Disclaimer
All names, places and concepts related to
Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the property of Joss
Whedon.
All names, places and concepts related to
Harry Potter are the property of JK Rowling.
This applies to the entire work.
I own none of the songs that appear in this chapter:
"Welcome to the Jungle" belongs to Guns N Roses
"Lost Without You" belongs to Delta Goodrem
"Under Your Spell" belongs to Joss Whedon.
I have given a rating of PG due to a few swear words,
light adult themes and some violence.
This rating may be increased for later chapters.
Everything suddenly stopped. The Bringers drew back as a low commanding voice filled the deep cellar. The air had been cut in two. Buffy and the Potentials breathed heavily as a priest walked toward them from a dark corner of the room.
"Well now," said Caleb, his eager drawl mocking the girls before him.
"You girls are just burning with righteousness aren't you?"
His smile became wider as he walked into the light to reveal a tall, pale frame and dark, pitiless eyes.
"Problem is," he continued, not perturbed by the fallen bodies surrounding him "You think you're blazing like suns, when really you're burning like matchsticks in the face of the darkness."
Caleb cast his eyes around the room and his smile deepened at what he saw.
"Having fun?" he said, his eyes dancing at the remaining Potentials and the Slayer before him.
"Now, I hope my boys haven't worn you out too much – I need you fit for when I purify you."
Caleb was now standing right in front of Buffy, his dark form towering over her.
"Save the sermon padre," she said lifting an eyebrow at his own self satisfaction.
"I heard you have something of mine."
"Well, I do now," laughed Caleb "You liked my little message, did you? You know, I ruined a perfectly good knife on that girl." He shook his head in mock sadness, "Got her soiled blood all over the place. I may have to get a new truck."
He swept the room again and came to rest finally on Buffy. He took her in appraisingly, eagerly.
"So you're the Slayer," he said "The Slayer. The strongest, the fastest, the most aflame with the most precious invention of all mankind – The notion of goodness."
Caleb's eyes suddenly lit up.
"The Slayer must indeed be powerful."
Before Buffy could move Caleb had hit her and the Slayer flew the length of the room, falling in an unconscious heap. The priest looked up and his smile was broader then ever.
"So, what else you got?"
Spike charged but was easily thrown aside, smashing into a barrel of wine and spilling its blood coloured liquid over the dusty floor. Caleb looked up taking each of his prey in, which would he choose first?
[Caleb]:
Welcome to the jungle, we got fun and games
We got everything you want, honey we know the names
We are the people that can find whatever you may need
If you got the money honey we got your disease
Kennedy stood against him as the Bringers came again in greater force. Caleb struck her down and moved towards Rona who cowered under his gaze.
[Caleb]:
In the jungle, welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your knees, knees
A sickening crack rent the air as Caleb broke the girls arm and she screamed and fell to the ground in agony
[Caleb]:
I wanna watch you bleed
He was about to kill Rona when the cellar door burst from its hinges and Faith and the rearguard spilled into the room. He turned from the broken girl to the newcomers.
[Caleb]:
Welcome to the jungle, we take it day by day
If you want it you're gonna bleed, but that's the price you pay
And you're a very sexy girl that's very hard to please
You can taste the bright lights but you won't get them for free
Faith met him eagerly, her chocolate eyes dancing like his as the prospect of battle filled her mind.
"Well, you're the other one, aren't you," said Caleb as he looked at Faith nonplussed.
"Your Cain to her Abel. No offence meant to Cain, of course."
The smallest smile lined Faith's features.
"Never was much for the good book," she said quietly.
"Oh it has its moments," said Caleb thoughtfully "Paul had some good stuff, for instance."
He sniffed the venomous air and looked at the Slayer contemplatively.
"But overall I find it a tad complicated. I like to keep things simple. Good folk, bad folk, clean folk, dirty folk."
With his last words he looked at Faith emphasising his meaning. She made to strike but was outmatched and cast to the gritty earth. With Faith gone Caleb set back into the girls. He caught one about the throat and broke her neck. Molly cried behind them and Caleb looked at her with hungry eyes. His firm hand clasped down on her neck and he lifted her from the floor.
[Caleb]:
In the jungle, welcome to the jungle
Feel my, my, serpentine
I, I wanna hear you scream
The silver dagger in the priest's hand glinted in the pale lite for only a moment before it was thrust deep into Molly's stomach. The girl gasped and fell to the floor dead.
