Chapter 11

The following day was a Saturday, and Buffy rose early, exulting in the feeling that everything that had been pressing on her mind was finally loosening its grip a little. Quidditch trials were that day she realised with a jolt, and began to feel nervous. She pulled on her robes before the others awoke, and went down to the common room. It was deserted and so she left and went to her training room. After an hours pounding on the punch bag, she felt slightly less nervous and went down to breakfast.
 "Morning," she greeted the others as she sat down and helped herself to toast.
 "Morning," Ron mumbled through a mouthful of his won toast. "You nervous?" Buffy grinned.
 "A little." She answered. "Took it out on my punch bag." They finished quickly, and then headed down to the Quidditch pitch, where they were met by a large group of eager Gryffindors. Hermione noted their names in her notebook and then took her place in the stands, where she was going to take notes for Harry to refer to later. They rose into the air, Buffy gripping her school broom nervously with white knuckles. They flew in formation first of all; all in a line after Harry, to warm up, but soon arranged themselves in a game. Buffy was playing chaser at first which was the position she wanted, but she also played beater for a while. After a hard practice, Buffy, Ron and Katie, along with Hermione and her notes, retired to a corner of the common room where they discussed who had performed well enough to merit a place on the team.

 
Buffy in the meantime headed up to her training room. She, unlike the others, did not get homework, so she had nothing to do. She planned to work out for an hour or so, still exhilarated from her flying, but when she arrived she found a letter waiting for her. Eagerly she tore it open.

Dear Buffy,

I can't deny that I'm glad to hear from you, I was very worried, and I am glad to know that you are doing well. I don't want to talk too much through letters; Mr Giles has informed me that you are coming to Sunnydale next weekend, so I look forward to seeing you then

Love,

Mom

Buffy frowned as she re read the letter. She wasn't quite happy with the tone her mother had taken, as if there was still something she was blaming her for. Buffy bit her lip anxiously; she so badly wanted to be on good terms with her mom, despite the secret she had kept from her. For the next hour, Buffy took out this frustration on her punch bag.

The next morning, Buffy awoke early, desperate to see the Quidditch team members list. The night before, she had bugged Hermione profusely, but Hermione kept quiet, insisting that 'it wasn't fair to the others.' Buffy pulled on her school robes, quietly so as not to wake the others and ran downstairs. She approached the notice board apprehensively, glad that only a few others were up, and scanned the list. It read:

Harry Potter (captain)…….Seeker

Ron Weasley…….Keeper

Katie Bell…….Chaser

Ginny Weasley…….Chaser

Buffy Summers…….Chaser

Jack Sloper…….Beater

Seamus Finnigan……Beater

Andrew Kirke……reserve Beater

Dean Thomas……reserve Chaser

Lavender Thomas……reserve Chaser

The entire team is expected for practices. Thanks to everyone who tried out.

Buffy squealed with delight, making the few people who were up jump.

 "I made it!" she chanted quietly to herself. Hermione came down the stairs and saw Buffy. She grinned broadly.

"Well done!" she exclaimed. "I wanted to tell you but I couldn't, Harry forbade me. Buffy hugged her, which surprised Hermione, but she joined in her jubilations with delight. One by one, the new members of the team came down and congratulated one another on their success. Ginny, Katie and Buffy made plans to have extra practices so they could work better as a team.

After the excitement of getting a place on the Quidditch team, a fact that earned her more popularity Buffy noticed, the week passed painfully slowly for Buffy. The weekend loomed and thinking about the return to Sunnydale made Buffy feel a million different feelings, both of joy and sadness and fear. But finally Saturday morning, seven o clock came and Buffy nervously gathered up some clothes in her duffel bag, a mixture of robes and muggle clothes, for her stay in Sunnydale. She packed her wand too, and put a stake in her pocket. She met Harry, Ron and Hermione in the common room, they had got up early specially, and, after saying their goodbyes, Buffy cast Harry an uneasy smile and they left to go to Dumbledore's office, Harry carrying a bag also.

Dumbledore was waiting for them when they arrived, a pink hat on his desk. Buffy stared at it bemusedly, and Dumbledore smiled.

 "It is a portkey," he explained. "It will take us to Sunnydale almost instantaneously. Just make sure you are touching a part of it." Buffy obligingly took hold of the hat along with Dumbledore and Harry. Almost instantaneously, she felt a jerk from behind her navel, and her feet lifted off of the floor, the office disappearing in a whirl of colour. It felt like a long time, though in actuality it was only about three minutes, before Buffy, Harry and Dumbledore hit the pavement in an alleyway. Buffy and Harry fell over, Dumbledore only just managing to stay upright having had more portkey experience. Buffy climbed up, careful not to step on Harry, who was also clambering up, marvelling at the night sky as it was 11 o clock at night in Sunnydale, and was immediately knocked off of her feet. She looked up dazed and saw a man, about mid-twenties standing above her.
 "God, I've missed you guys," Buffy said cheerfully as she hopped up. The vampire had lunged for Harry who jumped back instinctively, but Buffy caught its arm, turned in and punched it hard. It hit the fence at the back of the alley, and Buffy ran forward pulling out her stake. It kicked, but Buffy blocked it, punched it again, and then staked it in quick succession. She sighed and put away her stake, dusting off her hands.
 "Welcome to Sunnydale," she announced.