(a/n: Welcome to yet another installment of Unexpected Losses. Thanks to everyone who's hung on to it this long. I apologize for my lack of updates, but college is insane. I did pretty poorly last semester, but this time things are really turning around for me (thank God). My roommate's been having chronic aches for the past few weeks, and before that both of us were sick for almost three weeks apiece. I'm dating right now, and unfortunately, that tends to take more of my energy than I'm willing to give, which is a whole set of issues that I'm not going to get into. I'm really going to try to finish this story as quickly and as well as I can. Thanks for sticking with me. Thanks for your reviews and your advice. I really hope that you enjoy the story

Oh. And I got a review from one SilkRose. My. I haven't blushed that hard from a review in ages. I mean...eep! You were all...flattering and stuff. I don't take flattery well. I turn all red and then there's the babbling which thus ensues. Also very Willow-esque. After I got your review I had to finish this, I was just so darn pleased. So...this chapter is definitely dedicated to you. And if anyone even cares that there's more, they can thank you.)

Chapter Eleven of Unexpected Losses

"Death Eaters?" Willow echoed, confused. "You mean those guys that follow that wizard that tried to kill you? The ones that...that killed that boy?" Her voice faded off as she finished speaking, trying not to upset Harry further with her question.

"Yeah." Harry answered; still as tense as he was a moment ago. "You have a Death Eater after you?" He questioned suddenly, as if finally recognizing the situation. "Why?"

"I don't know. He just stared showing up before I came here. And he showed up again while I was at Giles's house yesterday. I don't see why he'd be after me. Are you sure that he's a Death Eater?" The glare the black-haired boy sent him in return was really answering enough for Willow. "I guess so. But there's still no reason for this guy to be after me." Even as Willow said it, though, she remembered what Giles has said before.

'Imagine, Willow, if you lost yourself in that magic. You, of course, could still control it, but you wouldn't still be Willow. No judgment of right and wrong. No morals to speak of. Given enough training and reason…you could cause irreversible damage. Whoever it was that felt your power obviously thought of that and wants to use that power.'

"Oh no." She said faintly. Harry cocked an eyebrow at her in obvious interest. "I think I know what's going on. But I doubt that Giles talking to the Ministry will help much. They don't know much about Death Eater activities, do they?" Harry openly scoffed at that point. Fudge barely admitted to their existence. Much less would he know what they were doing. She sighed. "I guess that we're just on our own then. I'll talk to Giles about going over to visit at soon as possible. Then we'll figure out what's going on."

"Why would they be after you?" Harry replied, his mind still wrapped around the same thought.

"Oh." Willow replied uncomfortably. "Maybe Giles should answer that question. He's the one who knows what's going on. I'm still a little bit clueless here."

"I guess that's fair enough." Harry replied, though he obviously did not. "This is kind of awkward." He finally added.

"Yeah." Willow nodded in her agreement. "Maybe we should just try to think about something else...like your homework? What do you have to do for that History of Magic essay?"

"Oh, it's about an old war." Harry answered, gesturing towards his book, his attention suitably focused on something else. Willow peered over his shoulder to see what he was talking about. She skimmed over the first few lines of the page, a familiar name greeted her: The Judge.

"Ah, no weapon forged, it took an army." She reminisced of the day. When Xander actually got an idea (and a bazooka) and Oz admitted how he really felt about the witch. It was when she was so confused about her feelings concerning Xander, and how Oz wanted freeze-frame Willow-kissage. She really started to fall in love with him that day, even though she didn't know it. She still clung to the familiar comfort of her crush on Xander, but eventually she moved on.

"How did you know?" Harry asked curiously, glancing up at the redhead, correctly assuming that a story would be shortly forthcoming.

"The Judge. There were these two vampires at home, Spike and Drusilla. They decided that they would end the world by resurrecting The Judge. They managed to do it, and we had to do quite a bit of research about him. Most of what we found said just that, over and over again. 'No weapon forged could harm him. And it took an army to defeat him.' They didn't even manage to kill him; they had to simply separate the pieces of him. Xander came up with the bright idea to try a more modern weapon. We managed to pretty much obliterate him. Had to pick up all the bits, though. That wasn't the greatest time I've ever had." Willow replied.

