by Lisette: Lisette_an@hotmail.com

Legalese: The television series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all related characters and material belong to Joss Whedon and UPN.  All things Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling.  I claim ownership solely of the story idea - no profit will be made by this.

Author's Note: Back again and praising the fact that the sun is finally shining over here!  The snow is melting and I went roller blading today, which is the only excuse I have for not posting sooner.  My apologies, but winter has lasted far too long this year and my body was crying out for some fresh air!  Anyway, as always a huge thanks goes out to Kiwi, kimbyann, Empress, Tara, Harry, Rob, WhiteWolf 3, Midnight, manticore-gurl, Claddagh, and Jeanne.  And since I have a bit more time tonight (and because I feel so guilty for putting my blading fun above this posting), here are some longer responses to some great questions:

Rosie: To be honest, I'm not really sure where the Order of Phoenix ideas are coming from.  I've been reading a LOT of HP fanfic on this site for the past six months or so, and I'm sure that some of it is getting picked up from other HP authors.  Actually, I think that this idea of the Order is a pretty general assumption by most HP writers of what it's all about.  Therefore, the claim probably goes to someone else for originality!  So many people use it now, though, that I wouldn't know where to start to give proper credit.  I'm not sure if ANYONE truly knows who came up with the idea first.

jezowen: Yep, the reviews to push me to go quicker! ;p Thanks for moving me along!

poppie: Yeah, I kind of thought the black dog and the werewolf were dead giveaways, but you can't be too certain.  After all, not everyone who's following this fic are as obsessed with the HP 'verse as I am!  On the other hand, I can be pretty confident that everyone here is a Buffy fan, what with the story being found in the Buffy crossover section and all! ;p

X-Lander: Since I'm not sure if I cover this in later chapters, I thought that I'd address your question here.  Yes, Hogsmede is still present, but what with the danger in the wizarding world to open opponents of the Dark Lord, it isn't safe for those who are residing in Hogwarts to be anywhere BUT Hogwarts.

Enchantress: Did you say you wanted me to bring ANGELUS into this? *grins wickedly* Gee, if you really want, maybe I would work Angelus into this whole mess.  I mean, if you REALLY think that's what Buffy needs at this point... ;p Yeah, I know I'm wicked.  In any case, no promises either way!

JaminJellyBean: Check.  Desire for there to be a Buffy/Oliver pairing noted.  Check. ;p

Lala: SO don't miss that whole exam deal!  I just graduated from college in 2002 and the one thing I DON'T miss are the tests.  Not that anything stuck past a few minutes past the exam anyway!  Still, I suppose I should be saying to read this less and study more... but what would be the fun in that??  Good luck with everything and no, you can never be too redundant with your reviews!  Thank you!  And on with the story!!

"She was like a rose amongst thorns..."
-Anonymous-

    The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and Buffy Summers was bored out of her mind.  It was well into her first week at Hogwarts and the slayer found herself coming to despair at the routine that she had fallen into.  Each night she would head into the Forbidden Forest, often accompanied by Giles, and patrol until dawn came.  After that, she'd join the others for breakfast, reveling in the company of the three teens so close to her own age - reminiscing always about the friends that she had left behind on the Hellmouth.  After that it was to bed for a scant five or six hours only to awaken to an afternoon of boredom.  Occasionally she and Giles would train outside on the grounds, but after spending the entire night patrolling the training almost seemed a moot point.  After all, what better training could take place then what she did each night out in the forest?  Then it was dinner once more with their new friends before the vicious cycle began anew.

    Sighing, Buffy tore her eyes away from the large book perched on her lap and allowed her eyes to roam over their shared outer room.  She had been curled in the chair before the roaring fire for hours, pretending to read the massive book that Giles had pushed into her hands - The Rise and Fall of He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.  The large text outlined the history that surrounded Voldemort as the wizarding world knew it, detailing events up until his downfall and subsequent disappearance over sixteen years ago.  And even though it did make for interesting reading, and especially considering how amusing she found it to watch as the pictures in the book would move or wave at her, Buffy quickly found that her heart just wasn't in it today - she felt that growing itch of restlessness begin to stir.  Once more, unbidden, she allowed her eyes to drift towards the portrait doorway.

