his is just one of three you're gonna get...
Chapter 7
The Basics
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Harry, Ron and Hermione turned to the familiar voice of Hagrid, ushering a large group of small first years forward while the other students turned in the familiar direction toward the carriages.
"I can't wait to get inside for the feast," Ron was saying, his eyes glazed over as he hauled Pigwidgeon's cage into the nearest empty carriage. Suddenly the glazed look left his eyes as he saw a figure over Hermione's shoulder. "Shouldn't we ask her to join us?"
"Isn't she in Ravenclaw?" Harry replied, setting Hedwig's cage inside.
An owl had appeared about an hour before the train had stopped. The package attached to its leg had been for Dawn and had been delivered by none other than Malfoy himself, who had looked very pleased to see Dawn. He was less than pleased to see Harry and the others gathered around her. When Dawn had opened the package, she discovered her Hogwarts robes and colors matching that of Ravenclaw.
"She'll find her way," Harry finally said as the three boarded into the carriage, followed closely by Ginny and Neville.
A few carriages behind them, Draco was just setting his owl's cage inside when he spied Dawn walking by, looking confused and lost. "Hey, Harris!" he shouted. He saw her turn slowly, recognition lighting her eyes. "Want a ride?"
She shook her head and put a hand to her ear, indicating she couldn't hear much. Her other hand clutched her owl's cage. Draco waved at her, trying to get her to move, but in the next moment, she was swallowed by the crowd.
The carriages plotted their way up the drive quickly, bypassing the front gates up to the front door where they grinded to a halt. Dawn hopped down quickly from her carriage, her owl's cage in her hands, when she saw the other students walking up the stairs, talking in excited voices.
Personally, Dawn didn't have anything to be excited about as she smoothed her long black robes, over which she wore a sort of a shift in royal blue. Behind her, a sharp female voice ordered the rest of those cloaked in blue forward. Dawn was slightly relieved the girl had pulled her from the throngs of people heading toward the carriages.
Such strange carriages they were, driven by the most curious creatures. They were large and black, except they looked as though they had no skin. Their white bones glistened almost oddly against the dark ground they trod upon. When she had asked the girl sitting next to her about it, the girl had looked at the ground and said in a quiet voice that only someone who had watched another person die would be able to see the creatures.
As Dawn climbed the steps into the Great Hall, it was a bit unnerving for her to realize that the only reason she could see these creatures was because she had watched Buffy die. She shivered slightly and set her owl's cage down where the others were being set.
The tall, pretty dark-haired girl then lead the group into what she announced was the Great Hall. It was like nothing Dawn had ever seen before. The ceiling was swirling and starry, with hundreds of floating, lit candles dancing feet above four long tables. "Wow," she whispered, noticing the four large banners than hung gracefully over the areas where their tables sat.
"This is nothing," the tall girl said, grinning. "Come, sit with us."
Dawn was only happy to oblige, walking along the Ravenclaw table, which was filling up nicely. The tall girl sat with a small group of girls who began giggling when she arrived. "Guys, I want you to meet Dawn Harris. She's part of the American Exchange Program."
"Oh!" one of the girls sitting across from them exclaimed, extending her hand. "I'm Lauren."
The rest of the girls around the table introduced themselves. The tall girl sitting next to her spoke up last. "And I'm Cho Chang. Welcome to Ravenclaw. I'm the Head Girl, so if there is anything you need, I'm your woman."
"I'll keep that in mind," Dawn assured her. She took the time while the girls chatted to look around. On the other side of the large hall was the Gryffindor table, where Harry Potter and the rest of his friends had settled already. At the table directly in front of the Ravenclaw's, the Slytherins were marching in, loudly and cheerfully taking their seats. The table in front of the four tables, perched atop a few steps, was being filled with faculty members. Dawn straightened quickly, her eyes looking for any sign of her sister.
Next to her, Cho straightened, her eyes brightening as the staff table filled out. "I wonder who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor will be," she said excitedly.
"I have no idea," Dawn replied ironically.
Then Buffy walked in, a white cat in her arms. Dawn sat up straighter still, her eyes narrowed. Who was the cat?
