Reviewer Responses:

Sierra- Thanks for the review, and welcome to my little piece of insanity, LOL. Hope you keep reading and reviewing.

Angel-love-Buffy- Gald you're still reading and enjoying this fic. Please keep on reading and reviewing.

Moony-Mione-Padfoot- Thanks for the short review.

Lady Saffron of the Daggers- Gald you liked the piece with the veritaserum. I thought that would be a nice addition. As for what they're gonna be like at the Leaky Cauldron...well you get your wish in this chapter...sort of.

And thanks for the encoragement about getting my teaching degree and credential. I really appreciate it.

gabrieldarke- LOL, don't worry about the short review. Glad to know you liked it.

Heaven'sDemise- I agree, Voldie is nothing compared to Dracula, The Master, Lothos,. and even Angelus, Spike and Dru. Can't really say Darla since Angel was the one who killed her during the Harvest in the first season of Buffy, and then Darla killed herself to give birth to Connor during the second (or was it third) season of Angel. About Harry acting like it was nothing that Buffy's died twice...well he's known her for almost 2 months now, of course he's heard the stories. And yes, Snape did fool Dumbledore, just like he did in the HP canon and was revealed in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, though thankfully it was before he could do any damage. Keep reading and reviewing.

Chapter 13:
Trains, Carriages and Sortings, Oh My!

The Leaky Cauldron, London: September 1, 2004

"WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! SLEEPY HEADS!" a cheerful voice called throughout the four bedroom suite.

The five teenagers in two of the said rooms all grumbled as they woke up. Harry, the first person to exit a bedroom (wells besides his sister, Willow, Xander and Remus), threw a glare at his

elder sister. Buffy just threw him an innocent smile in response.

Harry looked at the clock, and noticed it was only 7 am in the morning and asked angrily, "Why did you have to wake us up this early for Buffy?"

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Today's September first, remember? We're supposed to be at Platform nine and three quarters at 9:45 and with how many teenagers we have to deal with…we'll need the time for all you to get dressed and double check your trunks."

"But Buffy…." Harry started, but was stopped when Ginny walked out of her room wearing her emerald green pajama pants and tank top.

Buffy suppressed the chuckle that was threatening to escape her throat and instead said, "Remus and I are going to get breakfast, could some of you try and be ready when we get back all right?"

Harry, snapped out of his daze and nodded. When the hell did Ginny Weasley start looking like a Goddess? He wondered silently as he watched her grab her clothes and head to the designated girls' bathroom.

As Ginny walked out of sight, Harry slapped himself mentally. Stop thinking of her like that you prat! You know what Ron, and Fred and George and Bill and Charlie would do to you if they knew you liked and thought of her like that!

Ever since last year, he and Ginny had become closer and better friends. And over the last month and a half since Ron and Hermione spent most of their time together when not training or helping Dawn catch up to 6th year and Buffy so she could pass her NEWTS, Harry and Ginny spent most of their time together or with Dawn and Buffy, and the other Scoobies.

Shaking his head, Harry made his way to the boy's bathroom and got ready for the train ride. He really needed to stop thinking about Ginny like that. She was his best friend's little sister for crying aloud. However, he didn't think it would go away just like that.

Fifteen minutes later, Harry walked out of the bathroom and found Buffy and Remus walking in with two trays each. All four trays piled up with eggs, sausage, toast, fruit, Pumpkin juice, coffee, water, and even milk. There was definitely enough food for everyone there, and Ron, whose appetite was no legendary among the group of friends.

As he walked into the common room, Buffy looked up and smiled. "You're looking rather spiffed up," she said, commenting on his choice of clothing; a pair of brand new dark indigo blue jeans, and a baby blue oxford shirt, which match his coloring very well. "Thinking of going after Miss Weasley are you?" she teased.

Harry blushed slightly and replied with a terse, "No."

Remus raised an eyebrow. "Why not? I think you two would do well together, besides for the last five generations all Potter men have only fallen red-heads," he told them.

At that last comment, both Buffy and Harry looked at Remus curiously. Neither of them had known that little bit of their family history.

Buffy thought about it for a moment and then added, "She is your soulmate too, you know. Remember the prophesy?"

At that, Harry groaned and asked, "Well, what do I think I should do then, Sis, Uncle Moony?"

Buffy grinned, "Just ask her out little brother. I'm sure she'll say yes."

"But Buffy," Harry nearly whined, "What about the fact that she has six older…"

"Six older what Potter," Ginny said dangerously as she walked into the common room.

