I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or anything associated with it. It belongs to its creator Joss Whedon and whoever else owns it. This piece of literature is simply the work of a humble fan. I don't own Harry Potter neither. It belongs to J.K. Rowling.

*************************

:::Author Notes:::

This takes place during Season Four of Buffy. It's after the episode Restless (Where the First Slayer killed all of them in their dreams). For Harry Potter it takes place after the events of book five: Order of the Phoenix.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some of you had questions in your reviews. I don't like people being confused so here our your answers.

Q&A

What's happening with Faith? Will she go to Sunnydale? — Faith is rock'em sock'em. She's in the California State Women Correctional Facility doing her time. She won't be showing up in Sunnydale again anytime soon.

Will Buffy and Snape get together? — Never ever. That pairing is so disturbing its not even funny. Hard as I try, I just can't see them together.

Will Dawn and Glory be coming into the story? — If you've read any of my other fics then you know my ideas are out there. So all I can say is you'll see.

Since Buffy and Harry share a room, what will happen when school starts? Will Harry go back to the Gryffindor dorms? — You'll see. That's coming up in the next couple of chapters or chapter.

Thanks to the readers who reviewed last chapter. It felt really good to read the kind words you had to say. Oh, thanks for even telling me that I spelt Vlad wrong. I spelt it like Vlad, but my spell check seems to think it's smarter than all humans are.

Stars Not in Heaven

Chapter Eleven: God's Equation

By: Water Mage

Buffy sat on the couch in her and Harry's living room early the next morning. She had a book in her hand, appearing as if she was reading it, but her mind was thinking of other things. Like the sudden move that Voldemort made by aligning himself with demons, or the werewolf that she and Snape found in the forest the night before.

"Hey, why the sad face?" asked Harry, coming into the room and plopping down next to her. "Did you discover that all the blonde jokes in the world really are about just you?"

Buffy laughed, putting down the book. Harry had really been hanging around her too long. "And did you discover how to actually comb your hair?" Her eyes flicked to his unruly hair. "I guess not. You and the comb get into another fight?"

"Oh, two for two," said Harry, appraisingly.

"Go team me," Buffy half smiled.

Harry put his hand on Buffy's shoulder. "Really, all kidding aside. What's wrong?"

Buffy sighed ringing her hands together, unconsciously. Her thoughts were coming so quickly. It was so hard to focus only on one problem. "Well, there is the whole Mr. Evil Pants allying himself with the demon community. And then there's the fact that Snape and me brought in a werewolf last night. If it's running in a pack then we have problems galore."

Harry nodded, he understand her problems. "The Order is working on the Voldemort thing. At least that's what

Professor Dumbledore told me last time I asked. There is nothing we can really do for now. He hasn't made a move, since the Ministry incident."

Buffy noticed the way his eyes clouded, when he said the last sentence. She knew without a doubt that he was thinking about Sirius' death. Harry still hadn't come completely to grips with the fact that Sirius wasn't dead because of him. Buffy knew he needed closure, but there was nothing she could do to ease his pain. She hadn't known Sirius, so anything she would say to ease Harry's troubles would sound phony.

"How about we go visit the werewolf and ask him or her if they run with a pack," continued Harry, not knowing that Buffy was thinking about things other than the werewolf or Voldemort.

Buffy stood up. "You're right, Har-bear. We should just go and visit the guest. It'll at least take my mind off one thing at the moment."

Harry walked to the entranceway with Buffy beside him. "My ideas are always good. See, being a non blonde has its advantages."

Buffy gave him a wary eye, as they walked down the hall toward the hospital wing. "How so?" She narrowed her eyes as that glint appeared in Harry's eyes. The one he got when he was going to say something that he knew was going to get to her mad.

"Being a non-blond gives me full capability to use all my brain cells."

Buffy did something that was surprising. She just smiled at the insult. Harry gave her a speculating look. "Aren't you going to tell me to run or something?"

"No. Not this time. I'm just going to remember this and store it away for later. You might no when or even where, but believe me I will collect payback," said Buffy, giving him her best Slayer stare down look. The very same one she reserved for her really good promises.