But before Dawn could question the cat, the doors burst open again and a tall woman in long billowing robes came forward, a large scroll in one hand. Behind her were the first years that had followed the large, giant-sized man away from the other students.
On the other side of the room, Harry, Ron and Hermione were glancing at the new Professor. "It's her!" Ron had exclaimed the moment she had walked in. "It's the woman who was at the house!"
Hermione narrowed her eyes as she surveyed the Professor as she sat down, setting the small white cat in her lap and stroking it. Her eyes too were examining the Great Hall.
"Look, the sorting's started!" Ron said, poking Harry's side and gesturing up toward Professor McGonagall, who had set the old sorting hat on it's three legged stool.
As the sorting hat burst into song, the first years gave the usual jumps of surprise, before Professor McGonagall rolled out the scroll and began to alphabetically call each new student forward to sort them into their houses. Dawn found it fun, especially when a new student was sorted into Ravenclaw.
Buffy was watching the proceedings happily, stroking the white cat in her lap. Earlier that afternoon, Willow and Tara had come up with the ingenius way that Willow could go around unnoticed. Tara suggested that Willow turn into an animagus. After a brief consultation with the Ministry, it was allowed to go forward. Now, Willow could transform herself into the little cat.
Her eyes scanned the room carefully, finally falling on her sister, who was sitting at one of the tables farthest away. She was applauding enthusiastically as another first year joined the Ravenclaw table. A smile pulled her lips. Dawn was really getting into this.
Before Buffy knew it, the last student had been sorted and Professor McGonagall had joined the staff table. As soon as she sat down, she tapped her knife against her goblet and spoke out, "May I have your attention please?"
And Professor Dumbledore stood up.
Buffy could immediately see the sign of respect he garnered from many students. Many had a look of understated awe on their face. Some were even smiling.
"Welcome, my dear students, to a new year! And quite the year it will be!" After a few moments, Buffy tuned out Dumbledore's speech to take in the enchanted ceiling Tara had explained to her for several hours that afternoon. It looked like crystals were pouring from the endless horizon. It really was a beautiful sight.
"... and let me introduce your new Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor, Anne Summers." As the staff table applauded, Buffy moved from her reverie before flashing a quick, hasty smile at the students applauding lightly before her. She saw that Dawn had a distinct look of pride on her face.
After Dumbledore finished clapping, he leaned forward slightly. "Tuck in," he said, pushing his hands forward.
Suddenly, the tables filled with food, all sorts of food, even foods Buffy had never seen before. Keen on trying everything, she began tipping bowls and platters to her plate.
"Perhaps you would like some mince pie?" a cold voice said at her elbow.
Buffy turned to the hook-nosed man on her right. Behind his dark hair, his eyes were strangely icy. He had a large pan in one hand, and the other was carefully holding a serving spoon. "Please," she said with a quick smile as he tipped the spoon onto her plate. "Thank you."
"Anytime," he replied, reaching around her to pass on the dish to tiny Professor Flitwick.
Buffy took a bite of the pie, surprised at how good it tasted. From what Tara had told her, all of the food was made by the house elves, who had turned into surprising good cooks.
As soon as the meal had finished, the plates wiped clean, and excited chatter filled the hall once more, Dumbledore rose and addressed the students again. But this time it was to dismiss them and Buffy was quite sad to see them all rise and leave in one large noisy mass toward the double-doored entrance.
The rest of the staff gathered their things. As Buffy rose, the white cat leapt onto the table and turned toward the hook-nosed Professor Snape. Buffy chuckled as the cat mewed softly before returning to the comfort of her arms.
"Do sleep well," he told her in his icy voice. "Those students may be more than a match for you tomorrow."
"I'm ready to accept any challenge, Severus," she said, remembering his name at last. "Have a good night."
Apparently, she wasn't alone.
"What was I thinking? Can I do this? Should I do this?" Buffy ranted, pacing the small common room while Tara and Willow watched her, both immersed in books. "I don't know enough magic. I don't know any magic! How can I-"
"Stop," Tara finally said, rising and taking Buffy by the shoulders. "Take a deep breath."
Buffy took a sharp breath, but another thought flashed through her mind so quickly that she let it out with a moan. "What am I doing?"
