Part 2

Ginny glanced up as Harry, Ron and Hermione entered the Gryffindor Common Room. She welcomed the break from her essay, Animagi and their importance through the ages, that she had to write for Professor McGonagall. She could hear Ron arguing with Hermione before they even got through the portrait hole.

"All I'm sayin' is that Dumbledore's barmy."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at Ron, "WE may not know what he has planned but I'm sure there's a perfectly good reason why he opened Hogwarts to witches and wizards with no prior magick in their family."

"But we're in the middle of a WAR, Hermione. Why bring in outsiders? I mean, can you see a witch or wizard raised with Muggles and no prior knowledge having to face down Death Eaters, Dementors or even You-Know-Who?"

"I dunno, Ron. Harry seems to have done all right." Ginny grinned at her brother as she caught Harry's eye. She couldn't resist egging her brother on. He looked like he was working up to a fine temper.

Harry grinned back at Ginny. However her brother wasn't as kind. He narrowed his eyes and prepared for battle. But before he could open his mouth Hermione interrupted, "Honestly. Do you really think Dumbledore would bring innocents into the middle of the war without a very good reason?"

"Fine." Ron harrumphed as he crossed over to one of the chairs and slouched down. "But don't say I didn't warn you when this all gets botched."

"Never thought I'd live to see it when you and Malfoy agreed on something." Ginny couldn't help teasing.

He practically growled at his sister but before he could launch into an attack Harry tried to slightly change the subject by asking Hermione, "When do you meet the exchange students?"

"I'm supposed to meet one of them in two weeks. She'll be one of the first to arrive. An American."

Harry widened his eyes at that. He just assumed the students would be from Britain. "America? Why so far?"

"Oh that's not as far as others. Jennifer Portroy from Hufflepuff is picking up a student from China. There's supposed to be a large mixture of students, different ages and different nationalities. The American I'm picking up is our age and the student that Jennifer is picking up will be in fourth year."

"Maybe Dumbledore's recruiting witches and wizards from all over to join the Order and the fight. I mean Charlie's got a nice amount of members in Romania now, Bill and Fleur's group in France is coming along nicely as well."

Ron snorted at his sister, "Oi, I can just see it. Dumbledore sitting in his office, stroking his beard. 'Hmmm who can I recruit in my fight against the Death Eaters… I know I'll get some students with no background in magick at all and bring them to Hogwarts. That'll have You-Know-Who trembling in fear.' Yeah I can just see that."

Ginny narrowed her eyes and prepared to launch a verbal attack when McGonagall came in the room. "Oh good you're here, Hermione. Dumbledore would like to see you."

"I-is anything wrong?"

"Oh no dear. Just some more instructions for those that will be picking up the new students soon."

Ron rolled his eyes and got up out of the chair to head up to his room. He couldn't help but feel that this was a big mistake. "Coming, Harry?"

"Yeah, in a minute."

Harry turned and watched the firelight play through the highlights in Ginny's hair in the silence following Ron, Hermione and McGonagall's exits. Every time he saw it he discovered another color. He didn't think he'd ever get tired of watching the firelight dance through her hair.

"What? Do I have ink on the end of my nose?" Ginny wiped the end of her nose with the sleeve of her robe.

Harry grinned over at her, "Welll, I wasn't going to say anything but now that you mention it." His grinned broadened into a smile at Ginny's gasp and harder rubbing. "Just kidding, Gin. No ink, I promise. I was just grabbing a memory."

She wrinkled her nose at him, "Glad I could be of service. Shouldn't you be studying for your N.E.W.T.s?"

He leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her forehead before reluctantly turning to go. "Yes, Hermione."

