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:

"Estranged" belongs to Guns N Roses

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.


AN: Hey Guys I just want to send a big thankyou to everyone that has been reading my fics. A special thanks goes out to my reviewers. I felt bad because I forgot to add comments and thanks to my last update, but here they are now

Anoron: Thanks for the kindness. Yes it will be interesting to see where I take the characters (thinks really hard then gives up) hopefully we will all find out soon. Glad you are liking Andrew, he is one of my favourites to write.

Lucky Shamrock: You are just too clever for me. You are picking all my closely hidden secrets. LOL. It is a possibility Dawn may have a relationship with someone and my guess is that you have guessed who it is by now too. Thanks for the review.

ChancingFaith: I am glad you think I am creative. It is a nicer word then horribly different. Hope you like the update. Hmm, I don't think the portkeys were patterns, just ways to end the first two chapters and get everyone where they needed to be for the next chapter. I do have spell-check, I think the problem is that I am Australian and you are maybe American and so we spell different. After reading the chapter you will get all that answers about Anya. Thanks for taking the time to review. I really appreciate it.

Mars18: Glad you liked the start. Hope you are liking the rest too.


Dawn was getting better at portkey travel. This time she hadn't landed flat on her back but instead had landed painfully on her knees on a cold stone floor. The room stopped spinning and she pushed her hair out of her eyes. By chance the three Potentials had gotten some retribution, they this time had landed on top of Andrew. He was struggling under the weight of the girls and his bags when Dawn got to her feet.

She looked around and saw that the six of them were in a large circular room. The walls were covered with countless pictures and small wooden tables dotted the room that carried on them tiny metal instruments that clicked musically and emitted clouds of different coloured smoke.

Dawn looked out a window to see a pale blue sky, just beginning to show the reds and oranges of a late afternoon sunset.

"Is this Hogwarts?" asked Rona.

Dawn thought it had to be but looked at Anya for confirmation.

Dawn's brow furrowed. Anya was staring to a blank spot in the room, her eyes were glazed over and Dawn thought the ex-demon looked nothing short of petrified.

"Anya?"

"Hmm?" she squeaked, though her and her eyes did not move in the slightest.

"Are you okay?" asked Dawn.

Anya turned to look at her.

"Fine, fine," she said, though she sounded highly agitated to Dawn and bordering even on hysteric.

Dawn shook her head and like Amanda, Rona and Kennedy had begun to do, looked inquisitively around the room.

It looked like an office Dawn thought. A large, handsome oak desk sat at a far end of the room on top of a raised step. On one side in a crystal case sat a silver sword with rubies laid in the hilt. On the other was a golden stand which Dawn thought looked like a perch a bird might sit on. Beneath it was a tray of grey ashes. The part of the walls that weren't covered on portraits gave way to high, deep bookcases, each straining under the weight of their yield.

Dawn looked at Anya who wasn't moving an inch, then at Andrew – who was still on the floor – who wasn't moving an inch, and decided there could be no harm in looking but not touching. She stepped slowly across the room to the nearest case and ran her finger over the books in the shelf. A little touching couldn't hurt.

Most had no names on the spine, or else a series of strange runes that Dawn had no hope of understanding. A few also seemed to squirm and giggle as her skin crossed over them. Dawn thought all this was fine until a large, black, leather-bound volume growled at her and she decided that when books could move of their own accord looking would have to do.

"Ooohhh!"

Dawn turned and saw Amanda at a large arched window opposite the one she herself had looked out of.

"Come see guys."

Dawn stepped over the motionless Andrew and past the vacant looking Anya to stop beside Amanda; Rona and Kennedy coming up on the other side.

They were looking at an expanse of grounds; emerald-green grass, distant purple mountains, and the crystal-blue lake Amanda had promised Dawn.

"See, it's the lake Dawn, it's the lake!" said Amanda.

"Yes Amanda, I see it," she replied as though agreeing with a hyperactive three year old.

As Dawn stared out at the fast approaching night she thought she caught the sound of the slow, heavy breathing of many people sleeping. Turning to the left and stepping back Dawn craned her neck to see a huge wall covered in pictures of old people, all of whom had their eyes closed. The portrait directly in front of her however sported a man that could not have been very far into his forties. He had sleek black hair and a pointed black goatee.

Dawn looked at the picture closely. She thought she caught it move, but that was silly, pictures couldn't move. Then she remembered the poster outside "Hard and Fast Brooms". The people in that had been moving. Maybe pictures could move in the wizarding world.

