Here's an update, sorry it took so long but the middle of this I suddenly decided I didn't like it. Still don't very much but I hope you guys do. Read and review please!
Thanks to:
Miz
Caribear
Draco-FutureBF
Nobody...- read this closely, you might find a familiar name...lol
ScruffyWes
Anne-Marie
Jen
Steph
Erak – I haven't really decided about pairings for anyone yet, I don't even know which of the Scoobies are coming to England. I think definitely one of them, but I can't decide who else
SlayerGirl
Harmoni9
Susan
Vampy the chosen one
Wllw979
Chapter 6 – Pangs
"You're right,"
Dumbledore said and Buffy blinked, surprised despite her anger.
"There is absolutely no reason for you
to help me. It's my fault you are here in the first place."
"Your fault?" Buffy said, her anger
dissipating and being replaced by curiosity.
"It was my fault Sirius died," Dumbledore said
gravely. "My doing. Because Sirius was wanted by the Ministry and the Death
Eaters, I made him stay in this house all of last year. He hated this home; it
reminded him of his past, of the person he could have been. And when he found
out that Harry was in trouble, he couldn't move fast enough to leave this
place. So know you know." Dumbledore's face was troubled, the wrinkles more
pronounced than ever.
"I'm sorry, I truly am," he said, his
brow creasing. "I know what this did to you, what it must be still doing to
you. I understand your anger, trust me you are not the only person that blames
me." Buffy's face softened.
"I don't blame you," she said softly. "I
blame…I don't know, the world. For letting this happen. But Sirius would've
gone whether he had been kept in this house all year or not. You know how much
he cared about Harry, he would've died for him, and he did die for him." Buffy
reached a hand out and placed it on Dumbledore's arm reassuringly. She saw in
this man so much of Giles. The older figure, wiser and more mature than all of
them, looked to to make the difficult decisions and deal with the consequences.
They were both only human and could only try their best.
"Harry
doesn't feel the same way," Dumbledore said. "He is torn between blaming me and
blaming himself. He needs help."
"Surely you would be a better candidate
for that job? Or Remus?" Buffy said searchingly. "I barely know Harry, I've met
him once and he doesn't know me or trust me. He knows you, you've been there
for him and you understand. I'm liable to burst into tears every time he
mentions Sirius." Buffy rubbed her forehead tiredly.
"But that's why you would be good for
him," Dumbledore said gently. "You can relate to him, you are the chosen one,
so is he. You have lost your parents, he has too. And you have lost Sirius and
so has he. To Harry, I am a source of constant pain, I gave him up to the
Dursleys, I made him stay there and I kept from him the most important thing in
his life. I also lost for him the one person he has to rely on. But now he has
you. I see Sirius in you, and I see other qualities that tell me you would be
someone to look up to. And I want Remus to be the same; he can help Harry, be
the link to his parents."
"What would
I have to do?" Buffy murmured. "I'm not one for sitting down and sharing. I
wouldn't know how to do that."
"Just be there for him," Dumbledore
implored. "Be someone for him to lean on. Do it for Sirius."
"That's part of the reason I came here,"
Buffy admitted. "To check on Harry because I know Sirius would've wanted me
to." She sighed deeply. "Alright, I'll keep an eye on him. But I can't promise
anything. And I can't promise I'll stick around, if Sunnydale or my friends
need me then I'll have to go. This isn't my apocalypse." Dumbledore nodded
benignly.
"Thank you," he said. "Sirius was right about
you." He stood up, and smiled at her warmly, which she returned hesitantly.
Buffy felt relief, as if a huge weight had been lifted off of her shoulders.
Something to do, to help Harry, something worthwhile. Maybe she would heal; the
part of her that was broken would be fixed.
"I must depart now Buffy," Dumbledore
said. "But I will return as soon as I can. I would like Harry to be brought
here as soon as possible. I will inform Remus and the two of you can go and
fetch him when possible." Buffy nodded, and impulsively hugged Dumbledore. She
pulled away, feeling slightly embarrassed at her outburst of affection, but his
blue eyes twinkled at her before he swept from the room.
Buffy was exhausted and sat at the table for a few moments to regain her composure. She couldn't quite figure out what she had wanted to do by coming to England but now she had something to do. It was better that way. She could stay here, try and get over her grief and do some good. Sunnydale would be fine without her; Faith could take care of it.
She
realised she was tired, the day had really taken it out of her, her emotions
had pushed her to the limit.
Getting up from her seat, she walked to the drawing room. Enetring, she saw
everyone still sitting talking.
"I'm gonna head to bed," she announced
and they all looked up and called various versions of 'goodnight.' Buffy smiled
and walked out of the room, up the stairs. As she reached the first floor, a
dishevelled head poked out of the room which the loud snoring had come from.
"Pedro?" he said drunkenly and Buffy shook her
head, with a grin. The head disappeared and Buffy continued her ascent,
chuckling. She reached her room and quickly changed into pyjamas and brushed
her teeth.
Tiredly, she pulled back the sheets on her bed, and found a wand in her bed.
Picking it up, she looked at it closely until it transformed into a rubber
chicken. She dropped it in surprise, looked at it lying on the floor, then
shrugged and got into her bed.
