Thank you to everyone who reviewed.  Also, Happy Passover and Easter to anyone who celebrates either.  (Due to odd upbringing, I get to have both.)

I also realized that I didn't put a disclaimer on my previous chapters.

Disclaimer:  Buffy:  The Vampire Slayer belongs to Joss Whedon and ME.  Harry Potter belongs to J.K.Rowling.   I don't own either.

This chapter is a bit choppy.  I didn't handle the transitions well.

darksamurai13:  Well, I have.

Alicia:  Thanks.  I like that pairing, too, but I don't think it's going to happen.

Speccychick:  Thanks.  I would and have. 

dsuddaby2002:  Thanks.  As I said before, I wasn't quite sure what Buffy's address was.  Thanks for helping me.  I'll change it as soon as I get the chance.

Zohar:  Thanks.  Have you read Lisette's Racing With Destiny?  It's also a different Buffy/HP crossover, and it's really good.  I hope she won't mind me promoting her story.

jun_iper:  Thank you.

Gabby:  Thanks.

Jeanne:  Exactly my feelings.  Thank you.

***

            Buffy groaned as she walked through the door to her house.  She had taken the early shift at the Doublemeat Palace this morning.  She went straight from slaying to serving without any rest in between.  Sleep was looking to be very welcoming this morning.

            Her apron was discarded on the dining room chair as she dropped her bag of burgers and fries onto the table.  Breakfast, or dinner, depending on how one looked at it, was invariably fast food these past few days.  Thankfully, now that the hellmouth was closed, there had been no recent attacks on her apartment.  The cost of furniture had been getting higher than the original mortgage on the house.

            Yawning, Buffy decided that sleeping was more of a priority than eating.  She put the food in the fridge, idly noting that there was, like always, barely anything there.  Good thing I function on fast food as well as anything else.  Buffy had just shut the door when she heard a thump.  Following the thump came a large bout of coughing.  Tell me it isn't Friday.  Buffy thought to no one in particular.  Of course, she received no answer.  Rubbing her temples, she considered banging her head against the wall in frustration.  What had made her take the early shift this morning?  I really need to keep a day planner.

            A voice came from her living room.  "Are you sure this is the right house?  The fireplace looks like it hasn't been cleaned in ages!"

            "Ron!"  This one was that of a woman.  "I'm certain this is the right house.  Now, don't make me remind you to be polite."

            Buffy silently made her way to the living room, where she saw a short, plumb, red headed woman who she remembered as Molly Weasley.  She looked exactly like she did when Buffy last saw her, albeit with a few more gray hairs and wrinkles.  At the moment she was rubbing the soot off of a red headed boy who looked to be about fifteen.  Hear dear, turn your face up a bit."

            "Ow!  Gerroff!  It's fine."  The boy, who was most likely her son, did not seem to like her attentions.

            "Sorry about that.  I forgot to clean it out."  Buffy smiled sheepishly as they both turned towards her.  "Hi."

            "Buffy, dear."  She suddenly found herself encased in warm hug.  Buffy tensed, unused to such contact, before relaxing.  "Oh, you've grown so much.  I remember the little girl you used to be.  You're as lovely as your mother."  Mrs. Weasley pulled away, her face apologetic.  "I'm sorry, I shouldn't ha-"

            "It's all right."  Buffy reassured her.  "I'm fine.  It's been five years.  It still hurts, but it's gotten a lot easier."  She looked for something to change the subject.  "Is this Ron?"

            "Oh yes."  Mrs. Weasley motioned her son forward.  "Ron, this is Buffy Summers, it is Summers isn't it?"  Buffy nodded.  "Buffy, this is my son Ron."

            "Hi."  Buffy said, smiling slightly.

            Ron answered with a mumbled, "Hullo."

            Any further conversation was interrupted by a cloud of soot announcing another arrival to the Summers' living room.  Arthur Weasley stood up, coughing.  His eyes immediately widened when he took in his surroundings.  "What a wonderful home.  How delightfully muggle."  His eyes landed on Buffy.  "Buffy.  I'm sorry for your-"

            "Thank you, but I'm fine."  Buffy stared at the hearth.  "I should get a broom and clean that up."

            "Here.  I'll do it."  Mr. Weasley took out his wand and performed a spell.  In an instant, the soot was gone.

            "Nice.  I forgot how convenient magic was."  An uncomfortable silence fell over the group.  No one seemed sure of what to say.  "How many other people are coming?"

            "Emily said she could come.  Emily Brown that is.  The Thomsons and Sara Juliard, too.  I'm not sure about the rest, though."

            Buffy nodded and sat down to wait, listening to Mrs. Weasley's small talk.  Presently more people arrived, all offering their condolences.  She sat back and watched as they interacted. An outsider.  It wasn't her place to join them.  That wasn't her world.  She and Ron sat uncomfortably on her couch, both feeling as if they didn't belong.

