Disclaimer: see the first chapter

AN: well, here it is, the seventh chapter. unfortunately, not much action in this part but lots of information. like i said before updates will be slow but things are coming together.

The library had always been a haven for her, as place where everything could be explained as long as she found the right book. The amount of knowledge within these halls had amazed her; when she was younger, she had wanted to know as much as possible, wanted to learn as much as possible, wanted to absorb as much as possible. As long as she did so, she was safe. She may not have had friends, or looks, or things other children did, but she had her books and her knowledge and that was always enough for her.

Then she came here, and she met them, and they changed her. For once, she was expected to use her precious knowledge for something other than her own curiosity. They relied on her knowledge, they relied on her, they needed her to be there, not in the library. So she left, and for once she learned what life was, not what was learned but what was experienced. And she has never looked back.

Hermione was currently staring morosely at the page before her, frustrated about the lack of information. It had been this way for the last several hours they had been in the library, Willow and Dawn were eagerly searching through the books, excited about the sheer number on magic and its practical uses. Giles was perusing things as he normally would but with a small smile on his face, happy to be back at his old school. Tara kept glancing at Willow, worrying her bottom lip, wondering if what happened before was going to happen again. Ginny was absolutely bored. Research had never been her thing; she had never spent more than fifteen minutes in the library at any one time. While her brother and husband had Hermione to rely on, she had Colin, good old Colin. Seventh year was so hard without him there.

Suddenly Hermione slammed the book shut fiercely, groaning angrily, "There is absolutely nothing here! It is simply not possible!"

"I'm sure we'll figure it out," Willow started but she was cut off.

"No! Time is something too unstable, unpredictable, to be fully understood, but every scholar in this area is agreed, you simply can't go forward in time, backwards, sure but forwards…It's not possible."

"What difference does it make which way you go?" Dawn asked looking up from her book.

Hermione ripped a sheet of paper from her notebook and she held it up showing them. "Imagine this is time. This edge," she colored one edge with her wand, "is now. We decide to go back in time," she folds the edge of the paper so that it touches the middle but she doesn't crease it. "Then we live it until we are back in the present again." She slowly drags the sheet of paper back until it lies flat again. "In order to go back, there has to be an edge, so if we're at the edge, then there isn't anywhere for us to go but back unless we wait for the present to become the future. Does that make sense?"

Willow, Tara and Giles were all thinking about it heavily while Dawn and Ginny were quite confused. "So what you're saying is the only way to get to the future is to…live?"

"Exactly," Hermione said.

"You've mentioned going back, how do you go back in time?" Tara asked hesitantly.

"Time turners…or it used to be time turners," Ginny answered. "That's what you used, right?"

"Yeah," Hermione responded, and at their blank expressions, she elaborated. "During my third year here—"

"Eighth grade," Giles interjected.

"Right, well, I signed up for as many extra classes as possible and to make it to all my classes on time, I was given a time turner. An hour glassed shaped device that for every turnover, I would be sent back an hour. This enabled me to go back and take all my classes—"

"And save Sirius," Ginny commented.

"And save Sirius. But time turners weren't invented until 1961, and weren't made available to the public until 1989. Disregarding the fact that they only turn back time and are only used for a few hours, Lucius wouldn't have had access to them or the process behind them in the late 1800's." Hermione seemed really put out that she couldn't figure this problem out, that the answer she was searching for wasn't in her books.

They sat in silence for several minutes contemplating what Hermione had just said, when Dawn threw down her pen. "I can't take it anymore, what is that noise?"

For the past hour she had heard subtle little noises, a scratch here, a scraping there. She quickly got up from her seat, with the others following her and headed towards the back of the library. As she turned the corner she caught sight of several books, parchment, quills and ink laid out on a work study table. A man came from the opposite direction, his head bowed as he read whatever was in the book. He looked up immediately though and they all saw it was Snape. Hermione quickly realized they were in the potions section.

He snapped the book shut and began quickly shuffling his papers around and gathering up his books. One fell off the table, Wizarding Human Anatomy, but before anyone could help him, he picked it up quickly.

"You don't have to leave because of us," Willow said. "Why don't you sit at our table."

