Chapter 8

Sirius looked left and right. Seeing that the coast was clear he turned to the rest of us. "Just walk into that divider."

Buffy crooked and eyebrow. "Into a brick wall?"

Faith took Buffy's hand and pulled her along. "It's magic, B. Come on."

Faith took off at a mild run, pulling Buffy along with her. I cringed when they neared the wall and gawked when their bodies disappeared.

"Xander, you're next."

He looked at the wall and back to us. "This isn't one of those spinning fireplace things again, is it?"

Sirius shook his head. "It's like a doorway, just go on."

Xander didn't take it as fast and held his hands out in front of him to ward off the blow he was going to take. Just like Buffy and Faith, he disappeared.

I started off behind my friends when Sirius held me back.

"Willow, I wanted to ..."

My brows furrowed. "Is something wrong?"

He shook his head and stared down at the ground. "No, it's just ... well thanks for bringing me back, is all."

I know I looked at him strangely. "You brought yourself back. Just think of me as the ride to London ... uh ... that didn't come out like I wanted it too."

He grinned. "Let's go."

He held onto my hand and pulled me along as we passed through the wall. When we got to the other side a long whistle blew and I looked up. All of us were feet away from a very large red steam engine, the front of which proclaimed it as the Hogwarts Express.

"All aboard," yelled a porter, "the train leaves in fifteen minutes!"

Faith looked around. "Did we miss Harry?"

Sirius motioned us to the side, out of the way. "From what Harry tells me, he's always here at the last minute. I'll wait here for him. Why don't you four go find us a free cabin."

Faith led the way since she seems to be the only one of us that knew what we were doing. The corridor was packed with young and old kids alike. The younger ones were excited and nervous, and the older ones were trying desperately not to step on them. We pushed our way through the first car which seemed like it was reserved for the older crowd and a few adults until Faith stopped at an empty cabin and rolled the door open.

We stored our packs and other belongings under the seats and in the baggage area and I pressed myself against the window in an attempt to see if I could catch Sirius' reunion. When I found him he was embracing a young man, maybe sixteen or seventeen with shaggy dark hair and glasses.

They were surrounded by a number of adults and two red-headed kids. One looked to be Harry's age and the other, a girl, maybe a couple of years younger.

The whistle blew shrilly again which broke them apart. Harry hugged a plump red-headed woman and he and Sirius boarded the train moments after.

I turned around. "They're getting on."

Buffy was still trying to find a place for her sword and gave up, sitting down to twirl it in her hand. "You'd think they'd have a place for heavy weapons or something."

The door slid open and a tall brunette with frizzy hair leaned in.

"Hello, We'll be underway in just a few minutes, make sure ..."

She stopped in mid-sentence and gaped at us. Shock shone in her eyes as she sucked in a quick breath. "You're ... you're ..."

"Hermione Granger." Faith said matter-of-factly.

The brunette's mouth snapped shut. "Erm ... no, that's me."

"Shove on, Hermione," a voice said from behind her.

She looked back where Harry and Sirius stood waiting to get into the cabin.

"Harry, look. It's ..."

Harry looked into the car. His eyes widened as well. This was getting more than a little weird.

Sirius leaned over and pulled the door all the way open, shoving Harry and Hermione inside. They sat abruptly and kept on starring.

Sirius smiled broad and proud over his Godson. "Harry, Hermione, I'd like you to meet my friends. He held his hand out to Buffy and Faith. "This is Buffy Summers, and Faith. Um ... I don't think I every got your last name faith."

She smirked. "Just Faith."

Sirius nodded, "And this is Xander Harris and Willow ..."

"Rosenberg." The teenagers echoed together.

Xander turned to me. "I think your time in England was well spent. Everyone already knows who you are."

Buffy ignored him. "You know us?"

Harry and Hermione nodded fervently.

Sirius seemed taken aback, "What's this?"

"We've seen them on the television, Sirius."

"We were on T.V." I know I sounded shocked.

Hermione nodded, "Before they cancelled you, that is."

Harry nodded as well looking at Hermione. "Bloody shame it was, you were my favorite show."

Now everyone was confused. Xander, most of all. "Hold on. Show, what show?"

"An American import."

The one thing I really wasn't liking was the starring; mostly directed at me. It wasn't the 'you're famous' or the 'you look really weird' it was more of a 'we're kinda scared of you and we're trying not to show it.'

I know that look real well. A couple of years ago I nearly destroyed the world. I got that same look from my friends for the next ... oh goddess. "Buffy ... if they're characters in a book in our universe."

I let it stand at that. Let her figure out the rest.

Faith got it first. "Cool, were on T.V.!"

Xander was stunned. "I'm famous?"

"What's the name of the show?" I asked quietly.

They looked at each other and turn to Buffy. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Xander shook his head. "How come there's never a 'Xander the Bruiting Strongman.'"

Buffy was in some kind of shock. "The show is about me?"

Faith huffed. "Figures."

Sirius just grinned. "Ah revenge is sweet."

I just looked up at him. My hands were wringing with tension and I couldn't handle it anymore. I knew why Harry and Hermione were staring at me and I couldn't take it any longer. I pushed up from my seat and passed them trying to get the door open.

"Willow what's wrong."

I couldn't meet Sirius' eyes. I jerked and jerked at the door, but it was stuck. I stood back and raise my hand. "Open!"

The door slammed open and almost came off its rail. I didn't care which way I was going I just had to get out of here. So I ran.