Blood of Enemies, Blood of Friends
Chapter 10 - School Days
Throughout the month of September, the Gryffindors fell into a routine of classes, homework, and prophecy research.
They learned a great deal about several demons and how to defeat them in their Defense Against the Dark Arts class. They familiarized themselves with the key volumes of prophecy and basic demonology reference books in Research Skills. Hermione suggested that they use the demonology books from Willow's class to stay ahead in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Much to Hermione's surprise, no one argued. Things had really changed now that Harry and Ron were focused on studying for their future careers. Their schoolwork suddenly had a purpose, and both boys were studying harder than they ever had in the past.
History of the Slayer was quickly becoming both Ron's and Dawn's favorite class. Both teens were becoming deeply engrossed in learning about their assigned Slayer. Ron was amazed at the amount of responsibility placed on one young girl. He found himself gaining a new appreciation for what Harry must feel. Dawn was interested to find that the Slayer she was studying seemed very similar to Buffy. Genevieve Rayne had three sisters, who helped her much like the Scoobies helped Buffy. Genevieve also regularly went against the Watcher's Council. Doing everything wrong, Genevieve lived to the age of 27, which was simply unheard of for a Slayer.
Dawn, Shannon, Harry, and Ron agreed that the best part of their History of the Slayer class was hearing about Buffy's and Faith's lives. So far, both had explained what it was like to first be called, and how their lives had changed because of their calling. Both Slayers talked about the pain of losing their first Watcher. Buffy had never spoken to her sister about Merrick, and Dawn was fascinated to hear what had happened to Buffy in the years before she and her mother knew about Buffy's calling.
Buffy, Faith, and Wood trained their students in several balance exercises. When the students mastered them, they were introduced to some basic hand-to-hand fighting techniques and began sparing with quarterstaffs. Dawn, Shannon, Harry, and Ron were invited to join the advanced class that Buffy was holding each Wednesday morning.
Dawn and Shannon were progressing well in Charms, Transfiguration, and Potions. Dawn was surprised to find that she was enjoying potions. It reminded her a lot of chemistry, which she had done really well in prior to Sunnydale High closing down. Snape was downright ornery, but he really did know his stuff, and Dawn just focused on learning and not on the professor's personality.
Ron was thrilled that he no longer needed to take Potions. He found that he was enjoying Muggle Studies. Professor Bolgya made every class interesting. Ron was beginning to understand his father's fascination with the muggle world.
During the second week of classes, Ron asked Hermione if she would be willing to help him learn more about the muggle world, since she was muggle- born. Ron told himself that the reason he had asked for her help was because the subject was important for his future career. However, he had asked Hermione instead of Harry, Dawn, or Shannon because he wanted an excuse to spend some time alone with the object of his affection. Ron knew that if he asked for help in any other class, Hermione would insist that Harry sit in on their study sessions.
Hermione was both pleased and disappointed with Ron's request for help. She liked the idea of spending time with Ron without their other friends. However, his request reinforced her fear that Ron would only ever see her as a know-it-all bookworm. She decided to use this opportunity to show him that she was more.
****************
Draco had to admit that things were going pretty well for him. He was doing well in all of his classes and enjoyed the new professors. He was spending much of his free time practicing quidditch and had hope of beating Potter to the snitch this year. Draco was also managing to keep his mind off of his family problems.
It did annoy Draco that Professor Giles, a former Gryffindor, was the most knowledgeable DADA professors, Draco ever had, which is saying a lot since every year there seemed to be a new one. Not only did Professor Giles know his material, but he had actually gone up against most of the demons they discussed, and he lived to tell about it. The research skills class was kind of boring, but Draco had to admit that he was learning a lot, and he did understand the importance of knowing where to obtain information.
His favorite class was Fighting Techniques. He had studied a version of tai chi for years. His father believed that it would make him a formidable quidditch player. Draco found that it calmed him. He practiced frequently to keep himself centered in the midst of his father's fury. All the practice had greatly improved his balance, and both Professors Summers and Wilkins had complimented him several times on his ability to find his center. They had invited him to attend the advanced class, but he had an Ancient Runes class at that time and had to decline.
