Thanks for all the reviews for my first two chapters! I couldn't believe
it! At all! I love you guys! Thanks you *so* much. Anyway, review
replies are at the end. And many questions are actually answered in this
chapter. Hope you like. This is because everyone was nagging for the next
chapter to be put up. I'll warn you though. I've only got the next couple
of chapters finished. I like to be at least one or two chapters ahead of
myself. So the next might not come for another couple of weeks. Just love
the Easter hols, don't you?
Anyway, onto the story!
Chapter 2 – Privet Drive and Surprise Parties
Harry Potter groaned.
"Stupid Voldemort, stupid Wormtail, stupid Dudley." He stated. Even though he had been practising Occlumency, his scar still gave the occasional twinge. Of course, these three were his chosen of the day – his three most hated. Voldemort and Wormtail never changed. But the last one sometimes did.
"Okay, calm down. Occlumency. Just a few minutes." Harry stated, getting out of bed.
At least his body didn't ache this morning. He was finally getting used the manual labour the Dursleys had been giving him all summer. He hadn't complained. In return he got three proper meals and some co-operation. He had finally got his birth certificate and other such things from his Aunt Petunia, not to mention school reports he didn't know she got. And the book to the Muggle bank account set up in his name. He had a feeling had he not got this, his uncle and aunt would have convinced the bank to hand it over to them. All the same, he couldn't open it until his sixteenth birthday. But it did mean he would be able to get some clothes. Which reminded him. His sixteenth birthday was today.
He grinned. He had been given the day off. Pulling on the least scruffy and oversized of Dudley's old clothes, he then went downstairs for breakfast. The Dursleys were already there. Aunt Petunia told him he could go into town and sort out his account if he liked.
Harry nodded. "Sure. That'd be great." He gave a sly look outside. He wondered how his guardians would feel. He also wondered which ones were on. He was pretty sure they were Tonks and Remus – he hoped they were – and therefore they wouldn't mind it much.
He noticed with a jolt that he hadn't received any birthday cards. "Oh well." He thought, sighing and heading upstairs to grab his keys. At least the Dursleys had thought to give him those. Of course, he also had his Gringott's vault key on it, but he didn't think they'd appreciate that. He also grabbed the details for the bank and one of Dudley's old wallets. Harry had even been nice enough to ask if he could use it. Dudley had, amazingly, said yes.
"Okay, let's do this." Harry grinned. He didn't require a jacket. The sun was hot. He wore jeans and a t-shirt, his wand in an improvised leg- holster until he managed to get a proper wrist one. He didn't risk going anywhere without his wand.
His aunt gave him a lift to the bank and left him there. Strangely, her guardianship was not required, just his birth certificate and a further proof of identification. He guessed his application to 'Hogwarts School for the Gifted' was enough. He asked Dumbledore what he should do if his school was asked. Dumbledore had sent him this along with an explanation that this was what most Muggle-born families told people as to their sons and daughters' school. Harry privately wondered why the Dursleys didn't, then decided they probably hadn't wanted to give anyone the impression he was vaguely intelligent or what have you. Mind you, he certainly wasn't bad. He had read his Muggle primary school reports. Level 3s were average in the Year 6 SATs. (A/N: I took those. And the Year 9 ones, where a level 5 is average. They're different to American ones. They're actually testing the school rather than the students. I got 5s in Year six and all 8s in Year 9. They do them in Science, English and Maths. Best of all, I was the only one who got a level 8 in English. I was well pleased! Enough bragging. Year 6 is our last year of primary school, we leave at eleven. Full of 10-11-year-olds. Year 9 is like Harry's third-year, third year of High school and we're 13-14-year-olds. If you look at the school years in HP, you'll notice they follow the same rules! School year starts in September. So Harry's one of the youngest in his year. Now, where was I... Ah, yes...) Harry had scored straight level 5s. He hadn't even realised that. Maybe he wasn't as thick as he thought he was. Mind you, he had yet to receive his OWL results. He was fearful of those. (A/N: And OWLs correspond to our GCSEs! I'm British, did you guess? By the way, GCSEs were created by the devil. I'm about to take mine!)
He entered the bank. It was quiet, so he moved to the information desk.
"Excuse me, I'm enquiring about an account my mother set up for me?" Harry began.
"You wouldn't happen to be a Mr Harry Potter, would you?" The woman asked.
Harry blinked. "Yes, why?"
"We had a little bird you'd be coming today." She looked behind Harry. "Are they with you?"
He looked behind him to see Remus and Tonks. Today Tonks had gone red- blonde with green eyes to rival Harry's. She winked and Remus grinned. Harry sighed.
"Thought I'd lost them. Never mind. Yeah, they're with me." Harry rolled his eyes.
The woman laughed. "Trying to get rid of adults? Typical. Come through with me."
The sorting of the account did not take long. What shocked Harry was the revelation that there was a little under five hundred thousand pounds in there.
"WHAT?" He nearly jumped through the roof. That was nearly half a million.
"Your mum was well off, Harry, and your grandparents left some to you." Remus explained.
Harry groaned. "Why does no one tell me this?"
"Because you're you?" Tonks teased.
Harry gave a sad shake of his head. Not telling him brought Sirius back to mind. Sirius who he had dragged to his death. It was his fault he died...
"It's not your fault." Remus placed a hand on his shoulder, as though reading his mind.
Harry looked into those blue eyes of his father's last surviving friend. Sirius' last surviving friend. (Wormtail could hardly be called their friend.) And he saw no blame in those eyes. Only pain, pity and friendship.
Harry looked down and suddenly realised with a jolt that he had forgiven himself. He blinked suddenly. He realised that it wasn't his own fault. It was Voldemort's. This was all Voldemort's fault. And he felt fire build in his mind. He slowly remembered Occlumency and cooled down. He looked at the woman.
"Sorry, bad memories. You were saying?"
In a little less than half an hour, Harry Potter had full control of his account. He decided to keep it in the Muggle world, should he ever need anything Muggle, such as clothes, or a house. He received a card and was told to use it wisely. He nodded.
"But I'm going to have to go shopping." He informed the woman.
"Why?"
"These are my best clothes." He noticed her slight look of distaste. "Exactly. I need some new ones. Which is why my two friends here volunteered to help."
Tonks scowled at him. "Didn't volunteer for anything."
"But Auntie Tonks!" Harry put his eyes wide and innocent. "You promised!"
"You're his aunt and uncle?" The woman asked.
"Nah, Tonks is more like a big sister. S'pose I could call you uncle. I mean, didn't Dad try to get me to call you Uncle Remus?" Harry asked Remus.
"No, if I remember correctly it was Uncle Moony." Remus grinned. "You couldn't quite say it. It came out Moo-y."
Harry blushed as Tonks laughed. "Enough already." He grinned at the woman. "Thanks. This means a lot."
"Pleasure doing business with you, Mr Potter."
"I know." Harry grinned wickedly. "With these two to help you laugh at me, what wouldn't be a pleasure?"
The woman laughed and Harry and his guards left.
"You two!" Harry complained.
