Order of Things

Summery: It's been 5 years since Buffy Summers and co. fought the First Evil in Sunnydale. So, maybe it's high time she wound up in another adventure. But the rules have changed without her realizing it, and where once it was the slayer's job to save the world, it now falls to another. Buffy will have to find out just what her part in this apocalypse is, before it's too late. Btvs/HP

Pairings: Remus/Buffy (the only pairing going at the moment.)

Timeline: Set before the beginning (during the summer) of the 5th book for the Harry Potter universe and 5 years after the final episode of season seven for Buffy.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Buffy belongs to someone other then me and even the plot of this Fic is intersected with actual dialogue and situations from the book "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." All I ask is that you don't sue me. Thank you.

Authors Note: This fic is a major work in progress. It is about 60 ages long and has a total (so far) of 11 chapters. I'll try and post once every other week, but I cant put up a chapter till it's totally finished. I have many scenes within the body of what I've written that remain unfinished, waiting for either inspiration or research. I also have scenes that I want to add too and places that need some serious tweaking. I've been posting 'every bleeding day!' gah! I don't have any backbone at ALL!

Concerning the Buffy and Harry Potter Universes: Buffy is 27 years old, and Remus is (only just) 37, Sirius (who is the older of the two) is 37 as well. Buffy is spending the majority of her time in the Wizarding World, so the others (Willow, Xander, Giles, Dawn, ect.) aren't going to be around much. As for Harry, this fic takes place parallel to the fifth book, following the adventures of Remus and Buffy as they work for the order. At certain times the two 'stories' will connect and things will start sounding familiar as I start taking bits and bites out of book 5. Some things are going to change, others will stay the same. On an important note, I love Sirius Black, I love Remus Lupin, I love Buffy Summers and I love Harry Potter, these are my main characters. Lets all be clear on that from the start!  Now, finally, let's get on with the fic!

Note to my Beta Reader: I've been informed that I didn't give my 'fabulous' absolutely 'spiffing' beta reader any love. So here is her love. Kim, my sister is my beta reader. She is wonderful and I thank her very much. Even if she is an opinionated, bossy, stubborn bitca of a sister. So thanks.

Reviewers (!): Oh my gosh! I love you guys. Thanks a bunch for all the reviews. I love reading them; I find myself really inspired by everyone! You all have such good ideas and insights, I love that! So keep 'em coming!

tracey: I appreciate the thought, and I've gone back and taken a look. You have a point, she sounds a little young sometimes. But I also think, Buffy is Buffy and its more about her being an 'arrogant slayer' then a 'smart mouth 16 year-old' though isn't it ironic that those two things sound so similar! The character stuff will become more … in character, as I go on. I hope  thanks for your review, and your opinion, even if I do think you're wrong. (kidding)

onlimain: Wicked! You've pointed out something that happens in this chapter, I love that! Yeah, I imagine that poor Remus hasn't had much action in his life. He seems too 'self deprecating' for any sort of real relationship. Though I imagine he had his share of attention as a kid at Hogwarts. Buffy really is great like that, Remus is defiantly not the strangest guy she's fallen for, in Buffy's standards he's actually amazingly down to earth and normal! But poor Remus, he just won't understand her attraction to him at all. Thanks for the review!

Allen Pitt: Again someone has managed to bring something up that's in a future chapter (chapter 6 actually!) Awesome! You'll have to wait and see about the whole 'multiple slayers' thing. You'll get your question answered eventually. Two very interesting questions! Well, I don't know, to tell you the truth; HP character as slayers! I hadn't thought of that… … You don't mind me using that do you? And Dawn, again, I don't know, I haven't thought of that… can I use that too? Woo you're great for my muse… maybe you can be my muse… meh. Thanks for reviewing, please do so again!