In fact, Draco was finding that there was only one thing he wished he could change - the sadness he saw in Dawn's eyes, when he would catch her starring at him. Part of him wondered where the sadness came from, but a bigger part of him just wanted to make the sadness go away. He was really beginning to worry that she would be his downfall. 'Draco Malfoy fancying a muggle,' he thought. 'This is scandalous.'
****************
After dinner each night, Dawn, Hermione, and Andrew would join Willow, Wesley, and Giles in the library to research possible prophecies that could include Voldemort. Prophecies are often very difficult to decipher, and the group was finding that their research was slow going.
In the evenings while her friends were busy researching, Shannon began spending more time alone with Harry and Ron. The main topic of conversation between the boys was quidditch. Shannon had always been a big sports fan; so, she was intrigued by the wizarding game.
Harry patiently explained that each team consisted of a keeper, two chasers, two beaters, and a seeker. The chasers work to get the quaffle through one of their goals, while the keeper prevents the other team's chasers from doing the same. There are two fast moving balls called bludgers that the players must avoid being hit by. The beaters use paddles to hit the bludgers, preventing them from hitting their teammates, while throwing the other team off balance. The game ends when the seeker catches the golden snitch, a small fast moving ball that appears around the field.
Harry, Ron, and Ginny taught Shannon how to ride a broom. With her Slayer speed and reflexes, she picked up riding quickly and the boys decided that she would be a natural for the house quidditch team. Harry had been the team seeker since his first year, Ron had obtained the position of keeper the previous year, and Ginny, who had played seeker in Harry's place after Umbridge banned him from the game, was trying out for a chaser position this year.
The Gryffindor house team needed two new chasers and two new beaters, because the students who held those positions had graduated the previous year. Harry and Ron trained Shannon. They planned to train her to play both positions, and then decide for which she was better suited.
It quickly became obvious that Shannon was meant to be a beater. She easily countered every bludger that the boys drove at her. Harry was growing more impressed with Shannon every day.
During one of their practices, Dawn begged off research duty so that she could watch. She was amazed at how graceful her friends looked on their brooms.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" asked Harry.
"You three are amazing up there," said Dawn.
"Would you like to try it?" asked Harry.
Dawn shook her head, "I would probably fall and break something."
"Well what if I took you up on the broom with me?" asked Harry.
"I guess that would be OK - just promise me that I won't fall."
"You won't fall," he promised.
Harry showed Dawn how to sit on the broom. She sat behind him and wrapped her arms around his chest, as he slowly lifted the broom into the air.
Shannon couldn't help feeling a little jealous of her best friend with her arms around Harry.
Harry and Dawn flew around the quidditch field a few times. After a few minutes, Dawn relaxed and really began to enjoy the ride. Harry landed, and looked at Dawn. "Now it's your turn," he said.
Dawn was nervous, but Shannon encouraged her. Dawn mounted the broom and kicked off. She quickly found her zone, and by the end of the evening was whipping around the field.
Shannon, Ginny, Harry, and Ron decided to see how she would do as a beater. Though her speed and reflexes were not as quick as Shannon's, Dawn did very well at hitting almost every bludger with deadly accuracy.
Within a week, they had Dawn up to speed on the game. She and Shannon could easily anticipate each other's moves, and made a formidable team. Ron and Ginny had to admit that they were even better than Fred and George.
****************
The day of tryouts, Hermione, and Andrew cheered from the sidelines. Shannon and Dawn put in a nearly flawless performance. They were in perfect sync with each other. The current team quickly decided that Shannon and Dawn were exactly what they were looking for in a pair of beaters and unanimously voted to give them the positions.
After that, Harry, Ron, Ginny, Shannon, and Dawn spent two evenings each week and Saturday mornings at quidditch practice. While the others were at practice, Hermione helped Andrew organize his notes.
Hermione and Andrew worked very well together. Initially, Hermione would direct Andrew as to the best ways to organize his work. As the weeks progressed, Andrew began taking a more active role in the organization. Hermione's faith in his ability to do his job, gave Andrew the confidence to try some of his ideas.
