Chapter Three: Q and A

Buffy spent the night thinking about all that had happened. She couldn't believe that she'd been scared of one man – but it wasn't him that frightened her per say. He had an aura of death and darkness around him. She left Sunnydale to get far away from her life as a slayer, not to possibly encounter something worse. She'd also had a feeling that the blonde man had something to do with You – Know – Who and Snape's reaction had proved it.

She was glad to be back with her father, whom she'd never gotten to spend much time with before, and glad to be away from Joyce.

"You walk out of this house, don't even think about coming back!"

She knew that Joyce wasn't her real mother, but she had been her only one, and the betrayal had hurt deeply.

When she woke in the morning she decided that she had best try to fit in with the others. They would be around often on Order business; she wanted to help, but if she were to upset them, she may be turned away.

Most everyone had left by the time she made it to the kitchen. Only Molly and Remus were in house and Buffy quickly felt at ease with both.

"Good morning dear," Molly greeted.

"Hello…" Buffy hesitated and grinned sheepishly. "I'm sorry I don't remember your name. I'm really bad with them."

"Molly, dear."

"Good morning, then, Molly, Remus. I was wondering… do either of you have time to take me to Diagon Alley today?"

"I do," Remus volunteered. If Dumbledore saw fit that he and Buffy should get to know one another, far be it for him to avoid it. Besides he wanted to hear more about the other lycan. "What do you need there?"

"Some cloaks and a wand."

Here Molly exclaimed, "A wand! Why don't you already have one? Did someone break it?"

"No, nothing like that. My dad just didn't want me to have one on the hellmouth. We weren't sure how it would react."

The other two exchanged a look at the word 'hellmouth' but kept silent none the less.

"We'll go when you're ready then," Remus suggested.

They took a portkey because Buffy still wasn't comfortable with walking into fire. They went to Madam Malkins first and, while Buffy was being fitted, Remus finally found the opportunity to talk about the other werewolf.

"What is he like?"

"I told you I didn't know him that well. He's quiet and plays the guitar. I guess music really does calm the savage beast huh? I'm pretty sure that he's worse off than you though; I mean that he has no control and no magic to help."

The news wasn't what Remus was hoping for. He'd been hoping that the boy had mastered it somewhat and that he would share such secrets with his magically counterpart.

"Tell me Remus," Buffy implored, "what do you think of Harry?"

"I thought you'd have known this. He's famous for defeating Voldemort when…"

"That's not what I asked. What do you think of him?"

"Well, Dumbledore is quite fond of him. Harry always seems to get out of trouble with your father."

"Remus, I know how my father feels. I hear about Harry quite often. What do you think of him?"

"He's a young boy with the world on his shoulders. I think that he is doing remarkably well. I admire him, I guess, for doing all that he has done even excluding his infant miracle. He reminds me of James, and so, I suppose I like him a great deal more than the other students."

"Yes, a lot of people seem to feel that way – especially my father." Under her breath she whispered, "He doesn't even think the same things about me."

Once her measurements were done, Remus suggested they go to the Leaky Cauldron before heading to Ollivander's. Buffy couldn't see a reason not to and so they went. While Remus went to order, Buffy wandered a bit looking for a good table. Not paying attention, she ran into someone, and they both tumbled to the floor.

"Oh God, I'm sorry," she started.

The boy simply waved his hand, shaking off the apology as unnecessary.

"I just can't seem to get a break recently," he muttered.

Just as Buffy was about to question his last remark, Remus rounded the corner and stopped dead.

"Draco Malfoy… what are you doing here?"