Author's Notes: This is the third chapter in my new Harry Potter/Buffy the
Vampire Slayer cross over. The series is called 'Over The Rainbow' and the
chapter is entitled 'Class Act'. The rating for this chapter is PG. As
far as 'spoilers' go, this story takes place after Goblet of Fire and after
Season 5 of BtVS. In my world they correspond at the same time. So, Buffy
is dead, Tara is alive and with Willow, Spike is NOT souled. Giles is
still around.
If you're interested in receiving a copy of this story with a header for posting on a website, email me at jesca10@attbi.com. Enjoy!
*~*~*
Dawn awoke the next day to the hustle and bustle of the castle. She looked around her room at the other four Gryffindors and she looked for her alarm clock and realized she didn't put it up. She spotted Hermione and asked her what time it was.
"It's nearly 7:30 and you had better get up if you are going to get the bathroom and get to breakfast on time." She spoke as she hurriedly unpacked her suitcase. Hermione looked like she'd been up for an hour or two.
Dawn groaned and pushed the blankets back. The castle seemed drafty compared to the warmness under her blankets. She grumbled as she fumbled with the clasp on her suitcase and pulled out her toothbrush. She picked out a nice pair of jeans and a blouse with a sweater cover. She laid the clothes on the bed and trudged into the bathroom. She cursed the cold stone floor and decided she needed slippers. She quickly brushed her teeth so that she could get back and get dressed. When she got back to her bed her clothes were folded on the chair beside her bed and her robes were laid out where the clothes had been. Dawn realized she forgot the dress code. She cast a miserable look in the direction of suitcase, which held all of her cutest clothes and sighed.
As she started pulling on her robes, her eyes met Hermione and she smiled a small thanks for the reminder. Hermione just smiled back and started to make her bed. Dawn followed suit and fumbled with her tie. After a couple of tries she looked hopelessly over at Hermione.
"You've never worn school uniforms before?" she asked incredulously. Hermione quickly and expertly tied Dawn's tie and then made sure it was tucked in tightly.
"Most schools in California would be blown up if the kids had to wear uniforms," she joked. Hermione didn't get the joke. Her eyes widened.
"Blown up? I heard American's were violent, but-"
"No, no. Just an exaggeration."
"Ah. Sorry," she smiled. "Well, it's about time for breakfast."
Dawn nodded and quickly went to the alarm clock beside her bed and looked for a plug in. After a moment she frowned. "Uh, Hermione?" She turned and looked, but Hermione was gone. Groaning, Dawn left her room and went down to the common room to follow the stragglers to the Great Hall.
Breakfast was just as great as supper was. Dawn had her fill of eggs, sausages, and pancakes. She drank orange juice and just let the conversations that were going on around her waft over her.
"Well, they've had someone fill the spot every year now," Ron commented between bites.
"Well the seat's empty. It's almost as if the person isn't here yet." Harry snorted in disgust. "Look at how Snape keeps looking at the chair.like he was wishing it away."
Dawn looked over to the teacher's table and saw an empty chair. She looked for whichever teacher was Snape and she got her first real look at Professor Snape. She frowned at the scowl that seemed perfectly at home on his face, the long greasy looking hair, and the sharply hooked nose. She swallowed down a 'yipes'. She heard Ron chuckling and her eyes moved to him. He was looking right at her.
"Yeah, he's as bad as he looks. And yes he is one of your teachers." Her expression must have said it all. "He teaches Potions." Ron held his hand out to her and she gave him her schedule. After a moment he smiled. "Well, with the exception of Divination we all have the same schedule. Harry and I have Divination, but not Hermione."
Hermione's chin came up. "It's all nonsense. I don't need tea leaves to tell me that the woman is a phony."
Dawn's eyebrows rose, but she didn't responds. She noticed people beginning to get up and go and she looked at her watch. It was almost nine o'clock.
"Hey," she asked Hermione, "I was gonna ask. What's with the lack of plug- ins in the bedroom?"
Hermione giggled. "We don't have electricity."
"YOU DON'T HAVE ELECTRICITY?" Dawn screeched. A few people from the Hufflepuff table looked over at her, and she lowered her voice, her face a bit pink. "But how am I going to use my alarm clock?"
"You'll get used to the time and sooner or later you probably won't need one." Hermione got up and Dawn followed. Hermione picked up her book bag and Dawn realized she didn't have hers with her.
"I need to run back and get my bag."
"I'll go with you," Harry said. "Getting lost is murder. 'Specially since this class is outside."
They made their way to the common room and were on their way to Herbology with very little said. Dawn was starting to feel uncomfortable and was glad when he broke the silence.
"So, were you're parents magical?"
Dawn smiled. "No, not the I know of. My mom died like a few months ago and my dad pretty much disappeared before that."
"Disappeared?" He seemed intrigued. "Was he ever found?" He watched her. She laughed in a way that made Harry confused.
"I am going to have to watch my phraseology. They divorced. He disappeared as in he went to Spain with his new girlfriend and now I have no idea where he is really."
"Oh." From the way Harry said that, she knew his parents hadn't divorced. She remembered what Giles said about Harry and his parents. "So do you have any brothers or sisters?"
Dawn swallowed back the lump that instantly formed in her throat. She barely shook her head as they happened upon the greenhouse that Herbology was taught. She struggled with a weird plant, which Professor Sprout called a Boxius. It was square, everything ending in sharp corners. She'd never seen a plant that looked so.square. But the struggling came with the way it fought to stay in their pots. Professor Sprout explained that the Boxius got used to their homes and merely didn't understand that when they took them out they'd be getting a new home. Once the Boxius were back in a pot, they folded their arm-like leaves as if indignant and waited for the students to shovel fresh soil in. Dawn struggled so much that she only repotted one before the class ended.
Tired and feeling as if she just wrestled for the world championship, she hurried back to the castle with Harry, Ron, and Hermione to get to her History of Magic class. She stopped dead in her tracks at the door when she got to the classroom. She had managed not to see a ghost the whole night and morning she'd been here but now, with Professor Binns floating in front of the class, she caught her first glimpse.