"We know you're scared, Buffy, but we can't let that stop us," Willow said in a comforting voice. "Here." She lifted a thin, hardcover book and handed it to her. "It's your first week's lesson plan. If you review what we've set up for you, you should feel better."
"You set this up?" Buffy asked in relief.
"Professor Dumbledore assisted," Tara replied. "He knows what has been taught so far, so he was only too happy to make a few recommendations. And he also acknowledges your arrival and says it should be in class in time for the sixth and seventh years tomorrow."
"Because of their ordinary wizarding levels," Buffy began slowly, "the classes are now combined, right?"
"Yes," Willow replied. "The sixth and seventh years have double Defense Against the Dark Arts tomorrow and Wednesday. So that's only like eight hours of class right there, and since you just wanted to teach them vampire theory and have a practical, it shouldn't be bad at all."
Buffy glanced at Tara, who gave a brief smile.
"Anyway," Willow continued, taking the book back and flipping through it. "The first and second years... all they need to know is theories. Dumbledore assured us that he has some less dangerous creatures that will come into effect come Halloween or so. Until then, it's book theory. And the third and fourth years will be easy enough. They start right away with practical, and I know you wanted to demonstrate a vampire to them as well. Maybe you will, but for now, it's book practice. As for the fifth years, we figured you should start on curses."
"Curses?"
"Curses," Tara said firmly. She removed a few pieces of parchment from the table and handed them to her. "The first few are for the third and fifth years tomorrow morning. Tomorrow afternoon you have the sixth years. The seventh years are right before dinner. These are the lecture notes for the morning. You already know what you want to do come afternoon."
"I do," Buffy replied. "But how-"
"You might want to review those quickly," Willow said hurriedly, returning to the books. "Professor Dumbledore wants to meet with you before breakfast tomorrow and that is quite early. Get some rest. Remember what Severus Snape said."
Tara spun around to look at Buffy. "You saw Severus Snape?"
"Yeah," said Buffy with a sigh. "He seemed like a... strange person, but look who's talking."
"Watch your back around him," Tara said firmly. "He's not dangerous, but he sees things. If you mess up, it could jeopardize everything. So watch yourself around him."
"So you're saying it would be best if he were my ally?" Buffy asked softly.
"Maybe," Tara replied, shaking her head as she sat down across from Willow again. "Maybe not. But there is one thing for certain. Severus Snape is not to be trusted on kindness."
"Mornin'," Hermione said through a mouthful of toast.
A slip of parchment fell in front of Harry as Ron passed it over. "New schedule."
"Let's see what we have," Harry said, anticipation building inside of him. "Not bad for a Monday. Herbology, Double Transfiguration, Double Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions."
"Are you kidding me?" Hermione asked, a glimmer of anger in her eyes. She had not yet forgotten how nasty Professor Snape could be toward them. "I'm just eager to see what Professor Summers has to show us."
"Me too," said Ron suddenly, setting down his juice goblet. "As a matter of fact, where is she?"
They all scanned the staff table as more students trickled in, all talking excitedly.
"Dunno," Harry replied, turning back to his bacon. "Professor Dumbledore isn't there either."
"Odd," Hermione remarked, setting her fork on her plate and draining her orange juice. "So, Harry, are you going to petition to rejoin the Quidditch team?"
"Are you kidding me?" Ron asked. "Are you bloody mad? Of course he's going back."
"You heard him, Hermione," Harry grinned. "There's no way I won't be on the team."
That said, Harry watched as Ginny Weasley walked into the hall, followed by Katie Bell, the seventh year Quidditch chaser. They were both talking animatedly and soon sat down near Harry. "All right there, Harry?" Ginny asked with a grin.
Katie turned toward both him and Ron. "I've asked Professor McGonagall if you could be reinstated and she quite agreed."
Ron and Harry exchanged an excited look.
"Ron," Katie then said, dropping her voice. "I've never been good in a leadership role and I know that Angelina believed in you more than anything you could imagine. She knows you have whatever that spark is inside of you, and now I do, too. I've asked that you be assigned Quidditch Captain this season."
Ron's eyes widened as Hermione gave a squeal across the table.