Harry's eyes went wide and he looked at Buffy and Remus for help, unfortunately for him, all they gave were cheeky smiles. He then turned to Ginny and took a deep breath and replied, "Ginny,Ilikeyoualot.Willyoubemy girlfriend?"

Ginny barely caught what he said, but new the gist of it and hid her smile as she said, "I'm sorry Harry, what did you say? I could barely hear you through the mumbling."

Harry sighed and repeated, "Ginny, I am starting to like you, a lot. In the boyfriend-girlfriend way, and I was wondering if you would be my girlfriend?"

He hesitated looking into her eyes but when he did he saw nothing but happiness shining in her eyes and smile. He whooped, scooped Ginny up into his arms, and twirled her around, causing Buffy and Remus to fall into fits of laughter. Which in turn woke the rest of the group up.

Hermione and Dawn came out of their room first and both squealed and grinned at the new couple. Ron on the other hand looked like he was having a hard time trying to decide whether to rip Harry to shreds for touching his baby sister, or be glad for them.

Harry looked up and over at Ron. He gulped and said, "Look mate, I really like your sister, and you know I wouldn't hurt her intentionally…"

Ron cut him off. "I know mate, but just show you know if you hurt her, you'll have six angry red-headed brothers after you, got it?"

Harry nodded. "And just so you know, the same goes if you hurt Hermione," he said solemnly, though his green eyes were twinkling madly.

"Whaaaa?" Ron replied. He was about to deny it when Hermione turned and cast a curious and hopeful glance at him.

"Is that true Ron? Do you like me?" she asked.

Ron looked to Harry for help, but Harry just shook his head. Ron gulped and stopped fighting the inevitable, he was in love with Hermione. And since Hermione asked, he would give her a truthful answer. "It's true, 'mione. I do like you, a lot…" and before he knew it, the bushy haired brunette had launched herself at him and had captured his lips in a kiss.

A minute later, they finally came up for air. Ron was grinning stupidly and said, "I guess this mean you'll be my girlfriend?"

Hermione rolled her eyes fondly at the redheaded boy and replied, "Of course silly."

Dawn, Buffy, Remus, and Willow and Xander (who had finally woken up) all shared a look which clearly said, "Those four were meant for each other."

Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny's waist and whispered into her ear, "It's about time isn't it?"

Ginny giggled. "Definitely. Those two have been dancing around each other for years. Maybe now there'll be some peace and q…" she paused. "I wonder who won the pot on the betting pool."

Harry let go of Ginny, and pulled a notebook out of his pocket and enlarged it. He then opened the page to the calendar and looked. His face then split into a wide grin. Ginny, who had turned around, noticed the grin on his face. "What? Who won?" she asked.

"Weeeeell," Harry began teasingly, but when he noticed Ginny's eyes narrow he continued, "It looks like you, the twins and I are splitting the pot of one-thousand galleons."

Ginny's eyes widened. "Really? I didn't realize the pot had grown that big," she laughed evilly, "I can't wait to tell the twins and the rest of Gryffindor."

Before Harry could respond, Dawn spoke up. "Wait a sec, you guys had a betting pot about when Ron and Hermione we're going to get together? Why didn't you tell me?" she pouted.

Remus began laughing and in between laughs, a few sentences could be heard, for example: "Just like Lily and James…", "I still can't believe their still doing that..."

The bantering, telling stories, congratulatory comments on Ron and Hermione and Harry and Ginny getting together, finally in some cases, last another half hour while everyone ate breakfast. It was another two hours before Xander, Willow, Ron, Hermione, and Dawn were finished getting ready. Before Remus, Buffy, and the others left for Platform nine and three quarters, Xander and Willow said their good-byes. Once they were done, Willow teleported herself and Xander back to S.W.W.H.Q. in Rome.

After the third of the original Scoobies (Original meaning Buffy, Giles, Dawn, Xander, Willow, and Angel) left Remus turned to the others and asked, "Does everyone have their trunks?"

As everyone nodded, all the teens reached into their pockets and pulled out their shrunken trunks. Buffy herself double-checked her purse for her trunk and a few moments later, the group exited the Leaky Cauldron and grabbed a cab for Kings Cross train station.

On the Hogwart's Express

The trip to and getting on the train had been fairly benign and it looked like there was going to be no trouble from and of the Junior Death Eaters. The group had grabbed a car near the front of the train and near the prefect's car; so that Hermione, Ron, Ginny (who had made fifth year Gryffindor prefect, along with Colin Creevey), and Harry (who had been added as a third sixth year Gryffindor prefect; Harry had surmised that Dumbledore and McGonagall decided to put the Original Golden trio together), could get to the prefect's meeting and back as soon as possible.