    Noticing his ward's wayward glances, Giles finally had enough.  All of her sighing and longing looks were beyond distracting, and he quickly realized that if he truly wanted to get anything accomplished that day, he had only one choice.  "Buffy, for the sanity of us both," he began, startling her with his words as wide green eyes turned in his direction, "please go and find something to amuse yourself."  As a slow smile began to lift her lips, he quickly shook his head.  "Go to the castle library and find me a book on.. well, on something," he muttered crossly.  "Just don't kill anything!" he added, his voice stern as Buffy nearly bolted from her chair, the book falling forgotten onto the worn cushions as she smoothed away invisible creases on her long, charcoal skirt.

    "Not unless it's evil," Buffy confirmed with a quick wave before darting through the portrait and into the dark hallway beyond before her watcher could change his mind, the painting thudding softly into place.  Sighing in relief, she leaned back against the wall, grateful to be free at last.  While she was loathe to admit it to Giles, Buffy found herself quite out of her element in the wizarding world.  There were no malls, no telephones, no televisions... there was nothing that the young Californian was accustomed to in order to help pass the time.  Worst of all, there were no Scoobies.

    Shaking the thoughts away, Buffy quickly straightened and adjusted the white buttoned sweater she wore open over her tight black tank.  Library.  Yeah, she could do that, Buffy thought, smiling as she absently twisted her long blond hair behind her and stuck a stray quill in back to hold it in place, the wisps flying haphazardly around her face as she turned and studied the long corridor.  At least it was something to help pass the hours.  Shrugging slightly, Buffy turned and headed down the corridor, the heels of her strappy sandals tapping on the cold stone floor.

    Bored beyond belief, Harry struggled to hide a large yawn behind one hand while the other absently smoothed the ancient scroll that was unraveled before him.  Wearily he lifted the hand further and rubbed it against his sore eyes, strained after hours of staring at the aged script, the lines all beginning to blur together.  "Can someone remind me again what we're looking for?" Harry asked, breaking the comfortable silence that the friends had fallen into as he allowed his gaze to drift to the redhead that was practically snoring into his own pile of texts and scrolls.

    "We're searching," Hermione began, pausing only to knock Ron's elbow out from beneath him, scowling as, with his support gone, his head cracked against the table.  Wincing, the teen lifted his head, sparing a glare for Hermione as he rubbed his aching head.  "For more information on the She-Mantis," she finished, smiling slightly at her friend.

    "I could tell you about a She-Mantis, if you want," a soft voice offered tentatively from behind them.

    Turning, the three friends watched as Buffy emerged from behind a stack of books, a large and dusty tome held in one hand and looking completely out of place in the dusty library - or maybe looking exactly at home.  Running a hand through his unruly black hair, Harry felt his eyes wander over her small form, her muggle clothing making her look all the more small, dainty, feminine... and beautiful.  Feeling his cheeks flush at the thought, Harry quickly turned his eyes back to the old scroll before him.

    "Cor, do you go hunting dressed like that?" Ron burst out, obviously thinking along the same lines as his eyes swept over the small blonde.  After all, in the week that they had known her, the teens only ever saw the Slayer either right before or right after her patrol of the Forbidden Forest, always dressed in clothes that she could easily maneuver in.  To see her dressed as she was, so casually, somehow made her look older and younger at the same time.  It made her seem more real.  More like them.

    Startled by the question, Buffy followed the group's questioning eyes and took in her outfit.  "What?" she asked, green eyes raising to take in the two males.  "Just because I'm the Chosen One that means I'm not allowed to dress like a girl every now and again?" she continued, smiling wryly before closing the distance between them, dropping her book on the table with a thud while she perched on the edge, just as she always did in Giles' library back home... before they filled it with TNT, that is.

    Rolling her eyes at her two friends, Hermione turned her bright eyes to the Slayer.  "You know something about the She-Mantis?" she asked, arching her eyebrow skeptically at the girl.

