Dawn awoke the next morning with the uneasy sensation that she was being watched. Sitting up in her bed, rubbing her eyes, she realised that she was indeed being stared at, by not one but four pairs of eyes. The silent staring continued for a while until one of the four, a girl with long blond hair, spoke. "Who are you?" she asked in a manner that could easily have rivalled Sunnydale's 'Queen C', Cordelia Chase.
"I'm Dawn, Dawn Summers," Dawn replied politely, falling back onto well ingrained manners even though she didn't really feel like the blonde she was extending her hand to deserved them.
"You're an American, aren't you?" The blonde was clearly trying to hide her interest in Dawn's answer, but was failing miserably.
"Um, yes, I am," Dawn confirmed.
"Really? Where in America?" Another of the girls crowding around Dawn in her bed asked. This girl had long, black, wavy hair that contrasted sharply with her bright blue eyes.
"Sunnydale, California," Dawn told her.
Dawn wasn't fully awake yet and what felt like the constant questioning from the girls was beginning to grate on her nerves, so to turn the tables she asked a question of her own. "Since all of you have my name, is it really such a bad thing for you to tell me yours?" Dawn asked the four girls.
"Oh, sorry for our show of bad manners there, Dawn. I'm Blair Zabini, it's nice to meet you Dawn," the blue-eyed girl, Blair, extended her hand and Dawn took it.
"Pansy Parkinson," the blonde said offhandedly, looking her immaculately manicured nails over.
"Clair Liota," said one of the previously quiet girls, this girl was graced with auburn hair and green eyes.
"Millicent Bulstrode," the last of the four girls introduced herself quietly. Dawn immediately felt a wave of pity for this girl, as opposed to having the delicate, polished looks of the other girls sharing the dormitory, this girl was on the chubby side and had very drab, boring, shoulder length, black hair. Dawn supposed that Millicent must feel like an outsider around the others, a feeling that Dawn could sympathise with. Dawn felt that with their shared position of 'outsider' that they would probably get along quite well.
"Well it's nice to meet you girls, but if you'll excuse me I have to get dressed and meet with Professor Snape to see what my classes will be," Dawn said climbing out of bed, before grabbing a clean school uniform and going towards the bathroom.
"Hey Summers!" Dawn paused and turned back towards Blair who had called. "Who was the hunk at dinner last night?"
"Oh, you'll see," Dawn said and walked into the bathroom.
Half an hour later when Dawn left the bathroom the only girl left in the dormitory was Clair who was finishing up a piece of homework. As Dawn walked past Clair on her way out of the dormitory, Clair looked up and smiled, Dawn returned the gesture.
The common room was filled with children of all ages, Dawn didn't recognise many of them as she walked through, and none of them made any move to approach her. She was almost out of the room when a loud "Hey you!" was called out, so Dawn ignored it, deciding that it probably wasn't her that they were calling to.
"Hey you! American! Don't ignore me when I'm talking to you!" Dawn recognised the voice of the boy calling out; it was that irritating pale boy from the night before, Malfoy. She turned around slowly and treated him to her Death Glare.
"Oh. It's you," Dawn said scornfully. "Well Mister 'I Think I'm All That and a Bag of Chips', here is a reality check for you; the next time you want my attention, you'd better find out my name and then try using it!" She continued, trying to sound menacing, but ended up laughing at the boy's expression; he clearly wasn't used to being spoken to like that.
By the time Dawn reached Professor Snape's classroom some of her amusement had faded back into anger, but she was careful to not let it show as she knocked on the door and went in.
The classroom was old fashioned, and had a funny smell about it, a mixture of all the various ingredients and potions stored, used and created within.
"Ah, Miss Summers, I've been expecting you," Professor Snape said, motioning for Dawn to come and take a seat in front of his desk which had been pushed to the corner of the room. "I have your class schedule here so we can discuss it."
"Ok, what's my torture?" Dawn asked. Professor Snape raised an eyebrow then looked down at the piece of parchment on his desk.
"Is there anything you don't understand?" Professor Snape asked when they had gone through the plan, Dawn smiled and shook her head.
"Nope, I think I've got it all. It's going to be really weird being taught by Spike though," Dawn said with a small laugh. "I'll live. Well, I'll see you later, Sir."
"Goodbye, Miss Summers," Snape said picking up an essay to mark as Dawn left the room.