Harry sniggered at the annoyance in her tone at that. "What did you use?" Harry asked, curious at what could destroy the demon.

"Bazooka." Willow answered with a wry grin, thinking about the weapon in question (currently residing in Buffy's basement).

"How did you—"

"Long story. Involves the Halloween costume switcheroo." Willow reported shortly, still grinning. "But have fun with that one." Her voice was sympathetic.

"Yeah. On the upside, do you think I could get extra credit for telling how to defeat him now?" Harry asked brightly. Willow giggled, but shook her head. Harry frowned slightly. "I figured not. Not that they'd believe me anyway."

"Probably not."

"Oh well."

"Yeah, now you actually have to study." Willow teased.

"Unless I can get you to do it for me!" Harry replied brightly.

"It won't help you on the test." Willow replied sweetly, but Harry gave her a rather aghast look.

"Oh, no! You're Hermione!" He gasped in pseudo-shock.

"Who's Hermione?" Willow replied.

"One of my best mates from school." Harry replied. "Her and Ron, anyway. She always says that when we ask her for help."

"Well, it's true." Willow answered.

"Doesn't matter, you're still just like her." Harry replied, almost petulantly.

"Seeing as how she's your best friend...shouldn't that be a good thing?" Willow giggled back, glad that their moment of awkwardness had passed.

"In theory, I suppose so." Harry mumbled in return. "But it doesn't help me with my homework, now does it?" He pouted in return, and grinned when Willow giggled again at him. He wasn't used to being giggled at, and it felt pretty good.

"I guess not." Willow replied, humor twinkling brightly in her hazel eyes. "I'm just here for moral support really; all the work is for you!"

"How kind of you." Harry answered dryly.

"I do what I can." Willow said in a severe tone, nodding sagely at the black-haired boy before her, and he shot her an amused, if not incredulous, glance before he continued working on his homework again. She barely suppressed a yawn, and realized how tired she felt. "I'm gonna go change. And then sleep. Sleep is good." The last of this babble was said a touch forcefully, as if trying to make Harry believe her. She grabbed a handful of clothes before she shot to the bathroom, where she'd been changing since Harry had come home. Wearing a huge shirt, she returned to the room to find Harry writing vigorously. Either he'd just found something very helpful, or he was BS-ing in a manner that even Xander would approve.

Willow did her best to fend of the thought of her best friend. He had to go home, and she was going to miss him terribly. Now that she'd seen him, the distance between them seemed even greater. It was good to know, however, that despite the great length in their physical separation, they were still able to get along well enough when they were together. It felt, to Willow, almost as if it hadn't been months since she'd seen them last. It was easy to see their differences, though. Xander was definitely taller and he'd filled out some. Like with the muscle-ness, probably from helping the in the Slay department, and he was obviously still with Cordelia and very happy with her, something that almost surprised Willow. Even a year ago, the two of them together was still an absurd idea.

Buffy hadn't gotten much taller (the curse of being...well, short), but her strength had obviously increased. She was apparently enjoying her work with Faith, who Willow had yet to meet. She had spoken with the girl, and after a reassuring conversation that she wasn't being replaced in anyone's lives, Willow decided that the second slayer was likable enough. Blunt and unafraid as she was, Faith was still very much herself, something that Willow couldn't help but respect.

She wondered, though, if her friends had noticed the changes in her. She had grown a few mere centimeters, and she settled for the fact that she, like Buffy, wouldn't ever get very tall, but so long as she was taller than the blonde, she could manage with that. Her hair had grown a bit more, and seemed redder than before. If they had more time together, Willow knew that Buffy would comment on that, and ask her if she was dyeing her hair – which she was not. She had grown more powerful, magically, thanks to the books that Harry had so luckily left behind, and she had a firmer grasp on her magic.

It was still surprising to think that not a single one of her spells had gone awry. She knew, though, from simple deduction, that the Hellmouth had a great deal to do with the mistakes she'd made in the past. It helped to know that it wasn't really all her fault. She was working hard, though, on getting farther. This...Death Eater...that was after her...he frightened her. But hopefully between Harry and Giles (after Buffy and Xander left), she'd be okay and they'd be able to stop him.

