Palma de Animus - Chapter Four // Welcome, Mr. Weasley

A/N: Egh.. I know, I know, I'm two months late, and I really have no legit reason besides schoolwork, midterms, and writer's block. But I'm finally back! I'm two month's rusty, so things might seem a little choppy at the beginning, but I think I'm finally getting into the flow of writing again, slowly but surely.

Infinite thank you's to Red2, manticore-gurl071134, WhiteWolf 3, lime green lion, Li Ying Fa, kaliflower, Restive Nature, Arieanna, Lucifer Frost, Tarren, RogueHawk, Rosie W, Jo, Nelo, Village-Mystic, RyianaT, JayPallas, Kyra2, dancetdplc, becks89, anne, cb123, LoraDarcy, Shelli, stef, Crystal Cheyenne, eth, and most importantly, to everyone who even bothered coming back to this irregularly updated piece of weirdness.

Presto!

**

"Absolutely fantastic, Hermione." Ron's irritated voice echoed in the empty Hogwarts hallways, clashing with the soft moonlight that shone through the windows. "Now, not only have we missed a brilliant snowfight, we're also going to be late for dinner! And I'll have you know, missing meatball night is no small --"

He was interrupted by an annoyed cluck of the tongue from the bushy-haired girl that walked hastily next to him, trying to match his long strides. "It's almost September, Ron. How brilliant a snowfight could it have been? Those third-years couldn't have transfigured enough snow to cover half a Quidditch field. We're already on our way to the kitchens --"

Harry walked between the two of his best friends, their argument pelting right over him as if he wasn't there, as per usual. This arrangement was fine with Harry; he'd much prefer to be left out of these shouting matches than to have choose a side. Ever since Ron pulled some emotional strings with Molly to get her to let him stay at Hogwarts castle with the rest of the students who had chosen protection under Dumbledore's wing, Hermione had taken it upon herself to harp that he shouldn't have played on Molly's weaknesses ("But Mum, Harry needs emotional support!") The verbal sparring had been continuous since then, and if he didn't know any better, Harry would swear that the two were edgier this year than he had ever seen them.

Ron continued as if he hadn't heard Hermione. " -- forcing us to waste away the day in the library looking up some 'Council' nonsense' to incriminate Buffy, absolutely barking. Honestly, Hermione, you don't need to raise your hackles _every_ time a good looking girl finds their way to Hogwarts. Buffy's a nice girl, she --"

Hermione stopped in her tracks and quickly narrowed her eyes. "Hackles! Is that what you think of me, Ron Weasley?"

With halted breath, Ron turned to look at Harry, obviously already kicking himself for opening his mouth. At Ron's grimace, Harry could do nothing but shrug. "I--"

The sound of stone grating on stone stopped their conversation. A few meters ahead of them, in the direction they had been heading, a wall collapsed and McGonagall emerged from the hole, wielding her wand as a torch and stepping daintily over the eerily dustless pile of rubble. Behind her followed Tonks, Shacklebolt, Moody, Remus, and the rest of the Order of the Phoenix. Without a second thought, Harry pulled Ron and Hermione behind a large column with him.

"No lemon drops for me today, Albus, thanks. Take care." As the members departed one by one, Buffy stepped out of the hole following Dumbledore, and the wall magically reformed itself.

She squinted out a nearby window, looking apprehensive, before turning to look at Dumbledore and McGonagall, the only two other remaining people in the hallway. "I'm sorry, Albus, Minnie. I can't afford to come to anymore of these late night meetings." Buffy looked out the window again. "Those girls aren't fully trained yet. I can't have them out there in my place."

"What girls is she talking about?" Hermione whispered. Ron clamped a hand over her mouth and she swatted it away, refusing to look at him.

"I understand completely, Ms. Summers, and I would not have it any other way. I did think, however, that you would find it in your best interest to come tonight as your partner in crime, so to speak, will be meeting with me soon," Albus replied, inclining his head towards her. "And here he comes now." He raised his head, eyes sparkling.

"Good evening, Headmaster."

The trio recognized the sycophantic tone of voice immediately -- despite the newly added tone of weariness -- and in a flash, Hermione and Harry knew to pull Ron back and cover his mouth. The latter only stopped struggling against the restraint when Dumbledore began to speak again.

