Disclaimer: Buffy characters are the property of Mr. Whedon. Harry Potter characters are the property of Ms. Rowling. The story itself is my own ideas; I'm just borrowing a few characters that don't happen to be mine. Don't sue; I'm already broke enough as it is.
Through the Looking Glass
Chapter 19
Who Reads in the Library?
x x x x x
Remus pulled a chair towards the desk he had picked in the library. He pulled out a book that he had just ordered from Matilda's Musty Old Books and Things called Stories of Magyk. It was one of the older magic books that he could actually get his hands on in this crazy world.
As he flipped through the pages, he heard a soft gasp behind him. When he turned to look, he saw a few first years scuttle out of sight. Shrugging, Remus continued on with his reading. Just as he was getting comfortable, another sound distracted him.
And, here, I thought libraries were quiet.
When Remus looked up, he saw one person that he did not want to see. Of all people, Buffy had just walked into the library and had scared Madame Pince's cat, which was now hissing and spitting at everything. It wasn't that he didn't want to see her... he was just too embarrassed by Xander's outburst of magical energy that had made him into a sex-a-holic. Had he been a few... no... ten years younger, he probably would not have minded so much. He probably would have found it hilarious back then...
Of course, he remembered, she too had been under the spell. So, maybe, Buffy wouldn't think too much of it.
"Remus!" Buffy shuffled towards him, the cat still having a fit at her heels.
"Miss Summers! Shh!" Madame Pince placed her finger to her mouth and glared at Buffy.
Buffy gave her a small smile, then turned her attention back to Remus. "Oops..."
"Making a grand entrance, I see," Remus nodded, trying not to seem too... what was the word? Entranced? Yes, that was a good word.
"My forte," Buffy joked as she pointed at the desk. "Can I sit?"
"Of course," Remus felt like his heart was going to explode it was going so fast.
Control... breathe... in and out...
"What are you reading?" Buffy watched as Remus twirled the book so that she could see the title. "Mmhmm... never been much of a reader, myself. But, reading suits you."
Oh, Merlin... what does that mean? She must find me terribly boring. Damn.
"Suits me?"
"Yes," Buffy looked perplexed. "It's... y'know... like Willow. Reading suits her, because she's Willow. I... don't think I'm explaining it right." There was a slight pause, and Remus wished he could mentally slap himself. "It's a good thing, though."
"Oh," Remus, not knowing what to do, went back to his book, even though he couldn't concentrate enough to read one word.
"Remus?"
"Yes, Buffy?"
"Can I... it's just... you're such a good person. I need to tell you something."
Remus looked at Buffy. Her blue eyes held fear behind them. He had seen that look in so many eyes, and if he could stop her from feeling that way... then he was up for the challenge.
"I'm listening;" Remus placed the book down. Maybe Xander was right... all women wanted to do was talk. Well, he'd talk. Or at least let Buffy do most of the talking.
"I... is there any place we can go?" Buffy looked around nervously. Remus stood up and nodded towards the back of the library.
"There are a few study rooms back here-"
"Good." Buffy followed Remus and looked over her shoulder to see Cordelia thumbing through a book. Cordelia was talking animatedly to someone that was hidden by the bookshelves...
x x x x x
"Want some tea, Xander?"
"No, thanks, Tonks!" Xander yelled into the back. He was slightly afraid that if he allowed her to make tea that she'd probably burn her hands, or The Brewing Bog would be burned to the ground. And considering that he was living on the second floor until Thanksgiving, Xander thought he was better suited inside and not outside in the cold.
A few customers were actually inside the restaurant, which was odd, considering that the last time he had been here, not one chair had been occupied.
"Sonny!" A croaky voice called out to Xander. The man's voice suited him, Xander thought. He had green skin and bugged out eyes...
"Er... yeah?"
"Don't ye take tha' sort'a tone wif me, ye smarmy warmblooded... er... fwooper!" The man shook his green fist at Xander, and his long thin fingers looked slightly menacing as Xander drew nearer.
"Fwooper?" Xander mumbled under his breath. "Better than a bucked-toothed frog wanna-be..."
"Heh?"
"What do you need, pops?" Xander interrupted.