"That is quite alright," Snape snapped harshly. "I've got all my information. Besides I'd much rather be where the company isn't quite so…" He never finished but simply glared at Giles. The older man however seemed to be contemplating something.

"Do you know of any potions that would send someone forward in time?" He asked quickly, as though he didn't want to change his mind.

Snape looked him over for a moment before responding, "Not that I am aware of. There is one to send someone back in time but only if a person wanted to kill the sender." He was looking straight at Giles when he said this, who simply glared harshly at the man.

Hermione attempted to break the silence. "What was it you're studying?"

There was a loud crack causing the three American girls to scream and they saw a rather pitiful looking creature. It was short, had large floppy ears and large protruding eyes that were currently looking quite nervously at the girls. It was twisting a rather putrid tie in its hands fretfully.

"Dobby is sorry for scaring young misses. Dobby should be—"

Hermione quickly stopped the high-pitched squeaking of the elf and said, "It's alright Dobby, you merely startled them. That's all. What was it you wanted?" She asked kindly.

He smiled happily at Hermione, "Lunch is served in the Great Hall for you and guests, young miss." Dobby bowed low again and disappeared with a loud crack.

"What was that?" Dawn asked staring at the place where the creature had been moments before. Willow and Tara both looked surprised and interested as well.

"House elf," Ginny responded as the group slowly made their way back to the entrance of the library.

"Slaves are what they are!" Hermione said scathingly. The three girls seemed shocked at her outburst while Snape and Giles rolled their eyes.

"They are not slaves per say," he began. "They are bound to the house of the family they serve until they die or they are set free, which to them is a great dishonor."

Hermione started again, "That's only because they've been brainwashed into thinking that. If they knew what it was like to be free, they wouldn't fight it! Dobby—"

"Is the exception to the rule, Miss Granger," Snape finally spoke, in the same voice he used when he was her teacher, condescending, harsh and cold. "Ask any of the elves here and you will receive the same answer."

"Well, are they at least treated well?" Willow asked.

"It depends on the family," Ginny said. "Some treat them with little to no respect, actually going so far as to remind elves to punish themselves when they 'misbehave'. Other families treat their elves as part of the family, give them nice, clean clothes to wear, plenty to eat and sleep."

The three American women looked scandalized but Ginny quickly added, "But don't think they're totally defenseless. House elves see and hear everything that goes on in the house; they know their secrets and can use it against their masters. Depending on who it is, this can be good."

Hermione pushed the door to the Great Hall open and lead the group over to a table burdened with delicious smelling foods, from pork chops and lamb chops to roast beef and roast chicken, from carrots and peas to boiled, mashed and roast potatoes. The house elves even prepared sandwiches, burgers and pizza for the Americans. There were several different drinks, floating in pitchers around the table in all colors of the spectrum – red cherry soda, orange pumpkin juice, yellow butterbeer, green teas, purple grape juice.

House elf rights were completely forgotten as they took in the sight. Ginny and Hermione both smiled at the awestruck looks on their faces while Snape simply rolled his eyes and walked over to the table, his cloak swirling around him. Giles was staring fondly at the ceiling which the girls had just noticed.

"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside," Hermione said, indicating the clear blue skies and the occasional bird that swoop past.

"I love magic!" Dawn exclaimed as she practically ran to the table. The others had to agree. There was little conversation as the group settled into their lunch and steadily ate their way through the main course. It was when the deserts arrived that it started up again.

"So what other magical creatures are there?" Tara asked tentatively.

"Well," Ginny started then stopped, seemingly confused at where to begin. "There are many magical creatures, I don't think even the ministry has them all documented."

"Some creatures that we've come in contact with though are dragons—"

"—merfolk—"

"—acromantulas—"

"—centaurs—"

"—werewolves—"

"Oh, we've met one of those!" Willow said breaking into the girls list. "As I said before, my ex boyfriend was a werewolf. We had to chain him up every full moon; it was horrible. He went to Tibet, I think, to tame the wolf."

"Did he succeed?" Ginny asked surprised.

"Yes and no. He could remain in control during the full moon but he could change when he was particularly emotional," Willow said, shrugging.

"Interesting," Hermione said, sitting forward in her seat. "How was he able to control his wolf? A potion? A spell?"

"Meditation," was the response. The three wizards seemed genuinely confused.

