A/N: I'm absolutely blown away by the response to the last chapter. I had no idea so many people were still following this fic. As a thank you, I churned this chapter out as quickly as I could (which for me, is like light speed!). :D

Sirius Black was a broken man.

Buffy would have to have been blind not to see it. Sure, there were moments when she could see who he had been before all this, but they didn't last; his wounds were too deep, and after hearing his story, she understood why. On some level, she could even relate. They may not have had the same exact pain, but they had both gotten raw deals and suffered because of it.

Strangely enough, this made her feel comfortable around him, maybe because they didn't have the history, only the hurt. He didn't expect anything from her, and vice versa, but yet he got Buffy without her having to say a word. Or maybe it was because she didn't have to pretend she was fine when she wasn't; she could just be.

Whatever it was, it kept her in the house with him instead of running away from the rest of the Blacks, like her instincts were telling her to do.

That didn't mean she was ready to share all her deepest, darkest with the guy. And it definitely didn't mean she was about to go and change her name to Buffy Black; truth be told, she would never be ready for that one. While she had finally accepted that Regulus Black was her father, Hank Summers was still her dad and always would be. All in all, though, it was safe to say that she was warming up to her uncle. She was also warming up to the idea that there might be more for her in London than just some sightseeing tours.

Dumbledore knew this would happen, too. That's why he made her come here in the first place, and she resented him for it. Agreeing to go wand shopping was just as much about sticking it to him as it was about spending more time with Sirius. Well, that, and her curiosity for magic had officially been piqued.

Coming from the Hellmouth, Buffy should've been more cautious about the whole thing but it was too exhilarating to deny. Using the wand had been… well, pretty fantastic. There was no other way to say it. It was like having Slayer powers without the death and destiny attached. It made her feel… free. It also made her feel like she had some control over her life, over her magic, over everything. She couldn't resist the opportunity to get a wand of her own - to a point, anyway.

As excited as she was, she wasn't completely oblivious to the risks when it came to Sirius. She also sensed that he was desperate to get out of the house, not that she could blame him. She'd go stir crazy if she were in house arrest, too, especially this house of horrors. He craved the same freedom she did. Still, she wasn't about to walk into a situation blind. She needed to know what Sirius meant when he said he had a disguise.

It was not what she expected.

Buffy shook her head in disbelief as she stared down at the big, black dog before her.

"This is your disguise? It's a little on the nose, don't you think? I can't believe no one's ever put two and two together and got 'this is obviously Sirius Dog Star Black'."

Sirius looked down, the guilt written all over his doggy face as he avoided her gaze.

Buffy felt her jaw drop. "Are you kidding me? People do recognize you? Maybe this isn't a good idea after all. I really don't want to be the one that gets you sent back to Alcatraz."

In an instant, he transformed back, an amused smile on his face. "Azkaban," he corrected her. Then he cleared his throat, the smile disappearing. "Only a few know I'm an Animagus, and the chances they'll be in Diagon Alley are small. More importantly, I know who they are. I'll be able to smell them long before I see them."

He was trying to play it cool, like it was no big, but Buffy knew better. Underneath the calm exterior, he was like a dog who knew his bone was just about to be taken away, no pun intended.

Though Buffy felt bad, it wasn't enough to convince her.

"I don't know," she replied slowly. "It seems too risky. Could you at least turn into a different animal?"

Sirius shook his head. "A wizard cannot choose an Animagus form at will. It's simply an extension of me - a manifestation of characteristics, if you will - suited to my personality, where I retain my own mind and abilities. Theoretically, I could Transfigure myself into something else, but I would become that animal in every sense, which means I would never be able to turn back, as I'd lack the wits to do so."

"So that means making yourself smaller or a different breed is out," Buffy guessed. As Sirius' nod, she sighed. "Well, what about staying human and just using a Glamour or something like that?"

Again, Sirius shook his head. "Glamours hide small details. They do not change appearances convincingly enough to work as a disguise. There's always Polyjuice Potion, of course, but I don't have access to it."

Buffy frowned, trying to think of a way around this major road block. He couldn't magically change his form in any way… which meant they wouldn't see it coming if he somehow could. But how could he do it?

