Harry Potter and the Vampire Slayers

Chapter 40 - A not so HappyChristmas.

DISCLAIMER: Buffy the Vampire Slayer belongs to Joss Whedon, and Harry Potter to J.K. Rowling. I don't own anything.

TIMELINE: AU. Set ten years before (Around 1988) "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone", during and after Harry Potter book 5, "Order of the Phoenix"(2003). During and after BTVS season 7, "Chosen". Pretend HP book one happened in 1999 during Buffy season three)

SUMMARY: BTVS/HP crossover. There are always 'what ifs', and what 'could've happened'. What if the supposedly dead James and Lily Potter find themselves lyingbeside a shattered hellmouth? What if Buffy Summers and the rest of the Scoobies had found them? Surprised the couple was when they found out that they had unknowingly traveled forward into the future and that they would finally get a chance to see their now grown son. With the Scoobies following them, they have no idea of the impact of what they will find out when they step foot into the Wizarding World after many years of absence. War, love, death, betrayal, happiness, and despair are just six of the many things they will stumble upon.

PAIRINGS: Buffy/Charlie, Ron/Hermione, Harry/Dawn, James/Lily, Oliver/Vi, Faith/Remus, Willow/Tara, Sirius/Amy, etc.

Reviews respond:

BeautifulDamned (ch 3): I'm guessing you were referring to spelling/grammar mistakes. Sorry.

Just Me: I'm glad you like it! And yeah, for being the most powerful wizard in the world he can be thick...heh...I've got big plans for our DumbleD. Sorry I confused you. I am planning two new stories - both completely HP. One, I have already started written (up to ch 4), and it takes place after book 5...I guess you can call it a super-Harry fic. I haven't decided whether I will post it at all, but I probably will post it a while after I've finished this one, depending on a lot of stuff. First, I need to come up with an ending and a good storyline. Just the beginning is not good. I'll probably post that one as I do with OOTB. Write chapters beforehand before I post them, so I don't have to feel the pressure and all. As for the second story, well, I am seriously lost on that one. I had this idea for this story, and then HBP came out, so now I'm thinking of crossing that idea with an alternate book 7. It's all very confusing, but that story will need a lot more work - I might (probably) drop the idea completely, at least for a while, and then we'll see.

Dr. P. G. Thirteen: Thank you so much for the analysis. (You got it all right on the spot!) Warms my heart. LOL.

CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur: Well, you'll just have to wait and see, eh?

Chailyn Cole Runewood: Yeah...I feel bad for them all too. But a little mental torture is important! (Espesially for Harry - I'll say no more. LOL.)

Ellie Ashton (ch 8 & 39): Two AM? Thank you, so glad you like it! And I hope you don't fall off! LOL.

Willow Evenstar: I just luv to torture you Cece. -Evil laughter- Btw, why are you worrying? I thought you L I K E D angst! You're like the queen of it. LOL. Why I'm torturing them so? Well, for Harry, I have a reason. (I'll say no more) As for Remus - because it's fun! (And I would be more worried about him if he'd killed someone and didn't react) Next chap will have Dawn/Harry, don't you worry. As for mail...you could have two, and then foward all of our e-mails from your yahoo to your hotmail. -Grin- Btw, when are you answering my latest! I need to know what you thought/think about ch 1 in tRotH.

Ambs: Twisting the Hellmouth? I'm really sorry, but I've never published anything there, so it can't be this one. Hope you like it anyway!

Mereret: Well, miss and miss...they won't transform, if that's what you mean. ; )

NixiNox: So happy you like it!

Thanks to:

Toniboo

...and my beta - Charmed Chick

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The weeks passed by and the term was soon coming to an end. Harry sighed as he stared out of a window from Hogwarts, and watched the snowflakes falling down on the already white ground. During the last couple of weeks, Dumbledore had had lessons with him, training him so he would learn control of his powers, and he made a lot of progress, not only thanks to the Headmaster, but also thanks to Willow who had talked to him a lot about how overwhelming suddenly having a lot of power could be, and she had helped him with a few meditation techniques.

Harry could now control all his power at will, make it do what he wanted, but when he was feeling very emotional, the power would burst out of him, without him able to stop it. Harry wasn't even sure if he wanted to. By letting his power rush away with him, Dumbledore wouldn't think he was ready. And if he weren't ready, he wouldn't have to face Voldemort. Harry sighed again. Maybe it was selfish...but he really didn't want to face off with Voldemort anytime soon.

