Moving

Fred sat next to Wesley on the couch, his arm draped over her shoulders. The duo were oblivious to everything and everyone else in the room, no small feat considering what was happening. Against the far wall was a giant TV currently tuned to a football game. Spike, Xander, Gunn, Anya, Faith, and even Oz were yelling at the screen, alternating between cheering the team of his choice or booing the opposing team. Angel sat in a far corner of the room reading a newspaper and occasionally glancing up and smirking when he caught Spike making obscene gestures toward the TV screen.

Buffy walked into the room carrying a tray filled with assorted beverages. Two mugs were near the center of the tray and containing blood, one plain and one mixed with crushed Triscuits. The other fifteen mugs contained hot chocolate, tea, or coffee. The blonde passed the drinks out after 'persuading' the men to calm down. When all of the drinks were passed out she curled up in an armchair and watched her family quietly.

Lorne was in an in-depth discussion with Dawn concerning the merits of Pop-Culture, boy bands in particular. Anya, Willow, Cordelia, and Tara were planning their shopping excursion for the next day. Giles was teaching Andrew the finer points of Chess, an almost impossible task. The day was quieting down after two visions on Cordelia's part and much slayage from the fighters in the group. Three demons and six vampires had been killed or dusted, and many people were alive thanks to them.

Just then, a cream and black owl flew into the room, perching himself on the armrest of Buffy's chair. The woman petted the bird and checked to see if he had brought anything back from her grandfather. She found a small note and a key.

"Buffy? Care to explain the owl?" Cordelia asked, staring at the bird with no small amount of curiosity.

"Give me a sec…"

My Dearest Buffy,

It is so good to hear from you. It pleases me to no end to know that you and Dawn will be joining us at Hogwarts. Feel free to write back with the number of friends who will be coming with you, but it is not required. I have taken the liberty of sending Ares back with a portkey; I will leave it to you to specify the number of people it will hold. I trust you remember how to do that. Everyone who is coming must touch the key at promptly 3 o'clock in the evening on Wednesday. Thank you so much for coming; you must explain to me when you arrive why it is suddenly alright for you to leave your duties on the Hellmouth. All my love to you both.

Your Loving,

Grandad

"Is that what I think it is?" Spike spoke up, looking at the letter curiously.

"That depends on what you think it is," Buffy quipped, handing the letter to Dawn. "This owl, Cordy, is mine. You've never seen him before because for the past six years he has been a necklace. I'm a witch. Dawnie's a witch in training."

"But you said you didn't know how to do my spells," Willow countered.

"You're not technically a witch, Willow. You and Tara are Wiccans. I'm talking witch as in- "

"Brooms and wands and pointy hats," Spike cut in.

"Exactly. Your turn. Explain."

"Back when I was human I spent seven years of my life at Hogwarts, which is where I assume you got the letter from?"

"Yeah. Grandad needs our help, and he's willing to accept anyone who wants to come."

"Grandad?"

"Albus Dumbledore. The school's headmaster," Dawn explained distractedly.

"My mum went to school with him!" Spike blurted. "Granted, he was Head Boy and she was just a first year, but still, it counts."

"And for us pure humans, would someone care to explain?" Gunn growled.

"Sorry. The school is called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It teaches young witches and wizards how to control their magic. Albus Dumbledore is the current Headmaster, and he is willing to give each of us teaching jobs at the school if we want them. He needs help protecting a boy."

"A boy?"

"Harry Potter. Apparently there's a prophesy stating that he's the only person capable of defeating the current Dark Lord."

"Dark Lord?"

"A wizard that went way bad. He is to veiny, brunette Willow as that Willow is to Andrew. He was way bad, and somehow Harry Potter managed to stop him. No one else had ever survived the killing curse, but Harry, an infant at the time, not only lived, but more or less defeated Voldemort – that's the name of the evil wizard."

"Has anyone besides Spike and Buffy been to this school?" Wesley asked, looking around the room. Angel, Giles, and Anya nodded.

"I was friends with the founders' children.," Anya informed them. "I got to meet the founders, too. Salazar was okay, but Godric was the funny one. Oh, and Helga was really nice to me. She taught me how to stop major blood loss. I didn't really know Rowena well."

