I'm back and here is the one a lot have been waiting for. They finally get to Hogwarts. Again many thanks to my reviewers and especially Matthew for helping me out on the story.
Galthos: Not that I'm totally against the idea of Luna and Xander, but I think she is a bit too young for him. I doubt we'll see more of Kennedy, or at least an evil Kennedy. I don't think Luna will be a slayer though. Thanks for the suggestions anyway.
Aaron: Well thanks, and don't worry it won't get bogged down in summer.
Kristy Marie: Yeah I couldn't just have those two run off to the sidelines. As for what the demons are up to, that'll be revealed in the next couple of chapters.
becks89: I like raspberries. lol. I intended to have this in earlier, but I have three younger siblings that never seem to want to leave the room when I'm on the comp and they have to play on the comp too. You're welcome to have my sister, it might speed up the story. lol.
wyredsisters: Okay okay here they are you can stop pouting.
Thanks also to Jillian Ryn, Gabby, SPASH Panther, and ScruffyWes for reading and reviewing.
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"Oh God! Can someone shut that goddamn portrait up?!" Jordan yelled as she clapped her hands over her ears.
It was around nine in the morning at Headquarters and Tonks had tripped over the pile of luggage at the bottom of the stairs. She ran into the little table near it and both her and the table crashed to the floor rather loudly. Those that slept through that were unfortunately awoken by the screams of the portrait of Sirius' mother, Mrs. Black.
"BLOOD TRAITORS! MUDBLOOD FILTH! DEFILING THE HOUSE OF MY FATHERS!" she screamed over and over like a broken record.
"Can't you, you know, do something magical?" Dawn asked.
"We've tried already. She must have put a permanent sticking charm on the back and silencing charms don't seem to work," Mrs. Weasley said.
Dawn shot a hopeful look at Willow and the redheaded Wicca nodded in understanding. Their magic didn't work, but perhaps a little Wiccan magic would.
"I'll be right back," she said and left the kitchen with everyone but Dawn staring in confusion.
Mrs. Black's screams were abruptly silenced.
"Much better," Jordan remarked as she brought her hands down.
Willow came back into the kitchen with a triumphant smile on her face.
"What? How did you do that?" Harry asked in awe.
"You're a bloody genius!" Tonks exclaimed in admiration.
"I just did a silencing spell of my own. It's only temporary though," Willow said before sitting back down and resuming eating her breakfast.
"Good going Will," Buffy told her.
"So how are you guys getting to Hogwarts?" Xander asked.
"By portkey I believe," Hermione said.
"We're leaving whenever Professor Dumbledore gets here," Dawn said.
Aidan burst into the kitchen angrily. His auburn hair was wet and dripping.
"What is it with that little creep? He wouldn't leave the bathroom when I wanted to take a shower," he said as he sat beside his sister.
"What little creep?" Jordan asked.
"Oh that's just Kreacher. He never does anything anybody tells him to. He only listened to Sirius, but he would mutter awful things under his breath when he thought no one could hear him," Harry explained.
"Well maybe if we were a little nicer to him he wouldn't be so bad," Hermione retorted.
"Oh come off it Hermione. The little git is rotten to the core and nothing is going to change that," Ron said earning himself a glare from Hermione, which quickly shut him up.
After breakfast was finished and they helped Mrs. Weasley wash the dishes Jordan, Dawn, Hermione, and Aidan rechecked their luggage. Hermione had flooed to her parents' house before breakfast and acquired the rest of her things and her cat, Crookshanks. He seemed to enjoy flooing as much as Jordan did because Hermione had emerged from the fireplace with a good many scratches.
"How's the arm?" Aidan asked Jordan.
She stretched her left arm out and wiggled the fingers on her left hand.
"Good as new," she replied.
Harry picked up a case by Jordan's trunk and looked at curiously.
"Is this a broom case?" he asked her.
"Yep. My Firebolt. Aidan and I were chasers on our school team," she said opening it and showing him a broom identical to his own, but with a gold engraving of her name.
"Cool. You should try out for the team," Harry said.
"Well why do you think we brought our brooms with us?" Aidan asked wryly.
"Heard you were a pretty good seeker. Care to show us your skills when we get to Hogwarts?" Jordan said.
