Blood of Enemies, Blood of Friends
Chapter 7 - The Journey to Hogwarts
The Scoobies, Gryffindors, and new Slayers met in the restaurant portion of the Leaky Cauldron for breakfast. They finished eating in time to retrieve their things and meet the Ministry cars that were waiting at the curb out front.
The group arrived at Kings Cross Station nearly one hour before the Hogwarts Express was due to depart the station. "The Hogwarts Express departs from platform 9 ¾ in one hour," said Giles as they entered the station.
"Hey, Giles," Buffy asked, "I always meant to ask, how can there be a platform 9 ¾?"
Giles had planned to explain the platform once they arrived, because he didn't want his friends or the new Slayers to be anxious about the entry. "Everyone, in order to get onto platform 9 ¾, we must walk through the barrier between platform 9 and platform 10. One at a time, you will go through. Please try not to be too obvious. We don't want to upset the muggles, who are waiting for their trains."
Wesley volunteered to go first; so that everyone else could see how it was done. While casually conversing with two of the new Slayers, he leaned against the barrier and disappeared. The two Slayers caught on and did the same. Faith, Robin, and a few other Slayers followed.
"That is kind of creepy," said Shannon. She did not understand why walking through a barrier bothered her. After all, not more than three months ago, she had fought a legion of ubervamps.
"I felt the same way my first time. It really is no big deal," Harry explained. "The barrier is just an illusion. As you walk through you simply continue onto a different platform." Shannon still looked apprehensive. "Trust me," Harry said, taking her hand in his and casually leading her to the barrier. Harry felt nervous being so close to Shannon, but she seemed grateful for the escort. They walked through the barrier onto platform 9 ¾.
Shannon spun around to take in the scene before her. There were hundreds of Hogwarts students entering the train, while their parents waved from the platform. The train itself was a bright red and resembled something from an earlier time. Harry was so engrossed in watching the expression on Shannon's face that he forgot to continue walking. Ginny and Andrew crashed right into Harry and Shannon. "Harry, move already," demanded Ginny. The four teens moved off to get out of everyone else's way, just as Dawn, Hermione, and Ron came through the barrier, followed closely by Buffy, Willow, Kennedy, and Xander.
"That was cool," Xander commented.
"Xander, you also thought that turning into a giant canary was cool," commented Buffy.
"It was," he argued.
The remaining Slayers entered the platform, with Giles at the rear, making sure that no one got lost. Wesley indicated that the Slayers should find seats on the train. After the students finished boarding, the new faculty members took seats in the front car, which had been designated for faculty and school prefects.
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny promised to meet up with everyone in a couple of hours. They had to go to the front car to meet with the other school prefects. Harry led Dawn, Shannon, and Andrew to an empty compartment at the rear of the train. He was extremely pleased when Shannon sat beside him.
The food trolley appeared before Ginny, Ron, and Hermione had returned. Andrew bought at least one of everything. Harry laughed. He had done the same thing his first year.
Before Harry could warn him, Andrew ate a Bertie Botts Every Flavor Bean and made the most disgusted face. Harry laughed, "You know, when they say every flavor, they mean every flavor."
"Ewww," said Andrew, "I think I just ate ear wax. That was nasty. Does anyone else want to try one?"
The girls shook their heads no.
Andrew moved on to the chocolate frogs. When he opened the package the frog took off out of the compartment. Andrew chased after it. The other teens just laughed as they watched him go. Dawn took the rest of his treats and put them in her purse. "I am saving him from himself," she said.
"Why is Andrew crawling on the floor of the corridor?" asked Hermione as she entered the compartment with Ron.
"His chocolate frog tried to make an escape," Harry explained.
"Where's Ginny?" asked Dawn.
"She is trying to help Andrew," explained Ron.
"Do you think she likes him likes him?" asked Shannon.
"She seems to like like every guy in school," mumbled Ron with a tinge of disgust in his voice. "If anyone hurts her. . ."
"Ron, I wouldn't worry too much about Andrew. He may be older, but he is really naïve when it comes to girls," explained Dawn. "I don't even think he has ever had a girlfriend."
Nearly ten minutes passed before Ginny and Andrew returned to the compartment, Andrew clutching his chocolate frog.
****************
Willow found an empty compartment in the faculty car and motioned for Kennedy to enter. "We need to talk," said Willow.
"I guess we do, huh? So how was your summer?" Kennedy asked.
"You would know if you hadn't taken off. You never even bothered to call."
"Willow, I had some things to take care of, and after the battle with the First, I just needed some me time to blow of steam. You understand don't you?"
"I don't know," said Willow softly.
