Come What May
Chapter 10 – A promise.
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, possible mild sexual interactions, etc. If you can watch BTVS/AtS and read HP, I doubt you'll have any problem with this story.
TIMELINE: AU. Part 4 in the OOTB-series. Takes place during the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Goblet of Fire and includes missing moments from the Order of the Phoenix. It begins at Hogwarts, wizarding time, and then as it switches to Sunnydale time, we jump to where the epilogue to "Never the Same" (Part 3) left off.
SUMMARY: BTVS/HP crossover. When Dumbledore arrives at Buffy's and Remus' doorstep, they are both very surprised, but agree to come back with him to the wizarding world and protect Harry Potter from Sirius Black, the man responsible for the murders of Peter Pettigrew and Harry's parents. Sirius has somehow managed to escape prison, out for revenge...but so is Buffy and Remus. How will all this mess end?
PAIRING: Buffy/Remus
Special Thanks to: My Beta - CharmedChick
"HOW DOES HE DO IT?!" Buffy exploded. "HOW DOES HE GET IN?!"
Remus sighed. After the attack on Ron - which had probably been meant as an attack on Harry - the castle had been searched over and over again. The Fat Lady had been repaired and re-hung, and the greasy bat of the dungeons was following Remus' and Buffy's every move with those black eyes. It was clear he suspected them, and the only place they could be alone were in their quarters, during class and in the Shrieking Shack.
"All the passages are secure, one way or another, and he's not getting in through the Shack. How does he do it, Rem?"
Remus shrugged. "Through the front door? It's the only way I can come up with."
Buffy groaned. "I suppose. But the doors are locked and secure at night, so he can't get in then..."
"...which means he probably sneaks in with his dog form under a disillusionment charm during the day, and then stays hidden until nightfall," Remus finished, sighing.
"Which means we should tell Dumbledore about Padfoot!"
Silence.
"So...why aren't we?" Remus mumbled. "Why do we keep it a secret? I can't believe I'm saying this, but Snape is right not to trust us."
Buffy glared at him. "Snape is annoying."
Remus lips twitched. "Yes. That too. Seriously, though - "
Buffy winced, and Remus closed his eyes. Seriously. The pun on Sirius' name. The man seemed to manage to hunt them no matter what they did.
" - Should we go to Dumbledore and tell him?"
Buffy looked down at her feet. "I don't know. My brain says 'go right ahead, what the fuck are you waiting for?' But my heart...I just have this...bad feeling."
"Me too."
Buffy bit her lip. "Do you think we're all wrong? What if Sirius' agenda is something else - and not hurting Harry?"
Remus started to pace around the room. "Possible. But what? I mean, it all fits! It makes perfect sense that he would want Harry dead if you look at all the facts rationally."
"But when has Sirius ever been known for his rational thinking?" Buffy pointed out. "What if we're missing something?"
"Like what?"
"I don't know!" Buffy said, throwing up her arms in frustration. "I just...look. Why did Sirius run when Ron woke up? As morbid as it sounds, why not just...silence him and proceed to Harry? I mean, he certainly had no trouble blowing up that street?! It doesn't make any sense!"
"Like you said, since when has Sirius made sense?" Remus sighed. "Maybe he knew it would have been hard getting out of the castle after...carrying out the act? I don't know. But you're right. This is all...very confusing."
Remus and Buffy were sitting in the Great Hall, two days after Sirius' break in, when there was a commotion at the Gryffindor table. They both looked up, just in time to see Neville sprinting out of the hall, holding a smoking, red envelope. They both winced as they heard it explode.
"NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM, OF ALL THE IRRESPONSIBLE AND UNBELIEVABLY STUPID THINGS YOU'VE MANAGED TO DO, THIS CERTAINLY TAKES THE PRICE! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? OH, I FORGOT - YOU WEREN'T! JUST LIKE ALWAYS! IF ONLY YOU COULD BE MORE LIKE YOUR PARENTS! BUT NO, JUST HAVE TO GO AND PUT THE ENTIRE CASTLE AT RISK! YOU HAVE BROUGHT THE ENTIRE LONGBOTTOM FAMILY TO SHAME! I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU!"