Harry liked the sound of that. Quidditch was his absolute favorite sport in the entire world. Now that Umbridge was gone he should be back on the team. He only hoped Ginny wouldn't mind relinquishing her position as seeker.
"And we gotta teach Dawn how to fly," Aidan pointed out.
Harry liked that idea even better. Maybe he would even get to bring her up on his broom with him.
"Yeah well after today we're gonna be stuck in classes. You guys get to have all the fun," Dawn pouted.
"Don't be so bummed. The food is good," Ron said as reassurance.
"You guys all ready?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah. Are you coming with?" Dawn asked.
"I won't be by until later. Giles and I have to go to LA and round up the slayers that will be training at Hogwarts and Angel and the gang wanted to see it. Willow and Xander are going with you," she replied.
"Ooh I almost forgot. I bought this in London," Jordan said as she opened her trunk. "I figure we can play it when the weather gets crappy. I suck at chess. So I bought something I can beat Aidan at."
Dawn's and Buffy's jaws dropped when she showed them what she bought.
"Dungeons and Dragons?! You bought Dungeons and Dragons?" Buffy said.
"Yeah we played it the night before we fought at the hellmouth. I kicked ass at this game and it was my first time playing!" she said excitedly.
"What makes you think you can beat me? How do you know I won't kick your ass after I learn how to play?" Aidan asked.
"Wanna bet?" she asked.
"Ten galleons," he said.
"Done," she replied and they shook hands.
Everyone else stared at them in confusion.
Buffy raised her hand. "I think I speak for everyone here when I say, huh?"
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"Wow look at this place! How do you like it here Will?" Dawn said to her owl who hooted in reply when they were all gathered in Dumbledore's office after a portkey trip there.
She set her stuff down and walked around the large room while examining all the magical objects. Willow and Xander were equally delighted and fascinated by it.
"Not all the teachers have arrived yet and our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is not due to arrive until this Friday. That position is rather hard to fill," he told them.
"Your lessons will not begin until tomorrow. You have today free to tour through Hogwarts and the grounds. I am sure these four students will be happy to give you a tour. I daresay Mr. Potter and his friends know the castle and some of its secrets quite well," he winked at Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny.
"Oh good. Gives me valuable dreading time before I fail miserably at Transfiguration," Jordan said in a resigned voice.
"Come on Jordan. I'll pull you through it. I always do," Aidan said.
"Hermione can help you. She's good at every type of magic, well, except Divination. She walked out on that class," Ron said.
Hermione crossed her arms and scowled.
"I left that class because it was a load of rubbish!" she retorted.
"What's this thing?" Dawn interrupted as she held up an old patched, brown hat.
"That's the Sorting Hat," Harry answered.
"Sorting Hat? What does it sort?" she inquired.
"You my dear," came a voice from the hat causing Dawn to let out an involuntary shriek and drop it.
"Well that's not very polite," it said.
"Do not be alarmed Miss Summers. It was made by the founder of Gryffindor House and we use it to see which house a student is best suited for," Dumbledore assured her as he picked up the hat and dusted it off.
"Oh. How does it.... erm.... sort us?" she asked hesitantly.
"You just put it on your head and it'll tell you where you belong. It's quite simple," Ginny said.
"That's cool. We don't have a hat. They sent us these survey questions before we started first year at Cristallon to see which group we belonged in. Kinda boring," Aidan said.
"A talking hat. This world has everything. Next thing you know we'll be seeing leprechauns," Xander quipped then noticing the expressions on the faces of the witches and wizards he added, "There's leprechauns too isn't there?"
They nodded and Willow laughed.
"Wait till Buffy hears that," she said.
"These houses; what are they and umm what are the qualifications?" Jordan asked.
"Well there's Gryffindor, which we are in. They like the brave and noble people," Ron said ignoring Ginny's snort when he said noble. "There's Ravenclaw, they like the smart people. Don't know why Hermione isn't in that one," he shot an apologetic look to her when he said that, but it didn't seem to phase her. "Hufflepuff has the people who are the hard workers and the worst house is Slytherin. That house turned out the most Death Eaters of any house and it only takes purebloods or just those born to a witch and wizard, so Dawn shouldn't have to worry about being sorted into there."
