Never the Same

Chapter 3 – A little more tact.

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, possible mild sexual interactions, etc. If you can watch BTVS/AtS and read HP, I doubt you'll have any problem with this story.

TIMELINE: Sequel to "Out of the Blue" and "Red Horizon" (Part 3 in the series), and begin where we left in "Red Horizon" chapter 39, and a bit before BTVS season 7, though it's almost completely AU, with many changes from the real plot.

SUMMARY: BTVS/HP crossover. Sequel to RH. "You can run but you can't hide, evil finds you everywhere. Peace and quiet can no one provide, who said life was ever fair?" Starting over is something that definitely falls into the 'easier said than done'-category. Buffy and Remus are doing their best to move on, and get used to the changes and the new turn their life has taken, but it's not easy...especially not when living on a Hellmouth.

CENTRAL PAIRING: Buffy/Remus

OTHER PAIRINGS: Willow/Tara, Xander/Anya

Special Thanks to: My Beta - CharmedChick

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Buffy pouted, frowning, even though she wasn't really mad. It felt like there now was a small crack in the earlier fat, thick ice that was in big need of breaking. "Stop laughing! It's not funny!"

Xander hastily recovered from his laughing fit. "You're right. It's not. HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Buffy's eyes narrowed and she glared at Xander, before she brandished her wand threateningly, waving it in his direction. "Hey! Watch who you're teasing here! I'm a bad ass witch, and if you're not careful, I'm gonna turn you into a bitch!"

"Woof!"

Remus stared at Buffy, who's eyes had widened comically.

"Oops?" She tried.

Willow gulped. "Okay...we know he was laughing about your knew job...but was that...really necessary?"

Tara's jaw had hit the floor. "Y-you just...turned Xander into a dog?"

Buffy scratched her head nervously. "I guess I did...but I didn't mean to! I was just gonna scare him a little!" 'Try to make things the way it was...before I left...'

"Well, I say you succeeded," Remus stated, smirking. "But...maybe you should turn him back now. And why did that spell work anyway? It wasn't a real one! It was horrible!"

"Hey!" Buffy glared. "Watch it, or you'll find it onyourself next!"

Remus hastily put up his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine...now, turn him back."

Buffy rolled her eyes, and pointed her wand at Xander-the-dog. "Fini...hey! Stay here, buddy!"

Remus rubbed himself over the face tiredly, as Buffy went racing after Xander-the-dog, who had run out of the room, clearly terrified of Buffy's wand. "What did I do to deserve this?" He pulled up his wand and pointed it in the direction Xander and Buffy had run off. "ACCIO XANDER-THE...BITCH!"

"Xander" let out a loud yelp, as he suddenly found himself soaring towards Remus, who quickly followed up his summoning spell with a 'FINITE INCANTATUM!'

"OUCH!" Xander rubbed his back as he landed on the floor, and Buffy came running back in.

"Thanks," she told Remus, who just sighed and shook his head at her.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I've missed you so much- your magical accidents included."

Buffy grinned. "I missed you too."

Xander gave her a long, incredulous look. "You're out of your mind. Both of you," he finally said. "What the hell was that?"

"Magic," Remus supplemented. "Don't feel bad: You're not her first victim. And, since the last one ended up a turkey, consider yourself lucky."

"Sorry to interrupt the bonding time," Giles said, coming into the room while cleaning his glasses. "But I'm afraid we might stand in front of another apocalypse."

Buffy slumped down in a chair, sighing. "Yep. I must be back in Sunnydale..."

"Something's killing Slayers?"

"Potential Slayers, actually," Giles said. "Waiting for one to be called. There were many more like them all over the world, but now there's just a handful. The rest...well...the rest have been murdered."

"Oh My God," Willow mumbled. "That's horrible!"

"So what do we do?"

"I suggest we kill who ever's doing it and kick its ass," Faith said, standing up, hitting her right fist into her left hand.

"Yeah," Xander agreed. "Except the tiny little problem we have with not knowing who 'it' is."

"Well, then, let's find out. Hit the books," Faith said, shrugging. "Find any demons who likes to kill Slayers."

"Ehrrr...right," Spike snorted. "Because there's so few of them. Who doesn't want to kill Slayers?"

"As much as I hate to admit it, Spike's right," Buffy groaned. "We should go at it from another angle. Find the Potentials and protect them."

"Who died and made you boss?" Faith snapped. "We're not running things your way anymore. You disappeared- "

"Buffy has the right idea, Faith," Giles sighed and Faith crossed her arms defiantly, not happy that she now had competition. "We need to protect the Potentials. And to do that, we need to bring them here."

"Yeah," Xander nodded. "Bring them to the Hellmouth. Great idea." He frowned. "Actually, it's not. What are we thinking?"

"Better here than alone out there," Giles said. "Remus, lets go." Giles started to walk towards the door.

"Whoawhoa!" Buffy said, holding up her hands. "What?"

"I need to find and bring the Potential Slayers here. It's easier if there's two of us," Giles stated plainly. "And Remus is the only one who isn't busy with other things."

"I am?" Remus asked, sounding confused.