"What is it?" Harry said and peered over her shoulder. "Oh, it's ok, that's Professor Binns."
Realizing she was blocking the class from coming in, she moved in and moved to the side, still looking unsure about a ghost for a teacher.
"He's harmless, I swear," Ron said with a half smile. "Now come on, we're going to have to sit in front if we don't hurry." They all filed into seats towards the middle of the classroom.
"Well, this should be interesting, anyway," Dawn said. She didn't understand why Harry and Ron sniggered until Professor Binns started his lecture. The end of the class could not have come quick enough and she lost track of the words that he was speaking right around the beginning of the persecution of the centaurs. When everyone started to file out of the classroom, Dawn's trace broke. She was so startled out of her trance that she knocked her book onto the ground beside her seat. Professor Binns gave her a disapproving look but didn't say anything. She leaned over to pick up the book when it was picked up for her. She looked up into Harry's face and smiled as he placed the book onto the table. He returned the smile and for a moment Dawn felt very good about having come to this school. The silence was a comfortable one where both seemed to be communicating, but the moment was broken when Ron started to shove Harry towards the door. Dawn hastily looked around and then hurriedly got her books in order and followed them to lunch.
She walked behind the three, quietly. She watched Harry talk with Ron and Hermione and she realized that this was how it was meant to be. The three of them. But someone she got thrown in the mix. She wondered if they'd be the Three Musketeers of the school. It always amused her that the Three Musketeers group was actually comprised of four men. It fit, somehow. They were the three Musketeers and she was the tag-a-long who wished she was really apart.
She took her seat alongside Hermione. They now sat across each other. Hermione had taken the seat across from Harry and so Dawn took the seat Across from Ron.
"So what'd you think of the classes?" Ron asked her as the food began emerging. Dawn watched it, fascinated.
"Well, much different than where I used to go to school, that's for certain," she smiled as she took a bite of the ham sandwich she grabbed. "In my school we have seven classes and one study hall a day. You have to stand in a line for about fifteen minutes for lunch, and the subjects are way different."
"Seven classes!" Ron exclaimed. He looked at Hermione. "Sounds like you're dream school." Hermione merely stuck her tongue out at Ron and he grinned a little, returning his focus back to Dawn. "What classes would you have?"
"Well, they offered different things. The main subjects are Math, English, History, and Science, but they had Music, Band, Art, Drama, and things like that too. I think the colleges in America are more set up like the school here. Where you take a class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday rather than everyday."
"Imagine," he said to the others, "Potions, everyday." Ron pulled a face and Harry laughed. Dawn smiled when Harry laughed. Hermione choked on her drink and looked at a spot above Harry and Ron. Ron had a sick feeling when he turned around, knowing why Hermione choked. As the boys turned, Dawn looked up and was startled to see Professor Snape right behind them.
"I assure you, Mr. Weasley, having to see you bungle up my class every day would be as torturous for me as it would be for you." He paused for a beat. "No, on the other hand," his glower got deeper as he leaned down and his voice became more of a hiss, "I'd make sure you'd suffer more." Dawn's eyes widened. She thought of how the parents would be calling the school if a teacher in America spoke to a kid that way. Snape stood up straight and looked the two boys over as if examining some suspicious looking muck on the bottom of his shoe. "I warn you, boys. This term is going to be quite a bit more difficult. No longer will I let you slide by in Potions. The easy days are over." He watched them a moment longer before he strode to the teacher's table. Dawn couldn't help but watch him.
"The easy days?" Ron said, his voice a little higher. "He calls those days easy?" He looked worried. Harry, Dawn was pleased to note, did not look worried. He merely watched Snape retreat for a moment before turning back to the group. He looked largely unaffected.
"So, what's next?" he asked Hermione.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts and we're with Slytherin this year." Harry and Ron both pulled a face.
"Yeah but who's going to teach it?" Ron asked.
Hermione consulted the paper while Dawn looked at the teacher's chairs. The one that was open before was still open. "I don't know," Hermione answered. "There's no teacher's name next to the class."
"There's a chair empty," Dawn pointed. She turned her eyes to where she was pointing and saw Snape glaring at her. She quickly pulled her hand away and put it in her lap. The darkening expression on his face made her think she'd already made him unhappy and she hadn't even had a class with him yet!
Filing into the Dark Arts class, Dawn half expected another ghost. She had seen a few at lunch and was starting to get used to them being here. She remembered to when Buffy was alive. They'd all be doing research on how to kill ghosts if this were Sunnydale. But most of the ghosts here seemed nice.
Dawn consulted her watch when she heard Hermione beside her complain about the time. She saw that the class was supposed to be starting, but there was no instructor. She looked over at Harry, her eyes silently asking if he knew what was going on. He didn't seem to.
"Oh, he'll be here," she heard a voice drawl. She looked over to the other side of the class. She hadn't realized, until now, how the class was divided. On the right of the class were all the Gryffindor students. On the left sat the Slytherins. The voice came from one very smug looking Draco Malfoy. He looked like he knew something that no one else did. At least no one on the Gryffindor side. A couple of the other Slytherins smirked. He was looking right at her.
She held his look for a moment, refusing to look like she was scared of him. But the opening of the door made her turn in her seat. Professor Snape strode in looking very pleased with himself. The look only made him look meaner. Dawn sensed from the look on Harry's face, this was not going to be pleasant.
"For those of you who don't know, I'm Professor Snape." He looked at Dawn briefly. "I'm the Potions Master at this school and I will also be teaching this class." Hermione frowned in thought at this. "In the past you've had few teachers who could or would properly educate you on the details of the Dark Arts and how to defend against them. I dare say you are the worst equipped fifth level class this school has seen in a long time." He seemed to be taking great personal pride in telling them how little they knew. "Open your textbooks to the chapter on vampires."
