Title: Family That Stays

Author: Koohii Cafe

Rating: K

Fandom: BtVS/HP

Disclaimer: Since I am a poor chickadee with no wealth to speak of, I think it's safe to say that neither BtVS nor HP are mine. ^^;

Written for: TtH 'The Missing Dursley' Challenge

Summary: Petunia receives a letter that will turn her world upside down; her firstborn is finally returning home.

Author's notes: Set Set during Order of the Phoenix for HP and season one for BtVS. Buffy's birthday has been shifted to accommodate the plot. I apologize for the uber long wait on this story, guys. My drive to write just kind of- disappeared on me. I'm going to try really hard to make sure there's never a wait like this again!

Visitors

The sound of his uncle's bellowing voice would have woken him from his sleep even if his aunt's thundering escape past his door hadn't, and Harry sighed before shoving off his bed and onto his feet. It was a sure thing that anyone at the front door would hardly be there to see him, and yet he was stuck with the duty of greeting them anyway, all because his aunt and uncle were so wrapped up in whatever terrible drama was happening now that they couldn't be bothered. Dudley, of course, would never have been given the duty even if he hadn't been out elsewhere terrifying the neighborhood children; after all, he was their ickle Duddlikins, he shouldn't have to deal with any responsibility! The thought made Harry's lips screw up into a smirk as he slowly made his way out of his bedroom and down the hall to the stairs, passing his panting uncle who was just now making it up. A fleshy palm hit the middle of his chest before he could descend, and he found himself looking up at his uncle.

"Now don't you make any trouble," the older man warned, a flicker of anger in his eyes. "I've got very important business with your aunt. Keep them occupied until we're finished. And remember! If you're not on your best behavior, if there's any funny business, we'll lock that bird of yours up for a month!" Then, a triumphant smirk on his face, he renewed his chase with a loud roar of "Petunia!"

With a roll of his eyes, Harry continued down the stairs; as if he would jeopardize his time at Hogwarts just to scare away any 'guests' they had! But then, the threat to lock up Hedwig… His expression soured at the thought. It wasn't as if she had brought anything important home- he was so tired, so frustrated of the vague letters his friends were sending him!- but he wouldn't want to risk it. What if something changed? What if he needed to get word off to Ron and Hermione, or to Dumbledore? No, he would behave… for the moment.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Harry forced a pleasant smile on his face as he unlocked and opened the door to find- something he hadn't expected. Standing there on the stoop was an unusual couple. The first was an older man, done up in a sharp tweed suit with tousled dark hair and green eyes hidden behind wire rimmed glasses; although it was obvious he was meant to look quick and ready for anything, there was something that seemed worn around the edges, almost like Sirius or Remus sometimes did. It was the girl, however, that caught Harry's attention. She looked to be about his age, petite with long blonde hair, stylish clothes, and a cheerful smile that belied something darker that flickered in her hazel eyes. It was a look that he knew very well. Licking his lips almost nervously, Harry stepped back a bit as he directed that fake smile at the two.

"Um, hi. Can I help you?"

"Yes," the man answered, peering carefully at Harry through his glasses. "We're looking for Mrs. Petunia Dursley."

"Right." Taking another step back, this one big enough to leave room for the couple to pass, he extended his hand. "She's a bit- busy- right now, but you can come in if you like."

There was a flash of something in the man's eyes, as if he didn't approve of the invitation, but then it was gone and he was nodding in return. "That would be most appreciated. It is rather- rather imperative that we speak to her; we will wait however long is necessary." He stepped through the door and past Harry somewhat stiffly, looking back at the girl who just shrugged back before she followed. Shutting the door once they were inside, he flipped the lock and led the pair into the sitting room. As they both took a seat on the couch, Harry eyed the girl closely. That look in her eyes… It was the same one that stared back at him from the mirror day after day. It was a look that said she had seen far too much than someone her age should have. It made him wonder, but- if they were here to see his aunt, it was clear that they would have nothing to do with him.

Pushing his curiosity to the side for now, the dark haired teen offer a wan smile when a loud thump sounded from the second floor- his uncle had apparently finally gotten the bedroom door open, as the thump was followed by the muffled voices of the adults- and motioned towards the kitchen.

"I don't know how long they'll be, but if you like, I can get you some tea."

"Tea?" The petite blonde wrinkled her nose, even as the older man gave her a scolding look. "What? I'm a coffee kind of girl!"

