AN: Thanks again for all of your comments. They really do help, and constructive criticism is much appreciated.

Chapter 7

Dark Times

Sirius watched wide-eyed as the wailing woman faded into nothingness. She'd literally appeared, and upon hearing from Spike that she was no longer amongst the living, had started howling as if she was mourning the death of someone else. Then she was gone.

Spike said nothing afterwards. He'd seen it before, and had started to get used to this occurrence. Sirius was the only one who had remained.

"What in the name of God was that?!" asked Sirius, breaking the silence that had been between the two men since Spike had revealed he was a vampire.

"Happens a bit round here…you're the only one who's not gone…" replied Spike curtly, turning to look at the still rather shocked wizard. Sirius scratched his head in thought.

"So…they go where exactly?"

"Wherever they're meant to go…heaven…hell?" suggested Spike.

"I thought this was hell?" Sirius said a little more aggressively than he had meant to.

Spike looked away glaring into the white light that surrounded them. He didn't want a conflict, and with this man's apparent prejudice against vampires, it was best that he just ignored him. He rather reminded Spike of Xander, when the two of them had fought in the past. Strange now how he somehow missed that childish provocation…

Sirius sighed quietly. The vampire…Spike he'd said his name was…Sirius was also reminded of someone from his life…his nemesis Snape. They both had the same pale skin and…"all black clothing"…Sirius had once wondered for a long time if Snape was indeed a vampire, but apparently not. Still, he reminded himself that Spike wasn't Snape, and so he couldn't judge him that way.

"Sorry," he mumbled, watching the spot where the woman had once been, "I'm just…this is…If we're dead, and not in hell or heaven…then where are we? Why are we here?"

Spike didn't have an answer.

By seven o-clock, the delicious aroma of dinner was drifting through the house. Soon the kitchen table was full with all the inhabitants of Number Twelve, and Buffy, Xander and Willow had the chance to meet a whole new bunch of faces. Mr. Weasley and his eldest son Bill joined them still chatting avidly to Andrew, who, rather excited about all the attention he was getting, was now explaining about computers. Mr Weasley looked as if he'd died and gone to heaven.

"Did you hear that Molly?" he shouted to his wife, "Andrew here is going to teach me how to use a kleyboard one day!"

"Keyboard." Corrected a grinning Andrew. Mrs. Weasley shook her head and raised her eyes to heaven.

Fred, George and Tonks sat with Xander discussing the difference between Sunnydale High and the school they had all been to, Hogwarts.

"Well we had a swimming team that were part fish at one point…" boasted Xander.

"Oh that's nothing," claimed Fred.

"Yeah, we had a giant squid in the lake…" finished George.

Tonks smiled at Xander as he explained about all the adventures he and his friends had had in the past. Her hair was now a brilliant bubblegum blue, and she continuously changed it throughout the day, much to Xander's amusement.

Buffy and Willow were with Remus at the far end of the table, chatting about the house itself, Remus explaining how much work they had done last summer to get it clean, or well, as clean as it could be.

The younger generation came in last, and it was then that one trio met another. Buffy, Willow and Xander finally met the famous Harry Potter and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Dawn, who had been accepted amongst the small group, went with Ron's younger sister Ginny to sit with Fred and George.

Buffy smiled warmly at the boy, who smiled back politely. He sat opposite her between his friends. Willow watched him curiously. So this was the boy whom Remus spoke of…the one that had so much to face. The one she was risking everything for. He seemed to be coping well, and she couldn't see on the surface why he needed Sirius back so much…he hardly looked grief-stricken. Harry was still laughing and joking with his friends, and Willow had trouble picking up what he really felt inside. She glanced at Buffy, who was now in deep discussion with Remus again, before turning back to the three teenagers.

"Hey," she began, "I'm Willow…"

Harry looked at his two friends.

"Ron," nodded the readheaded boy on his left, grinning a little as he looked at her hair. Willow couldn't help but grin back. She'd never seen so many redheaded wizards and witches in her life. In fact, she'd once thought herself to be unique. She wondered if it had something to do with magic…or if it was purely luck.

"Hermione," said the brunette on his right, offering a hand over the table formally. Willow shook it kindly. From the girl's stance, she could tell this was another very powerful witch, and sensing that kind of power in a girl so young made her think back to when she had first began to get used to her own powers. She knew Hermione had a long way to go yet; but Willow had a subliminal feeling that she'd go far.

Harry eyed Willow, with a mixture of suspicion and hope. Then he broke into a small smile.

"Harry." he said, his green eyes shining. Looking at the witch that Remus Lupin said would be the one to bring Sirius back to him, he wondered if she was up to the job. She looked very nervous as he had entered the room, but then again, he had felt nervous when he'd first heard of the impending plan. He was beginning to get used to it. With what he had yet to face, he felt that he could be stronger if he had Sirius by his side once again…

Dinner was pleasant with everyone now acquainted, and after a delicious meal made by Mrs. Weasley, they were all stuffed and ready for a relaxing evening…

Then the doorbell rang, sending Mrs. Black into one of her fits. Remus rushed to the door.

"Filthy half breed! Scum of the world, messing up my home! Traitors and thieves and mudbloods-"

"Severus I thought we said just knocking…"

A deep voice echoed into the kitchen, a voice that made Willow shiver.

"This is urgent Remus, I don't have time to stand outside waiting for you…"

She turned to Harry expectantly. He, Ron and Hermione were looking at each other darkly.

"Professor Snape," said Hermione looking distastefully at the doorway, "Our Potions teacher…"

"He hates me." added Harry turning to Willow. She frowned and looked to the door. In the doorway stood Severus Snape, his black robes billowing; giving her the impression of a large vampire bat. His very pale, sallow skin, and long greasy black locks added to the vampire notion, and his noir eyes bore directly into her. She looked away very quickly, and knew from that moment, that this man was strange beyond words. The room was silent now, apart from the occasional chinking of cutlery.

"I'm here to speak to Willow Rosenberg…" he announced, still looking at Willow. She stood up, and smiled as politely as she could. Remus, standing behind Snape gave her an encouraging look. Everyone's gazed flicked between Willow and Snape, like a voiceless tennis match was taking place.

"…alone."

Snape left the doorway and headed back into the hallway from whence he came. Willow followed. Remus nodded to her as she passed him; and from behind she heard one of the Weasley brothers cough something that sounded awfully like "slimy git". A thud and a groan of pain made her chuckle slightly, knowing that Mrs. Weasley had dealt with her son.

In the now quiet hall, Willow again examined the man in front of her, and she felt him do the same to her. He made her very uneasy. For some reason she couldn't sense any particular feelings that he was giving off. There was no emotion. No nervousness, no hostility. Nothing.

"Miss Rosenberg, Professor Albus Dumbledore wishes to see you tomorrow to discuss with you," he paused, and now Willow felt that he was finding whatever he had to say quite a challenge, "…to discuss the imminent resurrection of Sirius Black."

Willow nodded and looked up at him. His eyes revealed nothing either. Whatever had been there a moment before was now gone.

"I shall come for you tomorrow morning at eleven o-clock."

And with that he swished his flapping cloak and turned to leave. The front door closed behind him with a creak. Willow slowly trailed back into the kitchen.