Sorry this is so late! I meant to update before, but it took me forever to write it because of the cursed writer's block. Anyway, here it is...
Chapter 5 – Summer
"You want to learn fencing? Why?" Remus asked Harry.
"Voldemort doubts Muggle methods. Besides, I need something to do other than cursing. It should improve my reflexes. Does anyone know how to fence?" Harry asked.
Giles cleared his throat. "I do. I taught Buffy and Xander."
Harry grinned. "Cool. I'll not be the only one. I need something to do. And it'll improve my Quidditch skills, if Dumbledore ever gets round to explaining that." Dumbledore still hadn't informed Harry of whether he would be able to continue playing Quidditch, or the whereabouts of his broomstick.
"Very well, Mr Potter. Wear something you can move in and meet me in the drawing room. It's easily converted into a fencing or duelling room." Giles ordered.
"Uh, that's what they're planning on doing to it anyway." Ron explained. Everyone looked at him. "What? Moody told me."
"He gave out information willingly?" Harry asked. "Wow, he must be ill."
Ron grinned.
Half an hour later, Harry was in the drawing room, wearing a t-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and trainers. Giles was showing him how to warm up, stretching arms, legs, stomach muscles and others. Every part of the body seemed to need warming up, to save injury.
"Firstly, you need to have the correct footwork." Giles explained to Harry. "And you need to know how to fall with the least amount of pain and damage. There's no way of falling without pain, but it's best to fall with the least of it."
Harry grasped onto the concept – and the move – very quickly and easily. Too quickly. Too easily.
'The only person who's learnt this fast is Buffy,' Giles thought. 'And she's the Slayer. How is this possible? He can't be that powerful. Mind you, his father was skilled. That's it. His father. It's genetic.'
He couldn't help but remember what Dumbledore had told them the other day about Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Harry was directly descended from Gryffindor. Buffy was directly descended from Ravenclaw. And both had very unique powers. He knew Buffy was a Slayer.
'But it's impossible. Harry could not be the Defensor. It's coincidence.' Giles told himself.
But he didn't believe it.
He had heard the prophecy. Because he knew that it didn't just mean the Heirs. It meant their spirits reincarnated. Harry Potter was the Defensor. And if he knew Harry – which was pretty well already – his new abilities would soon manifest.
# # #
"You know, you're going to have to quit doing that." A voice said later that day, a smirk in the tone.Harry jumped half a metre into the air, and whipped round, sword in hand. He sighed, dropping back as he realised the speaker's identity. "Buffy. You are going to have to quit doing that."
"What? Making you jump is fun. It doesn't happen very often." She grinned. "And if you polish that sword anymore it'll wear away."
He rolled his eyes. "I very much doubt that. So, what's up?"
"Ron and Hermione." Buffy stated.
Harry grinned. "Ah. Are you referring to their bickering or their general blindness in the fact that they fancy each other?"
"Both. God knows what those two'd be like as a couple. They'd argue almost every day." Buffy grinned.
"I can just see them getting together now." Harry put on a dreamy voice that was a dead ringer for that of Sybill Trelawney. "They shall meet. In the heat of argument, they will let their feelings out and become lovers." He then wrinkled his nose. "Did I just say 'lovers'? Yuck."
Buffy laughed. "Yup, you said it. Congratulations on grossing yourself out."
Harry stuck his tongue out at her. Buffy grinned.
"Wanna practise Quidditch?" Harry asked, completely changing the subject.
"Um, not to put a damper on things, but we'll need to actually tidy that garden before we can even land." Buffy pointed out.
Just the day before, they had discovered the back door and the magically hidden and enlarged garden belonging to Grimmauld Place. They were going to have a job clearing it. Luckily, magic would make that somewhat easier.
Harry and Buffy strode out into the garden, blinking in the sunlight. It was huge, so huge that they couldn't see the other side, though this may have had something to do with the fact that it was also incredibly overgrown. Weeds darted everywhere and broken fountains of the Black family's most prominent (also known as worst or cruellest) family members were darted about the place.
"If we want to play Quidditch here, we're going to need to tidy up." Buffy stated.
Harry nodded. "Yep. You ready?"
"What fo–?" Buffy began, but stopped as Harry shot the Reductor Curse at the immediate overgrowth.
"For that." Harry grinned, and continued.