Harry shivered, suddenly. He rubbed his arms, feeling the Goosebumps that had sprung up. It suddenly got a lot colder in the corridor. Buffy looked at Harry out her peripheral vision, as they rounded a corner. He looked scared straight, which was exactly what she was going for. She wasn't out for blood, but she would get payback for his blonde comment. She figured she'd let him wonder for a while then when he let down his guard, that's when she would strike. She just had to find the right moment to do it. A smile formed on her face. Having a brother was more fun than she ever thought it would be.

They stopped in front of the hospital wing. Beds with white linen sheets lined the walls. Typical looking hospital room. Lying on their side facing away from them was a man, whom could only be the werewolf since he was the only patient in the room. Buffy couldn't make out his face, since he was lying facing away, but she could see that he was asleep. Madam Pomfrey chose that moment to appear from her office.

"Is there anything I can do for you, dearies?" she asked, helpfully.

Harry had always liked Madam Pomfrey. She was a nice enough, but very strict. "We were wondering if we could visit with your newest patient?"

Madam Pomfrey paused to consider the request. "Well, I suppose I could. But only for a few minutes. He is still weak from his transformation."

The Potter siblings crept closer to the bed, not sure if the individual lying in it was awake or asleep. As they got close enough to his face, Harry let out a noise of surprise. "Professor Lupin!"

The noise wasn't enough to attract Madam Pomfrey's attention, but it was enough to rouse the slumbering ex-professor. Lupin woke up with a soft, tired yawn. He looked up and blinked in surprise at seeing Harry and Buffy standing beside his bed, looking down on him. "Hello, Harry."

"Hi. Sir, what are you doing here? I thought you were still at the Orders Headquarters."

Lupin gave Harry a tired smile. "I was. With the full moon last night, I didn't think it would be safe with me being there, so I decided to go into the Forbidden Forest and transform. Back in the day, the Marauders spent many a time tromping through the forest. I thought it would be nice to remember those simpler times," he said, wistfully, his eyes glossing over. Lupin shook off his memories and looked beside Harry and took in Buffy for the first time.

"I don't believe we have met before. I'm Remus Lupin."

Buffy smiled brightly. "I'm Buffy. Professor Snape and I are the ones who found and brought you here."

Lupin nodded, his eyes lighting up at Buffy's name. "You must be the long lost Potter sibling I heard so much about. The Weasley's have told me a great deal about you."

"I bet it came as quite a shock when you found out about me."

Lupin gave her a rueful smile. "I was not as shocked as they expected me to be. When I was in school with your parents, I suspected that Lily might be pregnant, but I was never sure. Since, she never showed I just chalked it up as to my senses being off."

"If they lived, I'm sure they would have told you eventually," Buffy replied, sincerely.

Harry nodded in agreement. "I know they would have. You were one of their best friends."

"Ah, I see you two found our newest Professor," said a voice from the doorway.

They turned around and were greeted by the sight of Professor Dumbledore, standing in the doorway wearing deep royal blue robes. His eyes glittered behind his usual half moon spectacles. He moved into the room to take his place beside Buffy. "We were in need of a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and when I asked Remus here if he wanted to take a shot at the position. He was only happy to have his old job back."

"Really!" yelled Harry, beaming happily. "That's so great." He paused and his face lost his smile. "Er—Professor Dumbledore, what about the students who don't want to be taught by a werewolf."

Dumbledore half smiled. "Then those students will be given an alternate assignment from the rest of the class that will involve countless hours of research in the library."

The three, meaning Buffy, Lupin, and Harry grinned at this news. Dumbledore turned to Buffy. "This bit of information reminds me of a proposition I have for Buffy."

"Total, Indecent Proposal moment here," said Buffy. She sighed at the blank looks she received. "I forgot you guys aren't up on the pop culture references, sorry. Go on."

Professor Dumbledore's dimples showed on his face, as he tried to hold back the smile on his face. Buffy was always a constant source of amusement for him. "Buffy, my proposition for you is a job here at Hogwarts." His smile widened on his face at the jaw dropped look that Buffy made.