"Poor Neville," Remus mumbled to Buffy, frowning at the laughing Slytherins. "That was unnecessarily harsh."
Buffy nodded. "Yeah...hey, he likes you - why don't we invite him to dinner or something next weekend? Considering he's been banned from going to Hogsmeade? And Harry too? I really think they should get to know each other better, considering they'd have been really close if their parents were still...around," she finished lamely.
Remus smiled, a little sadly. "Sure." His smile widened into a grin. As long as you let the House-elves do the cooking. Even Phoebe fairs better in the kitchen than you do."
Buffy gave him a mock-glare and a mild punch in the shoulder. "Oh, you..."
Harry was just about to climb into the One-eyed witch statue, and sneak away to Hogsmeade, but was interrupted when Neville came around the corner.
"Harry!" He said, waving, and jogging up to him. "I've been looking all over for you! The Lupins invited me to dinner, and said I should bring you too! Isn't that great?"
Harry forced out a smile. "Yeah. Excellent. Uh...look. Could you give my excuses to the professors? I really have to do that vampire essay for DADA..."
Neville brightened even more. "You haven't done it either? Great! I was thinking of asking the Lupins for some help with it, because I don't understand anything..."
"Er - hang on - yeah, I forgot, I finished it last night!" Harry added hurriedly, inwardly making an apology for lying to Neville.
"Oh, that's just great!" Neville said. "Then you can help me instead - I really didn't want to ask the professors at all, because that would be embarrassing, you know? But I was desperate. So...you know, the garlic thing - do the vampires have to eat it?"
"No," Harry sighed. "The garlic thing is a myth. It can't harm vampires at all - they just don't like the smell."
"Really? Oh, thank you Harry!" Neville gushed. "I - " He broke off with a small gasp, his eyes widening as he got sight of something over Harry's shoulder, and the green-eyes boy spun around, feeling Neville moving, so he stood hidden behind him.
"And what are you two doing here?" Snape sneered, coming to a halt. "An odd place to meet - "
Snape's black eyes flicked to the doorways on either side of them, and then to the one-eyed witch.
Harry gulped. "We're not - meeting here," said Harry. "We just - met here."
"Indeed?" said Snape. "You have a habit of turning up in unexpected places, Potter, and you are very rarely there for no good reason... I suggest the pair of you return to Gryffindor Tower, where you belong."
"A-actually, I'm on my way to see the Lupins," Neville squeaked out, then cowered, as Snape turned his eyes to him, raising an eyebrow.
"Is that so, hmm? Well, then I suggest you get going."
Neither of the boys needed another prompting, and they both stumbled away. As they turned the corner, Harry looked back. Snape was running one of his hands over the one-eyed witch's head, examining it closely.
"Oh, Neville," Harry said, putting a hand on his shoulder as they neared the Lupins' quarters. "I just remembered - I forgot my essay in the library. You go on ahead - I'll show up in a minute." He let out a wry grin. "Although with my luck, Filch has probably found my essay and burned it, or something."
"Oh, I can go with you, if you'd like - "
"No, that's alright," Harry quickly said. "I'll probably get there faster without you, anyway."
Before Neville could open his mouth to say something else, and before Harry himself could wrap his mind around how his excuse had probably sounded to the slightly chubby boy, Harry hurried away, mind already set on yet another try to get to Hogsmeade, unaware of Neville's wounded look.
"Hi, Neville!" Buffy said brightly, as the boy stepped into their quarters. "Where's Harry?"
"Oh, he forgot his essay in the library and had to go pick it up" Neville said, looking around curiously. "He might come by later." He got sight of a long sword with a slightly curved blade, and he fingered it curiously, but quickly moved away, blushing, as Buffy caught sight of it.
