Never the Same

Chapter 4 – Tug and pull.

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

Remus gritted his teeth hard together in a last desperate attempt at keeping his very prominent headache in check. As if Kennedy hadn't been enough, she now had company in the 'very annoying and very spoiled' department, and they both did nothing but bicker. He wondered what in Merlin's name he'd done to deserve this.

"NO!"

"YES!"

"NO!"

"SHUT UP!"

"For Merlin's sake can both of you shut your bloody traps!" Remus exploded, giving Kennedy and the other Potential, Annabelle, a glare. "Eat your food so we can get the hell out of here."

"But it's meat," Annabelle whined, poking at her hamburger with her fork. "It's cow! I can't eat a cow! Just think about the pain it must have been going through, all scared and small and helpless..."

Remus took a deep breath, counting backwards from ten. Where the hell was Giles? The former watcher had left the diner several minutes ago, to go to the loo. Inwardly, Remus snorted. Yeah, right. It was more likely he'd seen the opportunity to escape the very frustrating company for a few minutes, leaving Remus to suffer alone...

"Well, eat the bread then," Remus said, giving Annabelle a forced smile.

"But it's egg in it!" Annabelle said, staring at him wide-eyed, as if she couldn't believe how barbaric he was being. "Raw chicken-babies, forcibly taken from their suffering mother..."

Kennedy let out a snort from across the table. All over the diner, the guests gave Annabelle looks of either digust, disbelief or amusement. Remus closed his eyes in frustrated defeat.

'Don't strangle her, don't strangle her...'

"I doubt you not eating them will make any difference for their suffering mother- oh, wait, the mother's probably in the butcher shop by now," Kennedy said. "Along with the no longer crowing rooster and any other family members the poor chicken had, before being put in the dough and stuffed into the hot, burning oven..."

Annabelle's lower lip started to tremble.

"How can you say that?" She whispered. "How can you not feel for them? How can you be so...so...cold!" Annabelle let out a sob, choking slightly. "I'm sorry. I can't be in here- I need to get out...this entire room screams with the sounds from the slaughtered innocents..." She pushed her chair away from the table, and quickly left, running out of the diner.

"Watch out so the ghosts of your slaughtered innocents don't hunt you down for abandoning them in their time of need!" Kennedy yelled after her. The only answer she got was a long suffering wail. Kennedy smirked and put her teeth into Annabelle's hamburger, which she grabbed from across the table.

"Mhmm...grilled cow..."

That's when Giles returned.

"What's wrong with Annabelle?" he wondered, giving Remus a questioning look. Remus let his head fall to the table with a loud 'thud'.

"So, when those guys with the hoodies and the crazy alphabet eyes came charging in, I panicked, right? And then my Watcher told me to hide, and I hid, in the wardrobe, right? And I could hear them fighting, and then it was all quiet, and I peeked out, and I saw my watcher lying there in his own blood, with his head torn off, right? And then Mr. Lupin came in, covered in blood from killing the guys who killed my watcher, and that was so awesome!"

Kennedy raised her eyebrows at the new Potential, Molly. "For almost being killed and for hearing your mentor die you seem awfully cheery."

"Oh, believe me, I'm not. I threw up. A lot. And I'll have nightmares for years to come, but my psychologist says it helps to talk about it," Molly smiled brightly, and Kennedy gave Molly a look that clearly said 'you're out of your mind'.

"Right..."

"Well, the plane-tickets homeare bought, so we shouldbe going," Remus said, as he stepped inside the hotel-room along with Giles. "Or else we won't have time to do that thing before the plane leaves," he said, with a meaningful look at Giles.

"Why can't we do that cool cracking thing you did with me?" Molly pouted, staring up at Remus with admiration. "That was so cool."

"Well, I can't do it with all of you," Remus said. "It takes too much energy. I did it with Giles and Kennedy across borders, and that was nauseating. I barely made it. If I try it again, with two more, I'll splinch."

"See, that's that word again," Giles frowned. "Splinched. What does that mean?"

"When your body parts all end up in different parts of the world," Remus said. "For example, a hand in India and a leg in America, while your head is left behind."

"Wicked!" Molly exclaimed, looking ecstatic, while Giles looked slightly green.

"This is insane," Annabelle hissed. "Stealing from the Watcher's Council, are you mad? We will be arrested for sure!"

"Shut up, Annebelle," Kennedy hissed back. "Or do you want to get caught?"

For once, Remus agreed- although silently.

