When she got on the train it was packed with people she obviously didn't know. She sat with other kids her age who she assumed were first years as well. They mostly talked about what it was going to be like and what house they were in. When they found out Dawn had not only been to Hogwarts but had lived there for 6 months and learnt a few things the talk then turned to what the teachers were like. Dawn enjoyed telling them about Snape and how much fun it was to tease him. One of the boys looked at her with wide eyes and said "My brother told me that he is evil and hangs us from the rafters when you get the potion wrong" Dawn had just laughed and said "Pfft, Uncle Snapey is a doll, wouldn't hurt a fly".

The conversation flowed with ease and Dawn enjoyed being around kids her own age but all too soon the ride was over. When they got off the train Hagrid was there to greet them and Dawn saw the other students go towards carriages drawn by the scariest looking horses she had ever seen. All she could do was stand there staring in horror until Hagrid touched her arm to see if she was alright. Her head shot up at him and she asked in a voice that seemed to carry "What are those things?" About twenty heads gapped at her and Hagrid quickly explained they were threastrals which only people who had seen death could see but it didn't mean anything and they were harmless and she wasn't cursed.

She had looked at him strangely at that but was stopped from asking more when he called out over the first years to get in the boats. The ride over was quick and she could hear people talking about the fact that she could see the horses.

When they arrived in the hall everyone turned to watch their progress to the front. When they came to a halt they saw the hat sitting on the chair and it started to sing:

(This is from the book just so you know so no I didn't write it, wish I did.)

In times of old when I was new
And Hogwarts barely started
The Founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted:

united by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.

"Together we will build and teach!"
The Four good friends decided
And never did they dream that they
Might someday be divided,

For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?

So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.

Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry is purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest."

Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name,"
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot,
And treat them just the same."

These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light,
For each of the four founders had
A House in which they might

Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning, just like him,

And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor,

Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
And taught them all she knew,
Thus the Houses and their founders
Retained friendships firm and true.

So Hogwarts worked in harmony
For several happy years,
But the discord crept among us
Feeding on our faults and fears.

The Houses that, like pillars four,
Had once held up our school,
Now turned upon each other and,
Divided, sought to rule.

And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end,
What with dueling and with fighting
And the clash of friend on friend

And at last there came a morning
When old Slytherin departed
And though the fighting then died out
He left us quite downhearted.

And never since the founders four
Were whittled down to three
Have the Houses been united
And they once were meant to be.

And now the Sorting Hat is here
And you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
Because that is what I'm for,

But this year I'll go further,
Listen closely to my song:
Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong,

Though I must fulfill my duty
And must quarter every year
Still I wonder whether sorting
May not bring the end I fear.

Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes

And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you..
Let the sorting now begin

Dawn watched as everyone seemed to be in shock and started to whisper loudly at whatever the hat meant. They were put to a stop pretty quickly when Dumbledore magnified his voice to call for silence. And then names started to get called out. After about 30 people she went up to the hat.

She looked at it with a mixture of dislike and distrust. She had to put this thing on her head and it was going to read her mind. Not something that gives you a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

She sat slowly on the chair and the Professor sat the on her head.

"Hmmm what have we here? One of the Summers children. Interesting.. I have been waiting to meet one of your kinds." "My kind what are you talking about" "Not your place to know yet child.. Now where to place you, Where to place you. Do you have a preference?" Dawn shrugged. "Hmm interesting you don't mind which house, very different from Harry" She sat up straighter. "You know Buffy's Harry?" The hat chuckled in her head. "He is sitting over at the Gryffindor table." Dawn looked over at the table searching for the person but gave up when she realized she didn't exactly remember very well what he looked like. "Hmm does this influence into wanting to go to Gryffindor then. She shook her head. You would do well in all houses. Your cunning enough for Slytherin although your blood is not pure, your intelligent like Ravenclaw, you would fit in well with Hufflepuff but like your sister you are brave beyond words. Hmm but I see you like annoying Professor Snape. Hmmm this could be an interesting turn, yes that be it then yes I guess I will have to place you in" SLYTHERIN!

Dawn glanced up at the head of her new house and gave him a smirk that would have made her sister proud. She watched his expression go from sour to grim and she grinned before going over to her house and sitting down looking for all the world like a cat who got its first canary.

Author note: I am evil. I put her in Slytherin just to torture Snape Hope you like it. I'm not that good with writing the Harry side of things so there won't be too many chapters which don't show Buffy. I figure as long as Buffy is in them I can write it. Oh and it won't be much longer before they meet, but there is a reason Buffy is in Sunnydale right now. Next chapter is Buffy in Sunnydale. One after that is Dawn and Harry meet.