Chapter 9 - Little Lady

Buffy folded her robes and put them carefully away. She was just about to go to bed, dressed in pyjamas, when the door opened and Dawn came bounding in.

"Hey Buffy," she said, "You wanna hang out?"

Buffy nodded, she hadn't spent much time with Dawn recently, what with all the new things that had happened.

"So how are you liking Hogwarts?" Buffy asked Dawn, "'Cos if you don't like it here then we can go home, its up to you. I mean we don't really have a home but you know…"

"No!" Dawn exclaimed, "I want to stay! I love it here, I get to learn magic and the people are great! You don't want to leave either do you?"

"No, I don't" Buffy said laughing, "I love it here do, I just wanted to make sure you were happy."

"Well I am Buffy," Dawn said, "It nice to have friends my age who don't think I'm a complete freak. They're really nice."

"Even Harry?" Buffy asked teasingly. Dawn blushed.

"Its ok," Buffy said, "I totally approve, I'm not gonna attack him. He's totally doll some, and seems nice too. One of your better choices."

Dawn grinned, "Well what about you and Sirius?"

Buffy blushed herself.

"I don't know," she said honestly, "I like him a lot, we have a lot in common, firstly the whole dead thing. But I don't know if he's into me, and wants to get boyfriendly."

"He so is," Dawn said, "He's' totally into you. And a total cutie-patootie too!" Buffy smiled at her.

"You're great for my ego," she said pulling her into a hug.

"Here to help," Dawn said returning the hug. "When are the reinforcements arriving?"

"You mean Angel etc.?" Buffy asked, "Soon. Professor Dumbledore said that he was going to look into getting them here by Floo powder. Just once the students are all settled in, in a couple of weeks. Now you, little lady, need to get to bed." She stroked her hair fondly.

"Little Lady?" Dawn said in mock outrage, "That's good coming from you! 'Night."

The next morning they were able to stay in bed for a little longer, as the students weren't due until late that evening. Buffy finally emerged from her quarters at about ten, wearing a set of midnight blue robes with tiny silver stars embroidered on, and she headed to the Great Hall, to fill up on coffee and warm toast. She arrived to find it practically empty, except for Sirius, who was reading the Daily Prophet and drinking tea. He looked up as Buffy came in and smiled his greeting to her. She sat down next to him and reached for the toast.

"You eat more than anyone I've ever seen," he said watching her, "How do you stay in shape?" He glanced at her figure admiringly.
"Killing vampires and demons. Apocalypses," She said nonchalantly. "You know, same old."

"Same old," he agreed, smirking slightly. They sat in silence for a while as Buffy munched her way through a lot of toast. Sirius shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"Erm Buffy…." he said. She looked up at him. "Would you like to come for a walk round the lake with me?"

Buffy broke out into a smile.
"Love to," she said, brushing crumbs off her fingers. She stood up, pulling him up by the arm.

"Let's go!"

They walked around the lake in the slightly cold September air, not talking, but still in a comfortable silence, just happy in one another's company.

"So, how are you felling after the whole dead thing?" Buffy said, as they came to stop under a beech tree by the lake.

"Its okay," he said carefully, "It's better, you know, not being in hell, but I'm still not sleeping well. It's just hard you know…"

Buffy cocked her head at him questioningly. He sighed.

"Well it's not just the being undead," he explained, "I always thought that when I died I would be with James and Lily, and to be honest being dead would be worth it, James was the best friend I ever had. But the fact that I wasn't, that hard. Its harder being with Harry. He's so much like his father, and his mother. I mean he's almost the spitting image of James, and when I see him, it reminds me of what I missed out on. And I talk to him, and its like James, but I know its not…." He trailed off. "And Harry must have noticed that I'm distancing myself from him. I want to be a good Godfather to him, but is so hard. And he needs me, more than anything now, his time is coming."

Buffy took his hand, surprising him.

"I understand," she said, looking into his blue eyes, "But you have to talk to Harry. He probably thinks that you're avoiding him, that you're mad at him fro something. He will understand, he's had to grow up a lot recently. And even though James is gone, Harry is here, and so you've still got a piece of him. I did the same thing, I distanced myself from my friends. But when I finally thought about it, I realised that all I wanted was to be with them and around them again."

Sirius squeezed her hand.

"Thank you," he said sincerely. "Buffy, you are incredibly." He leant forward and kissed her softly then sat back to judge her reaction. As if in response, she grabbed his face and kissed him, much more passionately.

"James always said I was a ladies man," he said jokingly, and she slapped him on the arm. He stood up and pulled her up with him. They walked back to the castle hand in hand.