Dawn opened her textbook, flipping through the pages. She was glad, at least, they'd be on familiar territory.
"Who here can tell me the ways in which a vampire can be killed?"
A few people raised their hands. Hermione looked like she was trying to pet the ceiling, her hand was waving around in the air so much. Dawn slowly raised her hand as well. His eyes snapped onto her.
"Miss Summers. How do you kill a vampire?"
"Ah, well, stake, or anything wooden, through the heart will do it. Also, if you have enough holy water, it can kill a vampire. The sunlight and fire can kill them." She looked like she was searching for more ways, but she didn't get the chance.
"Fancy yourself an expert on vampires, Miss Summers?"
Dawn shrugged a little. "Not really an expert, but I do know something about them."
"Does garlic kill a vampire?"
"No. It's used mainly to ward one off or in spells to keep vampires out of your house." Hermione's eyes shot over to Dawn, impressed.
"True or false, the sun kills a vampires instantly."
"False. First they start to smoke and it just burns them, but if they stay in the sun too long, it'll kill them."
His eyes narrowed.
"How long can a vampire survive in the sun?"
"Well, that's kind of vague, don't you think?" she answered haughtily. "If a vampire isn't in direct sunlight they can be outside during the day. Like in an alley or something like that. They can be up during the day inside a house with the curtains pulled back as long as the shafts of light don't touch them. They can run through the middle of downtown as long as they have a blanket covering them, but that kind of stings after awhile, and they begin to smoke." She looked at him squarely in the eyes. "But it only takes a few minutes of direct sunlight before they are dead."
There were murmurs throughout the classroom. Snape pulled his eyes away from here for a moment to look at the rest. "Silence." The room went dead, just like that.
"I think you'll find, I don't like know-it-alls or show offs. I also punish for disrespect, Miss Summers. I don't care what kind of lax school you came from, but your disregard for authority will end, here. Ten points from Gryffindor."
Some of the Gryffindor students made noise, but Snape looked in their direction, and it was silent. Except for one.
"You're taking points because she knows the answers? That's not fair. You'd probably take the points if she didn't know." Harry's voice was thick with irritation.
"Five more points from Gryffindor and detention to the next person who opens their mouths without being called on."
Only the snickers from the Slytherins could be heard. Dawn realized why it was that no one liked this teacher.
*~*~*
"That was really impressive how you answered his questions," Hermione told Dawn as they were leaving class.
"Yeah," Ron piped in. "How long does it take for a vampire to die in the sun?" he said his voice low to imitate Snape's. "Well that's a little vague don't you think?" he answered, his voice higher to represent Dawn's. "I don't think I ever had so much fun in one of his classes."
Dawn smiled.
"So how do you know all that stuff?" Hermione asked, thoughtfully.
"Well.I," Dawn didn't know how to answer.
"Well you aren't the only one who can read, Hermione," Ron said, saving her.
"What I don't get is why there would be an empty chair at the teacher's table if Snape was going to be teaching this class." Dawn said, changing the subject.
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking too," Hermione said. "Perhaps he's just filling in."
"You know what happened last time he taught the class, don't you?" Ron asked. "He made us study werewolves, only to find out that our teacher was one! Maybe our new teacher is a vampire!" He looked not happy about that possibility.
"Let's don't get hysterical, Ron," Hermione said. "But I think there is another teacher and he's just filling in."
"Well, let's just hope we can keep from having all our points disappear on us before the other teacher gets here," Harry said, irritated.
Dawn looked over at Harry and smiled a little. "Thanks for sticking up for me, though." She smiled at him, and his mood seemed to lighten. He smiled back.
"Harry?"
Everyone turned when the female voice called him. Dawn was looking at a very pretty girl, oriental in decent. She smiled at Harry and didn't even look at the others as she approached him. Dawn looked at Harry and frowned when she saw his eyes glaze over and a smile light his face.
"Cho," he said. "Hi."
"Hi," she smiled, her exotic eyes watching him intently. "I wanted to thank you for the owl you sent me over the holiday, about Cedric." Harry's smile seemed to fade a little, but it was still there. "That was very sweet of you. Anyway, I just wanted to say that." She smiled and started to walk away while Harry just stared dumbly after her. Then she turned, "Oh, by the way. Looks like Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw for the opening game of the year," she smiled wider. "Good luck."
"You too!" Harry called after her as she was walking away.
"You sent her an owl?" Hermione said.
"What?" Harry seemed to realize for the first time in the last few moments that they were still standing there. "Oh. Yeah. Well, you know.she and Cedric." he trailed off. He looked to where Cho was headed and then back at the group. "We need to get to Charms."
Harry led the way with Hermione and Ron close behind. Dawn's eyes watched Cho turn the corner before she looked over at Harry and hurried to catch up. She wasn't sure she liked the way they were looking at each other, but was just as unsure why she cared.
*~*~*
Dawn spent the next week trying to get settled into her classes. Snape's classes were the worst. All week long she had him for Potions and for Defense Against the Dark Arts. She wasn't sure which class was worse. One class lasted for many hours because it was a double class, while the other class was fewer hours but more frequent days. She hoped that Hermione was right and that another teacher would be coming for that class. Having Snape only once a week would be much better.
Her homework was devastating. It seemed that some students had some homework assignments done. They must have worked on them over the break and Dawn was struggling to keep up. When she wasn't in class, she was doing private tutoring with the teachers to try to catch up to where a fifth level should be. Professor McGonagall informed her that they would expect her to place at a fifth year level after a month and that if she didn't, she could be moved down to a fourth year. Dawn didn't want to try to start over with a different year. She was already making friends with the fifth years. And although not having class with Malfoy had a certain appeal, having him tease her for being too dumb to be a fifth year didn't.
She met for a couple of hours between last class and supper to learn beginning Transfiguration, Divination, Potions, and Charms. She helped Hagrid take care of some of the animals around the school to get caught up on that sort of thing. When she wasn't with the teachers, Hermione was helping her as well. It was busy, and the homework was piling up, but Dawn was enjoying herself more than she would have thought. It was great to know that she was learning magic that could help her help her friends in the slaying department.
