Title: Bane of the Marauders (2/?)
Author: Kate R.
Disclaimer: Own nothing and no one used herein. JKR Owns Harry and Co. Joss
and ME own Buffy and Co. I make no prophet off this story.
The Train pulled in to the Hogsmeade Station at night. It was dark and windy and Dawn climbed off the train behind Giles. So far, she had made an effort to stay away from Harry and Sirius. She did not like Sirius and Harry kept glaring at Giles. That was a way to make her not like him either.
"Snape," Sirius hissed to the man waiting by the carriages.
"Black," he returned as he looked over Giles' group.
"Welcome back Ripper, Ethan," he said. Giles nodded and shook the hand he offered.
"It's good to see you again, Sev," Giles said. "I got your owl about Remus. How is he? Really?"
"He's sad. He told Sirius he wasn't going to be pushed anymore and walked away. I didn't know he wasn't part of the joke. I do now and I apologized and I try to speak with him but he's just withdrawn into himself. He asks who could like a werewolf? Potter and his little gaggle of friends turned on him as well."
"Well, Oz was pretty cool" Dawn said as she hefted her book bag. It was only July so they had time to get school things later. "I mean he was in a band and everything while he was a wolf. And his nephew Jordy who was weirdly enough born a werewolf is the one who bit him. Jordy was 2, by the way. He was cool. We kept him in the library cage and Jordy too sometimes and it worked fine."
"You know other werewolves?" Snape asked. Dawn shrugged and looked at Xander and Spike who were standing by Angel and Wesley. Angel was leaning on Wesley right now as Buffy's death had ripped his heart out. Xander and Spike were getting each other through this and they hoped Wes would be allowed to lean on Angel a bit as well.
"Yes we do," Giles said. "Daniel Osborne. Also known, as Oz was a teenager who helped us fight on the Hellmouth. He was a werewolf as was his cousin Jordy. We liked them both just fine."
"That may be just what he needs. Rupert, where is---Oh, that's why you were able to come so quickly, wasn't it?" he asked in silent understanding. Giles nodded and Snape looked at him with sympathy. Much to Harry's shock.
"I'm truly sorry, Ripper," he said. "I know how it must hurt to have lost one tied that tightly to you. Are you well?"
"I'm surviving. We all are. That's why I brought them all with me. Angel was her mate. That claiming had faded but it still hurt him a great deal. Spike comes with us now. He's one of us."
"Her who?" Sirius asked.
"Dawn's sister Buffy, the Slayer," Giles said.
"The Slayer?!?!" Sirius exclaimed as they walked to the carriages and got into them. He and Harry rode by themselves. Snape rode with Giles and Ethan. Dawn rode with Angel and Wes and Spike and Xander had one to themselves as well. Giles allowed Dawn to go with the two because he wanted her safe and he knew Angel would keep her that way. Buffy had been his mate. That made her sister his responsibility now. Giles knew Angel was taking care of all of them in his own way. He had paid for the travel arrangements. He had gotten them all out here safely. Now, he was cracking. But Wesley was there to help him hold on. That was all that he needed really. Just for someone else to take the weight off his shoulders.
Giles could think of no one better than Wesley for that task. perhaps they would all find healing here. He certainly hoped.