"Oh, don't feel embarrassed," she grinned. "Look all you want. After all, it's not often students get the honor of seeing their professors' rooms."
Neville flushed even more. "What is that, professor?" He wondered, pointing at the sword.
"Oh, this?" Buffy picked it up, swinging it around like am expert, making Neville stumble back a few steps, afraid she'd cut off his nose or something by mistake.
"This beauty, is a katana," she said. "If we get the time, I'm gonna let you try it, during one of your special DA lessons, once you've gotten a bit more secure on hand-to-hand. And call me Buffy. It's the weekend - no classes - no formal stuff."
Neville smiled faintly, knowing she was probably just being kind. He knew very well he'd never get any more secure on hand-to-hand than he was. Which was not at all.
"Oh, don't look so glum!" Buffy said, ruffling up his hair, making Neville go beet-red. "You have every chance of excelling, Neville, your only problem is your self-esteem. Or rather, lack thereof."
"Buffy's right, Neville," Remus said, stepping into the room, carrying a large bowl of a dish that looked - and smelled - delicious. He was followed by the two children - Sarah and Phoebe, if he remembered correctly - they had sometimes watched during his special classes, and sometimes during the ordinary too. "As soon as we get some of your self-doubt to disappear, I do not doubt you will become a formidable wizard."
Neville flushed again, not used to this much praise. "Thanks," he muttered, not sure if it was for the professors' compliments, or for the food, which the dark-haired girl - Sarah - was putting onto his plate.
"You're welcome!" She said brightly. "I wish we had house-elves - they're amazing!"
"And something that does not exactly teach children to pick up and clean up after themselves, but rather get everything served on a silver platter," Remus said mildly, making Sarah pout.
Neville couldn't help but grin at the easygoing family chemistry. Something completely different than what he experienced at home with his gran.
'Sit up, Neville! Your back shall be straight. Not slumped over like an old hag! Don't talk with your mouth full. No elbows on the table! Use all the utensils - not just the fork! Take small portions! And small bites! How many times do I have to tell you? And the napkin is there for a reason!'
Almost unconsciously, he found himself following his grandmother's commands. Until he heard a snort, and he looked up, startled, at Sarah, who had let out the sound.
"What is it?" He got out, after swallowing quickly, and drying his lips carefully with the napkin.
"You look like you're about to suffer from heart-failure," she grinned. "That, or like someone who's been stupefied. You're like a robot."
Neville flushed.
"Sarah!" Buffy hissed. "Stop it!"
"What? It's true!" Sarah protested.
Neville lowered his fork and looked down on his lap. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, feeling more insecure and uncomfortable than ever. Wasn't this how you were supposed to act when visiting someone? And otherwise too? Maybe he didn't look like this when sitting at the Gryffindor table, but that was just because Seamus - and everyone else - had given him such a weird look when he'd sat like that during the dinner after his sorting. And, no matter how his grandmother had repeatedly told him to act, he did not want to be regarded as the 'strange' boy for the rest of his school-years. Although he probably was regarded as the outsider anyway.
"Neville," Remus said, giving him a sympathetic look. "Is that really comfortable?"
Neville bit his lips. "Well...no...but my gran says - "
" - Neville, listen to me. Whatever your grandmother has told you, ignore it, if you don't like following her orders. I have had the pleasure of meeting Augusta myself, and I have to say, I got the impression she is a very stern woman with certain beliefs of what is right and proper, no offence to your grandmother intended," Remus continued. "Now, you are thirteen years old. Augusta is that, six times over, at least."
Neville couldn't help but grin.
"Which also means," Buffy added, "that what she might consider correct, is regarded as very old-fashioned in today's society. Which means, you do not have to follow her every whim."
"Neville," Remus said gently. "The first step of getting past your insecurities is to accept and feel comfortable with yourself. Which means you have to do what makes you feel good - what you feel you want to do, and not what your grandmother wants."
Neville didn't know what to say, and was thankfully saved from having to answer, when Phoebe somehow managed to get her entire plate with food over herself.