"This is so cool!" Molly giggled. "We're like, super-villains, going prowling in the night, right in the middle of the wolf's nest, fighting the good fight. Stealing from the rich, giving to the poor..."

Kennedy rolled her eyes. "You're not Robin Hood, Sherlock," she hissed. "We're not giving anything to the poor, we're taking it ourselves."

"Well, then I'm maid Marion!" Molly grinned. "Remus is Robin, and he's just saved me from the evil Prince John, and now we're on the run, stealing for ourselves so we can survive in this harsh cruel world!"

Remus stared at Molly incredulously. Okay...he'd heard of how people being rescued sometimes started to look up to their savior, but this was ridiculous. She was just a kid! Fifteen, tops. And, he was engaged! Just as he was about to tell her that - kindly, of course - he was a gentleman, after all - Annabelle interrupted.

"Can you be serious?" She snapped. "If we are going to do this, let's do it right." She turned to Giles. "What are your orders, sir?"

Giles blinked. "Eh..."

Remus sighed. "Your orders are to be quiet, before I put a silencing spell on you. All of you," he added, as Kennedy opened her mouth to protest.

"You can do that?" Molly said. "Cool! You're like, the Wizard of Oz, or something!"

"The Wizard of Oz wasn't a wizard at all," Kennedy snapped. "And I thought he was Robin Hood a moment ago?"

"Oh, you're right!" Molly said, wide-eyed. "He'll have to be Houdini, instead."

"He still can't be both Robin Hood and Houdini," Annabelle said, making her way into the conversation. "It's physiologically impossible," she finished importantly. "How would that look?"

Remus stared at Annabelle, for the moment forgetting about the promised silencing spell. Physiologically impossible? What's wrong with that girl? She so needs a hobby...'

Molly pouted. "You're no fun." But then she brightened. "But he's a wizard! Of course he can be both!"

It was Giles' turn to snap. "For the love of all that's holy, please, be quiet!"

"What are you doing up there, Mr. Giles?" Annabelle said, ignoring his plea. "We've been standing still for an awfully long time."

"I need to pick this lock," Giles said.

"Why can't Remus magically fix it? He can do anything!"

Remus' lips twitched. Well...maybe he would wait with telling her off- having an admirer was kind of flattering- very ego-boosting. Merlin knows he needed that.

"I have to do it the good old honest way, unless we want the alarms to sound," Giles explained not so patiently.

Remus rubbed his head. Honestly... "If you haven't managed it yet during the fifteen minutes we've been standing here, I doubt you will be able to do it," he said. "Give me that." He stretched out his hand, palm upwards, nodding towards the hairpin Giles was using.

"No!" Giles snapped childishly. "The hairpin is mine -give me another minute."

"Whatever," Remus rolled his eyes, then frowned. "And why do you walk around with a hairpin in your pocket anyway?"

Giles flushed. "You never know when it might be needed."

Tenminutes later...

"Give me the hairpin, Giles."

"NO!"

"Yes."

"NO!"

"Yes!"

"NO!

Remus grabbed the hairpin, and started to tug at it, trying to take it from Giles with force. Giles refused to let go, and tugged back.

"NO!"

"YES!"

What happened next was what the three potentials would later call the 'tug and pull'-war. Remus and Giles each grabbed hold of one endof the hairpin, both refusing to give up, while Molly was cheering on Remus, Annabelle cheering on Giles, and Kennedy complaining about how ridiculous they were being.

"Don't let go, Remus! You can beat the old man easy!"

"You can do it, Mr. Giles! Show him who's the boss!"

"Oh, for Heaven's sake, which ones're supposed to be the adults here!"

"OUCH!" Giles had finally lost, and promptly fell on his butt. Remus held up the hair-pin triumphantly, before pushing it into the lock.

"Oh, it doesn't matter. You can have it," Giles grumbled. "You can't do it anyway. It's really difficult- "

CLICK.

The door swung open. Remus grinned, and Molly stared at him, eyes glassy.

"You're my hero..."

"How did you do it?" Giles whined. "You must have cheated!"

Remus rolled his eyes, holding the door open.

"Let's find the papers, and then get out. I don't want to stay here longer than necessary."

Xander, Anya, Willow, Tara, Faith, Spike, Buffy and Joyce sat calmly eating dinner, talking and gibbering, when suddenly the windows smashed and the doors broke down. Joyce screamed as men with no eyes, covered from head to toe in long, black hooded robes jumped inside. Buffy immediately sprung into action along with Faith and Spike, kicking, fighting and maiming their attackers with their bodies, and in Buffy's case, magic, while Xander and Anya used whatever furniture that was available. Willow and Tara did their best to protect Joyce with their own wiccan magic. The odds where on their side, and soon the men was lying slain on the floor.