The two teens had great fun that afternoon, clearing the garden was something that had such visible results that they couldn't help but feel proud of themselves. They also took immense glee in blowing up the ancient fountains, though rubble once hit Harry. Luckily, his extreme self-healing ability let him carry on after about three seconds.
Buffy frowned. Surely, that ability couldn't be just an inherited one. It was faster than hers, and she was the Slayer. There was definitely something suspicious about the changes in a certain Mr Potter, and she didn't mean her original friend.
After two or three hours' work, they finally sat down, stopping. Hermione and Willow appeared, Hermione with a tray of glasses and jug of lemonade in her hands.
"Molly thought you might want these." Hermione grinned, placing the refreshment on a rickety table that had survived the clear out.
Harry sighed gratefully, poured himself a glass and glugged down the liquid.
"Did that even touch the sides?" Buffy asked askance.
Harry shrugged. "I was thirsty."
"I think we gathered that." The Slayer replied.
"So, what's up?" Willow asked.
"Not much. We just need to dispose of the remnants." Buffy pointed to a large pile where all the rubble, greenery and waste had been placed.
The two witches grinned at each other.
"Vanishing Spell?" Willow suggested to Hermione.
"Yep."
After a further half hour, the garden was a blank canvas. The only thing in it were a few trees and grass.
"Anyone like gardening?" Harry asked.
"Mom does." Buffy shrugged. "She might want to do something. But now it might be too late for Quidditch. Dinner won't be that long, will it?"
He shrugged. "It's a nice day. Maybe we can get Molly to serve dinner out here. There's that many of us now..." Harry grinned.
"Yeah. You two go in, Mione 'n' me have been working on our transfiguration. We'll work on the table and chairs. Make some decent ones." Willow looked positively dreamy at the challenge.
"You may want to use some after sun potion too." Hermione advised as they headed in.
Harry and Buffy groaned. They had forgotten to use a sunscreen potion, and both were burnt.
"There's some in the bathroom." Harry informed his friend as they headed up to the suite the seven teens (Ginny included) shared.
They found Ron and Xander in the living area playing chess.
"Hey guys." Ron stated. "Knight to F5."
"Hi Ron. There's still some of that after sun potion left, right?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah. Too much sun then?"
"We were clearing out the garden. It's hard work, even with magic." Harry explained.
The after sun potion was not an ingested potion. It worked like a cream. Harry searched it out of the cupboard.
"Got it. Ladies first." Harry grinned, handing her the bottle.
Buffy grinned and shooed him out so she could fix herself in peace.
After a few minutes, a voice was heard.
"Harry!"
He opened the door. "Yep?"
"Would you do my back?" Buffy asked hopefully. It seemed to be blistering.
Harry nodded. "If you'll do mine. Last time I don't wear a shirt to work."
Buffy giggled. "I don't think anyone minded."
Harry raised a brow as he poured the potion onto his hands. "I do. I guess you're not overly fond of tops that show your stomach at the moment either."
"Well, at least when the potion finishes working I'll have a nice tan." Buffy shrugged.
Harry rolled his eyes as he smoothed potion onto her back.
Buffy gave a contented sigh as the potion cooled her back. And Harry was so gentle while doing so, too. His touch was tender, soft... She snapped her mind from that train of thought and stiffened.
"Buffy, is something wrong?" Harry asked.
"No, no, I'm fine." Buffy replied.
"Well, you're done. Just give me a minute, okay?" Harry grinned.
Buffy nodded, thinking, as he applied the potion.
"We should have used sun screen." She stated bluntly.
"Yes, it would have been sensible and a good idea. Since when are either of us sensible or full of good ideas?" Harry asked. "I mean, I drag my friends into trouble every year..." His voice trailed off.
Buffy knew he was thinking about his godfather. "Harry, it wasn't your fault, remember? It wasn't your fault at all."
"I know, I know. It just... It still hurts, remembering. It's been over a month, but these things take time. They always do..."
"More cheerfully, when do you think Ron and Hermione are going to get together?" Buffy asked.
"Knowing them, they'll only admit on their deathbeds." Harry grinned. "And what about Willow? Am I imagining a certain liking of my cousin?"
Buffy shook her head. "No. It's obvious she likes him."
"How long?"
"Ages. You know, in our screwy world, they'll probably go for the wrong ones." Buffy grinned at the thought.
