It had been two days since Dawn tried to kiss Harry and she was deliberately trying to avoid him. Connor and Spike noticed but didn't question, knowing she didn't want to talk about it. Ever since the attack though, Dawn had been having nightmares and she couldn't get back to sleep. Missing Harry's arms around her, her movements were no longer fluid; they were rigid and forced. Too busy daydreaming about Harry; Dawn didn't see the twosome headed her way. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry," Dawn stated, startled out of her daydream by banging into a red-headed girl who was wrapped tightly in the arms of a platinum blonde.

"It's okay," the girl mumbled, quickly gathering her books; just as they were to head off, the girl turned back. "Hey, don't you hang out with Harry?"

"Oh, I, um, I used to," Dawn mumbled weakly, unaware that they had somehow backtracked and were now right infront of her.

"So, this is the infamous Dawn bloody Summers?" the boy smirked, watching as the brunettes' eyes flashed angrily.

"Anyone told you, you look a lot like Spike?"

"Yeah, what's-"

"Draco," the girl warned gently, sticking a hand to his chest. "Sorry about him, but my name is Ginny Weasley and this is Draco Malfoy," the girl smiled, sticking out her hand.

"I suppose you know who I am," Dawn frowned, slightly wigged that these people knew so much about her.

"Yes, we were all hoping you and your friends could recite a few tales for us?" Ginny asked excitedly; Dawn noticed even Dracos' eyes flashed with interest.

"I-I'll try to make it," Dawn smiled, already liking this energetic girl.

"Great!" Ginny cheered, jumping up and down on the spot for awhile. "Well, we've gotta head off; but ask Harry for the information about where we meet," Ginny stated; before turning on her heel and briskly walking off, not noticing Draco linger behind.

"Summers, he misses you," Draco whispered, shocking the girl that he still stood there; but when she looked up, he was already running after his girlfriend.

Dawn contemplated what he said 'he misses you.' Harry missed her? After her embarrassing attempt at showing him her feelings? She would never understand boys, but her mood had suddenly lightened.

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As Harry sulkily walked into The Great Hall with Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Draco, Connor and Spike, her looked hopefully at the Teacher's Table for Dawn; he was again, disappointed. Taking a seat beside Spike, Harry half-heartedly listened to all their conversations.

"I met Dawn today," Ginny chirped happily, smiling as Harry's head suddenly whipped in her direction. "Asked her to tell us a tale sometime, she said she'd think about it," Ginny smiled as she stuffed a piece of ham into her mouth. Their chatter did not disappear until Dumbledore came to speak.

"Now, I am aware of the few students who have been told of the guest pasts and are awaiting the next tale. The tale shall be held tomorrow night in the hall after dinner, and your sleeping arrangements shall be moved into here. The tale shall be told by one of the Sunnydale members, from where you left off. Everyone is welcome and please, enjoy your meals," Dumbledore stated, his eyes twinkling with enjoyment. He smiled encouragingly at the girl who stood in the doorway of the hall, before turning his attention back to Giles and his questions on Voldemort.

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The buzz in The Great Hall was loud; and getting louder by the increasing number of guests. "I never had this many people," Willow whispered sulkily to Buffy, who smiled at her friend.

"It's because they don't know whose speaking, actually neither do I come to think of it," Buffy stated, smiling as she saw Harry, Ron and Hermione walk into the room. "And Dawn's been distant lately and even Spike and Conn don't know the matter."

"Don't worry about B, D will be fine," Faith smiled, patting her sister slayer on the back.

"Yeah Buffy, Dawnie will be alright," Angel said, hugging his slayer.

"So, who's telling the story?" Connor asked excitedly, rubbing his hands together. The group of them, himself, Angel, Spike, Faith, Buffy, Willow, Tara, Giles and Wesley, all took a seat next to Harry and looked expectantly at each other.

"You mean-?"

"Huh?"

"Bloody hell!"

"So, you're saying-"

"Way to go-"

"W-what?"

"Interesting?"

"Strange, she could-"

"Who is it?" Connor asked, looking at all his friends; expecting to get the answer out of Spike.

"Dawn," Harry breathed, watching as all eyes turned to the doors as the small brunette walked through the doors.

"Right, sorry I was late I was a bit lost," Dawn stated, her cheeks stained in a tinge of pink.

"Are you telling us the story?" a small voice in the crowd asked; the hand waving slightly in the air.

"Yes," Dawn smiled, faltering slight when her gaze fell upon her sober looking friends; they all knew that this was hard for Dawn, well except for Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Draco that is. "Where did you leave off?"