The answer popped into her mind a moment later. It was so simple, almost too simple.

"Bleach," she announced. "We can use bleach."

Sirius frowned. "Bleach?"

"You know, a strong-smelling chemical that strips all the color out of your hair - or fur, as the case may be," she explained. "I'm not saying it's going to work, but it may be worth a shot."

"I'm willing to give it a go," Sirius agreed, obviously intrigued by her idea.

Buffy grinned. "Is there a pharmacy nearby?"

It was a little crazy to go wandering the streets of London, she knew, like she was taking a page right out of Sirius' impetuous book. But a short trip to the familiar wouldn't be a bad thing, and if she happened to pass a phone on the way, she could call Willow - or maybe her dad. She even had money on her to do it, seeing as she hadn't changed clothes for two whole days and therefore still had the credit card she had grabbed on her way to Giles' apartment.

First order of business was finding a pharmacy, though, because it was clear from his silence that Sirius had no clue what she was talking about.

Buffy rolled her eyes. For as little as she knew about the magical world, it was clear wizards knew nothing outside of it. "Nevermind. I'm sure I can find one around here. I mean, we're in the middle of a major city."

"Right then, shall we go?"

It was not the response she had expected, and it threw a major kink in her plans.

"I wasn't thinking you'd come with," she carefully replied. "You might be recognized, remember?"

Sirius shook his head. "No Death Eater would be caught dead in the Muggle world, unless they were on a killing spree. If that should happen, my being spotted would be the least of our problems. Regardless, I can't in good conscious let you roam the streets alone."

He had a point. She didn't know the area - at all - and the risk of exposure did seem low. After all, she had just witnessed firsthand Sirius' lack of familiarity with the non-wizard world, and he was someone who didn't think all non-magicky people were cockroaches beneath his feet. Besides, this little trip could help soften the blow if the bleach thing didn't work out. She would just call Willow and her dad later.

"Okay," she relented. "Though maybe we should decide what I'm supposed to call you when you're a dog first? 'Sirius' doesn't seem like the smartest move, even if we're just going out in my world."

Sirius nodded in agreement. "Snuffles, perhaps?" he suggested.

Buffy snorted. "I don't think I could keep a straight face if I called you that. How about Midnight?"

Now it was his turn to laugh. "What was that you said before about being too on the nose?"

She made a face at him. "Alright, there's no originality points there, I admit it. I suppose you'd like something cool like Cujo."

"Getting better," he agreed.

"If you only knew," she said dryly. Another name popped into mind, one that worked pretty well, especially if she used the bleach correctly. "How about Lassie?"

Sirius' mouth dropped open, a look of horror on his face. "You want to call me a lassie?"

Buffy grinned. "Lassie, it is, then."

Sirius arched his eyebrow. "This conversation is not over, by any means, but we really must leave. Albus said he'd return in a few hours, and I want to make certain we have time to spare, which reminds me… KREACHER!" he bellowed.

The little gnome from the hallway immediately popped into view, and he did not look pleased at being called. Seriously, if looks could've killed, Buffy would've been down an uncle. When the little creature caught sight of her, however, he froze.

Remembering their first meeting all too well, Buffy prepared herself for a repeat performance, but he just stood there, gaping at her. Just as she started to relax, however, he spoke, his words stabbing her like a knife to the gut.

"Yes, Master," he croaked, his eyes flitting nervously back and forth between Sirius and Buffy.

"Do not, under any circumstances, tell anyone we're not here inside the house while we're gone," Sirius curtly ordered. Glancing at Buffy, he added, "While you're at it, find a set of robes that will fit Buffy, one that she can wear to Diagon Alley."

"Master wants me to fetch robes for the Miss?" Kreacher asked, his eyes doing that weird bulgy thing again.

"Yes, yes, that's what I said," Sirius said dismissively.

Kreacher looked beyond conflicted by this, his expression changing from loathing to anxiety, depending on who he was looking at.

All he said, though, was "Yes, Master," as he gave Sirius an awkward little bow, almost like his mind was telling him one thing but his body was telling him another. He turned to leave, but not before giving Buffy one last gut-wrenching look.