"Huh?"
"Xander and Hermione will get together, and Ron and Willow will get together. That could be weird. But then Ron and Willow's kids would have the reddest hair in the world..." Buffy smirked.
Harry laughed, then handed her the bottle. "Back?"
"Sure. I don't know, the couples could go either way." Buffy pursed her lips. She frowned over a mark on Harry's shoulderblade that seemed to be constantly changing, not allowing her to catch a glimpse of the real mark.
"You've introduced doubt into my mind too, now." Harry groaned. "I just want the arguments to stop. I'm sick of getting stuck in the middle."
Buffy laughed. "Luckily, we don't argue much. Little things, but none where we get to the 'Buffy, tell Xander to pass me the salt', or 'Willow, tell Buffy to shut up' stage."
"We don't get that either. They're usually just silent. I mean, Ron and I had this awful argument in fourth-year, because of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, and in third-year, there was a massive falling out between Hermione and Ron. I'm afraid I was a bit cold there, as well. But we've never deserted each other. Never truly." Harry sighed. "Never could, really."
Buffy gave a wan smile. "Hold onto your friends. They're your best hope. And now you've got me, Xander and Willow. And Xander's family. So beware."
Harry laughed. "Thanks."
The last of the potion mended his skin, and the two teens went to get changed.
"What was that all about?" Ron asked Harry as he re-entered, wearing clean clothes.
"Sun burn. We were fixing the garden. Willow and Hermione are outside trying to make the table fit everyone." Harry explained.
Buffy appeared five minutes later, looking much fresher. Harry frowned, wondering how she could still look so good after heavy work that afternoon. Mind you, he could hardly talk. Other than sunburn, he had no effects that he had done heavy manual labour that afternoon.
"So, now what?" Xander asked.
"We go outside and have some fun. We'll probably eat outside, since it's all clear now. But for now, I recommend Quidditch. We've got time." Harry grinned. "I finally got my Firebolt back. Just because she banned me from Quidditch, she shouldn't have been able to take our brooms anyway, they're our personal property."
"What about a lifetime ban on Quidditch?" Xander asked.
"That would only work at school anyway. She had no jurisdiction over our personal lives. Once we left school, we'd be able to play Quidditch anyway. I swear though, Umbitch probably thought she could stop that as well. She was a bloody megalomaniac."
"With a sick fascination for causing pain in detention. She used a Blood Quill." Ron informed them. "Harry's got the scars. So's Lee and a few others. I swear, she must've been a Slytherin."
Harry shrugged. "I don't know. I'd hate to see her as a Hufflepuff – imagine loyalty so great to the Ministry's lies that she'd kill for it. That's scary."
"Quidditch, people!" Buffy ordered. "Brooms, outside, now."
"Yes, sir, right away, sir!" Harry saluted Buffy and frogmarched into his room, shooting a cheeky grin at her.
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Boys." She groaned.
"Hey!" Ron and Xander protested.
She shrugged and entered her own room to grab a broom.
"Checkmate." Xander smirked at Ron.
"WHAT? Oh, damn!" Ron scowled. "No one's beaten me in years!"
"Yeah, well, I'm me. Dad and Mum were good chess players as well." Xander grinned. "C'mon, Quidditch is as good as chess."
"Better. You get more glory, but all the same... Mum's cooking's better than both." Ron laughed.
About five minutes later, the four teens appeared outside, brooms in hand.
Hermione raised a brow. "That was quick."
"What was?" Harry asked.
"The sunburn healing." She replied.
"We used the potion. Plus we're both quick healers anyway." Harry shrugged. "I'd've spent way more time in the Hospital Wing if I wasn't."
They laughed, enjoying the warm sun in the still bright, early evening.
"Okay, I wanna see how good Harry is at being a Chaser." Buffy ordered. "Ron, you're Keeper, right?"
Ron nodded. "We need goals. Lemme see..." He grabbed Hermione and Willow to help and, after a few minutes, fashioned some crude goalposts. "These'll do."
Harry nodded. "Anyone got a Quaffle? And where's Ginny anyhow?"
"She's helping Mum and Joyce in the kitchen. She's alarmingly into cooking at the moment." Ron frowned, then shrugged. "I did ask her, but she said not to bother."
Harry frowned, that seemed rather unlike Ginny. "You sure?"