"But now I am back, and we can pick up where we left off," said Kennedy. "You do still want me, don't you?" she added coyly.
"Honestly, I don't know what I want right now. You can't just show back up and expect everything to be fine. I need some time."
"I guess that is fair, but know, Willow, that I intend to make all of it up to you." Kennedy smiled wickedly. A few months ago, Willow would have thought that wicked smile was sexy. Now it chilled her for some reason.
****************
Dawn, Shannon, Andrew, Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were enjoying a game of exploding snaps, when a guy about their age with bleach blonde hair and a nasty sneer stepped into their compartment. 'Damn,' Dawn thought, 'he is a hottie.' He reminded her of Spike, and the thought of Spike brought a few tears to her eyes.
The boy spoke, "Oh look, Potter, the Weasels, and the mudblood found some friends. There apparently is no shortage of losers at Hogwarts." He looked down at Dawn, "This one looks like she is about to burst into tears. What's the matter little girl? Do I scare you?"
He wasn't sure why he was being so mean to this poor girl. When he first noticed the tears, his heart went out to her. But according to his father that was just another of Draco's many weaknesses, and he wasn't about to show any weakness in front of the Gryffindors.
"Go away, Malfoy," said Hermione.
"What makes the mudblood think that she has the right to speak to me" spat Draco.
"Don't you dare call her that," said Ron through gritted teeth.
"What are you going to do, Weasel? Fancy puking slugs again?" Draco laughed.
"Hexing you would not be nearly as enjoyable as killing you with my bare hands," Ron replied.
"I'd like to see you try." Draco looked over his shoulder to his two menacing looking friends, at the same moment that Hermione placed her hand on Ron's shoulder. "Please don't," she whispered.
"Lucky for you, Malfoy, that I am more mature than that," replied Ron sullenly. He really wasn't in the mood to put up with Malfoy, and though normally Ron would love to hit him, it would have to wait until a time when Hermione wasn't there. He couldn't bear for her to be disappointed in him.
Shannon stood up in front of Malfoy, "Unfortunately for you, I'm not so mature. Now leave or you will regret it."
Malfoy continued to sneer, "What is the dirty little mudblood girl going to do, pull my hair and try to scratch my eyes out?"
Dawn winced. She wasn't exactly sure what a mudblood was, though it was obviously offensive, but she knew that saying the words 'dirty girl' would set off Shannon. Caleb had called them that.
Shannon grabbed Malfoy's wrist and twisted it behind his back.
"Ow," he yelled.
Crabbe and Goyle were not sure what to do. They liked to fight, but were pretty sure they would get in trouble for hitting a girl.
Shannon demanded that Malfoy apologize first to Dawn and Hermione, then to everyone else. When he refused, she twisted his arm harder. He was beginning to worry that this girl would do some damage. She demanded again that he apologize.
"Crabbe, Goyle, help now," yelled Malfoy.
Crabbe and Goyle approached Shannon. She appeared to ignore them. When Crabbe tried to take a swing at her, she used her other arm to block his punch and then kicked him hard in the stomach, sending him crashing back into Goyle.
Seeing his back up struggling to get up off the ground, Malfoy mumbled an apology. Shannon gave him a hard shove as she released his wrist. He went flying out of the compartment and tripped over Crabbe and Goyle, resulting in Malfoy's head slamming hard into the wall of the corridor. Shannon then sat back down.
"No one messes with my friends," said Shannon. Harry was impressed with her loyalty, and Ron was impressed with her fighting ability. Maybe having a Slayer on their side could have its advantages.
Malfoy got up and took off. That girl was obviously a Slayer, and making enemies of a Slayer was apparently a very bad idea.
Five minutes later, Buffy entered the compartment. She glared at Dawn, Shannon, and Andrew. "I have a boy in the faculty car claiming that a girl back here physically assaulted him. So which one of you is responsible?"
"I am," said Shannon. "But in my defense he threatened Ron and Hermione, and we did promise Dumbledore that we would protect them."
"I do not think that is what Professor Dumbledore had in mind," replied Buffy.
"He also made Dawn cry," added Andrew.
Buffy was confused. Dawn had been through so much in her life. What could this kid have possibly done to upset her? And then Buffy realized, the kid reminded her of Spike.
Shannon apologized, and Buffy half-heartedly told her to never do it again. Then Buffy went back to the faculty car.
"Great," said Hermione, "we have already gotten in trouble with one of the new professors."
"Don't worry about it," replied Dawn. "Me getting in trouble with Buffy is practically a daily occurrence."
****************
Buffy entered the faculty car.
"Is everything alright?" asked Giles.