"Good to know," Dawn replied.
Aidan took this into consideration. The Firewell family consisted of a long, virtually unbroken line of witches and wizards dating back hundreds and hundreds of years. His mother's side, however, was comprised of a mixture of Muggle and wizard ancestry. So he and Jordan were technically not "purebloods". He thought it a little unfair of Ron to describe Slytherin as the worst house because most of the Death Eaters came from it. It didn't mean all the members were evil or wanted anything to do with the dark arts. But then again he might be wrong.
"Who would like to be sorted first?" Dumbledore asked.
"I will," Jordan answered.
"Ah Miss Firewell, just sit here if you please," Dumbledore instructed.
She sat on a small wooden stool that seemed to appear (and probably did) out of nowhere. Dumbledore placed the hat lightly upon her head. Everyone watched expectantly.
"Ahhhhh a slayer! Never had one of those before. This spices things up a little. Let me see, you are definitely brave no doubt about that. Not very power-hungry. I assume being a slayer and a witch suits you just fine. You are quite a rarity. Intelligent too; in your own peculiar way. You think often of things that others wouldn't," it said in her ear.
Oh good God, will you just sort me already? I don't need my whole life story! And what the hell does that last remark mean? She sighed impatiently.
"Yes, you are most definitely impatient at times, but I don't detect much darkness in you. I say you should be in GRYFFINDOR!" it said aloud for all to hear.
Everyone clapped, but not as hard as Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. Jordan took the hat off and handed it to Dumbledore.
Aidan went up next and Dumbledore set the hat upon his head.
"Hmmmmm. You would do well in either of the four houses. You are fiercely loyal and protective and possess a great deal of courage. Your mind is most definitely one of high intelligence. You are almost as hard to place as Potter was," it whispered.
"Let me give you a hand. Stick me with my sister," he asked quietly.
"Ahhh she is the one who merits your fierce loyalty and protection. Quite a strong bond you two have. Your love for your twin outshines even your courage. Very well, I can see separating the two of you might not be the wisest course of action so you shall be in GRYFFINDOR!" it roared.
He breathed a sigh of relief. Separating the two of them would most definitely not be the wisest course of action. It had been bad enough for four months. He handed the hat back to Dumbledore and gave Dawn an encouraging thumbs up. She smiled back and took a deep breath. She hoped to get into Gryffindor because every other student here was in it. That included Harry. Ravenclaw wouldn't be so bad though. After all she did plan on going into the watcher field whenever she finished school.
Harry squeezed her shoulder reassuringly and gave her a dashing smile that made her knees weak. Stupid sodding hormones. Spending a lot of time with Spike caused her to adopt a little of his lingo.
"Go on Dawnie," Willow said patting her on the back.
Harry kept his fingers crossed as Dawn had the hat placed on her head. Considering what he had heard and seen from yesterday with the demons she was prime Gryffindor material.
"Oh my, this is a strange one. I see memories of a past, but yet there is no substance to the memories. How strange," it said in a thoughtful voice.
Dawn squeezed her eyes shut. Her thoughts strayed to the reasons pertaining to her memories having no substance. The Sorting Hat heard her thoughts and gave a gasp of surprise.
"That's where it's been all these years. The key! That is great power you possess, well actually, great power that you are my dear. You could be very great indeed if given the proper training. The key is an instrument of great and terrible power. But yet you are still human. I see a battle of identity here. Not only with your being the key, but being the sister of the Slayer. You want to break free from that image and become your own person. I can understand that. I think the best place for you would be SLYTHERIN!"
Harry felt something icy slide into his stomach. Slytherin?! No, she couldn't be. She's a Muggle-born. Slytherin doesn't take Muggle-borns. There has to be some mistake. He knew that there was no mistake though. He had thought the hat had made a mistake by sorting him into Gryffindor when he should have been sorted into Slytherin. Apparently his wish to not be in Slytherin influenced the hat's choice. But Dawn in Slytherin? How could that sweet, beautiful girl belong to the house that turned out the most dark wizards out of all the houses combined?
