Title: A Broken Beginning Ch 17

Author: Nicki C.

Email: Nimacu@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: "It's all been done before"- Barenaked Ladies.  I don't own Buffy.   Nor do I own the world of Harry Potter.  They both belong to Joss and J.K. The character of the dastardly Robert is mine though, at least I think. If I'm wrong someone let me know.

Summary: Something happens that causes the Scoobies to head to England.

Feedback: I used to think that I didn't need it and it wasn't very important, but then I got some and I really liked it, in fact the more feedback I got the more I wanted. I think you get the idea.

Thank You,

Black Rose9- Thank you

KatiKrzystofiak2002- Thank you, and I am truly horrible at Summaries and if you can come up with a better one, I'll use it.  And I'm honored to be on your favorite authors list.

Dark Comet- Ok you're probably not going to like Buffy in this chapter, but remember she's on an emotional roller coaster.

American-gurl2005- thank you, and I glad that my story touched you

Lilshortmutt- thank you for the compliments

A/N**It's come to my attention recently that my summary leaves something to be desired, so if anyone has a better way of putting it let me know and I'll do that.  I'd really appreciate any help.

A/N2**This is my longest chapter yet!!!

It took a moment for Dawn to register where the voice was coming from, but she seemed to realize who had spoken at the same time Buffy did.  Dawn launched herself onto Willow's bed.

"Thank God Willow you're awake." Dawn mumbled into Willow's hair as she hugged her for dear life.

"Is that why you were crying?"

"Uh huh," Dawn answered with a big grin across her face as she stepped back.

Buffy, who was standing next to the bed looking at Willow had started crying even harder. Willow looked up at her and then both girls began to talk at the same time.

"I got stood up and then Dawn was making fun of me…then we couldn't find you," Buffy was sobbing.

"They took me out of my room" Willow started crying too

"No one knew where you were at" She screeched

By this point in the conversation both girls were talking so fast and in such rapid succession that it was getting harder for the others in the room to understand them.

"I didn't even get a chance to scream."

"Dehoffryn's dead…and Willy said you made someone mad."

"There was this dark room."

"Then there was this strange man… and I didn't trust him…."

"I felt so alone."

"But I do now."

"I was so scared."

At this point it was Buffy's turn to hug Willow and both girls were sobbing as they babbled out the remainder of their conversation.

"We had to find you."

"I knew you'd find me."

The girls continued to comfort each other until their sobbing turned into hiccups and uncontrollable grins.  Willow took a moment to look around the crowded room, there were an awful lot of people staring at her, she could feel the heat rise up her face as she pulled the sheet that was covering her up to her chin, she was going to ask who all the strangers were but before she could speak again Xander and Giles seemed to regain their wits, effulging her in another round of hug the lost Scooby.

However eventually they too stood up, giving Willow a chance once again to look over the faces in the room.  Buffy, Dawn, Xander and Giles she of course recognized, but there were at least a half dozen other people in the room.  Standing at the foot of her bed was an old man with a long beard wearing a blue dress with little pink moons on it, she studied him for a moment looking at his care-worn face.  Looking into his eyes, she knew that even though she had no idea where she was or who all these people were, she was safe.   She was broken out of her reverie by a creeping sensation that everyone waiting for her to say something.  There were two teenage boys standing in the corner, one had red hair and the other black, next to the two boys were two men who undoubtedly were related to the red-haired boy; the three sported identical red hair and freckles.  All four of them were taking turns staring at the ceiling.

Next to them in a chair a man with black hair and dark eyes stared at her blatantly, the kind of stare meant to unsettle a person.  And it was from her inspection of the dark-haired man that Willow was interrupted by a slight cough from the elderly man.

"Miss Rosenberg if I may be so humble as to introduce myself." He paused for a moment almost expecting her to interrupt and was surprised when she didn't. "My name is Albus Dumbledore and I'm headmaster here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"Is that where I'm at?" Willow asked; a little awestruck at the idea of a school for witchcraft.