Snape continued his study on vampires. Dawn quickly saw that he was trying to find something that she didn't know. Although she would answer every question he had when he asked her outright, she didn't volunteer the information. She quickly learned that the more she had her hand in the air, the more the group questioned her on how she knew so much. They were her friends, but she didn't know how much she should tell them about her sister and the life she used to lead. So she avoided the topic whenever possible, and usually changed the subject whenever it wasn't. She knew Hermione was starting to get suspicious though. She was a sharp one. Dawn just hoped she could keep Hermione fooled until she got an owl from Giles.
She had written him, asking him what he thought. She knew Buffy's position was supposed to have been secret. But she didn't want to lie to the group if she didn't have to. She was also anxious to hear back from the group. She wondered how the slaying was going without Buffy. She was pacing around in the common room, thinking of what the newest threat to Sunnydale was this year. She didn't see how the others were watching her. She didn't even notice when the three moved to a farther position and huddled together.
"How do you suppose she knows so much about vampires?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know, maybe she reads too," Ron said as if that were the obvious answer.
"She knows some things even I don't know, and I've read up on vampires." Hermione said.
Ron snickered. "Just because she found information that you didn't doesn't mean she's in league with them or anything."
"I didn't say 'in league', I'm merely curious." Hermione's chin was up. "Harry, what do you think?"
"I think she knows more than she's telling. But I think she's one of us, you know?" The other two nodded. "I think we should just give her the time she needs to tell us." He watched Dawn for a moment. "I also think she doesn't have much family. I guess her mother and her father split up and then her mother died a couple of months ago. She doesn't seem to have any sisters or brothers either."
The other two frowned at that.
"Is this a private party?"
They jumped, not having seen Dawn come over.
"Of course not," Harry said, smiling. "We were just discussing Snape and hoping his replacement would be better."
"Well, at least we know they couldn't do worse," Dawn said, smiling. The others chuckled at her joke. She was really glad to have them around.
"Oh, looks like someone's got a post!" Hermione said when a big barn owl came through the window. Dawn perked up.
"Yay! My first letter," she smiled as she untied the parchment from the owl. She was glad Giles picked some up while he was in Diagon Alley with her.
She opened up the parchment and read silently to herself.
Dear Dawn,
I was delighted to get your letter, although I don't believe this owl likes my shop. He had to wait outside for someone to open the door enough to get in. Once he finally made it inside, Anya took a broom to him. He was very unhappy and squawked every time she neared him after that.
Dawn chuckled a little and petted the bird. As if knowing which part she had read, he ruffled his feathers and looked indignant.
I'm glad to hear you're enjoying your studies. Please don't forget to make time to study some of the subjects you'll be expected to know here as well. If time permits, you should look over your Mathematics and English to make sure you don't lose your skills.
I understand that things are difficult for you right now and that there are questions your friends might have that you aren't prepared to answer yet. I ask you to use your best judgment and to be very careful about whom you tell your past to. Voldemort's supporters are within the school walls as well as without. It is important that you not be brought to his attention before we are sure of what he wants with you.
Everyone sends their love and Willow and Tara especially. They are immensely curious about Hogwarts and what it might be teaching you. I think Willow is afraid you will have a thing or two to teach her. So to make ready, she is studying hard the books I have while she should be working on her homework. As you can tell, I disapprove of that, but as she is a grown woman, there isn't much I can do.
Dawn rolled her eyes. The way he wrote was so like the way he spoke, Dawn could hear his voice in her head. It was oddly comforting.
Be good and mind your studies. I'm here if you need me.
Giles
She smiled and rolled up the parchment. She looked over at the three and noticed they were watching her.
"My guardian from home," she said in the way of explainations. When she didn't seem to be writing a reply, the owl took the hint and left. Angel leaped onto her lap and she petted him absently.
"Do you miss home?" Harry asked, kindly.
Dawn thought about the fun she was having here and the pain that she now associated with home. "I miss the people," she said honestly.
Harry nodded. "I never get post from home. I hate it there. I live with my Aunt and Uncle and my cousin, Dudley. I always dread the end of the year when I have to go back and I love the beginning of the year when I get to come here." He smiled. He wasn't sure why he was sharing so much, but it just felt right.
"Well I don't hate my friends back home, but I don't think I'll be glad to get back, either." She smiled at the group. "What about you guys?" she asked Hermione and Ron.
"Oh she wishes we never left school," Ron joked and Hermione pulled a face and slapped his arm gently. "I dunno. I kinda like it here. I get more privacy, believe it or not. At home I'm closely confined with all my brothers and my sister, so I kind of feel like I can breathe better here. But at home I don't have to see Malfoy and Snape's ugly faces." Dawn laughed.
"Well, I love seeing my parents. I do miss them while I'm here. But they're very supportive."
"Are they magical?" Dawn asked. Hermione frowned and stiffened a little.
"I thought you knew. Draco called me a Mudblood on the train up here. That's what he calls witches or wizards who came from non-magical parents. Also when one parent is magical and the other isn't. It's meant to mean that we come from dirty blood." She seemed to wait to see Dawn's reaction, but Dawn was waiting as if to hear the punch line.
"So he thinks like that Voldemort guy?" Everyone but Harry gasped when she said that. Then she remembered that most people didn't say his name. "Sorry," she mumbled.
"What do you know of Voldemort?" Harry asked Dawn.
"Harry! It's bad enough when she does it!" Ron said, a frown on his face.
"My guardian told me," she looked like she didn't want to give more information and Harry didn't press.
"Malfoy's father is one of Voldemort's supporters."
"Oh." She seemed to take a moment to think about this. "Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"I know that you've gone up against Voldemort in the past. A few times." Harry just nodded, so she continued. "I know I'm new and stuff, but I'd like to help.if the time ever came when you faced him again."