Dawn went directly to Spike's rooms and entered without knocking, she was excited for her friend and couldn't wait to see him.
"Spike!" Dawn yelled through the rooms.
"In here Bit," Dawn heard from the other room. She immediately walked through and was surprised to see Spike shooting a spell at the far wall.
"Yeah! Big Bad's still got it!" Spike cheered, blowing on the tip of his wand as if it had steam pouring out of it. Dawn giggled, and Spike finally looked over at her and smiled.
"My wand just arrived this morning, Willow found it for me. I'm just testing it out," Spike told her, holding out his wand proudly for her inspection.
"What's it made out of?" Dawn asked.
"12 inch, oak wood with a Veela hair as it's core," Spike answered, his fingertips brushing along the wand lovingly before placing it in the pocket of his duster coat.
"My wand's so cool; you'd never guess what it is made from, or who by! It was Giles! It has a core of blood from a vampire and slayer who were in love! That is just so cool!" Dawn gushed, holding out her own wand for Spike to see.
"Wow 'Bit that is a rarity, as you probably know, the wand chooses the wizard, for it to have chosen you is special. You'd better never lose or break it you will never get another wand quite like that one," Spike said placing Dawn's wand back in her robe pocket.
"I'll be careful," Dawn said.
"I got a letter from the Headmaster earlier this morning, he said he'd found a spell and bewitched all of the windows to prevent the bits that harm us vampires from getting through; I can walk freely through the school," Spike said, looking very pleased for himself. "Oh, and he said something about requesting my presence in the Great Hall this morning."
"Breakfast, yes, let's go," Dawn said pulling on Spike's coat sleeve.
"Okay, okay, slow down Bit," Spike said shrugging out of her grip and falling into step with her.
Dawn and Spike walked together until they reached the Great Hall where Spike joined the other teachers and Dawn went to sit by herself at the Slytherin table.
"May I have your attention please," Headmaster Dumbledore called out then waited for silence to descend upon the tables lined with hungry students. "After a long, tiresome search, I have found Hogwarts a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher; I would like to introduce Professor Williams," at this, Spike stood and nodded his head at the curious children. Dawn didn't know whether to be irritated or amused that a few of the girls who were sat by her were sighing dreamily. "I would like all of you to give Professor Williams a warm welcome and the respect that you would give any other professor," Dumbledore looked around, fixing a few students with stern looks and then retook his seat, signalling that the students could resume their chatter and eating.
Dawn looked at Spike and smiled, he raised an eyebrow at her and Dawn giggled to herself. She turned her attention back to her breakfast, but was distracted when Blair took a seat next to her.
"So Dawn, what's your first class?" Blair asked.
Dawn took the last bite of her breakfast before turning to answer Blair, "Double Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"Really? Well then, that's a class we will have together and with that hunk of a professor, whom you seem to be well acquainted with, teaching," Blair said with a dreamy look on her face that caused Dawn to laugh.
"I wouldn't say that about Spike, he's got a big enough head already," Dawn laughed then smiled, "I'd better get going, I have to go back and pick up my books, I'll see you in class."
"Okay," Blair agreed, but her attention had already drifted over to Professor Williams.
Dawn got up and started walking back down to the dungeons, with the intention of collecting her books, she had only reached the entrance hall when she was bumped into by a scrawny, black-haired boy who was wearing a rather ugly pair of glasses.
"Freaking A!" Dawn yelled as she was sent sprawling to the floor, "Watch where you're going!"
"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't see you," the boy said, extending his hand to help Dawn up.
"What were you in such a hurry for? Is there a fire?" Dawn asked, soothing her sore behind.
"Actually, I was just late for breakfast," the boy answered apologetically, removing his glasses and wiping them on the hem of his robe's sleeve. "I'm Harry Potter, by the way. You're the new girl, aren't you?" Harry glanced at the Slytherin badge on Dawn's robes.
"Yes, Dawn Summers," Dawn said. She'd heard a little bit about this boy from Dumbledore, it seemed that he had a lot in common with her late sister; both of them seemed to attract trouble.
"Well it's been nice to meet you, Dawn, but I really have to go and get something to eat," with a small smile Harry walked past her and into the Great Hall.
"He needs new glasses," Dawn muttered to herself.
It didn't take Dawn very long after that to go to her dormitory and collect her books and writing materials, so when she arrived at the Defence classroom the only other person there was Spike. Dawn picked a desk at the front of the classroom for herself and set her belongings down.
