Chapter 16 extended version includes: extended DADA class, Oz coverage and Summers/Snape conversation. Extra scene includes Snape reaction and Willow/Tara conversation at end of Chapter.
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Chapter 16
Fairy Nights (extended version)
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Before Dawn realized it, she had been at Hogwarts for nearly eighty six days. It was even more shocking to discover, although she'd been plowing through the courtyards to get to classes, that Christmas was a mere few days away.
Christmas had always been one of her favorite times each year. But somehow this year it just seemed more special.
Hogsmeade had finally been open to the students, after a long debate through the faculty. Some had decided that although it was dangerous, allowing the students some freedom would be a good thing. The others were clearly against the idea because of the safety concerns. So what if there was someone out there who wanted every single magic person dead? These students had a social life to lead!
Dawn grinned at Xander's handwriting on the parchment she was now bringing before Professor McGonagall, who stood at the front of the Transfiguration classroom, collecting permission slips and homework assignments. As soon as Dawn hit the front of the queue, she handed in her single scroll on which she'd done her assignment, and then the permission slip. Professor McGonagall saw it and her eyebrows raised slightly when she saw that it was Xander's, and not Buffy's, name on the parchment, but quietly shooed her away nonetheless.
Draco was waiting for her outside the classroom. "Just one more class and we have the next few weeks free!" he was exclaiming as Crabbe and Goyle followed them stupidly through the corridors.
"I really don't mind Defense Against the Dark Arts," Dawn said pleasantly. "I think Professor Summers is kind of cool."
"My father would like her," Draco said. "She's not afraid to go against the Ministry when it comes to teaching us what really matters."
Dawn's stomach tightened slightly. "I'm sure she's doing what she thinks is best."
Gone were the weekly essays, the class discussions, the slideshows and overhead projections. Buffy had since brought in creatures of varying depths of danger and had forced the class to relive, day after day, watching a dark creature die. Buffy had announced that for their last class period, she was having a surprise guest. Dawn half-figured that either Angel or Spike would show up, but by the time the entirety of the sixth years enrolled in the classroom strolled in, she spied a familiar face by the desk.
It was Oz.
Dawn was forced to hide her surprise as she sat down on her usual chair, surrounded by giggling Gryffindor and Ravenclaw girls, who, since the announcement had been made concerning the Yule Ball, hadn't shut up for one second about it. Dawn knew who she was going with, and didn't want to discuss it, because every time she mentioned Draco's name within her new social circle, the girls always fell silent. Dawn knew it was because they didn't understand Draco. Not the way Dawn thought she herself did anyway.
Buffy stepped forward, a tazer gun in hand. "Good afternoon, class."
"Good afternoon, Professor Summers!" the class chanted.
"From what Professor Flitwick has told me, you have been studying up on tranquilizing charms. Today, on your last day of class this year, you get to learn about all you need to know to tranquilize one of nature's most fierce creatures. Unfortunately, the Headmaster refused to allow a bengal tiger into the classroom, but he didn't object to this gentleman you see here."
Oz looked like he wanted to dive behind the desk.
"You have to know what you're facing in this world. So... let's have a volunteer... anyone? Anyone? As soon as I get one, I'll tell you what your task is. It's only mildly dangerous."
To everyone's slight surprise, it was Ron Weasley who stood up.
"Thank you, Ron," said Buffy, giving him one of her flashy smiles as she invited him to stand next to her. "Wands out, all of you. Ron? Can you recite to me your charm?" Ron told her in a quiet voice. "Thank you. Now... you've dealt with vampires, dementors and some lower-forms of demons. But you have never faced one of these."
"I have to tranquilize a man?" Ron asked, his voice confused.
"No," Buffy said, amidst light laughter ringing behind them. "See, this is no ordinary man. He's a hunter, a prowler. It's in his blood, just like magic is in yours. If you use this charm when he's at his worst, then you can do anything. Thankfully, a friend of mine volunteered for this assignment, which I am now turning over to you. Once he has been changed over," she continued, waving the tazer, "he will strike quickly, so be ready."
Without warning, she leaned forward and zapped Oz.
He changed quickly down into a werewolf. Ron gasped and stared at him for a second before he lifted his trembling wand arm and practically screamed the incantation. "Quietus!"