It wasn't until after the prefect's meeting, as everyone was settled: Ginny and Hermione were both leaning against their respective boyfriends as Harry and Ron played yet another game of Wizard's Chess. Buffy and Dawn were watching the game with avid interest (Dawn cause she liked chess and Buffy cause she noticed that Ron was a natural tactician) and Remus had fallen asleep against the window, that Draco made his yearly appearance.

As soon as the door had opened, Harry turned towards the door, wand at the ready and stared at Malfoy expecting the blonde to start his usual sneering when he noticed that Crabbe was not there, but Goyle was, as were Blaise Zabini, and Pansy Parkinson.

"What do you want Draco?" Harry asked, curiosity and suspicion coloring his voice.

"Potter, I believe you know Goyle, Blaise, and Pansy," Harry nodded, "They're in the same boat that my mother and I are…"

"And you want to know if I can help them?" Harry finished.

Draco nodded. "Exactly. So, do you…"

Harry held up his hand. "You know I stand by my word Draco, but as I told you yesterday, you need to talk with Professor Dumbledore all right."

Draco, Goyle, Pansy and Blaise all looked at one another before Blaise replied, "All right Harry, if Dumbledore says we're trustworthy, then what?"

"Then my friends and I will do all we can to help the three of you out, and if there are anymore like you four in Slythrin, the same deal applies to them," Harry told them.

Accepting the deal, the four Slytherins left. Leaving the Potter siblings, Weasley Siblings, Hermione and Remus alone in the car to discuss what had happened. And what exactly they were going to tell Professor Dumbledore.

Ron shook his head in disbelief. "I still can't believe that Malfoy decided to join our side in the War."

Ginny and Harry nodded their agreement. But Hermione rolled her eyes, "Honestly, you'd think that no one can change."

"But 'mione, it's fer…" however before Ron could finish his sentence, Hermione hit him with, "SILENCIO!" effectively keeping Ron from putting his foot in his mouth for a while.

Harry took one look at his two long time best friends then over at Ginny and said, "Fight number 1834 goes to Hermione."

Ginny started giggling, which then set off a chain reaction of everyone but Ron and Hermione laughing. Remus, who had woken up to see what was funny, had been informed by Buffy, too which Remus chuckled and replied, "Lily and James were a lot like Ron and Hermione. Though they would bicker constantly, they really loved each others."

Dawn, who had finally recovered from her laughing fit looked at Buffy and said slyly, "Don't they remind you of Xander and Cordelia when they were going out?"

Buffy thought for a moment and then laughed. "Yeah they do don't they! Though I'm sure that if Cordy were alive and both she and Xander were here, they'd never admit anything."

Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Remus who'd only heard about the battles that Buffy and her friends had fought didn't really learn that much about the personal lives of the Scoobies, except Dawn, and wanted to learn more: in Harry's case about his sisters, and his 'adoptive family', and in Hermione, Ginny, and Ron's cases, good friends.

(Come on you cannot honestly tell me that the Core Scoobies, not counting Dawn and Buffy, would not not treat Harry as a little brother, and another son?)

After a moment of confusion Ginny asked, "Who's Cordelia? And why did you say that Ron and 'mione are acting like her and Xander?"

Buffy checked her watch and asked Remus, "How much time do we have before we get to Hogwart's?"

"Well, about an hour and a half till we get to Hogsmeade and then another hour till we get to the castle," Remus replied with a confused looked, "Why?"

Buffy shrugged. "No reason. I just wanted to see how long we had so I could tell the story," she paused then began her story, "Well I told you how Dawn and I first ended up in Sunnydale, right?"

Everyone, except Dawn, nodded.

"Well, at Sunnydale High there was this group of really stuck up, self absorbed, rich girls that were lead by this one girl named Cordelia, or as we call her now, Cordy. At first, she acted like the typical teenage girl, interested in only boys, clothes, her wealth and social status. But by our junior year, Cordelia had learned the truth about Sunnydale, and the monsters that inhabited the town…"

Dawn then continued, "Once she found out and helped out a couple of times, she began being a slightly better person. Xander had had a crush on Cordy since they were in grade school. But they fought and bickered all the time. But eventually, she and Xander, who had known each other since Kindergarten, started dating secretly…"

Buffy nodded her agreement. "No one knew except for Willow, Oz, Dawn, Giles, Angel, and me. But even though they were dating, they also bickered constantly. But they didn't stay together for very long."

"Why?" Hermione asked; her curiosity piqued.

"There was a whole thing with both Willow and Xander being kidnapped and thinking they were going to die and getting saved only to be caught in mid-kiss," Buffy babbled Willow-style. "It was a whole thing."

