The four boys were sat in the library, researching ways to keep Remus company during his transformations when James heard Buffy's voice speaking in his head for the first time since they all patrolled.

"Guys," he whispered, so as not to invoke the librarian's wrath, "just got a message from Little Sis."

"What? How?" Peter said, confused. Sirius hit him.

"You stupid git! Twins, remember! Mind talk!" Remus hissed.

"Anyway, she wants us to meet her in the Room of Requirement in an hour and to bring Lily. She said to tell you she was sorry for ignoring us, and she had a good reason that will be explained. Also, she said something about answering Sirius' question. What ever that means," elder (by five minutes!) Potter finished, looking at his best friend.

"The one I asked after finding out about her 'night-time problem'."

"Don't call it that! She'll kill you!" James defended his sister for once.

"Why?"

"People will think she's afraid of the dark, you idiot!"

"What can I call it then?"

"Her 'unusual complaint'?" Peter offered.

"No! They'll think she's got some kind of disease."

"I've got it!" Remus said.

"What?" the three other boys asked together.

"We'll ask Buffy." The others groaned, only he would stop the game then.

An hour later, the boys and Lily were entering the Room silently, attempting not to disturb Buffy as she was in the middle of a one-handed handstand on top of a very high pile of books and chairs. Sensing them enter behind her, she flipped back to the floor, turning as she did so.

"Hey, guys," she said softly. –Do they still want to be friends, after all, I have avoided and ignored them all for over a week.-

"Buffy!" Lily cried, rushing over and hugging her, "Where have you been?"

"Sorry, Lil," Buffy said, "I've been thinking. Well, more like arguing with myself, actually."

"Do you have an answer to my question? Can we come patrolling with you every night?" Sirius cut in, wanting to get his answer.

"Yeah, I do."

The boys sat down, James saying, "Well?"

"You guys can patrol with me," Buffy started, causing the rest to grin triumphantly, "if you let me train you. If you won't train, you don't come. End of. Anyway, no other Slayer has taken people on patrol with her, so count yourselves very lucky."

"Why do we need training?" Peter asked.

"Because I left one thing out when I told you guys the truth," Buffy said, ashamed that she hadn't told them, and afraid of their reactions, "The fact is, Slayers, they die young. Real young. Most don't make it to eighteen and no Slayer has ever lasted more than four years. Even if I live for four years, I might not even manage graduate from Hogwarts." Buffy turned away from her friends as she finished, not wanting them to see the tears coursing down her cheeks. James immediately wrapped his twin in a hug, quickly followed by the others.

"Don't worry," Remus whispered, "You'll be okay."

"Thanks, Ree, I hope so."

"I know so," Sirius cut in, "You're a Marauder, and we look after our own."