"Yes. Big shock, my sister and her friends are the ones who were causing trouble."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"No, I handled it. Since you left, I have handled a lot of things that Dawn has done," answered Buffy.
Giles winced, but before he could say anything, Buffy spoke, "Giles, I am not mad at you. I was at the time, but as I told you before, you were right to go. You were always a great teacher, and by leaving you taught me to depend on myself. If we have any issues, they aren't from that. They are from when you came back for the battle with the First."
"Buffy, we have been through this before."
"I know, and I don't want to go through it again. But Giles, we aren't all the way back to where we used to be. The wrong comment from either of us and the other takes it as an attack."
"You are right, Buffy, but I am sure it will get better."
"It already has. This time neither of us stormed off."
Giles and Buffy just smiled at each other, then settled back to enjoy the ride to Hogwarts.
****************
"So according to Hogwarts: A History students are sorted into one of the four houses, at the start of their first year," said Dawn. Harry and Ron both rolled their eyes. They were still having difficulty believing that anyone other than Hermione had read that book. "Do you think we will get sorted, not being first years and all?" Dawn asked.
"I don't know," replied Hermione. "They may do something different with all of you, but I would think that they would want to keep with tradition."
"Cool, I just hope we don't get separated," said Andrew.
"I am sure we will be together," Dawn assured him.
"I will give you a hint," said Harry. "When you are wearing the sorting hat, think about being with your friends. The sorting hat does listen. When I did it, all I kept thinking was 'not Slytherin,' and the sorting hat agreed."
"Let me guess," said Shannon, "that Malfoy jerk is a Slytherin."
"Yes he is," replied Hermione.
"All of the wizards who turned bad came from Slytherin," explained Harry.
"They are also our biggest rivals," Ginny added
"Wait a minute, did you say that the hat talks?" asked Andrew.
Hermione answered him, "Yes it does. It is hard to get used to the wizarding world. My parents are muggles; so, I know how hard it is to get used to everything being magic. In fact things still shock me that seem completely normal to Ron, who grew up in a wizarding family. Trust me when I tell you that a talking hat is the least of what you will see at Hogwarts."
Harry looked at his watch. "We will be at Hogwarts within the hour. Maybe we should change into our robes." The seven teens did so.
Soon after, the train came to a stop at Hogwarts. Dawn grabbed Shannon and Andrews hands and squeezed. "I guess this is it," she said.
Chapter 7 - The Journey to Hogwarts
The Scoobies, Gryffindors, and new Slayers met in the restaurant portion of the Leaky Cauldron for breakfast. They finished eating in time to retrieve their things and meet the Ministry cars that were waiting at the curb out front.
The group arrived at Kings Cross Station nearly one hour before the Hogwarts Express was due to depart the station. "The Hogwarts Express departs from platform 9 ¾ in one hour," said Giles as they entered the station.
"Hey, Giles," Buffy asked, "I always meant to ask, how can there be a platform 9 ¾?"
Giles had planned to explain the platform once they arrived, because he didn't want his friends or the new Slayers to be anxious about the entry. "Everyone, in order to get onto platform 9 ¾, we must walk through the barrier between platform 9 and platform 10. One at a time, you will go through. Please try not to be too obvious. We don't want to upset the muggles, who are waiting for their trains."
Wesley volunteered to go first; so that everyone else could see how it was done. While casually conversing with two of the new Slayers, he leaned against the barrier and disappeared. The two Slayers caught on and did the same. Faith, Robin, and a few other Slayers followed.
"That is kind of creepy," said Shannon. She did not understand why walking through a barrier bothered her. After all, not more than three months ago, she had fought a legion of ubervamps.
"I felt the same way my first time. It really is no big deal," Harry explained. "The barrier is just an illusion. As you walk through you simply continue onto a different platform." Shannon still looked apprehensive. "Trust me," Harry said, taking her hand in his and casually leading her to the barrier. Harry felt nervous being so close to Shannon, but she seemed grateful for the escort. They walked through the barrier onto platform 9 ¾.
Shannon spun around to take in the scene before her. There were hundreds of Hogwarts students entering the train, while their parents waved from the platform. The train itself was a bright red and resembled something from an earlier time. Harry was so engrossed in watching the expression on Shannon's face that he forgot to continue walking. Ginny and Andrew crashed right into Harry and Shannon. "Harry, move already," demanded Ginny. The four teens moved off to get out of everyone else's way, just as Dawn, Hermione, and Ron came through the barrier, followed closely by Buffy, Willow, Kennedy, and Xander.
"That was cool," Xander commented.
"Xander, you also thought that turning into a giant canary was cool," commented Buffy.
"It was," he argued.
