Never the Same

Chapter 7 – My girl.

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

"Now...if I were a sign of being evil, where would I be?" Buffy muttered to herself, as she looked around Principal Wood's office with a flashlight. Ever since Remus had told her he'd met Wood in the basement- with no good excuse- when he'd been looking for Buffy, she had been wary of the this far suspiciously nice principal. After all, everyone knew principals were evil - well, kind of (Snyder)- or just plain weird (Flutie). So this was why she was here, putting her nose were it probably shouldn't be in the middle of the night. Since Wood was here during the day, that would not count as very smart.

"Aha!" Buffy exclaimed, as she got sight of a cabinet on the wall. Suddenly, someone clearedtheir throat from behind her, and Buffy spun around in surprise.

"Buffy?"

"Principal Wood! It's you." She flushed. "Eh...what are you doing here? It's the middle of the night."

Wood raised his eyebrows. "I was just going to ask you the same thing. After all, it's the middle of the night. And this is my office - I was just coming to pick up some files I'd forgotten."

"This is your office?" Buffy laughed nervously. "Sorry. My bad. I thought it was mine. I came to pick up some files too...must have taken a wrong turn somewhere. I mean...it's a big school." She nodded seriously. "A very big school. And it's dark. You know, hard to find your way."

Wood's lips twitched. "Right. Hey, Buffy?"

Buffy, who'd been slowly but systematically edging herself towards the exit during their conversation, and now had reached it, froze in her step.

"Yes?" She squeaked.

"What are you doing tomorrow night?"

"Umm...preparing for the day after tomorrow?" He wasn't trying to kill her? Weird.

"No, really."

'Snuggling up with Remus in front of a show about a millionaire and trying to ignore the chattering teenaged potential Slayers'

"Umm...nothing. Why?"

"Well, then, I'd, um... I'd like to take you out to dinner, if that's all right with you. I mean, you don't have to. I'm certainly not saying come to dinner if you enjoy having a job." He let out a nervous chuckle and scratched his bald head. "You know, I may have to make up a document saying I didn't just say that and have you sign it."

'Aha!' Buffy thought. 'That's his plan. Take me out, seduce me, and then kill me when I least suspect it. Lucky me; I have an excuse!'

Buffy thought.

"Sorry," Buffy said. 'No, I'm not.' "But I already have a boyfriend. Remember Remus? You met him at the grand opening." She nodded. "He's the jealous type, you know. I had this friend, who was a male, and we went out, but when Remus found out, he went completely mad and shoved a fork up his ass and ate him for dinner. Sometimes, I wonder if he's not from another planet. Really, if you value your life, don't ask me again."

Wood's lips twitched. "Ate him for dinner? Really? Somehow, I didn't get that impression of him. He seemed to be the quiet type. Not someone who shoves...forks up people's asses."

"It's always the quiet ones," Buffy said brightly. "Bye!"

"Hey, wait!" Wood said. "Please. Just as co-workers. Completely professional- I'll even let you ask your boyfriend before you agree, to make sure he's not going to kill me- itäs just...it's silly, but I have this...thing, and I think you would benefit from knowing what it is."

'Yeah. Right.'

"Fine," Buffy finally sighed. 'I'll show up...in your dreams...'

"Great!" Wood grinned widely. "I'll meet you here, outside, ten o'clock. You won't regret it, I promise."

'Somehow, I doubt that.'

"Let me see if I got this straight. Your boss asked you to dinner?" Remus wondered.

"Yes."

"And you agreed?"

"Yes. Well, pretended to."

"And you told him I was a crazy lunatic who eats people for dinner?"

"Ye- hey!" Buffy pouted as Remus laughed. "It's not funny! I was desperate!"

"Right," Remus snorted. "Next time, try to come up with a better excuse. I doubt he bought that even for a second." He sobered. "Still, I think you should go."

"What?"

"Well, if he does have information you would benefit from, can you risk not going?" Remus asked. "It might be important."

"But what if it's a trap?" Buffy protested. "He might be evil."

"I know. But if it's a trap, I know you can handle yourself. If worst comes to worst, apparate the Hell out of there. Really, Buffy, I think you should go.

Buffy sighed. "Fine. But if I have to suffer through a night with my boss who is annoyingly charming, I expect something nice when I get back."

Remus grinned. "You bet."

When Buffy came to the school the next night, five minutes late (on purpose), Wood was already waiting. He raised his eyebrows at Buffy's outfit.

"You look...nice."

