Red Horizon

Chapter 38 – Emptiness.

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

November 4, 1981.

"Mother, what a pleasant surprise!" Frank greeted Augusta Longbottom as she entered the Longbottom's home, which was currently under the Fidelius Charm with Frank's mother as Secret Keeper.

The Head of the Longbottom family humphed in response. "I'm sure," she grumbled. "I'll just get straight to the point: I'm here to lift the charm- You-Know-Who has been defeated and it's safe for you to come out of hiding."

Frank and Alice looked at each other, knowing it was not that easy. According to the Prophecy, You-Know-Who could not be defeated by anyone else but their son or Harry Potter.

"How?" Alice asked. Augusta shrugged.

"Nobody knows for sure. But according to everyone else, and Dumbledore -You-Know-Who showed up at the Potter's hiding place, killed James and then Lily, but when he tried to kill their baby, the killing curse somehow bounced back and struck the Dark Lord, who died."

Alice and Frank stared at her in horror. "James and Lily are dead?" Alice croaked. "But...weren't they under the Fidelius charm too?"

Augusta's nostrils flared as she spoke up harshly. "They were. But their Secret Keeper betrayed them to the Dark Lord."

"Who was their Secret Keeper?" Frank wondered out loud, thinking it must have been Remus: Sirius would never betray them, and Peter would never even be considered as an option- he was simply too weak.

"Sirius Black."

Frank's eyes almost bulged out of his head and Alice gasped. "No! It's not possible!"

Augusta nodded. "But it is. It seems as though Black has been working for Voldemort for ages, spying on the side of light for him. And that's not all: Little Peter Pettigrew hunted him down, demanding to know why Sirius betrayed them- he was blown to pieces, and twelve muggles died in the process. The only thing left of Pettigrew was a finger. I always knew that Black was as rotten as his name. Thank Merlin he's currently rotting away in Azkaban," she spat.

Alice was deathly pale and it looked like she was going to faint. Frank put an arm around her, doing his best to offer comfort, shaking his head. "I simply can't believe it..."

But even though he was sad over the tragic end of James and Lily, he couldn't help but be overjoyed at the same time. You-Know-Who was gone; Neville was out of danger. And that was all that mattered.

"Hey, Nev, look over here!" Frank hissed to his son several hours later, after his mother had successfully removed the Fidelius and left. Neville was currently lying in his bed, sucking on a bottle happily. Neville turned his head with a curious and looked at his father, who was currently putting on Alice's dotted bra in front of his eyes, making him look like a large mosquito. He didn't notice Alice sneaking up behind him.

"You idiot!" She exclaimed as she saw what he was doing. Frank yelped in surprise and jumped around, trying to pull the bra off, but it had somehow gotten stuck around his face, which made it impossible to see a thing, and he promptly tripped and landed on his butt with a painful 'thump.' Alice bent down and smacked him soundly, before helping him out.

"How can you wear things like that?" Frank groaned, rubbing his face and butt. "It's a death trap!"

Alice promptly smacked him again. "You're not supposed to wear it around your face!" She hissed. Frank glared at her.

"I know that! But - there are too many straps and things to sort out at once. How do you do it?"

"We're women, we can do more than one thing at the time," Alice sniffed and stuffed down her bra in a drawer. From his bed, Neville giggled.

Suddenly, a loud bang sounded across the house. Neville started crying, and Frank and Alice looked at each other worriedly, immediately serious. Frank pulled out his wand from his back-pocket, and Alice grabbed hers from the bedside table, and they carefully moved towards the room's entrance, in search for an explanation to the sound. Just as they crossed the door way, they were attacked from both sides.

"CRUCIO!"

Frank fell to the floor screaming in pain and Alice turned to look at her husband, horrified, frozen in shock.

"CRUCIO!"

Alice joined her husband twitching on the floor.

"WHERE HAS THE DARK LORD FLED TO?" A woman's voice, sounding quite mad, yelled.

"I - don't- know!" Frank got out between his screams. "Isn't- he- dead!"

This earned him a new round with the curse.

"THE DARK LORD IS NOT DEAD!" The woman's voice sounded.

