Out of the Blue
Chapter 29 – Broomsticks and balls.
DISCLAIMER: Buffy the Vampire Slayer belongs to Joss Whedon, and Harry Potter to J.K. Rowling. I don't own anything…
RATING: PG-13 (T) to R (M) - violence, language, angst, horror, mild sexual interactions, etc. If you can watch BTVS/AtS and read HP, I doubt you'll have any problem with this story.
TIMELINE: Takes place after season two in BTVS, and during the marauders last year at Hogwarts.
SUMMARY: BTVS/HP crossover. Life sucked for Buffy Summers. After taking her refuge to LA, she had hoped she would finally have some of that peace the Hellmouth couldn't provide. She should have known she was hoping for the impossible. When she gets propelled into another dimension, her life changes forever - but is it for the better or for worse?
CENTRAL PAIRING: Buffy/Remus
OTHER PAIRINGS: James/Lily, Sirius/Eliza
Special Thanks to: My Beta - CharmedChick
A few days later, it was time for the day all guys dreaded, and all girls loved - that's right: Valentine's day. James was pacing around the dorm like a trapped animal, muttering obscene sentences to himself. Remus was doing his best not to laugh at him.
"James, what are you doing?"
James ignored him.
"...I really think you are just as pretty as the sweetest wildflower with honey..."
Remus snorted.
"Give it up, mate. If you say that, you're probably going to scare her away."
James finally stopped pacing and gave Remus a glare.
"Well, you try it then!" He snapped. Remus smirked.
"I don't think poetry is the way to go Prongsie-pooh - Lily doesn't seem the type. And when you are so horrible at it, the best thing you can do is come up with something else."
James gave Remus another glare as he heard his new nickname.
"Well, what do you suggest then, Mr. 'I-am-so-good-at-ridiculous-romantic-stuff'?"
"Well, I am going to give Buffy some chocolate - hearts - and I have a dinner tonight prepared in the kitchen, thanks to the House-elves."
James stood there gawking like a fish.
"How in the bloody hell did you come up with that in less than five seconds?"
Remus rolled his eyes.
"I didn't. I've planned this since the last Hogsmeade weekend."
James gulped.
"Help?" He said meekly.
Remus sighed.
"Well, conjure up or transfigure something into a bouquet of flowers or something like that - but make sure that if you transfigure something, it should last longer than a few minutes. I don't think Lily would be so happy if suddenly her red rose turned back into a smelly sock."
James took a deep breath.
"Alright - flowers - check. Anything else?"
"Well, just be attentive to her today - do small things, like offering to carry her books between classes. Mushy, I know, but apparently girls like that."
James stared at Remus, amazed.
"When did you become an expert on girls?"
Remus sighed.
"Since I became interested in Buffy. I would hate to be at the receiving end of one of her kicks just because I forgot a tiny little detail about a tiny little thing."
James gulped. Ouch. That would probably be painful. He didn't want to know what a kick with Slayer-strength behind felt like between the legs.
"Okay...I think I can do this...I hope."
"Good morning, Lils," James muttered. Lily gave James a smile.
"Morning, James. What can I do for you?"
"Ehh...these are for you?"
James hastily gave her a bouquet of red flowers - he had used some sugar quills to transfigure them. That way, if they turned back, well, Lily could still use them. In fact, James thought, sugar quills were so much more practical than flowers...and they tasted better too.
"Aww, that's so sweet! Thank you!" Lily gave James a kiss on the cheek, and hugged him quickly, making James blush.
"Err...you're welcome. Want me to carry your books?"
Lily gave James a surprised but happy look.
"How nice of you," she said. "I'd never would have thought..."
They left the common room quickly.
Buffy and Remus smirked as they left.
"Was James nervous?"
Remus rolled his eyes.
"Nervous? He was pacing a hole in the floor! The guy had no clue what to do! He was muttering weird poetry about wildflowers and honey - it was ridiculous!"
Buffy burst out laughing.
"Really? And here I thought Jams was so sure of himself."
Remus shrugged. "He usually is. I mean, he was - is - the affection for most of the female population - the rest of the half belongs to Sirius - and you'd think he'd know what to do. But when it comes to Lily he has no idea how to act because he's so afraid to loose her."
Buffy smiled softly.
"Yeah..."
Remus took a deep breath.
"Here," Remus said, giving her the chocolate and a kiss on the cheek. "Happy Valentine's Day."
Buffy grinned.
"Thanks!"
"I guess we better go to class - by the way, you're not doing anything tonight?"
"Noooo," Buffy said slowly. "Why?"
"Because I might have something in mind..."