"Hi, Harry!" Ron said. "Ready for the holidays?"

Harry ignored Ron, and kept staring out of the window. This was probably the last Christmas he would ever experience...

"Harry?"

With a sigh, Harry turned around.

"What is it?" He muttered.

"Uhh..." suddenly, Ron didn't know what to say. Harry had been so moody lately, and it didn't feel like he knew Harry anymore. Sure, he'd been broody before, but then they'd usually known what was wrong.

"Up for a game of chess?" Ron finally got out.

"No, thank you." Harry said, again turning to watch the falling snow. Silently, he wondered if the snowflakes were the work of God, coming from Heaven...or wherever youwent after your life was over. He wondered if he would be welcome there, after he died...or maybe only heroes got to go there...after Harry lost against Voldemort, he wouldn't be a hero, but a failure. He wondered where failures went. Hell, maybe? Or maybe they just faded out of existence, because they weren't welcome to anyplace at all. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't even notice when Ron left.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"We need to do something about Harry," Ron said, as soon as he stepped into the Gryffindor common room.

Hermione looked up from the book she was reading: 'Hogwarts - A History'.

"I agree," she said. "He's been far too moody lately. Does anyone have any idea what's going on with him?"

Dawn shook her head. "No. I tried to talk to him a while ago, but it didn't seem to help."

"Well, maybe he's just tired?" Neville suggested, coming over to them. "No one really knows what his training sessions with Dumbledoreare about."

"Being tired and broody is far from the same thing," Ginny said, sitting down on Neville's lap, making the older boy blush furiously. Ron gave them a glare from his place, which Ginny returned with a cheeky smile.

"When Harry's tired, he's usually angry."

"I agree. Something else is wrong. Schoolwork?" Hermione suggested. "Maybe it's becoming a bit difficult to keep up now when he's working on his new powers too...I'm talking about the theoretical part, of course. Maybe I should help him with his essays..." she trailed off.

"Hey!" Ron exclaimed. "You never help me with my essays, and I'm your boyfriend!"

"Stop being such a prat, Ron," Ginny, Dawn and Hermione chorused. Ron flushed.

"Sorry," he muttered.

"Maybe we should talk to his parents? Or Mr. Black. Or one of the professors? Professor Lupin, maybe?" Neville suggested. "They might know what's wrong. Or be able to cheer him up."

Hermione frowned.

"I don't think professor Lupin is the best one to talk to...he's been looking a bit moody himself since he killed...you know."

"Well, whatever is wrong with him, I'm sure Professor Lehane can make him feel all better by some good shaggi - ouch!"

Hermione had smacked him.

"Can you focus, Ron?" She snapped. Ron glared, and rubbed his head tenderly where Hermione had smacked him.

"I think his parents are the best bet," Ginny said, doing her best not to laugh at the scene playing out in front of her and Neville. "Although I don't want to talk to them...it would be embarrassing."

"Me neither," Neville hastily added.

"Fine, I'll do it," Hermione said. "When the holidays begin though."

The others all nodded their agreement.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I should have known," Faith said. "He's just a guy! A stupid, selfish guy who just wants sex! Just like everybody else."

Buffy groaned, burying her head in her pillow. She and Charlie had been up late, patrolling, and she desperately needed to catch up on sleep, but no. Faith just had to come talk to her about her love problems - again.

"Faith, I know! Okay, Remus is the only thing you've been talking about for weeks, and I know you're upset, but I'm tir-"

"Upset? Upset! I'm NOT upset! I'm just saying Remus should die. Painfully. I don't get what's wrong with guys and me. I never manage to catch someone nice, or normal, noooo - they just have to all fall into the 'manipulative bastards'-category."

"Fine, you're not upset," Buffy sighed. 'More like obsessed.' "Can I sleep now?"

Faith gave her sister Slayer a look that could kill.

"This is important! I thought you didn't need much sleep anyway - we're Slayers! And I think I'm up for some Slaying - Remus-slaying." She added.

Buffy glared.

"I know what we are, thank you, but, if you haven't noticed, you've been keeping me up for weeks! And I know that you're mad at Remus and whatever, but killing him? Seriously, Faith, get a grip."

Faith returned the glare.

"Oh, I have a grip, B, a very hard grip. He...he made me FEEL Buffy! And then, as soon as he's curedof his little problem, he realizes the world is in front of his feet and leaves me! They're ALL the same! American guys, English guys..."