"HE IS SIMPLY WAITING; BIDING HIS TIME, WHILE YOU FOOLS ARE LULLED INTO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY!" Another voice, this one a man's, shouted. Alice felt her nose start to bleed from the pain, as the man increased the power put into the curse.

"HE IS IMMORTAL! HE CANNOT BE DEFEATED BY THE SIMPLE MEANS OF MORTALS!" The woman, who Frank somehow managed to identify as Bellatrix Lestrange, continued, cackling madly.

"And -yet- he - was," Alice grunted out. "By- a - boy - no less."

"HOW DARE YOU!" A third voices sounded, darker than the two first. "CRUCIO!"

Alice's screams increased as she was now put under two unforgivables at once. She could dizzily hear a fourth voice shout out the curse as well, on Frank, who's twitching increased into spasms. Soon, the couple's eyes rolled upwards into their heads.

The torture and interrogation continued for several minutes. Then suddenly...the curse stopped. And silence.

"Send off the Dark Mark, Rabastan," Bellatrix cackled, before turning to the small bed, where Neville was sitting, completely silent, uncomprehending, as tears streamed down his chubby baby-face, his eyes widened as he stared at his parents still twitching on the floor. "Then we'll deal with this little sweetie."

Rabastan left the room. After several seconds, Bellatrix grew tired of waiting. "Where is he?" She hissed to her husband. "Can he not do anything correctly?" Her eyes narrowed. "Well, what are you waiting for!" She exclaimed. "Go find him!"

Rodolphus quickly turned towards the door, only to be hit by a stunner in the chest.

Bellatrix spun around, and found several Aurors standing there. Also present was Bartemus Crouch Senior.

"Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange," Crouch said. "You are hereby found guilty of being Death Eaters, of torture, of murder, of using the Unforgivable curses, and for consorting with other Death Eaters and the Dark Lord, etcera, etcera. On these charges, I sentence you to a lifetime in Azkaban Prison, with no trial or other negotiation with the law."

Bellatrix just laughed.

"Ahh, look, the itsy-bitsy-bad Aurors want to play!" She turned to a Dark corner in the room. "Did you catch all that?" She called, and smirked. "Do you want to come say hello, Barty?"

Bartemus Crouch Senior's eyes widened as a man stepped out of the shadows, smirking.

"Hello father."

"B-Barty...b-but..."

"B-b-but what, father?" Bartemus Crouch Junior asked, mockingly. "Surprised to see me?"

"Y-y-you a-are a D-Death Eater?"

Barty Jr laughed. "Well, of course I am! What else would I be doing here? Torturing for just the hell of it? Oh, right, I forgot: That is what I am doing."

That's when the Aurors noticed Frank and Alice on the floor, and they gasped. Barty smirked as he looked at the now drooling couple.

"I think they're a little out of it, if you know what I mean," he said conspiratorially, patting a finger to the side of his head. "Oh, well, I guess the fun's over." He stretched out his arms in front of him. "I suppose you want to take me home. Father?"

Bartemus Sr gulped, then took a deep breath. "You're no son of mine," he hissed. "Aurors! Seize him! Bartemus Crouch Junior, I hereby sentence you to lifetime in Azkaban Prison, with no trial or other negotiation with the law, at the same charges as given to Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange."

Barty Jr just shrugged, as if he could care less about what happened to him.

Four of the Aurors seized Barty Jr by the arms, five grabbed Bellatrix, while two handled Frank and Alice, among them Mad-Eye, who was shaking his head sadly as he stared at his co-workers and realized their state of mind. Or rather, the lack of it. "We better get them to St Mungos," he muttered. "Maybe it's not be too late to save them." He turned to look at Neville. "We better take the boy too- no child so young should have to remember their parents being tortured. At St Mungos, they can do a memory charm on him before leaving him with his relatives."

November 5, 1981.

The Healers shook their heads sadly. Several of the most prominent mind-Healers had had looks at Frank and Alice, but to no avail.

"I'm sorry, but there is nothing we can do, except make them comfortable in our long-term ward. They're just...gone. Their bodies are there, but their minds..." The Healer shook his head. "I truly am sorry."

Augusta Longbottom sniffed as she stroked Frank and Alice over their heads. "I see. Well, thank you for trying. Where is my grandson?"