"Sorry," she said meekly.
"That's okay," Buffy said, lifting her wand and 'scourgifying' her daughter thoroughly. "Be glad it wasn't smoking hot."
After dinner, the Lupins sat down with Neville, talking about everything and nothing, and Neville started to feel more and more relaxed, and Remus had just gotten him started on some relaxing techniques, when the fire flared up, and Snape's voice were heard.
"Lupin! I want a word!"
The fire went out again, and Remus gave Buffy a started look. The blonde grinned, and grabbed a handful of floo-powder, throwing it in, making the fire flare up again.
"Snape's office," she said. "Hoho, Snapie," She sing-songed, making Neville choke on his laughter. The potions-masters head appeared, pale, black eyes glittering with malice.
"What?" He hissed. "Did I not make myself clear? I want Lupin here, now!"
"Well," Buffy said innocently. "Actually, you didn't. You see, I almost flunked at math, but even I know that there are four Lupins in this castle." Neville looked at her with horror. She was antagonizing the Potions master! The one-who-should-be-feared! Did she have a death wish?
Snape sneered. "Who do you think, you silly wench?" He spat. "That total failure of a husband, of course! Now, if you are not too busy engaging in activities that will result in yet another horrible little offspring, I suggest you get him to come here, immediately!" The fire died out, leaving Buffy gawking. She was not the only one. Neville's eyes had gone big as saucers, and Remus was looking completely baffled.
"Oh, that...that...that...GAH!" Buffy threw her hands up. "I cannot believe him!"
Remus seemed to have managed to scoop up his jaw from the floor. "Well." He coughed, grabbing a handful of floo-powder. "I better see what he wants."
"You called, Severus," Remus said, as he stepped out of the fire, brushing ash of his robes. Outwardly, he was calm, but inwardly, he was seething. How dare he insult his kids? That was stepping over the line!
"I certainly did," Snape said, his face contorted with fury as he strode back to his desk. "And it was about time you answered. I have just asked Potter to empty his pockets. He was carrying this."
Snape pointed at the parchment, on which the words of Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs were still shining. Remus quickly put on a blank expressions on his face.
"Well?" Snape sneered.
Remus stared at the map, wheels turning. Harry had the map...Harry had obviously used the map...Harry had obviously sneaked out of the castle. If he had that map, he could see when Sirius tried to get into the castle...
"Well?" Snape said gain. "This parchment is plainly full of Dark Magic. This is supposed to be your area of expertise, Lupin. Where do you imagine Potter got such a thing?"
Lupin looked up and shot a quick, almost unnoticeable look in Harry's direction, telling him to keep quiet.
"Full of Dark Magic?" he said, somehow managing to keep his voice even and unconcerned. "Do you really think so, Severus? It looks to me as though it is merely a piece of parchment that insults anybody who reads it. Childish, but surely not dangerous? I imagine Harry got it from a joke shop - "
"Indeed?" Snape interrupted, his jaw clenching and unclenching. "You think a joke shop could supply him with such a thing? You don't think it more likely that he got it directly from the manufacturers?"
Remus knew very well what Snape was talking about, and he also knew that Snape knew that Remus knew.
"You mean, by Mr. Wormtail or one of these people?" he said. "Harry, do you know any of these men?"
"No," said Harry quickly.
"You see, Severus?" said Lupin, turning back to Snape. "It looks like a Zonko product to me - "
Right on cue, Ron came bursting into the office. He was completely out of breath, and stopped just short of Snape's desk, clutching the stitch in his chest and trying to speak. Remus inwardly thanked the Gods, or whoever it was that looked over them. And Ron, himself, of course.
"I - gave - Harry - that - stuff," he choked. "Bought - it... in Zonko's... ages - ago..."
"Well!" Remus said, clapping his hands together and looking around cheerfully. "That seems to clear that up! Severus, I'll take this back, shall I?" He quickly took the map, folded it up, and put it inside his robes.