"Buffy, don't be rude."

"Fine." The girl, Buffy, screwed her lips up into a pout that was directed at her companion, before glancing back up at Harry. "Tea would be nice… Do you have any sugar?"

"Of course," he answered after a moment. Suppressing the surprise that must have shown on his face, he nodded and backed out of the sitting room, leaving the pair to chatter as he made his way to the kitchen. Her accent had marked her as American, and a thoughtful look crossed his face. For the life of him, he couldn't think of any reason an American girl his age would be visiting his aunt. Of course, there were the occasional letters that came from the states addressed to her, but Harry wasn't supposed to know about those. In fact, neither Dudley nor his uncle knew about them; Harry had only stumbled upon them by accident, years ago when he'd been rooting around the house in an attempt to find one of the elusive Hogwarts letters he'd been denied when he was eleven.

As a matter of fact- wasn't the argument today about a letter? The look on Harry's face was thoughtful as he laid out the tea platter with a couple cups, a bowl of sugar, and container of milk. There was already a kettle on the stove- his aunt must have been preparing for some tea herself- so all he could do now was wait. It seemed that was all he'd done the entire summer- but he pushed the thought from his mind, not wanting to brood over it. Instead, he turned to peek back into the other room, at the mystery guests sitting on the couch. The man was speaking in hushed tones to the girl, cleaning his glasses and eying their surroundings with what almost seemed to be suspicion. The girl, on the other hand, seemed to be tuning it all out, the brief flash of animation that had shown in her eyes when she had spoken gone. Harry let his eyes run over her intently, searching for… searching for what, he didn't know. There was something almost… familiar about her. Before he could get anywhere near placing it, the kettle sounded, shaking him from his thoughts as he hurried to take it from the stove. A moment later, he was carrying the tray into the sitting room, and setting it down before them.

"Here you are." Acting more a polite host than he might have if the visitors had been any of his aunt and uncle's usual friends, Harry placed the tea strainers over each cup, pouring out the drink carefully into each. Then, just to be sure that there could be no complaints, he smiled slightly and removed the cover from the sugar bowl after setting the kettle aside. "Sugar, and plenty of it."

"Ooooh, goody! Just what I always wanted." The only thing that belied her cheerful tone was the flash of worry from her companion, even as it was replaced by shock as both he and Harry watched the amount of sugar she piled into her steaming tea. The milk that was also greedily added to the sweet concoction after her first sip elicited a bitter face amused the younger of the two watching; obviously the American was unused to the taste of the tea. The older gentleman, on the other hand, looked on with almost a kind of horror.

"Buffy! You mustn't-" He started, only to be silenced by a swift look from the girl. He sighed, removing his glasses to once more rub at the lens, before replacing them and giving their host an apologetic look. "I am terribly sorry. Buffy is- rather fond of sweet drinks."

"Don't be," Harry laughed softly, for some reason feeling more light hearted at their antics than he'd felt… for a long time. "Everyone to their own tastes. I can only apologize for the wait. My aunt and uncle are…" The muffled shouting still wafting down the stairs said it all. Something he'd said registered in the man's face though, as a shrewd look was directed his way.

"Your aunt and uncle? So you're not Petunia's son, Dudley?"

"No," Harry answered quickly, getting the idea very quickly that, though it seemed the visitors knew a bit about the Dursley's, they obviously didn't know them personally. The idea that he was Dudley… it was laughable. Then, two things happened at once at his answer; the man seemed to clam up, even as Buffy looked almost crestfallen. It confounded him. What could have possibly caused such a reaction from them? What mystery could possibly involve his aunt, cousin, and two visitors who didn't seem to know them at all?

"I see." Polite to a fault, if even more reserved than before, the man nodded. "We certainly appreciate your hospitality in the meantime. If you could, whenever possible, let Mrs. Dursley know that Rupert Giles is here, it would be greatly appreciated. I believe she will recognize the name. She should be expecting us."

"Of course." Oddly enough, his aunt and uncle chose that moment to finish their apparent argument, sweet silence replacing the shouting that had continued on the entire time. Nodding a little, Harry backed up and began to move towards the staircase. "I'll let her know now."

Then, as the man nodded his thanks, Harry moved off to tell his aunt. Hopefully, once things had settled down and she went to greet her visitors, he could listen in, and unravel this mystery that had presented itself at his doorstep.