The Summer Sun

Chapter 1- The Summer Sun
June Potter sighed and sat back against the passenger seat of Angel’s car. Looking down at the letter she held, she reread it.

Dear June,

Sorry to interrupt your summer like this, but you knew it was coming. You, Angel, Illyria, Spike, your new Watcher Severus, and your brother Harry must find a suitable site for the new branch of Slayer headquarters. Good luck.

Buffy

Folding the letter, June rested a hand against her head. Severus Snape--former potions master of Hogwarts and newly hired Watcher of June--and the vampire with a soul, Angel, were now inside a real estate office while June, Illyria, Spike, and Harry waited in the long black vehicle. To most people, it would seem odd to contact a real estate agent at nine o’clock in the evening--whether in Los Angeles or not--but Angel knew a guy, who knew a guy, who had a friend, who had a brother who would do them this favor. Glancing at the backseat, June wondered what her companions were doing.

Harry Potter, her brother, was craning his neck to gaze out the window and up at the stars…the few one could see in this city. This waiting was boring for June, a Slayer, but how must it be for the Boy-Who-Lived? He had just defeated Lord Voldemort, the darkest wizard of this time, no more than three weeks ago, and now he was waiting on paperwork.

Spike, the other vampire with a soul, had swiped June’s CD player and was busy rocking out to some Billy Idol song. Well, it spared the group hearing another rant about how Idol had stolen his whole persona from Spike. As for Illyria, the former god king, she was sitting with her eyes peacefully closed. It was as if she was deep in meditation.

Harry caught her eye and smiled. Returning the smile, she said, “The glorious life of a Slayer.”

Harry laughed and the driver side doors opened simultaneously. Illyria’s eyes opened, and she shoved Spike over and moved herself to allow Severus in. Angel climbed into the driver’s seat.

“Remind me again,” Spike said, removing the headphones, “why does the pet get shotgun?”

“Because she arm wrestled you and won,” Harry said.

“Oh, right.”

June turned to Severus. “You guys get any good listings?”

“A few,” her Watcher said.

“Mostly on the rougher sides of town. The price of privacy,” Angel said, starting the car up and pulling away.

“We’re not going to spend all night tonight surveying this places, are we?” June groaned, putting on her seat belt.

“There’s only four,” Snape said.

“Ah, choice,” Harry said.

In a move rarely seen between those two, Snape nodded in agreement. Reaching into the pocket of the black jeans he had opted to wear as a Muggle disguise, he handed June a piece of paper. She took it and looked over it.

“These are good prices for these places,” she said. “What’s the catch?”

“Well…” Harry began as Angel pulled along the sidewalk of their first site.

June looked out her window as Spike pushed Harry aside to look out his.

“Bloody hell!” the blond vampire exclaimed.

The place was a wreck! It looked like an apartment building that had been partially demolished! There wasn’t even a front door! And there was no telling what the interior looked like!

“What the hell?” June muttered.

“Didn’t Buffy say something about this before we left?” Snape asked, not bothering to look. June had a sneaking suspicion that he and Angel had been shown pictures.

“Yes. The Slayer said that it was likely that we would end up with less than desirable choices, in the name of secrecy,” Illyria confirmed.

“Well,” June said, getting out of the car, “let’s not buy the first piece of crap we see. Let’s check this place out and see if it gets any better.”

“It doesn’t,” Angel muttered.

“What?” June asked.

“Nothing,” Snape and Angel said in unison. Then, Snape added, “Let’s go have a look.”