Red Horizon

Chapter 9 – Bless you.

DISCLAIMER: Buffy the Vampire Slayer belongs to Joss Whedon, and Harry Potter to J.K. Rowling. I don't own anything…

RATING: PG-13 (T) to R (M) - violence, language, angst, horror, mild sexual interactions, etc. If you can watch BTVS/AtS and read HP, I doubt you'll have any problem with this story.

TIMELINE: Takes place after season two in BTVS, and after the marauders last year at Hogwarts. Sequel to "Out of the Blue."

SUMMARY: BTVS/HP crossover. After Graduation, Buffy's life takes another turn once again. She finds herself being thrown into war against Voldemort along with her friends, and not everyone will make it out alive...and not everyone is loyal to the light. But who is a friend and who is an enemy? Who can you trust in a time of darkness?

CENTRAL PAIRING: Buffy/Remus

OTHER PAIRINGS: James/Lily, Sirius/Eliza

Special Thanks to: My Beta - CharmedChick


Buffy yawned tiredly as she opened the window and let the post-owl come in with the morning's Daily Prophet. Today, there was also another letter there - a leaflet - from the Ministry of Magic, Buffy noted, then shrugged. Probably something boring.She was right.

Issued on Behalf of the Ministry of Magic

PROTECTING YOUR HOME AND FAMILY AGAINST DARK FORCES

The Wizarding community is currently under threat from an organization calling itself the Death Eaters. Observing the following simple security guidlines will help protect you, your family, and home from attack. You are advised not to leave the house alone. Particlular care should be taken during the hours of darkness. Whenver possible, arrange to complete journeys before night has fallen. Review the security arrangements around your house, making sure that all family members are aware of emergency measures such as Shield and Disillusionment Charms, and, in case of underage family members, Side-Along-Apparition. Agree on security questions with close friends and family so as to detect Death Eaters masquerading as others by use of the Polyjuice Potion (see page 2). Should you feel that a family member, colleague, friend, or neighbour is acting in a strange manner, contact the Magical Law Enforcement Squad at once. They may have been put under the Imperius Curse (see page 4). Should the Dark Mark appear over any dwelling place or other building, DO NOT ENTER, but contact the Auror office immediately.

Buffy raised her eyebrow. Did the Ministry really think this was in any way useful? Then, she grinned evilly. The security questions could be fun.very fun.

"Hey."

Buffy turned around, and smiled at Eliza who had just gotten up.

"Hey."

"What's that?" Eliza wondered, and pointed at the leaflet still placed in Buffy's hand.

"Oh, just some weird letter from the Ministry of Magic on Security Measures - sounds a little wobbly to me," Buffy said, and threw the leaflet in the trashcan.

"Right - I think I got a copy on it at work - I think it was pretty much useless. Although I've been trying to come up with an embarrasing security-question I can ask Sirius." She frowned.

"Although if I know him right, he won't be embarrassed...but I will."

Buffy snorted.

"Probably. I'm trying to come up with something I can ask Remus." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively as she took a sip of her coffee.

Eliza grinned and shook her head.

"You evil girl."

"Yep - that's me - queen of evilness."

"So," Eliza said. "When's the wedding?"

Buffy spit out her coffee across the floor.

"What?" She choked.

Eliza smirked.

"I finally managed to catch you off guard and surprise you. I've been wanting that for so long..." she said. "Seriously though, aren't you and Remus thinking about...you know, tying the knot?"

Buffy stared at Eliza like she was crazy.

"You must be joking. Me. Remus. Getting married? No way! We haven't talked about it, and it's far from being on our minds right now. Marriage - not an issue. We know were we stand - I don't need a ring on my finger to know that we love each other and want to spend the rest of our lives together." She frowned. "And that sounded so mushy that it's disturbing."

Eliza laughed.

"Well, I guess you're right. I was just thinking that withthe war and all... maybe you wanted to, you know, get married quickly, like Lily and James. Or, like Molly Prewett and Arthur Weasley - I heard it from Molly's brothers, you know, Gideon and Fabian."

Buffy shrugged.

"Maybe...But it doesn't feel like a top-priority. If Remus and me - "

" - Remus and I," Eliza corrected, making Buffy roll her eyes.

" - If Remus and I decide to get married, I think we want to wait until after the war. You know, when everything's calmed down, so we can have a nice calm wedding with no threats hanging over us. What about you and Sirius?"

Eliza snorted.

"I don't know, really. I mean - I like Sirius a lot, and the fact that he has stayed with me for this long is a wonder in itself, when thinking about his 'hunky reputation'. I just don't think marriage is something he would want, even if it would be nice - not that I'm thinking about it at all for the moment, thank you. But right now, I think that if I so much as mentioned it, he would run away. Far away. I think he likes the knowledge of being able to cut a relationship off, if for some reason he'd loose interest."