"Oi, I'm not that bad!" Ginny mock glared at him as his laughter filled the room and he beat a hasty retreat.

~~~~

Willow nervously shifted her weight from foot to foot as she waited for the library to clear. She hadn't told Buffy or Xander about her letter yet. She knew she was being a coward but she wanted to put off the inevitable argument that they would give her and to be honest she wanted Giles' opinion of Hogwarts, if he had one, before confronting Buffy and Xander with her potential for leaving.

She knew Xander would take it the hardest. Not only because they've been bestest buds since practically diapers but because of the whole fluking incident. Cordelia wasn't talking to him and if she left he'd only have Buffy.

Her parents hadn't been as big as an obstacle as she feared. Willow had made up a story that Mr. Giles had sponsored her application for attending the school since it was a stepping-stone to Oxford. She hadn't wanted to worry her parents since she didn't think she'd be accepted because only the best and the brightest from all over were invited. Luckily for her, her father had been an exchange student when he was in high school and he thought it a great idea. Her mother had agreed quickly as well, but Willow suspected her motives were more to do with 'my daughter got accepted into a very academically elite school' rather than a great experience for her.

Giles looked over at Willow as the bell for the next class rang and the last student left the library. "Did you need to see me, Willow or should you be in class?"

"Honors history, it's independent study. Umm, Giles can I talk to you in your office?"

"Y-yes of course." He mentally groaned and hoped he didn't have to navigate the potential minefield of teenage hormone, angst and drama that he normally had to with Buffy. Usually Willow was an angst-free discussion but Buffy had told him of the warehouse incident with Spike, Oz, Xander and Cordelia. He indicated for Willow to take a seat while he poured himself a cup of tea. "W-would you like a cup?"

Willow shook her head and twisted her fingers nervously trying to come up with the best way to broach the subject.

Giles curiosity was peaked as he watched Willow seeming to talk herself into something. "Everything alright, Willow?"

"Huh? What? Oh yeah. Ummm, it's just…" She heaved a sigh. "Have you ever heard of Hogwarts?"

Great Rosenberg just blurt it out, way to be all subtle.

"Hogwarts?" Giles furrowed his brow in concentration. "I seem to recall reading that somewhere." He walked over to his private collection of books that he kept in his office. "I think it was in a book that Jenny gave me."

Willow brightened at that. Okay he might not know of it but at least it was in a book that Jenny gave him. Maybe he could check it out for her before she went.

"I-it's in Scotland. A school for witches and wizards." Willow supplied.

His hand stopped in mid-air and he turned around to look at Willow. "Sorry? Did you say a school for witches?"

Willow reached into her backpack and pulled out her letter from Dumbledore. Giles reached over and took the letter reading it silently before he gave a bark of laughter.

"Diagon Alley?!? That's an urban legend in England. Surely that's not real." He reached back for the book that Jenny had given him.

Willow barely made out the title on the spine, 'Mystical Legends of the British Isles'.

"Ah ha. 'Hogwarts Castle. Says it was built over a millennia ago by four powerful wizards during the time of persecution. It was intended to be a school where young witches and wizards could learn their craft in peace and away from prying eyes. However, like Camelot there is no concrete evidence that such a place ever existed or exists to this day. It's a nice legend to tell the kiddies around the fire. Like leprechauns, kelpie and fairies.' Well it appears your Mr. Dumbledore is pulling your leg."

"I don't think so, Giles. I think it's real." She explained about the original letter disappearing and the new one returning in its place. "I even found something in Miss Calendar's notes about it." She pulled out what she had printed from the CD and handed them to Giles.

He sat back down in his chair as he read. "Well." It came out more of a croak than a word. The notes were so close to hearing Jenny that it tightened his throat on the memories. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Well, it seems you've been accepted into a wizarding school."

Willow bit her lip. "So, you think it's a good idea if I go?"

"Oh, Willow. I think it's a fantastic opportunity for you. Learning and developing your magickal skills…"

Xander's voice floated back to them, "G-man you in here? Have you seen Willow?"

Willow grabbed Giles' arm, "Don't say anything I haven't mentioned it to Xander or Buffy yet."