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.
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:::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.
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Some of you had questions in your reviews. I don't like people being confused so here are your answers.
Q&A
Is Sirius really dead? — Just because he's in Heaven now, doesn't mean he will stay there. ^ _^
When will school start? — It's mid August right now so school will start in a few weeks.
Will you pair Remus and Buffy together? — Nope. I'm not going to put those two together. I have someone in mind, but not him. If I do a sequel… when I do the sequel is when Buffy will get romantically involved.
The last chapter is my favorite so far. It had everything I was looking forward to writing and it came out exactly as I wanted it. Thank you to the people who reviewed and told me what they liked. It really helps me when I hear what you think I should improve on or even add. It's because of some of your suggestions that I made Buffy a guidance counselor and I brung Remus back into the picture.
Another note. Go and read Sam-453's, "It's All In the Blood". She asked to use the idea of Buffy being Harry's sister to create her own story. She did and is already putting her touches on it and spinning it her way. I think it will be quite good, so go and read it.
Stars Not in Heaven
Chapter Twelve: Life's Symphony
By: Water Mage
Harry watched Buffy carefully the next morning during breakfast. His green eyes marked every move she made that seemed out of the ordinary. Out of his peripheral vision, Harry saw Buffy's hand touch her neck several times during the course of their meal. He only noticed it because her eyes took only a slightly dazed look every time she did it. Harry noted the scarf that Buffy wore around her neck.
"Why the scarf, Buffy?" he asked in what he hoped was a casual voice.
Buffy blinked, as if tuning into the world around her. She gave Harry a shrug, suddenly looking uncomfortable. "No, reason. It just goes with my outfit."
Harry nodded, appearing to buy her excuse. Inside, however he didn't believe it for a minute. Something was wrong and he was going to figure it out. The rest of breakfast passed uneventful. Harry continued to watch Buffy during the duration of the day. She wasn't the only one acting strange. Harry had bumped into Professor Snape on his way back to his room and the Potions Master didn't so much as give him a sneer. He just looked blankly at Harry as if he weren't there before carrying on in the direction he was headed. Harry would have pondered this, but he had enough to worry about right now.
Mid afternoon, Harry could be found in the library with stacks of books piled in front of him. He was currently doing what Sirius asked him to do. Unconsciously, Harry's hand strayed to his neck where a long white feather was tied to a piece of cord. He wouldn't let his Godfather down like he did last time. Buffy needed his help and Harry was going to save her from whoever this Vlad the Impaler was. Sirius had told Harry to ask Lupin for help, but Harry didn't want to bother the man till he had hard proof to backup his claim. He would only go to the older man when he found out who Vlad the Impaler was.
Harry sighed heavily. He had been in the library for hours looking for any information on Vlad the Impaler. The Hogwarts library was a big place and without any information besides a name to go on made the search that much harder. Harry closed the thick book in front of him with sluggish movements. His search was proving useless. With all this searching reminded him of a time five years ago, when he and his friends were in this same library looking for Nicolas Flamel. It was just as difficult then as it was now. It took him, Hermione, and Ron months before they found out who the elusive wizard was.
"This is the last book then I give up for today," muttered Harry, taking a heavy tome from the top of the nearest pile.
He blew the dust off the old, leathered bound book. On the cover was the title in gold lettering, 'Muggles know them, and We know them: The Most Famed People and Creatures of the World.' He raised his eyebrow at the title but opened the book, starting at the beginning. The book went over every magical being that both muggles and wizards knew about. Harry's eyes glossed over the chapter on Emrys or more commonly known as Merlin, the wizard who lived backwards in time. He turned the page and read the name of the person this chapter focused on. Harry gasped in disbelief for on the top of the page in red, fancy ink was the name Vlad the Impaler.
Harry couldn't believe his luck. With renewed vigor he sat up in his chair and began to read the information under the name.
Vlad the Impaler: Vlad was a prince who saved his country from a Turkish invasion despite being greatly outnumbered. He gave instructions that all Turkish captives were to be impaled alive on thirty-foot poles. Terrified by the sight, the Turks left his land. While on a diplomatic mission Prince Vlad was bitten by a vampire, thus becoming one of the creatures of the night. Not much is known about who his vampire sire was, such as name or bloodline. We do know that Vlad started using the name Count Dracula to separate his now undead life from his once living one. The exact age of Dracula is unknown but some researchers theorize that he is over two hundred years old. Dracula is known throughout both worlds as someone who likes to live in luxury wherever he lives. His known minions are three women often referred to as the "the three sisters" (also called his "brides" in Dracula lore). These women are alluring and prefer male victims whom they seduce, although in a much less subtle way than their Master.
