Harry Potter and the Vampire Slayer
Owl Post
Chapter One
by: Miss Witch
Rated PG
Summary: Dark forces are afoot. (Gee, that never happens!) Giles receives an unusual request and has to leave Sunnydale. This request has to do with the protection of a certain young boy with a lightning scar on his forehead. A BtVS/Harry Potter crossover story.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not even my car. BtVS belongs to Joss (all hail), Mutant Enemy (grrr argh), Fox, UPN, WB…. whoever. Basically, it belongs to someone who is not me, no matter how much I whine and beg.
Disclaimer 2: I so don't own any of the Harry Potter stuff. If I did I'd be J.K. Rowling and well on my way to being the first billionaire writer ever. I lay no claims on any of the characters or what will happen after book 4, so please don't sue!
Spoilers: This takes place before Season 4 of Buffy, and after -Goblet of Fire
Distribution: Just ask. If it helps, I'm going to say yes. I just like the thrill of knowing someone wants it.
Feedback: Pretty please.
Notes: [ ] means thoughts. Oh, and for the sake of argument and my sanity in writing this… Faith did not go bad, just to L.A. (granted, some would argue that it's the same thing) It really has nothing to do with anything, but just in case you wondered.
For Gabi… Because she gave me the damn idea in the first place!!
"Uh, Giles?" Buffy's eyes grew wide with disbelief. "I think you'd better come here." Giles looked up from the book he was studying at the shock in Buffy's voice. He moved to where she was standing, door wide open.
"If Xander is bathing in the fountain again, I don't want to know about it." Giles informed her as he came up behind her.
Xander was not in the fountain. In fact, Xander was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, there were several owls perched on and around the fountain, hooting softly. The minute Giles appeared in view, they rose into the air and swooped into the apartment. They all dropped previously unnoticed envelopes onto Giles' table. Then, as silently as they swooped in, they swooped back out. All except one, an exceptionally large snowy white owl. It perched on the back of a chair, blinking expectantly.
"What just happened here?" Buffy asked, shutting the door. Giles moved to the desk and shuffled through the papers that had been dropped there.
"Fudge, that idiot!" Giles muttered, reading what looked like a newspaper. He tossed it down, looked through the others, until finally reaching one written on thick parchment.
"Giles? What's going on?" Buffy asked as she rifled through the papers. Buffy picked up the newspaper he'd tossed down. The headline read, 'Rumors of You-Know-Who's Return Unfounded.' Underneath, there was a picture of a man looking somewhat furious. "Holy shit!" she exclaimed when she realized that the front-page picture was moving. The man was shaking his finger at someone not in the picture.
Buffy breezed through the article under the headline.
'Today, Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, once again denied the rumors that You Know Who has returned to power. The rumors, which have been swirling since the mysterious end of the Tri-Wizard tournament, have grown since the death of Cedric Diggory, a sixth year at Hogwarts School of Magic during the tournament.
"It is not possible for You-Know-Who to return to power." claimed Fudge angrily. "Now stop asking."
The Daily Prophets' sources claim that Harry Potter defeated the Dark Lord, but was unable to save Diggory. Mr. Fudge denies this, and Mr. Potter was unavailable for comment as he lives with Muggles during the summer.'
"Oh dear Lord" Buffy looked up. Giles was staring dumbfounded at the letter in his hand. "He can't be serious." he muttered.
"What's up?" Buffy asked. She walked over and looked over his shoulder.
"Dumbledore wants me to teach Defense of Dark Arts."
"Ok," Buffy said, "That's it. What the hell is this all about?" she demanded, placing her hands on her hips.
Giles sat heavily onto the couch, still staring at the parchment in his hands. Exasperated, Buffy snatched it from him and read it
'Dear Rupert,
I hope that this owl finds you well. I know that you are very busy with your Slayer, Buffy. I have been following her progress. You must be so very proud of her.
I've written to ask you a favor. Once again, I find myself without a teacher for the Defense of Dark Arts class for the coming school year. I was hoping that now that Buffy was out of school, you would be available to take the position.
It is very important to have this position filled by someone I can trust. Voldemort has regained a body, and is gaining strength. Last year, during the Tri-Wizard Tournament, he nearly succeeded in killing Harry Potter. Voldemort must not be allowed to return to his former strength.
By all means, bring Buffy to Hogwarts. I think that students would have much to learn from her as well.
Please send your reply by return owl.
Sincerely,
Prof. Albus Dumbledore'
Buffy looked up to find Giles watching her silently.
"I have to go Buffy." he said softly. "This is big."
"As illustrated by your 'Oh dear Lord'" Buffy smirked. Giles did not smile in return. Instead, he took her hand. Buffy started at the contact, staring at their hands. Giles never touched her.
"Buffy, Voldemort was an evil wizard. For years, he gathered power and killed those who stood in his way." About 15 years ago, he tried to kill a young boy, a baby really, and not only did he fail, it nearly destroyed him."
"And now he's back?" Buffy asked. Giles shook his head gravely.
"Not completely." Giles told her. "But he is well on his way if we don't stop him." Buffy rattled the paper at him.
"What about this Harry Potter kid?" she asked. Giles stood and began pacing. Taking off is glasses, and chewing on the earpiece, he stared out the window.
"He's the son of 2 very good friends of mine." he said softly. The tone of his voice told Buffy volumes.
"They're dead, aren't they?" she asked. Giles nodded sadly, still staring out the window. Buffy kept silent. She wondered how many of Giles friends fell into that category. How many people had he lost? How did he continue, knowing some day she'd be added to that list?
Shaking the dark mood, Buffy walked up behind Giles and placed her hand on his arm.
"When do we leave?" she asked.