"Wh- what me? Why? I don't understand," she said, sitting down heavily in a metal chair that was beside the Lupin's bed. Harry was in almost the same shape as her. Except his shock lasted a moment before he was smiling hugely at the prospect of his sister working at Hogwarts.

Buffy looked at Dumbledore fearfully. "You don't want me to teach or anything? Do you?"

"Hogwarts has been without a guidance counselor for almost ninety years. I would like to resurrect the old position and make you Hogwarts new guidance counselor. The job will require you to meet with the students and discuss any problems they might have or if they simply need someone to talk to. Since Voldemort has now been classified as alive again, I think the students will all be in a heightened state of emotion when school starts in a few weeks."

"What's the catch, Albus?" she questioned, narrowing her eyes. "I know there is one. You have that look on your face like you're about to add something else."

Professor Dumbledore smiled a little embarrassed. "You caught me. Professor Lupin, during the time he needs to recover from his monthly transformations, needs someone to tend to his classes till he is well again. Since you have so much experience with the Dark Arts, you would be the perfect substitute teacher. Substituting won't be difficult. Lesson plans will be provided for you, so you won't be puzzled on what to do."

Buffy looked up at Harry from her seat on the chair. Her brother looked down on her, his gaze screaming at her to take the job. Buffy closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This was a really big decision to make. A job like this would require patience, time, and a lot of work. Buffy made up her mind. She had never had a real job before, but there is a first time for everything and this was going to be her first time to have a real job. She didn't count her job waitress-ing tables in Los Angeles. Having men grab her butt; while she served them was a job she would rather wish to forget.

Buffy opened her eyes, giving Dumbledore a hesitant smile. "I'll take it."

"Alright!" yelled Harry, pumping his fist into the air. They laughed at his excited state. There was one thing that Professor Dumbledore forgot to mention to Professor Lupin, which was why Buffy had experience with the Dark Arts in the first place.

Professor Lupin looked towards Buffy, curiously. "What kinds of experience have you had with the Dark Arts? You only look barely twenty."

Buffy and Harry shared a grin. She silently asked Harry with her eyes was Lupin trustworthy. Harry nodded in response to her silent question. Buffy turned to Lupin. "Well, I guess you can say I'm special. You see there is one girl in all the world…"

* * *

Buffy walked through the Forbidden Forest a stake in one hand and a dagger tucked into her boot. She had conveniently left a little before nine o'clock. If Professor Snape asked why she had left him, she would simply tell him that he was late. Buffy actually was in a good mood while patrolling today. She had made a new friend in Remus and she had even gotten a new job that was way better than waiting any tables. Everything was going good for her today. Buffy stopped suddenly in a clearing. She looked around, feeling like somebody was watching her.

"Hey, creepy watching person or thing," she called aloud, tightening her grip on her stake. "You might want to come out now before I start going medieval on your ass!"

A thin man stepped from the darkness of the trees. Buffy noticed with the moonlight shinning down on them, that this guy was pale… extremely so. He had long, dark flowing hair and a long flowing cape clasped at the base of his neck. Buffy started to hum the Imperial Death March under her breath.

"No offense, Mister. But the Star Wars look got played out in '87. You missed a great time in are society, I like to call the 'The Great Fashion Clue'," Buffy said, making air quotes. "It was a big thing. People learned how to match and everything."

"Such power you have," said the stranger admiringly, his voice laced with an accent that Buffy couldn't place.

Buffy crossed her arms, giving the man a hard look. "Are supposed to be some kind of extra from that movie?" She pretended to think for a minute, snapping her fingers with exaggerated movements. "What was it called? Oh, I know. I'm a Psycho Stalker who likes to Watch Girls from the Shadows."

"You don't know who I am?" he asked, his voice deep. "I am Dracula."

Buffy's got a delighted look on her face and her eyes widened comically. "Get out! You're Dracula comma the?" She put one hand on her hip, giving him the once over. "Hmmm… I figured you would be taller. Seriously guy get real. Do you really think your Dracula? I think someone has been reading a bit too much Bram Stroker."

Dracula looked a little annoyed. "You know who I am." He walked toward Buffy, looming over her almost seductively. "Just as I know you're Buffy Potter."