"Yeah. Besides, she mentioned something about wanting to be Seeker and not wanting to show you up." Ron's eyes twinkled with amusement.
"Why, that little..." Harry began, feeling indignant, but giving way to laughter. "Oh well, s'pose you can't win 'em all. Anyway, give me a few tips on Chasing, Chasers."
Xander and Buffy proceeded to give Harry a brief lesson and then got him up in the air and practising with simple things like throwing and catching the Quaffle. He was good. Surprisingly good. But then his dad had been a star Chaser when he was on the team...
'Something weird is going on,' Buffy decided, watching Harry catch a Quaffle she threw deliberately wide. 'Definitely something weird.'
About an hour later, they heard Mrs Weasley call them.
"Kids!" She yelled. "Get ready for dinner!"
The four teens ran upstairs, storing their brooms and changing again into clean clothes.
Ginny joined them, looking somewhat flustered as she ran into the room she, Buffy, Willow and Hermione shared. Buffy looked surprised as she jumped out of the way, then looked at the girl and grinned.
"Did you get 'the talk'?" Buffy asked, remembering the time she had first had a date and her mother had given her 'the talk', including the very embarrassing topic of contraceptive charms that Buffy was sure her mother only told her in an attempt to make her red enough to replace the lighthouse.
Ginny nodded mutely, her face buried in her pillow.
"Think of it this way." Buffy suggested. "She's only saying it because she cares. And if Dean does hurt you, you've six big brothers to use to your advantage."
Ginny giggled and Buffy left the room, looking very pretty in a light blue sundress complete with white flowers and white sandals.
It was at that point Harry also reappeared (it had taken him ten minutes to find a clean pair of socks). He grinned at her, taking in her appearance appreciatively.
'She's so pretty,' Harry thought, 'Even beautiful, not to mention smart, kind, a good Quidditch player, solid friend... Stop thinking about that, Harry. Not going to put her in more danger. But could she cope? She's a skilled fencer and dueller. No, she's a friend, remember?'
Buffy, on the other hand, was struck with similar thoughts as Harry appeared in jeans and a white t-shirt that dragged just a little too much over his rapidly developing muscles.
'Hey, good-looking,' she grinned at the thought. 'Definitely that... No, Buffy, we said this before. No thinking about that. Slayer destiny, remember? Don't want to put him in any more danger than he already is. He'd be able to manage though. And the swords were sold as a pair... No, no, no!'
"Got your wand?" Harry asked, looking for her wand holster.
Buffy grinned. "They strap anywhere, right?" She asked him. He nodded. She pulled up her calf-length dress to reveal the holster strapped to her thigh. "Can't even feel it. It's great."
Harry grinned. "Yep."
"Where's yours?" She asked.
He slipped a hand to the back of his neck as though scratching it, and whipped out his wand. "I like Auror wand holsters. They don't show, and you can't feel them unless you want to. However, you can feel if someone else touches it." He grinned. "It's a good thing. No one knows it's there, so no one can grab your wand. Wait a minute, do I sound like Moody?"
Buffy nodded. "Maybe a little. But you've got a point. I just like that it can't be seen. Ruins an outfit."
Harry laughed. "Ah, now, we wouldn't want that. It's such a nice outfit." He winked.
"Are you flirting with me, Mr Potter?" Buffy asked, mock-shocked.
"I wouldn't know, I don't know how to flirt." Harry shrugged. "In any case, may I escort thee downstairs, fair lady?" He asked with a flourishing bow, offering his arm.
"Why thank thee, good sir." She gave a smile and took his arm as they went downstairs, all the way pretending to be a knight and lady of old.
Hermione grinned as Harry entered the kitchen, extravagantly opening the door for her.
"Milady, let this humble page aid thee!" Harry cried, opening the door with a bow.
Buffy laughed. "Why, not a humble page, but a brave knight, Sir Harry!" She replied in like tongue.
Hermione laughed. Buffy was definitely good for Harry. She was successfully elevating his spirits in a way no one else had managed since Sirius died.
"Dear me, what are you two doing?" Mrs Weasley asked as she bustled into the room to hear their comments. "Pages, knights, ladies! Next you'll be claiming to be the king and queen."
"Britain has a queen." Hermione pointed out.
"Set the tables, would you, dears?" Mrs Weasley asked.