"What? I wasn't the one calling you 'Auntie Tonks'!" Tonks told him indignantly.
"Ahh, well. You are like a big sister you know. Remus is definitely an uncle. A *real* uncle." Harry emphasised. "He gave me enough chocolate in third-year."
"Technically that was medicinal..." Remus began.
"Details." Harry flapped a hand.
He had fun that day. Remus and Tonks proved to be good companions for shopping, because they both had good ideas and Tonks had a good eye for colours. After getting an almost entire new wardrobe, Harry grinned and then ducked into a small alleyway as they were laden with bags.
"I can do magic now, remember?" Harry grinned and proceeded to shrink his purchases. "Though how I'm going to fit all of it into my trunk, I don't know."
Remus gave a secretive grin as Harry finished shrinking his new belongings.
"Now, home." He gave a disgusted grunt. "Not sure I want to be there, but never mind..."
"Harry, we have a confession."
"What?"
Remus grabbed his hand and closed his young friend's fingers about a ragged piece of paper.
Harry gasped at he felt a tug behind his navel and then fell onto a hard floor.
"SURPRISE!" Many voices yelled.
"You two!" Harry roared. His wand was already out. "You are going to pay!"
"Why, for bringing you to a birthday party?"
"For making me think I had to go back to Privet Drive!"
The congregation laughed as Harry Potter, Boy Who Lived, chased Remus Lupin, Werewolf, and Nymphadora Tonks, Auror, round the kitchen, managing to hit both of them with a Jelly-legs Jinx. He grinned.
"Now, where was I? Oh yes, thanks everyone this is great!" He grinned at the Weasleys.
Mrs Weasley engulfed him in a huge hug and then he heard Hermione say, "Goodness, Harry! What did you do to that spell? I can't break it."
Harry shrugged. "I've always been pretty good at DADA. Those jinxes come into it."
"We know you're good at DADA, you got top marks in it!" Ron stated, grinning.
Harry just looked puzzled. "How do you know?"
"Harry, you taught more Defence last year than Umbitch ("Ron!" yelled Hermione.), so you can guarantee that you got good marks." Ron grinned. Harry shrugged.
"Oh, yes, Harry, have you met the new guys?" Ginny asked suddenly.
"Who?" Harry asked, and then observed the banner. It read, 'Happy Birthday Harry and Buffy!' "Who's Buffy and is she the reason Tonks suggested I buy a present for a girl?"
"That would be me and yes, probably." A voice behind him commented.
Harry whipped round. Everyone had started talking again. Moody was still trying to break the Jelly-Legs on Tonks and Remus. He gave a short gasp and then grinned. She was very pretty, but she also gave off an air of being able to take care of herself.
"Buffy, I presume?" Harry grinned.
"Yah, Buffy Summers. Actually, it's Elizabeth, but don't call me that on pain of death." She smiled, holding out a hand.
He shook it heartily. "Harry Potter."
Both ignored the rush of power that spilled from that touch as well as the burning sensations both felt. Harry's on his right shoulder blade, Buffy's at the base of her spine.
Harry continued. "I recently got a look at my birth certificate, and apparently, my full name is Harold. That came as a shock, believe me. Think how glad I am that everyone knows me as Harry."
"Harry sounds much better." She approved.
As he stopped shaking her hand, she flexed it, and glanced at Giles, surprised. He shouldn't be able to match a Slayer in strength. She had been trying to make him wince at her strong grip, her favourite trick on new boys.
"Oh, right, this is Willow Rosenburg and Xander... well, we're not sure what his surname is."
"Why not?" Harry frowned. He then looked at the boy and raised a brow. "Oh, I see."
"See what?"
"Someone's suggested you're related to me because we've got some similar features, though I was convinced all of the Potters had *messy* black hair." Harry grinned.
"Yep. That'd be Ginny. First thing she said. 'Are you related to Harry?'" Xander put on a falsetto, but said it just as the Weasley in question walked past.
"You are in trouble, Alexander." She quipped, annoying him.
"My name is..."
"Xander, leave it." The redheaded Willow ordered. She grinned at Harry. "He's a little mad."
Harry grinned. "Does he play chess and Quidditch?"
"Yep." Buffy affirmed.
"Ron, I think we've found your secret twin." Harry stated seriously.
Everyone laughed. Even Xander and Ron.
"Harry, if we want confirmation, we need a drop of your blood." Hermione explained.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"You're the last remaining Potter we're sure of. First-born of the first- born of the first-born and so on." Hermione explained.
Harry looked surprised. "I didn't know I was descended of the first-born."
"That'd be why you've got all the Potter properties. The Potters are old money, Harry, they split their fortune equally between children and the first-born is still loaded. But that might have something to do with them all being Aurors. It's a high-paid job." Ron explained.
"The Potters rarely have more than one or two children." Hermione informed him.
Harry blinked. "Why is it you two know more about me than I do? And anyway, what happened to all my stuff?"
"Well, the bag's on there." Ron pointed at the table. "Tonks and Moony left your trunk over there."
"Why?"
Ron shrugged.
"Potion."
"Hermione, it's his birthday!" Xander complained.
"And what a better present than some family. Get Mr Giles too. He can answer some questions."
In one corner there was what was known as the Familia Arbor Potion, or more commonly, the Family Tree Potion. Hermione poured some into a glass and smoothed out a piece of parchment.
"Blood." She ordered Harry.
He held out his hand. Hermione took a few drops from the end of his finger. Harry merely rubbed his fingers together and didn't wince at the pain. Only Buffy noted that his skin had totally healed over.
Hermione dripped the potion onto the parchment. Slowly, lines began to form. A detailed family tree began to form. On one branch was Harry's mother's family, the other his father's. It went to his great-great-great- grandparents.
Harry and Xander looked at it eagerly. And then Harry stared.
"My dad had a brother. Benjamin Potter. A couple of years younger. Married Anita Harris. One son, Alexander Lavelle Potter." He looked at Xander. "Your middle name's Lavelle?" Then he grinned. "You're my cousin!"
"I am?" Xander suddenly gasped.
"You are." A voice confirmed. They spun round. "Rupert Giles, I believe you are Harry Potter?"
"Yep."
"Xander, Harry. I was Ben's best friend. You were left in my care, Xander, I'm your godfather. Your parents were murdered by You Know Who..."
"Voldemort." Harry stated.
"What?"
"His name's Voldemort. Use it, for cryin' out loud!"
"Very well, Voldemort, a few days before Harry's. They were as outspoken as James and Lily, and V – Voldemort wanted them out of the way. There was talk of Ben being the Secret Keeper, but..."
"No." Harry stated.
"Pardon?"
"Voldemort knew he wasn't the Secret Keeper. Peter Pettigrew was. He had been giving Voldemort information for a year. So Voldemort used the excuse, but he knew it wasn't." Harry stated. "One death that I s'pose isn't my fault."
"Harry, your parents and Sirius' deaths were not your fault." Hermione stated firmly.
Harry tried to capture the feeling of forgiveness from before, and succeeded, partially. "You don't know. None of you know. If it weren't for me..."