Buffy backed up a few steps. "You've heard of me?"

"You're are known throughout our world. Your very name strikes fear into many demons," replied Dracula softly, walking dangerously close to her.

Buffy smiled at him bashfully. "Naw. Really? I feel all tingly inside. Almost like I know that there's a sale at the mall and I'm the only person there."

Dracula placed his hand on her cheek, rubbing it softly. "Of course you are famous. The tales of how many powerful demons you've killed are even told in higher demon circles."

Buffy didn't seem to notice the hand on her cheek. She stared into Dracula's deep penetrating eyes as if he was the only person in the wold. Or like she was being hypnotized. Buffy snapped out of her dazed state at Dracula's use of the word killed. "Actually, I prefer the term slayed. Hence the title. The Slayer."

"Why do you deny who you are?" questioned Dracula, now caressing her arm. "You are a killer. A killer who kills the creatures whose power is so similar to her own."

Buffy seemed to come to her self. She pushed Dracula away with a hard shove. "My power is nothing like the demons I slay. Me good guy you bad guy. Have you forgotten this?" She pulled out her stake and held it in defensive position. "Or would you like me to give you a refresher course."

He smirked at her and Buffy couldn't take it anymore. She lunged at him with her stake out. Right as she was about to pierce his heart, Dracula disappeared in a cloud of wispy white smoke. She straightened up with a confused expression on her face. She turned around quickly sensing he was behind her. Buffy lunged at him again only to find him vanish once more in a cloud of smoke.

Buffy looked around her, her head spinning in all directions. Dracula was nowhere in sight. "Well that was new?" voiced Buffy to the empty air.

"Talking to yourself, Potter?"

Buffy spun around, instantly recognizing the sound of Severus Snape's voice. She grinned at him in relief, seeing he wasn't Dracula coming back for a round two. "How'd you find me?"

Snape smirked at her. "When someone left me waiting at the entrance doors at the designated time we were supposed leave, I decided to set off to find you. After all Dumbledore did give me the task of guiding you through the forest. When I heard a racket coming from this way, I figured it had to be you making so much noise."

"You might want to leave. Now," said Buffy, staring at the smoke behind Snape that was forming into a person. She gripped her stake tighter in her right hand. With her other hand she slipped her carved silver dagger from her boot.

Snape gave her an odd look, as Buffy yanked him by the arm from the spot that Dracula now stood in. Snape pulled out his wand, training it on Dracula. "Who are you?"

"Leave. I wish to talk to the Slayer," said Dracula, his accent making his voice seem deep and imposing.

Snape curled his lip up at Dracula's tone. His eyes scanned up and down Dracula's form. He took in the dark clothes, cape and long hair. "You are either very foolish are incredibly brave to think you stand a chance against a fully trained wizard and a magic blessed, Slayer."

"Snape, don't," warned Buffy, putting her hand on Snape's arm in warning. "I don't think you want to do that. I'm almost positive that this is Dracula."

Dracula leered at Buffy, almost like he was the hunter and she his prey. Buffy gulped, feeling her heart beat a little quicker at having the dark stare trained on her. Dracula grabbed the edges of his cape and spread them wide, while moving toward them. Quicker than they could see, Dracula turned into a bat and flew over their heads squeaking loudly. They ducked their heads panicking. The bat did one more swoop around their heads before flying off into the night sky.

Snape and Buffy straightened up, looking off into the sky that the bat or Dracula flew off into. Snape gave Buffy a disgruntled look. "Friend of yours?"

"With your shared complexion I would have thought he was one of yours," replied Buffy, stomping off out of the clearing. She was frustrated that a vampire that she didn't even know had gotten the best of her. For a minute there she was feeling like she didn't even want to stake him. And the nerve of that Dracula wannabe telling her that her power was rooted in darkness. She would know if her power were dark… wouldn't she?

Snape rolled his eyes at the hissy fit. He bent down to the ground to pick up his wand that he dropped, when the bat flew over their heads. Snape pocketed his wand and froze as soon he began walking. Dracula himself stood in front of the Potions Master. Snape quickly reached for the wand in his pocket.

