actions."
Yes, definitely a Slytherin. "That won't be necessary."
"I'm sure it won't, Professor. So, what are you professor of?"
"Potions." Calm. "And you are?"
"Unknown."
"As in mind my own business? Or as in untrained?"
"Or is there a third option?" she queried.
"Possibly."
"Maybe a combination of both?" She was quiet.
He studied her. "Open your mind to mine." It was command.
Before she could do as what he said, Giles quickly interrupted them. "Well now that Xander has your bus working, we really must be on our way. Reservations, you understand. Good luck to you gentlemen." He ushered her away quickly, nodding to Severus as they went. Once they were in the van, he turned to her. "Idiot girl! What were you thinking?"
"Giles, I know that they would understand me," she whispered, rubbing her arm absently. "There was something about them."
"Not another word. I don't know if we can trust them. We know nothing about them. And I will not have you hurt by them-for any reason. I don't want you to associate with them. Avoid them at all costs. Do I make myself clear?" He was angry and worried. Willow would have opened herself up to an invasion she wasn't prepared for, by someone they knew nothing of. Clearly, she didn't understand what she had been about to do. I must remember to take her aside and explain things to her, he sighed.
"Yes, Giles."
Severus watched the van disappear, a thoughtful expression on his face. He felt Remus come up behind him and spoke without turning around. "The boy?"
"You were right, he is. What of the girl?"
"The redhead might be a mage or a miko-a medium. The blonde is definitely the slayer. So the older gentleman is her watcher."
"But what is he doing with them?"
Turning towards the bus, he answered, mind already focused elsewhere. "I had heard rumors about the current slayer having help. Obviously, the rumor mill was correct for once. Shall we get back to our students?"
Remus followed, wondering just what they were getting into. Of all the things he had been expecting, meeting the Slayer and her friends was not one of them. Even though Severus had prepared him with a few lectures-some of which had become honest debates and, even more shocking, long conversations that kept them up long into the night-he was still unprepared for the very feel of evil in the air.
It pressed upon him like a physical force, though he'd been warned that his extra senses would do that. The evil seemed to have a life, an essence all of its own-and it had no fear of hiding itself away. It literally hung about them, recognizing them for who and what they were. Part prepared to accept, part prepared to reject them from its own microcosmic world.
"Here."
A potion was shoved into his hand abruptly.
"It'll help." Was the short answer to his curious look.
Shrugging, he drank it down. Almost immediately, the oppressive cloud lifted from his shoulders and he could breath once more. "Thank you."
A snort was his only answer. The bus pulled up in front of the stately mansion that had been rented for them. Neither Severus nor Remus knew what had gone into the arrangements, they only knew what they were and weren't supposed to do. Luckily, the Headmaster had already warded the place so they had one less thing to worry about.
"Everyone out. You do remember your assigned roommates and that you are to get along. If I find out that anyone has switched with anyone..." a pointed look at his Slytherins who refused to meet his eyes momentarily before they straightened and nodded, "for any reason, you will go home immediately and spend the duration doing work under Filch's watchful eyes. There will be no holidays, no going into Hogsmead with the other students, nothing. The Headmaster assigned those rooms himself and I do not mean to let him down for anyone. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
"Yes, sir." He knew his own house understood, whether they would actually comply was another matter. Once he returned, he would make it clear to them that he meant what he said and would tolerate no infractions. While they were here, they could not afford to fight with the Gryffindors, it would just create to many problems-and they couldn't obliviate everyone. The Ministry had a tendency to frown upon such actions.
"There is another matter that I will address now as it pertains to your stay here as well," he added, his stern voice stilling their restless motions easily. "You will listen and obey Professor Lupin as you would me. He is your teacher and, from this moment until we return to Hogwarts, your second Head of House. If you cannot do this, you must prepare yourselves to go home. I will tolerate no insubordination on this matter. Understood?"
"Sir."
Turning to his companion, he smirked at the dismayed look on Remus' face, knowing his disapproving thoughts instantly. "You should have no trouble with them, Lupin. I will go with the driver and see what can be done about our vehicle. If, in the unlikely event my Slytherins do anything, I want to know about it immediately. I will handle them. The Gryffindors are yours."