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Remus all looked a little confused at the babbling Buffy had done. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, who had spent about a month and a half with Buffy, Dawn and the Scoobies, still were not used to it (it didn't matter whether it came from Willow or Buffy). Remus, who had only spent a few days with Buffy, hadn't been able to get to know her too well yet; so this side of Buffy was a shock.

Harry was about to ask Buffy to tell the story when Hermione noticed the time and she said, "We have to change into our uniforms. We'll be at Hogsmeade in half an hour."

The girls all shooed Remus and the boys out, with their uniforms, so that they could change. About twenty minutes later, Remus and the boys returned and the girls, who were finished as well, let them back inside. The group then sat, quietly waiting for the train to pull into Hogsmeade.

Harry sighed as they disembarked from the train. So far, this trip had gone pretty smoothly. But knowing his luck it wouldn't stay that way. He just wondered what this year would bring. He wrapped an arm around Ginny's waist and smiled down at her. Well, at least one good thing happened so far this year, he thought.

As they were walking to the carriages Harry heard a recognizable voice call out, "'arry!"

He turned and grinned at the half-giant who had been his first friend ever. "Hello Hagrid. Taking our new recruits over to the castle I see."

Hagrid nodded. "I still can' believe you an' yer friends are in yer sixth and fifth years already."

Harry chuckled. "I know, it seems like just yesterday. I'll see you up at the castle all right Hagrid."

"Righ' 'arry. See you la'er. An' don' ferget to tell me about the new teacher and student," he said giving Harry a pointed look.

Harry nodded then turned and walked to the carriages with Ginny. As they climbed into the carriage with Dawn, Ron, and Hermione, he said, "This year is going to be full of surprises."

At Hogwarts

Buffy and Remus had gone up ahead to the castle in order to be at the head table before all the students arrived and left Dawn, Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione to take their own carriage.

The ride up was talkative and easy going as the group talked about what they thought the new year held and also about what had happened the year before. As they boarded their carriage, Dawn who had only heard about the Thestrals, turned to Harry and asked shakily, "Are those thestrals?"

Harry nodded. "You can see them?"

"Yeah," Dawn replied as they got in.

Harry wondered how Dawn could see them since only people who witnessed death could fully see them. Dawn, once they all got seated, replied that she had witnessed Buffy's second death and that's how she could see death. Harry grew a little quiet at that revelation. He had heard the stories from Buffy and Dawn as well as the Scoobies but he never knew what to make of the claims that Buffy had survived death twice and brought back to life once (drowning after the Master drained her, jumping off Glory's tower into the portal, when Warren shot her).

Ginny, who had been seated nestled next to Harry with his arm around her waist, sensed that he was in brood mode, and squeezed his hand letting him know she was there. Harry felt the squeeze and sent Ginny a wan smile letting her know he appreciated the gesture.

The rest of the ride was pretty quiet and the carriages finally made it to the castle and while the kids all unloaded and headed towards the Great Hall for the Sorting, the house elves began unloading…well all but one house elf.

As soon as Harry had exited his carriage, he was tackled to the ground by an over excited house elf. "Harry Potter, sir! Welcome back Harry Potter, sir!" the elf exclaimed.

Harry rolled his eyes and grinned slightly. "Hello Dobby!" he greeted as he pushed the elf off him and got up. "How are you doing?"

Dobby looked up at Harry, his big eyes shining with tears. "Harry Potter sir asks how Dobby is? Harry Potter is a great wizard indeed. Dobby is not deserving of such an honor…" He started wailing.

Harry not wanting the elf to cause a scene, said, "Dobby, you're my friend. That's what friends do. Now I've got to get to the feast. I'll see you later all right?"

Dobby, wiping his tears on his clothes nodded and began unloading the carriage as Harry turned to his friends, sister, and girlfriend and gave them a 'let's get out of here, now!' look. Dawn looked at her brother questioningly, and silently vowed she'd get him to spill the story as to why the house elf now known as Dobby seemed to hold such regard for him.

The group worked their way into the Great Hall and over to Gryffindor Table, including Dawn who had been sorted during the summer and had been laced in Gryffindor though the hat replied she could have done well in Slythrin or Ravenclaw.

As they sat down, Neville, Dean, Seamus, Lavender, Parvati, Katie and Angelina looked at the group questioningly as they noticed Ron and Hermione and Harry and Ginny had paired off and that there was a new addition to their little group.

"Hey guys," Harry greeted them with a smile.

"Hey mate," Dean responded, "What's going on with you all?"