            Finally, there was the familiar thud announcing the final arrival.  "What's he doing here?"  Ron hissed.

            Buffy rose to greet her newest arrival, who looked at the surroundings about him with an expression of distaste.  "Professor."  She greeted.

            "Summers."  He nodded curtly back.

            "I didn't know that you'd be here."

            Snape turned his eyes to Ron.  "I received word of your mother's demise from the Dumbledore.  He requested that I come."  He came for his own reasons, too, but he didn't need to mention that to her.

            Buffy nodded.  Looking over the group of assembled wizards and witches, she put on her best 'hostess' face and smiled.  "Can you change your clothes to nor-, to muggle, clothes.  I don't want to deal with any questions."

            When everyone was more or less decent, Buffy led the group to her mother's grave.  Snape snorted in disgust as they walked through the town.  So this was the hellmouth, it didn't look like much.  The only odd thing about it is the number of cemeteries.  It was only when they reached the third one that Buffy entered.

            The sun was shining and warm, rising in the morning with the birds singing.  It seemed completely incongruous with the somber procession proceeding through the graveyard.  Buffy stopped at the grave and stood aside to let the others express their grief in solitude.  She had spent enough time at this grave already in her life, she didn't need more.

            It was an odd, sight.  Buffy, Snape, and Ron standing to the side under the tree.  The tree where she had met Angel all those years ago, Buffy remembered. She was almost amused at the way the other two tried to stand as far away from each other as possible.  She wondered if she should feel more grief during this time of remembrance for her mother, but couldn't rouse up the feeling to do so.  The whole situation was unwanted and awkward.

***

            All the guests had left except the Weasleys and Snape.  Buffy still wasn't sure why he had come. Ron's parents were had just finished updating her on the recent events in their world.  "…You-Know-Who is becoming bolder than was first expected.  Ron is a close friend of Harry's, which makes him target with the rest of our family.  We're splitting up for protection.  Fred is going with Charlie to Russia and George and Bill will be in Egypt.  Percy will be alone and Ginny will be with us.  Ron is the one who needs to be protected the most.  We thought to put him with a witch that no one would look for, but now…" Arthur trailed off.

            Buffy sighed.  She knew she could protect Ron, she was probably the best protection, although they didn't know that.  No one would blame her if she said no.  She could refuse, that would be easy enough, and then sell the house.  Move away where no one could find her, where her childhood would haunt her no more.  It was the simplest way out.  Their world wasn't her world.  It would be what was expected of her.  Who am I kidding.

            "I understand if you can't."  Molly said.

            "The hellmouth isn't active."  Buffy answered.  "It isn't dangerous, but it still makes it impossible to locate a wizard here.  I know how to survive.  It's perfectly safe here as long as you don't go out after dark."

            "Then you'll-"

            "I'll do it."  She confirmed.

            Standing up, she gave them some privacy as the family made their goodbyes.  Snape joined her against the wall.  The Potions Professor was eyeing her speculatively.  "You didn't think I'd do it, do you?"

            "Giving what I know about you, no."  Snape answered frankly.

            "Things change."

            "I've noticed."  Snape inspected the wall in front of him, avoiding looking at her.  When he did glance at her, Buffy could see a flash of guilt hidden in his eyes.  She remembered seeing eyes similar to his, eyes that held to much pain and remorse it almost hurt to look in them.

            "You are the last person I imagine saying this to, but you are a lot like my old boyfriend."  The look of comical surprise on Snape's face was priceless.  "He blamed himself for things that weren't his fault, too."

            A silence fell between them.  "I'm sorry."  Snape finally said.

            "Don't.  It wasn't your fault.  It's in the past now."  Buffy responded tersely, trying to keep the pain out of her voice.  Pain she thought she had dealt with a long time ago.  "Please, I just-, I don't want to talk about it."

            Snape nodded.  Together they waited in silence.

***

            Ron looked at the woman before him.  His parents were gone, having left him with a complete stranger.  Said stranger, Buffy he thought her name was, looked as if she had never dealt with kids before.  "Come on."  She called to him.  "I'll show you your room."

            Walking up the stairs, Ron noticed how tired she seemed to be.  Her jaw clenched and her eyes watered from trying to contain her yawns.  She led him to a small room off of the hallway upstairs.  "This is it.  Sorry if it's a bit too girly, it was my sister's room."  When Ron didn't answer, she continued.  "I don't have many rules, just never go out at night without me.  You should probably try to stay awake as best as you can until tonight, in order to work out the time difference."

            Ron stayed in the doorway as she left him.  His trunk was still downstairs, but he had plenty of time to get it.  It didn't look like he would have anything else to do besides homework.  Everything here seemed so mundane.  This is going to be a lovely summer.  He thought sarcastically.