Remus nodded and let it slide momentarily, though he understood that the purpose behind this trip was to unite the two rival houses as a coherent unit. One that would work together, even if they would never like each other. They aren't the only ones who need to work on the destruction of prejudices, are they, Severus? He thought, watching the dark robed figure stride away. Does that man never just walk?
Severus was about to get back on the bus when a hand tapped his shoulder. Whirling around, he was about to deliver a sharp bark, when Potter beat him to it by holding something out to him. "Don't start, sir, this is for you. Headmaster Dumbledore gave it to me."
With a sigh, he accepted the letter, knowing that he would not like it. No matter how often he received letters, they never contained anything he liked.
Severus,
do me a favor and keep Harry close by your side except when you are called. It isn't that I don't trust Remus' ability to keep him safe but he doesn't have the advance warning system that you do. Harry already knows the contents of this letter and was as angry about them as I am sure you are. Be nice to the boy, it really isn't his fault.
Respectfully yours, Albus.
"Come along, Potter. I haven't got all day." As much as he tried, he couldn't keep the impatience from his voice. This was the last thing he wished to be doing.
"Yes, sir." Mulish.
They sat in stony silence, before Snape turned to address him. "Listen, Potter, don't think that I am happy with this situation. I am not, far from it. But I will make a deal with you. If you try not to act like a child, I will try to back off of you. Mind you, I will only try. Lifelong habits are hard to break, unless one has great incentive."
Harry was surprised, to say the least and it showed. "Why are you being so decent?"
"Because we are allies in a war, Potter. And in a war, there is no room for childishness or petty jealousies. As I'm sure you have already discovered," he sighed, almost wishing that he didn't have to do this-but he would need the help. "That is why you will find a welcome confidant in our driver."
He was confused, until he took a good look at the driver.
"Hello, Harry."
"Sirius!" The Gryffindor would have gone to him but was yanked down into his seat. "What did you do that for?" he asked, slightly hurt.
"As Black is driving, any exuberant ambulation you felt the need to bestow upon him would've caused an accident. And since I desire to live long enough to see Voldemort truly rotting in his grave, I restrained you."
"Fine. But next time, don't pull so hard. You're stronger than you look."
"And I don't want you touching my godson," Black snarled.
Severus sighed and stared out the window. "Why don't you go sit next to him?" Harry eagerly complied and the potions master was left alone with his thoughts. Not surprisingly they turned to the redhead, there was a disturbing amount of power that centered around her. She was obviously untrained and, as such, a great risk to herself and others. I must see about finding Mr. Giles and talking to him about her.
A few days pass.
Sunnydale High
As the group from Hogwarts was taking in the chance to observe and even participate in a few chosen muggle classes, Severus was in the library, chatting with Giles. "Thank you for agreeing to met with me and my colleague, Mr. Giles. Did you find the information I provided for you helpful?"
"Indeed. I better understand who you are and why you were not shocked by what you witnessed."
"Then believe me when I say that I meant no harm to your friend, Miss Rosenberg. She seems to possess a rare power for one who lives in this environment."
"The Hellmouth or being around non-magical beings?" Giles asked.
Severus thought for a moment, phrasing his answer carefully. "A mixture of both, I would say. The powers she holds could have come to her from the Hellmouth, though I find myself doubting that possibility greatly. Then again, she could be naturally born to it but hidden away as she is here, no one would know about it. The situation she lives in could cause such ignorance to lead to danger for her and those around her. Forgive me for this, but I believe that she needs to be trained. And with your other obligations, I don't think that you could do it."
"Willow would never leave."
"I'm not suggesting she do so."
"Then what are you suggesting?"
For once, he had no decisive reply. "I don't know. But I do see great power inside of her, I don't want to see it twisted."
"Neither do I."
"So, have you two finished deciding my future?" An amused, but tired, voice asked from Giles' office. Willow was lying on the couch, a cloth covering her forehead. Once Giles had been sure of the professors, he'd accepted their invitation to come and help her. "Cause I'm telling you right now, I have no intention of going anywhere."