The remaining Slayers entered the platform, with Giles at the rear, making sure that no one got lost. Wesley indicated that the Slayers should find seats on the train. After the students finished boarding, the new faculty members took seats in the front car, which had been designated for faculty and school prefects.
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny promised to meet up with everyone in a couple of hours. They had to go to the front car to meet with the other school prefects. Harry led Dawn, Shannon, and Andrew to an empty compartment at the rear of the train. He was extremely pleased when Shannon sat beside him.
The food trolley appeared before Ginny, Ron, and Hermione had returned. Andrew bought at least one of everything. Harry laughed. He had done the same thing his first year.
Before Harry could warn him, Andrew ate a Bertie Botts Every Flavor Bean and made the most disgusted face. Harry laughed, "You know, when they say every flavor, they mean every flavor."
"Ewww," said Andrew, "I think I just ate ear wax. That was nasty. Does anyone else want to try one?"
The girls shook their heads no.
Andrew moved on to the chocolate frogs. When he opened the package the frog took off out of the compartment. Andrew chased after it. The other teens just laughed as they watched him go. Dawn took the rest of his treats and put them in her purse. "I am saving him from himself," she said.
"Why is Andrew crawling on the floor of the corridor?" asked Hermione as she entered the compartment with Ron.
"His chocolate frog tried to make an escape," Harry explained.
"Where's Ginny?" asked Dawn.
"She is trying to help Andrew," explained Ron.
"Do you think she likes him likes him?" asked Shannon.
"She seems to like like every guy in school," mumbled Ron with a tinge of disgust in his voice. "If anyone hurts her. . ."
"Ron, I wouldn't worry too much about Andrew. He may be older, but he is really naïve when it comes to girls," explained Dawn. "I don't even think he has ever had a girlfriend."
Nearly ten minutes passed before Ginny and Andrew returned to the compartment, Andrew clutching his chocolate frog.
****************
Willow found an empty compartment in the faculty car and motioned for Kennedy to enter. "We need to talk," said Willow.
"I guess we do, huh? So how was your summer?" Kennedy asked.
"You would know if you hadn't taken off. You never even bothered to call."
"Willow, I had some things to take care of, and after the battle with the First, I just needed some me time to blow of steam. You understand don't you?"
"I don't know," said Willow softly.
"But now I am back, and we can pick up where we left off," said Kennedy. "You do still want me, don't you?" she added coyly.
"Honestly, I don't know what I want right now. You can't just show back up and expect everything to be fine. I need some time."
"I guess that is fair, but know, Willow, that I intend to make all of it up to you." Kennedy smiled wickedly. A few months ago, Willow would have thought that wicked smile was sexy. Now it chilled her for some reason.
****************
Dawn, Shannon, Andrew, Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were enjoying a game of exploding snaps, when a guy about their age with bleach blonde hair and a nasty sneer stepped into their compartment. 'Damn,' Dawn thought, 'he is a hottie.' He reminded her of Spike, and the thought of Spike brought a few tears to her eyes.
The boy spoke, "Oh look, Potter, the Weasels, and the mudblood found some friends. There apparently is no shortage of losers at Hogwarts." He looked down at Dawn, "This one looks like she is about to burst into tears. What's the matter little girl? Do I scare you?"
He wasn't sure why he was being so mean to this poor girl. When he first noticed the tears, his heart went out to her. But according to his father that was just another of Draco's many weaknesses, and he wasn't about to show any weakness in front of the Gryffindors.
"Go away, Malfoy," said Hermione.
"What makes the mudblood think that she has the right to speak to me" spat Draco.
"Don't you dare call her that," said Ron through gritted teeth.
"What are you going to do, Weasel? Fancy puking slugs again?" Draco laughed.
"Hexing you would not be nearly as enjoyable as killing you with my bare hands," Ron replied.
"I'd like to see you try." Draco looked over his shoulder to his two menacing looking friends, at the same moment that Hermione placed her hand on Ron's shoulder. "Please don't," she whispered.
"Lucky for you, Malfoy, that I am more mature than that," replied Ron sullenly. He really wasn't in the mood to put up with Malfoy, and though normally Ron would love to hit him, it would have to wait until a time when Hermione wasn't there. He couldn't bear for her to be disappointed in him.
Shannon stood up in front of Malfoy, "Unfortunately for you, I'm not so mature. Now leave or you will regret it."
Malfoy continued to sneer, "What is the dirty little mudblood girl going to do, pull my hair and try to scratch my eyes out?"
Dawn winced. She wasn't exactly sure what a mudblood was, though it was obviously offensive, but she knew that saying the words 'dirty girl' would set off Shannon. Caleb had called them that.