Buffy grinned. "Ido, don'tI?" She smirked to herself. She had dressed up in leather, from top to bottom, with two throwing knives fastened by the sides of her boots. "After all, we're just going as co-workers, right? And I really like this outfit- keeps robbers away."

"Right," Wood said, reaching out an arm for Buffy to take, but she just ignored it.

"So, where are we eating dinner?"

Wood grinned. "This way, lady Summers."

"I'm not a lady," Buffy half grumbled, half sing-songed under her breath.

'This is bad,' Buffy thought. 'Bad, bad. A bad idea...'

Buffy thought.

She and Wood was walking in a dark alley, with Wood whistling, hands in his pockets, while Buffy's eyes darted from side to side nervously, checking out her surroundings for any signs of an ambush.

"This is not right," Buffy said, stopping.

"I know it doesn't look promising, but I swear this place is great," Wood said, stopping his whistling and coming to halt beside Buffy. "It's the best kept secret in town. It's just right down this way."

"The very long, very dark way," Buffy mumbled. "Must be a very good secret."

"I promise you, just a little bit further," Wood prompted. Buffy glared and started to walk again. "Fine. But if this is some kind of trap - "

No sooner had she said that, when suddenly a vampire jumped out of nowhere, several others joining it. Buffy immediately started to fight them, swearing wildly at the same time.

"I'm going to kill you!" She yelled at Wood, while pulling out one of the knives from her boots. "I knew this was a trap! I just knew- "

She paused, and her eyes grew wide as she got sight of Wood, also fighting the vampires with no problem, staking vamp after vamp.

"Whaa- "

After finishing the last vamp off, Wood turned back to Buffy. "I guess we should talk."

Buffy just nodded dumbly. 'What thehell is going on?'

"This is a really...comfy place," Buffy said, looking around the small, but inviting restaurant.

"It sure is, isn't it?" Wood agreed, sitting down by a table and picking up the menu.

"So," Buffy said, crossing her arms over her chest, after Wood had ordered from the waitress who'd given Buffy nervous looks after getting sight of her outfit. "Who are you? Or what are you?"

Wood chuckled. "I guess you're not one to bounce around the subject, hmm?"

"No," Buffy stated, mad that her carefully laid out plan that consisted of finding out Wood was evil, kicking his ass, and then going home to shag, had ran out in the sand.

"Right," Wood said. "I'm a principal- I really enjoy it- "

Buffy glared.

"Of course. Cut to the chase," Wood muttered. "Besides being a principal during the day, I slay vamps and demons at night - Although this was the first time I've taken out several at once."

"How do I know this is not a set-up to lure me into a false sense of security and then stab me in the back?" Buffy wondered. "How do I know you're not just trying to earn my trust?"

"Oh, I am. Trying to earn your trust. But I'm not going to stab you in the back. Really, Buffy," Wood grinned. "You need to cut down on the paranoia."

In answer, Buffy just raised her eyebrow. Wood sighed.

"So I guess we're not becoming best friends then. Well, I know this is the Hellmouth, which is just a big magnet for things that go grrr in the night. I also know we're heading for something big, Buffy. And I need to be there when it happens. I need to help. And I know you're the Slayer- or one of two- so you're obviously the way to go."

"So I guess you didn't hire me for my counseling skills then," Buffy muttered.

Wood burst out laughing, then hastily cleared his throat as he got sight of Buffy's look. "They're valuable too..."

"Why?" Buffy asked, changing the subject back. "Why do you want to help? Do you have some kind of hero-complex, or what?"

"No. Not exactly. But...my mother was one. The one, actually. The Slayer. I'm just continuing her work."

Buffy's eyes grew round, and she sat up a little straighter. His mother had been a Slayer? All her suspicions and hostility flew out the window.

"Your mother was a Slayer?" She asked. "That is..." She leaned closer over the table. "Tell me everything. I want to know everything- being the kid to a Slayer- how does that work?"

Wood raised his eyebrows. "Wow. That was a quick mood-swing. Why are you so interested?"

Buffy flushed. "Well," she said, trying to sound nonchalant and failing. "You never know what happens in the future. I might end up pregnant someday, you know."

"Thanks to Remus, the man-eating monster from Mars?"

Buffy flushed. "Yeah. Probably. Although, scratch the whole man-eating monster slash alien thing. I made that one up."

Wood smirked. "I kind of figured."

"I'm back!" Buffy yelled, a couple of hours later, closing the door behind her and Wood.

"So this is how you live, huh?"

"At the moment."

Remus came down the stairs, dressed in jeans and a white shirt with the top three buttons undone. Buffy melted at the sight of him, grinning, and gave him a long hug.

