By the time the Hogwarts Express arrived at the school, Ron's mood had completely reversed. He couldn't help it; the stories Willow and Dawn told about life in Sunnydale were like something out of a novel. As Harry floated his chair out of the passenger compartment, he ran back everything they had told them. Slayers. Vampires. Magic without wands. The Watcher's Council. The First Evil. Harry shuddered at the thought. The things those two had faced made Voldemort seem a shadow by comparison.
Behind Harry, Willow's head was awhirl. She could tell from the boys' reactions that this Voldemort guy was no lightweight, and she distinctly remembered Ron muttering something about a goblin insurrection and tribes of giants before Harry had silenced him with a look.
"So your sister is one of these auror guys who tracks down evil wizards?" Dawn was asking Ron as they stepped off the train. Once she had gotten him talking, she found herself enjoying an intense flashback. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something about Ron evoked the image she had of Xander, back in the day when a visit from him meant an hour searching for the right outfit. She knew she had to be careful; whether she was almost eighteen or not, Ron was in his mid-twenties, undeniably handsome, and a teacher at her new school. Crushing on him would help no one.
"Yeah. She's a right good one, too. Ginny can be tough as hell when she wants."
Harry heard Ron's comment and started to laugh. Not just a chuckle, but sudden, gut-wrenching peals of laughter.
"What're you laughin' about?"
"I … was thinking …" Harry gasped out as his shoulders shook with mirth. Willow and Dawn, thoroughly amused, watched with silent smiles. He laughed until he couldn't breathe very well, then sorted himself out with a few deep gasps. "I was thinking of the time you walked in on her and Dean in the common room. Remember that?"
Ron flushed crimson.
"Ooh, story! Tell," Dawn said.
"Nah, Harry, please don't."
Harry's green eyes twinkled. "I'll tell you later."
"Aw."
"It'll be worth the wait, young lady. It's a good story," called a female voice from further down the platform. Two figures, one small and the other enormous, made their way down the platform.
"Mione?" Ron asked, relieved. "That you?"
"Not jus' her. Yeh think I'd let her come down alone on yer first day back?"
"Hagrid!" Harry and Ron took off down the platform to greet the half-giant. They hadn't seen Hagrid in months, since the first Quidditch match of the season.
Willow and Dawn traded a confused look and followed the two boys. Up close, Hagrid's size and shaggy appearance startled them both. Even more startling was that Willow swore she could see tears in his eyes as he looked at Harry's wheelchair. Life as a Slayerette had prepared her for a lot, but crying giants?
"Didna wanna believe it, Harry," he said, his voice trembling. "Hoped the Prophet was rumor-mongerin' or summat, but then Dumbledore left fer St. Mungo's … Woulda come … probably shoulda, but yeh know me, can't apparate or nothin', an' Dumbledore said yeh'd be comin' anyway …" He trailed off, looking more than a little sick.
Harry put a hand on Hagrid's club-sized forearm. "It's okay, Hagrid. The Burrow was full anyway. You would've been uncomfortable."
"Doesn't matter, tha'. Shoulda been there …"
"Hagrid, really, don't say that," Ron added. He hadn't seen Hagrid this miserable since Buckbeak's trial. "'Cos no one died or anything. We're here now, mate, like old times an' everything."
"Honestly, Hagrid," Hermione said, "it's just like I told you. Don't feel badly. You knew they'd be here."
"You know what else? We didn't really get excited 'til we got your rock cakes from Hedwig. After that, we were bloody fired up about Hogwarts, because we knew it would be like before. You don't have to feel bad." Not that their excitement had extended to eating the rock cakes, but Harry wasn't about to tell Hagrid that. Besides, Crookshanks seemed to find them delightful.
"You three as perfessors. Seems hard ta believe, don' it? Weren't yeh s'posed ta bring the new Dark Arts teacher and her student with ya?"
Harry nodded and gestured behind them; Hagrid noticed Willow and Dawn for the first time.
"Oy! Yeh coulda said somethin' 'fore now. An' me carryin' on like a great blubberin' whale." He extended a ham-sized hand to Willow. "Yeh mus' be Professor Rosenberg. I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper o' the Keys and Grounds here at Hogwarts. I … erm … also teach Care of Magical Creatures classes," he added with a shy grin. "Yeh can call me Hagrid, though, everyone does, jus' about."
Willow took his hand with her tiny one, afraid it might disappear forever. She was touched by Hagrid's obvious and overwhelming concern for Harry and Ron. "That's me. Please, call me Willow."
"Dawn Summers," Dawn said brightly as Hagrid moved to her. "I'm only a student, though, so are you Professor Hagrid to me?"
Hagrid blushed; Harry, Ron, and Hermione all laughed. They'd never heard Hagrid called 'Professor' before.
"Jus' Hagrid'll do fine, lass." His face was tomato red with embarrassment. "C'mon then, let's get yeh up to the castle. I reckon Dumbledore's got words for yeh." He led them down towards the lake, the enormous lantern casting a glow across the ground a hundred feet in front of them.