"He should be along any minute now, though- "

"- Though what? What has happened?"

The Healer sighed. "We did the memory charm as soon as he was brought in, to be sure the entire event would be erased from his mind successfully, but there were...complications. His mind was still in a state of shock, and so confused that it should not have been tampered with at the time, though if we had waited, I doubt we could have erased the memory at all: A baby's mind is very complex. As it is, the entire event was removed, but I'm afraid some of his short-term memory was taken with it."

"What does that mean?" Augusta Longbottom asked quickly.

"Well, it's not anything big, but when he gets older, your grandson may have trouble remembering small, simple things,like where he put his socks, or what he has for homework. However, it should not affect his living: After passing puberty, it is most likely these problems will gradually disappear."

Augusta took a deep breath, happy it was not anything more serious. "Thank you. Will you make sure my son and his wife gets placed in the long-term ward? I want them both to have the best of care."

The Healer nodded. "Of course."

Augusta nodded her head shortly at the Healer in farewell, before stalking out of the room, no longer wanting to look at the emptiness that was her son and his wife.

Peter Pettigrew was terrified. Even though he'd managed to trick Sirius, it did not mean he was safe; far from it. If it got out he was alive, the Ministry would be after him, and if the Death Eaters figured it out...He shuddered. He didn'teven want to think about it. After all, he had been the one who had told the Dark Lord where to find the Potters, and therefore, the Death Eaters would blame You-Know-Who's downfall on him. They were bound to seek revenge.

Suddenly, he heard voices coming from the road, and he quickly transformed into a rat.

"Mum," a young boy whined. "Can't I have a pet?"

"No," a woman said sternly. "Percy, I've told you; I cannot afford it."

The speakers came into view, and Peter saw it was a boy, around five years old, and a woman, who apparently was the boy's mother. Both had red hair. Red hair...The Weasley family. The boy wanted a pet...he was a rat...the Weasley's were a pure-blooded family...which meant they gained important news from the wizarding world...a plan slowly formed in Peter's head.

"But Bill has an owl!"

"Errol is our family owl, Percy and you know that."

Percy pouted. "I never get anything...I hate being poor!" He grumbled. "Mum, pleeeease? Pretty please?"

"No. Maybe when you get to Hogwarts."

"But that's ages away!" Percy whined. That's when Peter took his chance; he slowly scurried across the road; as he got halfway, he was quickly caught by the young boy's hands.

"Mum, look!" The boy gushed. "It's a rat! Oh, can't I have it? Please!"

The woman sighed. "It might have diseases..."

"No!" Percy protested. "Look at him! He's all soft, and thin, and small, and helpless!"

The woman groaned. "Percy..."

The boy promptly sat down on the road. "I'm not going anywhere until you say I can keep him."

"Percy! Get up, right this instant! Or I'll use magic on you!"

Percy smirked. "You can't-there might be muggles around." He stuck out his tongue. "So there."

The mother's eyes flashed dangerously. "Fine! Keep the rat, then!"

"YAY!" Percy quickly got up and brushed himself off, grimacing as some of the dust from the road flew up in his face.

"But don't think I let you off that easily, young man!" The woman warned. "We'll have a serious discussion about your behavior when we get home."

Percy wasn't listening, as he was patting Peter's head lovingly. "I'm going to call you Scabbers."

Peter's nose twitched as he mulled the name over in his head. Scabbers? He could live with that...

November 6, 1981.

"Igor Karkaroff, you have been brought to trial for being accused of consorting with Death Eaters. How do you plead?" Amelia Bones asked. She was completely new at the post as Head for the Magical Law Enforcement as the post had been held by Bartemus Crouch Senior, until only a couple of days ago, when he'd resigned after that awful business about his son.

"Not guilty," Karkaroff answered gruffly. Mad-Eye frowned as he watched the man sitting tied in chains. He hoped Karkaroff would be sent to Azkaban for his crimes, and that this trial wouldn't end up like many trials before him - with the accused being released. Like Lucius Malfoy and Avery.

"Not guilty, you say?" Amelia asked, eyebrows raised. "And yet, the Dark Mark on your arm says otherwise. Do you still plead 'not guilty?'"

Karkaroff's eyes had widened.