She didn't say anything to Harry, not wanting to break his train of thought, and merely pulled back the blankets and hopped into bed. She pulled the blankets up to her chin, and snuggled down deeply. She turned on her side, away from Harry and the light he was using to do his homework, and she let her mind wander as she drifted off to sleep. The next day was bound to be interesting.

OoOoOoO

Willow woke all at once, something seemed to have startled her awake, but she had no idea what it was. There was nothing moving, she could hear Harry's easy breathing above her, indicated that he was still sleeping. She glanced around the room. And figured it out. Hedwig ruffled her feathers as she set on Harry's desk, looking at Willow with huge, unblinking eyes. Willow noticed the letter still tied to the owl's leg. She approached it slowly, unable to help the fact that she was still nervous.

She slowly took it from Hedwig's leg, and the owl hooted thankfully in response. She glanced up at Harry, and then returned her gaze to the letter she held in her hand. Curiosity burned at her. She wanted to read it, but knew that it wasn't her business. She glanced over the envelope, but it was tightly sealed with wax. She finally shrugged, giving up, and grabbed clothes before she headed to the bathroom to change. She returned a moment later, wearing a pair of jeans and a soft, fuzzy purple sweater. Upon entering the room she resumed a seat on her bed, not wanting to wake Harry. In about fifteen seconds, she decided that peeking inside the letter wasn't going to do any harm.

She glanced nervously at Harry's sleeping form before hugging the letter to her chest and returning to the bathroom. Perching on the end of the closed toilet, she carefully worked the wax open and pulled out the letter. After a steadying breath, feeling somewhat guilty for searching through her new friend's mail, she unfolded the letter and skimmed the contents within.

Harry,

Hope that everything's all right. We're all fine, thanks for asking. Not much news about Boot's death, or why. Can't give away too much over mail, in case, but we think it had more to do with his parents, and he was just home. And be careful about the girl living with you. Don't tell her more than you have to. There's no reason to take a risk. We're going to find out what we can about what happened, but I suggest you just try to enjoy your break.

Moony

For half a moment, Willow felt insulted. "The girl living with you" indeed. As if she wasn't a witch... As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she rolled her eyes in exasperation at herself. Of course they didn't know she was a witch. That must've been what Harry started writing so furiously after he found out about her. Her being what she was had serious implications in his world. It was, frankly, a rather disturbing thought.

She replaced the letter in its envelope, and placed it on the desk. Hedwig hooted once, and looked at with Willow with its usual stare. Willow flushed. What was she supposed to do with an owl? She wasn't some kind of...owl...person. Wondering, idly, if babbling in her thoughts was some kind of sanity-degradation, Willow sighed. Glancing around, she noticed an empty water dish. After filling it in the bathroom and returning it to the owl, Hedwig hooted what Willow assumed was appreciatively and took roost on top of the wardrobe Willow shared with Harry. The redhead was rather proud of herself.

Glancing at the glowing numbers on the alarm clock, Willow noted that it was a most unfortunate six thirty in the morning. Too early to be properly awake and too late to get properly back to sleep. Sunlight crept into the room around the closed blinds, and Willow almost wished to open them, but it would disturb her roommate, who really hadn't done anything to deserve such cruel treatment.

Deciding, suddenly, to grab a book and head to the living room, Willow took up one of the books she'd been assigned from school and found her way into the kitchen first, to start up a cup of tea. With an almost mournful thought, Willow realized that true to Xander's thoughts, she was becoming very similar to a certain Watcher.

Armed with a mint tea, a notebook, and the Canterbury Tales, Willow settled in for one of her pastimes. Homework. Writing in her usual neat cursive, she started slowly. Evaluating the character. The Knight was good. The Nun was bad. The Squire was on the fence, but could be saved. It was all in the simple description. Thoroughly enjoying her task, she was surprised to a jump when a hand landed on her shoulder.

"Willow, dear, you're awake early." Petunia said kindly, glancing at the clock, which read five minutes to eight.