Buffy nodded.

"Makes sense. Do you love him?"

Eliza blushed and mumbled something. Buffy smirked. "I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that?"

"Maybe," Eliza said. "I just...yeah, I think I do. I'm...it's complicated."

"Is it complicated in the way that you're afraid he'll run away if you tell him?"

Eliza smiled sadly.

"You pretty much hit the spot. I just...it doesn't feel like...he's the sort of guy that likes these...deep relationshippy things."

"Do you?" Buffy asked.

"Well, sure. I like flowers, and expensive presents. I mean, what girl doesn't?" Eliza said."But it's not the important stuff, even if Sirius annoys the crap out of me - like when he forgot Valentine's that time at Hogwarts."

Buffy blinked. She knew?

"Yes, I know he forgot about it, Buffy," Eliza said and grinned as she saw Buffy's confusion. "Secrets can't be secrets at Hogwarts for long, you know. It was really nice of you and Remus to give up your dinner for our sake."

Buffy shrugged.

"No big deal. Remus and I had a very nice night in the Room of Requirement."

"Eew, stop it right there - I do not want to hear anything else." Eliza made a grimace. "Anyway, even if he can be the thickest person ever sometimes - it's cute. And he always somehow manages to make up for whatever mistake he does - and I just love to have him begging at my feet. And he is trying. Really. He's just...well, he's just clueless sometimes."

"And that's what you love about him?" Buffy guessed.

"Well...yeah. Partly, at least." She got something wicked in her eyes. "And these things he can do with his tongue..."

"...Oh, gross!" Buffy exclaimed and covered her ears. "I so do not need to know any details, Eliza, please!"

Eliza grinned.


"I'm wet." Sirius stated. James rolled his eyes.

"Well, duh - it's raining. Put a water-repellment charm on you or something."

"Oh.right." Pause. "Do you have any idea why we're here? I was planning a snuggle-night with Eliza."

James rolled his eyes again.

"Because Dumbledore got word of a possible attack on this area from his contact in the Death Eater ranks."

"Right." Pause. "Do you think we can skip this? I mean, even Death Eaters take a break in rainy-weather, right?"

James sighed.


"Atchoo!"

"Bless you," Remus said automatically. Lily grinned.

"Thanks. I think I'm catching a cold...I so need to make a Pepper-up-potion when I get home. Atchoo!"

"Well, anyone could catch a cold in this weather," Buffy stated. "Is it always this rainy in March? Or do the weather-Gods just love to hate us?"

"The latter," Eliza said, as she came up to them.

"I though you were standing guard with James and Sirius on the north side?" Buffy asked.

"Well, I was, but Sirius was acting all whiny, so I decided to come over here to you guys, and leave Sirius to James." She turned to Lily. "I feel sorry for your husband."

Lily rolled her eyes.

"Don't be - he tried to be a big macho-man and decided towash the laundry the muggle-way yesterday. Let's just say it didn't work out and all of our clothescould now fit aone yearyear old."

Buffy, Remus and Eliza snorted, desperately trying to keep their laughter at bay. Lily huffed.

"It isn't funny! Especially since 'engorgio' for some reason doesn't work on them - we'll have to buy a whole new wardrobe!"

Buffy, Remus and Eliza burst out laughing.

"Well, save them for your future children," Buffy suggested, earning herself a murderous glare from Lily. This only made them laugh louder than before.

"Quiet over there!" Moody hissed. "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"

The four friends winced.

"I think Mad-Eye's the one who should be quiet." Buffy muttered. Suddenly, the area was filled with cracks from incoming Death Eaters, and the entire Order (except Caradoc, who couldn't risk revealing his position as a spy, and Peter, who apparently was visiting his ill mother) jumped out from their hiding places.

"Shit." Buffy hissed, as she realised there were double as many Death Eaters as Order-members.

"Yeah...shit." Eliza repeated. "Didn't Caradoc say there would be a small attack? As in less than ten people?"

"He did," Remus said grimly, as he sent off a curse. "I can think of three scenarios: A) This was a trap. B) This was a trap. C) This was a trap. Take your pick."

"I think I'll go with all three of them," Lily said. "The question is whether or not Caradoc knew."

"Well, if he didn't, it's bad, because then Voldemort probably knows he's loyal to us. And if he did, that's bad too, because then he isn't loyal to us. Either way, we loose." Buffy said, as she kicked one of the Death Eaters in the shins. Remus involuntarily winced.

Suddenly, a dark figure appeared in the middle of the battle. Everyone turned to look at him, and Lily's eyes narrowed.

"Voldemort..." she hissed. She slowly started to make her way closer to him. Nobody noticed, as everyone was too busy holding their own...that is, no one except James. In less than ten seconds, he managed to take out his opponents, and rushed to Lily's side.