Behind him, Hermione beamed.
"That was excellent," Professor Summers said, which, coming from her, was incredibly high praise. Ron tucked his wand away and quickly moved to sit between Harry and Hermione. Hermione grinned at him, touching his hand lightly.
"That was pretty incredible."
"Thank you for teaching me that new spell," Ron thanked her.
"Anytime."
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On Christmas eve, Buffy and her friends gathered around a large table, once again groaning under the weight of a baked ham and more delicious food to go with it.
"I can't eat anymore," Tara groaned, eyeing Xander, Giles and Wesley, the only other visitors there. "But that was fantastic."
"My regards to the chef," Willow said, patting her stomach enthusiastically. "Those house elves really do earn their due around here."
"I'm glad you could come," Buffy said in mid-stretch, glancing at Oz seated at the end of the table, looking exhausted. "Thanks for bailing me out."
"After the seventh student tranquilized me, I didn't think I'd be able to move again, let alone turn back," Oz said, speaking in a long sentence. "But it's good to see you all. Again."
"I'm sorry you can't stay for any more Christmas-y fun," Buffy said as she rose and began to collect the plates.
"Me too," said Oz softly as he rose. "I'll try and hang out more though, now that we're in the same country."
"At least there's no Initiative," Willow said in a cheerful voice as she too stood up. "I wish you'd come around more."
Oz smiled but said nothing as they hugged.
"Merry Christmas, Oz," Giles said quietly, stepping forward to shake his hand.
"Oz," Xander said, pulling him aside quickly. "Before you run, maybe we should just tell them about the undercover operations. After all, they are Initiative-like."
"No need," Oz said, shaking his head. "I don't want to worry them. They have a huge battle ahead. They have enough on their plates for now."
Xander nodded resignedly before shaking Oz's hand and returning to the table.
"Bye all," Oz said, moving toward the door and disappearing behind it.
"He always hated goodbyes," Willow said softly.
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The bright Christmas sunlight hit Harry's face and before he knew it, he saw wrapping paper zooming over his bed, and Seamus yelling out: "Oy! Harry! Presents!"
Harry scrambled out of bed and ran over to his small, yet impressive pile of gifts. He unwrapped his largest gift first, finding that the Weasley's had sent him several mince pies, chocolate-covered insects, and a large emerald sweater with an imprint of a large H on it.
Behind him, Ron was coughing on his chocolate frog. "What is that?" he asked in a strangled voice.
Harry grinned as he spied Ron's usual red sweater, only this time, there was a boy riding a broomstick on it. "We really ought to thank your mum one of these days."
"Yeah," said Ron, who looked mortified at the thought. "If she ever found out we like them, she'd make them four times a year."
After their presents had been thoroughly unwrapped and enjoyed, the boys swept down into the Common Room to find it bustling with activity. Ron lead the way for breakfast and they marched into the Great Hall together.
Once there, Harry saw a vivid red head and quickly lowered his gaze, remembering his humiliating conversation with Ginny not even a week before.
He had asked her out to the Yule Ball, completely disregarding the fact she'd been seeing Dean Thomas since last May. After she kindly told him she was already going with Dean, Harry had done the next best thing. He had asked Parvati, after swearing he wouldn't ditch her to hang with Ron all evening. Besides, Ron and Hermione were excited to go to their first formal together. Sure enough, as Harry dug into his kippers and eggs, Ron's and Hermione's heads were bent together.
Behind them, Dawn was enduring yet another torturous meal, listening to Cho and the others gossip about the boys they were taking to the Yule Ball. Apparently, Cho had asked Ron, who turned her down flat-out, saying he was going with Hermione. Cho had then asked Harry, who was in the presence of one of the Patil twins, who immediately stood up and had taken offense to Cho's presence. Cho had finally asked Michael Corner, who was Ron's sister Ginny's ex, who had politely accepted.
Cho's curly-haired friend Marietta was going with Seamus Finnigan from Gryffindor. She called him a 'suave accented fellow' and was commonly heard she was breaking out her 'special robes' for the event.
Dawn personally couldn't see what was so great about the whole Ball. She'd been to dances before, especially at the Bronze. She had received a box in her dorm room that morning containing dress robes of long, emerald floaty material.