When Andrew shared his work with Giles, Giles found himself genuinely surprised. Andrew had produced quality documents about the training program. The information he was recording had the potential to help future generation of Watchers and Slayers.
****************
Buffy and Giles continued to patrol together, alternating nights with Faith and Wood. They often did so in a comfortable silence. It had taken them several months, but they were finally feeling that there was hope of fully repairing their relationship. They would never be teacher and student again. Now they were comfortable as friends and equals.
They had found no threats in the castle, but had encountered some demonic activity in the Forbidden Forest, though nothing more than they would expect to find anywhere in the world. When they fought, they were a fluid pair, always anticipating each other's moves. It had been a few years since they had worked so comfortably together.
During the nights when Faith and Wood patrolled, Buffy and Giles would prepare their lesson plans together in the common room. They made a point to spend some quality Watcher-Slayer time at least once a week. On those nights, they would have the house elves send dinner up to one of their private sitting rooms. Buffy and Giles would spend those nights talking, playing wizard chess, which Giles taught her to play, or watching old movies, which they were able to see on a television that had been charmed for them by Professor Dumbledore.
****************
Faith and Robin spent all of their free time together. Faith was slowly becoming comfortable with the idea of a long-term relationship, while Robin was taking the relationship slow for her benefit. Though Faith wouldn't admit it to herself, everyone else noticed that she had practically moved in with Robin.
Robin continued to surprise Faith. He would often surprise her with flowers or chocolates. He would plan private dinners for them in his sitting room. He even began leaving love notes on her pillow each morning.
Faith had never thought of herself as the kind of girl who would fall for simple, romantic gestures. She also never thought any man would do those kinds of things for her. Robin really had surprised Faith, though maybe not in the way he intended. She was surprised to find herself falling completely head-over-heals in love. Of course, she was not ready to tell him that just yet, but she knew that those three little words would slip out sooner or later.
****************
Willow tried to spend some of her free time with Kennedy, but was finding it more and more difficult. Kennedy seemed to prefer spending her evenings with her Slytherin housemates, and most nights that she spent with Willow ended in a fight.
Kennedy was becoming more and more difficult and hungry for power. She and Faith had it out on several occasions. Kennedy was upset that she wasn't permitted to patrol the Forbidden Forrest on her own, having proven herself in the battle with the First. She also regularly vocalized her annoyance at the slow progress she felt they were making in their Fighting Techniques class. She didn't understand why they couldn't just skip the quarterstaff training and go right to swords and crossbows.
After breaking up several arguments between Kennedy and Faith, Willow finally hit her limit. She told Kennedy that she needed to grow up. They had barely said a word to each other since. Willow knew that she should be upset, but she wasn't. In fact, she found herself thinking more and more about Tonks. The two of them had really hit it off in the weeks before coming to Hogwarts. Willow wondered when they would get a chance to see each other again.
Xander was happy to hear that Willow had an interest in someone other than Kennedy. He had never like the girl, but had refrained from saying anything to spare Willow's feelings. Xander had, in fact, been happy when Willow started seeing Kennedy. He was happy to see his best friend moving on with her life. Especially after losing Anya, Xander realized just how hard moving on could be.
Xander had come to accept losing Anya. He still missed her, but the nights of crying himself to sleep had become fewer and the moments when he was suddenly hit by thoughts of her were occurring less frequently. Xander knew that he was not ready to move on just yet, but for the first time he believed that it would be possible for him in the future.
****************
Wesley found himself completely flustered around Cat. He readily admitted his attraction to her. She was after all a beautiful woman. But, there was something about her that Wesley could not put his finger on. One minute he would swear that she was flirting with him, but the next she would put up a mask of professionalism.
Wesley found himself wondering if Cat was hiding something. It made him curious, but he was not one to pry. Wesley did have his own secrets, and he supposed that everyone was entitled to their own as well. It did, however, strike Wesley as odd that Dumbledore had assigned Cat to live with them. Since Slayers were always muggle born, Muggle Studies would never be a course that a Slayer would need. However Cat did seem especially interested in Slayer history and continued to sit in on his class.
It bothered Wesley that he couldn't figure out the woman to whom he found himself so attracted.