"Lily, what in Merlin's name are you doing?" He hissed.

"I'm finishing this, once and for all," Lily snapped. "He has killed your parents, Remus' parents, my parents... -I won't let him kill anyone else."

"Lily, you're nuts! You can't take him on alone!"

"Well, I am. Don't try to stop me. I'm so damn tired of this damned war!"

A lightning-bolt lit up the cloudy sky, and the rain started to fall even more heavily than before.

"I won't let you kill yourself!" James exclaimed. Lily wasn't listening, butbegan torun, James following. Before they knew it, they were both standing in front of Voldemort, rain dripping from their clothes.

"Well, well.if it isn't the Potters." Voldemort spat. "I should have known - you're both continuing to be a hindrance to me. Annoying, really." His red eyes were glittering dangerously. "However, it is also admirable. That you dare to do what no one else has ever done before. I need that kind of courage in my ranks...what do you say, James. Care to join me on my quest for power?"

James just raised his eyebrow a little.

"Let me think...no."

Voldemort smirked evilly.

"How.disappointing." Then he shrugged. "Oh, well, not entirely unexpected." Then he sent a curse towards Lily, who blocked it with ease.

"I will not let you kill anymore people, Voldemort." She spat, green eyes blazing.

Voldemort chuckled.

"And who will stop me? You?" His eyes narrowed, and he suddenly sent off several spells in rapid successions. Lily's eyes widened in surprise for a moment, before recovering, and hastily put up a shield. James was standing beside her, ready to jump in.

After a few seconds of duelling, James and Lily came into a rhythm. Lily would shield, and James would fire, and then, a few spells later, they would switch. It all worked surprisingly well, considering they both used two entirely different kinds of duelling:

While Lily was using more hexes and a defensive tactic, James used more curses and Transfiguration, as turning stones into big rocks, blocking the unforgivables, or animating them to move after turning them into large manoeuvrable stone-trolls, working as distraction.

As Lily sent an exploding hex towards where Voldemort stood, he suddenly disappeared. For awhile, Lily looked surprised, until she realised every other Death Eater had apparated away also. The duel was over...and so was the fight. For now. There was no doubt in Lily's mind that Voldemort and his lackeys would attack again. The question was.when?


Remus and Buffy winced as they watched Lily and James being thoroughly scolded by Mad-Eye Moody for taking a big risk in battle.

"Really," Buffy muttered. "You'd think he'd be happy someone actually dares to stand up to red-eyes. I mean, if no one does, then how do these people ever expect him to die? Of old age? Pfft. I don't think so."

Remus nodded in agreement.

"You're right," he said. "Sure, it was reckless.but you don't gain anything by just standing on the sidelines and watching. If not for Lily and James, I'm pretty sure we would have lost several Order members today. By distracting Voldemort, they probably saved our arses. Some got wounded, sure...but no one got killed."

"Have you heard from Peter?" Eliza asked from behind them. "Is his mother feeling better?"

Buffy and Remus shrugged.

"No idea," they chorused.

Eliza frowned.

"Well, do you think he can leave her for a day or two at least? I mean, his birthday's coming up soon."

"I'm sure that won't be any problem," Buffy said, rolling her eyes. "As long there's food on his party, he'll be there, dying mother or not."

Eliza laughed, before she left to find Sirius. As soon as she was out of hearing-distance, Remus frowned.

"You don't have to be so mean. Okay, Peter may not be my favorite person in the world, but he's not that bad...except from when he's looking at you when he thinks I'm not watching."

"I just don't trust him," Buffy said. "And he's checking me out? Again?"

Remus shrugged. "Well, it hasn't been for some time...actually, not since after your birthday. But before that, it tended to happen."

Buffy raised her eyebrows.

"Wasn't it you that threatened to hurt him real bad if he ever so much as looked at me again?"

Remus looked embarrassed.

"Well.yeah...but...then I thought I'd give him a chance...and then I thought maybe you would notice and kick his arse for me."

"Wuss."

Remus flushed.

"I'm not! I just.sure the wolf in me tends to get all 'grr' when it happens...but he is my friend - and I'm not sure our friendship could take another trip into a bookcase."

Buffy sniggered.

"Oh, I remember that time...you broke his nose, I think. It looked fun. Was it fun?"

Remus gave her a sheepish look.

"Well.yeah."

Buffy laughed.


A/N: Another update! I'm really sorry if the chapters take longer than the ones in 'Out of the Blue' used to, but, unfortunately, I have much more homework and 'real life' stuff to do than before. Anyway, I'm doing my very merry best, and I'll try to update faster...on another point, you know,reviews is a really great motivator -hinthint- (And I'd like to remind you, that if you want an answer on your review, please leave an e-mail adress along with it, 'kay?)

/Ida