"And what could that be?" Buffy said, lifting her head slowly, looking into Remus' eyes.
"You'll just have to find out, won't you?"
Buffy grinned.
The day passed by, and right after they had finished lunch, Eliza took off, saying she had to study. She practically stormed out of the Great Hall as Sirius dismissed her, saying they'd see each other in class.
"I don't know what's wrong with everyone today," he said. "What's up with all the flowers and confetti hearts all over the school?"
Remus and Buffy glanced at each other, and then turned to Sirius.
"Padfoot, don't you know?" Remus said incredulously.
"Know what?"
"What day it is!" Buffy exclaimed.
"Friday, why?"
"Why? Why! WHY!" Buffy screamed the last part, making everyone look up from their dinner to stare at the Gryffindor table. Remus was banging his head repeatedly against the table, muttering things like 'Sirius'...'thick'...'idiot'...and 'blowing it'.
"It's not just Friday!" Buffy said. "It's Friday thefourteenth! And it's February!"
Sirius looked up from his dinner.
"So?"
"So? SO?" Buffy was quite red in the face now.
"Sirius, doesn't this date say anything to you? Don't the decoration's say something to you? Pink. Confetti. Red. Roses. HEARTS!"
Sirius blinked. Then slowly, very slowly, it seemed like he came to his senses. All color slowly drained from his face.
"Shit..." he muttered.
"Yes! Shit, Sirius! Eliza's gonna kill you! You have done the unforgivable! You have FORGOTTEN Valentine's day!"
"Oh, Merlin..." Sirius squeaked out. "What am I going to do! Say I'm sorry? Give her some flowers? Chocolate? A poetry read out loud by one of those weird valentine dwarfs?"
Buffy glared at him.
"It's too late for something that simple! She won't forgive you if she thinks you've forgotten! You better plan something really - and I mean REALLY romantic for this evening so she thinks it was a surprise. Or I can promise you that you won't have a girlfriend - or a 'wand' that works properly in the morning."
Sirius gulped. Everyone at the staff-table looked very amused at the display at the Gryffindor table.
"Help?" Sirius said meekly.
Buffy rolled her eyes.
"I'm not sure you deserve it - "
Sirius eyes widened in fright.
" - But," Buffy said, "I'm gonna help you. Just this once...But only because I like Eliza."
Sirius fell down on his knees in front of Buffy.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!"
"Yeah, you better," Buffy muttered. "Remus, what was it you had planned for tonight?"
Remus rubbed his eyes tiredly. He had a feeling he knew what was going to happen...
"A romantic dinner in the kitchens."
"Right. Sirius - you take Eliza to that dinner."
...Yep. There went that romantic plan out the window. So much for planning ahead...
"Thank you!" Sirius exclaimed again. Buffy glared at him again.
"Down boy. Don't thank me. Apologize! You just managed to ruin Remus' perfectly planned out evening!"
"I'm sorry Buffy! Sorry Moony!"
Remus rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah...you owe us. Next time, you're on your own. And I mean it."
That evening, Buffy and Remus watched sullenly as Sirius stepped up to Eliza, whispering something in her ear, making her lit up, bad mood forgotten. She squealed happily, and gave Sirius a long kiss. They left quickly.
Remus sighed. He almost hoped Eliza would figure out Sirius had forgotten. Some people are just too lucky. He said this to Buffy, making her agree wholeheartedly.
"How could Sirius, of all people, forget Valentine's day?" Remus murmured. "It has never happened before! He never forgets anything that surely brings lots of attention from the ladies."
Buffy sighed.
"Well, I guess having an actual girlfriend instead of different shags every week made him change - I can't believe we actually helped him," Buffy muttered.
"Me neither. So what are we going to do? Sit here and feel sorry for ourselves for being too nice for our own good?"
Buffy sighed.
"Yeah...I guess..." Then, she suddenly got an idea, and the glint in her eye reappeared.
"Or," she said. "We could make use of the Room of Requirement...?" She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
Remus head shot up. Slowly, a grin started to grow on his face.
"I think I like that idea..."
The days went by, and before you knew it, it was March, and Peter's eighteenth birthday passed by like the wind. In the end of the month, the Quidditch season started up again. And with Quidditch season comes...
"NO! NOT LIKE THAT! DROP THE QUAFFLE! Moron..."
...Yep. James Potter - Quidditch captainà la psycho.
Buffy gave James an angry look from where she was flying, passing the quaffle to her fellow chaser, Michaela Duncan.
"Is he always like this?" She hissed. Michaela nodded.
"Unfortunately. As soon as the spring seasons Quidditch season begins, he turns into a psychopathic monster. I've been through it twice before, but it has never been this bad."