And then he blacked out.
--**--
"Benjamin Potter. How nice to see you." Voldemort's voice was cold, cruel, unfeeling.
"Voldemort."
"You dare to say my name?"
"Yes. Odd, isn't it? Fancy a doughnut?" Ben stated. His eyes were puppy- like brown, kind and soft.
"You insolent fool!" Voldemort yelled. "Crucio!"
But the spell didn't hit Ben, it hit his wife, Anita. "No!"
The woman screamed. Voldemort laughed in pleasure. Cruel, cold pleasure.
"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort incanted.
"No!" Ben yelled as there was a flash of green light and the woman fell down, cold, lifeless. He faced Voldemort, eyes blazing. "Stupefy!"
"Protego!"
And then... "Avada Kedavra!" Ben Potter fell to the floor.
"Where is the boy?" Voldemort asked his masked followers.
"We have been unable to find him." One of them stated.
"Never mind. He is not the one from the prophecy. It is his cousin who we need to look for." Voldemort stated.
"But you know..."
"I do, don't I? Hallowe'en, I think, will be appropriate for the attack. One Potter left alive will not matter. After all, he is not son of the first-born, but the second. Leave him."
"How do you know the child is Potter?"
"He is a Potter. While the son of a Mudblood, he is also descended from one of the most powerful pureblood lines of the wizarding world. And we know who the first Potter was descended from. And that family's unusual gifts."
"Yes milord."
"Leave them. Their precious Ministry will find them soon enough."
Voldemort and his followers Apparated away.
As they did, a Muggle playpen of sorts suddenly appeared in one corner, a toddler inside, he couldn't be much older than one and a half. The playpen had been shrouded with a cloak. Not only that, but it had been the baby who used it. But he saw his parents fallen bodies and began to cry.
--**--
"Harry! Harry!" A voice broke through the blackness.
He groaned. "What the...?" He began. Everyone was staring at him.
"What was it? A vision?" Dumbledore's voice surprised him. He hadn't expected to see him here.
"Did you come for my birthday, sir?" Harry asked jovially as he stood. And then looked solemn. "Yes, but... It wasn't of Voldemort. Not technically. It wasn't through the link. I was watching from the sidelines."
"What did you see?"
"Voldemort's attack on Benjamin and Anita Potter." Harry looked at him levelly.
Dumbledore noticed the piece of parchment with detailed family tree. At first he looked annoyed. Then he looked impressed.
"That's an extremely difficult potion to brew. Well done, Miss Granger, Miss Rosenburg." Dumbledore stated. Then he looked at Harry. "You saw the past?"
"Yes. Voldemort was facing Benjamin Potter. For some reason, Ben offered him a doughnut. Then Voldie cast the Cruciatus on Anita Potter, then killed her. He then slew Benjamin. He asked for the boy, who I presume was Xander, and said it didn't matter that they couldn't find him. That it was me who was from the prophecy. Then one of them asked why he thought it was me. He said something about even though Mum was Muggle-born, I was descended from one of the most powerful pureblood lines. And something about who the first Potter was descended from. And the family's unusual gifts." Harry gave a hollow laugh. "I bet he didn't count on it being Mum's love that protected me. My Muggle-born mother. It's strange. My Muggle-born mother loved me enough to die for me. His Muggle father hated him, left him and eventually Tom killed him."
"Tom?" Buffy asked, confused.
"Tom Marvolo Riddle. That's what Voldemort was born as. His real name." Ginny answered with a shudder. Hermione put an arm round her shoulders.
"So, can we forget about this for now? Xander's my cousin, cool. I'm having visions that aren't because of Voldemort and my scar..."
"How do you know that?" Dumbledore asked, surprised.
"No pain. Besides, I'm pretty sure I've mastered Occlumency now." Harry grinned.
"One test. And I'm going to be looking for the worst memories I can." Dumbledore informed him.
Harry grinned. "Sure you should have said that?"
Dumbledore and Harry went into the middle of the kitchen and everyone watched in amazement. Harry grinned at Tonks and Remus.
"Finally broke the spell, did they?"
"It took three of them together to do the counter-curse, Harry James Potter. I don't know what you put into the spell, but it was too strong. Even for you."
Harry shrugged. "Didn't do anything different."
Dumbledore looked at him and Harry pulled out his wand.
"Ready? Legilimens!" Dumbledore half-yelled.
Harry stared at the Headmaster steadily and let him see a few memories. Dudley laughed as Aunt Marge's dog chased him up a tree... Harry was thrown in the cupboard by his uncle... A beating for accidental magic...
And then, suddenly, Harry's mind forced up blocks faster than Dumbledore could have imagined and Harry yelled, "Protego!"
Suddenly he was seeing Dumbledore's memories, just as he had seen Snape's. A young man, searching for socks... Grindelwald, fighting a battle... A wizarding holocaust... And then they stopped as Dumbledore ended the spell.
"You deliberately let me into your mind. Why?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry shrugged. "False sense of security. Says that in all the duelling and Auror books I've got. If you're hit by Legilimens, lull your opponent into a false sense of security. Layer memories, organise your mind, all that. I've learnt more about Occlumency this summer than in four or five months with Snape."
"You have become a very skilled Occlumens. Strange, without someone to hit you with the spell..."
Harry shrugged. "I think the meditation and organisation of my mind is more effective. And important. I've not had any visions of Voldemort since... you know."
"Well then, now that that's out of the way, shall we continue with the celebration?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
"Yeah, come on everyone, this is supposed to be fun!" Harry grinned. He looked at Hermione. "That means no talking about school or worrying about OWL results."
"Crap, I'd forgotten about those." Xander winced. "Oh well, Harry's got the right idea. Don't think about them!"
"You two are definitely related." Buffy grinned.
"You think?"
"Oh, and happy birthday, Buffy." Harry grinned. He pulled something from the bag and incanted a spell to wrap it and then unshrink it. "What happens to presents?"
Buffy gestured to a table in one corner of the kitchen. "Over there. Just dump it on. There's mine and yours on it. First though, I want cake!"
Harry grinned as he put his present on the pile. He liked her already, and was glad Tonks had recommended he buy a present for a 'new girl', as she had put it.
"No cake until after dinner." Ron stated. "And Mum's done buffet anyway."
"Not to mention mine!" Buffy grinned at her mother, who was deep in conversation with Mrs Weasley. "They're both great cooks."
Hermione smiled. "I know. I'm struggling to decide who's better. So I won't."
"Good plan." Willow grinned.
"So, are you coming to Hogwarts this year?" Harry asked as they collected food and sat down.
"Yep." Buffy grinned. "I think burning down the Quidditch pitch annoyed them."
"Yeah, probably about as much as that swamp annoyed Umbitch." Ron joked.
"You burned down the Quidditch pitch? That's terrible!" Harry looked annoyed.
"Well it was that or die." Buffy replied.
Harry nodded. "I guess. I suppose they aren't too pleased with me either." He mused.
"About what?"
"Did you tell them about the Department of Mysteries?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione.