The two teens began collecting cutlery and plates.
"Muggle Britain does, Hermione. Wizard Britain's last king and queen were Arthur and Guinivere." Mrs Weasley explained.
"They kind of came to a sticky end." Harry mused, remembering reading about them in History of Magic one time when he brought a book with him rather than sleeping.
"Yes, yes. That was when the Ministry of Magic came into power, though it's believed the Department of Mysteries has been around far longer." She explained somewhat absently as she pulled a number of items from the stove and oven.
Harry and Buffy shrugged and went outside, and began to set the table.
A number of cast-iron tables had been conjured and tablecloths laid over them. Chairs and benches graced the sides as they were pushed together to make one long table. The two friends began setting out knives, forks, spoons, plates and glasses along with napkins at each place, while others came out to place dishes of food on the table. It seemed a number people were going to be there that evening.
Once they finished, Harry grinned. Still using an old-fashioned tongue, he called out, "Fair matrons, we hath completed our task. Dost thou require further aid?"
"No, thank you, Harry." Molly's voice filtered through the door. "But I recommend you call everyone in the house. I don't know if there's any other people here. They don't always make themselves known."
Harry grinned. He had found the perfect place to call everyone from not long ago. The house had an old-fashioned dumbwaiter room. If he opened the doors to each of the waiters, it let his voice into every room with one. He grabbed Buffy's hand.
"C'mon, this should be fun."
He went into the room next to the kitchen. A bunch of small doors, panels with bells and some rather dusty furniture was inside.
"Didn't you clean this place?" Buffy asked.
"Nah, only found it a couple of days ago. Haven't told anyone else though." Harry explained. "Don't. I've got a feeling it could be used for a few pranks."
Buffy grinned. "Okay, but one thing." She pulled out her wand, giving Harry a glimpse of firm, toned thigh. "Scourgify!" Buffy incanted. The dust disappeared from the room, leaving it sparkling.
"Wow. Good going." Harry answered.
"It was a good one to learn what with... things going on." Buffy grinned, realising and stopping her slip-up in time. Harry wouldn't have appreciated her saying 'Slayer-stuff getting blood everywhere', would he?
Harry grinned back, but wondered what she had planned on saying. 'Never mind. Sure it doesn't matter.' He shrugged to himself.
"Okay, open the little doors." He instructed.
Buffy obeyed. Soon the doors were open, some of them showing a small, box- like structure.
"Dumbwaiters. They go to nearly every room in the house." Harry smirked. "Now for the fun." He charmed the room first. "Silencio protego!"
"What's that?" Buffy asked.
"Silencing shield. Prevents anyone from hearing us outside, and also from getting in, spelling us or interrupting us. However, it does not cover the dumbwaiters." He grinned recklessly. "Wanna help?"
Buffy nodded. "Sonorus." They both muttered, pointing their wands at their throats.
"Good evening to all those in the Black Manor! The remaining staff kindly request your attendance in the garden as dinner is about to be served. Please be prompt, and no dress code is required." Harry told them.
"And be sure to thank Ms. Summers and Mrs. Weasley on the delicious spread they have made for you. Anyone who does not show their gratitude will be hexed under no other terms." Buffy joined him.
The two teens swiftly removed the spells, closed the dumbwaiters and reappeared in the garden, leaving a very confused household.
"What on Earth was that?" Ginny asked as she appeared in the garden.
Harry shrugged. "Dunno. We were looking for everyone to say that dinner was ready. Was it in every room?"
"Yeah. As though someone was talking in the air conditioning or something." Xander told them.
Buffy grinned. "You've seen too much TV."
"Have not!" Xander responded.
"Any guesses as to the culprit? It said staff. Maybe there's a ghost or two. Did the Blacks even have human servants?" Buffy wondered, though she was secretly laughing inside.
"Dunno. Guess so." Ron shrugged.
Harry flopped down on the bench where Buffy had situated herself.
"Do you mind?" Buffy asked him.
"Not at all." Harry smirked.
"I sort of wanted to sit by Xander." Buffy pulled a pout.
Harry pretended to look affronted. "Thou wouldst prefer companionship with my cousin over me? Very well, cold maiden. My heart shall remain thine for eternity, but I will depart forthwith!"
He began to get up and leave, but Buffy pulled him down, laughing.
"I was only joking, you idiot!" She laughed.