"Meditation is not an adequate control of the wolf," Snape said in a cold tone. "Only the Wolfsbane Potion has been shown to adequately sedate it, but even then the transformation still occurs."

"We've never heard of this potion," Giles commented.

"Its relatively new, only invented in the last fifteen years or so, so of course you wouldn't have heard of it," Snape responded scathingly.

"How does it work?" Tara asked hesitantly, trying to steer the conversation into safer waters.

"The principle is simple. Taken once a day in the week leading up the full moon, the person will transform into a normal wolf while retaining full human faculties. However, the magic it takes to control the carnal urges of the werewolf is very complex," Snape explained in a bored tone, as though he'd rather not be sitting here with these people discussing this topic.

"The main ingredient, wolfsbane, is an extremely poisonous plant that slows down both the respiratory and nervous systems while not affecting the cerebrum, leaving the person conscious and aware. It is believed that the aconite slows the nervous responses that the werewolf would emit, as well as slowing the respiratory functions needed to sustain the activities of the werewolf.

"Because werewolves retain the size of the person when they transform, their heart rate is about the same as a human's, however, werewolves are perpetually in attack mode, always looking for the next kill and therefore their heart rate will be higher than a normal wolf of the same size. The potion brings the heart rate down to normal level for humans, stemming the urges of the wolf and allowing the person to remain lucid enough to not bite anyone."

Stunned silence met his speech once the teacher was finished. Snape, noticing their shock, sighed. "I have made the potion numerous times, and wanted to be sure that it wasn't a complete waste of time, energy and ingredients." He returned to his chocolate pudding.

"Right, well, yes, anyway," Dawn began.

"Magical creatures," Ginny added. "They're found all over. For example, dragons are native to several parts of the world from Europe and Asia to South America and Australia. However, most are confined to four main reserves, so as to keep muggles from finding them. My brother works on in Romania."

"But there are some creatures that can be found here at Hogwarts, like the Unicorn."

"You have unicorns!" Dawn asked excitedly. "Like real unicorns!"

"Yes, and they're beautiful," Ginny gushed. "So elegant and majestic and serene and I can't think of any other way to describe them…they're just so…" The women all sighed while Snape and Giles glanced at each other quickly before looking away rolling their eyes.

"So how did you all come across these creatures?" Willow asked.

Hermione and Ginny went on to describe many adventures they had at Hogwarts, many of them stories that Harry had told them seeing as he had the most. The Americans and Giles were astounded by how much these children had been exposed to at such a young age. Sure, Buffy had been called at fifteen and Willow and Xander had started helping her at sixteen but by that time, Harry, Ron and Hermione had been facing evil for four or five years.

Tara saw that while Snape appeared to be totally ignoring the conversation by reading from a large old tome, he would occasionally pause like he wanted to say something before rolling his shoulders and continue reading. In a lull, she tried to incorporate him in the reminiscing, he had gone to Hogwarts after all. "Did you have any adventures during your school days?"

He looked up, startled, then his eyes hardened, "Hardly, I was not one for breaking school rules to partake in clandestine pastimes." He got up from the table, gathering his things and swept from the hall without another word. Giles watched him leave with a worried look on his face before mentioning that they should probably be getting back to the library and continue the research.

The next day, Harry, Ron, Draco, Buffy and Spike found their friends still sitting in the library, pouring over several books, notes laid out on the table before them. Ginny hurried over to her husband and wrapped her arms around his neck. She studied his face a minute before looking at the others. "What happened?"

He smiled warily and sat down in her seat, dragging her onto his lap. "We were attacked."

"But we took care of it, nothing to worry about," Ron added quickly when Hermione, Dawn, Willow and Tara got fearful expressions on their faces. "Just some vamps but like I said, we took care of them."

The five of them went on to explain everything they had found at the house, including the potion ingredients list. Hermione studied it for a second before passing it to Ginny.

"I don't know what this potion is used for but I could break down the components and see what they're used for in other potions and possibly figure out how they're used in this potion which might lead to what this potion is used for," Hermione said.

Ginny nodded before adding, "Some of these ingredients look pretty rare, if we go to where they are found, we might also be able to track Lucius that way. You know, find out if he's been there yet, if he has, how long ago, that sort of thing."

