I should be revising for a test tomorrow but I'm writing this so review lots please! Hope you like!

Thanks to:

Charmedfanatic3000

Renna

Lolly6

Lexinator – I get what you mean about the American thing but I think Giles represents her American life to her so would make her less homesick.

Dreamer Child – wow thanks for the huge review!

Anne-Marie – I don't think Spike could've beaten Buffy. Maybe when she loved him but not at the point she's at in this fic. The reason Angelus could was because of who he was with his soul to Buffy I think.

Erak

ScruffyWes

Caribear

Captinuv

Thorn of Blood – loved your Marauders fic, I will get round to reviewing when I have time. Waiting to see Sirius and Remus' reactions to going to Hogwarts!

Vampy the chosen one

Miz

Chapter 17 – Whimsical Wants

The next day Buffy was up early. To an outsider it would seem she was staring out of the bedroom window at the sunrise aimlessly, but Buffy was planning. She was thinking about what she would soon have to do and the things she knew about it. A couple of hours passed without movement and then Buffy went down a floor to the spare room which Mundungus had once slept off a hangover in, and that Giles was now occupying.
 "Morning," she said with a yawn as she entered. Giles looked up and smiled.
 "Morning," he replied. He was unpacking the last of his belongings it appeared, including an extensive pile of books.
 "You didn't have to bring your whole library," Buffy said, sitting down on his bed and gesturing to the books. "Sirius has some magic books downstairs you could use."
 "I need them really," Giles said, standing up straight and scratching his head as he surveyed the mess around him. "I'm researching spells, trying to find something that can bring you back from hell." Buffy brushed her hair away from her face.
 "Can I help?" she asked, rubbing her nose.
 "You don't have the best research skills," Giles said with a chuckle. "I'll be alright on my own." Buffy put on her offended face.
 "Fine, I'll just go eat worms," she said huffily, but smiling. She nodded though. "You're right, I suck at research, I was always the get it done person. Wills was the best one."
 "Nothing has turned up yet," Giles said, removing his glasses to clean. "But I've got more to check through. I'll have a look through some of the books downstairs, but if I find a spell in one of them I'll need wand magic I think."
 "We could ask Moody maybe," Buffy said thoughtfully. "Someone who wouldn't go crazy about it. But not Harry."
 "Wouldn't Harry help?"  Giles asked carefully.
 "It's not that," Buffy said, shaking her head. "If he knew what I was planning he'd want to come with me. In fact, there's no way we'd leave him behind. But I can't get his hopes up like that. If I die and I fail then at least he won't know. If he thought Sirius was coming back then he'd just get his hopes up again and I can't break his heart."

 "You care about him don't you?" Giles asked gently and Buffy nodded.

 "He's Sirius godson and he was pretty much like his son over the last few years," Buffy said quietly. "I should be looking out for him now; I want to look out for him. And he's like me, he's had such a rough time of it and I want to help him."
 "If you die you won't help him," Giles said detachedly.
 "But if I bring Sirius back I will," Buffy said, looking at him levelly. "I've got to take the chance." Giles nodded. "Got any ideas what to look for in the research?"
 "I don't know to be honest," Giles said tiredly. "Something that will find you wherever you are. A transport spell maybe. Or something to do with hell, I don't really know. Maybe creating a portal."
 "You could look at a spell like the one the First used to get Angel back from hell," Buffy attempted. "We could owl him and ask him what it was like in hell, so I've got some idea what I'm up against."
 "Have you heard anything from Spike?" Giles asked. Buffy had told him about their meeting and what he'd said when she described what Dumbledore had told her.
 "Not a whisper," Buffy admitted. "I didn't expect much to be honest. I haven't got a clue where he's keeping himself either."
 "I'll owl Angel," Giles said decisively. "See if he can get any of his team on it, fill him in but tell him to keep it quiet. I'll research in the evenings."

 "Good," Buffy said. "I'll help despite my poor skills. I want to." Giles nodded. "Now let's get downstairs. You haven't had breakfast until you've had a Molly Weasley breakfast!"