Neville nodded his agreement. "And who's the new girl?"

Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Dawn all looked at one another and grinned as Dawn replied, "Hi, I'm Dawn Summers. I'm the new defense teacher's younger sister. And as for these four, well…"

"Let's just say Ron and I finally got our acts together and I finally asked Ginny out and Ron asked Hermione. So it looks like you all need to pay up," Harry smirked.

Just as Dean, Seamus and Neville were about to respond, Hermione said, "Be quiet the sorting's about to begin."

The Great Hall then became quiet as Professor McGonagall led the new First Years into the Great Hall to be sorted. Harry watched with only a slight interest until the group got to the kids whose last names began with E. It was then he noticed young Mark Evans.

Mark's family had moved to Privet Drive a couple of years before and Mark had easily become one of Dudley's favorite targets. However, it was not often that Dudley could tease, and pummel the young boy, as he was either to fast or Harry was there to give Dudley another alternative to pummeling the kid. Harry wondered for a moment if he and Mark were related somehow. But shook his head of the thought and began listening as the hat sang the sorting song:

One thousand years have passed since Hogwart's opened.
Created by four of the greatest wizards and witches of the age.
Loyal Lady Helga Hufflepuff, Cunning Lord Salazar Slythrin,
Intelligent Lady Rowena Ravenclaw, And Brave Lord Godric Gryffindor,
All placed their preferences for choosing members of their houses in me.

For a millennia I have sorted and gladly I did,
But the time for discord has come to an end.
The dark grows ever stronger
So long as the light remains divided.

The great houses of the Hogwarts Four,
Still divided, they must unite as one.
Still sorting must be done, but remember my warning
Those loyal to the light must unite as one.

So come and I will sort you,
I will tell you where your strengths lay.
Are you as loyal as Hufflepuff?
Perhaps you're as cunning as Slythrin.
Or mayhap you're as smart as Ravenclaw,
You may even be as brave as Gryffindor.
So come, come let us see.

The next ten minutes, McGonagall called out the names of the first years and each one was sorted. So far there had been five Gryffindors, three Hufflepuffs, five Ravenclaws, and three Slythrins. They had nearly reached the end of the E's when McGonagall called out, "EVANS, MARK."

The young eleven year old strode up to the hat and stool shaking like a leaf. He sat on the stool and McGonagall placed the hat on his head. The hat sat quietly for a few moments before shouting out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Those in Gryffindor who knew Harry, and knew that his mum's maiden name was Evans, all grinned widely and made room for the boy to sit next to Harry.

As Mark approached the table and took the seat next to Harry his eyes widened as he saw his neighbor. "HARRY? What are you doing here? I thought you went to St. Brutus'?"

Harry's face darkened for a moment before he chuckled at bit and replied, "No, that was a story my relatives came up with to keep me from having any friends, and from keeping the neighbors from knowing that their nephew was a 'freak wizard'."

Mark nodded. He had known that there was something strange about Harry and had doubted the story that Harry was a criminal, especially since Harry was the person who saved him from Dudley. "Well, I'm glad that there will be someone here who I know. Even if you're going to graduate in a couple years," he replied.

Harry grinned at that. "I'll have to agree with that. Now, let me introduce you to everyone. Mark this is my girlfriend Ginny Weasley, my best friends Ron Weasley and his girlfriend Hermione Granger, Dawn Summers, who's another one of my best friends, and the sister to the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Over there is Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnegan, Neville Longbottom, Katie Bell and Angelina Johnson. Guys this is Mark Evans, he was a neighbor of mine when I lived with my aunt and uncle."

After the sounding of "Welcome to Hogwarts" and "Any friend of Harry's…", Ginny turned to the boy and said, "If you ever have any problems you can come to anyone of us, or any of the professors."

The sorting finally finished and Dumbledore rose from his seat and began speaking.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. Before we eat, I have a few start of term notices and introductions to be made," he began. "First of all, as always the Forbidden Forest is strictly forbidden to any student," he looked directly at Gryffindor, his eyes twinkling, "Also, Mr. Filtch, our caretaker, has informed that all Weasley Wizarding Wheezes are banned, for a complete list of band products you may find it on the door of Mr. Filtch's office. And for the introductions I would like you all to welcome back your Defense Professor Remus Lupin. I would also like you all to extend a warm welcome to our new dueling and substitute Defense Professor Buffy Summers and our new Potions Professor Narcissa Black."

At the sound of Remus' and Buffy's names there was a huge applause, but as Draco's mother's name was mentioned, the entire hall grew so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The main thought running through the student body was…what the hell was Narcissa Black-Malfoy doing here teaching?