Harry watched her for a moment. He didn't take what she said lightly. Hermione and Ron both looked from Harry to Dawn and waited for Harry's answer.
"Well with the four of us around, he wouldn't stand a chance."
If you're interested in receiving a copy of this story with a header for posting on a website, email me at jesca10@attbi.com. Enjoy!
*~*~*
Dawn awoke the next day to the hustle and bustle of the castle. She looked around her room at the other four Gryffindors and she looked for her alarm clock and realized she didn't put it up. She spotted Hermione and asked her what time it was.
"It's nearly 7:30 and you had better get up if you are going to get the bathroom and get to breakfast on time." She spoke as she hurriedly unpacked her suitcase. Hermione looked like she'd been up for an hour or two.
Dawn groaned and pushed the blankets back. The castle seemed drafty compared to the warmness under her blankets. She grumbled as she fumbled with the clasp on her suitcase and pulled out her toothbrush. She picked out a nice pair of jeans and a blouse with a sweater cover. She laid the clothes on the bed and trudged into the bathroom. She cursed the cold stone floor and decided she needed slippers. She quickly brushed her teeth so that she could get back and get dressed. When she got back to her bed her clothes were folded on the chair beside her bed and her robes were laid out where the clothes had been. Dawn realized she forgot the dress code. She cast a miserable look in the direction of suitcase, which held all of her cutest clothes and sighed.
As she started pulling on her robes, her eyes met Hermione and she smiled a small thanks for the reminder. Hermione just smiled back and started to make her bed. Dawn followed suit and fumbled with her tie. After a couple of tries she looked hopelessly over at Hermione.
"You've never worn school uniforms before?" she asked incredulously. Hermione quickly and expertly tied Dawn's tie and then made sure it was tucked in tightly.
"Most schools in California would be blown up if the kids had to wear uniforms," she joked. Hermione didn't get the joke. Her eyes widened.
"Blown up? I heard American's were violent, but-"
"No, no. Just an exaggeration."
"Ah. Sorry," she smiled. "Well, it's about time for breakfast."
Dawn nodded and quickly went to the alarm clock beside her bed and looked for a plug in. After a moment she frowned. "Uh, Hermione?" She turned and looked, but Hermione was gone. Groaning, Dawn left her room and went down to the common room to follow the stragglers to the Great Hall.
Breakfast was just as great as supper was. Dawn had her fill of eggs, sausages, and pancakes. She drank orange juice and just let the conversations that were going on around her waft over her.
"Well, they've had someone fill the spot every year now," Ron commented between bites.
"Well the seat's empty. It's almost as if the person isn't here yet." Harry snorted in disgust. "Look at how Snape keeps looking at the chair.like he was wishing it away."
Dawn looked over to the teacher's table and saw an empty chair. She looked for whichever teacher was Snape and she got her first real look at Professor Snape. She frowned at the scowl that seemed perfectly at home on his face, the long greasy looking hair, and the sharply hooked nose. She swallowed down a 'yipes'. She heard Ron chuckling and her eyes moved to him. He was looking right at her.
"Yeah, he's as bad as he looks. And yes he is one of your teachers." Her expression must have said it all. "He teaches Potions." Ron held his hand out to her and she gave him her schedule. After a moment he smiled. "Well, with the exception of Divination we all have the same schedule. Harry and I have Divination, but not Hermione."
Hermione's chin came up. "It's all nonsense. I don't need tea leaves to tell me that the woman is a phony."
Dawn's eyebrows rose, but she didn't responds. She noticed people beginning to get up and go and she looked at her watch. It was almost nine o'clock.
"Hey," she asked Hermione, "I was gonna ask. What's with the lack of plug- ins in the bedroom?"
Hermione giggled. "We don't have electricity."
"YOU DON'T HAVE ELECTRICITY?" Dawn screeched. A few people from the Hufflepuff table looked over at her, and she lowered her voice, her face a bit pink. "But how am I going to use my alarm clock?"
"You'll get used to the time and sooner or later you probably won't need one." Hermione got up and Dawn followed. Hermione picked up her book bag and Dawn realized she didn't have hers with her.
"I need to run back and get my bag."
"I'll go with you," Harry said. "Getting lost is murder. 'Specially since this class is outside."
They made their way to the common room and were on their way to Herbology with very little said. Dawn was starting to feel uncomfortable and was glad when he broke the silence.
"So, were you're parents magical?"
Dawn smiled. "No, not the I know of. My mom died like a few months ago and my dad pretty much disappeared before that."
"Disappeared?" He seemed intrigued. "Was he ever found?" He watched her. She laughed in a way that made Harry confused.
"I am going to have to watch my phraseology. They divorced. He disappeared as in he went to Spain with his new girlfriend and now I have no idea where he is really."
"Oh." From the way Harry said that, she knew his parents hadn't divorced. She remembered what Giles said about Harry and his parents. "So do you have any brothers or sisters?"
Dawn swallowed back the lump that instantly formed in her throat. She barely shook her head as they happened upon the greenhouse that Herbology was taught. She struggled with a weird plant, which Professor Sprout called a Boxius. It was square, everything ending in sharp corners. She'd never seen a plant that looked so.square. But the struggling came with the way it fought to stay in their pots. Professor Sprout explained that the Boxius got used to their homes and merely didn't understand that when they took them out they'd be getting a new home. Once the Boxius were back in a pot, they folded their arm-like leaves as if indignant and waited for the students to shovel fresh soil in. Dawn struggled so much that she only repotted one before the class ended.
Tired and feeling as if she just wrestled for the world championship, she hurried back to the castle with Harry, Ron, and Hermione to get to her History of Magic class. She stopped dead in her tracks at the door when she got to the classroom. She had managed not to see a ghost the whole night and morning she'd been here but now, with Professor Binns floating in front of the class, she caught her first glimpse.
"What is it?" Harry said and peered over her shoulder. "Oh, it's ok, that's Professor Binns."