"So what'd we miss?" Ron asked Hermione as they followed along.
Her face turned grave. "There's quite a lot going on, actually. I expect Professor Dumbledore to cover most of it tonight. It seems there's a scroll and a prophecy about to be fulfilled. Beyond that, I haven't been able to gather much. He hasn't briefed the staff or Professor McGonagall would have told me, and he hasn't been around to ask. Honestly, I've been trying to get up to speed on my charms and haven't had time for a deeper look."
"Scrolls and prophecies?" Ron asked. "Why do I think we'll be spending a bunch of time in the library." He sounded resigned to it.
"As usual," Harry added, though he actually felt excited by the prospect. Hogwarts was the first place he ever thought of as home, and going back would be wonderful. Even if going back meant ominous signs, mortal peril, and the rise of overwhelming evil.
Which, he admitted mentally, it usually did.
The boat ride awed Willow and Dawn.
"That," Willow commented as the darkened outline of the castle came into view, "is exactly how it's supposed to look. We took a carriage up in the day before, and it looked way different."
"Definitely. It's like a giant fairy tale."
"Wait 'til you see the inside," Harry assured her. "The castle seems almost alive sometimes. I think it's probably the coolest place on earth."
"You went here for seven years, right?"
"I did. Gryffindor '98. Depending, I guess, on how you look at it, mine were some of the best years in Hogwarts history to be here."
"Sounds like you miss it," Willow said.
He nodded. "I do. Lots of good things happened here." He glanced at the other boat, where Hermione had unconsciously snuggled into the crook of Ron's arm in the cool night. From Ron's rigid stance, he could tell his friend wasn't feeling quite as casual about the contact. "Lots of good things. It was my first real home."
Dawn thought of Revello Drive as the boat propelled itself into the dock. "Did you ever think you'd be able to come back?"
"I've been back to visit loads of times. It was never quite the same, though. Living here again … it'll be nice."
The boats docked soundlessly; Willow and Dawn clambered out of the boat, with Harry floating behind them onto the grass. Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid disembarked from the other one, and the six of them made their way inside.
"I'll leave yeh here. I 'spect you three know the way ter Dumbledore's office. Password's 'Curly Wurly' these days. 'E wants yeh ter go straight up. Don' be strangers, now," he added, patting Dawn on the head and disappearing back into the night.
"He's such a sweetie," Willow said when Hagrid had gone.
"Hagrid's the best," Harry agreed. To Dawn he added, "his classes are always right interesting, too."
"Care of Magical Creatures? Is that like feeding dragons and stuff?"
"Not if you're lucky," Ron muttered.
Hermione elbowed him in the chest. "Believe me, Dawn, no one is more fond of magical creatures than Hagrid. Dragons in particular, though having one is very illegal. Now come, we'd best get to Professor Dumbledore's office without delay."
The three Gryffindors led the way, taking Willow and Dawn through a maze of halls and corridors that left the girls wondering if they would ever find their way around.
"Uh, Willow?"
"Yeah, Dawnie?" They were walking through a particularly long line of portraits. "What's up?"
"The paintings. They're … um … watching us. Did they do that on our last visit?"
"Trust me, Dawnie, that's a trick of the light."
Dawn pointed to a painting of an elderly tea party; three proper English ladies were very definitely watching them. One of them took a sip of tea, and Willow stopped in her tracks.
"That's no trick of the light."
"Something wrong?" Hermione asked as she, Ron and Harry skidded to a halt.
"The-the paintings …?"
"Oh," she said, realizing the problem, "yes, they move. Wizard paintings are semi-sentient, much like wizard pictures. Part of the magic used to create them, you see."
Willow and Dawn raised their eyebrows and traded an incredulous look.
"Oh, sure, of course," Willow said. She shook her head as if to clear it. "Living paintings. Right."
Hermione smiled and led them deeper into Hogwarts, stopping again only when they reached the gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office.
"Curly Wurly," she said. Willow oohed appreciatively as the stairwell unfurled itself. They ascended to the Headmaster's office with Harry floating up slowly in the rear.
Harry hadn't expected Dumbledore to be alone, and he wasn't. Before they could greet his other guests, however, Fawkes leaped off his perch with a squawk and glided onto the armrest of Harry's wheelchair.
"'Lo, Fawkes," Harry said as the phoenix nipped his ear affectionately. He stroked Fawkes' head in return. "Miss me?"
To Dawn's great surprise, the bird keened a distinctly affirmative note.
"Me too. But I'm back for awhile, now, alright?" Fawkes laid his head on Harry's arm. "Dawn, come here."
She tentatively stepped closer.
"This is Fawkes. He's Professor Dumbledore's phoenix. Touch him lightly on his throat, right below the beak. He loves that."
She did, and Fawkes crooned affectionately. He nipped her hand, and Dawn had the strangest feeling that she had just made a powerful friend.
