Chapter Six. Where The Wild Things Are

Author: emptyfirefly

Summary: With her father's abandonment leaving fresh tears in her eyes, Buffy sets out to find the family that she never knew. But what she'll find in this journey goes far past blood kin, but to respect for life, pain, and understanding when the triumph is complete. Perhaps while defeating a baddy along the way!

Rating: PG13

Timeline wise: Just after "Dead Man's Party" in Season 3 of Buffy, and after book 4, the book 5 stuff is yet to happen!

Spoilers: Season 2, some for future seasons, on Harry Potter anything before book 5, however I am ripping the book to shreds; don't rely on anything!

Warnings: Violence, bit of language

Pairings: Buffy/Weasly(but which one. Which one.) Xander/Cordy, Willow/Oz, Ron/Hermione, Harry/wouldn't you like to know?

Disclaimer: Don't own anything but the plot (which rocks, by the way). Any exact quotes aren't mine either, although I won't say which are just so it's still a surprise!

The first thing that Buffy noticed about the inside of this new house was that it was black, very black. In fact, she had a distinct feeling that anyone, including Dracula, would find the place droll. Although, perhaps not my possible uncle! Buffy mused, shooting Snape a humorous glance. She had always thought there was a limit to how much black a person could wear, but she was alarmingly wrong.

Everyone knows, even those that read Lemony Snicket, that first impressions are often wrong; indeed Buffy's own of Xander being plain weird was slightly off. However, Buffy spider sense telling her that the house was evil, and that Snape's left arm was also, was about as right as they come, so her first comment surprised those who heard her.

"Damn, this house is EVIL. Where's Dracula?"

The twins, Snape and Ginny heard her comment and took a moment to recover. It was one of the twins, the one with the "F" jumper in fact, that answered first with a wave in Snape's general direction, "Why, he's standing right there isn't he?"

Snape, however, did not find this remark funny. "Mr Weasley, if you wave your over-extended arms in my face, or insult me so, again, you will find that you no longer have the privilege of having said limbs. Now, leave us!"

Buffy could not help but giggle as the F twin gave her an over-exaggerated wink and allowed himself to be dragged away by the other twin and Ginny. She could, however, hear the G twin's exasperated sigh. "We're meant to do two-part repartee only, you bleeding…"

Until then Buffy hadn't noticed that actually the rest of the group had arrived also, and were taking that moment to carefully creep down a different hallway, whispering and stepping quietly.

"What's up with them?" she finally asked, not bothering to keep her voice low.

That was when the yelling started from an unknown source.

"OH BLOODY HELL!" most of the group swiftly clapped their hands over their ears and ran down the hallway, leaving Molly, Arthur, Buffy and Snape to attempt to drown out the noise.

"WHAT IS THAT?" Buffy yelled over the din.

"THAT, IS THE SOUND OF SIRIUS'S MOTHER WHEN HER PROTRAIT REALISES WE'RE HERE!" Arthur yelled back, leading her along the hallway, pausing to stop in front of a painting of an incredibly ugly woman, who was yelling at the top of her lungs.

"FILTH! SCUM! BY-PRODUCTS OF DIRT AND VILENESS! HALF-BREEDS, MUTANTS, FREAKS, BEGONE FROM THIS PLACE! HOW DARE YOU BEFOUL THE HOUSE OF MY FATHERS…

"A MUGGLE! HOW DARE YOU BRING THE FOULEST OF STENCHES OF THIS EARTH INTO MY HOME! DIRTY LITTLE EFFLUENCE-FLOODED BEINGS WITH YOUR USELESSNESS AND BESSOTTEDNESS WITH YOUR OWN GRIMEY REFLECTIONS AND DISTURBING CLOTHING! MAY YOU BURN IN YOUR MUGGLE - "

Fortunately, the woman's yelling was cut short by Buffy literally ripping the painting off the wall and throwing the painting across the room. The painting, however, did not break, and the following silence was even harder to demolish.

"Well, that's not the greeting I saw coming!"

The entire group jumped and turned to discover another large group was standing behind them at the door, led by a tall teenager with ruffled black hair.

"HARRY?"

Going on her hunch cased by the exclamation echoing in her ears, Buffy assumed that the youth was the famed Harry Potter. The youth raised an eyebrow at her, and grimaced slightly at the excited yelling.

Buffy smiled back, but found that she couldn't look away; so the pair just stood there keeping eye contact despite the large group of people vying for HIS attention, and Snape trying to get HER attention.

Finally the greetings were over and most of the group, excluding the Weasley's, turned to stare at Buffy with confusion.

"Who are you?" a bushy haired girl finally asked, a thirst for knowledge in her gaze.

"Buffy… Summers." She replied, giving the inquisition a too-sweet smile.

"A Vampire Slayer." Harry's sudden and uncharacteristic announcement startled reactions out of the entire group (unsurprisingly).

There were two people that didn't join into the hubbub; Harry and Buffy. They were lightly smiling to themselves; suddenly the silent message they'd been sending to each other made sense. They'd been telling each other that they were something different, and recognized it in the other.

However, the rest of the group's reaction was not quite as serene…

"What the bloody Hell is Vampire Slayer?"

"Don't swear Ron!"

"I would've thought the name was sort of explanatory-"

"Ronnickins."

"Good one Forge."

"Why thank you Gred."

"Here to help."

"A Vampire Slayer Arthur? In the head quarters? What could Dumbledore be thinking?"

"Now, now, Molly, we must trust his judgement-"

"EVERYONE, JUST SHUT UP!"

Every single gaze shot to Charlie Weasley, who wore an expression of authority as he stood beside the bewildered Slayer. For some reason Snape had "accidentally" been pushed to the back of the group.

"Now, if you will all just let Buffy explain what's going on here, instead of speculating loudly about how evil she COULD be," everyone shot Mad-Eye Moody a look, who rolled both his eyes, "then maybe everything will be as simple as Quidditch!"

Hermione and Remus shared a quiet groan, but everyone else turned their curious expression to Buffy.

"Well, uhm… hi, I'm Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, from Sunnydale, California…" she paused and shot a glance at Harry, unsure of how to phrase her next sentence tactfully.

What that next sentence was going to be, will forever remain unknown, as Snape leapt forward and whispered angrily in Buffy's ear.

"No niece of mine is a Vampire Slayer!"

"Here's to hoping!" Buffy snapped at him, pushing him forcefully out of the room.

She turned back to the rest of the group, "Anyone else got a problem? Cause the complaints desk is now open."

Going by the quiet shock Buffy could safely assume they wouldn't have their official reactions until a later date.