"I'm sure Snape would be able to help," Tara commented quietly. The others agreed to the plan.

"Also, I need to see Mark about something," Ron said as he gathered up his notes.

"Why would you need to see Mark?" Harry asked confused. "He's the—"

"I know," Ron said, looking into Harry's eyes, knowing his friend would get the meaning. He wasn't disappointed when his green eyes widened in shock.

"Ummm, yeah, who's Mark?" Dawn asked confused. The others nodded in agreement.

Ron sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Mark Borealis is the lead auror in charge of monitoring the Revolutionaries' activites. They're a rebel group that is currently at odds with the ANDE." He further explained what ANDE stood for and their agenda.

"So the Revolutionaries are good right?" Willow said.

Harry shook his head, "It's not that simple…We probably won't need to worry about them though. Ron's just being cautious." He smiled at them charmingly to dissipate their fears.

"We're not going to get much done until we know where to go next," Ginny commented lightly, looking imploringly at her brother.

He shook his head at her antics. "Why don't you guys take a break today, and we can regroup tomorrow. I'll meet with Mark and go over what I learned tonight."

"I'll come with," Buffy said. "If these Andes guys are working with vampires I want to meet the people who are against them."

Ron started to comment but thought better of it. "Alright, that's fine."

"I'll stay here and work with Snape on figuring out what this potion it, where the ingredients are, so we can be ready for tomorrow," Hermione said, already going over the possibilities in her head.

"I will as well," Giles said but it was Spike's agreement that got heads turning, "What! Its daylight…and I'm gonna take a nap, just thought maybe you'd want – oh, screw it." He walked away petulantly, in search of a room to crash in.

"Well, I am going to steal my husband away for the day," Ginny stated as she wound her arm around his, smiling up at him. "Willow, Tara, Dawn would you guys like to explore Hogsmead with us?" The younger woman had gotten fond of the other women, having spent all day cooped up with them.

"Actually, I was hoping that you would like to come with me to Diagon Alley?" Draco asked hesitantly, glancing at Dawn then at Buffy. Dawn smiled brightly and before her sister could say a word, she said, "I'd love to go to Dragon Alley with you."

He opened his mouth to correct her but shut it seeing her smiling enthusiastically. He shook his head, smirking slightly. Willow and Tara both smiled at their friend's antics before turning back to the other redhead.

"We would love to see Hogsmead, but what, uh is it?" Ginny steered the two other women towards the door, her hand still linked with Harry's, forcing him to follow behind. He looked back at his best friends with a beseeching look on his face.

Hermione and Ron both smiled and shook their heads. "I'm not stopping her mate. You're the one who married her."

Harry smiled happily, "I did, didn't I?" He turned to Ginny. "I did. I do." Dawn and Draco followed them out after Buffy had lectured Dawn about being careful and simply glared at Draco who paled considerably.

Those that were left started for the entrance hall. Buffy walked with Giles, talking about the spell Ron had used to get rid of the vampire and lecturing him on not showing her this spell while Ron and Hermione were a few steps behind.

"Do you think we'll ever catch him?" he asked her.

She smiled and looked up into his blue eyes. "I have no doubt you will catch him." He simply kissed her lightly before continuing on.

"Seriously, all the magic in the world and you have the worst forms of traveling!" Buffy said, brushing soot off her clothes, glaring at the offending fireplace hatefully.

"You said you didn't want to apparate," Ron said smiling slightly. She merely turned her glare on him.

He laughed a little before waving his wand at her, muttering under his breath and the soot vanished. She glanced around her, making sure he got it all before nodding in satisfaction. "Much better."

Ron led her through the large atrium, passing the impressive fountain without another glance. He nodded and indicated at his badge hanging around his neck to a dark haired youth that was sitting behind the security counter, who simply nodded back. The long line of witches and wizards glared harshly at the pair for passing through security so quickly.

He pulled her into an elevator quickly before the doors clanged shut. There were only three other witches in the elevator. The elevator descended slowly and at the second level, Ron indicated this was their stop. Buffy followed him through the hallway, seeing that the windows showed a tropical beach with clear blue waves lapping at white sand shores.

"What's with the windows?" She asked.

