Chapter 3: Trouble Brewing, Vader-Complex, and Living Arrangements.
Buffy had just had one of her worst nights slaying. Four vampires in one night and not just the usual fledglings who wanted to make a quick name for themselves and ended up in a quick nameless pile of ash. No, Buffy was experienced enough now to know the difference between the newbies and the oldtimers. The Oldtimers always seemed to be a little more cautious around her, but a lot more loud.
She'd broken a nail dusting the last vamp, he'd been a piece of work. Must have been a martial artist in his previous life....life. Had worked her over really good. Buffy had gone home to clean up the blood, some of it her own this time, and change before sneaking out her window, climbing down the handy trellis that Joyce had just installed to liven the house.
Giles wound just have to hit the books harder, she had decided. Sleep would just have to be put on the back burner of Priority Buffy. She pushed the double doors of the library open and walked past the books scanner and cried out her Watcher's name.
A dark head, that had previously been bent over one of the oh-not-so-great-smelling tomes that Giles seemed to harbor as priceless family heirlooms, jerked up from the book and turned to face Buffy at her outburst.
"You're not Giles," Buffy said, instantly falling into fighting stance. A vampire hadn't come on campus yet, but Buffy wasn't about to put it past them. "Where's Giles, Xander, and Willow? And who are you?"
"If you're referring to Rupert Giles, he's in his office," the dark haired boy answered, his inflection cultured and resembling Giles' British accent. "And I don't know who Xander and Willow are."
"Which leaves us with my final question? And I don't do Alex Trebeck so you better give me the answer in the form of an answer now," Buffy threatened while the dark haired boy watched her blankly.
"It's alright, Buffy," Giles said, suddenly from behind her, walking out from his office with a strange sick-looking man. He gestured to the poor man. "This is Remus Lupin an old friend." Looking at the boy sitting at the table, a look of sadness passed over Giles' features. "And this is my nephew, Harry."
Buffy felt heat rush to her cheeks as she offered a hand to Harry. "Sorry about the pushy, just you can't be that careful with all the vam...crime. Yes, crime. It's running amuck these days." Somehow this seemed to pain the boy. "I can see this isn't something I should be involved in. I should go. Cause if I don't, I'll be involved and that's someplace I really shouldn't be. Which is to say, good night."
Remus gave Giles an incredulous as Buffy past by. "She's really quite good, despite some of my own misgivings," Giles defended. "Buffy there's no need to go. Actually, your timing is impeccable. How was patrol?"
"Patrol?" she asked, wondering for a moment if Giles had completely lost his mind. Sure it was his family, but she didn't get to tell her mother the truth, why should Giles get to parade it around his nephew like it was newest Hilfiger fashion. "Four vamps, not lightweights either. It's getting hairy, Giles."
"Their numbers are increasing," Giles identified.
"Yeah and I'm the one putting her life on the line while you sit here having tea and crumpets with your nephew," Buffy snapped. "While my mother has to be the one with the bag over her head."
Giles sighed heavily, as though it were his shoulders the weight of the world were placed. Or perhaps it was just to give him time to decipher Buffy's latest imagery. "Buffy, I'm doing all I can. Xander and Willow have been working tirelessly. We'll find out what the Master's up to, I promise. It's just going to take a little time."
"Well the sooner the better," Buffy said with a pout. "I broke a nail. I don't even have a press on. The least you could do is show some casual interest. You could go 'hm',"
"Hm?" Giles uttered confused. Then he shook his head as Lupin cleared his throat. "Buffy, please sit down I need to discuss something of personal manner with you before Xander and Willow return. It concerns Harry."
Buffy eyed the boy again. He was a handspan taller then her, but she had faced creatures that were much taller and had not felt that sense of power that she could feel pulsing from Giles' nephew. In fact, both of Giles' new playmates had a strange reaction from her Slayer-sense. "So this wasn't exactly a social call," Buffy guessed.
At least, Lupin had stopped looking as though she had walked out of the funny strips. "It's a grave matter," he intoned.
Rolling her eyes, Buffy hefted herself on the counter that was the checkout area for the library. "When is it not? So what's the trauma?" she asked off handedly, kicking her legs against the base of the counter.
Lupin gave Giles a you-must-be-joking look. "Rupert this is serious."
"Buffy understands that, she just has a different approach to handling danger then most people," Giles defended and Buffy brightened. "She faces danger every night, Remus. You don't expect her to break down every time, do you?"