After they had breakfasted well, Buffy looked around the table expectantly. Only her, Giles, Ron, Harry and Hermione remained in the kitchen.
 "What's everyone's today plans?" she said brightly, earning groans from Ron and Harry.
 "We get our OWL results today," Hermione replied perkily. "Which I for one am looking forward to." Harry and Ron groaned again.
 "It's easy to look forward to it when you know you've got straight Outstandings," Ron said grumpily. "And if you mention ehwaz, I'll curse you."
 "So this is like your SATs?" Buffy asked wanting to avert trouble, and Harry nodded.
 "The marks you get decide what classes they let you into for NEWTs," Harry explained. "And they decide what kind of job you get after Hogwarts." Buffy nodded.
 "I liked SATs in the end," she said thoughtfully. Giles smiled, drinking a cup of tea and sighing loudly.
 "What?" Buffy said in surprise.
 "No one makes tea like the British," he said contentedly. Buffy shrugged.
 "All tastes the same to me," she said nonchalantly.
 "Here they come!" Hermione practically yelled as three owls became visible from the kitchen window. She leapt out of herself and threw the small window open wide so the three owls could coast throw the open window and land on the table.
Hermione eagerly took her envelope from a tawny and proceeded to rip it open deftly. Harry and Ron were less forward.
 "You go," Ron said, not shifting from his seat.
 "No you go," Harry said, also not moving.
 "I'll go," Buffy interjected, taking both the letter from the other two owls. All three took flight and left the kitchen.
Buffy read the fronts of the letters and passed them to their appropriate owners. Neither boy made an effort to open them, but Hermione was eagerly scanning her letter.
 "How'd you do?" Buffy asked her, turning her attention away from the boys. Hermione looked up, her eyes shining brightly.
 "I got outstanding in everything!" she exclaimed happily. "My parents will be so proud. I'd better owl them." She dashed from the room, leaving Ron and Harry looking slightly shell shocked.
 "Well that's good then," Harry said stiltedly. "But we'd better…." Reluctantly he opened his envelope and pulled out the piece of parchment inside. His face was unreadable as he scanned the contents.
 "Well?" Ron prompted. "How is it mate?"
 "Not bad," Harry admitted slowly. "I got what I needed for next year. O's in Defence against the Dark Arts, Potions and Charms.  E's in Transfiguration, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures. A's in Astronomy and History of Magic. D in Divination though."
 Ron looked pale and sick.
 "Well done," he said shakily. "I'd better get this over with." He too ripped open his envelope and with unsteady hands opened the letter to read. He let out a long sigh, not dissimilar to Giles'.

 "It's okay," he said relievedly. "O in Potions and Defence Against the Dark Arts. E in Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures and History of Magic. A in Astronomy and D in Divination."
 "Well done mate," harry said, patting his back. "Looks like we've got another year of Snape then." Ron looked sick again at the thought.
 "Well how did you do?" Molly said, bursting into the kitchen, followed by Ginny, Bill and Charlie. "I saw Hermione, Outstanding just as we expected. Such a bright girl. How are they?"

 "They're okay," Ron said, handing her the letter. Molly read the letter eagerly and began to beam.
 "Oh Ronnie you did so well!" she said proudly. "Except for Divination but that doesn't matter, the rest are very good." She swooped down on him with a kiss. Ron cringed but Buffy and Giles smiled.
 "We'll have to go to Diagon Alley," Molly said absent mindedly. "We've got to get your supplies and I'm sure we can find a present for you since you did so well. We must owl Arthur, come with me Ron." Ron and the rest of the Weasley clan obediently followed Molly out of the kitchen.
Buffy looked at Harry who was still studying his results with an air of disbelief. She felt sorry for him, she knew he must miss Sirius even more, miss a parent figure fussing over him and telling him how well he'd done. Still she could be there for him.
 "Well done," Buffy said warmly and he looked up. "I don't really know what I'm talking about but you did really well." Harry smiled.
 "Thanks," he said happily. "I'm surprised but it's good."
 "Congratulations," Giles added. "Something to be proud of."
Molly burst into the kitchen again.
 "Harry love, how are yours?" she asked affectionately. Harry too handed her the paper which she read quickly.
 "Well done dear," she said and Harry grinned. "I meant to ask but we were so caught up in Ron's….but I wanted to tell Arthur. Well done." She left the kitchen again and Buffy looked to Harry again.
 "I'm not her son," Harry said after a moments pause. "It'd be nice to have my own people though, you know?" Buffy nodded.
 "We can be your people," she said brightly and Harry grinned again. "I'm good at being a person. We could go to Diagon Alley, just the three of us. Spend the day introducing Giles to the Wizarding World and celebrating your success. I want to buy you a present.
 "You don't have to do that," Harry said quickly.
 "I want to," Buffy persisted. "C'mon, it's your day. You, me and Giles, young, free and magical."
 "I'd like that," Harry said sincerely.
 "Good," Buffy said. "I'll tell the others what we're doing, and then we can go."

In order to gain the full effect, Harry, Buffy and Giles decided to travel to Diagon Alley by Muggle methods. A few stops on the train and they were standing in a bustling London street.
 "Where now?" Giles said, looking around for some clue as to where they would buy Wizarding supplies.