Harry jaw dropped further as he read through the section. He would have never suspected that Dracula was real. Hermione would have known immediately, but Harry still knew so little about the world that he was to suppose to one day save from Lord Voldemort. Well, according to the prophecy. Though, Buffy told him that prophecies are a bunch of what ifs and fooled you, so he shouldn't spend too much time worrying over it. Harry shook off these thoughts and went back to work reading the book.
Dracula's practices the use of ancient magic, which is strictly forbidden and is considered the old ways of magic. This type of forbidden magic is still used by certain sects and clans of gypsies in Northeastern Europe. The ancient magic gives Dracula the ability to shape shift into mist, a bat, and a wolf. He also has the ability to mind read, appear in dreams, and control minds. Dracula is the very definition of temptation-unto-evil. His goal is not simply to turn his victim into a vampire. He wants her to desire that fate. He uses his hypnotic and shape-shifting powers to wedge his way into her world. She submits to his thrall and he bites her, However, his bite doesn't kill her immediately. By the time his victim is close enough to death to be made into a vampire, she longs for it…
"No way!" exclaimed Harry, ducking his head embarrassed when Madam Pince shushed him.
He reread the last paragraph again, letting it fully sink in. Harry thought back on the way Buffy was behaving earlier. His mind flashbacked to watching Buffy fiddle uncomfortably with her scarf, touch her hand constantly to her neck, and go through the day as if hypnotized. So much made sense to him now, Buffy must have gotten bit by Dracula last night before he walked into her room. That was when she first started acting weird.
"Buffy's under the thrall of Dracula!" yelled Harry, in realization. He didn't even hear the loud quiet that came from Madam Pince, the librarian. His mind slowly worked to the conclusion to what being under the influence of the Dark Prince exactly meant for his sister.
"Dracula wants to make Buffy his bitch," Harry said, slowly as if trying to comprehend the words coming from his mouth. His eyes widened anime like as the full meaning sunk in. Dracula wanted something from Buffy, like some arrogant, cocky guys wanted one thing from all girls.
Harry's face turned into one of pure disgust. "Ewwwww!"
* * *
Buffy sat on a bench in the courtyard of the castle grounds. Her eyes looked straight ahead as if oblivious to the world around her. Suddenly a large shadow fell across her blocking the feel of the warm sun on her skin. Professor Snape was dressed in his usual black robes, but his usual sinister expression was replaced by one of unemotional blankness. They looked at each other for a long moment as if they were perfect strangers; no spark of recognition appeared in either eye.
"You are to come with me. The Unholy Prince wishes it," said Snape, monotone. "Do you agree?"
Buffy stood up slowly. She looked into Snape's eyes stoically. "Take me to him."
Snape walked toward the exit with Buffy at his side. Together they walked down the grounds and past the Hogwarts gates. The hobbled streets of Hogsmeade weren't crowded as they made their way past the shops, inns, and taverns to the Shrieking Shack, the most haunted dwelling in Britain… or supposedly the most haunted. People didn't know the dwelling's true purpose was to keep a werewolf from escaping into the night almost twenty years ago. The shack stood a little way above the rest of the village. It was slightly creepy to look out for its windows were boarded and a dank overgrown garden was in the front giving the house an abandoned appearance. People have tried to get into the house, but all the entrances were sealed shut preventing any intrusion
They walked up the hill that the house stood on. Snape led Buffy through the front door, which was suppose to have been sealed shut, according to town lore. Buffy looked around her, surprised at the inside of the house. The inside looked to be the size of a small castle, compared to the outside appearance of a shack. Magic had obviously been used to increase the inside space. Torches and candles were everywhere, giving light to the gloomy atmosphere with its typical wooden furnishings. They walked down a corridor till they entered into a dining room. A long wooden table stood in the middle of the room with a chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
Snape walked directly in front of Buffy as they entered into the room. Dracula stood in front of a roaring fireplace wearing black pants, a red shirt, and a black vest. He turned around slowly, giving Snape a look of impatience.
"I have brought you your dark bride, the Slayer," announced Snape, bowing low to the ground.
Dracula waved a hand toward Snape. "Leave us now. You have done well."
Snape nodded and with a final bow exited the room, closing the doors behind him. Dracula smiled seductively at Buffy, moving slowly toward her. She looked at him dazed, her body completely unmoving and still as a statue. He raised his hand and trailed his fingers up her arm, and finally bringing it to her cheek, caressing it softly. Dracula leaned down so his mouth was right next to her ear.