Realizing she was blocking the class from coming in, she moved in and moved to the side, still looking unsure about a ghost for a teacher.
"He's harmless, I swear," Ron said with a half smile. "Now come on, we're going to have to sit in front if we don't hurry." They all filed into seats towards the middle of the classroom.
"Well, this should be interesting, anyway," Dawn said. She didn't understand why Harry and Ron sniggered until Professor Binns started his lecture. The end of the class could not have come quick enough and she lost track of the words that he was speaking right around the beginning of the persecution of the centaurs. When everyone started to file out of the classroom, Dawn's trace broke. She was so startled out of her trance that she knocked her book onto the ground beside her seat. Professor Binns gave her a disapproving look but didn't say anything. She leaned over to pick up the book when it was picked up for her. She looked up into Harry's face and smiled as he placed the book onto the table. He returned the smile and for a moment Dawn felt very good about having come to this school. The silence was a comfortable one where both seemed to be communicating, but the moment was broken when Ron started to shove Harry towards the door. Dawn hastily looked around and then hurriedly got her books in order and followed them to lunch.
She walked behind the three, quietly. She watched Harry talk with Ron and Hermione and she realized that this was how it was meant to be. The three of them. But someone she got thrown in the mix. She wondered if they'd be the Three Musketeers of the school. It always amused her that the Three Musketeers group was actually comprised of four men. It fit, somehow. They were the three Musketeers and she was the tag-a-long who wished she was really apart.
She took her seat alongside Hermione. They now sat across each other. Hermione had taken the seat across from Harry and so Dawn took the seat Across from Ron.
"So what'd you think of the classes?" Ron asked her as the food began emerging. Dawn watched it, fascinated.
"Well, much different than where I used to go to school, that's for certain," she smiled as she took a bite of the ham sandwich she grabbed. "In my school we have seven classes and one study hall a day. You have to stand in a line for about fifteen minutes for lunch, and the subjects are way different."
"Seven classes!" Ron exclaimed. He looked at Hermione. "Sounds like you're dream school." Hermione merely stuck her tongue out at Ron and he grinned a little, returning his focus back to Dawn. "What classes would you have?"
"Well, they offered different things. The main subjects are Math, English, History, and Science, but they had Music, Band, Art, Drama, and things like that too. I think the colleges in America are more set up like the school here. Where you take a class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday rather than everyday."
"Imagine," he said to the others, "Potions, everyday." Ron pulled a face and Harry laughed. Dawn smiled when Harry laughed. Hermione choked on her drink and looked at a spot above Harry and Ron. Ron had a sick feeling when he turned around, knowing why Hermione choked. As the boys turned, Dawn looked up and was startled to see Professor Snape right behind them.
"I assure you, Mr. Weasley, having to see you bungle up my class every day would be as torturous for me as it would be for you." He paused for a beat. "No, on the other hand," his glower got deeper as he leaned down and his voice became more of a hiss, "I'd make sure you'd suffer more." Dawn's eyes widened. She thought of how the parents would be calling the school if a teacher in America spoke to a kid that way. Snape stood up straight and looked the two boys over as if examining some suspicious looking muck on the bottom of his shoe. "I warn you, boys. This term is going to be quite a bit more difficult. No longer will I let you slide by in Potions. The easy days are over." He watched them a moment longer before he strode to the teacher's table. Dawn couldn't help but watch him.
"The easy days?" Ron said, his voice a little higher. "He calls those days easy?" He looked worried. Harry, Dawn was pleased to note, did not look worried. He merely watched Snape retreat for a moment before turning back to the group. He looked largely unaffected.
"So, what's next?" he asked Hermione.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts and we're with Slytherin this year." Harry and Ron both pulled a face.
"Yeah but who's going to teach it?" Ron asked.
Hermione consulted the paper while Dawn looked at the teacher's chairs. The one that was open before was still open. "I don't know," Hermione answered. "There's no teacher's name next to the class."
"There's a chair empty," Dawn pointed. She turned her eyes to where she was pointing and saw Snape glaring at her. She quickly pulled her hand away and put it in her lap. The darkening expression on his face made her think she'd already made him unhappy and she hadn't even had a class with him yet!
Filing into the Dark Arts class, Dawn half expected another ghost. She had seen a few at lunch and was starting to get used to them being here. She remembered to when Buffy was alive. They'd all be doing research on how to kill ghosts if this were Sunnydale. But most of the ghosts here seemed nice.
Dawn consulted her watch when she heard Hermione beside her complain about the time. She saw that the class was supposed to be starting, but there was no instructor. She looked over at Harry, her eyes silently asking if he knew what was going on. He didn't seem to.
"Oh, he'll be here," she heard a voice drawl. She looked over to the other side of the class. She hadn't realized, until now, how the class was divided. On the right of the class were all the Gryffindor students. On the left sat the Slytherins. The voice came from one very smug looking Draco Malfoy. He looked like he knew something that no one else did. At least no one on the Gryffindor side. A couple of the other Slytherins smirked. He was looking right at her.
She held his look for a moment, refusing to look like she was scared of him. But the opening of the door made her turn in her seat. Professor Snape strode in looking very pleased with himself. The look only made him look meaner. Dawn sensed from the look on Harry's face, this was not going to be pleasant.
"For those of you who don't know, I'm Professor Snape." He looked at Dawn briefly. "I'm the Potions Master at this school and I will also be teaching this class." Hermione frowned in thought at this. "In the past you've had few teachers who could or would properly educate you on the details of the Dark Arts and how to defend against them. I dare say you are the worst equipped fifth level class this school has seen in a long time." He seemed to be taking great personal pride in telling them how little they knew. "Open your textbooks to the chapter on vampires."
Dawn opened her textbook, flipping through the pages. She was glad, at least, they'd be on familiar territory.
"Who here can tell me the ways in which a vampire can be killed?"