Dawn took a step closer. Was the man in the picture's chest rising and falling? Were his eyes fluttering as though he was in dream? She took another step closer. Dawn swore she could hear the picture breathing but then it stoped altogether, even the movements she thought she had seen.

Dawn was an inch from the frame, she could smell the paint. Her brow was furrowed in thought and concentration, studying the picture's occupant. Her nose was almost touching it.

"BOO!"

"AAAHHH!!!"

Dawn screamed and fell back hard onto the ground to an explosion of harsh male laughter.

"HA, HA, HA, quite a jumpy little thing aren't you my dear?"

The quiet room erupted in a wave of angry voices.

"What's all that yelling?"

"What's happening?"

"Phineaus!"

Dawn looked up to see the occupant of the portrait – the black goateed man – chuckling heartily.

"Why I haven't laughed this much since I suspended two Gryffindors and a Huffelpuff for talking during my inaugural speech at my first start of term feast."

Dawn got to her feet slowly, rubbing her backside.

"You can talk?"

The portrait's smile deepened, but Dawn saw that instead of mirth it held the traits of a loathing sneer.

"We've got a clever one here, real Ravenclaw potential," it said.

"Phineaus!"

Dawn looked up and saw that all the pictures were now awake and moving and looking expectantly at the newcomers. The one that had given the reprimand was an elderly witch with burgundy hair set in tight little ringlets.

"Are you alright?"

A squat, balding wizard with red cheeks, looking highly flustered was eying each of the six in turn.

"Keep your robes on Armando," said the sleek black-haired man again "They are obviously the Americans."

Dawn didn't like how he had said the Americans. In fact she didn't seem to like this man at all. She stared at him, failing to hide her contempt, but this just made his grin grow wider.

"Allow me to introduce myself," he said, waving his hands dramatically and bowing to Dawn.

"I am Phineaus Nigellus, thirty-second headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," he gave another dramatic bow.

"And hold the record for shortest term," called another elderly witch with long silver ringlets falling over her plump friendly face.

"I'm Dilys Derwent dear."

This seemed to take some of the fluff out of Phineaus' robes.

"Hi," stammered Dawn "I'm Dawn Summers."

Dawn felt very silly talking to a painting, yet each of them on the wall beamed down at her, a few giving a quick wink or friendly wave. All that was, except Phineaus. He was lazing against his frame looking very uninterested, picking off a few stray flecks of dust from his silver and green robes. Kennedy, Rona and Amanda had walked over to Dawn after she had screamed. They looked wonderingly up at the wall.

"Are you excited to be here dearies?" asked Dilys Derwent.

Dawn thought the witch looked more excited then Xander at a comic book convention.

"Yes," added Armando with a toothy grin "Hogwarts is a fascinating place, I'm sure you're all bursting."

Dawn managed a weak smile but the other three simply stood there awkwardly.

"I guess so," said Dawn in a whisper.

Phineaus snorted. Dawn scowled.

"Dumbledore has told us all about you and why you are here of course," chirped up a sallow faced wizard with a short black fringe.

Dawn's stomach tightened.

"What's your school like in America? I myself went on an exchange program to Australia once."

Dawn relaxed a little. She thought Dumbledore hadn't told them everything.

"Nice enough people, little hard to understand-,"

"Settle down Everard, don't get in a tether. Let the girl speak."

Dawn saw Everard flush and Phineaus' upper lip curl.

"What's your problem?" said Dawn angrily.

Dawn flushed too.

Phineaus turned so quickly that Dawn was surprised he didn't hurt his two-dimensional neck. He looked as though Dawn had slapped him across the face but this quickly changed as though there was something smelly under his long, straight nose.

"Oh ho," screeched Dilys "It looks as though Miss Summers has a bit of the serpent in her Phineaus."

With the same upturned nose Phineaus looked back at Dawn.

"I highly doubt it Dilys," he looked Dawn up and down "I can see the muggle in her. More then half is my guess."

Dawn ignored the comment for what it was and instead voiced her confusion.

"Serpent?"

After Dilys had finished frowning at Phineaus she turned kindly to Dawn.

"I simply meant Slytherin dear, one of the four houses of Hogwarts."

Dawn exchanged a sheepish look with Kennedy, Amanda and Rona. Phineaus was laughing again.

