"This is Harry Potter, that's Ron Weasley and this is Ginny Weasley." Hermione introduced Willow to her friends as they sat down together in the Great Hall for breakfast.

"Hello, nice to meet you," Willow greeted, "I'm Willow."

Harry regarded her expectantly a moment before a look of pure joy covered his face, "You don't know do you?"

"Know what?" Willow asked slightly confused as she turned to regard the boy with the black hair and glasses.

"Harry is..." Hermione started, but stopped when Harry cut her off.

"No, don't tell her. I don't want her to know. It'll be nice to have a friend who doesn't know."

"Okay," Willow agreed confused, not merely by their conversation, but mostly by the vibe she was getting from the boy. Something about him reminded her of Buffy and she couldn't place it. Frowning slightly she turned back to her breakfast. Soon her mind wandered once more to the events of her past.

"Willow? Willow?" Hermione asked exasperated.

Willow's attention finally focused on the girl across from her. Inwardly she chastised herself for letting her mind wander.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, "I was lost in my thoughts. I'm not normally lost in thoughts, but what with everything that's happening and happening so quickly my mind just wandered. And I'm not making any sense am I? Hey! I'm babbling, I haven't babbled since, since..."

Willow's words broke as a frown marred her face.

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

Hermione frowned as well, wondering what was going on with the girl. "It's all right," she told Willow reassuringly, "I just wanted to know what your first class was."

"Oh." Willow said consulting her schedule, "It looks like I have…I have Double Potions first."

Her answer was quickly accompanied by groans.

"Rotten luck," Ron told her as he gave her a sympathetic look, "Snape's a terror."

Willow blinked at the redhead boy seated next to Hermione in a slightly confused way before saying softly, "He seemed all right when I met him."

"Then you haven't really interacted with him yet," Ron reassured her.

"She's in my class, want me to show her Hermione?" Ginny, the redhead girl seated next to Harry, asked.

"That should work. I'll see you both after class then."

At their confused looked Hermione added, "While Fred and George were giving Willow the tour last night I talked to Professor McGonagall. I get out of each class a bit early to make sure Willow gets to her next class. They don't want her to have to go through what all the first years do."

"Oh. I'm sorry, you shouldn't have to miss class for me." Willow said feeling slightly guilty.

"Oh don't worry," Hermione reassured her, "Ron will pay attention for me, won't you Ron?"

Ron raised his eyebrow and looked at her curiously before saying, "You going to tell me who this guy is?"

"No."

"No to you too then."

"I'll get notes for you." Harry offered. This caused Ron to eye him suspiciously.

"Thank you Harry." Hermione smiled trying to ignore the look Ron was giving Harry. Finally she sighed and glared at him.

Ginny looked at all of them and started laughing.

"What?" Ron asked.

"You're too much. Ron if you weren't my brother I'd…I can't believe you're so thick. Ready to go Willow?" Ginny asked gleefully. Willow nodded and they left a confused Ron, and an amused Harry and Hermione behind.

As they entered Double Potions with their fellow Gryfindors and the Slytherins Ginny whispered softly but warningly to Willow, "Don't mess up. If he asks you a question give him the answer right away, but without any comment other than the answer. Don't squeak like a mouse in terror, it only makes it worse."

"What?" Willow asked in confusion.

"I'm giving you tips," Ginny whispered back as they took their seats.

"This her?" asked a boy, with mousy hair, as he slid into a chair behind them.

"Yes," Ginny told him smiling, "Willow this is Colin. Colin Willow."

"Hi. Nice to meet you." Willow said dully.

"Hi," he greeted, with a smile, before Snape swept into the room and class started.

As it turned out that days lesson was a practical one, they would brew a potion, it would sit overnight, than they would finish it the next day. To say that Willow was finding the task daunting would be putting it nicely. She was suddenly remembering all her spells that went wrong. She frowned as she looked from her ingredients to the cauldron in front of her. Just as she was about to start putting things in Ginny stopped her by touching her arm and shaking her head.

Willow looked to her questioningly. Ginny peered around the room a moment till she spotted Snape across the room. Satisfied she turned back to Willow whispering, "You're measuring wrong."

"Oh...I, can you help me?"