Buffy had woken just in time to see Molly hit the floor. A savage anger filled her and she wanted to utterly destroy the perverted man before her. The blonde Slayer sprinted the length of the room and met Caleb in battle. His fury shook the room as Buffy dodged his attacks while every movement she made, made him stumble backward. With all her strength Buffy kicked out and caused Caleb to fly across the room. Their chance had come.
Buffy made to attack again yet Spike held her back. They had to get out of there. Caleb got to his feet, his eyes narrowed in hate. They would not leave so easily.
[Caleb]:
Welcome to the jungle, it gets worse her everyday
You learn to live like an animal in the jungle where we play
If you got a hunger for what you see you'll take it eventually
You can have anything you want but you better no take it from me
Xander was helping the potentials out as he was forcibly swung around to meet the face of the priest.
"You're the one who sees everything, aren't you?" he said, his hate in every syllable of his words.
"Well let's see what we can't do about that."
A terrible cry of pain filled the air as Xander's eye was crushed by the fingers of the priest.
[Caleb]:
You know where you are?
You're in the jungle baby, you're gonna die
In the jungle, welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your knees, knees
Caleb had spilled Xander's blood yet could do no more as he was hit by Spike and sent skidding the length of the room. Buffy and the vampire helped Xander up and fled the room at the feet of the others.
Caleb rose from the floor but did not follow. A small, slender, blonde form stood beside him looking victoriously at the fallen. Caleb took in The First, his eyes glowing and his strange smile contorting his face.
"Now it's a simple story," he said, beginning to walk among the fallen.
"Stop me if you've heard it. I have found and truly believe that there is nothing so bad it cannot be made better with a story. And this one has a happy ending."
Caleb looked ad The First with loving mirth, seeing in it the prize he would have.
"There once was a woman, and she was foul, like all women, for Adam's rib was dirty – Just like Adam himself – For what was he but human."
He sneered snidely as though he was above the pettiness of mortality.
"But this woman, she was filled with darkness, despair, and why? Because she did not know. She could not see. She didn't know the good news, the glory that was coming. That'd be you."
Caleb paused only to bask in his lord's presence.
"For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. You show up, they'll get in line. 'Cause they followed her. And all they have to do is take one more step, and I'll kill them all."
Caleb walked to the fallen form of Molly and looked into her pale, still face.
[Caleb]:
In the jungle, welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your-
It's gonna bring you down
He turned back to The First, and the priest was happy, happier then he had been in a long time.
"See," he said "I told you it had a happy ending."
Dawn awoke to the silent house surrounding her. The summer sun had risen bright and clear and a sweet scented Northern breeze comforted her as she snuggled beneath the doona. Dawn was away from Sunnydale, safe and content and about to drift back into sleep when a string of loud bangs and scraping furniture swept up through the floor to meet her.
Dawn grumbled loudly but decided she better get up. Andrew had taken to labelling the food and she really felt like an apricot pop-tart. She threw back the coverings and walked bleary-eyed to the door. Her pink bunny pyjamas, much disliked by Anya, were crumpled up around her knees and elbows. Dawn tried to straighten her dishevelled hair and after a vain attempt to look fore her brush – Too many girls in one house – She opened her bedroom door and put a foot into the hallway.
The sleep that still hung over her vanished immediately, even before her toe had touched the wooded hall. The movements beneath her were frantic. Dawn could tell something was wrong.
At the top of the stairs she stopped to see the broken girls filing through the door, those too hurt to walk properly helped along by the others. Dawn took each step slowly as she descended into the crowd.
"What happened?" she asked timidly.
"We got our butts kicked, that's what," said Rona as Amanda and Kennedy settled her onto the couch.
Dawn looked out the open door into the quiet street. Only one form remained out there, Buffy. She walked slowly up the path to the house. Her head was bowed and her arms were crossed as though she was cold.
"Buffy?"
Buffy looked up at her sister and forced a smile. Buffy didn't answer but walked through the door and up the stairs. Dawn closed the front door and went into the lounge to see what she could do.
Everywhere she looked she saw girls in pain, but as she glanced among the waning forms her eyes landed on Xander. His left eyelid was closed and seemed drawn in. It was bruised and red and as Dawn motioned towards him Anya placed an eye patch over it. Xander caught sight of her and put on one of those familiar forced smiles.
"I'm a regular pirate," he said, lifting a hand to adjust the patch.
"Or a Cyclops, yeah, Cyclops sounds less queer."