Harm Marie: Yorkshire pudding! Oh man. I'm so not in the loop! Malfoy; yes kicking his butt was truly fun to write, and it wouldn't be giving anything away to say it'll certainly happen again. 

mika: Its hard, with so many Hp/btvs xovers, to find a new and unused plot-line. I'm trying hard to stay true to the plot, but not fall into any 'Buffy's long lost sister' or the 'muggle defence professor' clichés. More like classics really. I love those fics, but I wanted to write something 'new.' People generally love seeing Lucy get his ass handed to him… and why not! Buffy isn't going to let him treat her badly, so it's an inevitable clash of personalities. Yes, Buffy sees through fudge almost instantly, he's a slimy man, and he can't hide it from our favourite slayer. Buffy knew (and was friends with) oz so it's kinda personal to her. She defended him (Remus) on principal, but it'll become something more as she gets to know him. Thanks for your review! Oh and Willow as a wiccan… lol, I'm sure she's not very happy about it!

Renna: Wow, thanks. Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Mama T: oh, a second timer! Thanks a bunch. Here's the next Chapter!

thsutton: Thanks, I'm glad you pointed that out. I've been over these chapters (and others have been over these chapters) a million times, but it's hard to catch everything. I know that a spelling error like that can give you an instant disconnect (bringing you out of the story abruptly) and I'm glad you pointed it out. Thanks for Reviewing.

Toniboo: Heres the update, thanks for the review!

marcus aure1ius: 'surprisingly well written' lol I had a moment of.. "Is that good or bad!" But I know what you mean. Buffy is one of my favourite characters ever, and I love writing her. I find her voice within me very easily now. I LOVED writing that scene, and it means the absolute WORLD to me that you love it too. I really want to stress the 'war' theme. Sometimes in war you're forced to do things, and make alliances, you normally wouldn't. Buffy knows this only too well. You paid me a very big complement and I want to thank you again, I was bouncing off the walls when I read it. JKR is an amazing writer, and I aspire to her brilliance with every word I write. Well here is the next chapter… don't leave me in the dark, tell me what you think!

ChibiChibi: Thanks! I'm so glad you like it. Enjoy this update!

Harm Marie: Me to! I think there perfect for each other. Thanks for reviewing.

becky24: I'm glad you liked it! Here's more!

Bean: Yup, I do plan on finishing.I love this fanfic, you see, and (Like I've said above) I've got about 50 something pages of writing finished. (or semi-finished) I'm plugging away at it. Thanks for your review!

Chapter 3

What Goes Up…

When Remus and Buffy had reached her home the slayer motioned for him to wait by the front porch and took off inside with the sort of look one gets before facing a firing squad.

Remus, having been left to his own devices, obliged and took a seat on the front stoop. As he sat there he pondered the odd circumstances he found himself in. Buffy Summers was different, more so than anyone else he'd ever met. For starters; not once had she flinched from him or seemed at all concerned by his… affliction. That in itself was odd. People, wizarding people anyway, tended to fear him just on principal. Then here comes Buffy Summers, who doesn't just not care about him being a werewolf; she actually saw it as some sort of norm.

Then, of course, was the fact that she just didn't act like anyone else he'd ever met, no other woman, certainly! She was loud and flirty and said what was on her mind, consequence be-damned. It was refreshing really, to find someone who didn't care for political correctness, or the necessity of being ever compromising and polite, even in the face of some one like Lucius Malfoy or Cornelius Fudge.

The building where Buffy and her friends lived was on a nice street in the middle of London. It wasn't huge by any means, but it wasn't small either. From what Buffy had told him 7 people shared the big old house, which had been bought on the 'new councils' tab. The occupants of said house were Willow Rosenberg and Xander Harris, Buffy's best friends from Sunnydale, Kennedy, one of the first 'slayers In training' activated, Andrew, Dawn –Buffy's sister-, and one other more recently activated slayer.

Having a slayer for the Order's cause would almost certainly make a difference, especially this slayer. It would definitely allow Dumbledore to keep track of the more dangerous magical creatures and Demons that would surely be recruited by Lord Voldemort. Remus felt sure, some how, that having Buffy Summers around would change everything.