"Please tell me you know of the Hogwarts houses," he looked accusingly shocked and glad to be so "You are soon to be sorted into one."

Dawn blanched.

"S-sorted?"

"Don't worry dear," cut in Armando over Phineaus' restrained malicious giggles "It is nothing to fear. The Sorting Hat does all the work."

Dawn felt relieved that she to do no magic to be sorted, but then another fear hit her.

"Are we going to be separated?"

"Not necessarily," said Dilys with a warm smile "You ladies may all be in the same house. If not, you will see each other except during some classes and sleeping where the houses separate: Ravenclaw and Gryffindor in North and East tower, and Slytherin and Huffelpuff in West and South dungeons."

Dilys laughed.

"Don't worry," she said at the girls as their eyes widened at the fact they may have to sleep in a dungeon "They are all superbly homely and more then comfortable. Huffelpuff is right near the kitchens" she sighed "Nothing like waking up to the smell of fresh baked bread."

"How do we get into the houses?" squeaked Amanda going a little pink around the ears.

Phineaus clicked his tongue and shook his head wearing that same superior grin.

"Hem, hem!"

Everard cleared his voice to silence Phineaus.

"It's quite simple dear," he smiled "Each house has specific traits that it values above all others; Gryffindor bravery, Ravenclaw Intelligence, Huffelpuff hard workers and Slytherin – well, Slytherin value-,"

"Initiative, resourcefulness," butted in Phineaus a little tersely.

"And a certain disregard for school rules," added Dilys with a wry smile.

Dawn looked up at her and her eyes twinkled back.

"The Sorting Hat looks deep into you," continued Everard "And decides which house you belong in. I myself was in Huffelpuff," he said with a dignified intake of breath.

"It shows," said Phineaus rolling his eyes.

"And what house were you in?" snapped Dawn.

Phineaus patted at his robes lovingly and smiled back at her.

"Slytherin my dear."

Dawn was decided. She wanted nothing to do with anything Phineaus Nigellus was ever associated with.

Dawn was about to ask another question of the frame's occupants when Phineaus' gaze drifted lazily over her shoulder.

"YOU!!!" he bellowed.

His eyes were open in furious shock.

"YOU!!!" he said again.

Dawn spun around but saw only Anya staring off into the shadows of the room. Dawn spun back.

"That's only An-,"

But she was drowned out by a tirade of angry jeers.

"How dare you come here!" screeched Dilys.

"Unacceptable!" huffed Armando.

Everard simply gaped in Anya's general direction.

The uproar of the portraits seemed to get Anya's attention. Every occupant of every frame was looking at her with mingled fury and dislike, spattered with a few threads of fear. Phineaus was red in the face.

"FILTH!!!" he yelled "VILE WASTE... EVIL BETRAYER... SCUM OF-,"

"That is enough Phineaus."

A deep commanding voice filled the room and all of the portraits fell immediately silent, looking behind the girls.

Dawn was breathing heavily and was herself a little frightened at the outbreak of yells. She turned to see a tall shape come into the room closing the door quietly behind. He was an old man with a long silver beard tucked into a gold belt. He wore deep navy robes with silver stars and half-moon spectacles sat at the end of his long crooked nose. Dawn noticed too that his eyes were a light sapphire-blue that held wisdom and knowledge even beyond his considerable years.

He stepped further into the room looking sternly at the portraits on the wall. His footsteps echoed on the stone and he waved his hand above his head and hundreds of candles flickered into life around the walls and from brackets off the ceiling.

"I am sorry to have left you so long. I thought my peers would have treated my guests a little better."

Dawn saw that the portraits all looked abashed, all except Phineaus who still seemed furious.

The man walked past them all and sat at the oak desk.

"I am Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts."

He turned to the four girls.

"If Mr Wells could remove himself from the floor perhaps I could offer him, yourselves and Miss Jenkins a more comfortable place to sit."

He smiled and took out his wand. He gave it a tricky little swish and six large, purple recliners appeared out of thin air. Dawn was impressed

"Please sit," said Dumbledore kindly "We have much to discuss before dinner is served in the great hall."

Dawn took a seat right in the centre between Amanda and Andrew. He still looked very groggy. When they were all seated Dumbledore greeted them formally.

"Welcome," he said "I am most glad all of you have come. I am sure all involved will profit from such an experience."

Dawn noticed Anya wasn't looking at the headmaster. Dumbledore it seemed too had noticed this.