"Oh, they're bewitched, since we're underground," he responded. "The maintenance staff is trying to get back on the Auror's good side after it was found out that one of their workers had been passing information on our activities to some rather unpleasant folks."

She nodded knowingly and passed through the door Ron held open for her. Inside was an array of cubicles and offices. As they passed them, Buffy noticed that many had pictures tacked up of dangerous looking people and maps with possible locations. She could feel the nervous energy in the place and tried to block it out, as it was making her cagey.

They made their way around the cubicles and over to an office along the back wall. A door with clouded glass blocked their entrance. Ron rapped on the door once before entering without waiting to be invited in. Buffy followed closely behind him and took a seat in one of the chairs in front of a large oak desk. She looked around the office, taking in the numerous awards that decorated the walls alongside many moving photos that were common in the wizarding world. It was neat but well used as stacks of papers and open texts lay scattered on the desk.

The man behind the desk was in his late fifties, with short dark hair that was graying at the temples. His light blue eyes were taking in the newcomers but he didn't stop what he was doing, which was dictating – to a typewriter.

"…and we want to be sure that this matter is handled with complete discretion…Any necessary equipment is to be arranged through the Auror Department, care-of Andrew Hagglesworth…Sincerely, Mark Borealis. H.A."

An old-fashioned typewriter was taking down each word the man spoke as though an invisible hand were typing. When he finished, it scrolled up before him to be inspected before intricately folding itself into a paper airplane and zooming hastily from the room.

"Ah, Weasley, my boy, what can I do for you and your…companion?" His stiff voice carried over the desk, his eyes gazing at the pair, taking in all his surroundings.

"Sir, this is Buffy Summers. She and some of her colleagues are assisting me on a case," he started, indicating the blond to his left. "While exploring a site, we were ambushed by a nest of vampires. Don't worry none of us were injured!" He quickly explained at the man's alarmed look.

"However, the lead vampire mentioned being in league with the ANDE. If the ANDE are recruiting vamps, then we were hoping you might give us some insight into how Revolutionaries are counteracting this."

Mark leaned back in his chair, resting his hands behind his head, sighing heavily. "I wasn't aware of the vampires so we don't know what they might be doing to counteract them – I'll get my people to look into that – but we do have news that you might want to hear if you're going to be dealing with the ANDE and therefore the Revolutionaries."

Buffy held up her hand like she was back in class and had a question. "Umm, right, before we go into too much more detail, what are Revolutionaries? Cause if their fighting these mint people and vampires, then they're okay in my book."

Mark leaned forward, and folded his hands on the desk. "Revolutionaries are a group of muggleborns and half-bloods that banded together at the end of the Second War, in order to gain political power in the WHC – sorry, Wizarding House of Commons. However, not only are they a political entity but also a vigilante group that is currently in a form of guerilla warfare with the ANDE. We're trying to contain both groups so not many innocent civilians get hurt but we're having a hard time of it."

He turned to Ron. "A group of Revolutionaries in Wales are searching heavily for a man – I don't know who it is," he added before Ron could even open his mouth. "My man on the inside isn't privy to that information, unfortunately. However, if you go to Wales, be careful. They raided a top secret muggle military armory near Llyn Alwa and stole several pieces of muggle weaponry. Carl has the full report of what all was taken from the base, you can get it on your way out."

"Do you know what they're planning on doing with the weapons?" Buffy asked.

Mark shook his head. "Could just use them, could sell them on the muggle black market to raise funds, could just be stockpiling them for later use. We can't be certain." He looked harshly from one to the other before continuing. "But know this. We are planning on raiding that group very soon. The Minister wants to make it our priority to get those weapons back and in the hands of the muggles. If you are going in, make it soon, otherwise stay out of our way."

"Of course, sir." Ron nodded respectfully before standing, indicating the meeting was over. "I'll let you know what we find, and any weapons will be handed over upon our return to England."

Buffy and Ron left the office quickly. She followed him down the hall before he stepped into one of the cubicles. The walls were covered in blinking, scowling and glaring pictures of Lucius Malfoy. The desk was covered in newspaper clippings and a map was peeking out underneath it all. There were several pictures set in frames nestled next to a typewriter.

"Sorry, this will only take a moment," Ron said as he sat behind his desk. "Need to send this along."