Chapter 10 - School Days
Throughout the month of September, the Gryffindors fell into a routine of classes, homework, and prophecy research.
They learned a great deal about several demons and how to defeat them in their Defense Against the Dark Arts class. They familiarized themselves with the key volumes of prophecy and basic demonology reference books in Research Skills. Hermione suggested that they use the demonology books from Willow's class to stay ahead in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Much to Hermione's surprise, no one argued. Things had really changed now that Harry and Ron were focused on studying for their future careers. Their schoolwork suddenly had a purpose, and both boys were studying harder than they ever had in the past.
History of the Slayer was quickly becoming both Ron's and Dawn's favorite class. Both teens were becoming deeply engrossed in learning about their assigned Slayer. Ron was amazed at the amount of responsibility placed on one young girl. He found himself gaining a new appreciation for what Harry must feel. Dawn was interested to find that the Slayer she was studying seemed very similar to Buffy. Genevieve Rayne had three sisters, who helped her much like the Scoobies helped Buffy. Genevieve also regularly went against the Watcher's Council. Doing everything wrong, Genevieve lived to the age of 27, which was simply unheard of for a Slayer.
Dawn, Shannon, Harry, and Ron agreed that the best part of their History of the Slayer class was hearing about Buffy's and Faith's lives. So far, both had explained what it was like to first be called, and how their lives had changed because of their calling. Both Slayers talked about the pain of losing their first Watcher. Buffy had never spoken to her sister about Merrick, and Dawn was fascinated to hear what had happened to Buffy in the years before she and her mother knew about Buffy's calling.
Buffy, Faith, and Wood trained their students in several balance exercises. When the students mastered them, they were introduced to some basic hand-to-hand fighting techniques and began sparing with quarterstaffs. Dawn, Shannon, Harry, and Ron were invited to join the advanced class that Buffy was holding each Wednesday morning.
Dawn and Shannon were progressing well in Charms, Transfiguration, and Potions. Dawn was surprised to find that she was enjoying potions. It reminded her a lot of chemistry, which she had done really well in prior to Sunnydale High closing down. Snape was downright ornery, but he really did know his stuff, and Dawn just focused on learning and not on the professor's personality.
Ron was thrilled that he no longer needed to take Potions. He found that he was enjoying Muggle Studies. Professor Bolgya made every class interesting. Ron was beginning to understand his father's fascination with the muggle world.
During the second week of classes, Ron asked Hermione if she would be willing to help him learn more about the muggle world, since she was muggle- born. Ron told himself that the reason he had asked for her help was because the subject was important for his future career. However, he had asked Hermione instead of Harry, Dawn, or Shannon because he wanted an excuse to spend some time alone with the object of his affection. Ron knew that if he asked for help in any other class, Hermione would insist that Harry sit in on their study sessions.
Hermione was both pleased and disappointed with Ron's request for help. She liked the idea of spending time with Ron without their other friends. However, his request reinforced her fear that Ron would only ever see her as a know-it-all bookworm. She decided to use this opportunity to show him that she was more.
****************
Draco had to admit that things were going pretty well for him. He was doing well in all of his classes and enjoyed the new professors. He was spending much of his free time practicing quidditch and had hope of beating Potter to the snitch this year. Draco was also managing to keep his mind off of his family problems.
It did annoy Draco that Professor Giles, a former Gryffindor, was the most knowledgeable DADA professors, Draco ever had, which is saying a lot since every year there seemed to be a new one. Not only did Professor Giles know his material, but he had actually gone up against most of the demons they discussed, and he lived to tell about it. The research skills class was kind of boring, but Draco had to admit that he was learning a lot, and he did understand the importance of knowing where to obtain information.
His favorite class was Fighting Techniques. He had studied a version of tai chi for years. His father believed that it would make him a formidable quidditch player. Draco found that it calmed him. He practiced frequently to keep himself centered in the midst of his father's fury. All the practice had greatly improved his balance, and both Professors Summers and Wilkins had complimented him several times on his ability to find his center. They had invited him to attend the advanced class, but he had an Ancient Runes class at that time and had to decline.