Anya looked as though she might say she once knew a Cyclops that was gay, but she said nothing. The ex demon stood and went over to Rona, leaving Xander and Dawn alone.
"Does it hurt much?" asked Dawn. She knew it was a stupid question but could not think of anything else to say.
"Only as much as getting Mr Johnson caught in a pants zipper," he said thoughtfully "But I got over that too."
Xander managed a dry laugh but Dawn thought it held none of its usual warmth. He was hurting deeper then he would let on. They sat for a while in silence, Dawn holding Xander's hand and trying to fluff motherly the pillow he was resting against.
"I'll be fine kiddo," he said finally, not sure if he could take much more of being looked after. "Go up and get dressed."
"Okie Dokie," said Dawn, resigning that she could do no more for him.
She leant up and kissed him softly on the cheek before going back up to her room.
The hot sun had filled the room as Dawn scrambled over her messy bed clothes to get to her calendar that was tacked to the side of her wardrobe. As her eyes followed the ascending days she realised that August had come and gone and that today was in fact the first of September. Dawn tore the sheet that was the month past from the board and tossed the crumpled ball into the trash. She cantered off the bed talking to herself happily.
"Pinch and a punch, pinch and a punch," she couldn't wait to get Andrew.
Dawn's respite from sadness was short-lived as she went to her wardrobe and threw open the doors. As she stood in front of the hangers trying to decide what to put on she caught a soft sound coming through the wall. The shower was running in the bathroom but another sound cut over the melodious stream, harsh sobs were strung between the droplets of water. Andrew was downstairs so Dawn knew it must be Buffy. She longed to reach out to her sister, comfort her and shield her from the hurts of the world.
She reached out her right hand and pressed it to the warm, sun faded wallpaper. It was more then a room that separated Dawn from Buffy. The water stopped and Dawn drew away. She dressed quickly and headed back down the stairs. Maybe she would find what she looked for in an apricot pop-tart.
All of the Potentials had moved down into the basement. As the day drew on it was clear there was a lack of parental figures. Faith and Principal Wood stopped by a few times but the girls hadn't seen any of the others for hours.
"Something's going on," said Rona.
The other Potentials looked at her as though this was the most obvious thing in the world.
"But what?" asked Amanda.
She of all of them looked apprehensive.
"I mean, Andrew's gone too... That can't be a good thing."
That seemed to settle the matter. Whatever was going on must be big if Andrew was involved. A general murmur went around the room until suddenly the girls fell silent. Furls of dust and grit were falling from the basement roof and shouting could be heard above them.
"Sod it!"
"No, the head!"
"Bloody hell."
A vase or a plate had smashed and all grew silent again. The potentials were wondering whether they should go upstairs to check on the others when the light of the basement dimmed and Rona, Kennedy and Amanda all sneezed in unison. Dawn was about to say bless you when the door to the room opened. Andrew walked down three stairs then called out to the girls.
"Amanda, Kennedy, Rona, Buffy wants to see you all... Oh, and you too Dawn."
The four girls rose as one, wondering why Buffy would want to speak to just them. Dawn lead the way up the stairs and halted when she reached the kitchen. Black candles covered the table, with sage and lavender draped along the edges. What seemed to be a headless demon lay on the floor and the girls walked in being looked at expectantly.
Dawn had no idea what was going on until three sharp intakes of breath sounded behind her. Dawn looked around and her eyes opened wide in shock and fear. On the far wall, in what appeared to be deep red blood were spelled out the names Rona, Kennedy and Amanda. Dawn was going to ask what was going on but her thought was interrupted.
"We couldn't wait."
For the first time the girls noticed Buffy sitting at the kitchen table, Faith was next to her and each had a bloodied bandage covering their right hand.
"We had to know," said Buffy.
She seemed tired and worn.
"The First was killing each of us one by one; we had to know who was next."
"What are you talking about?" said Dawn "Who is next for what?"
But even as the words left her lips she realised what Buffy had meant. She swung around to look at the three girls behind her. Before anybody could talk again Buffy spoke once more.
"Willow just turned up the juice on the Potential finding spell."
"We provided the juice," cut in Faith rubbing indignantly at the wound across her hand.
Buffy seemed to ignore her, she had to finish, like what she had to say was threatening to burn her from the inside.
"We had no clue; The First was picking us off until there could be no more, destroying the line of Potential Slayers."
