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.

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 Now, finally, let'smain characters. Lets all be clear on that from the start! 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.


Chapter 7

Rules Change

The rest of the Order meeting went by in a blur. Sirius was once again shot down when he'd tried to convince Dumbledore to give him an assignment and, to top it off; every one kept throwing these looks in Buffy's direction. Like she was the Easter bunny, Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy all rolled up into one awe inspiring Buffy shaped package.

Snape had glared at her from across the room. He wasn't happy with her, not one bit, and you could just imagine how horrible that made the Slayer feel… She'd smiled at him brightly while he scowled, boy, was fun irritating him.

When the meeting finally ended Sirius grabbed her arm, he seemed to have forgotten his bad mood in all the drama. She could see the questions dancing in his eyes, and so was inordinately thankful when Dumbledore asked her to speak with him privately for a moment.

Buffy threw Sirius what she hoped was a properly contrite look as she hurried after Dumbledore, back into the room they'd just exited.

When the two of them were the last in the room, and the door was closed, Buffy turned to Dumbledore.

"You enjoyed that 'way' too much."

Dumbledore laughed, popping a yellow candy into his mouth. He offered one to Buffy as well but she shook her head.

"The encounter was inevitable" Dumbledore informed her, popping another. "Severus is known to be-"

"-a pain in the ass?" Buffy supplied helpfully.

The elder wizard levelled her with a stern exasperation. "Severus Snape is a gifted Potions master, and his worth as both an Order member and friend is immeasurable."

"But?"

Dumbledore smiled serenely. "He is quite a pain in the ass."

Buffy grinned, and sat in one of the chairs. Dumbledore did the same.

"Since we didn't get a chance to talk earlier, and I was so 'rudely' interrupted by the grease ball, I didn't get the chance to tell you some stuff."

Dumbledore motioned for her to continue.

"I thought you might like to know that in the last few weeks demonic activity in the area has really skyrocketed. I'm talking a real Vamp-a- Palooza here. Demons, Vampires, and all sorts of other nasty things are popping up all over the place. The NWC put it down to a natural progression, a migration of sorts, 'cause its not unheard of for London and the surrounding areas to suddenly spike in activity but…"

"But you think that this might somehow be connected to Lord Voldemort's return."

Buffy nodded, chewing her lip, lost in thought.

"It'd be an uber coincidence if it weren't, right? Which doesn't mean its not. A coincidence, I mean. I just thought that I'd give you a heads up."

Dumbledore nodded his acceptance and thought for a few moments.

"What do you think should be done?"

Buffy blinked. "Me?"

Dumbledore seemed surprised. "Why, yes, of course. You are the slayer, are you not? Who better to ask then one such as yourself? What would you do, if you were me?"

"Well I wouldn't wear those robes, for one" She joked flippantly.

"Besides that." He responded lightly.

"What would I do?" She murmured under her breath, and then to Dumbledore she said, "I think- I think I'd do some snooping around, you know? Check out the demon bars and such; see what the word is on the street. If that failed, I'd start knocking some heads together, see who the big bad bosses are. If anyone will know if Vodlie is trying to put together an army, they would."

Dumbledore smiled widely at her, clapping his hands. "Very well, then that is what you shall do. Keep me informed of any progress. If the Dark Lord truly is, as you say, amassing an army of demons; he will have to be stopped."

"Sure." Buffy said, standing with him.

Before the older wizard reached the door he stopped suddenly and turned back to her.

"Ah yes, I almost forgot. The coming full moon will be putting Remus out of action for a few days, but I dare say there will be some one interested in going along with you. As the saying goes; there is safety in numbers"

"I really don't need-" She paused; an interesting thought occurring to her. "Actually there 'is' somebody-"


Outside, in the drawing room, a few of the Order members were still milling about when Buffy and Dumbledore exited. Buffy left the eccentric man's side and made her escape, heading towards a pair of double doors, but before she could get there Tonks appeared by her side.

Ah, foiled again

"Buffy!" She exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell us?"

Buffy turned to face the woman, whose hair was currently bright blue, and sighed. A few others had stopped and focused their attention on them at Tonks exclamation.

"I guess it, um, just didn't come up."