"Stop," said Dracula almost lazily, making a motion with his hand.

Snape stopped in confusion. He suddenly felt the compulsion not to curse the vampire. He ground his teeth together, looking at the vampire coldly. He knew immediately that the Dark Prince was trying to manipulate him, using an old form of mind control magic that involved a strong will and knowledge of the Old Ways. "Don't you try to control me! I am well trained against intrusions to the mind."

Dracula looked almost amused. "Silence. Your attempts at blocking your mind are pathetic to someone has been alive for centuries." Dracula lifted his hand pointing it at Snape. "You will be my emissary. My eyes and ears in daylight."

"I will not! I made the mistake once of following somebody and I will not make that same mistake twice," growled Snape, fighting against the control that Dracula had over him.

Dracula scowled. "You will serve me!" he demanded, angrily. His eyes flashed yellow and Snape found himself loosing control of his body and mind. It felt like his mind had been pushed back and replaced by nothingness that would listen to anything that Dracula had to say.

"Yes, master," said Snape, monotone and obediently. His eyes appeared glazed over and he seemed to be in a catatonic like state. "I will serve you."

"If you serve me well, I will reward you handsomely. You will be given immortality and all the power that you want. Now go and serve me, my servant."

Snape bowed low and when he straightened up, Dracula was nowhere in sight. "I will serve you, my dark master," promised Snape, walking through the trees and out of the clearing.

* * *

Buffy lay in her bed, tossing and turning restlessly. She didn't see the fog that poured in through the window and flowed across the floor to her bed. A breeze came through the window, ruffling her sheets. Buffy sat up in bed intending to close the window, before it got too cold in the room. She let out a small gasp, seeing Dracula standing at the foot of her bed.

"Are you some kind of pervert?" she asked annoyed, pulling the sheets higher up on her body.

Dracula grinned slightly, showing his fangs. "You truly are a one of kind beauty. When I heard you weren't guarding the Hellmouth in Sunnydale anymore, I had to search far for you. My sources were right and here you are. The one whose darkness rivals that of my own. Kindred."

"Ewwwww…" squealed Buffy making a disgusted face. "Listen, I'm all for quality time, but not with a sktizo, stalker vampire that gets off on watching me sleep. I can give you a card and you can call my agent. He'll set up a time for me to whoop your ass later…" she trailed off, as Dracula moved close to her.

His fingers trailed across her cheek then down to her neck. He moved away her hair and exposed her neck. Slowly, Dracula's fingers trailed across the mark that he saw there. It was a scar of two puncture holes. "You have been tasted. The mark seems familiar, as does the scent. Its smells like… Angelus."

"It was Angel not Angelus that bit me," said Buffy softly and monotone. Her eyes were glazed over and her face appeared blank. "It was during a time that he needed the blood of the Slayer to live and I gave him mine. I loved him."

Dracula ran his finger over the bite mark. Buffy shivered as the cool fingers ran across the think vein of her neck. "This is a claim mark. No matter I will make you mine, no matter who you belong to." He put his hand behind her neck and slowly leaned down with his fangs exposed…

Harry tossed in his bed, tired from the lack of sleep. He had awoke up from another dream that was about the last time he saw Sirius alive, which was as he fell into the veil and into death. The dreams were really nightmares, since Harry woke up from them sweating and feeling like he never wanted to go back to sleep, and see the horrified expression on his Godfather's face as he fell through the veil.

"Get a hold of yourself, Harry," he told himself. "Sirius wouldn't won't you to be sad forever."

Harry puffed out his pillow and laid his head back down, closing his eyes. Sleep came a few minutes later. Faster than Harry thought it would. Whereas the last dream filled Harry with dread and helplessness, this dream made him feel strangely relaxed. White. White as far the eye can see was the first thing that Harry registered in this new dreamscape. It was almost like standing on a cloud. Blue sky was visible upwards as the white faded into billowing puffs.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" asked a voice from behind him.