"All is forgiven Anya."

It seemed to Dawn Dumbledore was struggling to hold back laughter, his eyes were twinkling and his shoulders shook just a little.

"Forgive?" asked Dawn "No!"

The horrible realisation hit her.

"You didn't?"

"She did," laughed Dumbledore "I have met Anya before but as you may have guessed her name was Anyanka then. I was twenty was I not?"

He looked at Anya who gave a sheepish nod, still not meeting Dumbledore's eyes.

"A very accomplished vengeance demon she was, perhaps the best ever. We have a few of her books in the restricted section of the library. But, well, I must have been one of the lucky ones."

"Lucky!" blurted out Anya.

This was the first real word Anya had spoken since they arrived at Hogwarts.

"Luck had nothing to do with it. Over twenty thousand eviscerations and you were the only one I couldn't get. My white whale if you will, except, well, you didn't eat me."

Dumbledore chuckled.

"No, no, but you did leave me with a very nice scar on my left knee, highly useful too."

He shook his head.

"But now to business."

Dawn looked at Anya and the ex-demon's body seemed to completely relax. This was why Anya was so terrified, so unwilling to come to Hogwarts: because of fear of retribution from Dumbledore. Dawn looked slowly from Anya back to the headmaster. If Anya really couldn't curse Dumbledore he must be extremely magically powerful.

Before Dumbledore spoke again he met Dawn's eyes but she quickly lowered them. It seemed to her that the old wizard could look deep into her, deep enough to see her innermost thoughts and desires.

"Rupert Giles," said Dumbledore in a matter-of-fact voice "Has told me all about your situation. Be assured that you are quite safe here, yet I must impress a few rules upon you."

It was Dawn's turn for a little fear.

"The forest on the Eastern borders of Hogwarts is forbidden to all students except in planned Defence against the dark arts or care of magical creatures' lessons. There can also be no wandering around the halls at night. There are many secret passageways you would do best to avoid when the moon is out. And lastly,"

Dumbledore lowered his voice so that Dawn and the others had to lean in.

"The school as yet has not been informed of your arrival as this will happen at the feat before your sorting."

Dawn gulped. They were going to be sorted in front of the school.

"As such, I must impress upon you the importance of keeping the true reason for your stay her secret and that you continue with the story that you are American exchange students. You will find that the wizarding world has ears in the most unexpected places."

Dumbledore looked significantly at Dawn for a moment then sat back and talked again at normal volume.

"Next to the houses."

"Taken care of Dumbledore," called Armando from the far corner of the room "The girls are quite up to speed there."

"Excellent," said Dumbledore "Then perhaps onto this."

He took out his wand again and tapped in hard, once on the table. Four parchment folders spun to a halt in front of Dawn, Kennedy, Rona and Amanda.

"These contain information on the elective units Hogwarts offers. You will be required to choose a minium of two, but if you are that way inclined you can take on more. By all means, feel free."

Dawn went to open hers feeling sick and confused. Dumbledore smiled.

"You need not decide now Miss Summers. I have arranged a trip into Hogsmead with our care of magical creatures' teacher this weekend to pick up your supplies for your extra units. Look over the information in your own time, or perhaps during history of magic."

The way Dumbledore skipped over this last statement told Dawn history of magic would be a complete bore.

He tapped his wand again on the table and two large black folders appeared in front of Anya and Andrew with green embossed letters in the anagram 'D.A.D.A'.

"Due to your past and present vocations," continued Dumbledore "I thought it best that you two should be aids in defence against the dark arts. Professor Alastor Moody shall be taking it this year. A fine Auror..."

Dumbledore's eyes danced in Anya's direction.

"Acquainted with him too are we?" asked Dawn.

"Just a little," gulped Anya, hesitantly opening her own folder.

Dumbledore turned back to the four girls.

"One last thing before we head down to dinner," he said warmly.

Dawn smiled back but her happy features soon turned to horror.

"You will be entering into the forth year of wizarding school and as such have already missed a significant part of your tuition."

He waved his wand once more and a small black ball that seemed to be struggling against invisible restraints appeared on his desk.

"I think we should test your magic skills."

Dawn's stomach plummeted so far she thought her feet would have to grow mouths so she didn't go hungry.

"This is a bludger," continued Dumbledore "If you would be so kind Rona, as to point your wand at it and say clearly 'locomotor bludger'."