 "The Leaky Cauldron," Harry said, pointing at an inconspicuous pub in front of them, which Giles was startled by.
 "I didn't even notice it before you said," he said, cleaning his glasses rapidly. The three entered the pub, which was dark and musty.
 "Harry Potter!" the toothless barkeeper Tom exclaimed. "What can I get you? It's on the house." Harry blushed and waved away the offers of a drink, passing quickly through the bar.
 "Last year they couldn't turn away from me quick enough," he said uncomfortably. "But now they know Voldemort's back they want to be my friend again."
 The three stood in front of a brick wall. Harry pulled out his wand and tapped a sequence of bricks, causing them to rearrange themselves into an archway they could walk through.

 Diagon Alley was alive with activity as always. Witches and Wizards walked through the street, discussing unicorn tail prices and the latest Quidditch scores. Shops lined the winding road advertising things Giles had never heard of before.
 "What do you need to get?" Buffy asked Harry who consulted his list.
 "Potions supplies," he said carefully. "And a load of new books." They went into the apothecary first, Harry selecting the ingredients he'd need for NEWT level potions while Giles and Buffy peered at various ingredients in barrels and jars. 
 "Eww," Buffy screwed up her face. "I thought eye of newt was just in stories. Yuck. And frog liver."
 "I need some of both of them," Harry said grinning, reaching out for the packages and jars.
 "I like Willow's potions," Buffy grumbled. "They're made of petals and feathers and herbs and stuff, and they smell good too."

 "It's quite interesting actually," Giles said reflectively. "I'll be interested to see a potion book to see what they can make."
 Harry paid and they left the apothecary.
 "Where next?" Harry asked.

 "We want to buy an owl," Buffy said and so Harry led them over to Eyelops Owl Emporium.
 "There's so many Giles," Buffy exclaimed. "How am I supposed to decide?"
 "I like this one," Giles replied, pointing out a straightforward looking tawny owl who eyed them disdainfully. 

 "That one looks mean," Buffy said dismissively. "I like this one." A large barn owl sat in a cage, hooting serenely. Giles stepped forward and looked at it carefully.
 "It's nice," he said finally and Buffy grinned and picked up the cage. She paid quickly and they left the shop, Buffy clutching her new owl in its cage.
 "We could go and see Fred and George in their new shop," Harry suggested and they walked along the street until they reached a small shop that bore the sign 'Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.'
Buffy pushed open the door and a bell tinkled. Simultaneously, the twins appeared at the counter, wearing identical grins.
 "Good afternoon," Fred said politely. "Welcome to Weasleys Wizard Wheezes for all your whimsical wants. How can we help you?"

 "Hey guys, how're the sales?" Buffy asked, setting her cage down next to the counter.
 "Not bad, not bad," George said speculatively. "A lot of Hogwarts kids have been in to buy Skiving Snack boxes. They're all worried about what they're gonna get for a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher next year."

 "Can't be worse than Umbridge," Harry muttered darkly.
 "Don't speak too soon young Harry," Fred warned. "The Ministry could have much worse up its sleeve." Harry shrugged.
 "Did you hear about the OWL results?" Buffy asked them, putting a proud hand on Harry's shoulder.
 "Yeah, Mum owled us," Fred said dismissively. "Told us about how proud she was of ickle Ronnie, and Harry and Herm. Delightful."

 "We'd better get on," Buffy said picking up her owl. "Giles will collapse if we don't get to the book shop soon." Ignoring the protests that they didn't buy anything, Buffy, Giles and Harry walked out of the shop and down the street.

They entered Flourish and Blotts and Buffy decided by the look on Giles' face that he had found his heaven. Shelves stacked with mystical books reached the ceiling and piles filled the shop floor.
 "I'll be getting my booklist," Harry said, before disappearing into the stacks.
 "C'mon Giles," Buffy said, tugging at his arm to get his attention. "We could find something." They walked amongst the stacks and found a shelve holding a great deal of books on the afterlife and hell. For ten minutes they quietly sifted through their findings, looking for something that could help them.

 "This is good Giles," Buffy said quickly, not looking up from her book. "It has a description of one man's account of hell. And it mentions the Archway! I need to know what to expect don't I? Have you got anything Giles?" There was no answer from Giles and so Buffy looked up.

Harry stood before her, staring at her accusatorily.
 "You're going through aren't you?" he said angrily. "You're going through the Archway. Well not without me!" 

*****

Ooh cliffy! Review and it will inspire me to update even sooner!