    Wrinkling her nose at the question, Buffy absently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.  "If you're talking about the big old bug that can hide her nastiness under a pretty face and that lures male virgins to her nest for sex before death," she responded quickly, her eyes sparkling, "then that's a big yes."  As both Harry and Ron paled at her words, Buffy smirked before turning back to Hermione.  "Met one my first year on the Hellmouth," she added, grinning slightly.  "She tried to hurt my friend, Xander, so I hacked her to death with a machete."

    "Now when you say hacked," Ron began, his face beginning to turn a bit green.

    "As in all the big parts becoming little ones," Buffy confirmed, grinning widely now.

    Oblivious to her friends' pale pallor, Hermione looked at the petite blond with new eyes.  "You know, if you're not busy, I'm sure that Professor Lupin would be interested in having you sit in on a few of our classes."

    Grimacing, Buffy quickly shook her head.  "Reading, writing and arithmetic - so not missing it," she said, crossing her feet at the ankles and gently swinging them back and forth, her skirt rustling around her.  "There was a reason for that whole graduation thing... aside from blowing up the mayor, of course," she amended with a thoughtful smile.

    "More like Transfiguration, Potions, History of Magic, Arithmancy, Muggle Studies and Defense Against the Dark Arts," Ron countered, ticking the classes off of his fingers as went.  "Just to name a few," he added, grinning as it was Buffy's turn to look at them in shock and confusion.

    "Professor Lupin teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts," Hermione explained, "among some of our other courses, and since you've probably dealt with many of the stuff that we cover... well, I'm sure that he'd like to have you attend some of the classes, if you're interested."

    For a moment, Buffy considered the offer.  On the one hand, she would be willingly agreeing to attend class - yet on the other, this promised to be class that not only was she interested in, but one that she could actually offer her own opinions and information.  This was something that she wasn't only good at, but born to do.  Plus, it wasn't as though she had anything else to really occupy her long hours of afternoon boredom.  "Sure, I'm game," she said, shrugging lightly before shoving off from the table, landing lightly on her feet only as a Slayer could.  Absently, she allowed her eyes to roam over the musty library setting, a feeling of nostalgia causing her smile to dim a little.  "My friends and I used to hang out in a library like this one all the time in high school," she murmured absently.

    "Willingly?" Ron immediately asked, shooting the girl an incredulous stare before ducking a swipe from Hermione.  "Isn't there anything better to do where you're from than that?"

    "It was Scooby Central," Buffy quickly defended, pouting softly at the red-haired teen.  "Not to mention the fact that it was sitting about the mouth to Hell," she added, almost as an afterthought before quickly scowling at the boy.  "And it doesn't look like this place is any more happening.  I mean, really, what do you guys do around here for fun?  I'm going crazy without either a television nor a phone!  Is all you guys do is just go to classes and study?"

    "Of course not!" Ron quickly protested, once more trying to avoid Hermione's back hand.  "There's Wizard's Chess, Exploding Snaps, and-"

    "Why don't you and Giles come back to the common room with us after dinner?" Harry asked, interrupting Ron's tirade as he finally tore his gaze away from the parchment laid out before him.  "You both can relax with us before your patrol."

    Surprised, Buffy considered his offer for the briefest of moments before quickly seizing the chance to do something different.  "It's a deal," she quickly decided, smiling brightly at the trio.  "Giles and I will hang out for a bit before taking our romp through the Forest - even if I have to drag him there," she stated as she lifted her heavy book into her arms.  "See you at dinner!" she added before turning and nearly skipping away from the three friends.

    As a silence fell over the group once more, Harry quickly turned back to the scroll, a small smile lifting his lips - a smile that didn't go unnoticed by his two closest friends.  Finally, Ron had enough and turned to Hermione with a small, knowing smile.  "Say 'mione, it's a good thing that Ginny got over her crush on Harry, isn't it?"