"Homework." Willow explained, tipping the end of her pen towards the multitudes of notes she'd taken in the last hour and a half. Petunia gave her a look that exuded the pride she obviously felt, and Willow attempted not to blush. Her parents hadn't been so outwardly approving of her work, and it was a nice feeling, even if it was just from Aunt Petunia.

"Very good, dear. Would you like another tea?" Petunia eyed the empty cup that sat on her coffee table. There didn't seem to be any damage done, but rings on her furniture weren't something she was fond of.

"No thank you, Aunt Petunia. I meant to take the cup back...but I got a little distracted." Willow replied respectfully, to Petunia's bemusement.

"Don't worry about it. Go ahead and continue your work. I'm going to start breakfast anyway." The thin woman took the delicate mug with her when she left the room, attempting to look for damage, but slightly failing. Willow said nothing about it, though, and merely accepted it for what it was.

She returned to her homework, knowing that Xander and Buffy and Giles would be coming for their last day here in a short while. Feeling almost guilty, Willow decided that she didn't want to invite Harry. Sure, she wanted him to meet Giles, and definitely get out of the house, but she wanted her friends all to herself, selfish as the thought might be.

A few hours, and two subjects, later, Willow heard the knock on the door with giddy joy. She didn't bother to let Aunt Petunia come open it, as she usually insisted upon doing, but opened it herself, sure that it would be Xander behind the door, as he was supposed to arrive. It was not. An uncomfortable looking older man, with fall-coloured hair that was graying at the temples stood outside. Willow blinked. "You're not Xander." She informed him rather stupidly.

"Indeed not." He agreed in an almost nervous tone. Immediately, she detected something off about him, but also something familiar.

"You're a werewolf." She notified him in precisely the same tone she'd used before.

He blanched at her words. "Um." He answered, rather intellectually on his own part.

"I bet you're that werewolf." Willow deduced, confusing the poor man on the doorstep even further. "Harry's werewolf. As in...The werewolf that knows Harry and are thus most likely here to see Harry, so I'm going to go and get him now so that...he can see you...and you can see him. Which is probably why you're here, like I said. To see Harry I mean. I'll be right back." The redhead turned on her heel and hurried up the stairs, leaving the door open.

"Um." He repeated to her retreating back. Merely a moment later, Willow returned, ushering Harry with her. The black-haired boy grinned at seeing the man, and hugged him fiercely. "Harry!" He smiled warmly at the younger man, taking years from his face, and hugged him back.

"Professor Lupin!"

"Lupin?" Willow echoed, thoughtfully.

"Remus Lupin, nice to meet you..." He drifted off, an obvious invitation to share her name.

"Willow. Willow Rosenberg." The redhead replied, and shook his proffered hand. "Lupin and a werewolf. There is someone out there with a very not funny sense of humor." Remus offered her a rueful smile in return. There was something both open and enigmatic about the girl, and it was very hard for him not to like her immediately. She almost reminded him of Lily with her already apparent cleverness.

"Pleasure to meet you Willow." Remus spoke again, as if correcting his previous comment.

"What're you doing here?" Harry questioned, still obviously delighted by the appearance of the older man.

"Came to visit. Happy Christmas." Remus said, apparently still hiding something, waiting for Willow to leave so he could speak with the boy in private.

"What's going on, is your friend here, Willow?" Petunia asked, stepping into the room. She paused upon seeing Lupin. He seemed very familiar, and he wasn't the polite man that had returned Willow the night before. "Excuse me?" She asked in what Willow decided was a surprisingly cold voice.

"I'm sorry; I'm just here to see Harry. There's been an occurrence."

"I thought we asked that you didn't return to our home." Petunia said, edging away from the room a bit, as she was afraid. Willow was very confused at this point. Sure, it wasn't like the Dursleys liked magic, but she couldn't imagine them being afraid of the man at the door. He seemed perfectly friendly to her.

"I'm sorry, but this is an emergency."

"Ooh! Party!" Chirped an excited voice from behind Lupin, drawing everyone's attention to a blonde, chipper Buffy, who grinned upon seeing her best friend. Xander followed, just as happily, and Giles followed more slowly, releasing a long-suffering sigh as he did so. He paused momentarily as he saw Harry and Lupin. Then he removed his glasses and started cleaning them with the hem of his shirt and returned them.