Buffy glared at Giles. "So you think it's up to you to decide? He has barely arrived and now you want him to go gallivanting with you across the world?"

"That about sums it up, yes."

"Forget it."

"I'll go."

Buffy turned to stare at Remus. "Are you out of your bloody mind?" Buffy said, incredulously.

"I still can't wrap my head around the fact that she has become all English," Willow whispered to Tara, who smiled, thinking maybe things would be alright between the forner best friends.

"You're just going to take off?" Buffy asked. "I just got you back..."

"What do you want me to do? Sit around here, humming to myself, while you're off at your new job?"

"I'll quit! I'll turn down the offer!" Buffy sounded almost panicky. "I need you here."

"I know. And I need you too. But I'm still adjusting to this...new...very...modern world. My mind is still stuck in the nineteen eighties. And I need to keep myself occupied. I need to be doing something. Something useful."

Buffy lowered her eyes to the floor in defeat. "Fine...go."

Remus gave her a long, searching look. "Are you certain you're okay with it?"

Buffy looked up, her lips twitching slightly. "Yes. I suppose I am. But you should leave before I change my mind."

Remus nodded. "Right. You'll still be here when I get back?"

This time, Buffy grinned openly, giving him a long hug. "Where else would I go?" She whispered.

"So...where do we start?"

"Well, Robson, my source, gave me a list of five Potential Slayers. There's one in New York, where I suggest we start as it's closest. Then we have two in England, another one in Spain and a last one in Australia."

"Only five?"

"Well, it's a start," Giles shrugged. "After that, I suppose the Council is our next source of information. Though we didn't part on the best of terms, so they may not be too helpful."

"What happened?"

"Long story," Giles sighed. "Though the short version is we...kind of took a stand against them," he flushed, but at the same time looked a bit proud. "Faith really handled that excellently. I doubt Buffy could've - "

"- Could've what?" Remus eyes narrowed. "Done as well? A lot of faith you have in her."

Giles coughed uncomfortably. "Well...I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound...disrespectful. I don't doubt Buffy's abilities, she was a very good Slayer, and I love her and I'm sure she would have turned out just fine. I'm proud of her. But she doesn't have the same- spirit - that Faith has. I don't think Buffy...enjoys her calling the way Faith does."

"So that makes her less?" Remus said, his voice raising a little.

"No no, that's not what I meant at all!" Giles protested.

"Funny that's how it sounded," Remus snapped. "I can't believe you people! She comes back, and you either dismiss her like she's nothing or take her for granted! I get that you've changed- she has as well; no one stays the same forever -but you could at least take a little interest in her! You...you just...do you have any idea how much she missed you?"

Giles threw his head back, sighing. "We missed her as well. We are trying- we know how we acted was wrong - is wrong. It's just...difficult. Complicated."

"No!" Remus protested. "How complicated can it be! A dear friend of yours disappears for years and then returns. You should have welcomed her back with open arms! Friendsaren't something you just dismiss orare easily found! If any friend of mine returned like Buffy did to you, I'd shout with joy at the second chance!" Tears were burning in his eyes, and he quickly turned his head towards the window, not wanting to show weakness.

'James...Lily...Eliza...Peter...hell, even you, Sirius...I miss you. Come back...to to the way we used to be...'

Giles glanced at Remus, seeing the younger man's tears, but quickly returned his attention to the road in respect for Remus' silent grief, not wanting to intrude. "I know. God knows you're right. And things will get better. They will..."

"So, Buff," Xander said, throwing an arm around Buffy. "What say you of a little chat over a coffee? Or maybe it's tea nowadays?"

Buffy smiled. "Coffee's just fine."

Willow sighed in mock-relief, setting herself down by the kitchen table. "Thank God! You haven't turned completely English on us!" Xander, Buffy and Willow laughed, but slowly, silence settled down over the room. The kind of heavy, uncomfortable silence in which you can hear a pin drop.

Buffy looked down at her hands uncomfortably. "So. The weather's nice," she finally supplemented.

"Yeah!" Xander agreed. "Really sunny."

Silence.

Buffy felt her cheeks heat up. 'What was I thinking...'the weather is nice?' Great way to break the ice, Buffy, you dolt...'

"I think it's gonna rain though," Willow added.

Silence.

Xander nodded. "Yeah. Rain. Wetness. Lots of it. Cause...rain is wet. And all...watery...and...wet."

Silence.

Ding. Dong.

"Yes?"

"Uhh...we're looking for...Kennedy?"

"She's not in."

BAM.

The door closed on them, leaving Giles and Remus standing on the doorstep to the very large and exclusive looking building.

"Right," Giles stated. "That went well."

"Should we...knock again? And ask where she is?" Remus wondered. "Or I could do a tracking spell? Although I'm not too sure of the accuracy...possibly apparition...might be risky though..."

Giles stared at him like he was mad.

"Alright," Remus finally said. "I've made up my mind. Grab my arm, and give me that photo you had of her."

"Ehrr...alright," Giles agreed, sounding confused, as he pulled up a photo from his pocket and grabbed Remus arm tentatively. Remus frowned and stared at the photo for a long time, before finally nodding and giving it back to Giles.