A few of the kids had made the way over, their faces excited and curious.

"So it's true what there saying, then?" Fred, or maybe it was George, said, gaping at her.

Buffy flushed. Saying about her? What were they saying?

"Yeah, I guess so."

Ron's eyes widened comically. "That's bloody brilliant," he said loudly, earning himself a sharp –harmless- thump around his ears from Molly. 'Language' she admonished.

"Is it true you died?" Asked Ron, rubbing his head absently, shooting his mother a sulky look. "And that you dated a Vampire?" Asked Ginny. Buffy blinked.

"Wha.. How'd you know about–"

"Now, now." Molly said, herding her brood away from the flabbergasted slayer. "It's to bed for you lot."

"Aww, but mom!" Ron whined.

Remus came to her side then, as Buffy watched the red heads leave, her eyes wide. Gently, he led her out of the room, away from prying eyes and into the kitchen.

But instead of finding themselves alone, they were confronted by a peculiar scene. Snape and Sirius were standing nose-to-nose, toe-to-toe; they hadn't even noticed Remus and Buffy's arrival. Both men were staring hard at the other, as if each was 'willing' the other to simply drop dead on the spot. Remus cleared his voice behind her and both men started violently.

Her lips twitching, Buffy raised an amused eyebrow, "Umm, did we interrupt something?" she asked suggestively. Remus snorted but covered it –badly- in a cough.

The two men reacted as differently as night and day. Snape's bloodless face went red in furry, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. Sirius however had gone completely white, his face covered in a look of supreme disgust.

"No?" she asked teasingly. Both back haired men threw Buffy nasty looks.

Growling loudly in the back of his throat Sirius snarled, "No." while glaring hard at his best friend, who was having a hard time covering his chuckles.

"Oh." Buffy said in her best contrite voice. "Then what's with-" She waved her hands vaguely in their direction.

Sirius crossed his arms over his chest, his mood once again sour. "Nothing." He muttered.

"The mutt is quite sore," Snape said provokingly. "He is proving, once again, invaluable to the Order; as a maid."

Buffy winced. She'd been disturbed when Sirius had stood at the conclusion of the meeting and had just about 'begged' Dumbledore for something more to do then clean house. She'd been cooped up for less then a week and already she was itching to leave Grimmauld Place's ominous presence behind.

The Azkaban escapee lunged toward Snape with as much murder in his eyes as when he'd been throttling kreature just hours ago.

Buffy caught him by the arm and restrained him easily.

"Get off!" Sirius hissed at her, his face a mask of rage. Snape laughed evilly, his lips pulled in a cruel smirk.

"Sirius, for Merlin's sake." Remus grunted, as he took his other arm.

"What's the matter, Black, does the truth hurt? You sit here in this house while everyone around you works to protect your precious godson? What does it feel like to have failed him, just as surely as you failed his father?" Buffy gawked at the man as Sirius went white as a ghost.

"That's enough!" She said. Looking between the two men, her lips pressed together in a white line. Sirius stopped pulling at her hold in surprise, falling back, his face still white.

"Why don't you just get the hell out if you don't have anything constructive to say?" She said evenly to Snape, her eyes flashing. Interestingly enough, Snape had no retort for that, and did as she suggested.

Before Snape had reached the door though Buffy called, "Oh and one more thing. Sirius will be working with me on the demon problem in London. So what you said about him not doing his share? It's a load."

Snape whiled around, a look of anger marring his face. Behind her Sirius had looked up sharply, something like hope in his eyes.

"The mutt can't," he all but spat at her. "Dumbledore specifically said–"

"Don't you worry your greasy little head over what Dumbledore said." Buffy admonished wickedly. "That's between ol' Dumble-D, Sirius and I. Keep your abnormally crooked nose out of it."

With a flare of his black robes Severus Snape strode out the kitchen door.

After Snape's rather theatrical exit, Buffy sat herself down at the round table in the centre of the kitchen. Remus, bless the man, placed a cup of steaming raspberry tea –her favourite type- under her nose and then sat down as well. The three let a companionable silence descend on them, listening as the last of the order members slowly drifted out of Grimmauld place. Molly stuck her head in the door to say a quiet goodnight and then all was silent. Buffy sighed thankfully and cupped her fingerers around the beverage, allowing the tension to drain out of her.