"Um." Lupin said again, eyes wide as he stared at Ripper, before narrowing them, and stepping very carefully between his best-friend's son and a man he remembered from his school years. "You." Buffy slipped into a defensive pose at the animosity in the man's tone. She wouldn't attack him outright, but she would defend her Watcher, regardless of any consequences.

"This is...unexpected." Giles said in turn. "Perhaps you two would like to accompany be back home. I have a feeling that there is...quite a bit that we should discuss."

"I think not." Lupin said softly. "Leave."

"Hey!" Willow pushed her way in between the two men, and glanced at each of them in turn. Both men paused, neither wanting to hurt the girl between them. "We'll all go to Giles' where we can talk. And um...yeah. That's about as far in the plan as I've gotten. Ooh, and no beating each other up."

"Indeed." Giles said in a bemused tone, smiling fondly at the girl. She could behave quite unexpectedly when she wanted to be so.

"Aunt Petunia, Harry and I will be back later if that's okay." Willow requested, not moving from her position. The woman seemed a bit flabbergasted and merely nodded. "I'll make sure that it's only Harry and I that come back, too." Petunia seemed pleased enough by that comment, and she turned on her heel and strode quickly away form her guests.

"Right, then. Come on, please. It might be a tight squeeze, but I think that was can manage it." Giles turned on his heel, leading the way towards his small car. "I'm sorry about the lack of space. Lupin, you're welcome to sit with me. The kids can have the back."

"Kids?" Buffy mouthed to her friends, insulted. "Since when am I a kid?"

"Since this morning when you only at the marshmallows from your Lucky Charms." Giles answered dryly.

"Doesn't everyone do that?" Buffy asked, confused for a moment. Xander merely shrugged in agreement, they glanced at the back of the cramped car. Buffy got an almost mischievous light in her eye. "I call Xander lap!" She said, and slid onto her friends lap, sitting diagonally, forcing Willow and Harry to be squashed together.

"You're mean, Buffy, you're very mean." Xander reported, poking the slender blonde in the side, causing her to giggle momentarily.

"Yeah, but you love me anyway." Buffy quipped.

"I love Cordy." Xander admonished her softly, but it drew Willow's attention. The "l" word. She wasn't aware things had gotten so serious between Cordelia and Xander. She offered Harry an apologetic smile as she was forced to squash further against him at a particularly sharp turn.

Tension was thick in the front of the car. It was obvious that the two men weren't friends. They trip to Giles' was somewhat quiet after the teen's initial conversation. They clamored quickly out of the car. "I'll check, first. Stay out until I give word." Giles gave Buffy a particularly stern glare at that, and he entered his home.

Lupin and Harry both gave the three Californian's particular glances at that. Buffy simply smiled winningly, Willow shrugged helplessly, and Xander attacked Willow with a hug that he hadn't managed to give her at the Dursleys. A moment later, Giles returned and nodded once, and the Scoobies and the boy and teacher followed them into Giles' home.

"Lupin." Giles greeted the man.

"You guys know each other?" Buffy asked bluntly, as was her usual manner.

"Erm, you could say that." Giles replied, glancing about almost guiltily.

"I wouldn't say know." Lupin replied in a tight voice, still standing between Harry and Giles, unwilling to let the man hurt Harry if that was indeed his intentions.

"We went to school together." Giles added.

"Oh." Buffy answered with a shrug. "Not much of a reunion is it?"

"We weren't precisely...friends." Giles answered in an odd tone. "Remus and his friends and I and mine...we didn't..."

"You were a filthy prat." Lupin nearly snarled.

"Hey!" Buffy cried defensively.

"Buffy," Giles admonished her softly. "He's quite right. In school I wasn't the most...well, you remember the chocolate."

"Well, he shouldn't say things like that." Buffy grumbled in response, pouting.

Lupin regarded the man curiously. He hadn't expected Ripper to take his insults so calmly. Not that they weren't perfectly true. "What are you doing here?" he finally asked, unsure of where he stood with the man.

"I'm here to visit Willow." Giles answered, gesturing to the redhead in question. "She's living with the Dursleys now."