But for some odd reason, she couldn't quite care about the dance like everyone else.
After breakfast, Harry, Ron and Hermione retreated back to the common room, where everyone was stringing together popcorn and cranberries for the "after party" following the end of the ball. Harry was relieved he could sit in one of the squashy armchairs in front of the large, roaring fire and just watch.
His mind settled back to his room, and the gift that Lupin had sent him. It was a portrait, one that James, Sirius, Remus and Peter Pettigrew, the last of James' friends, had had done only days before James had gotten married. When he had first opened it, he saw four beaming faces that quickly jumped aside until Sirius said in a quiet voice: "He's got your eyes, James."
Harry was so touched he had received it that he had hung it immediately. It was comforting to hear his fathers voice outside his dreams.
He retreated upstairs, but met a hard body in the entry. He glanced up and saw Ginny looking at him, concern swimming in those vivid eyes of hers. "You all right, Harry?"
"I'm fine," he said in a tight voice. "Excuse me."
"I'm sorry," she said, quickly retreating. "I shouldn't have..."
He paused. "Ginny... I'm sorry I hit you. I'm sorry I keep running away from you... it's just that..."
"Ron told me about the portrait, Harry," Ginny explained hastily as she pocketed what suspiciously looked like Filibuster Fireworks. "So I know you're going to go up there and see it."
He was amazed she knew him so well.
"Thank you," Harry said kindly, touching her arm. "I really appreciate it."
"Anytime, Harry," Ginny beamed.
After bading her goodbye, he disappeared into his room and watched the portrait for what seemed like hours before Ron had thrown his pillow at the back of Harry's head, appearingly waking him from a slumber.
Until he turned around and realized...
It wasn't Ron.
It was Sirius.
"Don't just stand there, Harry!" Sirius said jovially, collecting the pillow from the floor. "Dinner is in ten minutes and I do remember your mother saying that she wanted you in those brand new navy dress robes. So, hurry up!"
Harry grinned as he turned to his wardrobe and pried it open, lovingly pulling out the navy robes with the Potter-family crest on them. "Sirius?" he asked, turning around. But Sirius had disappeared.
Harry quickly pulled on the robes and grinned at his reflection, just as a gentle knock sounded. "Harry?" Ginny's voice called softly. "Harry?"
Harry blinked as a hand gently closed around his upper arm just as Ginny walked into the room before him.
"Harry?"
He opened his eyes. "Ron?"
"Yeah..." Ron said, staring at the portrait and back at Harry's vacant expression. "You okay?"
"Yeah," said Harry, trying to erase the image of Sirius' face from his mind, as well as the image of a much-older and much-prettier Ginny Weasley. "I'm great."
"Good," said Ron, not sounding convinced. "Get dressed... the Ball starts in less than an hour."
"One hour?" Harry asked in a blind panic.
Ron picked up his new dress robes, in the same velvety shade of black as his Hogwarts robes.
Behind him, Harry pried open his wardrobe and reached inside for his bottle green robes. In the mirror in the back, he could see the older Ginny watching him, beaming.
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The Gryffindors gathered at the entrance. Soft, velvety music was filtering through the closed doors leading into the Great Hall. Outside, the doors had opened to a vast lawn, covered in fountains and pillars and bushes, all covered in soft golden faeries, which fluttered back and forth.
Suddenly, the entrance hall grew quiet as Professors McGonagall and Summers approached. "All right, everyone?" Professor Summers asked in a hushed, excited voice. "Here we go!"
The doors burst open and couple-by-couple, they streamed through.
Above them, stars were twinkling under a glowing black sky in the enchanted ceiling. Ice sculptures decorated the center aisle, some carrying bowls of punch or water, where more golden faeries played gleefully, others contained trays of fruit or vegetables.
One by one, the couples sat at tables and chairs. Harry and Parvati sat at one table, followed closely by Ron and Hermione and Neville and his date, the other Gryffindor chaser, Wendy.
After ordering their food, the discussion turned into a light, pleasant one while the band set up behind them. Couples were tittering about excitedly. Before the lights dimmed, however, Harry rose with both his and Parvati's glasses and he made his way toward the punch bowl. It was then that he noticed sprigs of mistletoe hanging here and there. His face turned pink as he remembered how Parvati had suddenly kissed his cheek.
