Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot (and maybe a few made up characters here and there). Buffy characters are the property of Mr. Whedon. Harry Potter characters are the property of Ms. Rowling. For the love of all things purple... I'm a broke college kid. Don't sue.

Through the Looking Glass

Author's Note: Wow - some reader's really don't trust me. LOL. I've never heard of Vampire: The Masquerade, nor do I do any Egyptian RPG "stuff." The mummy is intertwined within this plot; and everything has a reason, because it might be around in future chapters. With that said... I hope you enjoy a nice little tiff between a certain Greasy Git and the Slayer. WOOH!

Chapter 5

The Phoenix Orb

Tonks stood up and moved quickly to the back of the building where a twisted staircase led to the second floor. She didn't motion for Xander, but Xander followed anyway. His curiosity was definitely getting the better of him. Obviously the witch had heard something that Xander could not hear... so he figured it was something magical, and he was set to get a good look at it.

Upstairs, the room looked warm and homely (Or as homely as a witch's home would look, thought Xander), and in the center of the room stood a dark mahogany table. There were no chairs situated around the table, which Xander thought odd; and in the center of the table, on top of a very gold piece of fabric, lay a small red orb.

"Gonna take a wild guess and say that's that Feet-nex Orb." Xander said as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Shh." Tonks held a hand to her mouth, and then diverted all of her attention to the orb. "It's the Phoenix Orb." She placed both hands on top of the orb and watched as sparkling swirls of gold leapt from the orb and began to form letters in the air.

Xander took a step closer to try and read the gold scribble.

Deh Ceerbre Dorb Straw Goh. Request help of those closest. Time is of the essence.

Tonks removed her hands and the gold script slowly began to fade.

Xander smiled, "That was cool, but what does it mean?"

"Well," Tonks started.

"What else does it do?"

"What?" Tonks looked faintly surprised, and Xander noticed that her hair had changed back to gold and pink. "The orb?"

"Yeah."

"It, well, that's pretty much all. You could also send messages through the orb, but it takes those skilled beyond most. I'm not capable to send messages; I can only receive them." Tonks lead Xander down to the first floor, she began to grab a few things.

"How many people can send messages?"

"People?"

"I mean, wizards."

"Very few. Only three wizards and two witches at the moment can actually send messages."

"Oh. Why is it like that?"

"Safety."

"Oh."

"The wizarding world has their demons too, Xander." Tonks smiled and she handed him a cloak. "Put it on, you're coming with me."

x x x x x

Buffy had been taken from the hospital and put in a room in a high tower. It was cold and damp... but most of all it was lonely. Buffy had never been able to cope too well with being alone, yet that's how her life was supposed to be. She was supposed to be alone.

Stop that, she scolded herself. You'll depress yourself.

Buffy had lost count of the hours she had been holed up in the room. She knew it hadn't been a day yet, but it was drawing close to being around the 24-hour mark.

The people who had found her, also didn't see fit to feed her. Her stomach thanked her for remembering that particular detail with a great pang and a growl.

"Knock it off," she poked her stomach. It gurgled in reply.

"The first sign of insanity is when one talks to his, or her, self."

Buffy looked up, and saw Greasy-hair Man through the bars of her cell room. "Do you get off on annoying the hell outta people?"

"Just you."

"You disgust me." Buffy rolled her eyes as she heard a click. He was coming in?

This should be a load of fun.

"Good."

One with a mouth like me, huh? I'll show him.

"What is your name?" His voice echoed off the walls and he pulled out his wand.

"I dunno." Buffy shrugged and leaned back against the wall.

"Even if you don't tell me, I'll find out anyway, so I suggest that you be a good girl and tell me your name."

A threat? Oh, boy, I can't wait to beat the snot out of you. Probably would make you look better.

"That's not very nice."

"I don't lie... wait. What?" Buffy looked up and felt like something was pulsing through her brain. She closed her eyes and shook her head, the pulsing stopped.

"Did that hurt?" The man sneered.

Buffy didn't answer him, but she did stand up. She looked up again, and his eyes met hers, and again her brain felt like someone was digging around with a pickaxe. She closed her eyes and put a hand to her head, showing her back to the man.

"I'm almost there," he said.

