Chapter Six
First Classes
Dawn felt nervous as she walked towards the entrance of the great hall with the rest of the students. She felt all their eyes on her as she walked. She turned around to look back at the teacher's table. Willow waved and her sister smiled at her encouragingly. It was nice to see Buffy smile for once. Ever since Willow had bought her back, it had been kind of dark at home. Maybe this was what she had needed. A change of scenery.
Dawn tried in vain to remember where the Defence against Dark Arts class was and she looked around for somebody to ask. She didn't have to look far, as she found herself surrounded by students, all asking her questions.
"Where do you come from again?"
"How come you're only just starting Hogwarts? Won't you be in the sixth year?"
"It's a good job you weren't in Slythrin, that'd be a nightmare!"
"Why don't you give her some room to breath?" Came a voice from just beyond the hall entrance. Dawn looked up to see a girl who was her own age, maybe a bit older, with long, very thick and bushy dark blond hair and brown eyes. She was dressed in gold and red robes.
Dawn grinned at her and hurried forward. "Thanks so much!" she said in a rush. "I was just trying to find my first class and then…" the girl smiled.
"I think we're in the same class. Defence against dark arts isn't it? I'll show you where it is. Its Dawn right? I'm Hermione granger. Welcome to Gryffindor!"
"Hi," Dawn said in answer.
"Don't worry about them," Hermione continued. "It's only because you're new. Their curiosity will die down eventually".
"Just because you're a prefect now Granger, doesn't mean you're the queen! I'm a prefect too and I say you can't talk to us like that!"
Hermione sighed patiently. "Shut up Malfoy, nobody's listening. Harry, Ron, wait a minute!" and with that she turned and left the room, with Dawn hurrying after her.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Buffy watched as the students hurried into the large room. And it was huge! Wooden desks and chairs lined the edge of the room and in front of her was a large space for their practice lessons. The windows had been covered with heavy drapes as Angel was teaching this class too - at her request. The stone walls were lined with about a million candles. Also this place seemed to have a magical light of its own.
She was in a major panic. Never in a million years would she ever have thought of herself as a teacher! Well, at least it kept her mind off things at home - such as Spike. But now that Spike was in her mind, she couldn't stop thinking about him. What was going on with them anyway? Did she actually miss him? Like that's what you should be thinking about!
"Oh God, I can't do this!" She whispered frantically to Angel. "I can barely breathe, let alone teach! Why didn't Dumbledore pick Willow or Giles for this? You know, someone who actually knows about magic?"
"You'll be fine," muttered Angel. "You'd better be anyway. It looks like your class has started without you!"
Buffy turned to look and saw that he was right. Everyone was standing still and silent, just waiting and staring at her. "Buffy!" Dawn was whispering her name and making small hurry it up gestures as discretely as she could, but she soon stopped when she noticed Hermione looking at her strangely.
"Oh, right!" She said and walked forward. "As you know, my name is Buffy Summers," she started. "And this is Angel". Angel nodded at the class silently. "Now…"
"What kind of name is Angel for a guy?" asked a kid in the front. Buff imagined Spike looking like him when he had been younger.
"Malfoy!" hissed the girl standing by Dawn.
"Watch it kid," said Angel with a slight smile.
"As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted," she continued. "I will call out your names and when I do I want you to raise your hands, so I know who you all are". She glanced at the piece of paper she had picked up.
"Hermione granger?" The girl beside Dawn raised her hand. Buffy smiled at her and continued. "Ron Wealsy," "Neville Long-Bottom," she paused. "Draco Malfoy is it?" Draco lifted his hand reluctantly. Buffy smiled at him icily and then moved on as if he didn't exist.
Harry, Ron and hermione exchanged a look. This year was starting to look up already. A teacher who was on their side instead of Malfoys? That almost never happened in this class!Then Buffy looked at Harry. "Harry Potter?" she called out. They shared a brief look, and he couldn't read her expression. It was like she understood him, what he was going through. He shook his head slightly, weird!
She handed the piece of paper to Angel.
