Sorry if any of these ideas seem familiar to anyone. I started writing this a while ago and there are to many Harry Potter crossovers to remember, so if any of these ideas are in anyone else's fic - once again sorry. Can't change it now!

buffy13-buffyspike4eva - you'll just have to wait and see if his in this or not! Spike is one of my fav characters though - that's a pretty big hint by the way!

Chapter Five

The Sorting Hat Decides

Harry sat on board the Hogwarts Express, waiting for Ron and Hermoine to return from their prefect meeting. He sat with Luna and Neville in an awkward silence.

The two had only just become members of Harry's close circle of friends since there adventures last year. With these thoughts at last creeping into his mind, all Harry could now think of was his godfather, Sirius Black. It had been all his fault that Sirius had died and his mood wasn't lightened by the knowledge that one day he was to be involved in a duel to the death with Voldemort! No one knew this apart from Dumbledore.

"Hello Harry, we're back," said Ron, pushing open the carriage door.

"Harry?" asked Hermoine when he didn't reply. He had barely glanced up at them, he was so lost in his thoughts.

"Nice of you to notice us!" Hermoine laughed as she at down.

"What? Sorry, I was just thinking about…last year". His friends said nothing to this as there wasn't much left for them to say.

"Fred and George seem to be doing alright Ron," said Neville to lighten things up.

Ron nodded. "Mum's not pleased with them though. She still wants to know where they got all that money to buy their own joke shop in Diagon Ally!"

Harry sighed. His friends just didn't understand. And he couldn't blame them. It wasn't like he'd told them the truth. "I hear there's going to be some new teachers this term," he said, joining in the conversation.

"Where did you hear that?" exclaimed Hermoine.

"From Hagrid," he answered her. "One has obviously got to be the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, we haven't had one that's lasted a year yet," Harry continued.

"Thank God it's not Umbridge again is all I've got to say," said Ron. "Anyone's better then that, as long as it's not Snape!"

Harry agreed bitterly. Certain detentions of hers came to mind.

"I don't know what positions they could fill apart from that one," put in Luna.

"Hagrid said if we stay on their good side it'll be an interesting year," said Harry.

"What does that mean?" asked Neville.

"No idea. But we'd better get our stuff ready, we're nearly there," replied Ron.

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There was a feeling of great excitement in the air as Harry and his friends, along with everyone else made their way to the great hall.

"Wow," said Hermoine as she and the rest of them sat down at the Gryffindor table.

"What is it?" asked Ron as he sat by Neville.

"The teacher's table is more crowded then usual. I thought you said there would only be a few new teachers Harry? I wonder who they all are?"

Harry shrugged in answer.

Hermoine wasn't the only one who had noticed all the new teachers. Everyone else had too, they were pointing and whispering.

"Hello Potter," came a voice he had learned to despise over the past five years. The boy was his own age with dark brown eyes and very light blonde, almost white hair. "I hope this year isn't as traumatic for you as last year was. Wait? What am I saying? Of course I hope it is!"

"Grow up Malfoy!" spat Ron.

Draco laughed. "Can't speak for yourself Potter?" he continued to laugh and went to join his own friends on the Slytherine table.

Soon everyone was seated and Dumbledore rose. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts, he said loudly so they could all hear. "We have some new teachers joining us this term as you can see, and I will introduce them all to you soon. But first, we should get the new students sorted into their houses".

"Come along first years, step this way. Up to the front," said Professor Mcgonagall as the first years lined up one by one in front of everyone. Harry remembered when he had first come to hog warts and doubted he would ever forget. He remembered how nervous he had been.

A hat was placed on the first student head. It looked very ordinary, like any normal witches hat, but soon it came to life and actually started to talk! He noticed that some of the new teachers jumped at this and looked surprised. Ok, that was weird. Shouldn't they be used to magic?

After the first years had been placed, Dumbledore had yet another surprise for them. "May I introduce a new student to you all? This is Dawn Summers". The silence in the hall was almost unbearable. Harry felt sorry for the girl, but also confused. She was his age, how come she was only just starting? His question was soon answered. "She is a transfer student from America," Dumbledore went on.

The sorting hat was placed on her head. "Interesting," it said. "You possess great strength and courage and are not afraid of danger. If you are you hide it well. You have been through a lot in your young life. You also possess secrets in your heart and are good at keeping them, this is a Slytherine trait. Hmm…. Where to put you…." The sorting hat seemed to take a long time. Harry remembered when he had been placed into gryffindor. Originally the hat was going to put him in Slytherin to! Interesting.

"Oh yes, that's it. She will be in Gryffindor!" There was a round of applause and Dawn took a seat at the other end of the table to where Harry was sitting. Then Dumbledore looked at the new teachers.

"Now," he started. "Miss Buffy Summers and Mr Angel will teach DADA classes. Mrs Piper Halliwell will assist in potions class. Miss Willow Rosenburg will assist in charms lessons and Ms Cordelia Chase will assist in Divinations. Mr Rupert Giles and Mr Wesley price will take over History of magic class and Miss Phoebe and Miss Paige Halliwell will be helping Hagrid with Care of magical Creatures. Mr Harris will provide supervision for Quidditch training. Have I left anyone out?"

He smiled slightly at the school. "Although the events of last year were greatly disturbing, I hope that this year will prove to be better. Although I cannot say for certain, I can give you hope that the situation is being dealt with severely. He who must not be named is out there somewhere, but as long as I am in this school, no harm shall come to any of you, that's a promise I intend to keep. Now, let the feast begin!"

"Hagrid was right," said Harry as they ate. I bet this year will be interesting! "I bet Snapes mad though, having to have an assistant!"

TBC