Buffy knew not to look into his eyes anymore; so now that she was facing the wall, she opened her eyes. She knew that she needed to attack him before he attacked her further. She used the wall for leverage and pushed off of the wall, landing behind him. Buffy threw a punch and kicked him to the floor, and before she could do anymore she heard one word...

"Impedimenta!"

Buffy was leaning down towards the man - to pick him up and throw him against the wall - but when those words came from his mouth, she felt like she was going in uber-slow motion. Then she realized that she had stopped mid-lunge - in the air, no less.

"Severus!" Buffy felt the presence behind her, and knew that it was Shabby Guy.

"She hit me first!"

What the hell? Are we in the first grade?

"So, you hexed the only thing that holds the answers?"

Thing?

"Remus... she has... powers... without magic!"

Damn skippy. Kicked your sorry ass, too, didn't I?

"Get out, Severus." For seeming to be a nasty sentence, the man's voice was very calm.

Ooh, this is kinda fun, being all floaty. Minus the part where I can't move again. I hate these people.

Shabby Guy came into view; he kneeled in front of Buffy, so that she could see him better.

Hello - who needs the Fab Five? God, I wish we were in New York, I'd call them up right away.

"You should not let Severus get to you so. He's like that with everyone he meets."

Oh, damn, I hate it when I talk about someone and they're nice. Good thing -

Buffy landed flat on her face as the charm was taken off her.

- Ow - he can't hear me.

"Do all of you enjoy making a fool of me?" Buffy pushed herself up, but wouldn't look at Shabby Guy in the face. She didn't feel like slaying someone so nice, because they found it entertaining to rummage around in her brain.

"Some do take pride in such things." His voice was extremely kind, and Buffy had to look up, or else she would feel like she was being rude. "I apologize for Severus. He doesn't really have good skills when he's around other beings."

Buffy forced an awkward laugh. "What's your name?"

"Not to be rude, but I'd like your name first, since you dropped in on us."

"Buffy. Buffy Summers."

"Remus Lupin."

"That wasn't so bad." Buffy sighed.

"Of course it wasn't, Miss Summers."

"Oh, no. I don't do the "Miss" thing. Call me Buffy."

There was a slight pause, where the two just stared at each other. Buffy figured that he meant to continue the conversation sooner or later, so she just waited it out.

"Now - would you be kind enough as to explain how you dropped in the middle of my class?"

"That was your class?" Buffy mentally slapped herself. Usually when someone says my they mean my. Duh.

"Yes."

Buffy suddenly remembered the image of the horror on the children's faces. They had been scared of her. "Are the kids okay?"

It took the man a second to process the question. "Yes, the children are fine. They were startled, but after the entire school's teacher population burst in, I believe they felt safe."

"Wow." Buffy's eyes widened. "That popular, was I?"

"You don't understand the seriousness - wait - you never answered my question. How did you come about to ..."

Buffy interrupted him; "I touched a rock and the next thing I knew I was flying around and then... BAM... I was here. That's all I know."

"Portkey... but not even portkeys can break the barriers." Remus was talking to himself.

Remus, Buffy thought. That's a funny name. She hadn't really thought about his name until just that second when he went off into a world all of his own. Remus. Ha! Think I'll just call him Lupin.

"Lupin?"

"Hmm?"

"Just trying it out."

"What?"

"Your name."

"Oh." He turned back around and looked like he was talking to himself again.

"Lupin?"

"Yes, Buffy."

"I can call you Lupin right?"

"Yes." Lupin looked as if he was about to turn around and continue on with the chattering, but Buffy had to try it one more time, since he obviously was harder to annoy than Snape.

"Lupin."

"Buffy."

"Lupin!"

He said nothing, but looked at her, waiting for her response.

"I really like your name."

x chapter's end x

R&R. You know you wanna! More reviews equal quicker chapters.

Happy Holidays to everybody! You get this chapter a few hours earlier than what I originally planned. I was going to post it midnight Dec. 24th; but hey, nothing wrong with it being a little early. Oh - if you don't get the orb's message; just stare at it for quite some time. And if you still don't get it; don't worry, in due time you'll see someone send a message and everything will be clear.

Look forward to Ch. 6 entitled:

Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Workshop
Willow meets the Weasley's.