Title: Stranger Thoughts


Author: Sonya


Crossover: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Harry Potter


Rating: PG


Disclaimer: Anything you recognize, I don’t own. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all associated characters, settings, etc., belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, etc. Harry Potter and all associated characters, setting, props, etc., belong to J.K. Rowling, Scholastic Inc., etc. No copyright infringement is intended, so please don’t sue – all you’ll get is a really bratty bird and some really spoiled rats.


Pairing: Buffy/Remus Lupin


Summary: Response to Jinni's '20 Minutes with Buffy' challenge. Mini-sequel to 'Stranger Things'. Set post-"Chosen" and post-"The Order of the Phoenix", but no real spoilers here.


***


"You're wearing *that*?"


"What?" Buffy asked, looking down at her shirt - long sleeves, slightly belled, tee-shirt type material - and jeans.


"You can't wear that on a second date!" Dawn protested, pushing the door the rest of the way open and strolling uninvited into their shared room.


"Aren't you supposed to be studying or something?" Buffy protested, turning to the mirror and checking that the stake tucked into the top of her boot was completely covered by the slight flare of her jeans. "And it's not a second date."


"Third date?" Dawn squealed excitedly. "Oooh, did I miss one? Oh, you know third dates are - nothing that I know about because you'll give me another lecture, but anyway, if you were to do something third-date like that I wouldn't be thinking about then remember to use protection because you're used to being with vampires and this guy's mostly human and you don't want to get pregnant with wolf cubs."


Buffy turned away from the mirror to stare agape at her baby sister.


"Just saying," Dawn shrugged, crossing her arms defensively. "I'm seventeen, remember? I have the occasional clue."


Not going there right now. No time. Later, there will be a talk. There will be a LONG talk.


"It's not a third date," Buffy corrected her. "It's not even a second date, because the first time was not a date, it was just a getting drinks, which is all this is. A non-date. And he's not going to be dressed up, so I shouldn't be dressed up."


"What'd he wear last time?" Dawn asked casually.


"Robes - like, wizard type robes," Buffy said, holding a strand of hair in front of her face and eyeing it critically, trying think of anything that was neither sister's apparent newfound knowledge of sex nor whether she in fact *wanted* this to be a date. It's growing in dark. Should I get it highlighted again? Or does the dark look more adult? Do I want to look more adult? "And they were really old and kinda looked like they'd been through a few wars. I mean, not that I hold it against him or anything, they were clean and all, they just looked like clothes are *not* his main priority, you know? What?" she demanded at her sister's gloating look.


"You psychoanalyzed his outfit," Dawn pointed out.


"I did not!" Buffy protested indignant, letting her hair drop. Oh, whatever, I'm not getting it highlighted in the next ten minutes, so I can think too much about that later. And there's no reason why I should be particularly worried about my hair at this exact point in time because - "I just *noticed* his outfit! I did not psycho-anything!"


"And I'm going to let that one go, because it's just so easy it doesn't seem quite sporting," Dawn said drily.


"Sporting?" Buffy mimicked.


"The Giles-speak is contageous," Dawn shrugged. "And you need to wear a dress. At least a different shirt."


"Dawn, if I dress up I'm going to make him feel bad," Buffy protested, getting the sinking feeling she was going to lose. "Because he is *not* going to dress up and he's not thinking this is a date and -"


"Oh, shyeah," Dawn rolled her eyes. "The guy picked you up at an employment agency, Buffy. Can we all spell 'desperate'? He'll be thrilled."


"Hey!" Buffy objected. "I'm not - desperate material! I am not an object of desperation."


"Over-sensitive much?" Dawn pivoted on one shoe with a long-suffering sigh, sauntering across the room to fling open Buffy's closet door. "You know what I meant." She snatched something from the closet and tossed it at her sister. "Here, wear this."


Buffy caught the light beige dress with the long flowing skirt mostly on reflex, just as the doorbell rang downstairs. Dawn squealed.


"Hurry, change!" Dawn ordered, as Buffy grimaced, holding the dress up for inspection. I do look good in it. But .. not a date .. "I'll get the door! What's his name? I should know his name, like, so he knows you talk about him! Why are you standing there? Hurry up, dress, name!"


"Remus," Buffy answered, accepting her defeat and beginning to pull off her jeans.