"I-I swear to you, my honor, I did not know what I was doing! I-I was tricked! Please, do not sentence me for crimes I could not help!"

"So you say You-Know-Who tricked you, and therefore you agreed to join him?"

Karkaroff nodded vigorously.

Amelia shook her head.

"Somehow, that is not enough for me. I hereby sentence you, Igor Karkaroff to a life sentence in Azkaban priso - "

" - WAIT!" Karkaroff shouted, desperately. "I can help you! I can help you catch the others! The real Death Eaters. Just promise I won't be sent to Azkaban!"

Amelia's eyes narrowed, and she stared at Karkaroff for a long time, before she finally turned around and spoke to some advisors.

"We will give you one chance," she said, as she turned back. "One chance for you to prove that you are not loyal to you-know-who by telling us the names of your fellow Death Eaters. If we think the information is enough, you will go free."

Karkaroff gulped, and then shook his head.

"I-I am afraid that isn't good enough. How do I know you won't send me to Azkaban anyway, no matter what I tell you? I want your promise now, under oath, that I will go free, before I tell you anything."

Amelia Bones' eyes flashed dangerously.

"I do not bargain with Death Eaters! How do we know you have anything to tell us at all?"

Karkaroff flashed a grin.

"You don't."

Again, Amelia spoke quietly with her advisors. Finally, she turned back to Karkaroff.

"Very well. I hereby give my oath as a witch that Igor Karkaroff will not be sent to Azkaban - as long as he tells us who his fellow Death Eaters are, and if he gives a wizards oath in return that he will stay away from England and its wizarding community for a time of at least twelve years, or face the consequences."

"I, Igor Karkaroff, agree to these terms and gives my oath as a wizard that I will indeed leave England and its magic community for at least a dozen years."

A bright flash of light filled the room as the oaths were completed.

"Now, tell me the name of your fellow Death Eaters," Amelia growled. She had grown tired of this trial several minutes ago.

Karkaroff flashed Amelia a grin.

"Of course. Augustus Rookwood."

Gasps flew across the room. Amelia Bones narrowed her eyes.

"He works here at the Ministry."

"Indeed," Karkaroff said. "However, that is not my problem. Mulciber - "

" - He has already been caught, and sentenced," Amelia interrupted, leaving Karkaroff to look a little put out.

"Oh," he said. "Well...that was...inconvenient. Eh...right. Antonin Dolohov - he was part of the group that killed the Prewett brothers.

Amelia nodded sternly. "He will face his trial tomorrow. Please continue."

"Of course. Where was I? Oh, yes...Travers - Marlene McKinnon's murderer...and then we have Severus Snape, of course."

"He has already been given his trial and went free from all charges," Amelia said.

"No!" Karkaroff gasped. "That cannot be! Severus Snape is a Death Eater, I'm sure of it!"

Dumbledore stood up, looking Karkaroff in the eyes.

"I vouched for Snape's loyalty to the light," he said. "He was a Death Eater, but turned spy for as prior to Lord Voldmeort's downfall, at a great personal risk."

Karkaroff gulped as Dumbledore sat down.

"Well..." he said, wringing his hands. "That was it."

Amelia's eyes flashed dangerously again.

"No more? You cannot name anymore?"

Karkaroff shook his head, sweating slightly.

Amelia sighed, and rubbed her eyes tiredly.

"Very well. Let him go - make sure he gets people to escort him out of the country."

As Karkaroff was lead out of the courtroom, Amelia leaned back in her chair, not in the least looking forward to another week of trials.

"Bloody Hell," she moaned, and thumped her head down on the table.

"Tired, Amelia?" Dumbledore, who was the only one other than her left in the room asked, sounding amused.

Madame Bones glared at the twinkling Headmaster. "How fantastic of you to come to that conclusion," she drawled sarcastically. "It must have taken you a lot of brain-cells to figure that one out."

Dumbledore just chuckled.

A/N: And the torture keeps coming...so sorry! I've read in your reviews you want Buffy, and you'll get your wishes: In the next chapter, we have a long appearance of our favourite Slayer, in which we get to find out exactly what she's been up to in the not so Sunny D. Until then, keep your reviews coming!

/Ida