Buffy was already extremely uncomfortable with the whole situation; this, however, was the tipping point. She blurted out the first thing that came to mind in an attempt to diffuse the situation.

"Thank you!"

Somehow, this only made things worse. Now the little elf looked like he was about to cry. Before she could try and fix it, though, he disappeared.

"He's a beastly creature," Sirius muttered. "Hasn't been right in the head since Regulus died."

His gaze was still on the doorway, where Kreacher had just been, so he didn't notice the way Buffy stared at him as some serious doubts began creeping into her mind. He heard her when she spoke, though, loud and clear.

"Is he your slave?"

The atmosphere in the room changed instantly with her question, the rapport they had built suddenly hanging on by a thread. Sirius knew it, too. Slowly, and with more than a little anxiety, he turned toward her, the color rapidly draining from his face.

"Yes, I suppose, though it's not quite as… brutal as it sounds," he cautiously replied. "House elves are bound to the families they serve until they die or are freed. Kreacher has served the Blacks for many, many years."

It was just as bad as learning she was related to magical supremacists, though if Buffy thought about it, the two went hand in hand. Either way, she needed to sit down. Thankfully, the closest couch was just a few feet away. Making a beeline for it, she quickly sank down on the cushions as she tried to process what she had just learned and reconcile it in her mind.

It was too much to ask.

"I don't know how to take this," she finally admitted.

Sirius, who had been watching her nervously up until this point, took this as a cue that she wanted to talk and quickly sat down next to her. "As I said, it's… more complicated than it appears. House elves are extremely loyal to their families. I know this sounds terrible, but they wish to serve them. Most consider it a grave dishonour if they are freed. Kreacher, for instance, would never leave this house, not willingly at least. He worships my mother, and his loyalty to Regulus has never wavered, even beyond death."

Buffy frowned. A happy slave was still a slave. Besides, as far as she could tell, Kreacher was not a happy little guy, which brought her to the next issue.

"If Kreacher likes being here, then why is he so cranky? And why are you so… mean?"

Sirius had the decency to look a little embarrassed. "In truth, he and I never got along. Kreacher has the same blood purity beliefs as my family. He has no love for half-bloods or Muggleborns, nor for blood traitors like myself, and he doesn't bother hiding it. It's gotten worse since I've been incarcerated, probably because he had no one to talk to except the portrait of my dear mother."

Buffy shuddered, remembering all too well the 'welcome' she had received when she had first stepped into the house, though Kreacher's reaction to her made a lot more sense now.

She also remembered something else.

"So the elf heads on the wall, they're there because…"

"It's considered a great honour among the elves in the Black household, one that Kreacher aspires to. I think he's determined to outlive me for that very reason, as he knows I think it's a ghastly tradition that I refuse to uphold," Sirius said, his nose wrinkling in distaste. Then he took a deep breath and looked her straight in the eye. "I won't lie and say I'm entirely against house elves working in wizarding households. I hope you'll have the opportunity to meet a few of them, like those at Hogwarts, so you can see why before you think too poorly of me. As for Kreacher, please know that I would free him if I could, but as I said, he would never leave, and… well, at this point, he knows too much about me and our efforts in the coming war."

He could've been feeding her a line to appease her. For the short time she'd known Sirius, though, she got the sense that he wasn't one who sugarcoated things, even when it was in his interest to do so. It was one of the things she liked best about him. Even if she took him at his word, however, it was still a lot to take.

Buffy pinched the bridge of her nose. "This whole thing is so messed up," she muttered.

For some reason, this tickled Sirius. "I know a girl about your age whom you would get along famously with. I have no doubt that together you two could change the world. It's not entirely out of the realm of possibility, either, seeing as she's best mates with my godson," he said. His grin grew wider. "Merlin, I would give 10 galleons to see his reaction to you."

His humor quickly evaporated, though, as the seriousness of the current situation came crashing back.

"Perhaps this isn't the best time to venture outside," he sighed. "Perhaps we're rushing things a bit. Perhaps I'm rushing things."

He leaned back against the couch, looking dejected but resigned.

Torn between emotions herself, Buffy bit her lip. "Maybe not," she hedged. "I mean, I need to get a wand one way or the other."