A few people raised their hands. Hermione looked like she was trying to pet the ceiling, her hand was waving around in the air so much. Dawn slowly raised her hand as well. His eyes snapped onto her.
"Miss Summers. How do you kill a vampire?"
"Ah, well, stake, or anything wooden, through the heart will do it. Also, if you have enough holy water, it can kill a vampire. The sunlight and fire can kill them." She looked like she was searching for more ways, but she didn't get the chance.
"Fancy yourself an expert on vampires, Miss Summers?"
Dawn shrugged a little. "Not really an expert, but I do know something about them."
"Does garlic kill a vampire?"
"No. It's used mainly to ward one off or in spells to keep vampires out of your house." Hermione's eyes shot over to Dawn, impressed.
"True or false, the sun kills a vampires instantly."
"False. First they start to smoke and it just burns them, but if they stay in the sun too long, it'll kill them."
His eyes narrowed.
"How long can a vampire survive in the sun?"
"Well, that's kind of vague, don't you think?" she answered haughtily. "If a vampire isn't in direct sunlight they can be outside during the day. Like in an alley or something like that. They can be up during the day inside a house with the curtains pulled back as long as the shafts of light don't touch them. They can run through the middle of downtown as long as they have a blanket covering them, but that kind of stings after awhile, and they begin to smoke." She looked at him squarely in the eyes. "But it only takes a few minutes of direct sunlight before they are dead."
There were murmurs throughout the classroom. Snape pulled his eyes away from here for a moment to look at the rest. "Silence." The room went dead, just like that.
"I think you'll find, I don't like know-it-alls or show offs. I also punish for disrespect, Miss Summers. I don't care what kind of lax school you came from, but your disregard for authority will end, here. Ten points from Gryffindor."
Some of the Gryffindor students made noise, but Snape looked in their direction, and it was silent. Except for one.
"You're taking points because she knows the answers? That's not fair. You'd probably take the points if she didn't know." Harry's voice was thick with irritation.
"Five more points from Gryffindor and detention to the next person who opens their mouths without being called on."
Only the snickers from the Slytherins could be heard. Dawn realized why it was that no one liked this teacher.
*~*~*
"That was really impressive how you answered his questions," Hermione told Dawn as they were leaving class.
"Yeah," Ron piped in. "How long does it take for a vampire to die in the sun?" he said his voice low to imitate Snape's. "Well that's a little vague don't you think?" he answered, his voice higher to represent Dawn's. "I don't think I ever had so much fun in one of his classes."
Dawn smiled.
"So how do you know all that stuff?" Hermione asked, thoughtfully.
"Well.I," Dawn didn't know how to answer.
"Well you aren't the only one who can read, Hermione," Ron said, saving her.
"What I don't get is why there would be an empty chair at the teacher's table if Snape was going to be teaching this class." Dawn said, changing the subject.
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking too," Hermione said. "Perhaps he's just filling in."
"You know what happened last time he taught the class, don't you?" Ron asked. "He made us study werewolves, only to find out that our teacher was one! Maybe our new teacher is a vampire!" He looked not happy about that possibility.
"Let's don't get hysterical, Ron," Hermione said. "But I think there is another teacher and he's just filling in."
"Well, let's just hope we can keep from having all our points disappear on us before the other teacher gets here," Harry said, irritated.
Dawn looked over at Harry and smiled a little. "Thanks for sticking up for me, though." She smiled at him, and his mood seemed to lighten. He smiled back.
"Harry?"
Everyone turned when the female voice called him. Dawn was looking at a very pretty girl, oriental in decent. She smiled at Harry and didn't even look at the others as she approached him. Dawn looked at Harry and frowned when she saw his eyes glaze over and a smile light his face.
"Cho," he said. "Hi."
"Hi," she smiled, her exotic eyes watching him intently. "I wanted to thank you for the owl you sent me over the holiday, about Cedric." Harry's smile seemed to fade a little, but it was still there. "That was very sweet of you. Anyway, I just wanted to say that." She smiled and started to walk away while Harry just stared dumbly after her. Then she turned, "Oh, by the way. Looks like Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw for the opening game of the year," she smiled wider. "Good luck."
"You too!" Harry called after her as she was walking away.
"You sent her an owl?" Hermione said.
"What?" Harry seemed to realize for the first time in the last few moments that they were still standing there. "Oh. Yeah. Well, you know.she and Cedric." he trailed off. He looked to where Cho was headed and then back at the group. "We need to get to Charms."
Harry led the way with Hermione and Ron close behind. Dawn's eyes watched Cho turn the corner before she looked over at Harry and hurried to catch up. She wasn't sure she liked the way they were looking at each other, but was just as unsure why she cared.
*~*~*
Dawn spent the next week trying to get settled into her classes. Snape's classes were the worst. All week long she had him for Potions and for Defense Against the Dark Arts. She wasn't sure which class was worse. One class lasted for many hours because it was a double class, while the other class was fewer hours but more frequent days. She hoped that Hermione was right and that another teacher would be coming for that class. Having Snape only once a week would be much better.
Her homework was devastating. It seemed that some students had some homework assignments done. They must have worked on them over the break and Dawn was struggling to keep up. When she wasn't in class, she was doing private tutoring with the teachers to try to catch up to where a fifth level should be. Professor McGonagall informed her that they would expect her to place at a fifth year level after a month and that if she didn't, she could be moved down to a fourth year. Dawn didn't want to try to start over with a different year. She was already making friends with the fifth years. And although not having class with Malfoy had a certain appeal, having him tease her for being too dumb to be a fifth year didn't.
She met for a couple of hours between last class and supper to learn beginning Transfiguration, Divination, Potions, and Charms. She helped Hagrid take care of some of the animals around the school to get caught up on that sort of thing. When she wasn't with the teachers, Hermione was helping her as well. It was busy, and the homework was piling up, but Dawn was enjoying herself more than she would have thought. It was great to know that she was learning magic that could help her help her friends in the slaying department.