It was strange to think, but no less true, that he had been drawn to the petite slayer in a way that he'd never believed himself capable of. All in all it was a uselessly silly little feeling. For one, he was far too old for the pretty blonde and even further aged by a lifetime of monthly transformations into a vicious werewolf. The wolf was, obviously, another problem. While it was true that the Slayer wasn't troubled by his curse like most were, it was not enough to think that anyone would want to be romantically connected to a monster.

Remus had a lifetime of experience with rejection. He'd never been able to hold down a steady job, or place to live, because eventually people would learn what he was and he'd be forced to pickup and go again. It was a never ending cycle, one in which he'd almost believed ended 3 years ago when he'd obtained the Defence Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts. But that had ended like every other job he'd ever taken. Though, to be walking away from Hogwarts made the disappointment just that much more painful.

In truth, Hogwarts wasn't the only thing he'd walked away from; he'd walked right out of Harry Potter's Life. He would never be able to express how much Harry's pleas for him to stay had meant to him, or how badly, in that moment, he wanted to be swayed. Back then he'd been Professor Lupin, trusted Mentor, maybe even a friend, despite everything. At the very least he'd been a link to Harry's Parents, who had been his best friends before they'd died.

Now though?

What was he; nothing but a grown man with no real attachment to the boy, except for the lingering love he felt for a little new born babe, with a shock of messy black hair (even then) and his mothers clear emerald eyes. What he had now was admiration, pride and affection for an amazing young man, and not much else. It was easier for Sirius Black, he was Harry's Godfather, he had a reason to be around. Not that Remus could begrudge Sirius his relationship with Harry, not knowing how much they meant to each other. But still, how much would he give to be able to be a part of that life. To have his own connection with the boy that had never been far from his thoughts.

Ever since Sirius had broken out of Azkaban Prison and come after Peter, Remus had been struggling with himself. Ever since he'd learned the horrible truth about that Halloween night so long ago his fears and regrets had been eating at him. Regaining Sirius had been such a double-edged sword, no matter how thrilled he was and how glad he was to have his old friend back, there was still a part of him that felt the sting of past wrongs.

To know that the best friends he'd ever had, had thought him a traitor, a spy... To know now that he hadn't been trusted and that all the platitudes aside, his being a werewolf, in the end, had mattered. It was like a sharp kick in the stomach.

Thinking about Sirius suddenly had Remus thinking about Buffy and Sirius. Remus grinned abruptly, sitting there on the stoop. Sirius would love Buffy, would absolutely adore her. Come to think of it, Harry had quite a bit in common with the blond as well.

More than even Remus knew.


Buffy had called it.

They were just staring:

Mouths Hanging,

Eyes wide,

Totally still with shock,

Staring.

'Great' Buffy thought sourly. 'Just what I need'

Why couldn't they just support her in this?

Why did everything in her life have to be a majority vote?

'I' statements, Buffy mused, Willow was about to use 'I' statements; she could see it in her face.

"I feel…"

Yup, 'I' statements.

How many times had this kind of thing taken place over the years?

Way too many to count.

Way too many to 'want' to count.

Years ago it had gone without saying, she was the slayer, and back then she'd been the only one. It had been her job to fight the evil that had regularly been drawn to the Hellmouth, to Sunnydale. It may have been situated on the mouth of hell, but it was still her town.

So though she'd resented the interference to some degree, she'd understood the need for it. As the Slayer, and the only real thing standing between the total destruction of Sunnydale, and on many occasions the entire world, her decisions had affected not only her own life but also the lives of all those around her.

Years ago she'd understood it, now however…

Buffy objected to the scrutiny and judgment that any decision she made was put under. It was one of the reasons that she'd found it so difficult to find a new path after leaving Sunnydale.

When she'd been 17 and had been forced to face her friends' inquisition she'd grinned and bared it, well, mostly anyway.

This was not going to be one of those times.

She was no longer a young child-slayer in charge of saving the world on a by-weekly basis. She was a 27-year-old woman who – just this once please – was going to choose her battle.

What a concept!

