Harry Potter and the Watcher from Sunnydale

(DISCLAIMER: I have no business connection with HARRY POTTER or BUFFY. My only motive in writing this story is to have fun and hopefully share it)

(Author's Note: This story is set in fall, 2001. From the Buffy point of view this is the sixth season, shortly after "Tabula Rasa". From the Harry Potter point of view it is roughly four years after the defeat of Voldamort.)

Chapter 1 Return to England

Few of his wizard friends would understand the current flight in the aeroplane, Giles reflected. If they needed to get somewhere they would use a broomstick, Apparation, Floo Powder, or a Portkey. Only a few like Arthur Weasley, who had once expressed wonder over "how aeroplanes stayed up", understood that air travel was an impressive accomplishment, a case of Muggles pulling themselves up by their bootstraps, almost literally.

But explaining air travel was a minor problem, a way of getting his mind off a serious dilemma. Back in California was a girl whom he loved almost as a daughter, Buffy Summers, and she was sick. Not physically, but in her soul. Willow Rosenberg had done something most wizards had considered impossible: pulled Buffy back from the afterlife, not as a ghost or vampire but in full body and soul. As an educated Englishman Giles knew well the haunting words from Hamlet:

Death, that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveller returns...

But Buffy had returned. And although her memories of the afterlife were dim, she seemed to be having extreme difficulty readjusting to Earthly life.

Buffy needed help. But so did Giles' friends in England. And so Giles had reluctantly left Buffy behind, trusting that Xander, Tara, Willow and the others could provide the help she needed. At the moment the emergency in England seemed more important.

"Attention, passengers," said the intercom," we are now beginning our descent into Heathrow –"

Giles stopped brooding and concentrated on the current situation. He was about to go through customs, and he had to make sure that all the objects in his possession looked innocently Muggle-ish.

Back in Sunnydale it was comparatively easy to keep secrets. His theory was that the Hellmouth radiated an amnesia spell that made people forget about any incident where they saw magic. It didn't work on people whose lives were dominated by magic, like Giles, Buffy, or the other members of the gang, but it did keep most of the people of Sunnydale in ignorance. In England Giles did not have that protection, and had to be careful to keep his secret.

Most of his objects passed, and he was able to explain away the rest. He was a librarian, and part of his vocation was collecting curiosities. The customs officials had to agree that the items were curious, so they finally waved him through. The fact that he was still a British subject, and with a posh accent, probably helped too. He continued into the airport corridor with relief.

Harry Potter and his new wife were there waiting for him, managing to look inconspicuous. Harry had spent his early life around Muggles and knew how to pass for one, and apparently he, or Hermione, had taught Ginny how to dress like a Muggle. If people did stare it was because Ginny Potter was a pretty redhead, not because they looked suspicious.

As they walked down the corridor they engaged in small talk, which was frustrating for all three, since they were anxious to discuss the emergency. But they were surrounded by Muggles and didn't want to be overheard. Giles wondered why Harry didn't use the Muffliato spell. It created a hum, but people might mistake that for background noise of the airport.

"Do you know how to drive?" asked Ginny. Few witches or wizards could. By the time they reached driving age, they were usually deep into O.W.L. exams, and few saw the necessity.

"Yes. Although adjusting to the left side of the road again will be a bit confusing," admitted Giles.

"We can hire a car, then, and talk in privacy," said Harry. "We'll be mostly on back roads. Some wizards live nearby, and we can take a Portkey from their place."

They finally got through the car hire. Harry and Giles got into the front seat (Giles, by American habit, tried at first to get in the left-hand door), while Ginny sat in back with Giles' luggage.

"Thanks for agreeing to come, Giles," said Harry, finally able to speak openly. "We never anticipated this crisis. I'm afraid we rather let our guard down after we got rid of Voldamort. We thought we'd live happily ever after."

"I know. Ding dong, the witch is dead."

"I beg your pardon?" asked Ginny, looking a bit shocked. After all, SHE was a witch.

"I'll explain later," murmured Giles, a bit embarrassed. He had forgotten that the wizard world probably knew nothing about WIZARD OF OZ – and if they did see the film, they would be bewildered by its inaccurate portrayal of magical creatures. He tried to change the subject. "When you're dealing with vampires, you never win for long. You dust one, and two more pop up. Sometimes the Council of Watchers gets jaded about the Slayers. One dies and another is activated. I'm horrified by that point of view, myself. When Buffy died and I thought she was gone forever –" he couldn't go on about that. He pretended to be concentrating on the road.

"We understand," said Ginny softly. "I lost a brother and a number of friends to Voldamort. That tragedy will never be made right."

"But let's discuss the current emergency," insisted Giles. "I know you were limited as to what you could say on the phone, afraid that you might be overheard. I understand that Hermione and Ron have been kidnapped. Tell me more."

TO BE CONTINUED.

(Author's Note: The "amnesia spell" is my idea, but it does seem to explain why people in Sunnydale never remembered all the odd things that happened there)