For many more moments Buffy ignored the inquiring stare that Sirius was levelling her with, choosing instead to drain the last of her cooling tea. Sirius, as far as the Slayer could tell, was not the most patient of men. He was not the type of man that could remain inactive for long periods of time without some outwards show of his impatience. As such, the black-haired man was currently drumming a steady rhythm on the counter top.

Remus on the other hand was universally known for his enduring calm. The werewolf held steadfast to his beliefs, allowing others to use him as an anchor. His quite reserve and soft disposition drew Buffy's attention almost effortlessly and always his quiet presence tickled her senses whenever he was in the room. There was no part of him that didn't peak her curiosity. His long elegant hands, often times seen composing lengthy tedious notes and letters to Dumbledore as he spent his evenings in the second floor study doing research. His medium length auburn hair, which was sprinkled with grey at the temples, his over bright amber eyes lined with thick dark lashes. She had never been attracted to someone like him before. Never been so totally and utterly captivated.

Every moment they spent together was a thing of wonder and discovery. The times when it was just the two of them were few, but those moments stood out in her mind starkly. Remus had a lot of questions about Slayers and the Watchers Council –both new and old- and they spent a lot of time chatting about both. And Buffy, being fascinated by magic, had spent more then one afternoon curled up on the sofa listening to Remus try to explain the differences between wand magic and Wicca. Although it wasn't long until there purely academic discussions had turned into something more personal. In Remus she found a friendly ear, one that allowed her to fret without worrying about being judged. Even Remus spoke a little about his friends, the Potters, as well as his year of bliss while teaching at Hogwarts.

They had learned much about each other in a short time –no more then 7 days actually- and it was a little scary how relaxed she already was in his presence.

And then there was Sirius. The black-haired Black was usually a hoot to hang around with. He was a vibrant and endearing man, but also a man who was obviously very deeply damaged by his long stay in Azkaban. His sudden mood swings were horrible to watch. It took next to nothing to set Sirius off these days. The dark look in his eyes so reminiscent of Angels after being spit out of hell, that it was physically painful for her to see it.

The man in question was now thumping his knee against the bottom of the table in aggravation

"So!"

And his patience had finally run out.

"So?" She asked innocently. Out of the corner of her eye her saw Remus smother a grin. Why Buffy found it so amusing to torment the Animagus, she didn't know.

The growl she got in return made her laugh outright. "Oh calm yourself Snuggles"

Sirius blanched at the name. "That's 'snuffles'!" He said hoarsely.

Buffy pretended to think about this for a few moments. "No" she said, "I'm rather sure it's Snuggles."

"Buffy." Remus admonished, laughing. Buffy adopted a politely puzzled look.

"Anyways," She said. "Dumbledore said I had to take someone with me on patrols and what not, so I figured you'd like to go… Snuggles?" Sirius made a face at the name, but seemingly decided it was not worth pursuing.

"But how did you get him to agree?" Sirius asked, leaning forwards over the table towards her. "I've been after him forever!" Buffy merely shrugged.

"I'm not going into either the muggle or the Magical worlds. You're less then likely to be recognised by any demons, and your doggy form will come in handy I'm sure."

"So I get to go?" He asked breathlessly.

"On one condition," Buffy said, her face gravely serious. "You have to do what you're told, I wont take you if you wont follow the rules."

"Rules?" Sirius sputtered, looking shocked.

"Yes, Rules," She said. "Firstly, it's important that you let me take the lead. I'm the Slayer, some will respect that, but they might just attack you on principal. Next, the reason that demons are so dangerous on Voldies team is that there are rather a lot of them that are impervious to magic. So if I say run, you tuck tail and split, kapeesh?"

Sirius didn't take long to make up his mind.

"You got it."


Note: Alright, now were getting somewhere. A bit of plot making its way into the fic… took long enough though. Hope you all enjoyed it! If you did, tell me. If you didn't… ah tell me that to I guess, but be gentle. Come take a look at my LiveJournal (its my homepage link) and my reviewer responses. ttfn