Buffy Summers –Vampire slayer– Actually having a choice in the little matter that was her destiny.

Ye gods- what a thought!

Resolved, Buffy held up a hand to halt Willow from completing a thought that she wasn't listening to anyway. 'Let's finish this before it starts' Buffy thought haltingly.

"I'm a grown woman," Buffy said sternly, crossing her arms over her chest, as if to protect herself from the harsh stares she was getting from her friends.

"I've made a decision to help these people out… all I'm asking of you guys is to accept that"

Willow, Dawn, Xander and Giles seemed to be speechless. They blinked silently for many moments before Giles spoke up.

"You've made this decision without consulting us, Buffy. With our work load right now, you cannot expect us to just drop everything and-"

"I don't!" Buffy interrupted fiercely. "I didn't come to, to- to recruit anyone. This is my choice. I choose to fight this thing. And I'm not asking any of you for your permission, or your involvement."

"So you're what, just going to leave?" Giles snapped

She was desperate for him to understand why she was taking this chance. For so long now she'd been foundering uselessly. Slaying had become a business for them. They bought and sold their merchandise through her. Suddenly she found herself playing the part of spokeswoman; Convincing distraught parents that it was in their children's best interest to allow them be trained by the New Watcher Council. 'Look at me' her very presence seemed to scream, 'I'm proof, I'm a Slayer and I'm still here.'

But her body didn't show the scaring that it should have accumulated over the years; it didn't show the sleepless nights, the endless worry. It didn't show the death, pain and sacrifice that her path had been paved with. She was a false hope, and she couldn't stand it anymore. Working for the council suited Giles and Willow, it suited all of them. But it did didn't suit Buffy.

"Yes. Giles, this Dumbledore says-"

"How can you just leave me, Buffy don't you care at all?"

Dawn looked at her sister with anger shining in her eyes, and it broke Buffy's heart. This wasn't about Dawn missing her sister, not with Dawn away for most of the year for college; this was about Buffy not living up to expectations. This was about Control.

"It's not personal, Dawnie." Buffy answered softly, after a short pause.

"Not personal?" Willow scoffed, "How can this be anything but personal."

"It's not-"

"You say that Buff, but you're walking out on us, on all the work we've been doing, how can that not be-"

"I'm sorry, Xander, but this isn't about that. The council has never been my thing, not before and certainly not now."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Giles-"

"No, please, I'm curious…"

It wasn't her thing. They may have had an army of slayers, but that didn't mean that nobody ever died. Watching the girls die, Slayers die, children that her choice had made into warriors. Having to face the parents that she had convinced, and tell them their child was dead…

Realistically Buffy knew that it had to be done, and they saved more lives by doing it this way, versus how it had been done in the old days… but it still hurt. The job had to be done, and with them so short handed… Giles had wanted Buffy to find her path, her way, but not at the expense of all the work they'd done, and still had to do. But it wasn't in her nature to sit on her ass and watch others fight the fight. She was The Slayer, more so then any of these new girls would ever be. She'd been chosen, given a duty, and it was about time she remembered what that meant.

"No, this, all of this, it's not the point. This isn't about me leaving; it's about finding a new way, a new purpose."

"No, this is about you wanting to be the Hero again, you're just sore because you're not the big bad Slayer any-"

Buffy shook her head, her ire rising at Willow's callous words.

"That is ridiculous! I just want to help them; they're in a really bad way. Giles please-"

Giles looked at her without an ounce of pity. She remembered when once upon a time they'd been a team.

Watcher and Slayer.

Yin and yang.

They'd been two of a kind. He'd been like a father to her, and now, to see them so apart. It hurt more then she could say.

"How can you just jump into this without-"

"I am not jumping; there will be no jumping of any kind! Nobody has pulled the wool over my eyes here!"

"You are acting rashly Buffy!"

"I am not! I'm finally starting to see clearly again! They need help, I'm a slayer willing to help, ergo I am going to go be… helpy"

"You do not even know these people!"

"Well, I'm not gonna know 'em unless I go, now am I?"