"You have to hold on harder, unless you want to be splinched."

"Splinched? Whaaaa- "

CRACK!

CRACK!

"DUCK!" Remus yelled as he realized they'd landed in the middle of an ambush. Giles quickly ducked to the ground, right on time, as a knife zipped passed where his head had been only moments ago. Remus took a quick look around, and immediately spotted a furious dark-haired girl with olive-skin in the middle of the ambush, fighting for all she was worth with the men around her...the men without eyes. In a corner a wide-eyed person in a gray suit was laying, gutted up like fish, and Remus realized that must have been Kennedy's Watcher.

He pulled out his wand, and shot of a spell- not a moment too late- as one of the eyeless men came rushing towards him at full speed. Remus felt his werewolf senses go onto full alert, and his body being filled with adrenaline, as he rushed into the fray.

"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?" Kennedy yelled, as Remus took up a position behind her, covering her back.

"A friend," Remus said simply, shooting of a stunner. "You looked like you could use some help."

"YEAH?" Kennedy snapped, as she broke one of the men's necks. "MAYBE I DON'T NEED HELP! I CAN HANDLE THEM!"

"That's not what it looked like from where I was standing," Remus said calmly, not in the least affected by the Potential's angry tone. Kennedy just glared in response, killing the last of the attackers with a sword to the chest, before she took up a fighting stance against Remus.

"I ask you again - who the fuck are you?" She growled. "And what the hell is up with that stick?"

"My name's Remus Lupin," Remus said, just as calmly as before. "I'm coming from Sunnydale. I believe you've heard of the Slayer?"

"This sucks," Kennedy snapped irritably, as she, Remus and Giles landed with another loud CRACK in the middle of a very rainy England. "I don't see the point of this. Two of the Potentials you were supposed to help where already dead when you got there. What makes you think the English chicks are any different? And did I tell you how much I hate the magic transportation? If it's magic at all. Personally, I doubt it."

Remus rolled his eyes, rubbing his nose tiredly, wondering not for the first time how he'd been able to keep himself from killing the very annoying girl himself, on their trip across countries. However, it seemed as if Giles was of another opinion as he simply smiled at Kennedy.

"Well, we helped you, didn't we?"

Kennedy snorted. "I had it all under control."

"Yeah?" Remus snapped, his patience finally breaking. It had beena few verystressful days, and it was getting to even the normally level-headed werewolf. "That's not what it looks like, if your dead Watcher on the ground was any hint of how you 'had it all under control!'"

That shut her up. Finally.

Buffy whistled softly to herself as she walked around patrolling the city. Things were still a bit strained between herself and the Scoobies, but after the talk they'd had- after they'd stopped dancing around the subject with the weather and other useless subjects- she felt a lot better.

Flashback

Xander nodded. "Yeah. Rain. Wetness. Lots of it. Cause...rain is wet. And all...watery...and...wet."

Silence.

Finally, Buffy sighed. "Guys...is there a point to this very pointless conversation? Or can I just go back to pretending all is well and good with the world?"

Willow and Xander gave each other nervous looks. "Well...you see, Buffy," Willow said. "We just...wanted to...you know...talk. Get to know each other. Again."

Buffy blinked. "Okay. I'm listening."

"WE'RE REALLY SORRY!" Xander blurted - yelled - out, making Buffy sit up quickly in her seat with shock. Willow elbowed him sharply in the ribs, before turning her attention back to Buffy.

"What he said," she added, then frowned. "Although with a little more tact."

Buffy's lips twitched.

"Yeah," Xander repeated, rubbing his sore ribs while glaring at the red-head. "You know...we never meant ignoring you when you returned. It was stupid of us to think things would go right back to normal. So...sorry. Friends?"

Buffy stared at Xander's outstretched hand stupidly. That was it? That was all the apology she would get for being yelled at, screamed at, ignored, overlooked and hurt by her supposedly best friends? Then she saw Willow's and Xander's hopeful faces, and realized she didn't have the energy needed to fight. They truly where sorry, and although they could have said it with a bit more finesse, they had apologized...so it was now up to her to be the magnanimous grown-up friend.

"Yeah, sure," she sighed. "Well, I'm not saying things are great between us right now, because, let's face it, they aren't. But they will be. Just...let's give it time, okay?"

Willow and Xander smiled, relieved. Maybe things would be better now when the first step was made, and the first brick of the very high wall was taken down. They just needed time.

End flasback

Buffy hummed a little, as she twirled her stake in one hand, and her wand in the other. As tactless and idiotic astheir apology and conversation had been, things already felt a lot better. And for the first time in a long time, she really felt that things would work out for the best.

A/N: Third chapter up! Hope you liked the chapter, and that you keep on reading slash REVIEWING! Answers as Private Review Responses and in my LJ as usual (who knows? you might snap up some spoiler "accidentally" left behind -hinthint-). This story is already halfway done (it will be fifteen chapters, tops), so updates will be quicker then for my other stories. See ya in next chapter!

/Ida