She looked at the three girls huddled behind Dawn as though trying to think of how best to tell them.
"We needed to know, and now we do. One of you is the next Slayer."
Rona let out a scared laugh, Amanda looked as though she was going to be sick and Kennedy looked rather impressed. Dawn turned to her sister, eyebrow raised.
"But what does this prove?" she said.
She was confused and for an unknown reason, angry.
"That when The First tortures one of us it will know who to kill next? To end the line for this generation?"
Buffy smiled.
"No," she said as though the answer was blatantly obvious "We did it so we could protect them."
Dawn had seen vampires, Bringers and a freaky priest cut through them as if they were stubborn weeds. Just knowing who was next, how was that meant to protect them?
Footsteps entered to the right of them. The kitchen door swung open and Giles walked in. He wore a smile of great relief. In one hand he held a folded piece of yellow parchment and a beautiful red-golden feather. In the other was the crumpled remains of an envelope that seemed to Dawn to be made of the same parchment as the now obvious letter. Between Giles' fingers Dawn caught the mismatched words of 'Rupert', 'Garden', and 'Sunnydale' written in spidery, emerald-green letters.
Giles looked at the four girls huddled together then at Buffy.
"I've got his answer."
A still and silent night washed over Sunnydale. Buffy sat at the foot of Dawn's bed where an open duffel bag lay scattered with clothes and shoes and other miscellaneous Dawn-Esk possessions. Buffy kept trying to get Dawn's attention as her sister walked to Draws and her wardrobe, deliberately defiant. Dawn hated Buffy right now.
"It was my only choice-,"
"Don't talk to me about choice!" screamed Dawn.
The words spilled from her and she could not stop them. All the hurt and pain that had been welling up in her for the past few years was threatening to break out.
"Like you chose to help Willow; like you chose to jump instead of me; like you're choosing to save me now."
Dawn was shaking.
"You're choosing the easy way like you always have done, palming off your problems to other people so you don't have to deal with them yourself... The First was right."
Buffy sat up startled. She could take what Dawn had to throw at her, her hut and doubt, but she never knew The First had shown itself to Dawn.
"What?" said Buffy shocked.
"The First," said Dawn.
She was no longer screaming. Her tone was low and bitter.
"It came to me as mom. It said you wouldn't choose me when it came to the last, and it was right."
Buffy jumped off the bed and walked purposefully towards Dawn. She grabbed her sister by the upper arm but Dawn was determined not to look at her. If she looked up, if she looked into Buffy's eyes, she would forgive her. She wouldn't.
Buffy reached her hand to Dawn's face and moved a stray bang back behind her sister's ear. Dawn couldn't hold off any longer. She looked up into Buffy's face, still determined to hate her for what she had done. But as sea met sky Dawn's anger melted away, like the silent tears springing from Buffy's red eyes. Buffy sighed.
[Buffy]:
I know I can be a little stubborn sometimes
A little righteous and too proud
I just want to find a way to compromise
'Cause I believe that we can work things out
Buffy wiped the tears away and went and sat back on Dawn's bed. She lowered herself onto the soft mattress and took her little sister in.
[Buffy]:
I thought I had all the answers, never giving in
But baby since you've gone, I admit that I was wrong
The emotion that the Slayer had been fighting so long to keep inside spilled from her like an unstoppable torrent.
[Buffy]:
All I know is that I'm lost without you, I'm not gonna lie
How am I going to be strong without you, I need you by my side
If we say we'll never be together and we ended with goodbye
Don't know what I'd do... I'm lost without you
Dawn started to soften towards her sister; she couldn't believe this was how Buffy truly felt. For so long Dawn thought she was the Slayer's inconvenience, not looked for and unwanted. Buffy covered her face with her hands and rested her elbows on her knees.
[Dawn]:
How my ever gonna get rid of these blues
Baby I'm so lonely all the time
Everywhere I go I get so confused
You're the only thing that's on my mind
Dawn broached the short distance between her and her sister. She looked sadly down at Buffy and sat beside her on top of the soft quilt.
[Dawn]:
Oh my bed's so cold at night and I miss you more each day
Only you can make it right, no I'm not too proud to say
Buffy looked at Dawn wanting to know what she had to so, how to be the sister Dawn needed. Dawn reached out an arm and put it lovingly and comfortingly around Buffy's shoulders.