He typed out a short memo that followed itself into a simpler plane than Mark's had been. Once he was done, he grabbed a notebook under some papers and indicated they could leave.

Buffy's head was spinning from all the knowledge she'd gotten today. She thought she was just dealing with the time traveling brother of a vampire, now the wizarding version of the IRA gets thrown in along with stolen top secret British weapons. Could this job get any harder?

"You've got to be kidding me, right?" Dawn asked incredulously. When Dawn and Draco had arrived in Diagon Alley, it had been unlike anything she had ever seen before. The people were dressed in the strangest fashions, arguing over dragon liver or the latest racing broom. Magic seemed to explode from everywhere all at once; Dawn could practically feel it in the very air.

"No," said Draco, smiling down at her. "They're great companions and dead useful. Everyone has one here."

She stared at him, trying to see through the lie before turning back to the array of owls that were above her head. Big ones, small ones, fat ones, sleek ones. They came in all sorts of colors and looks. And they all seemed to be staring at her.

"I've seen some pretty weird things in my life but owls…? Now you're just having me on!" However as she looked around the store she realized that the owls were the most normal animal in the place. In one tank there were turtles that had jewel encrusted shells, rabbits that changed colors, salamanders that were actually sitting in a fire. "Well, maybe you're not."

Draco took her hand and led her from the shop. "C'mon. We use owls not only as pets but also to send our mail. As long as they have a name they can find anyone on the planet and they're untraceable. What do you think of that?"

"Sounds too good to be true," Dawn commented. "Is there anything magic can't do?"

"Of course," he was pulling her along towards a shop on the left. "Magic is simply a tool. It can be used for good or for evil but even our magic has its limits. We can't bring people back to life. We can't make people fall in love. We can only create illusions of those things."

"I grew up around magic and yet, not like this," she smiled again. Dawn seemed to be doing that a lot today. "I kinda like this."

"Well, I kinda like you," he leaned forward and kissed her lightly before pulling her into the shop.

"Welcome to Quality Quidditch Supplies." He spread his arms wide. "Everything a person could need for the ultimate Quidditch experience!"

She looked around, taking in the numerous items on display and watching the crowds mill about. "Umm, that's great but what is it?"

He turned suddenly, gasping dramatically. "You don't know what Quidditch is?! Well, my dear girl, we simply must change that!"

Laughing at his antics, she followed him over to a display that showed a pitch with three hoops on either end raised about six inches in the air.

"Alright, Quidditch is a wizarding sport, played on broomsticks." He produced seven small model broomsticks. He carefully placed them around the pitch and they floated in midair where he had left them. "Now, there are three kinds of balls. The first is the quaffle." He held up a tiny red marble that he then placed in the pitch in a cluster of three broomsticks. "The chasers handle the quaffle and try to put it through one of the three hoops." The broomsticks zoomed toward one end of the pitch, the ball floating along on top of one. "The keeper defends the hoops." The marble was launched towards the hoop on the left but the broomstick in front stopped it before it could go through.

Draco produced two black balls, even smaller than the marble. "Next there's the bludgers." He released then into the pitch and they quickly began zooming around knocking into the model brooms. "They're job is the knock players off their brooms, but each team has a pair of beaters that defends their players and knocks the bludgers back towards the other team." Two of the broomsticks quickly chased after the bludgers and began knocking them around.

"The last ball in the golden snitch." He held up a tiny, golden ball that if she looked close enough, Dawn could see tiny wings on either side. "The seeker tries to catch the snitch before the other team's seeker catches it. Once it's caught, the game is over and whoever catches it is awarded a hundred and fifty points for their team." He released the tiny ball into the pitch and the last broomstick immediately gave chase.

"And that's the game of quidditch." Draco ended triumphantly. "Any questions?"

Dawn opened and closed her mouth a few times before settling on a dazed look and shaking her head. "I think I got it…"

"It's much easier to understand once you actually play." He led her over to the display window that was showing a magnificent sleek broom. Its handle was dark as night and polished to a glossy sheen. Its tail was immaculately trimmed and the footholds were perfectly aligned. "This is the newest broom on the market. The Quicksilver 500."