"Hi Nibblet, are you all excited for your first day?" Spike asked leaning back in his chair, his feet, crossed at the ankles were resting on the desk in front of him.
"No, not really," Dawn said sitting down at her desk.
There were a few moments of silence, which Dawn broke, "Spike?"
"Yeah, 'Bit?"
"Was Buffy in a lot of pain when she died?" Dawn asked quietly, a small tear escaping and sliding down her cheek. Her question was one that had been on the tip of her tongue since setting her eyes on Spike the previous evening.
Spike looked at Dawn for a moment, searching for the right words to tell Dawn, "Yes 'Bit, she was, but Buffy wanted to keep you safe, and protected because she loved you more than anything, and that way was the only way she could do that." Spike's voice had begun to shake with emotion as he spoke, and he walked around the desk to gather Dawn into a tight hug as she cried.
What neither of them knew, nor could know, was that a trio of Gryffindors, waiting just beyond the door, had heard everything and that one of those three Gryffindors knew exactly what Dawn was feeling, because he felt it too.
"Ok, come on little 'Bit, stop the faucets. Class will be starting soon. Tonight we can talk all about this, okay?" Spike said, and slowly Dawn managed to get her tears under control. "Now go and sit down, everything will be alright."
Dawn turned around to sit down and saw the three Gryffindors staring at her, two of them were looking with pity, and the third, Harry whom she had met earlier, seemed to be looking at her with understanding. Dawn didn't want their pity, or understanding, so fixing them with her best glare she sat down, then switched to focusing on the front of the class.
The class quickly filled with a mixture of Gryffindors and Slytherins after that, all of them searching out seats to sit beside their friends and Housemates.
"Okay, first things first, I have decided that it would be best for you to work in pairs," He paused briefly, enjoying the looks of hope and anticipation that appeared on the students' faces. "As you all probably know, the Headmaster has an inter-house policy, so I've paired you all up with a member of a different house to your own," Spike paused again, revelling in the disappointment of the students. Now to strike the final blow, "These pairings are non-negotiable and will remain until you leave this school." Spike held himself back from grinning at the groans and irritated mutterings that spread through the classroom. Oh, there were definitely perks to being a teacher.
"Oh do stop whining, you're almost adults, it's time you acted like it," Spike scolded, picking up a piece of parchment from his desk. "Now then, when I call your name, find a pair of desks and take a seat beside your partner."
"Ronald Weasley will be partnered with Draco Malfoy."
Instantly a cry of "What!" was heard from both sides of the Defence classroom.
"Are you mental or what?" A red haired boy sitting next to Harry snapped, clearly unhappy with being partnered up with Draco. Spike fixed the redhead, who Dawn assumed was Ron, with a look that made even Dawn wince.
"Perhaps you need reminding that I am not only your teacher, but I'm not a very nice person who you'd be better off not messing with since I will not hesitate to show you just how not-nice I can be. You will do as I say. Go and sit with your partner," Spike said in a tone that invited no nonsense. Dawn smiled to herself, safe in the knowledge that while Spike was a vampire, he was harmless to humans. "Now, if we could continue?"
The class was completely silent, except for the movement of Weasley and Malfoy to a pair of desks that was quickly vacated by the Gryffindor who sat there.
"Neville Longbottom and Blaise Zabini," the list went on for quite a while because Spike paused after every few pairs to allow them to find seats. Nobody else complained about who their partners were, but there were quiet grumblings and unhappy looks in abundance.
By the time it came to the last few pairs Dawn was still sat alone at her desk at the front of the classroom, she started to get a little impatient, especially when it seemed that everyone had been paired up but her. She looked around the room and saw that Harry was sat alone as well, which didn't exactly comfort her.
"Last, but not least, Harry Potter and Dawn Summers," Spike finished and rolled his parchment up, looking satisfied with himself.
"But... but-" Dawn stuttered and glared at Spike, not quite believing that he'd paired her up with the 'Boy Who Lived'.
"Dawn," Spike said in a warning tone.
"Fine, alright," Dawn said, but pointedly remained sat in her seat, Harry Potter could come to her.
Dawn didn't look up at Harry as he sat next to her, instead she picked up her quill and fiddled with the feather.
"Seeing as there is generally a big difference between what a class has been taught and what the students have actually learnt, I thought that we would have a nice little oral test this lesson," Spike said almost bouncing at the dismay of the students.