Hermione started twisting her hands nervously. Alarm was written all over her face as she watched Dawn remove the hat and walk towards them. This couldn't be possible. Dawn couldn't be in Slytherin. She was Muggle-born. Or did being the sister of a mystical being like the Slayer create some sort of loophole?
"Aw man that sucks. We aren't gonna be roomies anymore. Oh well, I'm sure we can bunk together during the summer at least," Jordan said cheerfully not fully comprehending the situation.
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny whipped their heads around to stare at her in disbelief. That couldn't possibly be the only problem she had with Dawn being in Slytherin.
Xander and Willow exchanged questioning glances. They had no idea why the four of them were reacting to the hat's choice like that.
Aidan noticed the looks on his new friends' faces. "What?"
"That's impossible. Dawn can't be in Slytherin. The Sorting Hat made a mistake," Harry said in a falsely confident voice.
"Oh the Muggle-born thing. Well there's a first for everything isn't there? Dawn's just a fluke," Jordan replied as if that explained everything.
"Yeah. I was always fluke girl. Although, I don't think I'll like being in a house full of dark witches and wizards to be," Dawn said.
"I'm sure they're not all taking a walk on the dark, scary, veiny side," Xander said.
"Professor are you sure the hat didn't make a mistake?" Ginny asked.
Dumbledore had been observing them all keenly and he didn't respond to Ginny's question right away.
"In all my years at Hogwarts, I have yet to see the wisdom of the Sorting Hat fail. There is a reason for everything Miss Weasley," he said.
"But...but...she's Muggle-born. Slytherin doesn't like Muggle-borns," Ron stated.
"I am aware of that Mr. Weasley. I fear there is nothing I can do. The Sorting Hat has been around for almost as long as Hogwarts itself. If the hat says Miss Summers is in Slytherin, then she is in Slytherin," he said.
Why are they so bothered by this? It's not like she's going to become evil and brand herself with the dark mark, Aidan thought to himself.
"Well could she still stay with us for the summer? I mean, not sleep alone in the Slytherin rooms. It would get kinda lonely," Jordan said to Dumbledore.
"Yes of course," Dumbledore answered. "Now come, I am sure you are eager to see the rest of the castle."
They slowly ambled out of the office and down the stone stairwell. The Sorting Hat's last choice had sucked most of the cheerfulness out of the group. Harry couldn't shake the sinking feeling he got whenever he thought about Dawn in Slytherin. How could this be? Was she adopted? Was that it? Was she actually the child of a witch and wizard? It wouldn't make him feel much better, but at least it would make more sense. He also couldn't believe how dismissive Jordan and Aidan were of it. Granted, they hadn't been going to this school for five years and endured the taunts and jeers of the Slytherin students. They hadn't been to one of Snape's, the head of Slytherin House, potions classes yet. They didn't understand that their friend was now a part of the very house that was a direct and almost violent rival of their own. Or maybe they did, but they just didn't care. But how could they not?
Dawn glanced at Harry worriedly. Something was clearly troubling him. Was it the fact that she was in a house with a very bad reputation? She wasn't too peachy with the hat's decision either, but she accepted it. So what if she was now apart of a group full of Death Eater wannabes? She certainly wouldn't become one of them. If she had to be an outcast in her own house, then so be it. She didn't have to be around them all the time. And Xander was right, not all of them could be Muggle-hating bigots. There had to be a good egg or two in there.
"Harry? Is something wrong?" she asked.
He looked at her for a split-second; his bright green eyes alight with some unnamable emotion, before turning his gaze away.
"Nothing's wrong," he lied.
Dawn wasn't sure he was telling the truth, but she didn't say anything.
"So, um, where do the owls go? I let Will fly off. I hope he doesn't get lost," she said looking up at the clear sky.
"Oh, there's an Owlery all the owls go to eat and rest. And don't worry, the owls never get lost," he assured her, grateful for the subject change.
"So after we meet the teachers wanna hit the Quidditch field? This is my last day of freedom and I am in sore need of practice. After this I shall never see the light of day again," Jordan said.
"Jordan, you will do fine in Transfiguration. I will pull you through it," Aidan responded in a slightly exasperated tone.
"You can't be that bad," Ron said.
"She's not. She's just a raving pessimist at times," Aidan said.