"You kicked the door in to save everyone from Sweet," Harry provided encouragingly, sensing that this subject was very tender on everyone around him.

"Right, so okay," Dawn sighed, silencing the room with that quiet breath. Everyone waited in anticipation, as Dawn was beginning to tell her story. "Okay, now remember that Spike was the only who knew what I'm about to tell you 'kay? Okay. Right, so kicking the door into The Bronze after the end of the song, I told Sweet to take me to be his Queen instead of the fuming Buffy. She hadn't being made powerless but he had somehow managed to do what no other could; he beat her. Maybe not physically, but she was emotionally weak; not just from me returning but from M-Mom dying, we all were. Seeing my sister helpless was the last straw, offering myself instead of Buffy, Sweet smiled patronisingly at me; before asking if that's how I really feel. I told him that it was just life. I told him that life was a show and we all play parts; and when we wake, we open up our hearts. It's alright to make mistakes, because everything will turn out okay in the end. I-I told him how everyday was a gift and we should be happy with what we have. H-How I tried so hard to fit into this world; but I didn't want to. My life was a mess and I had nothing to be happy about. How every mistake can make it so much worse, and why I ignored so many things. I-I should have been standing forth, but I couldn't. M-My friends," Dawn stated, looking tearyly over at the group of tear stained faces of her family and offered a wet smile. "The needed to learn to let go. Needed to know that when you bowed; took your final stand. T-There…god this is so hard. T-T-There was no pain," Dawn stated, all emotion in her voice forgotten. She looked up from her hands, to see every single person in the hall crying; they understood that she wasn't where she was thought to be. "I was happy," Dawn whispered, looking over and locking gazes with Harry. "Wherever I was, I was happy; at peace. I knew that everyone I cared about was alright. I just knew it. Time…didn't mean anything. Nothing had form, but I was still me, you know? And I was warm, and I was loved, and I was finished. Complete. I don't understand theology or…dimensions –any of it, really – but I think I was in Heaven." Dawn looked up as she heard gasps of horror come from the listening crowd. They had never expected this turn of events. Searching back for Harry's gaze, Dawn continued. "And now I'm not. I was torn out of there by my friends. Everything here is hard and bright and violent…Everything I feel, everything I touch…This is hell. Just getting through the next moment, and the one after that, knowing what I've lost…" Dawn trailed off as she heard sobs of agony erupt of the audience, and quickly wiped her tears away. She needed to continue, because she could feel the guilt washing over her from Willow. "But, as the days continued and Buffy helped, it slowly got less….violent. I mean, I'm never gonna forget where I was or who I s-s-saw; but I remembered what I said to Buffy before I jumped. 'The hardest thing in this world is to live in it,' and it was-is true; but it helps having friends," Dawn finished her story as she turned to her friends. Each face held such sorrow and so much pain; that Dawn nearly crumpled from the emotional pressure.

"I-I-I-I think it was time for bed," Giles suggested, noticing Dawn's drained expression and the way the students were looking at Willow and Buffy. Quickly getting all the students to bed, Giles turned to the group he'd asked to stay; Dawn, Buffy, Hermione, Willow, Spike, Harry, Angel, Ron, Connor, Ginny, Draco, Wesley and Faith.

"I'm sorry," Willow whispered, looking sadly at Dawn's tired face.

"It's not your fault Willow," Dawn smiled up at the witch. "Just having everyone here helps."

"Okay," Willow stated, unconvincingly going to her bed.

"You alright Nibblet?" Spike asked, giving her shoulders an affectionate squeeze.

"Fine, just tired," Dawn muttered, rubbing her temples.

"Night all," Spike smiled sadly, winking at someone behind Dawn.

"Can we just get some sleep and talk about it tomorrow?" Dawn asked the crowd.

"Sure," Buffy smiled sadly, pulling the group down onto the beds set up for them.

"Harry," Dawn called quietly, making the boy turn around curiously.

"Dawn?" Harry asked questionably, he knew now to be careful around the girl now he knew her secret.

"I know I've kinda been avoiding you of late, but I was wondering if I could sleep with you?" Dawn timidly asked the boy, her cheeks blushing furiously.

"Sure," Harry smiled gently, figuring now wouldn't be the time to jump up and down in enjoyment.

"Thanks," Dawn nodded, letting him pull her into his arms and resting her head onto his chest. "'Night Harry," Dawn mumbled, jumbled by her speaking it into her chest.

"Goodnight Dawn," Harry smiled, stroking the girls shoulder length brown hair.