"Must have something to do with it being his last year here," Buffy shrugged, and threw the quaffle towards the goalposts.
"Yeah...but it's mine too, and yours as well...and Nick's." Michaela reminded her. "And we're not acting like that."
"Thank God," Buffy murmured.
"NO TALKING WHILE PLAYING!" James screamed. "USE YOUR EYES AND HAND-SIGNALS!"
Buffy and Michaela simultaneously rolled their eyes, flying off to different sides of the pitch. They practiced for another half an hour, and Buffy was starting to get hungry. She looked up at the cloudy sky, having a feeling that it would start to rain any second. And she was right.
A lightning bolt lit up the sky, and big, heavy raindrops started to fall as the thunder started.
"Great," Buffy muttered. "Just great..." The quaffle had already started to get slippery.
"JAMES!" She screamed. "CAN WE END PRACTISE FOR TODAY? WE'RE ALREADY WORKING OVERTIME!"
"NO!" Came the answer.
"BUT IT'S RAINING!" Amanda Lorne, the seeker complained.
"A GOOD QUIDDITCH PLAYER NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO FLY IN ALL WEATHERS! DEAL WITH IT LIKE MEN!"
Nick Vandom, one of the beaters, also in seventh year, shook his head, as he hit one of the bludgers, keeping it from hitting their keeper, Gregory Morgan.
"He's mad," he said. "It's insane to fly in this weather. I can see three options: One - We get hit by lightning and die. Two - We all get sick and can't play next game against Hufflepuff, or three - We all fly down to James and hit him on the head with our broomsticks."
"I vote for number three," Buffy quipped, and the rest of the team agreed. They all flew down, and one after one hit James upside the head.
"Hey! What...? Stop. Ow! Knock it off! OUCH!"
"As a team and a democracy, we are all agreeing on ending this practice, taking a shower, eating and sleeping," Sam Bryant, the other beater said.
"You can't do that!" James protested. "I'm the captain, I'm in charge!"
"Not anymore," Buffy said. "So unless you want us to skip next game and stay in our beds and sleep, you better suck it up."
James gave them a glare.
"Fine. But if we don't win the cup, don't blame me." With that, he stalked off, backwards, cussing and swearing, as he made obscene gestures towards the team, until he finally turned around, stumbled on his own two feet and fell head first in a puddle of water and mud.
The team shook their heads.
"Utterly mad," Nick repeated.
No one dared to even speak or look at James for the following two days, not even Lily. Especially not after he sent a poor first year to the hospital wing for daring to ask how the team was coming on.
"We really need to do something about our dear Jamie," Sirius said, shaking his head sadly at his friend who was, for the moment, engrossed in a debate with a third year about the tactics of Quidditch, at the same time as he held 'Quidditch - game or reality?' in his hand, trying to read.
"It's not like him to lose focus so completely, especially not over a game against HUFFLEPUFF."
"I'd say he's focusing too much - not losing it," Remus said, and Buffy agreed.
"Yep. He's talking Quidditch, reading Quidditch, playing Quidditch, dreaming Quidditch, thinking Quidditch - and if it was possible, I'm sure he would be eating it as well."
"Oh, it is. Just yesterday he was chewing on 'Quidditch through the Ages,'" Eliza said. "And I think he was planning on having that Snitch of his as a dessert."
Lily groaned.
"My boyfriend is a Quidditch raving maniac who cares about nothing elseother thanhis broomstick and balls."
The others stared at her, and Lily blushed.
"Alright, that didn't come out quite as I intended," she muttered.
Sirius grinned.
"Don't worry," he said. "We promise we won't say a word about the Head girls dirty fantasies."
Lily glared, and sent a pillow towards his head, which he ducked under the others laughs.
"SHUT UP OVER THERE!" James screamed from across the room. "SOME OF US ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO DO SOMETHING IMPORTANT WITH OUR TIME!"
"Oh, yes, that's right. Playing with his broomstick and balls, wasn't it?" Sirius said, grinning at James' confused look, Lily's red face, and the others snickering.
"Seriously though, we need to get his mind off of his little playmates," Remus said, smirking as the others burst out laughing again. "He's just as bad as Buffy was with her studying."
"Hey, I resent that!" Buffy protested. "I wasn't that bad, was I?"
"Worse," the other chorused, and Buffy stuck out her tongue.
"Maybe a prank would do it?" Sirius asked, rubbing his hands excitedly.
"Yes!" Eliza exclaimed excitedly. "I knew you'd say that! So what's the plan?"