"FAITH!" Buffy finally exploded. "Can't you talk to Remus? You may not know the whole story."

"Know the whole story? Of course I know the whole story!" Faith said. "He left me, and now he's on the hunt for someone else! Maybe one of the newer Slayers...they're all good-looking, and maybe he likes young women...or maybe that Professor Sinstra, or whatever she's called...I never really liked her, but I think Remus used to look at her when he thought I wasn't...or maybe Professor Vector? Or maybe he's gay! Or - "

Buffy groaned. It would be a long day...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Remus stood in his office and looked into a tank with a Grindylow insidefor his and Lily's upcoming lessons after the holidays.

"Hey, Remus?" Lily said as she came in, wearing a backpack. "Are you ready to return to Grimmauld place?"

Remus gave her a tired smile. He didn't sleep well anymore...he constantly had nightmares...about him killing people around him...and their faces, frozen in shock and fear as he lifted his wand.

"I guess so. It will be nice with Christmas," he lied, although he really didn't feel like celebrating anything...especially not Christmas.

"Yes, it sure will," Lily grinned. "Have you talked to Harry lately?"

Remus shrugged.

"No."

"He has seemed a bit distant in our classes, don't you think?" Lily continued. "Maybe he misses James - it's been a while since they met...with him busy at work and whatnot...Hey, is Faith coming with you to Grimmauld Place?"

Remus shrugged again. "No idea. We haven't talked much lately...I've been...busy."

Lily frowned, but didn't say anything. She had noticed Faith had been acting kind of weird, and Remus had been acting more distant as well, ever since...ever since he killed Lucius Malfoy! Lily thought, and her eyes widened in realization.

"Remus...are you...all right? I mean...with everything that's been going on."

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?" Remus muttered.

"I mean...not to invade your privacy...but maybe you should...talk to someone?"

"About what?" Remus said snappily.

"Well, about...Malfoy," Lily said. Remus spun around so fast that he startled Lily who took a step back.

"What do you mean?" He asked. "I don't need to talk to anyone about that son of a bitch!"

"Remus!" Lily looked shocked. Remus rarely swore.

"What?" Remus snapped. "If you excuse me, I've got to go." Remus walked quickly towards the exit, bumping into Lily's shoulder on the way, making her stumble a bit, before opening the door, and slamming it shut behind him as he left.

Lily stared at the door. Yes, someone definitely needed to talk to Remus Lupin.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"HAPPY CHRISTMAS!" Sirius grinned widely as he opened the door to the visitors from Hogwarts. He and Amy had returned to Grimmauld place a couple of days earlier than the others to get the place ready. He and Amy had made up (and made out), and he felt happier than ever. His happiness stopped, however, when he got a look on the company in front of him.

Remus was seemingly fuming about something, and Lily kept giving him worried looks, a frown etched across her forehead. Harry was staring down at the ground, not meeting anybody's eyes, while Dawn, Ron, Hermione and Ginny seemed like they wanted to say something to him, but always stopped at the last second. Buffy looked dead on her feet, and was leaning heavily against Charlie, while Faith stood behind them, one second glaring daggers at Remus, and the next looking like she'd rather be anywhere but here.

The only one looking cheery was the James, although his grin seemed rather forced. (Both Xander, Anya, Oz, Willow and Tara had decided to stay at Hogwarts)

"Well...uhh...welcome," Sirius said. He had a suddenly urge to say 'who died?' but he also had a feeling about it being very inappropriate.

"Shall we go inside?"

"Sure, Padfoot," James said with an overly happy voice (Sirius somehow knew he was trying to make up for everybody else's lack of enthusiasm). "Lead the way."

"Ehh...right. Why don't we all go into the living room?" They all followed Sirius, no one looking even a little interested, into the living room, where Amy had made the table for the Christmas dinner, prepared by Molly. Both their grins quickly faded as they saw the moodiness of everyone else.

"Well...dinner's served," Molly said, forcing up a smile.

Dinner was a quiet affair - no one seemed really interested in eating, but was only shuffling the food around on their plates (except Ron, Sirius and James, who weren't about to pass down good food just because of the broody mood).

After dinner, everybody went up to bed, no one feeling like talking. What nobody knew, however, was that two rooms had been put under silencing charms, because the occupants suffered nightly from nightmares...one of them, dreaming about killing, and the other one dreaming about not being able to...

A/N: I just love writing angst and torture. LOL. Hope you liked.

/Ida