"I see." Lupin answered, though he was obviously doubtful of the man's story. Rupert Giles never really was the trustworthy type. "And she just happens to live with Harry?"

Giles finally looked at Harry, and his eyes widened in shock. "Harry?" He replied in a weak voice. "Sure not Lily's son?"

"And James's." Remus replied with a stern edge to his tone.

"Of course." Giles answered softly. He glanced at Harry once more, noting the scar and his eyes. They were truly Lily's. "This may change things."

"What's up Giles?" Buffy butt in, unwilling to listen on the sidelines any further.

"This is Remus Lupin."

"Werewolf." The Slayer answered smartly. She had grown used to the tingle Oz's own lycanthropy and it was easy to detect in this other man.

"Did you tell them about me or something?" Remus asked in an almost harsh tone that didn't really suit his usual manner.

"Of course not." Giles felt deeply insulted by the insinuation.

"I dated one, Mr. Lupin." Willow interjected. "I can kind of tell."

"You dated a werewolf?" His attention was drawn completely to her.

"For a while." Willow answered softly, looking away from him as the familiar hurt that the thought of Oz still brought her. She wasn't sure if she'd ever get over it. Xander wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him.

"I think that's beside the point." Harry interjected. He didn't like to see Willow in pain. They were friends, and he knew that the thought of her ex-boyfriend was still hurtful.

"Yes, well, I can't help but be suspicious." Lupin said tiredly.

"It looks like we have something to talk about." Giles replied in the same tone and he headed into the kitchen to make a very strong tea. Of all the things he was expecting, it wasn't to run into an old school mate. He hadn't liked the Gryffindors much when he'd been in school. Then again, he'd been quite different in school.

And to think that his almost-daughter was living with Harry Potter. It wasn't...the most comforting of thoughts. He poured himself and Willow a tea, and Buffy and Xander hot chocolate. After asking, Harry got a cocoa as well and Lupin a tea. They sat at the table. Buffy was definitely feeling the stress of the situation. Harry and Lupin with both making her Slayer senses tingle and the sensation was almost uncomfortable. Giles's discomfort affected the Scoobies, but not too badly. Willow was mainly just trying to understand what, exactly, was going on.

"So, uh, lovely weather we're having!" Xander quipped, breaking the silence. The weather was, in fact, anything but lovely, a fact that had Giles giving him a severe look and Willow and Buffy hiding sniggers behind their hands.

"Indeed." Lupin replied, attempting to smother an amused glance. He still had a soft spot for students (and those around the age). Even if they were affiliated with the man before them. Not that this Rupert was anything like the teenager he remembered.

"So...why are you visiting Harry?" Willow piped up curiously.

"I like to keep in touch." Lupin shrugged.

"She's a witch." Harry said suddenly, causing a total freeze of every inhabitant of the room.

"What?" Lupin questioned at that, eyes wide.

"She's a wandless witch." Harry replied. "And she says there's a Death Eater after her."

"You?" He glanced at Willow, surprised. The blonde girl, he could imagine. He could smell something odd about her. Even though she was just a teenager, there was something in his werewolf that made him nervous of her. But Willow seemed perfectly normal to him.

"We think maybe?" Willow replied, but Giles paled considerably, as if he'd been struck.

"I see." He finally muttered. "This isn't good. Not at all."

"Indeed not." Lupin replied warily. This was only getting more confusing. And now how to tell Harry that Ron and Hermione had gone missing.

(a/n: Oh my. I'm such a witch. :) But then, I'm a witch who has lots of fun. And sorry this was such a slow chapter. That's why I made it as long as I did. On to my ninth page. Usually I make 'em five or six, but I felt bad for the lack of action. I really hope that all of you enjoy. And to SilkRose, thank you again. You really inspired me to write this chapter. :

(Also to M'Naria, who is the loveliest wife ever, and who makes me not hate everything as much as usual. And to Lady Lenny, who is a wonderful person that I finally get to see again next week. I can't wait. I miss you sweetie, if you're reading this.

(Oh, and I have three of my six grades back. All B's. I'm fairly freaking out. How happy am I! Very. : . )