Harry spun around quickly and saw Sirius standing there. He was dressed in all white. Not just a regular white, but a pure white that looked impossible to duplicate. Along with the clothes Sirius had a whole new look. His eyes no longer had that haunted look, but they were sparkling and shinning. His hair was combed and pulled backwards showing off his now filled out, handsome face. This was the man that Harry remembered seeing from his parents wedding pictures. Harry wondered if Sirius was a ghost, since he gave off a strange light.

Harry really didn't care at the moment if he was a ghost or not. Harry ran up to him and hugged a very corporeal, being. "Sirius," he sighed happily, into his Godfather's shoulder.

Sirius wiped at the tears that fell down Harry's cheek. "Harry there is no need to cry. I'm fine. So please. No tears. Alright?"

Harry nodded, sniffling slightly. "Okay."

Sirius smiled at Harry, proudly. "I'm really proud of you for standing up to Voldemort that day at the Ministry. Your were really brave, kiddo." Sirius lost his smile. His face suddenly turned serious. "Listen kiddo, there is hard times coming ahead. But there is hard times coming now. Your sister is in danger."

"Buffy?" asked Harry, instantly concerned.

Sirius put his hands on Harry's shoulders, looking him eye to eye. "Your sister is in grave danger. I can't tell you much because the Higher Powers don't like us to interfere, but a friend pulled some strings. Go tomorrow to the library and look up, Vlad the Impaler."

"Is this guy after Buffy?" questioned Harry, quickly. Sirius sighed and looked around him at the tranquil settings. He turned back to Harry. "I'm not supposed to say a lot, but yes he is. You must stop him. Get Remus to help you. Don't let her down Harry."

Harry nodded and then he gasped. Sirius had turned and began walking away. On his back was something that Harry hadn't noticed earlier. Wings. Two pure white, angelic wings were pinned to Sirius' back. They gave off a light that made Harry feel, as if he was looking at someone made from pure goodness and power. Sirius turned around one last time and gave Harry a wink.

Harry awoke his cheeks streaked with tears. He wiped his face and sat up in bed, looking up towards the ceiling of his darkened room. "I won't let you down Sirius," Harry whispered, softly.

Quickly, he jumped from his bed. Harry, in his haste didn't notice the objects that fell off his comforter and to the ground. He padded from his room and went across the living room. He opened Buffy's door and stepped into her room. Buffy was sitting up in her bed, holding a hand to her neck. Harry rubbed his arms as the wind from outside made the room ice cold. He went to the open window and closed it then went to Buffy.

"You okay, sis?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Buffy said, seeming to notice him for the first time. "I just woke up because of the cold. I didn't realize that I left the window open."

Harry looked into her eyes. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Buffy nodded, putting on a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Go back to sleep."

Harry gave her a lingering look before nodding. He walked back to his bedroom, closing the door behind him. Harry leaned against the back of his door, breathing deeply. He knew that the dream he had was real. There was no way that it could have been fake. It was all too real.

"No, it was real," said Harry, talking to the open air. "It had to be."

Buffy was in trouble and Harry was going to get to the bottom of it. He didn't know for sure, but he was almost positive that something was the matter with her. She was troubled that much he could tell. He just had to find out what exactly was wrong. That tugged at a memory from his dream. Sirius told him to do some research in the library on someone called Vlad the Impaler. Harry had a feeling that when he found out who this guy was; he was going to get to bottom of this new mystery.

Harry walked to his bed, stopping as a white object lying on the floor beside his bed caught his eye. He bent over and picked it up.

"Holy shit!" he whispered, holding the object at his eye level. In his hand was a long white feather.

************************************

I think this is my longest chapter yet. 10 pages. I made this chapter a little longer than usual, since I took longer with the update than what I set. The next part should be the conclusion of the 'Vlad, the Dark One' arc. I hope you all like how it's going so far. I know it's a lot of information to take in for one chapter, but it had to be like this. Sorry. I will try and get the new chapter out, as soon as I can.

I bet some of you expected Buffy to be the new Defense professor. I did something different as usual. Remus came into the story, so that should make most of you happy. I really like him too. Now, I took some lines from Buffy vs. Dracula just because they were so damn funny and rememberable. The dream sequence was inspired by one of my favorite fan fics. I'll name it next time, since it seems I can't find the web address now and I want to put it with the story.