In fact, Draco was finding that there was only one thing he wished he could change - the sadness he saw in Dawn's eyes, when he would catch her starring at him. Part of him wondered where the sadness came from, but a bigger part of him just wanted to make the sadness go away. He was really beginning to worry that she would be his downfall. 'Draco Malfoy fancying a muggle,' he thought. 'This is scandalous.'
****************
After dinner each night, Dawn, Hermione, and Andrew would join Willow, Wesley, and Giles in the library to research possible prophecies that could include Voldemort. Prophecies are often very difficult to decipher, and the group was finding that their research was slow going.
In the evenings while her friends were busy researching, Shannon began spending more time alone with Harry and Ron. The main topic of conversation between the boys was quidditch. Shannon had always been a big sports fan; so, she was intrigued by the wizarding game.
Harry patiently explained that each team consisted of a keeper, two chasers, two beaters, and a seeker. The chasers work to get the quaffle through one of their goals, while the keeper prevents the other team's chasers from doing the same. There are two fast moving balls called bludgers that the players must avoid being hit by. The beaters use paddles to hit the bludgers, preventing them from hitting their teammates, while throwing the other team off balance. The game ends when the seeker catches the golden snitch, a small fast moving ball that appears around the field.
Harry, Ron, and Ginny taught Shannon how to ride a broom. With her Slayer speed and reflexes, she picked up riding quickly and the boys decided that she would be a natural for the house quidditch team. Harry had been the team seeker since his first year, Ron had obtained the position of keeper the previous year, and Ginny, who had played seeker in Harry's place after Umbridge banned him from the game, was trying out for a chaser position this year.
The Gryffindor house team needed two new chasers and two new beaters, because the students who held those positions had graduated the previous year. Harry and Ron trained Shannon. They planned to train her to play both positions, and then decide for which she was better suited.
It quickly became obvious that Shannon was meant to be a beater. She easily countered every bludger that the boys drove at her. Harry was growing more impressed with Shannon every day.
During one of their practices, Dawn begged off research duty so that she could watch. She was amazed at how graceful her friends looked on their brooms.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" asked Harry.
"You three are amazing up there," said Dawn.
"Would you like to try it?" asked Harry.
Dawn shook her head, "I would probably fall and break something."
"Well what if I took you up on the broom with me?" asked Harry.
"I guess that would be OK - just promise me that I won't fall."
"You won't fall," he promised.
Harry showed Dawn how to sit on the broom. She sat behind him and wrapped her arms around his chest, as he slowly lifted the broom into the air.
Shannon couldn't help feeling a little jealous of her best friend with her arms around Harry.
Harry and Dawn flew around the quidditch field a few times. After a few minutes, Dawn relaxed and really began to enjoy the ride. Harry landed, and looked at Dawn. "Now it's your turn," he said.
Dawn was nervous, but Shannon encouraged her. Dawn mounted the broom and kicked off. She quickly found her zone, and by the end of the evening was whipping around the field.
Shannon, Ginny, Harry, and Ron decided to see how she would do as a beater. Though her speed and reflexes were not as quick as Shannon's, Dawn did very well at hitting almost every bludger with deadly accuracy.
Within a week, they had Dawn up to speed on the game. She and Shannon could easily anticipate each other's moves, and made a formidable team. Ron and Ginny had to admit that they were even better than Fred and George.
****************
The day of tryouts, Hermione, and Andrew cheered from the sidelines. Shannon and Dawn put in a nearly flawless performance. They were in perfect sync with each other. The current team quickly decided that Shannon and Dawn were exactly what they were looking for in a pair of beaters and unanimously voted to give them the positions.
After that, Harry, Ron, Ginny, Shannon, and Dawn spent two evenings each week and Saturday mornings at quidditch practice. While the others were at practice, Hermione helped Andrew organize his notes.
Hermione and Andrew worked very well together. Initially, Hermione would direct Andrew as to the best ways to organize his work. As the weeks progressed, Andrew began taking a more active role in the organization. Hermione's faith in his ability to do his job, gave Andrew the confidence to try some of his ideas.