"Where did you learn to talk like that, Harry? You and Buffy have been doing that since you changed for dinner." Hermione frowned.
"Dunno. Just stuff I picked up I guess." Harry shrugged. "Some of the books I've read has that sort of language in it."
"Hey, Buffy, move up." Xander told her.
Buffy felt herself shoved up into Harry as Xander settled himself.
"What the...? Xander!"
"What? You said you wanted to sit with me. Besides," he winked roguishly, "now you get two Potters for the price of one."
Harry grinned. "Ah, but does she want two Potters? For all we know, she'd prefer two Weasleys, and is already talking to the twins about it."
Buffy's eyes widened and she choked. "Harry! That's disgusting!"
Harry laughed. "That was the idea. I think I've spent too much time around the twins. They've corrupted me!"
"Great, so now you can corrupt the rest of us!" Hermione complained as she slid into the bench opposite.
Ron and Willow joined her, Ron in the centre.
"Are you sure he'll be able to corrupt us? After all, isn't he supposed to be a pillar of light and good and all that, being the Boy Who Lived and all?" Willow asked.
Harry shrugged. "I don't know. Sometimes I'm the embodiment of light and hope. Other times I'm a mentally unstable, attention-seeking brat. Take your pick."
"Aww, poor Harry! Did the nasty newspapers slander you?" Buffy asked, putting on a baby voice.
"Actually, since they're newspapers and therefore written, it's libel. But yes, they did." Harry replied.
"Well that's just stupid." Buffy said decisively, completely changing her demeanour. "I mean, why would they slander someone who's stopped Voldemort that many times? It doesn't make sense!"
"It's the Ministry and the Press. They never make sense. At all." Harry shrugged. "Doesn't matter. I'm used to it by now."
"But you shouldn't have to." Buffy protested. "They should leave you alone."
"According to the Press, I'm forbidden to have a private life. Fourth-year was the worst. Rita Skeeter was constantly writing about me. Plus there was a supposed love triangle. I don't know why people think I like Hermione in that way." Harry shrugged.
Hermione pretended to be upset. "What? You don't find me attractive?" She asked, sniffing.
"You're more like a sister to me, Mione. Not a girlfriend. Like Ron's practically my brother, and Ginny my sister. You're all my true family."
"A-hem?" Xander fake-coughed.
"Oh yeah, not forgetting the one family member of my blood who I like. Alexander Potter!" Harry grinned and punched his cousin playfully in the arm across Buffy.
"Do you mind?" Buffy asked again.
"Nah. I don't baby-sit either. I think people are scared I'll corrupt their children." Harry told her somewhat seriously.
Hermione rolled her eyes, then giggled.
Buffy punched him in the arm.
"Ack! You wound me, fair lady! What hath I done to deserve thy scorn?" Harry cried.
"Y'know, now that's starting to bug me." Xander commented.
Harry had no chance to reply, as everyone else in the house suddenly appeared. Ginny ended up on the end near them. Fred and George were sat with Lee Jordan and Angelina Johnson, both of whom had joined the Order. Giles, Joyce, Molly and Arthur were sat in the middle, talking with Remus and Tonks. Dumbledore was also there, along with McGonagall, Kingsley Shacklebolt and a number of other Order members. Harry was surprised to see Moody actually eat Molly and Joyce's cooking without first probing it. Did he feel it was safe or was he being lax?
Moody caught Harry's puzzled expression and called out. "Not to worry, Potter. No one can poison the food without me knowing about it."
Buffy then yelled, "Hey, what's the spell?"
"I'm not telling you. You don't know who could find and use the counter!" Moody told her.
The two wannabe-Aurors swore.
Tonks grinned. "With language like that, you can definitely be Aurors."
They blushed, but grinned.
Of course, Tonks' comment spurred on Molly and Joyce. "Harry/Buffy! Watch your language!"
Ron gave Harry a surprised look. "Harry, Mum's just told you off for language. You're officially one of the family. Welcome, mate."
The others laughed.
In all, it turned out to be a very nice evening, with a lot of fun.
But when darkness fell, something rather odd happened.
# # #
"Buffy?" A voice asked. "What're you doing?"
"I'm going out. I have to." Buffy responded to her friend.
"Slayage?"
"Yep. Sleep, Wills, I'll be fine." Buffy told her.