Dawn didn't think any of the four of them should be pointing their wands at anything that already had a name like bludger. Dawn was looking between Rona, Dumbledore and the small cannonball like object.

This won't turn out well she thought to herself.

Rona hesitantly slipped her wand out of her pocket.

"Locomotor bludger," Dumbledore prompted again.

Rona gave a weak smile and pointed her wand at the sphere

BANG!!!

Amanda screamed, Dawn ducked, and Andrew fell out of his chair as the seven of them were showered in dust and debris.

Dawn looked up to see flecks of wood in Dumbledore's beard and a light dust covering everything. Rona had not formed the first consonant when the bludger skyrocketed upwards.

"I'm so sorry," cried Rona, her hands shaking.

Dumbledore leant forward and looked straight up at the evening sky through the sizeable hole in the ceiling of his office which the supersonic bludger had created. A few loose pebbles still pattered down on the surface of his desk.

"Do not trouble yourself my dear, easily fixed."

He raised his wand but then looking at Amanda, Kennedy and Dawn lowered it again.

"Perhaps it is best that I wait to repair the damage."

Dawn felt terrible but Dumbledore showed no signs of anger, in fact, she thought those chuckles were threatening to return.

"You next Amanda."

Her bottom lip was quivering.

"I don't have to use a bludger do I?"

"No, I think a small wave shall do."

Amanda took a steadying breath and gave her wand nothing more then a tiny swish.

Dawn shielded her eyes against a blinding white lite but then suddenly realised she was no longer sitting on a warm comfy chair and that a cool wind bit at her skin. She opened her eyes and gasped.

Dumbledore, Anya, Andrew, Amanda, Kennedy, Rona and herself were all sitting splay legged on a cold stone floor. Dumbledore's office – walls, roof and windows – and everything in it had been completely vanished.

Amanda looked imploringly apologetic at the headmaster. Dawn saw he was staring around in mild interest.

"I should have had you here last spring clean Amanda," his dazzlingly blue eyes turned on her "But for now-,"

Dumbledore gave his wand a long wide wave and all again was returned to normal.

"What happened?" cried Dilys from her wall "Dumbledore?"

"Settle Dilys," said Phineaus contemptuously "I suspect our new guests had a hand in it."

Dumbledore said nothing but turned to Kennedy.

"Are you sure?" asked Kennedy weakly.

"Certain," replied Dumbledore simply.

Kennedy heaved a great sigh and jabbed her wand in the general direction of the offices' roof.

Dawn had thought nothing had happened, and so it seemed did Kennedy as she looked supremely happy at the fact she had for once failed to do magic. They were wrong.

CRACK-BOOM

A thunderous streak of lightening had torn across the ceiling of the office as Dumbledore looked up into the falling torrents. Within seconds each of them was soaked. Kennedy was close to tears and felt she had to rectify the problem. She waved and swished her wand and jets of red and gold and silver light shot from its tip. All of them, Dawn saw, ducked, except Dumbledore who was following the streams of magic to see what happened when they collided with something solid.

The red beam hit a wall and it exploded outwards leaving a hole big enough for a rhino to runt through, the quickly rising water leaking out into the grounds below. The gold hit a bookcase which erupted in purple flames and melted like an ice cube in the sun. The silver jet however ricocheted around the room, Dawn having to duck a few times, till it disappeared into the storm clouds overhead. This caused them to become an even darker shade of grey and the rain and typhoon turned to snow and blizzard. The ice was knee deep and Dumbledore three-quarters buried before he stopped it.

The wizard's wand zigzagged and danced and everything became dry and warm again, the wall remade and the bookcase as it ever was.

Dawn sat back up straight to see Dumbledore pass Kennedy's wand back to her. He had very wisely summoned it out of her hands before she could do any more damage. He however was smiling broadly and looked expectantly to Dawn.

"Miss Summers?"

"Haven't you had enough?" she asked wonderingly.

"Oh goodness no," laughed Dumbledore "Quite the contrary, I haven't been tested like this in years."

Dawn took out her own wand – thirteen inches, hazel, core of a dragon heartstring. She looked down at it scared. She hadn't had to wave it before, the first and only time she had held it Olivander had said it was a match.

"Come along!" called Phineaus' mocking voice "I expect the real students will be getting hungry."

A pool of anger bubbled inside Dawn. She looked at the other girls who each seemed to think Dawn could do no worse then they did.