"How did it go?" Remus wondered, returning it, then getting sight of Wood. "Oh, hi. Principal Wood."

Wood smiled. "Hi. Buffy has told me so many interesting things about you."

"Really. The whole alien thing- not true," Remus said, giving Buffy a look. Buffy buried her head deeper against Remus chest.

"Yeah. I know. But a werewolf, huh? Must be interesting."

"Actually, no. It's mostly rather painful."

"Wood's mother was a Slayer," Buffy spoke up, and Remus raised an eyebrow at her.

"A Slayer? Huh."

"Yep. A Slayer. Like me," Buffy said, with a pointed look at her boyfriend who's lips twitched. Honestly. Subtlety wasn't her thing.

"Really."

"Yeah. Hey Faith!" Buffy waved at Faith with a stupid grin, as the dark haired Slayer came out in the Hallway. "This is Robin Wood. Wood, this is Faith, she's the other Slayer and will show you around now."

"I will?" Faith blinked.

"Yeah," Buffy grinned, grabbing Remus shirt and started to drag him up the stairs. "Remus and I are gonna be busy making babies."

Wood and Faith raised their eyebrows, and Remus flushed. "We are?" He asked meekly. Not that he didn't want children, because he did, but...now?

"Yeah. Maybe not right now, considering we're in the middle of an apocalypse, but we could practice."

"Right." Remus squeaked as Buffy pulled in him harder. "Bye," he said to Faith and Wood, who were doing their best not to laugh.

"Have a nice night!" Faith called. "Try not to be too loud!"

"This used to belong to your mother?" Faith asked, slightly in awe, as she gave the large leather duffel bag a good look over, along with Willow and Xander.

"Yes. A sort of...Slayer emergency kit. I was going to give it to Buffy, but since you're the actual Slayer according to the timeline, I guess it's yours. And, you don't seem as hostile."

Faith grinned. "B can be a pain."

"I-I'm sorry for interrupting," Giles asked. "But if this belongs to the Slayer, why keep it for so long?"

Wood shrugged. "Sentimentality. I would have kept it a lot longer - selfish, I know- but I think what's inside might be of a help for you."

Faith nodded, and opened the bag. "Right. Let's see what's inside..." she frowned, and pulled out... "A book." She wrinkled her nose in disappointment and threw it to Giles, before looking at the rest of the contents. "Trinkets, weapons...but nothing I don't have already." She slumped down in a chair. "That was a let-down."

"And the book is in Sumerian," Giles said, as he flipped through it. "Are you sure there was nothing else?"

"Just some big, fat box," Faith said flippantly, throwing her feet up on the table, ignoring Giles' frown.

"And you don't think it's important?"

"Boxes are boring," Faith sing-songed, lighting a cigarette.

Xander snickered, while Willow nodded. "Yeah. Boring. O-or bad. Bad things come out of boxes."

Giles glared and pulled out the box of the bag, trying to open it, but with no luck. "Doesn't this thing have a key?"

"Sorry," Wood shrugged.

"Hey," Buffy said brightly, stepping into the kitchen, along with a slightly disheveled looking Remus. "What is that?"

"Boring stuff," Faith said.

"A box," Giles explained. "That can not be opened- well, until now."

Buffy had broken off the lock, and opened the lid expectantly, only to be hit with a cloud of dust. And just like that, she was gone.

"Buffy!" Remus exclaimed, rushing towards the box, which had sealed itself shut again. "What in Merlin's name is going on...?"

Faith snickered. "Hello, Buffy in the bottle- I mean, box. Did I tell you how glad I am I didn't open that?"

"This is no laughing matter," Giles said. "I really wish Buffy would have waited with opening the box, considering what the book says."

"And what is that, exactly?" Remus snapped, worried about Buffy.

"I-it says whoever opens the box, also open a portal."

"Great! Another portal," Willow groaned. "Buffy seems to have a taste for those things."

"A portal to what?" Remus demanded.

"Eh...it's a little muddy, but it seems as if...she will go back to the beginning," Giles said, cleaning his glasses.

"The beginning? Like the Big Bang?" Xander asked stupidly.

"No. The beginning of the Slayer."

"Uhhh...hello?" Buffy asked, looking around in the desert wasteland. "Anyone home? Didn't think so." She threw herself to the ground with a theatrical sigh. "I hate my life." Her eyes widened as three large shadows suddenly stood over her. "And now I hate it even more." And then everything went black.
Remus was pacing in the living room, while the others were bickering over what to do. Suddenly, there was a bright flash from the box, and the lid opened. Another cloud of dust flew out, along with Buffy, who coughed, and stumbled backwards, straight into Remus' arms, as he'd hurried over as soon as he saw the blinding light.