"No. That's your call." Ron informed him.
Harry nodded and proceeded to explain what had happened at the Department of Mysteries.
"I only burned down the Quidditch pitch. You destroyed prophecies that were hundreds of years old!" Buffy yelped.
Harry shook his head. "Nah. Dumbledore told me that the prophecies near us were the more recent ones. Some of the prophecies right near the beginning that we didn't smash are millennia old. Which makes me curious as to how long the Department of Mysteries has been going."
"We never found out that prophecy V-Voldemort was after." Hermione stated, almost sadly.
Only Buffy noticed how Harry's hand tightened. She was sure he knew something more than the others.
Harry just nodded. "I know. Old Voldie wanted to know something. About me and him."
"You?"
"Only the person who the prophecy pertains to can remove it. That's why Bode couldn't speak. I think." Harry explained. "That's why Voldemort lured me there with that vision. Thank God I can keep him out of my head now. And stay out of his. Though admittedly it can be useful. But last time the consequences were too great."
Xander frowned. "That Sirius dude, he died?"
"Yeah. He was my godfather. Closest thing to a father – to real family I had." Harry explained.
"Well, you got me now, cuz. And believe me, you're stuck with me forever." Xander grinned.
"And don't I know it." Harry heard Giles comment as he passed.
Harry grinned – he had found a family with his friends and now he had a *real* cousin to boot.
The conversation changed to them exchanging horror stories about their schools. Both found them incredibly interesting and they were soon firm friends. Ginny had disappeared with Fred and George, probably to test a new prank item.
It was a while later when Mrs Weasley and Ms. Summers called Harry and Buffy over to blow out the candles on the cake. Harry looked at it appreciatively.
"Who made the cake?" He asked.
"Joint effort." Mrs Weasley smiled.
"Well, you two definitely know how to make a cake. Thanks, Mrs Weasley, Ms. Summers." Harry grinned.
Mrs Weasley laughed. "I've come to a decision. I think you and Hermione have spent enough time with Arthur and I and it's high time you started calling us Arthur and Molly."
Harry and Hermione exchanged grins. "Very well, Molly." They said in unison.
"And me, I'm Joyce. Not Ms. Summers, or Mrs, or Miss. Just Joyce." Joyce Summers informed them. While she had married (and divorced) she had kept her own name, so was technically Ms.
"And he's Giles to everyone. Including Xander." Buffy grinned, pointing at the man in question.
"Well, you two. Blow out the candles, make a wish." Molly smiled.
Everyone sang 'Happy Birthday' first and then the two blew out the candles, each making a wish they kept locked in their hearts.
'I wish for Sirius' death not to be in vain, for an end to Voldemort's evils, even at my own hand.' Harry wished.
'I wish for an end to the evils of war and demons, for the chance to be normal and make a difference. I wish for life and love to keep me alive.' Buffy wished.
Neither knew that in some way their wish would come true.
* * *
A/N: Hope you liked that.
First, if you didn't review the first two chapters (as in didn't read it then, or just decided not to), skip to the bottom, there's a message for you!
To my awesome number of reviewers! I can't believe I got so many of you for the first posting...
Renna: I will continue it. I'm glad you liked the way I combined the 2 worlds. Some higher power ordered me to!
Anne-Janet: Exams are awful, aren't they? You'll find out about Buffy's father in the next chapter, along with some other important things...
manticore-gurl1071134: Nope, Buffy isn't related to Harry. And no, Buffy's dad isn't either of those. I mean, come on, surely Joyce has better than that!!!
GryffindorWicca: Thanks for the chocolate!!! Yeah, I know it seems a bit weird, but it is all explained here, see?!
Jillian Ryn: Only a select few know about Buffy's identity, let's put it that way. I'm glad you like it. But yeah, the two groups (original groups, if you like) do parallel each other a lot, even without my twist. Thanks for reviewing.
always krissy: Thanks!
Sk8er Witch: Thanks!
Alan J. Rhodes: Glad you like it. I can't help writing long chapters! My shortest ones are still about four pages long, size 12, Times New Roman on Word, sometimes with spaces between paragraphs, sometimes not!
md: You got the answers here, see! Hope you liked it!
Guardian Elf Angel: Thanks! And thank God you've sent us the chapters for your fic!
casperRose: You've just hit on one of my pet peeves! I hate it when they're all saying how Harry needs protecting. I mean, it's pretty clear that he can take care of himself. Once he masters Occlumency, he's fine! Yeah, I do tend to write Harry as being equal to Buffy. Not just in this fic. In others too. I like merging the worlds. I haven't posted any of the others up yet, though. I love them being equal!
witchlight: Thanks for the words of support. I can't update any more regularly than once a week anyway because, A. the chapters are so long, and B. I've got other fics and obligations too. But I will try. Maybe I should make the chapters a little shorter. But then, I don't really want to!
Tigerfanfrv: So pleased you like the prophecies! The rhymes are bloody well hard to write. First you've got to work out the words which rhyme, and then work out how to write the next line ending in that word.
MegCat06: Thanks!
arkee: Thanks for your review. Now, Defensor, frankly, was made up. Defender doesn't sound right, and Protector has been used in other fics (including some of my non-posted ones). I just chose it out of the blue. And I don't think many people know the name for a Quebec goalie! Except... Are you Canadian? Quebec is Canada, right? I take History, not Geography and I'm too lazy to check. Maybe what Buffy did to the portrait was a little OOC, but I'm afraid it had to be done. I can't stand Mrs Black. And physical violence seems to be the one way that Mrs Black wouldn't have expected. Unfortunately, they kind of have to get along. No idea why Hermione wasn't surprised, it was probably late when I wrote it. 'Spillage' is a word, I checked. In the Chambers Dictionary it's defined as 'the act of spilling; that which is spilt'. However, in the interests of grammar, spilling might be better. I'm not entirely sure. I just like that word anyway! My chapters are pretty long, you know. This is 13 pages without review responses. Never mind. In-depth? How do you mean? In- depth stuff comes a little later I'm afraid.
captuniv: Hank... Intolerant and useless. Too useless for even a Death Eater. We learn exactly what he's like in the next chapter. When we find out who Buffy's real father is. It may be a little anti-climactic, but the revelation is needed. It's for dramatic irony and Buffy herself. As for Xander, well, you found out here, didn't you?
Angel of Oblivion: She's gone! Finally! Yeah, I had to laugh as I did that (or rather, Buffy did) too.
Lobo Diablo: Yeah, it's ever so slightly freaky, but not if you take it in the context of my story. I'm sorry if calling them Elizabeth and Harold has scarred you for life. Wasn't meant to. Honest!
That's eighteen reviews! For the first two chapters! I don't think I had *any* on my HP story for the first two chapters! Or maybe 1! Mind you, does anyone else find the Harry Potter bit's so full, it seems to swallow the stories up? I much prefer this bit.