To her surprise, Sirius didn't jump on this, even though he had just as much riding on it as she did. Instead, he looked more uncertain than ever.

It was this reaction that made up Buffy's mind once and for all. Her uncle was a good man; reckless, sure, but when it came down to it, he put her interests first, even at the cost of his own. Though everything was far from resolved as far as house elves went, she was willing to let it go for the moment, at least until she learned more. If anything, it was a good reminder that it wasn't all sunshine and roses in this world.

Surprise, surprise.

The walk to the pharmacy had started off a little tense. As they put more and more distance between them and Grimmauld Place, however, the mood began to lighten. By the time they found a Boots Pharmacy a few blocks away, both Buffy and Sirius felt a lot better. Sirius, especially, was enjoying himself; preening when a stranger complimented him, tail wagging as he explored around him - even growling with gusto when a cute guy tried to start a conversation with Buffy, much to her annoyance.

His enthusiasm noticeably lessened, however, when he sniffed the bottles of bleach and peroxide through the plastic bag Buffy was carrying, his muzzle wrinkling in disgust. Even though he was still in dog form, she could easily read the expression on his face.

He was beginning to have second thoughts about her plan.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Oh, relax, Lassie. I grew up in LA. Bleaching your hair is like a rite of passage there. You're just cranky because you had to put a leash on. And because I left you outside when I went in the pharmacy."

Sirius huffed at this, glaring at the offending object tethered around his neck.

Buffy shrugged. "Well, it's not like we can afford getting nabbed for breaking the leash law. And there's no way I could claim you're my service dog. You're not even close to well-behaved enough for that, as the guy you scared off can testify."

That pleased him to no end. Maybe to drive home her point, he looked up at her with what could only be described as mischievous. Next thing Buffy knew, she was being pulled down the street, Sirius straining at the leash as he barreled down the sidewalk.

Instead of fighting it - or yanking him to an abrupt stop - she let herself be pulled along, easily keeping pace with him and enjoying the opportunity to burn off the remnants of her tension. Sirius looked pretty happy himself, his tongue lolling out as he galloped down the street.

They both became a little bit more somber as they drew closer to 12 Grimmauld Place. When they reached the stairs, Sirius came to a dead stop. There was no putting it off, though, so Buffy brushed by him and climbed the steps.

"Come on," she murmured. "We can't stay out here forever. Time to get back to reality."

Though he let out a small whine, Sirius didn't argue, slowly trudging behind her. When they were both at the front stoop, Buffy turned the door handle and pushed.

The hallway of Grimmauld Place looked even gloomier the second time around. Buffy had to practically force herself inside. She couldn't imagine what Sirius was feeling. They both soldiered on, though, tiptoeing past the portrait of his mother.

The plan was to go straight back to the kitchen. As she passed by the drawing room, however, she stopped short.

Sitting in one of the chairs there, looking straight at them, was Dumbledore. Though he didn't look mad - Buffy wasn't even sure he possessed the ability - his eyes definitely weren't twinkling anymore.

Buffy tightened her grip on her bag of goodies and gulped.

Busted.

"My Lord, we've received a petition for an audience with you. It's from the vampire who came seeking a treatise with you-"

"Kill him when he arrives," Voldemort replied, waving his hand dismissively.

Wormtail grew pale. "Yes, My Lord," he said nervously. "But… he said he has information you'll most certainly want to hear about… about a new threat."

"A vampire knows of a threat to me before I do?" Voldemort hissed, his eyes glowing red.

Wormtail shrank under his gaze but wisely said nothing.

After what seemed like an eternity, Voldemort finally spoke again. "I'll give him his audience," he conceded. "When will he arrive?"

Wormtail whimpered, knowing his master would not like his reply and fearful of his reaction. "It will take a few days. He must go through rather… convoluted means to get here, due to his nature."

Voldemort narrowed his eyes in disgust. "For his sake, he'd best not be wasting my time. Of course, on the other hand, it's been quite some time since we've had some amusement, hasn't it?"

A/N: Sorry to spend so much time on Kreacher, but I didn't see him and his position as something Buffy could just gloss over. Besides, it may be important later on… ;)