Buffy swung off the counter and crossed over to Harry. "You want to fill me in on the trouble while these two go at it?" she whispered in a stage voice to make sure that Giles and Lupin heard her.
For the briefest of moments she thought she saw a smile flicker across Harry's solemn face. She remembered that look, she'd seen it often enough in the mirror starring back at her, especially when she'd first learned that she was the Slayer. The burden of responsibility that lay on her shoulders alone. What was it about Giles' nephew that was causing all this upset? He seemed normal enough, except for what looked like a tatoo in the shape of a lightning bolt on his forehead and that sense of power.
"Buffy, Harry is being targeted by an extremely powerful wizard by the name of Lord Voldemort. He managed to kill my brother and Harry's mother, in his attempt to strike out at Harry," Giles ripped into his explanation without preamble. "As I am his only living relative that can take over his guardianship, he has come to stay with me for the summer. At least I assume it's the summer?"
Giles turned to Lupin for confirmation. "Harry will be returning to Hogwarts in the fall," Lupin affirmed.
"So why does the guy with the Vader complex want Harry?" Buffy asked.
"Harry's managed to thwart many of Voldemort's attempts to regain his former power," Lupin stepped in. He rested a hand on Harry's shoulder and the boy seemed to relax marginally. "Since he will be staying with his uncle, we'd hoped that we could count on your help in protecting him."
Buffy shrugged easily. "Sure. Anything for Giles."
"Thank you, Buffy," Giles said softly.
Smiling, Buffy said, "Your welcome, Giles. But it's gonna cost you."
"Why am I not flabbergasted by surprise?" Giles asked wryly.
"I want to tell my mom," Buffy stated. "I'm sick of being the poster child for the troubled juvenile and her not knowing the truth."
"Buffy we've been through this before and you expressed your own reasons as to why you didn't want to tell your mother," Giles countered.
The Slayer winced thinking of those few weeks inside a Mental Institution that her parents had sent her to, just for mentioning vampires. "I thought maybe if I had someone backing me up, then she wouldn't get so wigged. Please Giles. Pretty please." She had her hands folded in front of her and her lips were turned down in a pout.
Giles gave her his usual indignant stance, his eyes flaming with determination. But she cocked her head ever so slightly and looked up at him with big eyes. "Alright, I'll think about it. But you must understand this is unprecedented."
"Unprecedented is my middle name," Buffy exclaimed.
From outside of the library they heard a high pitched giggle, followed by a much mellower laugh. "Must be Xand and Wil," Buffy deduced. "Where did they go anyway?"
"Xander as usual was hungry," Giles said, straightening his glass on his face as though to retain some dignity after falling under Buffy's manipulation. "They went to get 'snackage'? Um Buffy, I'd rather you not tell Willow or Xander about Harry's misfortune."
"Keep a secret from my best friends? That's like against several laws of friendship code. It's up there with not telling about your latest crush," Buffy argued.
Giles face went stern and she knew that she couldn't win on this one. "Just for the time being."
"Alright," she mopped.
At that moment Xander walked in with two large bags of chips and other assortment of goodies that had become a staple for long night research parties, a skipping Willow by his side. "Buffy your back," Willow called cheerfully. "How was..." she stopped suddenly catching the new faces. "And we have company? Xander we have company."
"Overburden as I am with sweet and salty goodness, I can see Willow," Xander said testily. "You could have offered to help me carry this." He plopped the bags on the counter.
"Xander, Willow, this is Remus Lupin and Harry Potter. Harry is my nephew and will be staying with me for a while," Giles introduced.
Willow brightened considerably. "Giles you didn't tell us you had a nephew," she admonished him, before sticking out a hand towards Harry. "Hi, I'm Willow. It's nice to know that Giles has family. He's always locked up in this library...and your probably wondering why were here at such a late hour."
"Summer school," Xander exclaimed.
"Yeah, hey, what? I am not in summer school," Willow argued, glaring at Xander.
Buffy laughed. "It's cool guys, they know."
"Right of course," Willow said nervously. She stood back toward Xander and smacked him in the stomach. "Your supposed to stop me when I do that."
Xander splayed his hands out in defense. "You caught me off guard."
"I think we should call it a night guys," Buffy said, saving Giles from any further embarrassment. "Harry's arrival was unexpected and I think Giles would like to get him settled." She turned to her Watcher. "I'll do a final sweep, but I don't think we're going to see anyone else for a while. Check with you in the morning."