"Yes you're in the school's hospital wing." He answered her.

"How did I get here?" she looked at him quizzically.

"Well…" Willow could see that he was going to start explaining but was interrupted by the arrival of a teenage girl and a man and woman.

Buffy looked pointedly between Dumbledore and the new arrivals, it was obvious that the girl they'd met earlier had gone to retrieve more people.  Buffy had had enough; she was starting to wonder how many more people were going to fit into this room before somebody did some explaining. 

"Welcome all, just take a seat and join the freak show." Buffy had meant to say casually but her voice rose a few octaves higher than normal.

Willow grabbed her arm, "Buffy relax, I'm sure all these people are here for a reason."

"Yeah and that reason is to see if they can't get a glimpse of the slayer and her friends…" Willow tried interrupting her, "But.."

However, Buffy was tired and a little overstressed, not to mention on a major emotional rollercoaster for the last twenty-four hours and she was having none of that, "Don't 'But' me, for these people our lives are just fodder for scary stories and interesting conversation.  We're practically celebrities, and we didn't even know they existed."  Buffy let it all out in one breath, her voice getting louder and louder.

Again Willow spoke "Who are they?" 

"Oh you're going to love this one Willow." Buffy was going to continue explaining, but in a change of pace Dumbledore interrupted her.

"I think perhaps now is not the time to discuss this, I believe simple introductions would better serve Miss Rosenberg during her recovery period."

Buffy mulled over that for a moment letting her temper cool.  He was probably right, and talking about the "wizarding world" did get her really worked up.  She had been told once that she had a tendency to lead toward wallowing in her own righteous indignation.

"Yes, I do believe a few introductions would be in order," Buffy agreed with him, at the same time making it sound like it was her own idea.  Before anyone else could speak the stout woman who had been in front of the other door when the Scoobies arrived spoke.

"Well, I'm going to speak first since I have work to do and I need check over Miss Rosenberg and see what other kind of damage has been wrought that we couldn't fix while she was unconscious."  After explaining that to them she headed over to check Willow's pulse but was stopped by a urging cough from Dumbledore that sounded something like "CoughyournameCough."

"Oh yes, I'm Madame Pomfrey and I'm the medi-witch here at Hogwarts."

"Remus Lupin, Professor of Defense against the Dark Arts." The frail looking man who had just walked in said as he nodded his head towards the group standing near the bed.

As soon as he'd finished talking the taller redheaded man from the corner walked towards them and grabbed Giles hand, shaking it professionally.  "Percy Weasley, It's an honor to meet all of you." 

"Yes, well um.." Giles sputtered a moment at the man's obvious brown-nosing. "Thank you, I'm Rupert Giles, everyone calls me Giles so you probably can too."

Xander who had been standing at Giles side spoke next, "Xander Harris." He said simply with no explanation.

The man in the chair who had been silently listening to the introductions spoke.  "For all that it matters to the lot of you, my name is Severus Snape, and I teach potions here."

"Your right it doesn't matter," Buffy's quip escaped her lips before she had time to think about how rude it was.

"Buffy!" Willow looked at her reproachingly; then turned to the man explaining, "You'll have to pardon my friend, manners aren't her strong suit. I think it comes from killing demons every night.  Just because they're slayed by her wit…"  She was going to continue before Dawn interrupted. 

"Please Willow no bad puns tonight."

"All right, Willow talk will be all straight and narrow," Willow appeased her.  "Well then, even though I'm sure you all know my name I'll introduce myself.  Willow Rosenberg."

Next to introduce themselves were all the teenagers in the room.  All four doing so quickly.

"Harry Potter." The black-haired boy spoke; his voice cracking as he looked at Buffy with awe.

"Ron Weasley." The Redheaded teen announced.

"Hermione Granger." The girl with the brown bushy hair said in a business like voice.

Dawn took a quick look at the other teenagers before introducing herself.  "Dawn Summers."