Okay people, you know the drill. You read it, you review it. Plus, if you sign in, I'll go and read your stories (if you have any). Some of you can testify to that! At least I think you can! And (if you've got *lots* of free time on your hands), maybe you'd read my HP fic? Go via my author link, otherwise you'll never find it. Except maybe by doing length 80000 words. It's a long fic and not even half way through. Anyway, thank you!
Lol, Tanydwr
Anyway, onto the story!
Chapter 2 – Privet Drive and Surprise Parties
Harry Potter groaned.
"Stupid Voldemort, stupid Wormtail, stupid Dudley." He stated. Even though he had been practising Occlumency, his scar still gave the occasional twinge. Of course, these three were his chosen of the day – his three most hated. Voldemort and Wormtail never changed. But the last one sometimes did.
"Okay, calm down. Occlumency. Just a few minutes." Harry stated, getting out of bed.
At least his body didn't ache this morning. He was finally getting used the manual labour the Dursleys had been giving him all summer. He hadn't complained. In return he got three proper meals and some co-operation. He had finally got his birth certificate and other such things from his Aunt Petunia, not to mention school reports he didn't know she got. And the book to the Muggle bank account set up in his name. He had a feeling had he not got this, his uncle and aunt would have convinced the bank to hand it over to them. All the same, he couldn't open it until his sixteenth birthday. But it did mean he would be able to get some clothes. Which reminded him. His sixteenth birthday was today.
He grinned. He had been given the day off. Pulling on the least scruffy and oversized of Dudley's old clothes, he then went downstairs for breakfast. The Dursleys were already there. Aunt Petunia told him he could go into town and sort out his account if he liked.
Harry nodded. "Sure. That'd be great." He gave a sly look outside. He wondered how his guardians would feel. He also wondered which ones were on. He was pretty sure they were Tonks and Remus – he hoped they were – and therefore they wouldn't mind it much.
He noticed with a jolt that he hadn't received any birthday cards. "Oh well." He thought, sighing and heading upstairs to grab his keys. At least the Dursleys had thought to give him those. Of course, he also had his Gringott's vault key on it, but he didn't think they'd appreciate that. He also grabbed the details for the bank and one of Dudley's old wallets. Harry had even been nice enough to ask if he could use it. Dudley had, amazingly, said yes.
"Okay, let's do this." Harry grinned. He didn't require a jacket. The sun was hot. He wore jeans and a t-shirt, his wand in an improvised leg- holster until he managed to get a proper wrist one. He didn't risk going anywhere without his wand.
His aunt gave him a lift to the bank and left him there. Strangely, her guardianship was not required, just his birth certificate and a further proof of identification. He guessed his application to 'Hogwarts School for the Gifted' was enough. He asked Dumbledore what he should do if his school was asked. Dumbledore had sent him this along with an explanation that this was what most Muggle-born families told people as to their sons and daughters' school. Harry privately wondered why the Dursleys didn't, then decided they probably hadn't wanted to give anyone the impression he was vaguely intelligent or what have you. Mind you, he certainly wasn't bad. He had read his Muggle primary school reports. Level 3s were average in the Year 6 SATs. (A/N: I took those. And the Year 9 ones, where a level 5 is average. They're different to American ones. They're actually testing the school rather than the students. I got 5s in Year six and all 8s in Year 9. They do them in Science, English and Maths. Best of all, I was the only one who got a level 8 in English. I was well pleased! Enough bragging. Year 6 is our last year of primary school, we leave at eleven. Full of 10-11-year-olds. Year 9 is like Harry's third-year, third year of High school and we're 13-14-year-olds. If you look at the school years in HP, you'll notice they follow the same rules! School year starts in September. So Harry's one of the youngest in his year. Now, where was I... Ah, yes...) Harry had scored straight level 5s. He hadn't even realised that. Maybe he wasn't as thick as he thought he was. Mind you, he had yet to receive his OWL results. He was fearful of those. (A/N: And OWLs correspond to our GCSEs! I'm British, did you guess? By the way, GCSEs were created by the devil. I'm about to take mine!)
He entered the bank. It was quiet, so he moved to the information desk.
"Excuse me, I'm enquiring about an account my mother set up for me?" Harry began.
"You wouldn't happen to be a Mr Harry Potter, would you?" The woman asked.
Harry blinked. "Yes, why?"
"We had a little bird you'd be coming today." She looked behind Harry. "Are they with you?"
He looked behind him to see Remus and Tonks. Today Tonks had gone red- blonde with green eyes to rival Harry's. She winked and Remus grinned. Harry sighed.
"Thought I'd lost them. Never mind. Yeah, they're with me." Harry rolled his eyes.
The woman laughed. "Trying to get rid of adults? Typical. Come through with me."
The sorting of the account did not take long. What shocked Harry was the revelation that there was a little under five hundred thousand pounds in there.
"WHAT?" He nearly jumped through the roof. That was nearly half a million.
"Your mum was well off, Harry, and your grandparents left some to you." Remus explained.
Harry groaned. "Why does no one tell me this?"
"Because you're you?" Tonks teased.
Harry gave a sad shake of his head. Not telling him brought Sirius back to mind. Sirius who he had dragged to his death. It was his fault he died...
"It's not your fault." Remus placed a hand on his shoulder, as though reading his mind.
Harry looked into those blue eyes of his father's last surviving friend. Sirius' last surviving friend. (Wormtail could hardly be called their friend.) And he saw no blame in those eyes. Only pain, pity and friendship.
Harry looked down and suddenly realised with a jolt that he had forgiven himself. He blinked suddenly. He realised that it wasn't his own fault. It was Voldemort's. This was all Voldemort's fault. And he felt fire build in his mind. He slowly remembered Occlumency and cooled down. He looked at the woman.
"Sorry, bad memories. You were saying?"
In a little less than half an hour, Harry Potter had full control of his account. He decided to keep it in the Muggle world, should he ever need anything Muggle, such as clothes, or a house. He received a card and was told to use it wisely. He nodded.
"But I'm going to have to go shopping." He informed the woman.
"Why?"
"These are my best clothes." He noticed her slight look of distaste. "Exactly. I need some new ones. Which is why my two friends here volunteered to help."
Tonks scowled at him. "Didn't volunteer for anything."
"But Auntie Tonks!" Harry put his eyes wide and innocent. "You promised!"
"You're his aunt and uncle?" The woman asked.
"Nah, Tonks is more like a big sister. S'pose I could call you uncle. I mean, didn't Dad try to get me to call you Uncle Remus?" Harry asked Remus.
"No, if I remember correctly it was Uncle Moony." Remus grinned. "You couldn't quite say it. It came out Moo-y."
Harry blushed as Tonks laughed. "Enough already." He grinned at the woman. "Thanks. This means a lot."
"Pleasure doing business with you, Mr Potter."
"I know." Harry grinned wickedly. "With these two to help you laugh at me, what wouldn't be a pleasure?"
The woman laughed and Harry and his guards left.
"You two!" Harry complained.
"What? I wasn't the one calling you 'Auntie Tonks'!" Tonks told him indignantly.
"Ahh, well. You are like a big sister you know. Remus is definitely an uncle. A *real* uncle." Harry emphasised. "He gave me enough chocolate in third-year."