"That should be fine," Giles said. "I'll contact you all for a meeting tomorrow. We cannot lax on our research."
With long suffering, Xander picked up his bags. "So slumber party at Willow's."
"I'm game," Buffy said, wishing for a moment that they could bring Harry with them. He seemed so downtrodden, but she had been right, he needed time with Giles. "It was nice meeting you Harry, Mr. Lupin."
br
Books upon books. It was the prevalent them inside his Uncle Rupert's flat in America. That and an inordinate amount of green. But it was warm and a far cry from the cold precision of his Aunt Petunia's front room. There was a smell of lingering tea and warm biscuits and of it's own accord, Harry's stomach growled.
"Have you eaten Harry?" Uncle Rupert asked. "I have some left over Chinese food in the refrigerator if you'd like it or I could cook something. I'm quite a right cook if I do say so myself."
"We stopped for dinner before we came to see you," Professor Lupin answered for him as Harry continued his study of what would be his home for the next two summers, until he reached of age.
Uncle Rupert cleared a space out of the corner for Harry's trunk and watched as Harry and Lupin struggled to move it in space. "I'm afraid it's only a one bedroom flat. The lease has almost expired. I was about to extend it but we could go look tomorrow for something a little more suitable." He began pushing the coffee table away from the couch. "I'm told there's some sort of hide-a-bed contraption in the couch. It should be sufficient until we get a frame and mattress."
"That will be fine," Harry said, taking his Firebolt from Lupin who had gone back to the car to grab the rest of Harry's things.
"Are you on the Quidditch Team?" Uncle Rupert suddenly asked, eyeing the broomstick in his hand. "After James came home from his first year, he was never without his broom. I think he would have slept with it, if Mum hadn't protested."
Harry waited for Professor Lupin to answer, but the werewolf was silent looking at Harry expectantly. "I play Seeker for Gryffindor," Harry answered. "Or I did," he corrected. "I was banned last year."
"You're welcome to stay the night, Remus," Uncle Rupert said, changing the subject. "I don't know if you've made any arrangements."
"Actually, I was meaning to talk to you about that, Rupert. Until Harry returns to school, there'll be a member of the Order watching him and I've been asked to stay in town," Lupin answered. At Uncle Rupert's look, he hurried to explain. "We took the same precautions at the Dursleys."
But Uncle Rupert was not going to be cowed so easily. "So it's a guardianship only in name then. He has to live here, but I don't get a say in his welfare."
Harry didn't know how to take Uncle Rupert. Apparently there had been some sort of scandal involved with is uncle and his father and the rest of the family had pretty much disowned him. He had been all set to hate the man. Loathing the fact that he was being forced to live with someone other then Sirius. It should have been Sirius. But now that he had seen Uncle Rupert, had watched the man do his best to be kind to him, it put Harry off kilter. After years of abuse from the Dursley's he'd just assumed that it would have carried over to Uncle Rupert.
"Perhaps this isn't the best subject to discuss in front of Harry," Professor Lupin insisted.
"Why not?" Uncle Rupert asked. "It's his life on the line. If he is meant to destroy Voldemort the knowledge must be inside him somewhere. How old are you Harry?" he suddenly asked.
"Sixteen," Harry answered.
"He's still a boy, Rupert," Professor Lupin insisted.
Uncle Rupert locked Harry's gaze with his own. "He's more then a boy, Remus. There are people in this life that are segregated for something higher then the rest of us. Buffy is one of those people. She goes out night after night, to fight off the undead and the evil that clings to this world like a parasite. Thousands upon thousands of girls before her have died, no one ever knowing the sacrifices they made to keep the world safe. She may play the cheerleader and she does put on a good show, but deep down she knows what she has to do. I've seen her in action and I've seen the cost of what it's done to her."
"Rupert this is different," Lupin tried hesitantly.
"There are differences, I won't neglect that. But Harry has to do something that no other can do. He only will have to stand up to that and when he does he can't have a number of voices shouting at him, telling him to do it," Uncle Rupert continued. "These people don't arise by chance, Remus. They're chosen."
Harry felt his stomach turn to ice. "I don't want to be," he muttered.
"What was that, Harry?" Professor Lupin asked.