"I know this means you'll be dealing a lot with tacticals and maneuvers and coordinating a lot of practice, but this should be easy. You have Harry and your sister, and that's something. And we'll find new chasers and hopefully some new beaters, so we'll have tryouts on Friday. That much I did, but now, I'm turning everything over to you, if you accept."
Ron looked beyond words, so Harry took over. "Of course he accepts."
Katie grinned and hugged this still speechless Ron. "Thank you." She looked starstruck as she rose and hurried out of the hall, still breathing, "I knew another Weasley would take over someday!"
"How about that?" Ginny marveled, watching as Katie disappeared out of the hall. "Congratulations, Ron!"
"You sure you don't mind?" Ron asked, turning with his stunned eyes to Harry, who was beaming.
"You earned it," Harry said honestly as Ron shook his head in disbelief. "And I think you'll be a brilliant captain."
"I know it too," Hermione said, her face shining. It was getting harder to talk so softly with the Great Hall now full of bustling students.
"So tryouts Friday, eh?" Ron asked, clapping his hands together as the group stood and left the Great Hall. "Almost makes it worth Double Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"How was your first morning?" a kind voice asked behind her.
"Hello, Cho," Dawn replied, making room for the girl as she sat down on the other side of her. Cho grinned while she reached for several platters, intent on sampling everything. "It was interesting. I had Divination this morning with that centaur. It was fascinating."
"Too bad I didn't pass my Divination O.W.L.," Cho said with a heavy sigh. "I quite miss that class."
"I can't imagine why you would," Dawn muttered as she ate quickly. "Firenze was contradicting everything he said."
Cho chuckled and sipped at her goblet. "What's on tap for the afternoon?"
"Double Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions."
"Oi," Cho said with a wince. "I can't imagine anyone anticipating anything taught by Professor Snape, except maybe the Slytherins. And I have yet to hear anything positive about Professor Summers."
Dawn bit back a retort, knowing she would blow her entire cover if she babbled on about how great Buffy was.
"Yum," another voice said across the table as more of Cho's friends joined in. Many of them inquired about how Dawn's morning had gone. She found it easy to talk to the crowd of sixth and seventh year girls. A few boys joined them too. Dawn was flattered by the attention, but she could tell that it was Cho who easily held the reins. She was Head Girl and according to one of the other girls, she was Captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.
"Quidditch?" Dawn questioned casually.
"I keep forgetting you're from the states and you don't know!" Cho exclaimed. "We're having Keeper tryouts on Wednesday evening. Perhaps you'd like to join us? What's your broom?"
"A Nimbus Two Thousand and One," Dawn replied, pushing her last potato around on her plate.
"Can you fly well?"
Dawn had attempted flying twice, both times in the fields past Diagon Alley. It had been an interesting, yet carefully orchestrated, experience. "Yes," she finally answered.
"You should try out," Cho encouraged her. "I don't think anyone can ever say they've had an Exchange student on the team."
"Probably not," Dawn replied, draining her juice.
"Wednesday at seven," Cho reminded her, before standing up. A large group of both girls and boys rose as one around her. "And you'd better hurry up. I doubt Professor Summers would tolerate lateness."
"Right," Dawn said quietly, watching as Cho and the others strolled away.
"Harris!" a voice shouted behind her.
"What now?" Dawn groaned, rising to her feet and turning to see a crowd of Slytherins standing there. "To what do I owe the pleasure of you all?"
Draco stepped forward, his eyes glistening. "I'd watch my back if I were you, Harris."
Dawn crossed her arms. "Oh, really?"
"You don't want to be getting on with the wrong sort," Draco replied, his pale face glowing.
"Cho was just telling me-" Dawn began.
"Wasn't talking about her, was I?" Draco replied coldly. "I was talking about Potter and Weasley and..." his lip curled, "Granger."
"Why should it matter to you who I make friends with?" Dawn asked, her voice decidedly cool. "I'm not your property."
"Maybe you should be," Draco said softly, his eyes narrowing. "You have a lot to learn about how things are here, Harris. And Ravenclaw can only go so far in showing you the way."
"I think I'll figure it out," Dawn said archly. "Besides, isn't that what coming over here is for? Learning? Finding out yourself? I think I'll manage," she continued, hitching up her bag on her shoulder. "Thank you."