Snape continued his study on vampires. Dawn quickly saw that he was trying to find something that she didn't know. Although she would answer every question he had when he asked her outright, she didn't volunteer the information. She quickly learned that the more she had her hand in the air, the more the group questioned her on how she knew so much. They were her friends, but she didn't know how much she should tell them about her sister and the life she used to lead. So she avoided the topic whenever possible, and usually changed the subject whenever it wasn't. She knew Hermione was starting to get suspicious though. She was a sharp one. Dawn just hoped she could keep Hermione fooled until she got an owl from Giles.
She had written him, asking him what he thought. She knew Buffy's position was supposed to have been secret. But she didn't want to lie to the group if she didn't have to. She was also anxious to hear back from the group. She wondered how the slaying was going without Buffy. She was pacing around in the common room, thinking of what the newest threat to Sunnydale was this year. She didn't see how the others were watching her. She didn't even notice when the three moved to a farther position and huddled together.
"How do you suppose she knows so much about vampires?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know, maybe she reads too," Ron said as if that were the obvious answer.
"She knows some things even I don't know, and I've read up on vampires." Hermione said.
Ron snickered. "Just because she found information that you didn't doesn't mean she's in league with them or anything."
"I didn't say 'in league', I'm merely curious." Hermione's chin was up. "Harry, what do you think?"
"I think she knows more than she's telling. But I think she's one of us, you know?" The other two nodded. "I think we should just give her the time she needs to tell us." He watched Dawn for a moment. "I also think she doesn't have much family. I guess her mother and her father split up and then her mother died a couple of months ago. She doesn't seem to have any sisters or brothers either."
The other two frowned at that.
"Is this a private party?"
They jumped, not having seen Dawn come over.
"Of course not," Harry said, smiling. "We were just discussing Snape and hoping his replacement would be better."
"Well, at least we know they couldn't do worse," Dawn said, smiling. The others chuckled at her joke. She was really glad to have them around.
"Oh, looks like someone's got a post!" Hermione said when a big barn owl came through the window. Dawn perked up.
"Yay! My first letter," she smiled as she untied the parchment from the owl. She was glad Giles picked some up while he was in Diagon Alley with her.
She opened up the parchment and read silently to herself.
Dear Dawn,
I was delighted to get your letter, although I don't believe this owl likes my shop. He had to wait outside for someone to open the door enough to get in. Once he finally made it inside, Anya took a broom to him. He was very unhappy and squawked every time she neared him after that.
Dawn chuckled a little and petted the bird. As if knowing which part she had read, he ruffled his feathers and looked indignant.
I'm glad to hear you're enjoying your studies. Please don't forget to make time to study some of the subjects you'll be expected to know here as well. If time permits, you should look over your Mathematics and English to make sure you don't lose your skills.
I understand that things are difficult for you right now and that there are questions your friends might have that you aren't prepared to answer yet. I ask you to use your best judgment and to be very careful about whom you tell your past to. Voldemort's supporters are within the school walls as well as without. It is important that you not be brought to his attention before we are sure of what he wants with you.
Everyone sends their love and Willow and Tara especially. They are immensely curious about Hogwarts and what it might be teaching you. I think Willow is afraid you will have a thing or two to teach her. So to make ready, she is studying hard the books I have while she should be working on her homework. As you can tell, I disapprove of that, but as she is a grown woman, there isn't much I can do.
Dawn rolled her eyes. The way he wrote was so like the way he spoke, Dawn could hear his voice in her head. It was oddly comforting.
Be good and mind your studies. I'm here if you need me.
Giles
She smiled and rolled up the parchment. She looked over at the three and noticed they were watching her.
"My guardian from home," she said in the way of explainations. When she didn't seem to be writing a reply, the owl took the hint and left. Angel leaped onto her lap and she petted him absently.
"Do you miss home?" Harry asked, kindly.
Dawn thought about the fun she was having here and the pain that she now associated with home. "I miss the people," she said honestly.
Harry nodded. "I never get post from home. I hate it there. I live with my Aunt and Uncle and my cousin, Dudley. I always dread the end of the year when I have to go back and I love the beginning of the year when I get to come here." He smiled. He wasn't sure why he was sharing so much, but it just felt right.
"Well I don't hate my friends back home, but I don't think I'll be glad to get back, either." She smiled at the group. "What about you guys?" she asked Hermione and Ron.
"Oh she wishes we never left school," Ron joked and Hermione pulled a face and slapped his arm gently. "I dunno. I kinda like it here. I get more privacy, believe it or not. At home I'm closely confined with all my brothers and my sister, so I kind of feel like I can breathe better here. But at home I don't have to see Malfoy and Snape's ugly faces." Dawn laughed.
"Well, I love seeing my parents. I do miss them while I'm here. But they're very supportive."
"Are they magical?" Dawn asked. Hermione frowned and stiffened a little.
"I thought you knew. Draco called me a Mudblood on the train up here. That's what he calls witches or wizards who came from non-magical parents. Also when one parent is magical and the other isn't. It's meant to mean that we come from dirty blood." She seemed to wait to see Dawn's reaction, but Dawn was waiting as if to hear the punch line.
"So he thinks like that Voldemort guy?" Everyone but Harry gasped when she said that. Then she remembered that most people didn't say his name. "Sorry," she mumbled.
"What do you know of Voldemort?" Harry asked Dawn.
"Harry! It's bad enough when she does it!" Ron said, a frown on his face.
"My guardian told me," she looked like she didn't want to give more information and Harry didn't press.
"Malfoy's father is one of Voldemort's supporters."
"Oh." She seemed to take a moment to think about this. "Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"I know that you've gone up against Voldemort in the past. A few times." Harry just nodded, so she continued. "I know I'm new and stuff, but I'd like to help.if the time ever came when you faced him again."
Harry watched her for a moment. He didn't take what she said lightly. Hermione and Ron both looked from Harry to Dawn and waited for Harry's answer.
"Well with the four of us around, he wouldn't stand a chance."