"Charlie Weasley" the other red-haired man introduced himself stepping forward, all the while looking all about the room in any direction except for at Buffy who was giving him a scathing glare.  There was a moment of silence, almost as if he was waiting for Buffy to say something.  When she kept her mouth shut, he smiled at the others in the room and stepped back.

 "Well I must say it is nice to meet all of you." The woman who had arrived with Remus Lupin spoke for the first time; interrupting the awkward silence she didn't understand. 

"My name is Minerva McGonagall and I teach Transfiguration and I am Deputy Headmistress at Hogwarts." 

Buffy looked around the room before speaking, letting her gaze fall on Charlie and meeting his eyes as she spoke.  "My name is Buffy Summers, I'm the slayer.  And I want him out of here now!" Buffy pointed accusingly at Charlie.

"What! I have as much right to be here as you do!"  Charlie yelled back

"If you're going to argue, then none of you need to be here.  Well even if you aren't going to argue, you need to leave.  Miss Rosenberg needs her rest and she's not going to get it with a dozen people in the room." Madam Pomfrey informed them, cutting Buffy off before she could reply to Charlie. 

And without another word she ushered them out of the room.  Before they knew it they were all staring at the door to the infirmary wondering what had just happened. 

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom were sitting in the Gryffindor Common watching the fire crackle.  Ginny's eyes were red from the crying that she'd recently done and Neville was watching her warily.  Not sure of what to say or do.  He really wished her brother or Hermione was somewhere around to deal with this; but he hadn't seen them all day.

"Sniff…Sniff… I just don't understand what I did wrong.  I thought I was a good girlfriend.  Don't you think I'm a good girlfriend Neville?"

"I'm sure you're a great girlfriend"

"Then why did he break up with me?"

"He's just a stupid git," Neville told her patting her back awkwardly.  He couldn't really remember the name of the boy Ginny was crying about.  Some Ravenclaw seventh year that she'd started dating at the end of September after she and Dean had had a smashing row the second day of school.

"Oh Neville." Ginny wailed as her crying started anew.

"Oh Merlin, where's your brother?" Neville thought as he continued to comfort Ginny.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Luna Lovegood sat in the library contemplating the meaning of Love.  She loved that word love.  Whether you said it quickly or elongated it Looooovvvvvvveeeee.  And whenever she thought about love she though about a certain redhead.  And when she thought about him, it made her sad.  Because no matter which way she examined it, he didn't return an ounce of affection her way. 

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

"I think it's time that we all start heading back to our respective quarters, it's late.  And I've found in my many years that often complicated things can wait until we've had a good night's sleep." Dumbledore told the group.

"Yes, Professor I agree with you completely.  But shouldn't somebody stay here to guard the door?"  Lupin asked the older wizard.

"Yes of course, Severus?" Dumbledore questioned the potions professor.

"My pleasure," he answered in a voice that made one think it was anything but.

"Well then off to bed with all of you, get a good night's sleep.  Students will be expected in class in the morning just like any other."  Dumbledore told Harry, Ron and Hermione and then sent them on their way.

"Excuse me, Professor Dumbledore," Giles spoke. "Where will we sleep?"

"Yes, where will our quarters be?" Percy asked also.

"Of course, I almost forgot.  Minerva, would you show these six to our guest chambers?"

"Of course, follow me." She answered and then led Buffy, Giles, Xander, Dawn, Percy, and Charlie away.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

"Bloody Hell!" Ron exclaimed, as they were almost halfway back to Gryffindor tower.

"What?" Harry asked, while Hermione just grimaced at his language.

"I've lost my wand, it must still be in the library, or the infirmary, or it could be outside Dumbledore's office."

"Do you want us to help you find it?"

"No, I can handle it.  After all in about five minutes you're going to breaking curfew and I can still be out."  Ron answered referring to his status as a prefect; which allowed him more freedom concerning curfews.

"Oh no. Ron. Wait!" Hermione was the one to exclaim now.

"What's wrong now?" Ron asked impatient to be going.

"It's our night to patrol the hallways."