"Ah, Mr. Weasley... thank you for joining us."

"So this is the black sheep of the Weasley family? Nice to meet you, I'm Buffy Summers."

Shifting his horn-rimmed glasses uncomfortably as if shocked by her audacity to speak without being introduced, the newcomer shook her outstretched hand. "Percy Weasley." He dropped her hand immediately and turned to Dumbledore, still in a business-like tone. "Professor Dumbledore, the Minister has sent me here on his behalf in hopes that you will accept his apology. He believes that it is best in times like these that we maintain a strong alliance against the --"

"Where is our beloved Fudge himself?" Dumbledore asked, smiling benignly as McGonagall rolled her eyes behind him and Buffy mouthed incredulously, 'I have to work with _this_ guy?'

"As I am sure you understand, the Minister is a very busy man -- "

"At one in the morning, Mr. Weasley?"

"He thought it would be best not to draw media attention, you see --"

"Yes, yes, back to the point, child."

"Well, as the Minister saw how both Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic grew healthily with their relationship last year, he thought to consolidate his apology by offering my services in the school on behalf of the Ministry so that our relationship might further flourish."

Harry, Hermione, and Ron looked at each other incredulously at once. 'What?'

Dumbledore clapped his hands together in delight. "Might I commend you for your splendid timing? We were just looking for an assistant to aid our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. You see, this new Professor has extremely impressive firsthand experience, but is more comfortable with lore and weaponry than with actual spell casting. We could most certainly use your help."

Percy almost grinned. "I'm sure the Minister will find that arrangement most fitting. What fine gentleman have you lined up for the job this time?"

"That would be 'fine lady,'" Buffy spoke up loudly, tired of being ignored. Jumping off her seat on the windowsill, she grabbed Percy's hand and shook it again. "Let's try this again. Hi, I'm Buffy Summers."

Still not getting it, Percy blinked. "And you would be...?"

"The Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. Professor, comma, the. Come on," the small blonde girl placed an arm on Percy's shoulders. "We can talk about lesson plans and the latest hairstyles over a nice spot of tea and crumpets, or whatever it is you British people eat."

All pretence of professionalism dropped, Percy began to stutter. "I -- this --"

Dumbledore chuckled and McGonagall barely bit back a smile. "Do be gentle, Ms. Summers. He's a nice boy, really."

Harry could have almost sworn that Buffy looked directly at him when she started dragging Percy their way, but she walked right past them, her full leather outfit clashing desperately with the loose robes that never seemed to fit Percy quite right.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Albus," was the last the trio heard of McGonagall and Dumbledore, and it was then finally safe to step into the light of the moon.

"I told you she couldn't possibly be a student!"

"You also said that she couldn't possibly be a professor as well," Ron pointed out.

Hermione turned pointedly to Harry. "I've suddenly lost my appetite, Harry. You go on to the kitchens without me. I think I'll be turning in now." And then, in a move she rarely made unless she was extremely emotional, she hugged Harry and kissed him on the cheek. "Good night." She spared Ron half a glance before huffily making her way back to the Gryffindor common room.

"That -- that girl!" Ron stuttered, incredulously, watching her disappearing back.

"I'm sure she's just upset, Ron."

Ron looked at Harry for a moment and then furrowed his eyebrows. "You're probably right." He studied Harry for a moment. "I don't think I'm very hungry right now either," he mumbled, drawing his eyes away from Harry. "I'm off to bed now, I think." He patted Harry's back with a heavy hand and departed -- in the opposite direction that Hermione went.

The moon began to shift in the sky and its light was blocked by the Whomping Willow. No longer in the light, but instead, standing in the dark, things began to get a lot clearer for Harry.

**

A/N: Just a few things I thought to mention:

- No amount of begging, pleading, flames, or bishies will change my mind about the ships that I may or may not introduce in the future. (Well.. maybe bishies, but we'll see about that. :P)

- There will be more Scooby Gangness to come.

- Snape will be showing up soon.

- I PROMISE to start writing better quality soon.

Reviews, constructive criticism, and even flames are welcomed and encouraged. Thanks for reading. ^_^