"Technically that was medicinal..." Remus began.
"Details." Harry flapped a hand.
He had fun that day. Remus and Tonks proved to be good companions for shopping, because they both had good ideas and Tonks had a good eye for colours. After getting an almost entire new wardrobe, Harry grinned and then ducked into a small alleyway as they were laden with bags.
"I can do magic now, remember?" Harry grinned and proceeded to shrink his purchases. "Though how I'm going to fit all of it into my trunk, I don't know."
Remus gave a secretive grin as Harry finished shrinking his new belongings.
"Now, home." He gave a disgusted grunt. "Not sure I want to be there, but never mind..."
"Harry, we have a confession."
"What?"
Remus grabbed his hand and closed his young friend's fingers about a ragged piece of paper.
Harry gasped at he felt a tug behind his navel and then fell onto a hard floor.
"SURPRISE!" Many voices yelled.
"You two!" Harry roared. His wand was already out. "You are going to pay!"
"Why, for bringing you to a birthday party?"
"For making me think I had to go back to Privet Drive!"
The congregation laughed as Harry Potter, Boy Who Lived, chased Remus Lupin, Werewolf, and Nymphadora Tonks, Auror, round the kitchen, managing to hit both of them with a Jelly-legs Jinx. He grinned.
"Now, where was I? Oh yes, thanks everyone this is great!" He grinned at the Weasleys.
Mrs Weasley engulfed him in a huge hug and then he heard Hermione say, "Goodness, Harry! What did you do to that spell? I can't break it."
Harry shrugged. "I've always been pretty good at DADA. Those jinxes come into it."
"We know you're good at DADA, you got top marks in it!" Ron stated, grinning.
Harry just looked puzzled. "How do you know?"
"Harry, you taught more Defence last year than Umbitch ("Ron!" yelled Hermione.), so you can guarantee that you got good marks." Ron grinned. Harry shrugged.
"Oh, yes, Harry, have you met the new guys?" Ginny asked suddenly.
"Who?" Harry asked, and then observed the banner. It read, 'Happy Birthday Harry and Buffy!' "Who's Buffy and is she the reason Tonks suggested I buy a present for a girl?"
"That would be me and yes, probably." A voice behind him commented.
Harry whipped round. Everyone had started talking again. Moody was still trying to break the Jelly-Legs on Tonks and Remus. He gave a short gasp and then grinned. She was very pretty, but she also gave off an air of being able to take care of herself.
"Buffy, I presume?" Harry grinned.
"Yah, Buffy Summers. Actually, it's Elizabeth, but don't call me that on pain of death." She smiled, holding out a hand.
He shook it heartily. "Harry Potter."
Both ignored the rush of power that spilled from that touch as well as the burning sensations both felt. Harry's on his right shoulder blade, Buffy's at the base of her spine.
Harry continued. "I recently got a look at my birth certificate, and apparently, my full name is Harold. That came as a shock, believe me. Think how glad I am that everyone knows me as Harry."
"Harry sounds much better." She approved.
As he stopped shaking her hand, she flexed it, and glanced at Giles, surprised. He shouldn't be able to match a Slayer in strength. She had been trying to make him wince at her strong grip, her favourite trick on new boys.
"Oh, right, this is Willow Rosenburg and Xander... well, we're not sure what his surname is."
"Why not?" Harry frowned. He then looked at the boy and raised a brow. "Oh, I see."
"See what?"
"Someone's suggested you're related to me because we've got some similar features, though I was convinced all of the Potters had *messy* black hair." Harry grinned.
"Yep. That'd be Ginny. First thing she said. 'Are you related to Harry?'" Xander put on a falsetto, but said it just as the Weasley in question walked past.
"You are in trouble, Alexander." She quipped, annoying him.
"My name is..."
"Xander, leave it." The redheaded Willow ordered. She grinned at Harry. "He's a little mad."
Harry grinned. "Does he play chess and Quidditch?"
"Yep." Buffy affirmed.
"Ron, I think we've found your secret twin." Harry stated seriously.
Everyone laughed. Even Xander and Ron.
"Harry, if we want confirmation, we need a drop of your blood." Hermione explained.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"You're the last remaining Potter we're sure of. First-born of the first- born of the first-born and so on." Hermione explained.
Harry looked surprised. "I didn't know I was descended of the first-born."
"That'd be why you've got all the Potter properties. The Potters are old money, Harry, they split their fortune equally between children and the first-born is still loaded. But that might have something to do with them all being Aurors. It's a high-paid job." Ron explained.
"The Potters rarely have more than one or two children." Hermione informed him.
Harry blinked. "Why is it you two know more about me than I do? And anyway, what happened to all my stuff?"
"Well, the bag's on there." Ron pointed at the table. "Tonks and Moony left your trunk over there."
"Why?"
Ron shrugged.
"Potion."
"Hermione, it's his birthday!" Xander complained.
"And what a better present than some family. Get Mr Giles too. He can answer some questions."
In one corner there was what was known as the Familia Arbor Potion, or more commonly, the Family Tree Potion. Hermione poured some into a glass and smoothed out a piece of parchment.
"Blood." She ordered Harry.
He held out his hand. Hermione took a few drops from the end of his finger. Harry merely rubbed his fingers together and didn't wince at the pain. Only Buffy noted that his skin had totally healed over.
Hermione dripped the potion onto the parchment. Slowly, lines began to form. A detailed family tree began to form. On one branch was Harry's mother's family, the other his father's. It went to his great-great-great- grandparents.
Harry and Xander looked at it eagerly. And then Harry stared.
"My dad had a brother. Benjamin Potter. A couple of years younger. Married Anita Harris. One son, Alexander Lavelle Potter." He looked at Xander. "Your middle name's Lavelle?" Then he grinned. "You're my cousin!"
"I am?" Xander suddenly gasped.
"You are." A voice confirmed. They spun round. "Rupert Giles, I believe you are Harry Potter?"
"Yep."
"Xander, Harry. I was Ben's best friend. You were left in my care, Xander, I'm your godfather. Your parents were murdered by You Know Who..."
"Voldemort." Harry stated.
"What?"
"His name's Voldemort. Use it, for cryin' out loud!"
"Very well, Voldemort, a few days before Harry's. They were as outspoken as James and Lily, and V – Voldemort wanted them out of the way. There was talk of Ben being the Secret Keeper, but..."
"No." Harry stated.
"Pardon?"
"Voldemort knew he wasn't the Secret Keeper. Peter Pettigrew was. He had been giving Voldemort information for a year. So Voldemort used the excuse, but he knew it wasn't." Harry stated. "One death that I s'pose isn't my fault."
"Harry, your parents and Sirius' deaths were not your fault." Hermione stated firmly.
Harry tried to capture the feeling of forgiveness from before, and succeeded, partially. "You don't know. None of you know. If it weren't for me..."
And then he blacked out.
--**--
"Benjamin Potter. How nice to see you." Voldemort's voice was cold, cruel, unfeeling.
"Voldemort."
"You dare to say my name?"