"Can you do it without just this once, I've really got to find my wand." Ron begged.

"Ron Weasley you'd lose your head if it wasn't attached, and not to mention your take on responsibility…" Hermione was going to continue berating him until he interrupted her.

"Can you just do it?"  He was getting impatient.

"Fine." She answered stalking off.

Harry looked at Hermione's retreating back and then at Ron.  "You can't seem to get along for more than two minutes these days," he said as he walked away.  Ron rubbed between his eyes, staring at the floor.  "I know."

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Luna got up.  It was really getting late and even though she had been made a prefect this year, she didn't like being out in the corridors this late at night.  It wasn't that she was afraid of what she didn't know was out there.  It was more that she was afraid of what she was sure lived in the dark.  She packed her bags and was walking out of the library watching her feet shuffle when she ran into someone.  Looking up she realized it wasn't just any someone, it was the someone. 

"Hi Ron!" Luna greeted him dreamily.

"Luna, um…err…hi.  Haven't seen a wand around here have you?"  After everything that had happened today and last night, Luna was not one of the people he felt like dealing with at the moment. 

"No, do you need help looking?" She asked with an eager expression on her face.

"Well..um..Why not? Sure."  Ron answered smiling at her.

They started checking under tables and on chairs (Ron couldn't really remember exactly where they'd been sitting earlier).  Ron took a minute to watch "Loony" Luna.  She was definitely unique.  But pretty in the strange sort way, where as everything about her was haphazard in design, but somehow worked.  Not that he very often looked at other girls, he'd been hopelessly in love with Hermione since second year.  But as he looked around the room the more he thought about it the more Luna appealed to him.  Things with Hermione where always so conflicted and difficult, and she had never told him about her relationship with Viktor.   And he knew exactly how Luna felt about him; hell everyone knew how Luna felt about him.  As he was contemplating this, Luna jumped out from under a table in the back.

"I've found it Ron!" She ran up to give it to him, stumbling in her effort to stop; forcing Ron to catch her.

"To hell with it," Ron muttered as bent down and kissed her.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Harry made the rest of the way back to the tower by himself.  Thinking a lot about the slayer and the witch and their friends.  It didn't seem like they'd learned too much at all tonight.  But he could understand.  What a relief it must be for those people to have their friend back.  And if he was exhausted they were probably twice as much so. 

He gave the password to the fat lady, "Twitterpatted," and headed into the Common Room.  The first thing he heard was, "sniff…sniff…I just don't understand." Someone was crying and it sounded like Ginny.  Something clicked in Harry as he rushed over to Ginny and Neville. 

"What's wrong? Has something happened?"  Harry asked hurriedly, visions of grave news in him mind.  His only answer was Ginny flinging herself in his arms, mumbling something about Robert dumping her.

~.~.~.~.~.~

Buffy and Dawn were in there room; were getting ready for bed, making idle conversation.  Trying not think of serious things.

"Wow, I'm glad they brought the right pajamas!" Dawn said.

"Yeah me too, although I am a little creeped out at the idea of someone else bringing my stuff here."

"Yeah, so umm, Buffy?"

"What?"

"Are you going to talk to Charlie?"

"No."

"Why?"

"He stood me up, plus he didn't tell me about this whole secret wizard thing he had going on."

"Well, you should find out why he stood you up, and as far as that whole secret wizard thing, you only talked for ten minutes yesterday.  Should he have turned in a resume and written history then."

"No… ugh! Do you always have to be so reasonable?"

"No, in fact not being reasonable is what I'm famous for.  However I can see the light when there's a cute guy involved," Dawn answered matter-of-factly.

"You think he's cute?" Buffy skeptically questioned her, raising an eyebrow as she got into bed.

"Don't delude yourself Buffy, he's a major hottie!" Dawn spoke as she got into bed

"I know," Buffy muttered as she threw her head down on the pillow.

Next Chapter***How will Severus keep busy all night?  What's Willow thinking?  Where's Hermione?  And…Charlie and Buffy talk.