Shannon grabbed Malfoy's wrist and twisted it behind his back.
"Ow," he yelled.
Crabbe and Goyle were not sure what to do. They liked to fight, but were pretty sure they would get in trouble for hitting a girl.
Shannon demanded that Malfoy apologize first to Dawn and Hermione, then to everyone else. When he refused, she twisted his arm harder. He was beginning to worry that this girl would do some damage. She demanded again that he apologize.
"Crabbe, Goyle, help now," yelled Malfoy.
Crabbe and Goyle approached Shannon. She appeared to ignore them. When Crabbe tried to take a swing at her, she used her other arm to block his punch and then kicked him hard in the stomach, sending him crashing back into Goyle.
Seeing his back up struggling to get up off the ground, Malfoy mumbled an apology. Shannon gave him a hard shove as she released his wrist. He went flying out of the compartment and tripped over Crabbe and Goyle, resulting in Malfoy's head slamming hard into the wall of the corridor. Shannon then sat back down.
"No one messes with my friends," said Shannon. Harry was impressed with her loyalty, and Ron was impressed with her fighting ability. Maybe having a Slayer on their side could have its advantages.
Malfoy got up and took off. That girl was obviously a Slayer, and making enemies of a Slayer was apparently a very bad idea.
Five minutes later, Buffy entered the compartment. She glared at Dawn, Shannon, and Andrew. "I have a boy in the faculty car claiming that a girl back here physically assaulted him. So which one of you is responsible?"
"I am," said Shannon. "But in my defense he threatened Ron and Hermione, and we did promise Dumbledore that we would protect them."
"I do not think that is what Professor Dumbledore had in mind," replied Buffy.
"He also made Dawn cry," added Andrew.
Buffy was confused. Dawn had been through so much in her life. What could this kid have possibly done to upset her? And then Buffy realized, the kid reminded her of Spike.
Shannon apologized, and Buffy half-heartedly told her to never do it again. Then Buffy went back to the faculty car.
"Great," said Hermione, "we have already gotten in trouble with one of the new professors."
"Don't worry about it," replied Dawn. "Me getting in trouble with Buffy is practically a daily occurrence."
****************
Buffy entered the faculty car.
"Is everything alright?" asked Giles.
"Yes. Big shock, my sister and her friends are the ones who were causing trouble."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"No, I handled it. Since you left, I have handled a lot of things that Dawn has done," answered Buffy.
Giles winced, but before he could say anything, Buffy spoke, "Giles, I am not mad at you. I was at the time, but as I told you before, you were right to go. You were always a great teacher, and by leaving you taught me to depend on myself. If we have any issues, they aren't from that. They are from when you came back for the battle with the First."
"Buffy, we have been through this before."
"I know, and I don't want to go through it again. But Giles, we aren't all the way back to where we used to be. The wrong comment from either of us and the other takes it as an attack."
"You are right, Buffy, but I am sure it will get better."
"It already has. This time neither of us stormed off."
Giles and Buffy just smiled at each other, then settled back to enjoy the ride to Hogwarts.
****************
"So according to Hogwarts: A History students are sorted into one of the four houses, at the start of their first year," said Dawn. Harry and Ron both rolled their eyes. They were still having difficulty believing that anyone other than Hermione had read that book. "Do you think we will get sorted, not being first years and all?" Dawn asked.
"I don't know," replied Hermione. "They may do something different with all of you, but I would think that they would want to keep with tradition."
"Cool, I just hope we don't get separated," said Andrew.
"I am sure we will be together," Dawn assured him.
"I will give you a hint," said Harry. "When you are wearing the sorting hat, think about being with your friends. The sorting hat does listen. When I did it, all I kept thinking was 'not Slytherin,' and the sorting hat agreed."
"Let me guess," said Shannon, "that Malfoy jerk is a Slytherin."
"Yes he is," replied Hermione.
"All of the wizards who turned bad came from Slytherin," explained Harry.
"They are also our biggest rivals," Ginny added
"Wait a minute, did you say that the hat talks?" asked Andrew.
Hermione answered him, "Yes it does. It is hard to get used to the wizarding world. My parents are muggles; so, I know how hard it is to get used to everything being magic. In fact things still shock me that seem completely normal to Ron, who grew up in a wizarding family. Trust me when I tell you that a talking hat is the least of what you will see at Hogwarts."
Harry looked at his watch. "We will be at Hogwarts within the hour. Maybe we should change into our robes." The seven teens did so.
Soon after, the train came to a stop at Hogwarts. Dawn grabbed Shannon and Andrews hands and squeezed. "I guess this is it," she said.