[Dawn]:
I keep trying to find my way
But all I know is I'm lost without you
I keep trying to face the day... I'm lost without you
If I could only hold you now and make the pain just go away
Can't stop the tears from running down my face
Dawn rested her chin on Buffy's shoulder, feeling slightly silly with herself that she couldn't have sorted things out sooner, never been able to find resolve with her sister.
[Dawn]:
All I know is I'm lost without you, I'm not gonna lie
How am I going to be strong without you, I need you by my side
If we say we'll never be together and we ended with goodbye
I don't know what I'd do... I'm lost without you
Buffy gave a big sniff and a great sigh of composure.
"I love you Dawnie."
These words washed over Dawn like warm water. She could not remember Buffy ever saying that she loved her. Dawn giggled and sniffed back her tears herself.
"If I'm going, I have to finish packing," said Dawn standing back up and going back to her draws.
She scooped out all her underwear and threw it onto Buffy's lap.
"Fold."
The Slayer laughed and began to pack the clothes neatly into the bag.
In that one instant Dawn realised why Buffy was sending her away. She was sending Dawn with Kennedy, Amanda and Rona so that she would be safe from The First.
"So this Grumbly-Whore."
"Dumbledore," corrected Buffy.
"Right," said Dawn "What you said."
The Summers' women were never good with names.
"So he agreed to have us did he?"
"Yeah," said Buffy "I was telling Giles that we had no alternative, that the realisation was that the next Slayer would never be safe. Then he turned to me and said there was an alternative."
Buffy shrugged.
"He sent a letter to Dumbledore and he accepted."
"And he is the headmaster of a magic school?"
"Yeah," said Buffy "Somewhere in Brittan, Scotland, Wales – well no one really knows."
Dawn suddenly smiled.
"I didn't think you liked me doing magic."
Buffy looked very huffy.
"Well," she said looking very put out "The point is Giles has said you will be safe from The First there and that's all that matters."
Dawn caught the pleased confidence in Buffy's voice. Dawn didn't know why the school was so special, or even if she would be safe there, even if it was magic. Buffy stood up and looked around the room.
"Well it looks like you're all packed."
"Yeah," said Dawn, slightly saddened again by the prospect of leaving everything she knew "Nearly."
Buffy pressed a quick kiss to Dawn's forehead then left the room closing the door quietly behind her.
Dawn sat down on her bed and reached for the photo frame on her bedside table. Xander, Joyce, Tara, Willow, Buffy, Giles and herself stared back at her. She smiled faintly at the faces and placed the frame in her bag, smoothing a pink top over it to shield it from the travel.
Dawn looked over at her alarm clock. It was eleven fifty-eight. The day's troubles seemed to wash away and leave heaped mounds of tiredness in their wake. Dawn laid down, pulling the covers over herself. She thought for a while about how they were getting to the school, she couldn't remember the name, she thought it had something to do with bacon and a skin condition though. She supposed they would be flying. Many thoughts came and left her as she lay there, but it was not long before the weariness took her and she fell into deep, untroubled sleep.
Andrew was making brownies in the microwave while Anya was teaching bunnies to dance on the kitchen table. Xander had one big green eye in the centre of his forehead and kept walking into things, talking about lack of depth perception.
Dawn entered into the room and said good morning and filled a bowl with her favourite cereal – anchovies and microwaved marshmallows. She smiled at the picture of Buffy on the front of the box and poured herself a glass of strawberry milk.
Anya had succeeded in teaching the bunnies to waltz when Dawn pointed out that the ex demon was terrified of them. Anya laughed and asked how she could be terrified of anything so cuddly and sweet, flopping and hopping all over the place.
Willow came into the room wearing a big, black, pointed hat and carrying a broom. It had in bright gold lettering near the tip of the handle the word 'Kennedy' and Willow told the group at large that she had just been riding it.
As Dawn went to put the first spoonful of cereal into her mouth the microwave started beeping and drew her attention. Then the bunnies started beeping. In fact every one and everything started beeping.
Dawn opened one eye and pulled the covers back from her head to reveal the full sound of her alarm clock. She sniggered to herself.
"I am such a weirdo."
It was six o'clock and the morning outside was grey and hazy. Buffy had insisted that they all got up early so that everything would go off without a rush. Dawn reluctantly got out of her soft, warm bed and realised that the house was unfairly still and quiet. She walked to her window which was spattered with a few seldom drops of rain. The street below was completely quiet.
After her routine and habit trek to the calendar, marking off September the first, Dawn made her way to the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day ahead.