"Is this it?" Xander said, brushing away some dust from his clothes, while kicking at one of the dead men with disgust. "I thought there would be more of them."

Willow shrugged, picking up a first aid kit, looking around at her friends in search of eventual damage that would need to be bandaged. "I thought so too...still, they caught usby surprise."

"What are they?" Tara wondered. "Robes and no eyes...that's nothing like we've faced before."

Faith was silent, as she looked around the room at all the broken furniture.

"I guess the house needs another make-over," Xander joked. "Or what do you say, Faith? Faith?"

Faith looked up. "I've fought them before," she said slowly. "I know these guys. We aren't being hunted. This isn't some demon. It's all the same thing. I know what we're up against. The First. These are called the Bringers, or Harbingers, doing his bidding."

"Bringers? The First?" Buffy stated, kneeling down to inspect one of robed people- a Bringer - who was lying face up on the floor. "What are- "

Buffy let out a gasp and dropped her wand, as the 'dead' Bringer she'd been inspected suddenly jumped up, and grabbed her around the throat, choking her.

"Buffy!" Willow exclaimed. Faith quickly rushed towards the Bringer, who swatted her away, before jumping out through the window, with Buffy, and rushing into the night, leaving the Scoobies standing in the demolished living room, frozen in shock.

"I can't belive they blew up the Headquarters," Molly whispered, leaning against Remus, wide-eyed, scared and tired. For the first time, she looked like the young teenage girl that she was. "Whoever they are."

Remus, Giles, and the three potentials where sitting on a plane back to Sunnydale, Remus with an arm around the youngest Potential, doing his best to comfort her.

"Well, at least we got the records," Giles said, wiping his glasses.

"Yeah," Kennedy nodded. "And that's what matters."

"How can you say that?" Annabelle protested. "The Council were our superiors! We should be grieving! I still don't understand why we broke in - we could have talked to them, then maybe they would have gone with us, we would still have the information and they would be alive."

"I don't think you understand how the Council works," Giles said. "Sure, we could have talked to them, but I doubt it would have made a difference. The Council is not on the best of terms with me- or Faith, for that matter."

"The Slayer, right?" Kennedy said. "What's she like?"

"She's very...free-spirited," Giles finally said.

"Like a hippie?" Molly hiccuped. Remus snorted.

"No, not like a hippie. And she's not the only Slayer. There's another one too. Buffy Summers."

"Buffy...wasn't she the Slayer that disappeared? Abandoned her mission?" Annabelle said in distaste. Remus' eyes flared.

"She did not abandon her mission. The reason she disappeared was because she was flung into another dimension and couldn't find any means to return. Until now."

"So she's in Sunnydale too?" Molly asked. "With the other Slayer? That is so cool!"

"How do you know Buffy wasn't lying about that other dimension?" Annabelle wondered. "Sounds a little far-fetched to me. And how can there be two Slayers anyway?"

Remus eyes flashed. "I'm the proof," he said. "I'm from the same dimension she was in.

"You're from another dimension? That's wicked!" Molly gushed.

"Well, how can there be two Slayers?" Kennedy wondered. "Is that even possible?"

"Yes, apparently," Giles said. "I'm surprised you haven't heard of it from your Watchers. Buffy was dead for a few minutes when she was sixteen, drowned by the Master. She was then revived, by her friend, Xander who you'll meet when we arrive in Sunnydale. However, her death, no matter how short, was enough to activate another Slayer, Kendra. When she died, Faith was called."

"So Faith's the real Slayer then? And the better one, considering she hasn't died." Kennedy mused, nodding to herself, not noticing how Remus tensed up. Molly, who was still leaning against him though, felt it, and also heard a low growl coming from his throat, and she gave him another wide-eyed look.

"Well," Giles coughed uncomfortably. "They are both Slayers, and both real. And I would presume just as good, although I might be a bit biased towards Faith, considering she had a little more training."

Remus closed his fists hard together, trying not to scream in frustration. Giles was doing it again! Overlooking Buffy. And the other Potentials seemed to as well- at least Kennedy and Annabelle.

"Faith and Buffy are both just as good, but they excel in different areas. And while Faith might have had more training, Buffy has more experience- especially since Buffy's also a witch."