"What happened?"

"Are you okay?"

"Fine," Buffy coughed again. "Not something I'd like to experience ever again, but I'm fine."

"Did you find out anything?" Giles asked eagerly. Remus gave him a glare. "Let her recover before you begin interrogating her."

"No, it's fine," Buffy sighed, gratefully accepting the glass of water Willow gave her. "Thanks." She shuddered. "There were three men there- the Slayer's creator. They filled a normal girl with the energy - the spirit- of a demon. That's where our powers come from."

"Great," Faith groaned. "Our ancestor's a demon. That's something I did not need to know- or wanted to know."

"Well," Buffy said darkly. "There's a lot more you probably don't want to know. But need to know. Remember the Turok-han?"

"All too well."

"He wasn't alone." She looked up at the room's occupants with a grave look. "I saw what was inside the Hellmouth. An army of Turok-han. And I'm not talking about ten, our even a hundred. I'm talking about thousands. Thousands upon thousands of uber-vampires. All at the First's disposal." She slumped back, defeated. "We can't fight this. What we're doing now...it's not enough. It's never going to be enough."

The next few days passed by in silence. Buffy was quiet after her expedition, and the rest of the Scoobies were rather subdued too, lost in what Buffy had revealed. None of them really knew what to do. The potentials all felt the sober mood, and it affected them all -they were less loud and more quiet. At any other time, everyone would have welcomed the silence- but now, it seemed out of place, and only enforced the knowledge of that something was wrong- and maybe it wouldn't be alright.
"I can't handle this!" Buffy slammed the books she was reading down at the table with a loud slam. "We sit here, researching the First in books we know have nothing we need. The students at Sunnydale high are all wacky because the seal is letting out bad energy, but we're doing nothing to close it. Whatever's coming- whenever the First decides he'll take out its trump card of uber-vamps - will come from the seal."

"But you said it yourself, Buffy," Willow said. "Closing the seal now won't matter- the First will open it later anyway. Without any problems."

"I know. But if we close it now, at least we could put a temporary stop to the madness. I need to do something."

Faith stood up. "She's right. We've never been ones who sit on our butts and wait for the end to come. We've always been out there, facing it head on. I for one am tired of sitting."

"But we don't know what closes the seal," Tara said. "How are we going to do it?"

"My guess? Magic. If there's one thing that might close it, it should be magic." Buffy gave Remus, Willow and Tara a look. "And for that, I need help."

"We'll go with," Faith said, with a look at Robin. "Spike too."

"I am?"

Faith ignored him. "If the students are all crazy, as you said, you might need someone to keep them occupied."

"You mean I'll get to fight?" Spike lit up. "I'm in!"

"Eh...maybe not. The chip, remember?" Xander said.

"Oh, right." Faith gave Spike a look. "Well, let him come with anyway. If the kids are possessed, maybe the chip will let him make an exception."

When they came to the High school, they immediately got split up. Robin, Spike and Faith stayed put and started to defend themselves against the attacking students. Well, Robin and Faith did, while Spike, after trying (and failing) to hit two of them, quickly followed Willow, Tara, Buffy and Remus to the basement.

"Oh, crap," Buffy muttered, as she got sight of five kids turned Bringers, who immediately attacked them. "Willow, Tara, Spike, lure them out of here. Remus and I will deal with the seal."

"Finally, something I can hit," Spike licked his lips and vamped out.

"They're still students," Willow said, while throwing a magic energy ball at one of the kids. This made them all angry, and they came rushing at her all at once. Spike grabbed one of them and hit him hard over the head. He grinned, as he realized he didn't get any headache.

"Guess not," Willow muttered, rushing out of the basement, Tara, Spike and the five Bringers right behind. In the meantime, Buffy and Remus went closer to the seal, which was glowing.

"This is...creepy," Buffy shuddered, looking up, staring at the wheel on which she had once been stuck on.

"Yeah..." Remus leaned closer to the seal, frowning, as he pulled out his wand. "Maybe...these signs...maybe they mean something." He leaned down even closer, and let out a yelp as he lost his balance and fell on top of the seal.

Buffy spun around. "Are you okay?"

Remus stood up, his back turned to Buffy. "Of course, I'm alright. Why wouldn't I be?" He turned back around, revealing his eyes, completely white. "After all, you're here with me."

Buffy took a step backwards. "Remus?"

