Chapter 7

The afternoon passed quickly, Buffy attending Charms and Herbology, with Ron and Harry. Hermione didn't take Herbology anymore, she had chosen Arithmancy instead. Buffy enjoyed Herbology, though she had no knowledge of any of the plants they studied. Charms was okay too, she had spent the lesson talking to professor Flitwick about being a Slayer, while the class practised the disillusionment charm on one another. Evening came and they ate a large dinner, Buffy particularly exhausted after her first day of school. She had really enjoyed herself, it wasn't like High School, she didn't get any homework yet, and magic was cool. She actually found something she was halfway decent at, other than slaying.

After they had finished dinner, they got up to go to Hagrid's Hut, but before they left Professor McGonagall came over to them.
 "Miss Summers, Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office," she said, then disappeared from the hall. Buffy looked at them with a worried look on her face.
 "You can't have done anything wrong," Hermione said, laughing. "Don't look so scared, he probably just wants to know how your day went." Buffy grinned.
 "Force of habit," Buffy confessed. "My old principal at Sunnydale, Snyder, hated me with a passion. He hardly needed an excuse to chuck me out."

"You got expelled?" Ron said in awe. Buffy grinned.
 "Twice actually," she said nonchalantly. "First time coz I burnt down the gym, which was full of vamps and the second was because of Snyder, they thought I'd attacked people and killed someone so he expelled me. I don't care; I never want to go back to Sunnydale High while he's there." Ron gazed her in admiration.
"I'll meet you guys at Hagrid's," Buffy said quickly as they reached Dumbledore's office. "Don't bother to wait for me." They waved as Buffy said the password and travelled up to Dumbledore's Office.
"So what do you think of Buffy, herm?" Ron asked eagerly as she disappeared behind the gargoyle.
 "She's really nice," Hermione said sincerely. "When Dumbledore said it was going to be a seventeen year old Californian I thought she was going to be really stupid or really stuck up, but I was wrong. She is really great. Plus, its nice having a four with a girl, it's a bit difficult having two boys as best friends, now she can be on my side in the arguments!"
 "She is really nice," Harry said. "It's going to be good having her around, she can beat up Malfoy for us!" They left the castle to go down to Hagrid's Hut.  

Buffy knocked on the office door, and then entered at Dumbledore's assent. She sat in a chair in front of his desk, while Dumbledore smiled at her benignly.

"I have received a letter from Rupert Giles," Dumbledore informed her gently.
 "You have?" Buffy gasped, not aware that she had stood up. Dumbledore looked at her piercingly and handed her the letter. Hands shaking, she read it.


Dear Professor Dumbledore,
Thank you for writing to me and letting us know that Buffy is safe. I'm glad she's at Hogwarts, I cannot think of a better place for her to recuperate and I trust that you are taking good care of her. I am glad she can help you, by taking care of Harry Potter. If there is anything we can do in Sunnydale, then don't hesitate to ask. Could you please pass on a message from all of us in Sunnydale. Tell her that we are all missing her very much,
Willow and Xander said to say that in particular, and we want to hear from her and see her whenever she is ready if she can just write to us. Tell her we are all well, and Willow says that the new Slayer is no where near as great as she is. Lastly tell her that we love her loads, and that we are all thinking of her constantly, especially her mom.
Thank you again,


Rupert Giles

Buffy wiped away the tears that had fallen before looking at Dumbledore again.
 "As I said, Buffy, you can write to them whenever you want, you can use Fawkes my phoenix, if you like, he delivers almost instantaneously." Dumbledore said seriously. "But only when you are ready. You are welcome to stay at Hogwarts for as long as you like, and while you are here, you have the freedom to do whatever you feel necessary." Buffy wiped away yet more tears that were steaming down her face and gave him a small smile.
 "I think I want to write to them soon," she said. "And I need to write to my mom. When I left, we weren't on the best terms, in fact she told me not to come back. But it's good to hear that she still cares about me. Thank you for writing; I didn't have the courage to do it myself." Dumbledore looked at her, his heart going out to this girl who was so young, yet had so much weight on her shoulder, just like Harry.

 "As I said, just come and see me when you are ready," Dumbledore said. "Now, how was your first day? I have had reports from your teachers, and all of them have said that they were impressed by your aptitude. Even professor Snape," he finished, his moustache twitching. Buffy smiled as she wiped away the last traces of her tears.
 "I really had a good time," she admitted. "It was the most fun school has ever been. It wasn't like school at all. And I can actually do magic, which fills me with geeker joy." Professor Dumbledore smiled.
 "I'm glad you are fitting in," he said. "And how are you getting on with the other students?"

 "Okay," said Buffy. "It's better now that they know I'm just a regular student, even though I'm not. I haven't really spoken to many others. Harry, Hermione and Ron are really great; they've been really nice to me. And Lavender and Parvati in my dormitory, they're nice too. But Dragon Malfoy, or whatever his name is, I don't like him. He makes me wanna go wild bunch on him." Dumbledore smiled indulgently.
 I would appreciate it if you refrain from that," he said lightly, still smiling slightly. "Good. If you have any problems, come to me or Professor McGonagall. I think you will do very well here." Buffy got up to leave, and then turned back to him.
 "Oh, I meant to ask," she said quickly. "Harry wants me to try out for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Would that be okay for me to play?"

 "I see no reason why not," Dumbledore said. "You are, of course, just a regular Hogwarts student." Buffy grinned and waved goodbye as she left.

She ran down to Hagrid's Hut, relishing the feel of the cold air on her skin. Reaching the door, she knocked on it politely, and heard barking within. The door was thrown open and a huge black dog jumped on Buffy, throwing her backward off her feet and licking her face.
 "Fang, Fang!" Buffy heard someone yell, and the dog was pulled off of her. She got up, wiping her wet face on her robes, and giggling.

 "I'm sorry," a huge man said apologetically. "He just gets like tha', excitable yeh know." Buffy was still giggling.
 "No, its fine," she said, "It was kinda fun. I'm Buffy, by the way."

 "Hagrid," he said, offering a gigantic hand which Buffy shook. "Course I heard all bout yeh, from Dumbledore and these three. Come in, come in" Buffy followed him in, and saw Harry, Ron and Hermione with large cups of tea and untouched rock cakes in front of them.
 "'Ave some tea," Hagrid said helpfully, pouring her a cup. Buffy immediately warmed to this man, he was friendly and she liked him straight away. She took the cup and sat next to the others.

"How 'ave yeh first days been then?" Hagrid said, settling down in his chair. Buffy told him about her lessons while Fang sat with his head in her lap, drooling on her robes.
It was a really pleasant evening, sitting in the cabin, in front of the roaring fire and getting to know Hagrid, and Harry, Ron and Hermione better. As Buffy settled into her four poster bed that night, she felt that maybe, just maybe, she could be happy again somehow.