Kennedy snorted. "I still don't have much belief in magic," she sing-songed. Remus eyes flashed.

"I think," he said through gritted teeth, "that it is unfair, not to mention biased, to make your opinions of Buffy- and Faith- before you've even met them."

"There's no need to get defensive," Annabelle said. "I mean, why do you care? It's not like you're dating one of them."

Remus was silent.

The three Potential's eyes widened.

"You are!" Kennedy breathed. "You're dating Buffy!"

Remus just grunted in answer.

"That is so romantic," Molly sighed, giving Remus a long hug, apparently over her earlier infatuation of Remus. "You met across dimensions, and traveled together back across the stars together, too much in love to be able to part!" She stared dreamily straight ahead.

Remus blinked. "Right..."

"Well, then he's the one who's biased. And aren't you upset, Molly?" Kennedy said. "I mean, it's been apparent that you have a crush on Remus."

Molly snorted. "Oh, I'm so over him. I'm not one to steal other's boyfriends." She frowned. "And I think he might be a little old for me." She brightened, and gave Remus another hug. "But don't worry- you're still my hero."

"Good to know," Remus said faintly, having a bit of a trouble with keeping up with the Potentials' ever changing mood swings. 'Maybe I am getting old...'

Buffy gasped in pain as the Bringer strapped her to a construct made of wood beams with a leather belt. Below her stood a replica of herself, grinning at Buffy wickedly. The First...

"How do you like my invention? And isn't this a great place for it? Right in the middle of good ol'- sorry, new - Sunnydale High. Brings back memories, doesn't it?"

Buffy gritted her teeth hard together against the pain, as the Bringer quickly cut her stomach.

"Oh, don't look at me that way."

Another cut. And another...and another. The Bringer cranked a wheel attached to a mechanism that hoists the wheel with into the air, about ten feet up. Her ritualized symbol-shaped cuts that had been etched into her stomach was bleeding steadily.

"I really thought you would be more grateful. I've helped you. Now you don't have to pretend you like your supposedly best friends anymore."

"Go to Hell," Buffy got out, making the First tssk in mock disappointment.

"Is that anyway to treat your host? What would your real friends say about that?" The First grinned. "Let's find out." Buffy's eyes widened in shock as the First shaped as herself took another form...as Lily.

"How could you, Buffy?" Lily...no, the first, said, shaking her head. "I trusted you. Why did you leave me? How could you abandon us like that?"

"No..." Buffy gasped. "Please, no..."

'Lily' smirked. "I didn't quite catch that, Buffy. Could you repeat it?"

Buffy was breathing heavily now. 'Not this...never this...Lily...no...'

"Stop it," Buffy hissed. "Change back! Anything but her! Please stop it!"

'Lily' shook her head. "Still defiant. Oh, well, I'll grant your wish." 'Lily' morphed into 'James', who grinned. "Is this better?"

Buffy let out a sob. "Stop it..." she whispered.

'James' laughed, ignoring her. "Now, Buffy...wanna see what a real vampire looks like?"

The First stepped back a little, revealing a metal Seal, shaped like a circular object with strange symbols and a pentagram in the middle, surrounding a goat's head. Buffy's blood dripped onto the seal, pooling in the grooves and being absorbed.

"This is the Seal of Danthalzar," 'James' said lovingly. "Isn't it pretty? Isn't it strange that something so heavenly, is hiding...hell."

The seal started to glow, and one by one, the pointed tips of the pentagram folded themselves up, forming a pyramid. Buffy watched in horrid fascination as light pooled out from under it and how the pyramid sank into the ground, along with the remaining pieces of the seal. Her eyes widened as a monster, with a horribly disfigured face, withredandgray and pointy fingers, a bald head, distinct vampire forehead, brows, trademark fanged teeth and hollow cheekbones, wearing black leather climbed out, raising its hands toward the sky and looking around the room, growling menacingly.

"How do you like him?" The First whispered.

A/N: Another update! (Ya, I'm good) How do you like my description of the potentials? -snickers- I'm really bringing their characterizations to a new high - coughgoingoverboardcough - tell me what you think. By the way my Fanartpage has been updated with LOTS of wallpapers from BTVS - I'd be very pleased if you'd comment, either in aREVIEW (I really love those I've gotten so far-keep it up!)or mail or through my LJ - I will put up a few of them there. Also, Review responses can be found there as usual. Expect another update sometime in the middle of next week. Until then, keep your pants on!

/Ida