Remus smirked. "Always, baby. What? Cat got your tongue? Thank you, Buffy. This body..." he stroked his arms lovingly. "It's really...fit. I like it. I couldn't have gotten it without you though. Let's play a game. Ever heard of the little Red Riding Hood? Well, you're she, and I'm the wolf. How about that?"

Buffy shook her head, taking another step backwards. "No...you're not Remus...you're the First."

'Remus' laughed. "Figured it out, did you?"

"Get the hell out of him," Buffy sneered. "Now."

"You don't make the rules, little girl." The First - 'Remus' -sighed. "I do. Now, this is the part where you say- but 'Remus, your voice sounds so odd. Is something the matter?' And then I say 'Oh, I'm just being possessed.'" Remus laughed. "Isn't it fun?"

"Stop it," Buffy's lips trembled. "Stop it now."

"You don't like the game?" 'Remus' pouted and then smirked. "I'm sorry, hon. Can I make you feel better, somehow? Come over here, and let me hold you. I promise it won't hurt. Much."

Buffy took another step back. 'Remus' took a step closer to the edge of the seal. "Too bad." He grinned. "You know what, Buffy? I think you're pathetic. A pathetic little girl who can do nothing but cry and whine when things aren't going her way. A stupid little girl who thinks she's so tough - as long as she has her friends, and her boyfriend. Guess what? Your friends- they're not really your friends. And your boyfriend - " 'Remus' placed a hand over his heart. "He's so tired of you, and wishes you'd just kill yourself. It would make the world a much better place."

"No." Tears streamed down Buffy's face. "You're lying."

"Oh, did I make you cry?" 'Remus' laughed and took another step closer to the edge. "Again. You're really good at that, aren't you? The only thing you're good at. That, and getting your friends killed of course. I wonder...how long do you think I will stay alive?"

"You're not Remus," Buffy bit out. "Get out of him."

"But I like it in here. He's so hot and warm..." he scratched his chest. "And a little itchy. What is that feeling? Oh...maybe it's the wild animal inside." 'Remus' grinned, and sighed. "Ah, the power I feel...it's too bad he's keeping it locked up. Hidden away...hey, maybe I could help him release it?"

"GET OUT OF HIM, NOW!" Buffy exploded.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist," 'Remus' snickered. "Answer this question for me. What is a man like this," he pointed at himself, "doing with a loser like you? Hmm? What do you have that makes you so attractive? Tell me that. What is it about you that is so important?" He leaned closer. "The looks? Nah. You're starting to look a little rough around the edges. The mind?" He snorted. "Probably not- you've always been an idiot. How about...the heart?" He gave her puppy dog eyes. "That must be it, isn't it? Your spirit, your soul...that bleeding, red, big heart of yours. Well...let me tell you something- your spirit is a joke. It's broken. So is your soul- it has given up. As for your heart- the only thing it does, is beating. For now. How long do you think you can keep it that way? It will break, Buffy. And if it doesn't...well, then I'll just rip it out. Bye." 'Remus' took a last step forward, which lead him off the seal, and he slumped forwards.

Buffy sank to her knees beside the seal and Remus' slumped form, sobbing.

"Buffy?" Remus sounded confused, as he looked up, his eyes back to his normal, warm amber color. "What happened?"

"It-it it possessed you!" Buffy cried, hugging Remus close. "It said things...through you."

"Shh..." Remus placed a kiss on her forehead. "Whatever it said...don't believe it. It's just a big liar. I love you. If you don't believe anything else, believe that, at least."

"Why? Why should I? Why do you love me?"

"Because you're you. And I believe in you. All of you."

Buffy clutched him closer. "I don't know how much more of this I can take," she sobbed, big fat tears falling down her face. "I can't handle this. It's too much...too much." A tear fell down upon the seal, and the glow began to fade. Another tear fell upon it...and another...and another.

Buffy hiccupped, her crying coming to a stop, as she noticed what was happening to the seal. "Remus...look."

Remus twisted his head around, his eyes widening, as he saw what was happening to the seal.

"It's closing..." he whispered in awe. "Your tears...Buffy...you fixed it. You closed it. You did it. You really did it..."

Buffy clutched Remus closer, a small smile breaking out on her face. "Yeah...I guess I did." Her face became the picture of determination. "We will defeat this. I don't know how yet, but we will. We are stronger than this...better than this. I won't let it break me."

Remus smiled in Buffy's hair. "That's my girl."

A/N: I never seem to let poor Buffy get a break...oh, well - what can I say? I like it. -Evil grin- 'Til next time, people! Please REVIEW!

/Ida