"Who can tell me what a vampire is?" Spike asked, and immediately two hands rose into the air, joined momentarily by three more. Dawn, and the girl who had been with Harry and Ron, Hermione, were the first two to raise their hands, and the only ones to look completely certain that they would answer correctly.
"Alright, Miss Granger," Spike nodded.
"A vampire is one of the living dead; a reanimated corpse that rises from the grave at night to feed on the blood of the living. Vampires can appear human, though when it comes to feeding their demonic faces show through the facade. Vampires are made when the vampire feeds it's victim vampiric blood, though not many victims are turned or 'brought over'." Hermione supplied.
"Very good, that's cor-" before Spike could finish, Hermione started to talk again.
"Vampires are severely allergic to sunlight, it caused a reaction with their skin that causes them to set alight. Vampires can also be disposed of by driving a wooden stake through their hearts using a mallet, or an appropriate spell. Even with the advantage that magic brings, vampires are difficult to control or destroy as they are faster and stronger than the average human being."
"Thank you Miss Granger, that's enough information for now," Spike said, annoyed at having been interrupted.
"Ok, who can shed some light on the Vampire Slayer, then?" Spike asked.
This time only three hands were raised, Dawn's, Hermione's and Draco's.
"Go ahead, Dawn."
"Vampire Slayers are girls, Chosen Ones, called upon to fight the vampires, demons and other forces of darkness. They are stronger and faster than other humans. When one dies, another is called. Slayers are usually called in their teens, but most potential Slayers are taken in infancy and raised in training by their guardian, their Watcher. Being a Slayer is not an easy job, it's a big deal when one lives to see their eighteenth birthday," Dawn explained, trying to offer as many facts as possible.
"Thank you Dawn, that is completely right," Spike said, giving Dawn a slight smile.
"Sir?" Hermione called out, her hand straining in the air.
"Yes Miss Granger?" Spike said beginning to get the feeling that Hermione was a bit of an overachiever.
"Slayers aren't real, they're just legend, called upon by desperate people who needed hope of a saviour, and to warn off any vampires," Hermione said.
Dawn saw red. "That's a lie!" she yelled at Hermione.
"Really? How do you know that?" Hermione questioned.
"Oh perhaps because I've actually met one!" Dawn said not giving any clue that the slayer had been her sister.
Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but shut it with a click thinking better of saying anything.
"Now calm down, girls, this is nothing to get into a cat fight over. Miss Summers is correct, Slayers are real. I've met a few in my time, including the one Dawn knew. She was the longest living Slayer in the history of Slayers, which goes back to time unknown," Spike told them.
"She was? So she's not still alive?" Blair asked.
"No. She recently died saving the world from a Hell Goddess," Spike told them all looking proud.
"Time for the next question I think-" The questions went on for another fifteen minutes before Professor Williams called them to a halt.
"It seems that the majority of you know most of what the guidelines say you need to know. Now for the more interesting section of today's lesson; the practical. Each pair will have a short duel to demonstrate their grasp of the defensive spells that you have learnt. Who would like to go first?"
Before anyone else could volunteer Dawn raised her hand into the air, not bothering to consult Harry, resulting in him elbowing her in her side.
"Potter, Dawn, you're up," Spike said indicating the back of the classroom where a duelling stage stood ready, waiting to receive it's contestants.
"Thanks a bunch," Harry hissed to Dawn, but Dawn did not react anymore than to give him a sarcastically sweet smile, and lead the way up to the platform.
"Get into position!" Spike called, and both Dawn and Harry drew their wands and moved into comfortable versions of the more formal traditional duelling positions. "Begin!" He shouted, and at once they began to form the spells that their minds had prepared.
"Expelliarmus!" Dawn was marginally quicker sending her spell careening towards Harry, and sent him flying as the hastily cast spell was a little over zealous in separating the wizard from the wand.
Harry quickly leaped up and retrieved his wand, casting a spell at Dawn as soon as it was within his grasp.
Their sparring remained fast and furious, each competitor barely stopping to catch breath and gather energy in-between spells.
Spike had just called out a minute left when some freak of fate and timing caused both Harry and Dawn to send spells flying towards each other simultaneously crossing over midway between them, and in just as much unison as they had been cast the spells struck their intended targets, sending them crashing backwards into the walls and then crumpled to the ground.