"Tell tha' Thongs that I'd like sommat tea..."
"It's Tonks... and we don't serve tea." Xander smiled and patted the man on the shoulder. "She's not all here sometimes, sir."
"Ye don' serve tea? What kind'a pub be this? Come on 'Erbie... less get the hell outta this place."
Xander watched as Frog Man hopped out with his rather normal looking wizard friend. He made his way upstairs and decided that he better send out his apology letters...
Buff -
Well, I'm with Tonks right now. McGonagall said that it might be better if I wasn't around Hogwarts right now. I kind of agreed with her, too. But - you and Cordy are invited for Thanksgiving here in Godric's Hollow. Nice town, but one too many toads.
Well, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for turning you into the Buffy Bot. I think ol' Lupin liked it though... I mean... he went all Casablanca or something like that. Maybe it was Rhett Butler, I dunno... I don't do the romance thing too well. Obviously.
Well - owl me back if you get a chance.
Miss you already,
Xander
Xander reread the letter. It seemed okay. Now he had to try and appease Cordelia through a letter. Which, if Xander might say, was going to be a hard feat to accomplish.
Cordy -
I'm sure you hate me right now, but that's okay. I just wanted to let you know that you looked great in that outfit though. And, you nearly tickled me to death, if I can remember correctly. So - it was a win/win situation.
I'm in Godric's Hollow with Nymphadora Tonks; she's a member of the Order. I don't know if you've met her yet. She's nice. And... she's invited you and Buffy over so we can have a decent Thanksgiving for once.
Don't try to get any of the teachers to hex me, please.
Xander
Xander nodded his head, and figured it was the best he could do. He folded up the pieces of parchment and handed it to the owl. She hooted softly and took off. Xander figured that when she came back that he'd send her off again with the other apologies...
Snape -
Sorry. It was real funny, though.
Harris
Lupin -
Hey man, sorry for that. But, you were rather dashing!
Xander
Hagrid -
Sorry for having McGonagall chase you with her bows and arrows. You'll laugh about it one day...
Xander
McGonagall -
I know I've already said my apologies, but I just thought a written letter would make you feel better. So...
Sorry!
Xander
Hermione -
Ron told me you were hopping around like a rabbit. Just wanted to say I'm sorry if I caused your feet any pain.
Xander
Ron -
Thanks for the help. Being a pirate isn't all that grand.
Xander
x x x x x
Cordelia glared at Snape as she took a seat. "What a dumbass question."
"Chase, you are being completely foolish. I only meant-"
"Doesn't matter... you're being stupid." Cordelia went back to her book as Madame Pince shot her a look.
"I'm not going to fight with you," Snape sat down in the chair beside her. Cordelia flipped through the pages, too fast to really be reading. "You're making a bigger scene than what is necessary."
"You were the one that started it!"
"Fine," Snape stood up quickly and flared out his robes. "I'm going to warn you though... Cordelia?"
Cordelia had fell from the chair to the floor, clutching her head...
x x x
"Hey!" Cordelia yelled into the white nothing-ness. "HEY!"
"No need to shout."
Cordelia whirled around. "Gabriel!"
"Yes."
"What...?"
"I have a message for you." Gabriel paused. Cordelia tapped her foot anxiously.
"Well... spit it out."
"Your visions are having a hard time getting through, Cordelia."
Cordelia could only see Gabriel's face and hands, as the rest of his body was also covered in complete white, just like the surrounding space.
"Oh, really?" Cordelia clapped her hands together in false happiness. "I already knew that, thank you very much. Tell God he's slacking off."
"Now, now..."
"Oh, shut up, you know that wasn't blasphemous." Cordelia folded her arms.
"It very well could be." Gabriel smiled at Cordelia.
"So ... anything else? Or are you just going to let me stay passed out back there?"
"We're sending visions, but something somewhere has put up a force field around you."
"Well, you're a higher power. Smash it." Cordelia said in a monotone voice.
"If we did... you would... die."
"I'm already dead."
"Yes, but you'd die... again. And it would be painful." Gabriel looked worried.
Cordelia said nothing and looked around. "What do you want me to do?"
