Chosen 3 - Hermoine and Ginny

            "And the door on your left will lead you up to the tower, where you rooms are."

            Dumbledore led the Scoobies up to an ancient looking wooden door and stopped. "We used to house a certain Slytherin there whenever he'd claim to come into his Veela inheritance." the Headmaster said fondly. "Such a young imp, that Malfoy."

            The four looked at each other. Buffy, Willow, Dawn, and Giles had made the Floo trip over to Hogwart's after recieving Dumbledore's letter. Faith and Robin Wood had elected to continue searching California for Slayers with Xander and Andrew and some of the Newly Awoken Slayers, including Kennedy, had left the group to find their families.

            "Thank you, Albus." Giles said, politely interrupting the Head Master's internal tangent. He hoisted his carry-on bag farther up his shoulder and motioned towards the door. "I think we'd all like to get settled before tomorrow's ,erm, excitement."

            The Head Master nodded. "Of course, Rupert." He made to leave, but turned back suddenly. "I just remembered: should you need access to my office, the password this term is 'Fizzing Wizbee'" And with that, Dumbledore left them to their unpacking.

            "What's a Veela? Or a Fizzing Frizbee?" Buffy asked as the gang filed into the tower's large sitting room. There were four doors, and Buffy and Dawn were soon bickering over who got the room closest to the private bathroom. Needless to say, Buffy won.

            Giles shrugged as he walked over to a door and poked his head in. "I don't know." he said. "Maybe they're some variety of demons particular to this area." His voice carried from the room, where he was unloading his clothes into a chest of drawers. "We'll have to ask Albus and the rest of the faculty once we get settled in." A pause, then: "Good God! Have you seen the bath?"

Willow smiled softly to herself and entered her room. Although she was happy to be staying with the kind wizards who had helped her after Tara's death, her thoughts wandered back to her last talk with Kennedy.

'I know why you've been ignoring me lately, Will' Kennedy said quietly. 'It's alright, really. If you're not happy being with me, then I guess, as much as I'd like to, I can't force you to stay.' She looked up, and traced Willow's jaw with her finger. 'But if you're ever in New York...' she trailed off jokingly and then nodded and left to pack her few surviving belongings.

Willow sighed as she flopped back on the bed. Unpacking her suitcase could wait until morning, after she'd gotten some sleep.

            Giles returned to his room, and flopped down much in the same way as Willow. Although England was his home, his body was still adjusting from Pacific Time. He didn't bother unpacking anymore than his night clothes and toothbrush, but fell asleep on the bed before he could even reach the bathroom.

            Across the sitting room, Dawn was exploring her new domain. She turned to the tall wardrobe and went to put her clothes in it, but found a row of witch's robes already in place. 'Right.' she thought, 'I'm a student here now.' She took one out and pulled it around her, admiring her reflection in the full length mirror beside the door. 'Hmm. Ravenclaw?' she thought, puzzled. 'I guess Dumbledore's heard about my mad Watcher Junior skillz.' She giggled as she took off her robe and prepared for bed, and fell asleep to the image of the old wizard making the "west side' sign with his arthritic fingers.

            Buffy was the last of the group to fall asleep. She stood at her window until late into the night, staring at the full moon and remembering the blonde vampire who had given his life so that the world would see another day. She fell into a dreamless sleep against the glass and only awoke when Dawn and Giles told her she was going to be late for her first day.           

~*~*~*~*~*~

The Great Hall was alive with chatter as the Gryffindors entered and took their seats. Hermoine sat beside Ginny at the end of the table and started talking animatedly about her new Transfiguration essay. Harry and Ron took the seats across from them and quietly began eating breakfast, Harry worried about his scar and Ron about his dream (something about Neville and the Quidditch patch bleachers). Across the Hall at the Slytherin table, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson were all whispering to each other and looking very excited.   

"I wonder what their plotting now." Ron remarked bitterly as he violently mashed butter into his toast. "They don't even hide it now that You-Know-Who's back in power."

            Hermoine rolled her eyes and pointed at the Head Table. "Maybe they're wondering who all the new teachers are." she said patronizingly. "It worries me how unobservant you are sometimes..."