She looked over and saw that he was gazing excitedly at the broom. He had her hand in his left while his right was raised in front of him, extending but not quite reaching it. "Naught to two hundred in seven point two seconds. Excellent handling, with a ninety five degree dive angle. Anti-theft and anti-jinx protections weaved right into the wood of broom. The tail is made from spruce, which is the most aerodynamic around."

He stopped his spiel suddenly and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, you probably don't want to hear about all this..."

Dawn hastened to reply. "No, no. It's interesting. You obviously like this and it's amazing...I didn't know that there was so much that could be said about it. I mean, a broom is a broom, right?"

Draco looked slightly scandalized for a moment before he realized she was joking. He shook his head before indicating the exit.

"C'mon, I'll get you the best ice cream around."

"Real ice cream?"

"Yes, real ice cream," said Draco as he walked with her down the street towards Florean Fortescue's.

As they waited for their turn to order, he seemed to grow quieter and he only smiled when Dawn glanced at him, as if to assure her nothing was wrong. Once ensconced at their table outside, she turned to him.

"Alright, spill. What's wrong?"

He sighed and watched the people passing by for a second before replying. "When I was younger, my mother used to bring me here. She said only the most special little boys were allowed."

Silence descended around them. Dawn didn't know quite how to reply. It was one thing to lose your mother to a brain tumor, something natural, but to lose your mother to a war, a war that was most definitely not natural, was another.

"All my life, I was defined by my status in wizarding society. I was a pureblood. I was taught that I was better because of that. I was taught to look down on those whose blood wasn't as pure as mine. I was expected to die for a cause that deemed someone unworthy because of who they were born to.

"And now...I find out that everything I was ever taught was a lie. My life is a lie, my beliefs are a lie. I'm not a pureblood, my father is not the man I thought he was, is not the man he lead me to believe.

"I have an uncle." He gave a little self depreciating chuckle. "You know, when I was younger, I used to make fun of Potter for associating with one of our old defense professors because he was a werewolf. Now my uncle is a vampire. And not just any vampire. Oh no! But the Scourge of Europe!"

He took a small bite of ice cream, apparently lost in his thoughts. Finally he looked at Dawn. "Did you know, he saved me?"

Draco looked away again and she smiled. Somehow she knew that things would be alright between them.

At the same time, four of their friends were talking at a similar shop in the only wizarding village in Britain. They were seated a table in the corner of the Three Broomsticks, each drinking a butterbeer and laughing as they told stories from their youth.

Willow and Tara each had several bags laying at their feet with their purchases. Harry and Ginny had shown them all the shops from when they had visited on their Hogsmead visits. The Shrieking Shack had been interesting, especially after they had learned that Remus had used it for his transformations. The Post Office received the same reaction as the animal shop had. Willow seemed particularly scandilized once she learned that wizards did not nor did they know how to use a computer. Harry had to explain that electricity didn't work around large concentrations of magic and therefore most wizarding households wouldn't be able to use one if it ran on electricity. He commented that some muggleborns were working on appliances from the muggle world that could work on magic rather than electricity to bring the wizarding world into the twenty-first century. Zonkos and Honeydukes were a smashing success. Each bought gag gifts for Xander and Dawn, and numerous sweets for themselves. When the owner came out to talk to Harry, both excused themselves, being too embarrassed about breaking into their shop the day before.

"So he never found out it was you?" Willow asked.

"Oh I have no doubt he knew it was me," said Harry, smiling. "He just couldn't prove it."

"To this day, he still tries to catch Harry to prove he was there that day," Ginny added.

"It sounds like you had some good times here," Tara commented in her hesitant way.

Harry glanced around and smiled a small smile. "Yeah, well it was the first place I ever considered home...And from the way you tell it, Sunnydale sounded like an okay place, except for the things that wanted to kill you."

"I guess it was," Willow looked thoughtful for a second. "I see what you mean."

Ginny held up her bottle and said, "To our homes, even though they would scare the shit out of anyone else."

"I'll drink to that," Harry said as he clanked his bottles against the others, smiling.

The atmosphere in the library was palpable with tension as the four Brits worked. For most of the afternoon, Giles and Snape had been sniping at one another and it was slowly wearing on Spike and Hermione's nerves.