As she dried her hair and put on the clothes she had laid out the day before a niggle of doubt began to grow in the pit of her stomach. Dawn passed it off as last minute nerves but found that it grew as the event of leaving drew nearer. Broken from her thoughts by a knock at the door, Dawn called to come in and Amanda and Rona walked in.
"All ready?" asked Rona.
It was obvious that she too was feeling some of the nerves of Dawn.
Dawn took one last look around her room. It was surprisingly empty after she had taken all her things down and packed them for the trip.
"Yeah," said Dawn slightly sadly "I'm good to go."
Amanda seemed to know what Dawn was thinking.
"Cheer up Dawn," she said "Giles said Hogwarts has a lake, you like lakes."
Dawn knew that Amanda was only trying to comfort her but the prospect of a lake in a foreign country, with strange people, and no Buffy, didn't seem to help much. She lifted her bag, which was surprisingly heavy for its size, from her bed and followed the two girls out. On the threshold of the door she cast one farewell look back, gave a small watery smile, and closed it too.
Not three steps from Dawn's room the girls paused.
[Kennedy]:
I lived my life in shadow, never the sun on my face
I didn't seem so sad though, I figured that was my place
Now I'm bathed in light some thing just isn't right
It didn't seem that Kennedy was ready quite yet. Dawn smiled to Rona and Amanda and they walked further down the hall to Willow's room.
[Kennedy]:
I'm under your spell, how else could it be
That anyone would notice me
It's magic I can tell, how you set me free
Brought me out so easily
They were outside Willow's room and Dawn pushed herself silently against the wood grained door.
[Kennedy]:
I saw a world enchanted, spirits and charms in the air
I always took for granted I was the only one there
But your power shone brighter then any I've known
Rona looked slightly apprehensive
"They're not getting busy are they?" she asked in a whisper
"They can do that?" asked Amanda a little shocked.
She covered her mouth as though she had said it too loud, but more because she said it out loud. Dawn shook her head smiling.
"Shhh."
[Kennedy]:
I'm under your spell, nothing I can do
Just took my soul with you
You worked your charm so well, finally I knew
Everything I dreamed was true
You made me believe
Amanda and Rona were pressed now too either side of Dawn.
"I think we should knock," hissed Amanda.
Dawn knocked three times and the door swung open as Rona turned the handle.
[Kennedy]:
The moon to the tide, I can feel you inside
I'm under your spell, surging like the sea
Pulled to you so helplessly
I break with every swell, lost in ecstasy
Spread beneath my Willow tree
Willow was in a tight hug, resting her head lovingly on the shoulder of Kennedy. She looked at them and smiled.
"You ready?" asked Dawn.
Willow and Kennedy broke apart and the Potential looked into the Witch's eyes.
[Kennedy]:
You make me complete
You make me complete
You make me complete
You make me complete
Kennedy pressed her soft lips to the scarlet ones of Willow's. The two stood there for a moment, their essence filling the room. Kennedy drew away and looked back at Dawn with a smile and her cheeks slightly flushed.
"I am now."
The four girls left the room followed by Willow. The headed down into the kitchen where Buffy, Giles and Anya awaited them. Sitting on the table was another sheath of parchment written on in the same spidery emerald-green letters as the last, a scarlet feather, and to their great confusion a mouldy old shoe.
"Where's everyone else?" said Dawn.
Buffy looked sideways at Giles before answering.
"Xander and Spike had to go last night, darkness and all, to find out more about pale priest man."
Dawn was hurt.
"They left without saying goodbye?"
"It's not goodbye," said Giles removing his glasses "Just, see you later until we can find a way to stop The First."
Dawn didn't consider this a very good answer but decided to accept the fact that she wouldn't get to see Xander and Spike again for a long time.
"I'm ready."
A sing-song voice cut through the still air to the chorus of thunder in the deep stone coloured sky above. Andrew skipped into the kitchen and placed down on the floor two huge suitcases. Dawn, Rona, Kennedy and Amanda all looked at each other, then at Buffy, then at Andrew, then back at Buffy as though each was following some terrible tennis match. All four of them spoke at once, and none was impressed.
"What?"
Buffy tried to cover her smirk and Andrew it seemed didn't even register their apparent disapproval.
"Well," said Buffy a little timidly "Andrew and Anya are going with you."
The girls in unison looked at Anya, then to the floor where sat a pink backpack, then back at Buffy.
"What!?"
