Thanks to SuzieGeorge, jupitersthunder, Arlath's Daughter and whatsmynameagain4 for reviewing but especially well done sophswarb for noticing that Dawn didn't look in the Mirror!
Thanks to her, you have this bonus chapter I wasn't going to post unless someone noticed :D I know, I'm twisted and strange.
This is just an extra, I should still update on time.
Late that night, a figure crept out of her dorm. Using the skill she had learned from watching her sister, she managed her way unnoticed to the Scooby Common Room. Once there, she was about to say the password and enter when a voice spoke.
"Still on your night-time wanderings, Ella?"
Dawn turned and glared at her boyfriend. "Draco!" she hissed. "What in hell are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question. But there'd be no point."
"What do you mean?"
"Maybe we should talk about this inside, where Umbridge isn't going to pounce on us?"
Reluctantly nodding, they made their way into the Common Room. Once there, though, she turned and faced him, hands on hips.
"Well? What did you mean?"
Yet another voice gave the answer. "He meant that he saw how you avoided looking in the Mirror. And so did Faith, who was kind enough to tell me."
Buffy detached herself from the shadows and strolled over.
"So? What's keeping you? It's over there." She gestured to the Mirror, stood against the wall.
Trying to think of a way to get out of it, Dawn saw none and grumpily walked over.
She looked into the Mirror, and saw what she hadn't expected. There, waving back at her, stood Joyce Summers.
She bit her lip, trying not to cry as feelings of guilt and loss rushed back. She'd barely thought of her mother in months.
"Mom," she choked.
Buffy was by her side in seconds, Draco right behind her. They hugged her and soothed her.
"But I forgot about her," Dawn whispered, burying her head in Buffy's shoulder. "How could I do that?"
"You didn't forget. You moved on with your life. It's what she would have wanted you to do. It's what you had to do."
"But-"
"No buts," Draco interrupted. "Buffy's right. By living, you gave your mother the best memorial."
Dawn turned back to the Mirror, wanting to see her mother again. But now she only saw a reflection of the three of them, Buffy and Draco supporting her. As she watched, Joyce strolled back into the frame, but was joined by everyone. Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Willow, Xander, Tonks, Giles, Harry, Ron, Neville, Faith. Even Spike was there, giving it his best scowl. She frowned. "Why are you all there?" she murmured.
"All who?" Buffy asked, confused.
"It's not just Mom any more. It's all of us. Like you're all my family….."
"We are your family. Friends can be family too." It was Draco.
"Friends are the family we choose for ourselves."
The other two turned to stare at Buffy.
"What!?" she said defensively. "I thought it was the right moment. I read it on a key ring once."
Review? That button still isn't totally friend-filled…I can hear it sob when I sleep.