"You came my dark goddess. My equal," he whispered huskily into her ear.
Buffy dropped her dazed expression suddenly, and with all her might she pushed Dracula back. He tripped, staggering backwards a few feet. Buffy smirked at the vampire. She whipped out an ornately carved stake. The stake that Kendra, the Slayer before Faith, had given her before she died at the hands of Drusilla. She had nicknamed the gift, Mr. Pointy.
"You thought I was under your thrall, didn't you?" smirked Buffy, raising the stake. "Like I was going to fall for your music video wind and Backstreet Boys hair, which by the way is so played out its not even funny."
"Put that down," commanded Dracula.
"Okay."
Buffy put the stake down immediately. She looked down at her hand surprised. "I so meant to do that. Don't think that you made me do it. You don't have any control of me… you don't! It just fell from my hand— see I was going like this," she made a hand motion. "And I was like, oops! So, see it was all an accident."
"Silence."
Buffy's mouth snapped shut and her eyes looked uncertainly at Dracula. "You really weren't kidding about that thrall thing…"
* * *
Harry entered Professor Lupin's office where he knew the professor happened to be. In his hand he carried the book on Vlad, the Impaler. Sure enough, Lupin was sitting at his desk reading a small hand size book that looked almost like a journal. Lupin looked up alarmed at the abrupt entrance. Harry stumbled to Lupin's desk, slamming the book down on top of a stack of papers.
"Sirius… Buffy…. Trouble… Dracula…" gasped Harry, trying to regain his breath from running from the library to Lupin's office.
Lupin sat down his book, moving to the front of his desk where Harry stood, breathing heavily. "Repeat that. But more slowly this time. Did you say Sirius?"
Harry nodded, gulping down air. He breathed deeply and let out a slow exhale. He repeated his sentence, but with slowness and actual clarity this time. "Last night I had a dream about Sirius. He was an angel and he told me that Buffy was in trouble and needed my help. In the dream he asked me to go to the library and look up Vlad the Impaler. I did and this is what I found."
Lupin didn't voice any comments or disagreements to Harry's claim. He just raised an eyebrow and blinked before picking up the book and reading the marked section. He scanned through the section reading it quickly. Lupin looked at Harry with a concerned look.
"What makes you think that Buffy is being sought after by Dracula?"
Harry related the events that drew him to his conclusion. "And that's why I think… I know she's under Dracula's thrall!"
Lupin sighed, closing the book and sitting it on his desk. He picked up his wand off his table. "Your father use to have hunches like you do. They weren't always right, but when he had the look you do, we knew to trust him."
Harry smiled in relief. "Thank you, sir."
Lupin smiled back. "Enough with that sir, stuff. I think we know each other better than that. Call me Remus."
"Okay, sir er— Remus." Harry pulled out his own wand and a piece of parchment. "I think I can do a scrying spell to find, Buffy. It shouldn't be too hard, since I don't think she's gone far." Harry held the wand above the parchment, waving it around like he was swirling water in a pool. "Blood of my blood I call to you, My sister I scry for thee, Help me in my plight, To help me find my sister I cannot find."
Light erupted from the tip of Harry's wand and impacted the parchment below. The light began to etch a drawing onto the paper. It was a crude map of the Hogwarts grounds complete with the town of Hogsmeade drawn in too. Where the Shrieking Shack was on the map was a dot with the name Buffy written under it. Harry picked up the map and frowned as he located his sister's location.
"I wonder what she's doing in the Shrieking Shack?" he questioned aloud, handing the map to Remus.
Remus brow furrowed in puzzlement. He knew for a fact that all entrances into the shack were sealed. They had personally been warded shut by Professor Dumbledore years ago. The only unsealed entrance that he knew of was the one under the Whomping Willow. Remus could have hit himself as the answer came to him so clearly.
"Dracula has to be using the Shrieking Shack as a home. It's the only empty dwelling that I can think of that he could stay in without being detected."
Harry nodded, agreeing. "Your right. We have to go save her before he turns her into vampire!"
Remus reached down and opened a chest that sat next to his desk. He pulled out a couple wooden crosses and stakes. He handed them to Harry and the two set off. Harry knew he was rushing into this like he did at the Ministry with Sirius, but he knew for a fact that Buffy was in trouble. This was not just some crazy guess that he was making. Buffy's very life was in danger. They made it to Hogsmeade in a record time.