Giles cut over the Slayer.
"They are simply chaperones for your stay at Hogwarts."
The girls looked at Anya and Andrew and they beamed back, Anya's smile though seemed a little forced and did not extend to her eyes where Dawn thought they looked distant and even fearful.
"They will take up positions as teacher's aids. Professor Dumbledore, as I am sure you know by now is the headmaster of Hogwarts,"
Dawn repeated 'Dumbledore' and 'Hogwarts' three times under her breath.
"Has assured me that they are most welcome and will be valued members of his staff."
Dawn exchanged a significant look with Rona, Kennedy and Amanda as to say 'Yeah right' and looked back at the Watcher.
"So when's our flight?"
"Well, um... yes."
Giles' eyes moved down onto the filth encrusted shoes and he gave a weak smile. The girls followed his gaze and they looked both confused and on the verge of laughter.
"It is called a Portkey," said Giles.
"You're going into the shoe business?" asked Rona with an eyebrow raised.
Giles huffed through his nose but it seemed to Dawn that Buffy was fighting to hold back a string of giggles.
"No," said Giles "A Portkey can be any item. It is enchanted to take a person to a specific destination at a specific time. All you have to do is touch it."
Rona looked horrified.
"We have to touch it? It's filthy."
"Yes," said Giles, his lips pursing a little "They are usually old and insignificant things so that people who do not practice magic don't go picking them up."
The girls nodded, understanding the theory but not wanting to test it, especially on a smelly old sneaker. Giles picked up the piece of parchment and looked at it, then at his watch.
"It's set for seven-thirty, that gives us about three minutes."
The pit in Dawn's stomach opened again. She looked at Buffy an instead of the laughter Dawn had seen her trying to fight back it now seemed to be a stream of tears. Buffy walked around the table and took Dawn up in a tight hug.
"Be safe," she said and kissed Dawn on the cheek.
Buffy then moved onto Rona, Amanda and Kennedy giving them each a quick hug.
"Take care of yourselves."
Her sisterly gaze turned into a motherly stare as she rounded on Andrew.
"Stay out of trouble," she said sternly.
"What?" replied Andrew with genuine hurt "I don't get a hug?"
Buffy took a step back in horror.
"I think, no, is the best for both of us."
She left Andrew and looked at Anya.
"Look after them," she said, placing a friendly hand on Anya's shoulder.
Buffy turned then as suddenly turned back.
"And Anya," she paused. "Try not to say much, especially what's on your mind."
The Slayer lowered her voice to a whisper.
"The British are, well, well they're like Giles."
"I heard that," the Watcher said indignantly.
Giles looked back at his watch.
"One minute."
The girls lifted their bags and Dawn looked once more around the kitchen and gave a sigh. She knew already how much she would miss it. She rounded on the shoe and hesitated. It seemed too that the other girls were reluctant to touch any part of it.
"Oh for goodness sake," said Giles "You don't have to bloody wear it, a finger will be enough."
This heartened Dawn a little as she didn't know how much of her would have to handle it. She finally decided in a shoelace as it seemed to be the least filth encrusted. Anya, Amanda, Kennedy and Rona each stretched out a finger reluctantly, but it was Andrew that made them stutter.
Both his hands were completely full and he didn't know how he could hold onto his heavy bags and still touch the Portkey. He moved towards the shoe and stretched out his tongue, but with a horrified and disgusted look from everyone in the room he reconsidered. His last option was to heave one bag onto the table and lay it sideways so that he could stretch out an elbow onto the heel.
"Fifteen seconds," said Giles.
Willow and Buffy joined Giles on the opposite side of the table and took the travellers in. Willow blew a kiss to Kennedy and Buffy gave them all a warm and loving, yet half stern, smile.
"Love you, have fun," said Willow.
"Behave," said Buffy.
Giles' eyes were locked on his watch.
"Three... two,"
Dawn's heart raced.
"One."
Dawn felt a huge lurch in the pit of her stomach that was more then her nerves. The scene of Giles, Buffy and Willow melted away into flashes of colour. Her feet left the kitchen floor and she was spinning though a void of streaking blues and purples and a rushing of wind. Her finger was stuck to the shoe and she felt the others clattering around her. She tried to scream yet the sound of her voice was eaten by the noise surrounding her. How long would it take to get to Hogwarts? When would it end? It had been five seconds since she left the Summers' house and already she missed Buffy.
Hit that reveiw button... You know you want to :)