After an hour or two everything was explained to the humans and Lorne concerning Hogwarts and what they would be required to do at Hogwarts.

"Wait a second," Xander broke in. "Buffy, you said that you went to this Hogwarts place, right?" Buffy nodded. "And the kids are eleven through seventeen?" A slower nod. "But I knew you when you were sixteen."

"I… uh… went through that age twice."

"How?"

"When I got my letter, Mom was thrilled. We transferred to Hogwarts since that's where my grandfather is. My father wasn't thrilled. In fact, he was pissed. So, to shut him up, Mom and Grandad made a deal with him. I would attend Hogwarts and become a witch. Then, the day after my graduation, I would take a time-turner and a potion that would take me back in time eleven years and make me that age again. I took mom with me so that I would have someone who could help me. Then I began my time in Junior High and High School. Oh, and in that first time through I didn't get chosen as the Slayer."

"What about Dawn?"

"Another deal with Grandad. Our father was even worse about Dawnie going, since as far as he's concerned, I didn't go, so we made a deal that I would tutor her in all of the subjects, and then when she reached the right age she would take all of the tests just like everyone else."

"And now that that's over with, I'm tired. Tomorrow morning I have to get up early and start packing," Dawn whined.

"Anyone who wants to come with us should be ready to go with their stuff at 3 tomorrow afternoon. And I'm with Dawn; it's time for bed." With that, the Summers sisters walked out of the room and toward the stairs. Suddenly Buffy poked her head back into the room. "And Faith?" The woman looked up. "He knows he has a new granddaughter. He wants to welcome you to the family." Faith nodded and smiled.

…

The next afternoon everyone was gathered in the living room, waiting for the Summers sisters to enter. Each person had about one bag filled with everything they needed. Buffy had already explained that they would need to go shopping for Wizard-appropriate clothing. Angel, Anya, Giles, and Spike were sitting on old-looking trunks. Somehow or another they had managed to keep their old school trunks throughout the years. Xander was also sitting on Spike's trunk, holding the vampire in his lap.

"Are you guys ready?" Buffy asked, walking down the stairs with a trunk on each of her shoulders. Dawn followed behind her holding both of their purses and Ares' empty cage. Everyone nodded and made various complaints about having to wait on her. "Wow… Everyone's coming?" Dawn gave her sister an 'I-told-you-so' look.

Buffy shrugged and pulled out an old-fashioned key and her wand, mumbling another phrase in Latin to make the key larger. She instructed each of them to touch the key and not let go - no matter how they might feel – until she told them that they could. Everyone held tight to their luggage with one hand, and kept at least a finger on the key with the other hand. Suddenly they felt a tugging on the navels and felt the sensation of flying. They landed in a large hallway. Everyone but Angel and Buffy fell over.

… … … … …

A/N: Okay, I know it's not very long this time, but I did get everything explained. Just… pretend that all of the comments made in the Buffy-verse concerning Harry Potter never happened, okay? Thanks. And this takes place in Harry's fifth year and after season 7 of Buffy. I have no idea how that corresponds with Angel, and I have never read the fifth Harry Potter book, so go with me on this one. Thanks, and please review!!

A/N 2: I have a very major request for everyone out there, as this is driving me crazy and depriving me of sleep. I read a fanfic last summer (2004) in the Buffy category. I can't remember the title or author's name, but I have a vague idea of how the story went. Basically, there's a spell that gets most of the scoobies (and Riley) to beat the crap out of Spike. Willow finds out and calls Angel for help. Spike, Willow, and Tara go with Angel (technically Dawn runs away to find them) to LA and wait for Spike to heal. When he does he goes home to England where he has this major estate and horses and servants and ghosts of his long-dead siblings and wife. If any of you can tell me the title and/or author of that fic, I will love you forever, and will send you a picture of your choosing. (Example: you like Spike, I've got a couple of him in seaon seven wearing nothing but a LOW sheet. Also have some where he's just CUTE!!!) So please; I'm on hands and knees - sans fingers - begging you here. Help me or run the risk of me going insane! Thanks.