Harry and Remus walked toward the shack that stood on top of the hill. It looked the same as it always did. Harry held a cross in one hand and a stake in the other. They tried the front door expecting it to be locked or perhaps warded, but surprisingly it opened easily. They gasped in surprise at the vast space that greeted them.
"Well, this is new," voiced Remus amazed, looking around.
Harry got over his shock at the new surroundings pretty quickly. "I'll take the sickle tour later. I have a sister to find." They picked a corridor and began walking down it. The torches that lined the walls gave enough light for them to see a good distance in front of them. Hearing the sound of female voices giggling made them stop in front of a thick wooden door. Remus almost opened the door, but Harry stopped him. Something inside of Harry told him that opening the door would be a very bad idea. So they left the door unopened and continued their trek down the long passageway. They both made sure to keep their crosses and stakes in their hands at all times. Being caught unaware was never a good thing.
"My master doesn't want to be disturbed."
A cloaked shape came from the shadows of a darkened corner. Harry and Remus stopped and stared at Professor Snape. Remus chuckled under his breath. His eyes were sparkling with amusement. "You're under the control of Dracula? You are really going to regret this when you come to yourself."
Snape stood tall in the middle of the corridor, blocking their path. "You shall not harm the Unholy Prince."
Remus raised an eyebrow at Snape's statement. Faster than even Harry could see with his seeker toned eyesight, Remus had drawn his wand from his belt. He had it pointed at Snape in the blink of an eye. "Stupefy!"
The spell hit Snape dead on. His eyes rolled back in his head and he tumbled backwards into unconsciousness. Harry looked at Remus in amazement. Remus smiled back mysteriously, putting his wand back. "I know more than just defense against the Dark Arts."
Harry didn't even ask. There was a time and a place for everything. And this was neither for a past history lesson.
* * *
Dracula smiled down almost hypnotically at the still dazed Buffy. "You are so beautiful. I shall make you a creature whose darkness can't ever be rivaled. A hunter. A killer. My bride."
His hands trailed to the clasp of her necklace. A small silver cross hung from the thin chain. It was a gift that she had gotten from Angel, when she first met him. They may have broken up. But it was one of the only things she had left to remember him by. And no one… no one touched her necklace. Ever.
Buffy suddenly shoved Dracula away. He landed on the table, sliding across it on his back. The lost, dazed look had disappeared from Buffy's eyes. Now instead they held a spark of determination and fierce anger. "Don't touch my necklace. Matter of fact, why the hell are you even touching me at all? You pasty Abercombrie and Fitch model wannabe."
Dracula frowned in confusion at this new turn of events. He held out his hand to Buffy. "You can't resist me. Come."
"I wouldn't come to you even if you had a million dollar bill tied around your neck."
Dracula growled loud like a feral animal and lunged at her. Buffy tensed ready and jumped over his head. Quickly she whirled around, kicking him in the gut. He doubled over in pain, giving her the opening to land a couple of punches. Dracula looked up to see a roundhouse kick collide with his head and knock him into a wall. Buffy was about to start congratulating herself, when Dracula spun around and grabbed her arm in a vice like grip. Dracula whipped back his hand and punched her hard in the face. Keeping the hold on her arm, he flung her across the room.
Buffy picked herself up. She mock glared at Dracula. "You claim to travel all around the world to find me. Then when you do, you try and hypnotize me into liking you. No offense but do you mind if I sell this story to the Lifetime Women's Network. I could make a fortune for this."
Dracula didn't seem to like her sarcasm. He growled and attacked with a fury. Buffy and he engaged in a battle that would have made people stop and stare. The speed and strength of their attacks seemed to be impossible. But they did them with ease. Buffy put her hands together and knocked Dracula across the face, sending him flying back into a wooden chair, making it smash to bits. She grinned putting a hand to her hip.
"You should just really call it quits. I'm the Slayer. And seeing as I'm still alive that means I'm undefeated. If I were you I would go ahead and give up. Come on. No one would blame you. What do you say?"
Buffy blinked as Dracula disappeared from his spot and reappeared suddenly in front of her. He placed his hands around her throat. He leaned down, his dark eyes now burning yellow as the demon inside of him roared to be let free to rip out her throat. "I must say, it is surprising that you have resisted me." His fingers trailed down to the claim mark that marred her neck. "Could it be Angelus' doing?"
Buffy pushed him back making him trip over a chair and fall backwards. "If I wanted love advice I would call the Psychic Hotline." She picked up Mr. Pointy off the table. "Now this is the part where you die? Tell everyone in Hell I said hi."