Ginny looked around to make sure Snape was still across the room before she turned to Willow and in a whispered tone told her how she was measuring her ingredients wrong and how to do it the correct way. As Willow listened to her a light suddenly went on in her head.

"Oh!" she exclaimed quietly being mindful to whisper, "That's why the ...and the...and, and...that's why half my spells went all wrong! Thanks Ginny!"

Just as they were both about to go back to their separate potions Snape swooped down on them from out of no where.

"Ms. Weasley," he drawled.

"Y-yes, Professor Snape?"

"Front of the class please."

Ginny's eyes widened in fear as she rushed forward to a spot in front of Snape's desk, fearfully she turned to face the class wondering what he was going to do to her.

"Now, Ms. Weasley, please repeat for the class, since most of them are dunderheads, what you just told Ms. Rosenberg."

Ginny let out a little squeak of fear before asking, "If I mess up will you take house points away?"

"More than likely."

This caused Ginny to suck in her breath, she didn't like being up in front of everyone. It could prove to be embarrassing, especially in Snape's class. Determined not to fail she forced herself to look at Willow, pretending she was just telling her, as she had a few moments before, the proper way to measure ingredients for a potion. When she finished without one mistake a large smile took over her face.

Snape scowled before drawling out, "One point to Gryffindor."

He then turned on the class, "Five points from Gryffindor for gaping like a fish, Mr. Creevey! Now that you all know the proper way to measure I expect every potion to be correct. Should you fail you will lose house points. Proceed."

The rest of the class proceeded in silence. Much to Willow's delight her potion turned the correct shade of gray at the proper time in the procedure. This caused Ginny to smile again and inwardly caused Snape to be relieved. He was for sure he had another Longbottom in Willow. Than the wheels in his head started to turn, if Ginny could do that for Rosenburg, could she do that for Longbottom? Might he not lose another cauldron to that boy's dunderheadedness? A plan in mind he decided to keep Ginny after class.

As the class finished up for the day and stored their potions he took a seat behind his desk. As the last ingredient was put away he told them, "Class dismissed. Ms. Weasley will stay after."

All the Gryffindors gave Ginny sympathetic looks as they rushed to leave, most of the Slytherins were grinning to themselves. Willow stayed routed next to Ginny. She felt for the girl, that had been so kind to her, and she was beginning to see what Ron had meant by Snape being a terror.

Snape scowled at her, "Ms. Rosenberg you're free to go."

"No," she said, "I feel like your going to be unjustly mean to Ginny and all she did was help me. And that's not fair! It isn't right and I..."

Snape cut her off, "I assure you I am not going to be unfair to Ms. Weasley. Please go to your next class before Ms. Granger comes in here looking for you and gives me a migraine."

"Um?" Willow managed frowning before she turned and left.

"What class do you have next?" Hermione inquired as she met Willow at the door.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts, fifth year." Willow replied.

"Oh!" Hermione said excited, "You'll..."

Before she could continued a fifth year Slytherin with pale hair and a pointed face that in some ways reminded Willow of Spike, mostly it was the hair, interrupted with a sneer, "Whose your teacher?"

"Go away Malfoy." Hermione practically growled.

Malfoy didn't go away. In fact he continued talking, "Some foolish students petitioned for Lupin to come back, got enough support from their parents that Dumbledore sought him out. Foolish, if you ask me, they fit two whole classes with students who refuse to be taught by him. He had to ask Snape to help him there. Now they collaborate, but in my opinion, Snape's a far better Professor then Lupin will ever be. At least he never misses class. Who do you have?"

Willow frowned, but answered, "Lupin." That said she started to walk away with Hermione who was glaring at Draco.

"Aren't you going to ask why the students don't want him?"

Sighing Willow turned around and in a dull voice asked, "Why?"

"He's a werewolf, that's why." Draco informed her gleefully.

"Oh." Willow shrugged as she turned to leave with Hermione.

"Oh? Oh? Is that all you have to say?" Draco asked as he caught up with them.

Willow regarded him annoyed for a moment before saying, "It's not that big a deal. I use to date one."

Note:

Alienbeing- thanx. As to the watcher thing all will be explained when Giles comes to visit.

Rosemary the Rubix Cube- hopefully I got your whole name right, if not sorry. Thanx for the review.