            Harry ignored the rest of Hermione's lecture and followed Ron and Ginny's horrified gazes to the teacher's table. Sure enough, there were two new teachers: a redhead, who was deep in conversation with Professor Dumbledore, and a blonde, who was slowly nodding off in her seat.

            Gently disengaging the redhead, Dumbledore stood. "Now I know I don't usually make important announcements at breakfast, but this is truly exceptional news." he began. "No doubt you have noticed the arrival of four new faces to this school. The teachers are, by name, Willow Rosenberg (the redhead waved), the new Wandless Magick teacher and Buffy Summers (who started when she realized Dumbledore sheepishly straightened in her chair) who will be teaching Physical Defense. Those of you in Ravenclaw will have no doubt noticed a new addition to your house - Dawn Summers." The students clapped, Ravenclaw most enthusiastically, until the Head Master held up his hand. "They are Americans and I expect you to treat them with the same respect you would give any other distinguished guests. Now, back to enjoying this lovely meal. Professor Rosenberg here would recommend the bacon and eggs."

            Hermione was positively ecstatic. "New teachers!" she breathed.

            Harry watched the new girl and frowned: she was chatting amiably with his ex-girlfriend, Cho Chang.

            Beside him, Ron made a face. "Extra teachers means extra subjects means extra homework, Moine." he whined. "And I can barely cope with the ones we have now."

            "What's the matter? Weasel can't cope with a little homework?" came Draco Malfoy's snide voice. The four friends whipped around to face the Slytherin and his two cronies, Grabbe and Goyle.

            Ginny was the nearest and first to stand up. "You won't be so smug once we start getting assignments either, so why don't you just sod off?" she snapped, eyes blazing.

Crabbe and Goyle inched forward as Malfoy narrowed his eyes. "Looks like we may have to teach the little Weasel some manners." he said menacingly.

"You're outnumbered here, Malfoy." Harry growled, turning towards the end of the table. "I suggest you leave before we mark up that pretty face of yours."

Malfoy only snorted. "I never knew you swung that way, Potter." he drawled. "I'm sorry, but Father would never allow me to be associated with the likes of you." He gave Harry a once-over. "No matter how cute he is."

Hermoine stepped forward to flank Ginny. "You get your filthy eyes off him, Malfoy." she growled. Her hands were balling into fists by her side, as were Ginny's.

Crabbe and Goyle stepped forward as well. "You're one to talk about filthy, Mudblood." Draco retorted. "No wonder the guys never give you the time of day - they can taste your stink."

WHAM!!!

Ginny and Hermoine's fists collided with the blonde Slytherin, sending him flying through the Great Hall door. Both girls stood in amazement, looking alternately at their fists and each other.

Students were instantly in an uproar and teachers were instantly by their sides.

            "What is the meaning of this?!" McGonagal shouted as she ran down to them. Professor Dumbledore quickly followed her.

            The three turned to their house head. "We're sorry, Professor." Ginny began. "It's just the Malfoy -"

But Dumbledore held up his hand. "We saw what happened, Ms.Weasely" he said gently. "What I believe Professor McGonagal is trying to ascertain in how Mr. Malfoy ended up where he is." His eyes twinkled and the students knew he knew something they didn't.

Hermoine was the first to speak. "I don't know, Professor." she said slowly. "He was making fun of me, and I just couldn't take it anymore so I hit him as hard as I could." Her eyes filled with fearful tears, so Ginny took over.

"Please don't expell us, Professor." she pleaded. "You must know how tense the air has been at Hogwart's ever since we found out To - You-Know-Who is back." She looked up at the Professor's grave faces, hoping desperately they hadn't caught her slip up.

McGonagal pursed her lips until everyone was sure they would disappear, and then spoke. "I know, Ms. Weasely. But that does not give students an excuse to vent their frustration by beating each other." she said.

Dumbledore spoke up. "I agree with Professor McGonagal." he concurred gravely. "I want the three of you to come with me to my office." His face was grave, but his eyes twinkled again as he waved to the American professors, who rose from their chairs at the teacher's table and followed the procession to the Head Master's office.