Chapter Three: Decisions
"Wait a second guys, what about Dawns school here? Is she just gonna unroll?" Willow asked the group.
"Well, if she goes, I guess so. But I'm not letting her go by her self. If she is going, then I'm going to." Buffy told the group defiantly.
"Buffy, we don't know anything about this school –" Xander started as Giles started to protest to and Buffy but in saying "I no, that's why if Dawn goes, I'm going to, to protect her." She finished as she looked at Dawn and gave her a reassuring smile where as Dawn looked a little dazed herself as she smiled back weakly.
"Well, you got a month to think on it so take your time Dawnie, don't make any rash decisions yet, think it through." Willow told Dawn reassuringly.
"Yeah, your right," She replied to Willow, "I still have time to make a decision, but I mean if I did go, would I have to leave Sunnydale permanently?" She asked dreading the answer.
"No, of course not, you'll come back to see us on the holidays Dawnster." Xander replied trying to sound cheerful.
Giles cleared his throat and began wiping his glasses as he said "Yes well, I propose Spike, Buffy you go on patrol now as the sun has set and the rest of you are free to stay if you wish. But I also propose, Dawn, you think about this decision for as long as you want and we'll come back here tomorrow for Anya to finish up telling us all the details of this Hogwarts school."
They all agreed as Buffy and Spike left to patrol and Dawn stayed to stew in her own thoughts for the next two and a half hours before going home.
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The next morning Dawn awoke after having only a few hours of sleep because the whole night she was stewing wether she should or should go, but luckily she came to a hear conclusion; depending on the rest of Anya's information she'll be getting in exactly… she glanced at the clock to her right and finished; one and a half hours.
Dawn had decided, after hours of pondering and weighing the pros and cons, that she would go to Hogwarts.
Unless of course Anya forgot to mention some horrible thing about the school or what they teach. She thought afterwards as she rose from her bed to go to the shower and then eat breakfast and tell Buffy.
Once down stairs nervous about how her sisters response will be, she entered the kitchen.
"Hey Dawn, pour your self some cereal and then we'll brush our teeth and head out to the Magic Box, okay?" Buffy asked as she read the paper and ate her toast.
"Sure. But, Um, I think I no my answer." Dawn told her sister uncertainly.
Buffy paused and looked up, "Dawn you don't have to decide so quickly, we don't even have all the facts yet."
"I no, but if Anya doesn't say anything to bad about the school today, I think I want to go." She told Buffy searching her face to see what she thought about her decision.
Buffy nodded, she thought Dawn would take this chance, maybe not come to the conclusion so quickly, but in the end she thought she'd go.
"Okay, but I want you to no you can still back out, no matter what. And keep thinking on it, I want you to be sure that what your choosing is the right choice." Buffy told her.
"I
no." Dawn replied, grinning slightly, finally letting it sink in;
she may be going to a magical school,
this is going to be way
better than math and science. She thought happily.
But the
only con is she's going to have to leave behind so many people that
she loves.
But not permanently, I'll still be back on the
holidays. She thought trying to make herself feel better.
Once breakfast was eaten and they were both ready, they set of to the Magic Box, ready to here the rest about her soon-to-be school.
---
Once
all settled in, with every one there from last night Anya signed with
annoyance and asked
"What else do you want to no? I told you
pretty much everything I no yesterday."
"Is there anything you missed out? Like what do they even teach?" Giles asked slightly frustrated.
"I don't know exactly, it's not like I went to the school, I've just heard it mentioned." Anya replied eager to get back to counting the money in her cash register.
As Giles sighed, Xander took over trying to get her to talk.
"Aun, are you sure that's all you no?" He asked her.
She
sighed and started talking.
"Well, the only other thing I know
that's related to Hogwarts is that one of their students that left
the school became one of the most powerful wizards known. He was
called Voldermort. He turned against all half bloods killing them and
was brought down by a young boy only a few years old. After that no
one's heard for him in years, no one knows if he's alive or not,
but most people think he was just weakened, buying his time until he
gains back his power."
Fidgeting with he hands wishing money was in them right now she asked "Can I go now?"
"Wait a sec, what do you mean half-bloods?" Buffy asked confused.
"Non pure magical folk. People whose parents weren't both wizards." She replied.
"And what do you mean 'brought down'?" Willow asked.
"Well all I no is that he tried to attack the young boy, Harry Potter, but the spell somehow backfired and Voldermort was weakened and no one's heard of him since. Me and Hally think he's just waiting until he has all his strength back to attack. Most probably get back at Harry. He was left near death and all the boy had was a scar on his forehead." Anya explained getting carried away with telling the group her tale.
"Where's Harry now?" Dawn asked curious.
"Ohh, he goes to Hogwarts, actually I think he's your age right about now. So can I go now?" She asked Giles with a eager expression on her face. He sighed and nodded as he took of his glasses to clean.
"So Dawnie, have any idea if ya wanna go yet or do ya wanna hang around with the Xan-Man some more?" Xander asked grinning at Dawn.
"Uhh, yeah, I've given it a lota thought and, I think I wanna go." She replied as she looked up at the group searching their faces for a reaction.
Giles was the first to speak as he said "Dawn, are you sure? Have you given this enough thought?"
"Yeah, I have and I'm sure. I really wanna go." She replied getting a little exited at the thought.
He sighed as he nodded and said "So I propose you write back to this headmaster asking if he can provide other means of transportation to this school and meanwhile Buffy and I will un-role you from your Sunnydale High."
As Dawn nodded Willow asked concerned "Are ya sure Dawn? I mean, giving up your school life here to go to England?"
"Yeah, I mean, its not permanent, I'll be back on the holidays, I promise." She replied giving Willow a small smile.
Then the door bell rand as a customer entered and Anya ran to greet the woman and encourage her to buy every item she showed any interest in telling her all the useful ways it can be used.
As Buffy watched Dawn stare intently off into space she leaned over and asked, "Dawn, do you wanna do something to get your mind off of everything, like… go to the mall?" She asked, saying the last bit cheerfully.
Dawn thought about it and answered "Sure," grateful for a distraction.
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