"Yes. Odd, isn't it? Fancy a doughnut?" Ben stated. His eyes were puppy- like brown, kind and soft.
"You insolent fool!" Voldemort yelled. "Crucio!"
But the spell didn't hit Ben, it hit his wife, Anita. "No!"
The woman screamed. Voldemort laughed in pleasure. Cruel, cold pleasure.
"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort incanted.
"No!" Ben yelled as there was a flash of green light and the woman fell down, cold, lifeless. He faced Voldemort, eyes blazing. "Stupefy!"
"Protego!"
And then... "Avada Kedavra!" Ben Potter fell to the floor.
"Where is the boy?" Voldemort asked his masked followers.
"We have been unable to find him." One of them stated.
"Never mind. He is not the one from the prophecy. It is his cousin who we need to look for." Voldemort stated.
"But you know..."
"I do, don't I? Hallowe'en, I think, will be appropriate for the attack. One Potter left alive will not matter. After all, he is not son of the first-born, but the second. Leave him."
"How do you know the child is Potter?"
"He is a Potter. While the son of a Mudblood, he is also descended from one of the most powerful pureblood lines of the wizarding world. And we know who the first Potter was descended from. And that family's unusual gifts."
"Yes milord."
"Leave them. Their precious Ministry will find them soon enough."
Voldemort and his followers Apparated away.
As they did, a Muggle playpen of sorts suddenly appeared in one corner, a toddler inside, he couldn't be much older than one and a half. The playpen had been shrouded with a cloak. Not only that, but it had been the baby who used it. But he saw his parents fallen bodies and began to cry.
--**--
"Harry! Harry!" A voice broke through the blackness.
He groaned. "What the...?" He began. Everyone was staring at him.
"What was it? A vision?" Dumbledore's voice surprised him. He hadn't expected to see him here.
"Did you come for my birthday, sir?" Harry asked jovially as he stood. And then looked solemn. "Yes, but... It wasn't of Voldemort. Not technically. It wasn't through the link. I was watching from the sidelines."
"What did you see?"
"Voldemort's attack on Benjamin and Anita Potter." Harry looked at him levelly.
Dumbledore noticed the piece of parchment with detailed family tree. At first he looked annoyed. Then he looked impressed.
"That's an extremely difficult potion to brew. Well done, Miss Granger, Miss Rosenburg." Dumbledore stated. Then he looked at Harry. "You saw the past?"
"Yes. Voldemort was facing Benjamin Potter. For some reason, Ben offered him a doughnut. Then Voldie cast the Cruciatus on Anita Potter, then killed her. He then slew Benjamin. He asked for the boy, who I presume was Xander, and said it didn't matter that they couldn't find him. That it was me who was from the prophecy. Then one of them asked why he thought it was me. He said something about even though Mum was Muggle-born, I was descended from one of the most powerful pureblood lines. And something about who the first Potter was descended from. And the family's unusual gifts." Harry gave a hollow laugh. "I bet he didn't count on it being Mum's love that protected me. My Muggle-born mother. It's strange. My Muggle-born mother loved me enough to die for me. His Muggle father hated him, left him and eventually Tom killed him."
"Tom?" Buffy asked, confused.
"Tom Marvolo Riddle. That's what Voldemort was born as. His real name." Ginny answered with a shudder. Hermione put an arm round her shoulders.
"So, can we forget about this for now? Xander's my cousin, cool. I'm having visions that aren't because of Voldemort and my scar..."
"How do you know that?" Dumbledore asked, surprised.
"No pain. Besides, I'm pretty sure I've mastered Occlumency now." Harry grinned.
"One test. And I'm going to be looking for the worst memories I can." Dumbledore informed him.
Harry grinned. "Sure you should have said that?"
Dumbledore and Harry went into the middle of the kitchen and everyone watched in amazement. Harry grinned at Tonks and Remus.
"Finally broke the spell, did they?"
"It took three of them together to do the counter-curse, Harry James Potter. I don't know what you put into the spell, but it was too strong. Even for you."
Harry shrugged. "Didn't do anything different."
Dumbledore looked at him and Harry pulled out his wand.
"Ready? Legilimens!" Dumbledore half-yelled.
Harry stared at the Headmaster steadily and let him see a few memories. Dudley laughed as Aunt Marge's dog chased him up a tree... Harry was thrown in the cupboard by his uncle... A beating for accidental magic...
And then, suddenly, Harry's mind forced up blocks faster than Dumbledore could have imagined and Harry yelled, "Protego!"
Suddenly he was seeing Dumbledore's memories, just as he had seen Snape's. A young man, searching for socks... Grindelwald, fighting a battle... A wizarding holocaust... And then they stopped as Dumbledore ended the spell.
"You deliberately let me into your mind. Why?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry shrugged. "False sense of security. Says that in all the duelling and Auror books I've got. If you're hit by Legilimens, lull your opponent into a false sense of security. Layer memories, organise your mind, all that. I've learnt more about Occlumency this summer than in four or five months with Snape."
"You have become a very skilled Occlumens. Strange, without someone to hit you with the spell..."
Harry shrugged. "I think the meditation and organisation of my mind is more effective. And important. I've not had any visions of Voldemort since... you know."
"Well then, now that that's out of the way, shall we continue with the celebration?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
"Yeah, come on everyone, this is supposed to be fun!" Harry grinned. He looked at Hermione. "That means no talking about school or worrying about OWL results."
"Crap, I'd forgotten about those." Xander winced. "Oh well, Harry's got the right idea. Don't think about them!"
"You two are definitely related." Buffy grinned.
"You think?"
"Oh, and happy birthday, Buffy." Harry grinned. He pulled something from the bag and incanted a spell to wrap it and then unshrink it. "What happens to presents?"
Buffy gestured to a table in one corner of the kitchen. "Over there. Just dump it on. There's mine and yours on it. First though, I want cake!"
Harry grinned as he put his present on the pile. He liked her already, and was glad Tonks had recommended he buy a present for a 'new girl', as she had put it.
"No cake until after dinner." Ron stated. "And Mum's done buffet anyway."
"Not to mention mine!" Buffy grinned at her mother, who was deep in conversation with Mrs Weasley. "They're both great cooks."
Hermione smiled. "I know. I'm struggling to decide who's better. So I won't."
"Good plan." Willow grinned.
"So, are you coming to Hogwarts this year?" Harry asked as they collected food and sat down.
"Yep." Buffy grinned. "I think burning down the Quidditch pitch annoyed them."
"Yeah, probably about as much as that swamp annoyed Umbitch." Ron joked.
"You burned down the Quidditch pitch? That's terrible!" Harry looked annoyed.
"Well it was that or die." Buffy replied.
Harry nodded. "I guess. I suppose they aren't too pleased with me either." He mused.
"About what?"
"Did you tell them about the Department of Mysteries?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione.
"No. That's your call." Ron informed him.
Harry nodded and proceeded to explain what had happened at the Department of Mysteries.
"I only burned down the Quidditch pitch. You destroyed prophecies that were hundreds of years old!" Buffy yelped.