    "Well you've always known that I've approved of she and Neville," Hermione stated distractedly as she waved away his question.  "They made an adorable couple at the Yule Ball and you know that he's-" she broke off as Ron elbowed her, following his gaze to Harry whose ears had turned the most charming shade of red.  "Oh - OH!" she said, catching on to his meaning as a wicked gleam sparkled in her eyes.  After all, she wasn't just brains and nothing else - there was a bravery and a mischievousness in her that made her a true Gryffindor, through and through.  How else could she have gotten into so much trouble with her two friends over the past seven years?  "Harry, do you fancy the slayer?" she asked, as blunt as always.

    Flushing even more, Harry didn't bother with a response as he quickly gathered his things in a large, haphazard pile before him.  "If you two are quite finished, I think it's time we get to Transfiguration before McGonagall gives us detention - again," he stated, his tone firm even though his eyes refused to meet his friends'.

    "'Course, Harry," Ron chirped as he abandoned the table.  "Wouldn't want to be late again, would we?  Detention might mean missing out on a certain Slayer's visit," he added, snickering as Harry glared at him and Hermione both before sweeping from the room in a billow of dark robes.  "Oy, it's been a while since I've been able to make him turn that color," he stated as he waited for Hermione, still chuckling at his friend's embarrassment.

    "Too long," Hermione added, her amusement disappearing under a small frown.  "I don't think he's even thought of a girl in that way since Cho Chang," she added, her expression turning somber.  "And what with Cedric Diggory's death... well, Harry couldn't even look at her after that."

    "Which makes this a good thing," Ron added, obviously confused by his friend's demeanor.  "So what's with all the heavy expressions?"

    Sighing, Hermione absently tucked a few loose strands of auburn behind her ear before lifting her heavy bag to her arm, filled to the brim with books and scrolls.  "I want Harry to be happy, truly I do," she murmured as they made their way through the library, "but a Slayer?"  Sighing again, she paused just shy of the open doorway.  "Ron, do you truly think that's best?  After all, think of what we've learned of a Slayer.  Think of how much it's going to hurt Harry when she dies.  And she will die - it's a certainty that when you're called as the Slayer, your life expectancy drops until your teens.  I wouldn't be surprised if she's already survived far longer than most slayers.  I... I just don't want to see him hurt again, that's all," she added before turning and stepping into the hall, unaware of the silent figure who had heard her soft words.

    As the teens started down the dark hall, Giles slowly abandoned his place in the shadows, a small frown playing at his lips.  Would his slayer ever get the break that she deserved?  Buffy had been through so much since being called as the Slayer - far too much.  She had fought her ddestiny tooth and nail when first called, nearly begging him to allow her to keep the life that she loved.  In the end, it took her death to finally convince her that this was who she was, whether she wanted it or not.

    "Giles, I'm fifteen years old.  I don't wanna die!"

    Hermione was right in that his slayer had lived longer than most of her predecessors.  She was good - the best, actually.  She fought with a drive that was unparalleled, her family and friends giving her the reason to keep going.  Yet it seemed that Fate just had to keep testing her, in all the worst kind of ways.  She had sent her lover to Hell to save the world.  She had to defeat a fellow slayer in order to stop her madness and to try and save that same lover.  She had to watch her mother die before her very eyes and then endure months upon months of torture before nearly killing herself to be free of it all.  If Giles could just lay her arms down and let her rest at last, taking up her fight for her, he would do so in an instant.  But he couldn't.  She was the Chosen One, not he, and there was nothing he could do that he wasn't already doing in order to ease her burden.  Angel had left Buffy almost a year ago so that she could be free of him and their love and find someone to walk in the sunshine beside her - to give her a chance at normalcy.  And now Harry Potter's best friends were hoping against such a chance because of the hurt that Buffy would ultimately bring to the young wizard.  Life was cruel and it seemed as though Buffy would never be spared of her sick humor.

    "So this is Wizard's Chess?" Buffy asked, watching as yet another of Ron's knights attacked one of Ginny's pawns with a mad flourish, little marble pieces scattering in all directions.  Incredulous, she lifted her eyes to the teens that sat around the small table before the roaring fire in the Gryffindor common room.  "Kind of... violent, don't you think?" she asked, waving away the chalky air, even as she realized how truly odd that statement seemed when coming from her.