She loomed over him, raising her stake. At the last second he turned to mist. Buffy looked around, but didn't see the mist anywhere. She looked up hearing footsteps near the doorway.
"Buffy!"
Harry and Remus stood in the doorway. Buffy yelled look out as mist started to converge behind both them. They didn't get out the way in time. Dracula appeared behind them and batted them away with one hand like they were dolls. Remus hit the wall next to him, collapsing onto the ground. Harry slid a few feet away knocking his head against the table leg. He closed his eyes surrendering to the blackness.
Dracula used his vampire speed to reappear in front of Buffy. He lifted her into the air by her neck. She squirmed as the fingers dug into her throat, cutting off her air supply. Dracula cocked his head, looking at Buffy scrutinizing. "You are no longer worth it. I'm rather bored of you now."
He slammed Buffy into the heavy wooden cabinet beside them. Even with her Slayer powers giving her a high pain tolerance it didn't make her invulnerable. With the combination of pain and lack of oxygen, Buffy passed out. Dracula dropped her body to the floor. He walked to the assortment of weapons that were hung near the cabinet. Dracula hefted a heavy looking broadsword from the collection. He went back to Buffy's body and raised the sword high, while standing over her.
Groggily, Harry had awoken just as Dracula raised the sword. "NO!" he screamed, fearfully.
That's when something strange happened. Harry's green eyes flared and they started to glow a startling jade green. Dracula watched stunned as Harry picked himself up from the ground as if he weren't even hurt. Harry glared coldly at the vampire, his eyes glowing with a fire never before seen.
"Leave her alone," said Harry in a deadly whisper.
His glowing eyes stared icily at Dracula. Wind began to blow in the room from some unknown source. Harry lifted his hand slowly and Dracula found himself grabbed by an invisible force and pinned to the wall behind him. Harry walked slowly to him. He got within an inch of Dracula's face, glaring stonily at the bewildered and somewhat frightened vampire.
"No one messes with my family," Harry said, coldly. He flicked his wrist and flames erupted around Dracula's body. The fire roared, as Dracula's screams of agony only seemed to feed the fire. Less than a minute later the fire had consumed Dracula totally. There was a rushing sound and then his body turned to dust that fell to the ground in a small pile.
Harry stared at the pile for a second. The glow in his eyes receded and the normal emerald green returned. Harry shook his head and looked around confused. He could have sworn he had just passed out, so how did he get to where he was. Harry didn't ponder this information for long because the sound of his sister waking up broke him from his thoughts.
Harry ran to her side and helped Buffy to her feet. "You okay, Buffy?"
"I think so," she groaned, holding her head tenderly. She ignored her injuries, looking around quickly for Dracula. "Where is the Prince of Goth?"
Harry shrugged. "I don't know. It was so weird. One minute I was knocked unconsciousness… The next thing I know I'm standing in the middle of the room."
"Maybe that hit you took messed you up," suggested Buffy, looking at him concerned. They walked to Remus' side where he lay sprawled out on the stone floor knocked out. "Remus. Come on. Time to get up. Here watch this… Full moon!"
Remus snapped his eyes open, looking alert. Buffy and Harry chuckled at that. The alertness wore off and the pain of his injures registered to the sensors in his brain. "Oww… that hurts. What happened?"
"We don't know. It looks like Dracula got tired of us and went about his gothy way," answered Buffy, helping Remus to his feet. Together the three of them helped each other walk down the corridor. They stopped and stared at the body lying in front of them.
Buffy raised her eyebrow. "I wasn't imagining the Snape part I see."
Remus waved his wand over the Potions Master and whispered, "Ennervate."
Snape sat up, blinking wearily up at them. The familiar sneer of disgust was gone from his face. Only confusion and more confusion were shown in his gaze. "What am I doing here? How did I get here?"
Buffy grinned widely, not able to help herself from blurting out her response. "You were Dracula's man-bitch…"
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Thus ended the arc. That's the end of the Summer! Now its time for the classes. Next chapter will be the first day of school for Harry and Buffy. I actually sat down yesterday with a notepad and outlined this whole story. In theory there will be twenty chapters plus the epilogue. That's just a theory. ^_^
Harry's got some powers he doesn't even know he has. Will he remember? Find out later. Poor Snape. Oh, well. He'll get over it. But Buffy, Remus, and Harry won't forget it anytime soon. Some really surprising things that you would never expect will be coming up. When I mean surprising… I mean like, "Wow! That is so damn clever." surprising. So, keep reading!