He returned to the table just as a soft, mournful tune started playing. Before he knew what was happening, he and Parvati were out on the dance floor, barely moving, just smiling gently at one another with the benevolence of friendship. After the song was over, Parvati half expected Harry to want to stop, but he didn't.
Ron and Hermione were dancing close, and once a long series of faster songs had ended, they decided to take a break and walked outside, where the golden faeries danced around them, hurling tiny tufts of rice and glitter.
"Gorgeous night," Hermione commented, smoothing her long robes of turquoise.
"It has been the most amazing night in my life," Ron admitted softly. Hermione turned to him in surprise. "I've been an idiot, Hermione. All this time now, I thought we were.. best friends... and now..."
"We're still best friends," Hermione said, although her voice shook slightly. "But..."
For a moment, neither one of them could speak. Then Ron felt that they didn't need to. Words were no longer necessary. Reaching across, he grasped Hermione's hand and squeezed it slightly, feeling even more relieved to feel the return squeeze.
Back inside, Harry and Parvati had finally decided to take a break. While Parvati rushed to the ladies room, he saw Dean Thomas with both Neville and Seamus and their dates, laughing while Seamus was talking about Quidditch. A flush of anger overcame him. Where was Ginny?
There she was, underneath the glittering ice sculpture, sampling a strawberry, surrounded by Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff fifth years, including, to his surprise, Luna Lovegood.
"Harry!" Ginny greeted him with a hearty wave as she swept over to him. He moved closer to her. And then, without warning, she turned bright red.
"What is it?"
"Mistletoe," Ginny muttered, almost nervously.
"So?"
"It's tradition," Ginny replied, twisting her hands. "Mum believes it's bad luck to go against tradition?"
"I'm not going to argue with your Mum," Harry said and suddenly feeling bold, he pulled Ginny to him. She gasped, but there was something else in her eyes. Was it excitement? Longing? That's what Harry felt as he bent his face toward hers and their lips brushed lightly.
A second later, they were standing apart, Harry just having dropped his arms. Ginny looked speechless, but there was something different in her eyes now. Harry gave her a quick smile and hurried away, relieved to see Parvati with her twin Padma. "Parvati? I could use some air," he said, greeting Padma with a nod and pulling Parvati down the aisle with him, stalking past a still-stunned Ginny.
At the faculty table, Tara and Willow sat on either side of Buffy, not looking at each other, but rather enjoying the music. Finally, an uneasy silence fell between them, when Buffy rose and looked for someone to dance with. Spying Professor Flitwick, she turned back to Tara and Willow. "Why don't you two dance and have fun?"
An hour later, as Buffy waltzed gracefully in the hands of Professor Dumbledore, she was surprised to see Willow and Tara dancing, their arms locked around one another. She grinned.
The song ended, but still Willow and Tara didn't move. Buffy made to return to her seat after thanking Albus for the dance, when Severus cut her off. "Do you dance?" he asked in his cutting voice.
Buffy, still feeling slightly awkward around him, put her hand in his as he pulled her out to the dance floor.
She half expected him to trod on her feet, but he did no such thing. He acted the perfect gentleman, and he certainly didn't try and touch her where she knew she'd be uncomfortable. Risking a glance up into his face, she was surprised to see that his eyes glittered with something more than the usual darkness and malice. Could it be respect? "I never expected you to ever enjoy one of these," she said softly.
"I usually never do," he replied, as they turned in time to the music. "But tonight there is something more… special about it, don't you think?"
"Oh, yes," Buffy said softly, laying her head against his robes, "there is definitely something more."
Outside, Ron and Hermione were making their way inside after walking around the grounds twice, just lost in their thoughts, hand in hand. As they headed back up the path, Ron held out his hand and stopped short just as Harry and Parvati burst out. Harry looked extremely rattled about something and veered off in the opposite direction, Parvati jogging along side him.
Just as Ron motioned it was safe for them to go inside undetected, a second couple stepped through. Dawn and Malfoy. They too held hands and Dawn was laughing at something he was saying.
"Draco... I had my doubts about this evening. I've had doubts of my doubts. But you've turned into something really incredible. Thank you."
