Chapter 6- Research

Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting at the end of Gryffindor table during breakfast, talking about what they had recently been doing after their classes. The conversation eventually made it around to Ethan.

"I wonder if he really did all the stuff Buffy, Willow and Xander said he did." Ron said

" I don't know that would be pretty hard to make up. But I wonder what kind of key Voldermort is looking for. I mean he's apparently very powerful, wouldn't he be able to blast whatever door he needed to open?" Harry asked.

"It may not be a door he wants to open. It could be something worse." Hermione said.

"I don't know what you think, but I think the others know more about that key then they are letting." Harry said.

"You could be right. I think I'll go-"

"to the library." Harry and Ron finished Hermione's sentence dully.

The three of them started for the library (Harry and Ron were curios about the key to. Plus, they had nothing better to do). When they got to the entry hall they were surprised when they saw Buffy come in. She didn't say anything to them (she didn't want the other students to know that Voldermort was coming to Sunnydale, or that she had any connection with Harry). She simply gave them a meaning full look, and 'accidentally' dropped a piece of paper on the floor. Buffy then continued toward Dumbledore's office (he had told her the password before he left her house two nights ago. Harry casually walked over to the paper, and picked it up. It said; Same time, same place. Harry passed it to Ron and Hermione, and they continued their path to the library. Little did they know someone else saw the whole thing.

Dumbledore's Office

Buffy entered Dumbledore's office and found him sitting at his desk. She sat down and started asking questions. "Professor, now how exactly safe is this place?" she asked.

"I can assure you it is extremely safe. Hogwarts was the safest place for anything in Britain. The only that has changed since then is it got safer. There are now more spells and enchantments to protect this place then ever before." Dumbledore responded.

"I have to tell you something. Yesterday a man showed up at my house and told me Molderwart was looking for a key. I'm pretty sure that he was referring to the key that can open hell dimensions and suck the world into the dimension it opened. Now the source that told me this is not that reliable, but I don't want to take any chances."

"I understand that, Buffy. Now I have a question for you. How do you know so much about this key?"

"The key is." Buffy gave a slight hesitation. "my sister." This was the second thing in three days that Dumbledore did not see coming. " Two years ago the key was put into human form by monks, sent to me to protect. They made her from me. When they put her into my life they also put memories of her being with me for fourteen years."

"Yes, you would need to know that a slayer is in the area to do a memory charm properly." Dumbledore commented knowing why his charm did not work completely.

"Look, I don't think he knows Dawn is the key, he just knows that the key is here. He cannot find out what the key is. I don't want Dawn to be in my house. I don't think that it is safe enough." Buffy waited a beat before asking, "Do you think there is anyway Dawn could go to school here?"

"I was about to ask you that myself. Being the key she already has power, teaching her to control it should not be too difficult. I also had an idea. Harry is in just as much danger if not more. I think we should tell Harry what Dawn is. He is the only one who can destroy Lord Voldermort, and I feel he has a right to know what his enemy is after. I also think they can help keep each other save."

"Oookay. But no one else can know. Not even Ron or Hermione. This has to be as kept as secret as possible. I don't want to risk anyone over hearing. I have one small favor to ask." Buffy asked her favor, and after being given the okay, she had one more question before she left. " Professor, one more question, if you don't mind me asking. Why is Harry the only person who can kill whatever his name is?"

"It is a prophecy that only he can kill Voldermort or die trying."

" Do you know what book it was in?" She asked yet another question.

"Book?"

"Yeah, all the prophecies I've heard of were in books, like the Codex for example. Unfortunately everything in that book comes true."

" I am fairly sure this prophecy was not in a book. I heard it my self."

"Oh. Okay well I better get going." Buffy had a plan to go home, and ask Giles to look up prophecies about Harry and Lord what's-his-name.

In the Library

"I think I found something!" Hermione exclaimed after a half hour of research. "It says that there is a key that will open hell dimensions. It is really energy put in form. Not many people know what the form is. The key is also extremely powerful."

"So it could be anything. That helps us a whole lot." Ron said sarcastically.

"Well at least it's a start." Harry said trying to look on the bright side. Then turning to Hermione, "We have Charms in ten minutes, we should probably head out."

"I suppose your right." She gathered up her things, and then informed them that she would be spending her free time in the library looking for information. Ron and Harry agreed to help.

On their way to Charms they met someone that made them want to run in the opposite direction. "So, Potter. I see you've made a new friend." Malfoy drawled.

"Oh, yeah. And who might that be?" Harry retorted.'

" The blonde muggle that dropped you a letter earlier. What would Dumbledore do if he knew that his favorite boy had brought a muggle into the castle."

It suddenly hit Harry that Malfoy was talking about Buffy. Harry thought it was best not to admit that Malfoy was right (when would anyone admit that Malfoy was right?). "First he would probably ask you how many times you've been dropped on the head as a child, because only someone who was mad could make up a story like that."

"I know you're hiding something, Potter. And I'm going to find out what it is. I always do." Malfoy added before continuing on his way in the opposite direction.

"Whatever we do, we cannot let Malfoy find out what we do after classes." Hermione said.

"Really Hermione! Because I was just about to run after Malfoy and tell him what we were doing." Ron said sarcastically and got a very angry look from Hermione.

Harry sensing a fight coming said, "Let's just get to Charms." As planned they spent all of their brakes in the library. When they got to Buffy's house, and shared this information with the Scoobies. Even though they seemed grateful for it, Harry, Ron and Hermione still got the feeling that they already knew all about the key.

When Harry got back to his dormitory, he found a note on his pillow. Harry,
Please meet me in my office at 8 o'clock tomorrow. Professor Dumbledore