    "You have to admit," Neville Longbottom began as he smiled openly at the blonde, "that deep down everyone has a part of them that loves breaking things!"

    "Well we certainly know that you do!" Hermione countered as the shy boy flushed a brilliant shade of red.  "I think that you've destroyed enough cauldrons in Potions for that much to be evident," she added as Ginny scowled good-naturedly at her.

    "You leave my boyfriend alone!" she declared, her face beginning to match the deep scarlet of her hair as she reached over and patted Neville's hand.  "If you had Professor Snape picking on you as much as Neville did... well, you'd be nervous too!"

    Smiling at the easy banter, Buffy slowly leaned back in the comfortable chair, allowing her eyes to roam around the crowded room.  It was easy for her to imagine the comfortable couches and chairs filled with students, the air redolent with chattering voices while the roaring fire crackled behind them.  It was a cozy picture - one that must have been both familiar and perfect for the Gryffindors that surrounded her.  Tonight the room was still filled, but this time with a number of people of various ages and doing a multitude of things.  Molly Weasley sat in a large chair before the fire, knitting a sweater of some sort while Percy, Bill, Sirius, and Arthur Weasley sat at another table, piles of scrolls and books spread out before them.  In the far corner of the room sat Remus Lupin and Giles, both bending over a large and ancient looking book, the hushed murmur of their excited conversation adding a comfortable undertone to the room - an undertone that was shattered by the sounds of breaking chess pieces.  "So once they're done destroying each other, what then?" Buffy asked, forcing her mind back to the chess game before her.  "All your pieces will be broken."

    "Once the game is over the pieces regenerate," Harry quickly explained, understanding her confusion all too well.  After all, he had thought along the same lines the first time he had seen Wizard's Chess almost seven years ago.  "That's why it's a wizard's game - the pieces and the game are all enchanted."

    Smiling wryly, Buffy slowly shook her head.  "Don't you guys do anything that doesn't require magic around here?"

    Frowning, Ron slowly scratched his head.  "Well... no," he admitted, obviously puzzled by her question.  "What would be the point in that?"

    It took a moment for Buffy to realize that it was a serious question - that he obviously couldn't picture a life without at least some kind of magic.  "Wow... so none of your family has ever really been in my world, have you?" she asked, arching an eyebrow at the conglomeration of redheads.  "You're family has never really been around muggles before?"

    "I visited Hermione's house once before," he said, nodding to his friend who was, per usual, buried in some book or another.  "Other than that... well, my dad would be the closest, I guess, seeing as how he works in the Department of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts.  Mum stays at home, Percy works for the Ministry, Bill is at Gringotts, the wizarding bank, all the time, and my other brother, Charlie, works with dragons in Roman-"

    "You have another brother?" Buffy asked, interrupting his ramblings. 

    But before she could question him further on the topic, Harry quickly interrupted, throwing his friend a knowing glance.  "Hey Ron, why don't you let Buffy try playing Ginny?  Being a Slayer and all, I bet you're really good at strategy and all that."

    "Oh no," Buffy quickly protested, a quick grin lifting her lips.  "While I'm cool with the whole destructive bit, the heavy thinking thing is Giles' department.  I'm more of the 'See-Demon-Slay-Demon' type of girl," she admitted with a small smile.  "That whole strategy thing is a little above and beyond my capabilities."

    "Then how about a game of Exploding Snaps?" Harry continued determinedly, releasing a small sigh when the others quickly agreed to the idea.  After all, Ron was the Wizard's Chess Champion at Hogwarts and Ginny didn't really stand a chance of winning.  Smiling softly as the chess board was pushed to the side and as a fresh deck of cards was fetched, Harry couldn't help a small cheer for himself.  The Boy Who Lived conquers all adversaries yet again - another wave of pain avoided.  Seeing the smile pull at Ron's lips once again, he was thankful for his quick thinking.  They didn't need another painful reminder of what they'd lost that night.  Sometimes some heartache is better left for another night.

To be continued...