"Harry, Ron, come with me, I need a word about my vampire essay - excuse us, Severus - " He quickly hurried out, before Snape managed to come up with a reason to keep the map, Harry and Ron following.
As they got to the entrance hall, Harry spoke up.
"Remus, I - "
"I don't want to hear explanations," Remus said shortly. He was very disappointed in Harry, and was about to tell him so. "I happen to know that this was confiscated by Mr. Filch many years ago. I do not want to know how it fell into your possession. I am, however, astounded that you didn't hand it in. Particularly after what happened the last time a student left information about the castle lying around. And, while Neville did it by mistake, you were perfectly aware of what trouble a map like this can cause. I can't let you have it back, Harry. I'm very disappointed in you."
Harry's heart fell. Remus' comment hurt more than he thought it would, even though he'd expected it. Maybe it was because they were practically 'family', what with Buffy being his Godmother and all, even though they hadn't grown really close yet... Inwardly, he started to panic. What if they hated him now? What if they didn't want to have anything to do with him anymore? He gulped. Still...he had to risk another question...
"Eh...why did Snape think I'd got it from the manufacturers?"
"Because...," Remus hesitated, "because these mapmakers would have wanted to lure you out of school. They'd think it extremely entertaining."
"So you know them?" Harry said, enthusiastically. "I heard you and Buffy talk about the marauders, but I wasn't sure what it meant..."
"We've met," Remus said shortly, giving Harry a serious look. He hated having to make Harry feel bad, but he needed to understand... "Don't expect me to cover up for you again, Harry," he said. "I cannot make you take Sirius Black seriously. But I would have thought that what you have heard when the Dementors draw near you would have had more of an effect on you. Your parents gave their lives to keep you alive, Harry. A poor way to repay them - gambling their sacrifice for a bag of magic tricks."
Buffy inwardly groaned as she heard a movement behind her. She stopped.
"What do you want, Snape?" She said, tiredly. "Don't you have any better things to do than to stalk me? Like...playing with your chemistry set or something?"
Snape still hadn't stopped his stalking of her and Remus, and frankly, she was getting more than tired of it.
Snape stepped out of the shadows.
"Perhaps," he said. "But I will stop when I feel it is secure to do so."
Buffy groaned, and spun around. "And when is that? I'm getting tired of wondering if you're peeking when I'm in the bathroom."
Snape gave her a malicious grin. "Believe me. I have no wish whatsoever watching you doing Merlin knows what in there."
"Oh, thank God for small miracles," Buffy said dryly. "To be honest, Severus, I think you need a girl. Or a man, if you swing that way. Because your latest source of entertainment is not very enjoyable for any of us."
Two small spots of red appeared on Snape's pale cheeks. "I am just looking out for the inhabitants of this castle."
"You mean, hoping to get a big, fat reward and an order of Merlin if you manage to catch me and Remus helping Black into the castle?"
Snape sneered. "Something like that."
"You will have to wait then, because Remus and I are doing no such thing."
"I am of another opinion."
Buffy let out a frustrated yell. "For God's sake, Snape, how many times do I have to tell you that Remus and I are here to help catch Sirius, not to help him kill Harry, or anyone! I always knew you had a thick skull, but this tops the cake!"
Snape said nothing.
"You've been watching our every step for two weeks now - when will you stop? Tomorrow? Next week, next term?"
"When I feel that neither you nor the wolf are a security risk. Although, I do not expect you to last in this castle for much longer, so I think I can safely say I will stop before the next school year."
Buffy's eyes narrowed. "Is that a threat?" She growled.
Snape smirked. "No," he said, turning around, black robed billowing behind him. "That is a promise."
A/N: And chapter ten is up! Hope you like it! Chapter 11 should be up around Christmas, I hope. Also, I'm doing a music video for the Out of the Blue series, which I hope will be finished then too, as an extra Christmas present for my readers - I'll let you know when it's finished.Until next time, please, REVIEW!
/Ida