CHAPTER TWO: THE TOUR
As Buffy had predicted, Dumbledore didn't mind Buffy's request to allow Willow to visit Hogwarts. Giles was stunned that Buffy had even seen the redheaded Sunnydale girl, but was delighted to hear that Willow wanted to see him again. He wouldn't admit it aloud, but he had missed the Scooby Gang, especially Willow. She was the first of the group that Giles had really known, and the thought of seeing her again was incredibly pleasing to him.
Buffy and Willow arranged to begin Willow's visit to Hogwarts fairly early in the morning so they could spend the day together. Buffy, now with an apparating license even though she was a year too young, and having been properly taught how to apparate and disapparate by Dumbledore himself, had arranged for Willow to be in her apartment by herself so she wouldn't scare any Londoners by just apparting on the street.
Willow gasped a little as her best friend appeared out of thin air. She suddenly grinned and decided that her best friend's new skill was incredibly cool, and whilst she was slightly envious of Buffy, she was also very happy that Buffy had finally found her place within the world.
"Hey Wills," Buffy said brightly. "Ready to go?"
Willow grinned and nodded. "I'm ready. I could barely sleep last night!" she admitted. She looked at Buffy nervously, a little worried now that it was time for Buffy to take her to Hogwarts. "What do I hafta do?"
Buffy just held out her hand for Willow to take. Willow took it and Buffy gave her a comforting smile. "Do I need to close my eyes or anything?" Willow asked nervously.
"You don't have to or anything," Buffy said. "Some people prefer it, but it makes no real difference."
Willow nodded and closed her eyes, not sure she was ready to have her eyes open for something that had the potential to go wrong in so many different ways.
"Okay," Willow said. "I'm ready."
She felt a sudden rush of air pass over her and she opened one eye experimentally. She gasped and her eyes widened as she took in what appeared to be an incredibly old, incredibly beautiful castle. They were just outside the front door. Buffy smiled, thankful that they'd ended up where she'd wanted them to be. She was definitely getting better at navigating her way around whilst apparating.
"Wow," Willow breathed quietly.
Buffy grinned, remembering her first memories of seeing Hogwarts. Now, it was an everyday occurrence for her, but seeing Willow taking everything in for the first time was making Buffy smile widely.
"Pretty amazing, isn't it," Buffy said.
Willow barely noticed that her friend had asked anything. Buffy just grinned as Willow turned around slowly, taking in the lake, the far-off Quidditch pitch and the Forbidden Forest that was only just in view.
"This place is…wow," Willow said again.
Buffy grinned and took Willow's hand again, pulling her inside. They stepped into the Entrance Hall and Willow was lost for words. She couldn't believe that this was where Buffy had been for the last year or so. Buffy had explained how big Hogwarts was, but hearing about it and seeing it were two completely different things.
Giles had told Buffy that he would be in his office behind the DADA classroom, and that he would be there all day. Buffy knew that Giles really wanted to see Willow, and that Willow definitely wanted to see Giles as well, so the DADA classroom was to be the first stop of the tour.
They made their way up the stairs to the fourth floor towards Giles' office, Willow stopping every few seconds to look at one of the moving paintings. Buffy couldn't contain the smile at the sight of Willow's enthusiasm. It was nice that she was finally able to share this side of herself with Willow.
They finally made it to the DADA classroom, and up the stairs to Giles' office. Buffy knocked, disturbing Giles from his book. He looked up and smiled brightly, standing to greet the red-haired girl that he had missed more than he realised. He enveloped Willow in a hug, stunning her a little with this display of affection. Willow returned the hug and eventually stepped back, grinning at him.
"Hey Giles," she greeted happily.
"It's wonderful to see you again Willow," he said, his voice barely restraining his excitement.
"You too," she replied. "We missed you guys."
"Well, I can confidently say that we missed you all as well."
Willow grinned and turned to look at Buffy. "He's even stuffier than he was!" Willow joked.
Buffy rolled her eyes and nodded. "I know. It's cos he's back around other Brits. All our Americanising that we tried to do got kinda reversed within months."
Giles made a slight clucking sound with his tongue and ushered the girls out of the slightly dark office. They wandered back into the DADA classroom and took seats at the tables.
Giles breathed in deeply and gave Willow a proud look that Willow had been missing for the last year. Giles' reaction at hearing where the girl had been accepted to go to college had been more enthusiastic than Willow's own parents reactions had been, and she was thrilled that she had made the man, who had been more of a father to the Scoobies than their own parents had ever been, proud of her.
"I can't believe you were accepted into Oxford," Giles said, practically gushing.
Willow grinned, fairly proud of her achievements as well. She'd been aiming for something like this for years, and to have all of her efforts being paid off in such a way made Willow want to sing for joy.
"I was pretty thrilled when I got the acceptance letter," Willow said. "And honestly, I was tossing up on whether to go to Oxford or to Harvard, but I've always wanted to study overseas."
"Well, I can't think of a person who deserves it more than you," Giles stated, an encouraging smile on his lips.
Willow grinned and suddenly found herself uncomfortable with the compliments. She was definitely not used to them. She was quick to change the subject, and she looked towards Buffy.
"So, what about you, Little Miss Slacker?" Willow asked. "You said you went straight into Fifth Year here, so how far behind are you?"
Buffy went slightly red, confusing Willow. Giles held back a chuckle and placed a fatherly hand on Buffy's shoulder.
"Dumbledore is actually letting Buffy sit both her Sixth and Seventh Years this year rather than have her just be in Sixth. The work was too uh…well, she needed more of a challenge," Giles explained.
Willow's jaw dropped comically and she looked between Buffy and Giles to see if they were just trying to play a trick on her. They looked fairly serious. Buffy had skimmed over that particular fact when she'd been telling Willow about who she really was.
"Wow…Buff, that's awesome!" Willow exclaimed excitedly. "Why didn't you say something?"
Buffy just shrugged. "It never really came up."
Willow rolled her eyes and playfully swatted the girl's arm. "You are unbelievable. I mean, I pretty much believe that you're powerful, that whole appearing/disappearing thing-"
"Apparating," Buffy and Giles corrected simultaneously.
"Whatever. That was pretty cool, so I believe you can do magic, but…you're skipping grades! That's…very wow-worthy."
Buffy smiled. "Thanks Wills."
Giles clapped his hands together and stood up, looking down at the two girls. "Perhaps we should continue with the tour of Hogwarts rather than stay ensconced up here," he suggested.
Willow and Buffy shared a look and giggled quietly. Giles just rolled his eyes and tried to remember why he'd agreed to let them spend the day together.
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Yes I know they're short. They will get longer, I swear. Many many many thanks for your reviews and emails! Glad you guys are reading this thing.
Toodles.