"A galleon she turns Wells into a cucumber, Everard," hissed Phineaus' voice again in a very audible whisper.

The anger grew, Dawn's cheeks turning slightly pink.

"I do hope Dumbledore can correct her blunder. I expect it will be extraordinary."

Dawn was shaking. Why wouldn't Phineaus shut up... Phineaus... Dawn Smiled

"What else can you expect from a half-bl-,"

"AAAHHH!!!"

Phineaus' portrait streaked across the room and over their heads, smashing through a window and out into the night. They could all still hear his ever quieting yells as he fell from the tower and the distant thud of his frame colliding with the dark, green grass far below.

The portrait wall erupted in a hale of applause and cheers.

"Outstanding!" shrieked Dilys.

"Magnificent," chorused Everard.

"Wonderfully done!" yelled Armando.

Dawn looked over beaming and gave a little bow. She saw Armando's eyes were streaming with tears of pride and laughter.

"Well done indeed Miss Summers," added Dumbledore and Dawn turned back to him, a little embarrassed at what she had done. She was hoping for antlers, or perhaps some of that purple fire.

"S-sorry, I was-,"

But Dumbledore silenced her with a raised hand. His eyes were brighter then ever.

"No matter Dawn, dear Phineaus has not left this tower in many, many years. I dare say the trip would have done him good. I will have to ask out caretaker to fetch him back when he gets a moment to spare."

Dawn knew Dumbledore could have got him back in half a second but was thankful that the headmaster, like her, thought he could stand a bit of night air.

"Professor sir?"

Dawn was amazed to hear Amanda speak. She still thought the shock of the vanished room had vanished her voice.

"Yes dear?" asked Dumbledore in a fatherly sort of way.

"How are we doing this? I mean none of us has done any magic before-,"

Dawn hadn't shared the stories of resurrecting her mother or banishing a demon or two.

"But now we are blowing stuff up left right and centre. Mr Olivander even said we were doing advanced magic for our age, not that I'd know what advanced is."

"Ah," said Dumbledore nodding slightly "This I believe I can answer."

He looked down his long crooked nose at each of them and beckoned them a little closer so that the portraits could not overhear. Dawn was very eager to hear what he had to say. He pressed the tips of his old fingers together and looked at them as though deciding how best to answer.

"All witches and wizards, however young or untrained, have magical potential within them. When they start secondary school they are given a wand to allow them to perform magic. And therein lies your answer. You four are not witches but Amanda, Rona and Kennedy hold within you the seeds of a Slayer; and you Dawn, a power I doubt many could comprehend."

Dawn thought she caught a flash behind Dumbledore's eyes, an instant of hidden thought or some realisation, but it was extinguished as quickly as it came.

"Wands are the facilitators of magic," he went on "Only the most learned wizards and witches can perform magic without them and that is only simple levitation or the manipulation of fire. Within you four is a terrible power that your wands allow to come out. Your most challenging task will be to learn how to control it. If you master yourselves, you indeed will be powerful."

Dawn felt sick again. She didn't know if she wanted to be powerful, not if powerful meant chaos and destruction. She wasn't Andrew.

Dumbledore sat back again

"Any more questions?"

The girls shook their heads.

"Wonderful, then off to dinner we go."

Dawn stood up and stretched then looked behind her to her huge pile of school things.

"Leave them," said Dumbledore, seeming to know what Dawn was thinking "Your things will be taken to your respective dormitories before the end of the feast."

The wizard stood up and made for the door closely followed by the other six.

Dawn stopped as Dumbledore opened the office door.

"Do you hear something?" she asked.

There was a distant high-pitched whistling noise coming from somewhere.

"What is that?" asked Anya.

BOOM!!!

Rona's bludger had rocketed back through the office ceiling and snapped Dumbledore's large, solid oak table in two. It lay motionless in a small crater of shattered stone.

"I think you broke it," smiled Dawn.

Rona managed a weak grin and Dumbledore shook his head.

"Astounding," he whispered to himself as he ushered them out of the door.

The seven of them squashed onto a revolving stone column that moved slowly downwards. Dumbledore stepped out into a large torch lit corridor and they followed. Dawn was the last out and turned to see a thickset stone gargoyle spring over the hole in the wall. Dawn gaped.

"What're ya lookin at eh?" it growled.

"Talking statues," she said shocked "I-I can deal with taking statues."