The mattress was soft and comfortable, and she wrapped the sheets and blanket around her. She though of Sirius, lying in this bed a month or so ago had he been thinking of her, as she was now thinking of him? She hoped so. And of course, she thought sleepily, she wasn't going to let this archway thing go. After she'd helped Harry, she'd find Sirius if she could. She'd do something.
She reached out and put out the candle on her bedside table and slipped into a dream filled sleep.
Buffy awoke, and for a moment wasn't sure where she was. When she realised, she got up and dressed quickly. She decided to forgo the robes, putting on a pair of black trousers, and a soft cream jumper, and figuring that the others could just deal with her muggle-ness. She headed downstairs, smelling the breakfast cooking as she did.
She walked
into the kitchen which was full of Weasleys in the only chair free.
"Did you sleep well?" Molly said,
handing Buffy a plate and tipping five sausages onto it.
"Fine thank you," Buffy replied
politely, even though this wasn't exactly true. Her dreams had once again been
plagued by snakes, Harry and Sirius calling to her. She began to eat her
sausages as Molly went round the table giving people eggs. Lupin sat opposite
Buffy and smiled at her.
"Dumbledore said we should go to get
Harry today," he informed her. "I was thinking after breakfast."
"Shouldn't we call first?" Buffy asked,
helping herself to ketchup.
"Not with the Dursleys," Lupin said darkly.
"No, it's better if we just turn up and get Harry."
"Can we come?" George asked, a wicked
grin spreading across his face that matched Fred's.
"In no circumstances," Molly replied
crossly. "Honestly, your father trying to help muggles and his own sons muggle
baiting. What kind of impression does that give?" Fred and George's grins
vanished and Buffy chuckled.
"Don't worry," she said with a smile. "You can
continue to muggle bait me; I find it kind of funny." Molly looked at her
sharply.
"What did they do?" she asked, shooting
a disapproving glance at the twins. Buffy made and innocent face.
"Oh nothing," she replied nonchalantly.
"Just you know, I'm a muggle and all." Molly looked suspicious so Buffy
concentrated on eating her breakfast.
When she had finished, she and Remus put on their coats, cloak in Remus' case and a long black linen coat in Buffy's case. They walked out of Grimmauld Place and stood on the pavement in front of it.
"How are we
getting there?" Buffy asked.
"Dumbledore provided us with a portkey,"
Remus said. "Do you know what that it?" Buffy nodded so he continued. "Harry's
area is well protected; there are spells on it more powerful than even
Voldemort can break. Only a portkey made by Dumbledore can get you there."
Remus reached into his pocket and pulled out a rubber chicken, which made Buffy
laugh.
"Hold on to this," Remus said and Buffy
obliged. As she clutched it, she felt the ground disappear from beneath her and
the world around her whirl into a bright spinning tornado of colour.
Then she landed, hard. Buffy sprawled across the lawn and Remus stood over her,
smiling slightly.
"Nice slayer coordination," he said,
offering a hand to help her up and Buffy scowled.
"When Sirius described it, I didn't
think it would be like that," she said with a shrug. "Where are we anyways? Did
we come to the wrong place?" Remus shook his head.
"This is Little Whinging, home of the Dursleys and unfortunately for him, Harry," he said, looking round at the clear blue skies, perfect characterless square houses and neat lawns, one of which they were standing on. "Muggledom at it's worst." He walked across the perfect lawn to the front door of the house, number four.
Remus rang
the bell which trilled in the house. Buffy stood behind him patiently, waiting
to see these people that she heard about. The door opened in front of them and
a very wide man with a large moustache stood before them.
"Yes?" he said impatiently, looking at
them suspiciously. He looked closely at Lupin. "Wait don't I know you?"
Remus pushed past him and Buffy followed obediently.
"We're here to collect Harry," Remus said smoothly, and the man turned a strange colour, somewhere between red and purple and his moustache bristled. Buffy watched interestedly.
"Are you Vernon Dursley?" she said, moving
forward. "I've heard so much about you sir." Buffy kept her face straight. Mr
Dursleys eyes moved over Buffy's decidedly muggle clothing.
"Who are you?" eh grunted, a smidgen
more warmth in his voice.
"I'm Buffy Summers," Buffy said
politely, extending a hand. "A muggle if it helps." Mr Dursley shook her hand suspiciously.
An impossibly thin woman and a large boy entered the room, starting at the
sight of Buffy and Remus.
"Theses two are here for the boy," Mr
Dursley grunted to his wife and son and both of them paled.
The five of them stood in silence for a moment, and the rather large boy
twitched randomly.
"We'll is Harry here then?" Buffy asked
impatiently. Mr and Mrs Dursley exchanged glances.
"Boy!" Mr Dursley roared. From upstairs,
Buffy and Remus heard footsteps that moved across the hallway and down the
stairs.
A tall boy, with dark brown messy hair, and wide green eyes entered the room. He
was wearing a large, ragged t shirt and a pair of jeans that were decidedly
large for him.
"Hi Harry," Remus said warmly. "Are you
ready?" Harry managed a small smile and nodded. He disappeared again, then
reappeared a minute later dragging a large trunk behind him.
"We'll be off then." Remus said
awkwardly. "Bye then." The Dursleys made no movement, so Buffy picked up Harry's
trunk and the three left the house.