Harry shook his head. "Nah. Dumbledore told me that the prophecies near us were the more recent ones. Some of the prophecies right near the beginning that we didn't smash are millennia old. Which makes me curious as to how long the Department of Mysteries has been going."
"We never found out that prophecy V-Voldemort was after." Hermione stated, almost sadly.
Only Buffy noticed how Harry's hand tightened. She was sure he knew something more than the others.
Harry just nodded. "I know. Old Voldie wanted to know something. About me and him."
"You?"
"Only the person who the prophecy pertains to can remove it. That's why Bode couldn't speak. I think." Harry explained. "That's why Voldemort lured me there with that vision. Thank God I can keep him out of my head now. And stay out of his. Though admittedly it can be useful. But last time the consequences were too great."
Xander frowned. "That Sirius dude, he died?"
"Yeah. He was my godfather. Closest thing to a father – to real family I had." Harry explained.
"Well, you got me now, cuz. And believe me, you're stuck with me forever." Xander grinned.
"And don't I know it." Harry heard Giles comment as he passed.
Harry grinned – he had found a family with his friends and now he had a *real* cousin to boot.
The conversation changed to them exchanging horror stories about their schools. Both found them incredibly interesting and they were soon firm friends. Ginny had disappeared with Fred and George, probably to test a new prank item.
It was a while later when Mrs Weasley and Ms. Summers called Harry and Buffy over to blow out the candles on the cake. Harry looked at it appreciatively.
"Who made the cake?" He asked.
"Joint effort." Mrs Weasley smiled.
"Well, you two definitely know how to make a cake. Thanks, Mrs Weasley, Ms. Summers." Harry grinned.
Mrs Weasley laughed. "I've come to a decision. I think you and Hermione have spent enough time with Arthur and I and it's high time you started calling us Arthur and Molly."
Harry and Hermione exchanged grins. "Very well, Molly." They said in unison.
"And me, I'm Joyce. Not Ms. Summers, or Mrs, or Miss. Just Joyce." Joyce Summers informed them. While she had married (and divorced) she had kept her own name, so was technically Ms.
"And he's Giles to everyone. Including Xander." Buffy grinned, pointing at the man in question.
"Well, you two. Blow out the candles, make a wish." Molly smiled.
Everyone sang 'Happy Birthday' first and then the two blew out the candles, each making a wish they kept locked in their hearts.
'I wish for Sirius' death not to be in vain, for an end to Voldemort's evils, even at my own hand.' Harry wished.
'I wish for an end to the evils of war and demons, for the chance to be normal and make a difference. I wish for life and love to keep me alive.' Buffy wished.
Neither knew that in some way their wish would come true.
* * *
A/N: Hope you liked that.
First, if you didn't review the first two chapters (as in didn't read it then, or just decided not to), skip to the bottom, there's a message for you!
To my awesome number of reviewers! I can't believe I got so many of you for the first posting...
Renna: I will continue it. I'm glad you liked the way I combined the 2 worlds. Some higher power ordered me to!
Anne-Janet: Exams are awful, aren't they? You'll find out about Buffy's father in the next chapter, along with some other important things...
manticore-gurl1071134: Nope, Buffy isn't related to Harry. And no, Buffy's dad isn't either of those. I mean, come on, surely Joyce has better than that!!!
GryffindorWicca: Thanks for the chocolate!!! Yeah, I know it seems a bit weird, but it is all explained here, see?!
Jillian Ryn: Only a select few know about Buffy's identity, let's put it that way. I'm glad you like it. But yeah, the two groups (original groups, if you like) do parallel each other a lot, even without my twist. Thanks for reviewing.
always krissy: Thanks!
Sk8er Witch: Thanks!
Alan J. Rhodes: Glad you like it. I can't help writing long chapters! My shortest ones are still about four pages long, size 12, Times New Roman on Word, sometimes with spaces between paragraphs, sometimes not!
md: You got the answers here, see! Hope you liked it!
Guardian Elf Angel: Thanks! And thank God you've sent us the chapters for your fic!
casperRose: You've just hit on one of my pet peeves! I hate it when they're all saying how Harry needs protecting. I mean, it's pretty clear that he can take care of himself. Once he masters Occlumency, he's fine! Yeah, I do tend to write Harry as being equal to Buffy. Not just in this fic. In others too. I like merging the worlds. I haven't posted any of the others up yet, though. I love them being equal!
witchlight: Thanks for the words of support. I can't update any more regularly than once a week anyway because, A. the chapters are so long, and B. I've got other fics and obligations too. But I will try. Maybe I should make the chapters a little shorter. But then, I don't really want to!
Tigerfanfrv: So pleased you like the prophecies! The rhymes are bloody well hard to write. First you've got to work out the words which rhyme, and then work out how to write the next line ending in that word.
MegCat06: Thanks!
arkee: Thanks for your review. Now, Defensor, frankly, was made up. Defender doesn't sound right, and Protector has been used in other fics (including some of my non-posted ones). I just chose it out of the blue. And I don't think many people know the name for a Quebec goalie! Except... Are you Canadian? Quebec is Canada, right? I take History, not Geography and I'm too lazy to check. Maybe what Buffy did to the portrait was a little OOC, but I'm afraid it had to be done. I can't stand Mrs Black. And physical violence seems to be the one way that Mrs Black wouldn't have expected. Unfortunately, they kind of have to get along. No idea why Hermione wasn't surprised, it was probably late when I wrote it. 'Spillage' is a word, I checked. In the Chambers Dictionary it's defined as 'the act of spilling; that which is spilt'. However, in the interests of grammar, spilling might be better. I'm not entirely sure. I just like that word anyway! My chapters are pretty long, you know. This is 13 pages without review responses. Never mind. In-depth? How do you mean? In- depth stuff comes a little later I'm afraid.
captuniv: Hank... Intolerant and useless. Too useless for even a Death Eater. We learn exactly what he's like in the next chapter. When we find out who Buffy's real father is. It may be a little anti-climactic, but the revelation is needed. It's for dramatic irony and Buffy herself. As for Xander, well, you found out here, didn't you?
Angel of Oblivion: She's gone! Finally! Yeah, I had to laugh as I did that (or rather, Buffy did) too.
Lobo Diablo: Yeah, it's ever so slightly freaky, but not if you take it in the context of my story. I'm sorry if calling them Elizabeth and Harold has scarred you for life. Wasn't meant to. Honest!
That's eighteen reviews! For the first two chapters! I don't think I had *any* on my HP story for the first two chapters! Or maybe 1! Mind you, does anyone else find the Harry Potter bit's so full, it seems to swallow the stories up? I much prefer this bit.
Okay people, you know the drill. You read it, you review it. Plus, if you sign in, I'll go and read your stories (if you have any). Some of you can testify to that! At least I think you can! And (if you've got *lots* of free time on your hands), maybe you'd read my HP fic? Go via my author link, otherwise you'll never find it. Except maybe by doing length 80000 words. It's a long fic and not even half way through. Anyway, thank you!
Lol, Tanydwr