Dumbledore lead them through Hogwarts. Dawn hadn't seen it from the outside but from the number of stairs and passageways they had been down she knew it must be huge.

She was looking absentmindedly around the hall when she ran into the back of Kennedy. Dumbledore had stopped. On their right was a set of towering doors that held behind them the buzz of hungry conversation. On her left was a large case of marble stairs leading into a gigantic entrance hall and finally to another pair of high, wooden, iron-interlaid doors.

"Are we ready ladies?" asked the wizard.

Could anything else tighten? Thought Dawn. Her stomach, her hands, her throat, her thighs... she really needed to pee.

Trying not to dance on the spot she nodded nervously like the other three.

"Very good," said Dumbledore.

The look he gave Dawn made her feel reassured and to her amazement seemed to alleviate her need to use the bathroom.

He stepped up to the doors on their right and pushed them open. The chatter stopped immediately. Dawn swallowed hard and stepped after Dumbledore, each in single file.

Dawn felt two hundred eyes on her, and the hot colour start to rise in her face. The room was a sea of black cloaks and excited slash confused faces. She felt so out of place. Her and the other girls hadn't changed and were still in what she thought the students would call 'muggle-dress'.

Not far into the hall whispers started to break out. People were talking behind their hands to their neighbours and a few were pointing openly. Dawn wished Kennedy would whip out her wand and conjure up another blizzard, or perhaps a rampaging giraffe.

She couldn't catch much of what was being said but on her left she did hear one hurried conversation.

"I heard from Millicent, who heard from Padma, who heard from Sir Cadogan, who heard from the fat friar, who heard from the bloody baron, who heard from the fat lady, who heard from lady Vi, who heard from a picture in Dumbledore's office that they're exchange students from America."

'Exchange student' and 'America' seemed to be bombarding Dawn from every direction. She was so glad Dumbledore hadn't told the school anything about them yet.

She looked toward the voice that had spoken, a pretty girl with light brunette hair set in pigtails. The students at the table she sat at wore ties of green and silver. Dawn's eyes washed over her and fell then on a boy, his sleek blonde hair falling into pale blue eyes. It was the guy from the poster. Dawn's eyebrow threatened to speed upwards again when he spoke.

"Americans? What's Dumbledore playing at?"

This stopped Dawn. It wasn't accusatory or malicious, just surprised. He looked up and met her eyes but did not smile. Dawn quickly lowered her gaze.

The walk from the doors to the front of the room seemed to take forever. Dawn felt as though she had been picked over by every eye in the room. Before her was a small three-legged stool atop which sat a battered old hat. Dawn didn't think it looked much better then the portkey shoe. Next to it was a tall, thin woman with an aged face and grey hair wound in a tight bun. She smiled welcomingly at them and Dawn felt a little better.

In front of them was obviously the teachers' table. Dawn had to do a double take on one wizard; he seemed to her the size of a small whale, yet a lot more hairy and a lot less friendly. Time to wonder was short as Dumbledore beckoned them to face the students. He raised his hands to silence them and addressed all those gathered.

"Sorry to have kept you, I am sure you are all eager to start his special welcoming feast for our new guests."

He waved a hand in the six's direction.

"I see I was right in assuming that if their arrival was secret all of you within the hour would know. But now I formally say that these girls are indeed exchange students from America and will be staying with us for the remainder of the year."

Dawn noted that several people were highly excited by this fact.

"With them too are Professor Wells and Professor Jenkins-,"

They both waved.

"Who will be aiding Professor Moody in defence against the dark arts."

There was a spattering of applause, most Dawn noticed from the older boys in the direction of Anya.

"But too you must have realised they cannot stay and feel at home without having a house to call so. Therefore without further ado, as I am sure you will appreciate, I hand over to professor McGonagall and our wonderful sorting hat."

The old wizard turned towards the staff table ushering Andrew and Anya into seats beside him, leaving, Dawn felt, the four of them a lot less shielded. She saw also that students and teachers alike were looking expectantly down at the horrible of hat. Dawn stared at it and to her amazement a rip near the brim opened up and it began to call aloud.

I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

It all comes down to me,

To look inside your deep, dark brain

And shout our where you aught to be.

In Gryffindor the brave ones go

Those of shout heart and choice,

In Huffelpuff the workers' hands

Are given greatest voice,

In Slytherin the cunning stay

Sharp ears and eyes and tongue,

In Ravenclaw the last house of four

Is where intelligence and wit belong.