When Andrew shared his work with Giles, Giles found himself genuinely surprised. Andrew had produced quality documents about the training program. The information he was recording had the potential to help future generation of Watchers and Slayers.
****************
Buffy and Giles continued to patrol together, alternating nights with Faith and Wood. They often did so in a comfortable silence. It had taken them several months, but they were finally feeling that there was hope of fully repairing their relationship. They would never be teacher and student again. Now they were comfortable as friends and equals.
They had found no threats in the castle, but had encountered some demonic activity in the Forbidden Forest, though nothing more than they would expect to find anywhere in the world. When they fought, they were a fluid pair, always anticipating each other's moves. It had been a few years since they had worked so comfortably together.
During the nights when Faith and Wood patrolled, Buffy and Giles would prepare their lesson plans together in the common room. They made a point to spend some quality Watcher-Slayer time at least once a week. On those nights, they would have the house elves send dinner up to one of their private sitting rooms. Buffy and Giles would spend those nights talking, playing wizard chess, which Giles taught her to play, or watching old movies, which they were able to see on a television that had been charmed for them by Professor Dumbledore.
****************
Faith and Robin spent all of their free time together. Faith was slowly becoming comfortable with the idea of a long-term relationship, while Robin was taking the relationship slow for her benefit. Though Faith wouldn't admit it to herself, everyone else noticed that she had practically moved in with Robin.
Robin continued to surprise Faith. He would often surprise her with flowers or chocolates. He would plan private dinners for them in his sitting room. He even began leaving love notes on her pillow each morning.
Faith had never thought of herself as the kind of girl who would fall for simple, romantic gestures. She also never thought any man would do those kinds of things for her. Robin really had surprised Faith, though maybe not in the way he intended. She was surprised to find herself falling completely head-over-heals in love. Of course, she was not ready to tell him that just yet, but she knew that those three little words would slip out sooner or later.
****************
Willow tried to spend some of her free time with Kennedy, but was finding it more and more difficult. Kennedy seemed to prefer spending her evenings with her Slytherin housemates, and most nights that she spent with Willow ended in a fight.
Kennedy was becoming more and more difficult and hungry for power. She and Faith had it out on several occasions. Kennedy was upset that she wasn't permitted to patrol the Forbidden Forrest on her own, having proven herself in the battle with the First. She also regularly vocalized her annoyance at the slow progress she felt they were making in their Fighting Techniques class. She didn't understand why they couldn't just skip the quarterstaff training and go right to swords and crossbows.
After breaking up several arguments between Kennedy and Faith, Willow finally hit her limit. She told Kennedy that she needed to grow up. They had barely said a word to each other since. Willow knew that she should be upset, but she wasn't. In fact, she found herself thinking more and more about Tonks. The two of them had really hit it off in the weeks before coming to Hogwarts. Willow wondered when they would get a chance to see each other again.
Xander was happy to hear that Willow had an interest in someone other than Kennedy. He had never like the girl, but had refrained from saying anything to spare Willow's feelings. Xander had, in fact, been happy when Willow started seeing Kennedy. He was happy to see his best friend moving on with her life. Especially after losing Anya, Xander realized just how hard moving on could be.
Xander had come to accept losing Anya. He still missed her, but the nights of crying himself to sleep had become fewer and the moments when he was suddenly hit by thoughts of her were occurring less frequently. Xander knew that he was not ready to move on just yet, but for the first time he believed that it would be possible for him in the future.
****************
Wesley found himself completely flustered around Cat. He readily admitted his attraction to her. She was after all a beautiful woman. But, there was something about her that Wesley could not put his finger on. One minute he would swear that she was flirting with him, but the next she would put up a mask of professionalism.
Wesley found himself wondering if Cat was hiding something. It made him curious, but he was not one to pry. Wesley did have his own secrets, and he supposed that everyone was entitled to their own as well. It did, however, strike Wesley as odd that Dumbledore had assigned Cat to live with them. Since Slayers were always muggle born, Muggle Studies would never be a course that a Slayer would need. However Cat did seem especially interested in Slayer history and continued to sit in on his class.
It bothered Wesley that he couldn't figure out the woman to whom he found himself so attracted.