"Nothing," Harry backpedaled, not able to voice the feeling of dread inside him. Not with Uncle Rupert and Professor Lupin watching him so carefully.
"Where is this Order located at?" Uncle Rupert continued to hound Remus.
Tiredly, the werewolf shook his head. "I can't tell you that."
"How can I contact them?"
"Rupert you must understand this is not something I can just divulge alone. There are oaths, protection spells, binding secrecy. It is this way for several reasons," Lupin tried to explain.
Harry blinked at him. He couldn't remember any rituals save for the revealing the address of Grimmauld Place. Only Professor Dumbledore, through any communication means, could reveal the location of the Headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. Harry himself had read the address scrolled by the aged wizard before being able to find the house that once belonged to his godfather's family.
Uncle Rupert crossed his arms over his chest and eyed Professor Lupin. "I want to meet these members before I let any of them near Harry. You've had spies in the past, I'd like to make sure that we don't repeat a doomed history."
"I'll see what I can do," Remus said hesitantly. "We'd have to come to you. They wouldn't allow you to be brought to Headquarters."
"That will be acceptable," Uncle Rupert conceded.
The werewolf frowned deeply, causing his haggard face to look more grave. "We want the same thing, Rupert; To keep Harry safe. We aren't enemies."
"Then don't act as though I'm some unknowledgeable Muggle. I grew up in your world, Remus. I know it's dangers and those beyond it," Uncle Rupert said. He looked up at a clock hanging up in the small kitchen. "Dawn still isn't for several hours. I'm afraid I don't have another bed, will a sleeping bag be alright, Harry?"
"That will be fine, Uncle Rupert," Harry answered, thankful that Professor Lupin would be staying around a little longer.
Meeting the Slayer and her friends had thrown Harry into a world that he had not expected. Professor Lupin had tried to explain to him that American's could be somewhat unorthodox, but he had not quite been able to catch the strange attitude of American teenagers. Harry hadn't been able to catch anything but every other sentence and he wondered if he'd ever get used to living outside of England. Even for just the summers.
In the corner, on top of his trunk, Hedwig chirped from her cage. She had been cooped up inside that cage for nearly a whole day, and although she had suffered a worse fate at the Dursely's, Harry did not want to prolong her suffering needlessly. Clearing his throat he walked over to where Uncle Rupert was rummaging through a closet.
"Excuse me, Uncle Rupert," Harry said quietly.
Here was a sharp crack as his uncle hit his head. "Damn and blast," Harry heard a muttered curse. Uncle Rupert came out rubbing his head. "Sorry, Harry. Not used to having company. What was that?"
"Would it be alright if I let Hedwig out of her cage. She's been there for so long and she needs to spread out her wings," Harry hurried quickly, anticipating disappoint by right.
"Hm? Oh, yes. She should be quite safe in the air. We've yet to encounter any flying demons," Uncle Rupert replied cryptically. "Speaking of which, Harry. I think I should give a few ground rules." Harry stilled himself. "First off, if you are out alone, you must return before the sun sets. If you are out after sunset, you must be with either me or Buffy and have with you at all times your broomstick."
"My broomstick?" Harry questioned.
"Fast, aerial retreat is perhaps the best defense for you. I wish you could carry it with you during the day, but that would raise suspicion." He turned his head back into the close. "Ah, there it is." He popped right out, this time with a bound roll of thick cloth. "Here you are, Harry. Best get some sleep."
Uncle Rupert mounted the stairs up to his loft bedroom and closed the door behind him. Professor Lupin in the meantime had undone the sofa bed and had arranged his robe over his thin shape, the robe sufficient to keep him warm in the heat of a California night. Bending down next to the sofa, Harry unrolled his sleeping bag. It stretched out so far that the end went under a nearby writing desk. Removing his shoes, he pulled his t-shirt off and took the watch Sirius had ordered for his birthday from his pocket.
It was silver, circular in shape, and opened to the lone picture of Harry and Sirius to ever be taken. Each was wearing a silly Father Christmas hat, as their heads acted like the hands of a clock. Whenever the hour passed, Sirius' voice would tell a story about his and Harry's father's exploits.
Slipping into the sleeping bag, Harry clutched the watch at his side and desperately tried to sleep. But whether it was the strangeness of a new home or the fact that he had what Muggles called jet lag, he could not sleep. Instead he thought of what Uncle Rupert had said.
'These people don't arise by chance, Remus. They're chosen.'