Willow obeyed, not noticing her best friend's dress.
Buffy wore black leather trousers with a sleeveless black t-shirt and black jacket. Her Auror holster was on one arm with her wand in it. Stakes were secured in inside pockets, and the dagger that had come in her Auror kit was secured inside her boot. She had caught her hair up in a bun and her sword was slung across her back.
She was the Slayer. A witch-Slayer. A predator. She had not patrolled in days. She was itching for a fight.
She stole away from the house, silently and carefully, golden hair shining in the moonlight.
# # #
Harry Potter removed his glasses as his eyesight had sharpened dramatically over the last few days. He no longer needed them, but had not told anyone, merely exchanging the lenses for plain ones.
"Harry?" A voice asked.
"Ron." Harry replied, softly cursing.
"What're you doing?" Ron asked, propping himself up on an elbow.
"I don't know. Ron, there's something that's changed about me, since my birthday. I'm stronger, faster, suppler. My senses have got sharper, I can keep going for longer. And the sword..."
Harry had told Ron and Hermione about his sword, but not Xander or Willow. Buffy had done the same in not informing Ron and Hermione about her own. Neither had mentioned the way they were flung from the shop or the shopkeeper's words.
"What about it?"
"It's mine, Ron. Defensor's Lightning. I think I know why it came to me. I'm descended from Gryffindor. I'm descended from the Defensor, and I think I've become one myself."
"Holy... You sure, Harry?" Ron asked.
"No. But I've gotta do this. Go back to sleep, Ron. I'll talk with you and Mione in the morning." He told his friend.
Ron nodded.
Harry pulled on his sword over his black attire. Black jeans, t-shirt and leather jacket with black boots. His dagger was in a sheath tied about his calf. He had a couple of stakes in one pocket that he had found in his trunk along with another dagger he had discovered in Sirius' old room. His wand was in the holster on his arm.
Smiling grimly as Ron fell asleep once more, Harry left his room, silently creeping along the hallways and stairs to leave the house and face whatever it was out there that he had to prevent.
# # #
Moonlight dripped over the London park, bathing each tree branch, each leaf, each bench, each bird in it's silvery light. The moon was waxing, soon it would be full and torment all those afflicted with lycanthropy.
Two deadly figures observed this as they stalked through the park, searching for prey. They could sense the danger, sense the evil energy. One sensed the darkness that came from a demon inhabiting a reanimated corpse. One sensed the darkness of magic aiding those corpses.
Vampires that had been granted magic.
It wasn't long before the two warriors struck. They leapt into the fray, striking about with their weapons.
The Defensor swung his sword expertly. A decapitation one side. Swing the sword high and sink it into a vampire's heart, temporarily transfiguring it into wood. A sidekick broke another vampire's nose; a back-fist flung him to the ground. A stake flung itself into a vampire's chest, dusting it. The sword whirled around again, decollating a fourth.
The Slayer pummelled a vampire. She struck out at another, snapping its head back with a sidekick. Switching stances, she kneed the vampire she had been attacking and sunk a stake into his back. Another vampire came up, she flung the stake into her heart before turning and dealing a stinging blow to the face of another. Finally, she pulled out her sword, preparing for mass decapitation.
After a few minutes, the vampires were all dust and two swords flashed in the moonlight, clanging together.
"Who are you?" The man demanded.
"Who am I? Who the hell are you?" The young woman shot back.
"That is none of your concern. Why do you fight darkness? Evil that has allied itself with more evil?" He asked.
"Why do you fight darkness? It is my job." She retorted, and swung her sword, hoping for an answer.
A flash, and the swords clashed again. A third strike with the same result.
"It is mine as well. When a wizard allies himself with the Undead, it is my duty to destroy them."
"Then why are you fighting me? I'm the Goddamn Slayer!"
A chill struck the air as she spoke. A shudder ran up the spine of both, as though they had been in this situation before.
"The Slayer? That's interesting. That's very interesting." The man stated.
Suddenly, his sword flashed faster than possible, and the Slayer found herself with a sword at her neck and the figure behind her.
"If you are truly the Slayer, what is your destiny?" He asked.
"To fight evil. To repel the forces of darkness." She replied. "And never to be beaten."
She shot an elbow into his stomach and flung him over her head.
"Who is it who thinks that he can beat me?" She snarled.