"You know the other visions you were given?"
"Yes - I've written them all down." Cordelia nodded.
"Use those to help, until the bubble around you is gone." Gabriel then vanished with no other word.
"Goodbye to you too," Cordelia muttered.
x x x
"Cordelia?"
Cordelia's eyes fluttered open as she saw Snape's face only an inch from hers. She stared blankly for a moment and then pushed him out of her way.
"Get off me," she muttered.
"Let me take you to Pomfrey. What happened?"
"I'm fine... it was only a white out."
x x x x x
"Buffy?"
Buffy shook her head. Was she really going to tell him... something she hadn't told anybody. Not even Willow or Xander or Cordelia knew. They probably thought something was up, but it didn't really hit them, like it had her.
"I need to tell somebody this, because right now I don't think the guys would understand." Buffy took in a deep breath. "I'm a Slayer... or I was. Where I'm from, the Slayer has all these magical powers to defeat evil. Not the magic that you use, but it's still magic. It's like being super-human. I heal faster, I have super strength, super senses... all that stuff. But, ever since I came here... it's... well. I haven't been super-human."
Buffy rolled up her sleeve and showed Remus a cut on her arm. "I've had this ever since you cut me with your ... er ... claws."
Remus looked upset. "Don't worry - I've had much worse than this. But that's not the point." Buffy covered the cut back up. "See - that cut should have been gone the morning after. But, now it's going to be a scar, because the magic isn't there."
Remus nodded his head. "Maybe when you fell through the portal," he smiled slightly, remembering her falling right in the middle of his class. "Your magic was lost when you traveled through the portal."
"Yeah, but that night I still felt it in me, it wasn't until I woke up with like fifty teachers around me that I felt funny." Buffy sighed.
"You'll just have to be careful and not go looking for trouble, Buffy." Remus placed a hand on her shoulder. He noticed a smile and felt a pang in his stomach. It definitely wasn't hunger.
"After seven years of slaying..." she shook her head.
"Maybe you are going to help our cause in a different way." Remus assured her. He was certain that she was not just going to be a bump on a log. Her personality alone said that about her.
"Thank you for listening," Buffy shrugged. "I guess I need to let the guys know, huh?"
"It would be for the best," Remus agreed. "But, you should wait until you are all ready to know. I dare say, from what all you've told me it will be quite a shock to them all."
x x x x x
As soon as Cordelia had gotten rid of Snape, she thought that she'd continue her reading. She hated to be mean to him, but he was like a puppy... following her everywhere she went. And, after her Super Hero display, she felt like the old Queen C Bitch needed to reappear for a little while. Nobody was going to make fun of her... absolutely not.
"There you are."
Cordelia looked up from the book she was reading.
My God! Nobody can read a damn thing in this damn library!
Students in the library all gasped at the haggard appearance of the intruder. The girl's eyes were blank, her hair greasy, and she had a tattered brown dress. Cordelia thought that somebody needed to take a trip to the mall and obtain a new wardrobe.
The girl, who couldn't have been older than seventeen, rushed at Cordelia. That's when Cordelia noticed the girl's eyes were black and fathomless...
Cordelia stood up quickly; not knowing what to do, but dead set on making sure that the girl didn't hurt anybody.
"Die now, Seer!" The girl held up a broken piece of a mirror as she ran and reflected the light from the chandeliers onto Cordelia's face. In the very next instant, a ring of blue fire erupted around Cordelia, catching her robes on fire.
x chapter's end x
After Thoughts: I'm so horribly evil, aren't I? Cliffhanger... I know.
OMG - I have the Author Warm and Fuzzies! loffs them I found my story in a C2 Community by Dingoes Groupie. loffs you and whoever put my story there That was a nice gift after a hard day of work. WOOH!
Food for Your Thoughts: I wish Snape would just leave Cordelia alone. Though, he doesn't seem to want to. Hmm... something fishy must be going on, eh?
And, yes, I changed my name to Ink Splash. I wanted Ink Blot... but someone TOOK that already. Darn them. wink
Read and review, please and thanks!
Look forward to Ch. 20 entitled:
Thanks and Giving
The American ways of Thanksgiving.