Giles gave him a look that clearly said, see what I have to deal with?
His look was, you want my job teaching the same kids for 7 years?
He shuddered. "No thanks. I became a librarian to avoid kids. Willow, we aren't deciding anything, just talking."
"Sure you are." There was the sound of shifting. "Thanks, Professor Lupin. Mind if I nap?"
"Yes, sleeping after a soul/mind scan is a dangerous thing. Try to occupy yourself, though I realize that it is a hard thing to do," Severus explained, appearing in the doorway.
"Not as hard as surviving several hours of mental torture, mixed with physical beatings." She muttered, turning to Lupin and ignoring Severus' obvious surprise that she knew something of what happened to him. "So, tell me, what do you teach?"
"Defense Against the Dark Arts. The job's cursed and Severus wants it."
"That is mere speculation and conjecture. I am quite pleased with my potions," he corrected him.
"What's Hogwarts like?"
"It is a boarding school."
"I think she needs more than that, Severus." Slightly reproachful, he watched the man shrug before he disappeared out the door. "Well, Miss Rosenberg, it is a boarding school that is surrounded by a forest."
"This forest wouldn't happen to be forbidden, would it?"
"Actually, it would. Why?"
She shrugged, "Call me curious. And before you say it, I know exactly what that does to a cat."
Remus heard the muffled snicker before he turned to tell her about the school. When he finished, he observed idly. "You'd like it, make an excellent Gryffindor."
"She's too smart, either Ravenclaw or Slytherin," Severus commented, leaning against the door frame casually. "How do you feel?"
"Better."
"I can see that. Your color has improved and you don't appear to be shaky or hard of breath," he said, sounding as though he approved. "Excellent."
"What have you decided?" Remus asked.
Instead of answering him, he walked over and handed a paper to her. "We've decided that, since we'll be here for a while, to set you up with a work schedule. That is, if you are agreeable to it."
She scanned the paper, a slight frown between her eyes. "How am I going to go to school, study all of this stuff with you, and make it home before dark?" It was quiet. "I mean, I am interested. I want to learn but this is the Hellmouth. Not the safest place for a girl to wander around alone."
"Yes. We-meaning that Mr. Giles and I-have discussed things."
"See, I told you they were deciding things for me," she whispered to Remus, giggling.
"They've only been discussing you," he chided, trying not to laugh himself.
"And that discussion led where?"
He ignored their snickered conversation and continued, though he couldn't fault the girl on her line of reasoning. "I know that your parents don't really spend that much time with you. If you would like, and because we feel that it would be better for your studies, you may stay with us. It is also my opinion that it would do the students good to have contact with people outside their small circle of acquaintances."
"You want me to stay with you?" she asked tentatively, not quite believing him.
"Would that be desirable?"
"Very. No one has ever really wanted me to stay around, though I know that I am wanted."
"Good." He walked out again. "We'll see you tonight."
Willow looked at Remus, confused. "Is he often like that or did I do something wrong?"
"It's not you. He's always like that."
"Oh, he's all growly exterior. But he's a closet softie, with a few nuts to keep him sane."
Remus bit back the laughter that bubbled up inside. Though he'd love to see Severus' face if he ever heard that description, he didn't want to jeopardize their tentative working relationship. For the most part, they seemed to be getting along. "Pretty much, Willow. But don't let him hear you say that."
"Okay. It'll be our secret." And she put her finger to her lips as though making a pact and sealing the deal with him.
End, Part 1.
Many thanks to my reviewers. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. And to those who wrote to me, sorry if you didn't get my reply, my e-mail's been rather picky lately. Uhm...I wasn't thinking co-ed, more co-house. As for another part/sequel, I don't know. It depends on if I can keep the light hearted mood I started this story with. My muse wants to insert a plot with Voldemort showing up b/c Angelus is gone.
But I'm not saying that there isn't the possibility of a continuation. g I do have some ideas, one has Buffy running into Draco and talking to him, after letting him have it. We'll see.