"If you're the Slayer, you should know." He replied, flipping up to a fighting stance and summoning his sword.
She looked at him, unable to see much in the darkness. He was dressed entirely in black, had black hair and aristocratic features. She could not see his eyes. She processed the magic.
"Defensor." She whispered.
"Correct." He told her. He began to say something else, but then felt something uncontrollable run through him. Intense physical attraction to the Slayer. Painful. Fiery. Desperate. He fought to control it.
Meanwhile the Slayer was having the same problem. She could barely keep it at bay, the incredible desire to feel his lips on hers, his body against her own...
"I will see you again." The Slayer promised.
"You can count on it." The Defensor smiled ferally.
They began to depart in separate directions, but then the need to satisfy the attraction became too strong. The turned back to each other, and suddenly the Slayer found herself in the Defensor's arms, kissing him passionately, her hands burying themselves in his hair. The Defensor's hands went around her, one to her back, the other holding her head, fingers sunk in her luxuriant blonde hair...
They broke apart, breathing heavily, trying to ignore the flames dancing from their lips through their blood and surrounding their hearts. The fiery passion that had brought them to that foolish conclusion was even stronger now.
Saying nothing, they separated, silently wondering what was to happen to them now.
# # #
Hermione woke up, not knowing why. She looked to the others' beds and observed something strange.
Buffy's bed was empty.
Her eyes widened as she searched for any sign that Buffy may have gone for a drink or something. But no, her pyjamas were still on the bed.
Hermione shook Willow awake. "Willow, Buffy's gone."
"What? Mione, she's probably just gone for some water."
"She's not wearing her pyjamas, we need to find her." Hermione stated, and dragged her out of bed.
Hermione and Willow only got into the common room before coming across a tired, but secretive looking Ron and an agitated Xander.
"What's wrong, Xander?" Willow asked.
"Harry. He's gone." He replied.
"Buffy's the same." Hermione explained.
"Where are they both?" Willow wondered. Buffy she knew about, but Harry...?
"Well I highly doubt they're in another room snogging. It's too late for that." Ron stated, looking like the word he really wanted to use had a couple of different letters.
"Ron! There's no way they'd be doing that!" Hermione scolded.
"So where are they? Why are they both missing?" Willow asked.
No one had an answer to that.
# # #
None of them noticed as Buffy and Harry silently crept back into their rooms, changed back into their nightclothes and fell asleep, wondering about who it was they had shared that amazing kiss with.
# # #
A/N: Okay, so that's the chapter. Nice and long, so I hope that sort of made up for it's lateness. Funny, it seems I've got worse at updating during the summer hols, not better! But never mind.
I'd thank everyone individually, but I'm worried I'm going to get told off for having too long author's notes! If there's any burning questions you need to ask, send me an e-mail!
Now, finally some romance in this chapter! The Slayer and the Defensor have discovered an all-too-powerful attraction, and Buffy and Harry were blatantly flirting!
But, however, as to the other pairings...
Which do you prefer?
Hermione/Ron and Willow/Xander.
Or...
Hermione/Xander and Willow/Ron.
Vote with a review or e-mail, please. And if you want to give reasons, I welcome them! Seriously! Because that'll help me with writing more!
But thank you, my reviewers:
cancan227
angelus cado
Angus Hardie
Silver Warrior: Who said the sword blocked Avada Kedavra?
odevine1
Chronicles Bailey: There was an interview or something where JKR said that James is a Chaser, not a Seeker. The film got it wrong. As for him playing with a Snitch in OotP, that might be a reason Lily disliked him. He was showing off with a position that wasn't even his.
musicgirl141: Maybe, but secrets are hard to have in the magical world.
Renna
meenyrocks: Yeah, Olden Orenda is Kat's dad in another fic. I couldn't resist!
Chrios: Yeah, since the Buffy world's AU, there is gonna be a bit of OOC- ness in it.
lilguji
CodeName Targeter: Glad you like the change in blood connection. I figured Xander should share some of the limelight.
Jared Drake: Here's the start of romance.
TBK
The Keymaker: A Favourite Author, reviewing me! Wow! I never saw the film, just the series, but it's really good. I'm really glad you like it. Thanks!
Thank you all!
Now, I'll try and update sooner, but I haven't even started the next chapter!
Happy holidays!
Lol, Tanydwr