"You've come on an excellent day, Miss Summers. He's looking rather his best," Dumbledore said from across the room. She giggled as Fawkes lifted his head and preened.
"He's really smart, huh?"
"The phoenix is an extraordinarily intelligent breed, yes. It makes them quite a bit of fun to have about, though I am beginning to think he believes that I inhabit his office, rather than the reverse."
Harry finally looked up at Dumbledore and wheeled himself further into the room. "Hello, Professor."
"Hello, Harry," Dumbledore said with a kind smile, coming over to shake Harry's hand, and then Ron's. "Mister Weasley, nice to see you again, as well. I believe you two know my other guests, though I'm certain Miss Rosenberg and Miss Summers do not. Welcome, both of you."
"Hello, Professor."
"Hi, Professor."
Two other figures turned to face them, one with a friendly look and the other appearing distinctly the opposite. Minerva McGonagall, her hat put aside and grayish-brown hair in a tight bun, came over and took first Harry's hand, then Ron's.
"Hello, boys. How are you?" She had a look of concern on her face that Harry had only seen once before: the night he, Ron, and Hermione returned to Grimmauld Place from the disastrous first raid on Voldemort's castle, where Remus Lupin had nearly died.
"As well as you'd expect, Professor," Harry said for them both, touched by her concern. Most of the students believed McGonagall to be entirely without feelings, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione knew differently. "It's been a hard month, but … we're adjusting."
"Could be worse," Ron chipped in, a pained smile on his face. "Least we had somewhere to go an' be useful while we heal. Thanks for the flowers, by the way; mum thought yours grand enough that she made me keep them on display in the kitchen."
"You're quite welcome, Ron. I wish I could have visited, but … I'm just glad you two are alive. When I think what might have happened … well, it doesn't matter. Welcome back to Hogwarts." She turned to Willow and Dawn to avoid being overwhelmed by her emotions. "You must be our newest Professor," she said to Willow. "Professor Dumbledore has great things to say about you, young lady. My name is Minerva McGonagall. I teach transfiguration."
She and Willow shook hands; the woman had a firm, dry grip, and Willow's first thought was She-Giles. Comforted, she gave McGonagall a warm smile in return.
"And Miss Summers, I presume?"
"Yes, ma'am," Dawn said politely.
"Albus believes you will prove most adept at the magical arts. We shall be seeing quite a lot of each other, I think." McGonagall's eyes twinkled above her smile and she backed away, leaving Harry a clear view of he room's other occupant.
"Mr. Potter," Severus Snape drawled. Harry noticed his black hair was now flecked with gray. "Our new celebrity." His lips curled slightly, the Snape version of a wide grin. "Please, don't get up."
Willow, Hermione, and Ron gasped. McGonagall turned a withering glare on Snape. Even Dumbledore looked displeased.
Harry shook his head, a rueful smile on his face. The others were aghast, but Harry understood that Snape was simply being Snape. He knew that this was as close as the Potions Master could come to being friendly to him, even years after they had made their peace. It also let Harry know, in no small way, that he really was home.
Unfortunately, Dawn didn't know anything about that.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" She shouted, jumping in front of Harry's chair before Ron, his reflexes slowed by the bandaged arm, could grab her. "That's about the meanest thing I think I've ever heard anyone say, which is saying something, because I spent just about forever with Spike. How dare you?"
Snape's black eyes raked Dawn. "And you are?" He asked coldly.
"Dawn Summers." She crossed her arms indignantly.
"I see. And you're a student?"
"I am. I'm not answering the other eighteen questions, though, until you apologize to Harry."
"Dawn!" Harry whispered. He knew how much trouble she was heading for, even if she didn't. He looked over at Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling as he watched Dawn and Snape face off. "Let it go!"
She ignored him, fixing Snape with a harsh glare.
"Apologize? I think not."
"It might be a good idea, Professor …"
"Snape," Ron whispered to Willow.
"… Professor Snape. Dawn will have no problem standing there all night until you do." Ron could tell Willow didn't like Snape any more than Dawn. It almost made him smile.
"I think this has gone far enough, Severus. Don't you? Perhaps just a minor retraction," Dumbledore said, his voice filled with mirth. "After all, Miss Summers has yet to be acquainted with your … style. It's an honest mistake."
Snape grumbled, then looked angrily at Dawn. "Potter and I have known each other for sometime, young lady. I assure you he's more adept at defending himself than he ever was at potions."
"That's an apology?" Willow whispered to Ron, who was watching the exchange with wide eyes.
"I can't believe she got that much," he responded in disbelief.
"Dawn, let it go. Please?"
She turned to Harry, whose eyes pleaded with her to step back.
"Fine," she said, stepping back. Her eyes never left Snape, matching his angry glare inch for inch.
"Well, now that we've exchanged all the necessary pleasantries, perhaps we might get down to business?" Dumbledore asked innocently.
The others just stared at him.