And before Draco could speak, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. He tilted his face, and before Ron could see what was happening, Hermione's hand was now blocking his vision.
"Hermione!" he hissed, while she looked horrified.
"How would you feel if we were caught out here like that?" she asked, mortified.
"Good point," Ron muttered as Dawn and Draco moved along the same path that Harry and Parvati had taken.
Ron and Hermione were two steps from the entrance when Dean Thomas and Ginny walked past them. Ginny called a soft greeting to Ron as they passed. Ron was astonished at the look on Ginny's face, something Hermione called him on as they stepped back inside. "She looked like she was petrified about something!"
It didn't take that long to figure out though. A moment later, Ginny came bursting back inside, located Hermione right inside the Great Hall, and pulled her back into the chill outside.
"What is it?" Hermione gasped once she'd managed to catch her breath.
"I am such an idiot," Ginny moaned. "It's everything I've ever wanted and now..." her voice broke off.
"You and Dean?" Hermione asked tentatively. Ginny shook her head no. "You and Harry," she said, realizing.
Ginny nodded and her eyes began to fill with tears. "Why did he have to do it?"
"What did he do?" Hermione asked, her voice touched with concern.
"He kissed me," Ginny finally said, turning to Hermione. "He kissed me and for a moment, all I could feel was bliss. I didn't want him to let go of me. I didn't want it to stop. Not now, not ever." Her face crumpled. "Does that make me a bad person?"
"Oh, honey," Hermione said soothingly, wrapping her arms in a comforting hug around Ginny. Her eyes widened as she spotted Harry with Parvati outside, admiring one of the fountains and playing with the faeries. "Let's get you some nice hot cocoa," she continued, ushering Ginny back inside.
Ginny sniffled softly. "Okay."
As Ginny and Hermione disappeared inside the double doors, Tara took a step out, surveying the beautiful scenery around her. For some reason, it made her feel small and sad to know that so much had changed in the past few years.
She felt a hand close around her shoulder and turned to see Willow standing there, with nearly the same expression on her face as Tara wore. "I'm sorry," Willow said softly.
"There's nothing to be sorry about," Tara said, turning away from her.
Willow's soft arms encircled her shoulders. "We lost so much precious time that any time we share now is time…"
Tara's eyes closed painfully. "Tell me something I don't know."
The two women didn't even see another figure step out into the yard and stalk away. Severus Snape felt his own anger ebbing at him as he stopped, pausing to sit on one of the benches covered in golden fairies.
What in the hell had happened? The first thing he ever thought of the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor was that she was as clueless and incompetent as the rest of them. But compared to Umbridge, she was downright sassy. He found that he was beginning to admire her and that was something he hadn't allowed himself to do for so long.
He frowned, listening to the sweet music inside. There was a longing within him to walk back in there, find Professor Summers, and ask her to dance again. He knew she had her own friends to concern herself with, but judging by the fact that two of them were on the patio, she surely wouldn't mind.
He rose, trying to clear his thoughts. No matter what he thought of her and no matter what he thought of himself, one thing was clear. Professor Summers had notched a tiny hole into his cold heart. He found himself wanting to believe in her. He found himself wanting to take comfort in her. She was, after all, a Professor of Dark Arts. And it was something he knew quite a bit about.
Deciding that he could use the Dark Arts as a means of conversation, he started back toward the school before stopping short. Was he attempting to make idle conversation? With a woman? This surprised him even more. There was no doubt about it.
He was attracted to the young Professor.
Shaking his head, he continued up the path, past Willow and Tara, ignoring them for the most part. He needed a walk to clear his head before he made any sort of move. Because any move now would surely only humiliate him in the eyes of Harry Potter and all those who wanted so badly to see him falter.
He continued on his way.
Tara saw the look on Snape's face as he crossed the path. Ignoring her own aching heart for a moment, she turned to Willow. "I guess I'm not the only one feeling the magical night."
"Maybe, maybe not," Willow said, reaching for her hand. "But I'm going to make a song request and I kind of wish you would be in there with me when I do, just so I don't feel like a dunderhead on the dance floor."
Tara smiled through her tears. "Just maybe you'll get your wish," she said lightly, squeezing Willow's hand.
And the doors swept shut behind them as they disappeared back into the Great Hall.
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