"Well...HEY, JAMES - If you can move your attention away from your broomstick and balls for a second, why don't you come over here!"
The others laughed again, and Lily groaned. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"
"Nope," Buffy said.
James stalked over to them, glaring.
"This better be important."
"Well, we thought we would play a prank," Peter said.
James turned around, and started to walk back from where he came.
"Not interested."
The others groaned. "Typical," Remus said. "Lily, go over there and get his ass back over here."
Lily glared at him.
"Why me?"
"Because you're his girlfriend," Eliza said sweetly. "And you're the only one who even has a little bit interest in his broomstick and balls."
The others howled with laughter once again, and Lily gave them all a rude gesture, before strolling over to James.
"James, sweetie," she said. James only grunted in response, and Lily sighed. Apparently, she'd need to do something drastic.
"James..." she cooed, crawling up on his knee and caressing his face. James swatted her hand away. The other occupants in the room looked on, amused at the act playing out in front of them.
"Geroff, Evans, I'm busy."
Lily's eyes narrowed as James reverted back to using her last name. The rest of the marauders winced.
"Not the right thing to say, Prongs..." Sirius mumbled.
Lily gritted her teeth hard together and stood up, crossing her arms over her chest, lending forwards a bit, before screaming.
"POTTER YOU STUPID PRAT! YOUR BROOMSTICK AND BALLS ARE ON FIRE!" She bellowed, straight into his face. The marauders almost burst out laughing again, but instead started to count slowly up to ten, each wondering how long it would take for Lily's words to progress into the Head boys thick brain.
One, two, three -
" - WHAT?" James flew up. "WHERE?"
Lily glared at him.
"Nowhere. But if you're not careful, I just might ask Sirius to set them on fire for me. And I'm not talking about the Quidditch equipment, I'm talking about your own," she snapped, making the occupants of the room burst out laughing again as James stood there in a daze, brain still a bit foggy.
"Prongsie-pooh, come over here. Drop the Quidditch for a moment, and join your friends in our marauding streak," Remus said.
James gave him a glare.
"If this in any way - "
" - Affects our chances of winning the cup you are dead," Buffy finished for him. "We get it, Jamie."
James moved his glare to the Slayer instead.
"Don't call me that," he snapped.
"Or what? You'll hit me?" Buffy smirked. "You wouldn't dare. I'd hit you back. And I hit harder than you. Plus, you need me for the Quidditch game."
James gave her another glare and sat down on the floor, in front of Lily, sulking, moping and pouting, all at the same time.
They were just about to begin the planning, when an owl flew into the window, dropping a letter in front of Lily.
"Who is it from?" James asked, as curiosity got the better of him. Besides, it was hard to sulk all the time.
"My mother," Lily said, surprised.
"Dear, Lily," she read out loud. "I hope you are having a good time at Hogwarts, and aren't studying too hard, even if your graduation draws nearer. Your father and I are quite busy with work at the moment, and Petunia has gotten engaged to her Vernon Dursley."
Here Lily stopped, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"Who's Doorslay?" Buffy asked, making the others snort with laughter. Buffy gave them a glare.
"Dursley, Buffy, Dursley," Lily said. "He's Petunia's boyfriend - or fiancé, according to this letter. His father owns a drill company of some sort, Grunnings, or something. I've only met him once, and I can already tell he's a complete bastard. He's always bragging about how he is going to take over the company after his father has passed away, and make lots of money.
I can swear he was a big, fat bully growing up. As much as I hate to badtalk people - well, he's awful. He barely has any neck at all, and the fat is almost rolling off him in waves. He looks ridiculous beside my sister - she's so thin and tall. They're like a needle and a ball of yarn."
When she was finished, the others were practically rolling at the floor with laughter.
"N-ne-edle," Sirius hiccupped between his laughter. "B-ba-all of-of ya-arn!"
Lily tried to look disapproving, but failed miserably.
"Anyway. Let's continue." She took a deep breath, starting to read the letter again.
"Yes, you saw right, dearest. Vernon Dursley. I am not sure what I think of him. His father is a highly respected businessman, but I can't help but hope your sister would have found someone less... beefy."
At this, the others burst out laughing again. Lily let them calm down before continuing once again.
"I know I should not speak ill of your sister's fiancé but he is just too much. What Petunia sees in him, I'll never know."
"Probably the money," Buffy said. Lily gave her a glare, but smiled as she continued.
"Now, I really hope you follow your - " Here, Lily stopped, and blushed, scanning the rest of the letter quickly, her face growing more red for every second.
"Your...what?" James asked, now really curious as to what was so embarrassing. Lily shook her head, and hastily put down the letter in her bag.