"Now," she said, walking back and forth in front of the class. "I don't know what you've been taught in this class before and I really don't care. I was picked for this job. Me, not anybody else. And I'm going to be honest with you, because most of you seem like a good bunch of kids - sorry - teenagers! I don't care much for magic! I mean - its great special effects and can do great damage against your enemies, especially when you can actually cast a spell. And I know you guys live by it, being witches and wizards and all. But my idea of defence is just that. Self defence. Sounds weird I know, but while I'm teaching you, class is going to be a little different then it's been before. So, we're doing this my way, and I'll have no complaints or snide remarks…" she looked at malfoy as she said this
"Are we all clear on this?"
The class nodded in shocked silence. "Ok," she continued. "Now that the lectures out of the way, we can get on with it! Now, say you're in the field. It's dark, you're alone, and magic doesn't have any effect. Or say, you're not able to cast a spell. Say you're dealing with a vampire. The traditional way to kill a vampire is a stake through the heart, or there's also fire, sunlight and decapitation. You can also use holy water. Now I'm going to show you some simple fight moves with Angel. Of course, they'll still be a little bit difficult, but by the end of this year, you'll all be proper demon hunters. Well, sort of!"
She stood in the training area in front of the class and beckoned to Angel. They started to fight. A side kick here, a roundhouse there - nothing meant to harm of course. The class watched in awe as they continued to spar.
"Uh - Buffy?" interrupted Dawn. "BUFFY!" She ended up shouting. Her sister and Angel froze in the middle of a very complicated move.
"What?" asked Buffy.
"Maybe you're showing off a little?" said Dawn hesitantly.
Buffy glanced back at the class and grinned. "Oh, right! Sorry. Back to the basics then?"
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Buffy looked at Angel as they watched the students file out of the class.
"That went well," said Angel.
Buffy nodded. "Could have gone better I guess".
"Buffy," started Angel and she turned to look at him "I was only thinking…why did you ask that I teach this class? I mean…."
"Because I thought we could clear the air. After our little talk a while ago, after I'd first been bought back, I told you that things would be different from now on. That we'd be stronger as allies and nothing more. I care about you and I'm glad that you wanted to see me. But remember when I told you nothing could happen? that didn't mean that I never wanted to talk to you again. We can still be friends. It means that while we're here, you don't get to continue skulking round in the shadows never to be seen. You're a champion for the powers and you'd be a great teacher. They can learn a lot from you, even if they can never know who you are. The next lesson's yours by the way. So, we have a deal? While we're here, no dark talk about our past? No weird feelings between us?"
He smiled a little. "Ok deal".
She nodded. "Ok. So, I wonder when Dumbledore's going to clue us in on what this Voldemort guys up to?"
Angel shook his head. "I'm beginning to think that he doesn't even know".
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"Can you believe that lesson?" exclaimed Hermione. "That was so ……"
"Yeah, it was amazing," agreed Harry.
"What do you mean amazing? It was bloody brilliant!" said Ron happily. "And I wouldn't have thought you'd approve, miss I like to do everything by the book!" He continued.
Hermione frowned and didn't say anything else.
"Did you see the way she treated Malfoy?" Ron went on. "I just loved the look on his face!"
Dawn burst into laughter. "Well, my sister does have that effect on people".
They all turned to look at her. "She's you're sister?" said Hermione finally.
"She must be a great sister," added Harry, stepping forwards.
Dawn nodded. "Some of the time. So, what do we have next? Can I sit with you guys?"
"Yes!" Said Ron and Harry at the same time.
Hermione rolled her eyes at this. "Sure, I guess," she answered Dawn. "And we've got herbolgy with Ravenclaw. Great, they always try to show off at everything".
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The rest of the classes seemed to pass by in a blur for Harry and his friends. Never had they had as much fun in history as they had that day!
They all agreed that Mr Price and Mr Giles, although they did go on a bit, were much better then a ghost teaching them.
Herbology and Care of Magical creatures, although fun lessons anyway, were much better this year with the assistant teachers.
They all seemed to be sticking up for Harry and his friends, which was a relief as no one else knew what to say to Malfoy anyway except for McGonagall and Dumbledore.
Charms was the best lesson though. Willow taught them some new tricks, such as how to turn fire into ice and vice versa. Mr Flitwick looked almost relieved to have a break from teaching. Harry was impressed with Willow's spell casting.
The last class of the day was double potions, and although they usually dreaded this, they were looking forward to seeing what Snape would be like having someone else in the class.
Although Dawn was nervous about potions, considering she'd never made one in her life, she figured if she could make a feather float with her brand new wand, she could do anything. "Here we go," she murmured, and took her seat.