"Are you guys trying out for the team?" Ginny asked the three new students.
Dawn vigorously shook her head. She didn't even know how to fly yet. There was no way she could play a game while on a broomstick at least thirty feet above the ground.
"Jordan and I are for the chaser positions. I used to be a seeker, but the Beaters' Bible bit began to really make the game a living hell so I switched. Turns out I'm better suited for chaser because I get to work with Jordan and, I say this in all humbleness, we kick ass," he said grinning knowingly at his sister.
"Must be a twin thing. My brothers, Fred and George, were beaters. They were really good," Ginny said.
"Speaking of your brothers, you guys owe us a story about them," Dawn said to Ginny.
"Oh that's right! It all started with this witch named Dolores Umbridge and when I say witch I mean it in a bad way...
Fifteen Minutes LaterDawn, Jordan, Aidan, Willow, and Xander were doubled over with laughter as Ginny, her brother, and his friends finished telling the story of Fred and George's triumph over Umbridge.
"I have a whole new respect for those guys," Xander said.
"This Umbridge person sounds even worse than Snyder," Willow remarked.
"Who's Snyder?" Harry asked.
"He was the principal of Sunnydale High when Will, Buffy, and I were in school. He was eaten by a giant snake at our graduation," Xander replied happily.
"Umbridge got caught by centaurs, but they didn't eat her. They just turned her a little, um, insane," Ron said.
"Shouldn't we be getting on with the tour? I mean, we've only made it to the courtyard so far," Jordan said.
Harry and his friends led them back inside Hogwarts to show them where everything was. Dawn gawked at the ceiling, which she hadn't noticed until Willow pointed it out.
"It looks just like the sky outside!" Dawn squealed.
Harry momentarily forgot that she was in Slytherin when he saw the excitement she exuded. He loved just watching her with her head tilted back and moving slowly in a circle as she stared at the ceiling. After showing the new students the dining hall they showed them where all the classes were. Along the way they met with Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Sprout. Jordan was less than happy to find out that the professor of Transfiguration was the head of her new house.
"Could be worse. It could have been Snape," Ron said.
"No because then he would favor us instead of the bloody Slytherins," Harry replied bitterly and then he quickly covered, "Ummm no offense Dawn."
"I wonder who's teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts," Aidan remarked.
"Good question. That position doesn't stay filled for more than a year. It's cursed," Ron said.
"It is not Ron. All those events are merely coincidences," Hermione said tartly.
"Don't be too sure about that Hermione," Willow said.
"Well I hope it's someone who knows what they are doing and doesn't rely on books and theories. If only we could have Professor Lupin back," Ginny said wistfully.
"Maybe it is him. Maybe he just wants to surprise us," Ron said hopefully.
"You think Dumbledore would hire him again after everyone already knows he's a..." Harry trailed off remembering who else was there.
"He's a what?" Dawn asked.
"Never mind," Harry said quickly.
"Come on Harry. You can tell us, chances are Dawn and her gang have already heard of or faced it," Jordan said encouragingly.
Harry glanced around furtively trying to find a way out of the conversation. The first thing that came to his mind was Quidditch.
"Hey! We still have to teach Dawn how to fly. Let's get our brooms and go to the Quidditch field. Our stuff is probably already in the Gryffindor Common Room," he started walking in that direction.
"Hey! He's dodging the subject!" Dawn said to Hermione, Ginny, and Ron as they followed Harry.
"Well it's a touchy subject," Hermione replied.
"But-" Jordan began.
Aidan cut her off. "Just let it go Jordan. We'll probably find out later."
Dawn had already let the issue drop because she was thinking about all the different ways her brains could splatter if she fell off a broom while in air. Not a pretty picture.
"I hope your brooms come with seatbelts," she muttered.
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I hope you don't mind terribly that I put Dawn in Slytherin. I thought it would add an interesting twist. It's not that I think she's evil; I think she rocks. Matthew helped me decide so thanks a bunch to you dude. I have to be honest, if I were to ever go to Hogwarts I would be put in Slytherin for sure. Anyway, next chapter some rookie slayers and Buffy and the Angel Gang visit Hogwarts. Yay we get to see Lorne!