"Nothing," she said. "I'll just finish it later." The others started to protest wildly, but Lily ignored them.
"I'm not so sure I'm up for a prank any longer," she said. The others started protesting again, but again, Lily pretended she didn't notice.
"And James?"
"Hmm?"
"Why don't you go back to playing with your broomstick and balls - you really need the practice," Lily said sweetly, smirking, as the other started howling with laughter once again. James still looked confused.
"What is wrong with you?" He asked. "What's so funny?"
Lily went up to her dorm, laying down on her bed, before opening her mother's letter to read it in peace.
'Dear Lily,
I hope you are having a good time at Hogwarts, and aren't studying too hard, even if your graduation draws nearer. Your father and I are quite busy with work at the moment, and Petunia has gotten engaged to her Vernon Dursley."
Yes, you saw right, dearest. Vernon Dursley. I am not sure what I think of him. His father is a highly respected businessman, but I can't help but hope your sister would have found someone less... beefy. I know I should not speak ill of your sister's fiancé, but he is just too much. What Petunia sees in him, I'll never know. Now, I really hope you follow your sister's example, and find a boy to settle down with. I cannot help but hope he will be a better lot than Vernon Dursley though.
As both yours and Petunia's mother, I know I should not judge Vernon so quickly, but nothing I have seen of the man has impressed me in the least. I pray you will have a better judgement than your sister has when it comes to boys.
Now, you are probably just as red as your hair and thinking I finally have lost it, but see, I have not. There are other things out there than books. But then again, maybe you already know? I have to say I was pleasantly surprised when I got that letter from your head of house reprimanding you for playing that prank on Halloween!
Now we come to the important thing in this letter - boys. There must be at least some nice boys in your school - after all it is quite big. The letter from Professor McGonagall mentioned you were not alone in this prank, but had good company of a Miss de Mort, and a Miss Summers. And - now we come to the interesting thing - a Mr. Black, Mr. Lupin and a Mr. Potter. Say, aren't they all boys?
This is not all. This Mr. Potter - could it happen to be a certain James Potter? The same one you always complain about in all your letters, in all your visits... what was your words again? Oh, yes. 'He is an arrogant, self-obsessed, thick-headed prat!' What changed, dear Lily? Maybe James Potter grew up, and you noticed? I am dying for some good gossip!
I am afraid I won't be able to write much longer, Lily, but I am expecting a long answer from you with all the juicy details on your "relationship" to this certain male named James Potter.
Love from
Mum.'
Lily put down the letter, blushing, as she grabbed another parchment to write an answer on.
Juicy details, really!
'Dear mum,
Thank you for your letter. Everything is good here at Hogwarts, and no, I'm not studying 'too hard'. But I do study. My friend, Buffy Summers, that transfer student I told you about, she's worse than me. For a while, we were really worried about her, because she never did anything but study. But we managed to snap her out of it.
Petunia and Vernon - engaged? Somehow, I'm not surprised. I guess it was only a matter of time before the ball of yarn got his needle. I'm not really sure what I think about this. I wasn't too impressed when he came for that visit, but if he makes Petunia happy, I guess I should be too. I only hope she knows what she's doing, settling down with that 'respected businessman with more money than the king himself.' Hmm - I wonder.
Now, onto other notes - mum! You're right when I think you've finally lost it. What exactly is wrong with books! And for the record, I think about other things as well - boys included. This is all highly embarrassing! I can't believe that letter from Professor McGonagall made you happy - I don't know if I should be offended or honored.
Well, mother, you seem to be awfully interested in my love life, so I guess I will give you something to ease your hunger. But no juicy details!
Well, the people in the prank were Eliza, Buffy and I - and the marauders, Sirius, Remus and, well, James 'the arrogant, self-obsessed, thick-headed prat'. Peter would have been included, but we kind of threw him out. He did a really mean thing to Remus, but that's a story for another time.
Onto James again - I'm not really sure what happened. I guess he did grow up. He's really sweet now, and he is no longer so arrogant or self-obsessed - but he can still be thick-headed from time to time. Now, you probably are dying to know whether or not James and I are dating. Well...yes, we are. And don't you dare start screaming 'I told you so'!
James has really changed, and I guess when I looked under that arrogant shell, I found more than what I thought I would. James Potter is definitely more than he seems.
I really like him, mum, and I think he really likes me too. I'm not sure where it will lead to, but I'm hoping for that happy ending when the princess gets her prince and they ride of in the sunset to live happily ever after. Do you think I've got a chance?
Lily.'
A/N: How do you like? Please, REVIEW!
/Ida