"You can't just shirk your Slayer duties Bu-"

"Shirk? First of all Shirk, what is that? Second, I'm not 'shirking' anything, as Willow has so recently pointed out, I'm not the only slayer anymore, hell I'm not even one of two! And it's not like I'm taking a vacation, I'm-"

"No! No you're just leaving all of us behind, again. You always do this!"

"What Always? Dawnie, come on. Why would I want to leave you behind? I'm going across town, not across the country."

"You do! You always pull away when-"

"Willow!"

"But you do Buff, you-"

"Enough!" Buffy gritted, throwing her hands up in frustration. "I'm not doing this anymore, I am through asking permission to live my life!"

Buffy turned away from the disapproving faces of her friends and picked up her suitcase, suddenly very glad that she'd packed before hand. She didn't know why she'd thought she could do this. They would never understand her, or her need to go.

It just wasn't working, she was not going to get used to being their 'Slayer Role Model' it just wasn't her. She knew her leaving would put a kink in the works, and that by 'slayer duties' Giles had been referring to the two new case files he'd handed her yesterday. That wasn't her duty though, it was a job, and it wasn't for her to do. Not any more.

Buffy stepped past the group and down the hall, she could hear them following her slowly but she didn't stop or turn around. Down the steps to her left, she was on some sort of autopilot, three steps to the front foyer. She tried not to think about just what it was she was doing. 'Don't look back!' her mind screamed endlessly, which was really rather moot point because there wasn't any power that could make her stop and face them…

Forever she would love her Friends, would love her sister, but she couldn't stop now, it was time for her to leave. It was time, past time, for Buffy Summers to strike out on her own, to follow her gut instinct to a new destiny.

Where ever that may be…

When she reached the front door she paused, waiting for what, she didn't know. Maybe she was waiting to hear a voice, calling out, ready to offer support, or at the very least acceptance.

Maybe, a friendly gesture.

A fond farewell.

Or a simple, non-committal, wish for good health and good fortunes.

When none of these seemed forthcoming Buffy reached out and took hold of the doorknob. Was it her imagination or was it far colder then it should be? The knob felt like a lump of ice in her palm, and part of her wanted desperately to let go. It would be so simple to cave, to sooth the hurt she'd caused.

'Don't rock the boat' her mother had told her once. But she was Buffy, Vampire Slayer; she didn't know how not to rock the boat. Come to think of it she hadn't known back then either. All her doubt, her uncertainty, all of it was spread over her shoulders like iron bars for her to bare alone.

Instead, with all the resolve she could muster, she turned the handle and stepped out onto the porch. For some reason she abruptly found it easier to breath. Remus turned from his seat on the stoop to greet her; his smile shy and his amber eyes tired, he gave her the strength to let go. Knowing with all certainty that she was doing the right thing…

She let go.

Still with out turning, she motioned for Remus to move on ahead. He cast an uncomfortable look over her shoulder, which told her that the Scooby's were still behind her.

Once at the bottom of the steps, Buffy turned. Willow Giles and Dawn were stony faced, their expressions closed and unfriendly. From behind them Xander stood with an odd look on his face, when their eyes met he smiled and waved a little with an apologetic smile and a funny face. Buffy smiled slightly and blinked back a wave of tears as she turned away. Remus in the lead, the two of them turned back the way they'd come.

Buffy didn't turn again, though she could feel her family's eyes on her back.

Xander, at least, finally understood.

And that would have to do for now.


Note:Well, there's that then. What did you think? Good, bad, what? In the next chapter we'll see Buffy introduced to more HP characters, never fear! Do you guys want me to keep updating quickly and end up with a longer wait when I hit the end of the finished chapters, or stagger them (one every week, or other week) and have more waiting, but inevitably shorter pauses between updates? I swear, I've written two more chapters fuelled by all the wonderful feedback. Every time I read one I have this mad urge to write more. So if that isn't incentive to Review, what is? (So please review, pretty please? I'll give you a cookie… no? … I'll give you two…)