"No!" Giles said harshly. "I distinctly remember that—"

"Yes," drawled Snape. "Because the wizarding world hasn't changed in the last – what was it? Twenty-five years. I'm sorry if we don't take—"

"Well, perhaps the wizarding world has changed but you sure as hell haven't!"

"Alright! That's it!" Spike slammed his fists on the table in front of him. The two men stopped talking immediately; Giles looked slightly guilty at having been caught arguing like a child whereas Snape simply glared at Spike for repoaching him. "Do you ever shut up?!"

The only sound that could be heard was the scratching of Hermione's quill as she diligently took notes, pointedly ignoring the other three.

"Sorry," mumbled Giles as he played with the edges of his notes. "Perhaps, uh, it would be, uh, best if—"

"Don't be ridiculous," snapped Snape. "We're no longer ten year old children!"

Hermione looked up with an odd expression on her face. She seemed to be considering something. Finally she opened her mouth and ask, "Ten?"

Giles and Spike both glanced at her confused whereas Snape appeared flustered and cleared his throat. "Simply an expression, a slip of the tongue."

She smiled and leaned back in her seat. "No, no, no. You were the best spy the Order had; you don't make slips of the tongue..."

He continued pouring over his notes and book, now pointedly not looking at her. "Fine, we knew each other before Hogwarts, what difference does it make?"

However, before the girl could respond, Giles said softly, "Spy?"

"You didn't know?" Hermione commented surprised.

"No..." Giles said still appraising the other man as he got up to get another book from a shelf. "I could always read him before..." He shook his head, as though clearing it of cobwebs, smiled at her and then returned to researching.

Hermione went to get a book and the three men continued in the awkward silence. However it was no longer the same silence. Before, the tension was thick and hung over them like angry cloud that was waiting to burst with harsh words. But this...this was as though they were afraid to speak, as though something had been breached, but it they ignored it, it was like it never happened.

"Where has that girl gone to?" he said as he raised up from his seat. He was eager to get away from the oppressive silence. Once he was out of ear shot, Spike glanced over at the other man. Normally he was relatively good at reading people or at least being able to smell their emotions but this man was more difficult. He kept everything controlled, everything so close to him that Spike might thought he didn't have emotions.

"If I wished to be gawked at, I would spend an afternoon with Albus..." He never even looked up.

"Not that it matters to me," Spike began, slamming the book closed and crossing his arms over his chest. "Cause I don't even like the guy or anything, but well, the Scoobies are rather fond of him—"

"Do vampires lose their ability to speak as well as their life when they're turned, or are you the exception?"

"Fine, why don't you and ol' Rupe get along anyway? I like a fight as well as the next man but I at least want to know what it's about."

Spike didn't really expect an answer. He knew Snape well enough that he knew the man wouldn't reveal something as personal as a feud but he was curious and that someone's personal likes never stopped him before. It came as a surprise when the younger man actually answered.

"He ruined everything," he muttered under his breath. Too quiet for human ears but loud enough for Spike to hear. Snape glanced at the book that Hermione had been reading and sighed. He left without a word just as Giles was returning.

"Where's he going?"

"Beats the hell out of me."

Hermione quickly realized that they would need Britain's Most Obscure Potionneering Ingredients and the best one to use would be Snape's. She knew his would be marked up and could give them far better insight into the ingredients than the one in the library.

She had made it to the dungeons in record time. It looked the same as it ever did. Jars of potions and ingredients in suspended animation lined the walls. His desk was covered in notes and texts for whatever he was working on before being drafted by the others to help them with their problem.

On a side table was a potion she had not seen before. Simmering gently in a shallow cauldron was a silver potion. Mist of swirling silver wound its way out of the potion and was swallowed by the air. As she got closer, she noticed three small black hairs lying innocently next to the cauldron.

However before she could investigate closer, she heard a slight cough behind her. Turning, she saw Snape glaring at her from the entrance. A blush crept up her cheeks and she quickly gathered up the ingredient book and hurried out of the room. Snape inspected the potion before sweeping out of the room.

by the way, some of the lines draco uses to describe quidditch are from the first Harry Potter film and belong to them! also i tried to get the wolfsbane part as medically accurate as possible but if i'm totally wrong, sorry.

anyway, tell me what y'all think!!