For a thousand years it's been my job

This task set by founders four,

To sing of their beginnings

Hogwarts, hoses and much more,

But now new guests are here to stay

And again you look to me,

Not once but twice will you hear me call

All things as yet unseen,

Yet do not fear,

Pop me on,

Not all things shall be told.

Just where you all should sit from now,

And which house to call your home.

The room erupted in cheers and applause, each house table near getting to their feet in elation.

Settle down its just a talking hat though Dawn, reserved that a talking gargoyle was a lot more worthy of admiration.

She looked up to see professor Moggy-Gong-Girl unroll a sheath of parchment. The professor looked at them then to the school and in much the same way as the Sorting Hat proclaimed aloud

"When I call your name-,"

Dawn though Moggy-Gong-Girl sounded kind of stern.

"You will come forward, place the Sorting Hat on your head, and be sorted into your houses."

The four of them gulped as one.

"Amanda Evans!"

Amanda nearly fell into Dawn as her name was called. Dawn however was a little relieved.

Alphabetical order she thought to herself, I'm 'S' I've still got time.

Amanda walked slowly forward and sat down. From the look on Amanda's face Dawn was wondering if the Potential's vanishing spell would work on vomit.

The room was completely silent; no one even seemed to be breathing. Amanda's eyes were looking up at the brim of the hat as though it might just decide to take a bite.

How long will this take? Dawn thought.

Not a second later the rip opened and the Sorting Hat yelled:

"RAVENCLAW!!!"

A sting of cheers came from a table on Dawn's right; all of them were wearing ties of blue and silver. The rest of the room was clapping politely. Amanda stayed sitting down as though in shock.

"You may join your house table Miss Evans."

Dawn registered a female voice somewhere beside her but she was too preoccupied with the realisation it was down to three and also with the many snakes that seemed to be writhing in her stomach.

Dawn:

When you're talking to yourself and nobody's home

You can fool yourself you came in this world alone

"Rona Mathews!"

Rona stepped up to the seat. It was just her and Kennedy left.

Dawn:

So nobody ever told you how it was gonna be

So what'll happen to us baby, guess we'll have to wait and see

"HUFFELPUFF!!!"

Dawn was snapped back to reality. Rona hadn't been on the stool six seconds and she was sorted. She jumped up and pulled off the hat, almost falling over as she ran to a screaming table of yellow and black, the colour rising in her face.

Two thought Dawn, two.

The applause and whistling were dying away.

"Kennedy Scott!"

Kennedy didn't pause. Dawn saw she was smiling broadly, almost ecstatic. Dawn felt like she would pass out.

Dawn:

Young at heart, and it gets so hard to wait

When no one I know can seem to help me now

Old at heart but I mustn't hesitate

If I'm to find my own way out

Still talking to myself, and nobody's home

Dawn followed her every movement. She wanted to punch her for being so calm. Kennedy was crouched on the stool, looking around happily. Every eye was on the Potential.

"GRYFFINDOR!!!"

Kennedy ran to a table of red and gold and that, Dawn saw, extended past the ties. Like the blonde boy at the table of green and silver Dawn saw the horrid red hair of the family in the front row of the Quidditch stands and also the bushy haired, big teethed girl, and the be-speckled, scrawny, awkward looking boy.

"Dawn Summers!"

"Small world," Dawn whispered to herself.

"Miss Summers?"

"Oh," said Dawn realising her name was called "Sorry."

A few students sniggered and Dawn's face burned. It died away quickly though as she wobbled towards the stool.

Dawn:

Well I jumped into the river too many times to make it my home

I'm out her on my own and drifting all alone

If it doesn't show, give it time to read between the lines

She was on the splintery old stool and professor Moggy-Gong-Girl was putting the hat on her head. Dawn's heart threatened to explode as the shadow of the ancient fabric fell over her eyes.

Dawn:

I see the storm getting closer

And the waves they get so high

Dawn's nails were biting into the wood beneath her. What she wouldn't give for Phineaus to be here to break the overwhelming silence.

Dawn:

So nobody ever told us how it was gonna be

So what'll happen to us baby, guess we'll have to wait and see

Dawn had been sitting on the stool for what she felt like was forever. It seemed longer then the other girls anyway. It looked to her though that the students of Hogwarts were fast becoming petrified, not bored and fidgety in the extended wait. They didn't even seem to blink. To stem the choking apprehension she looked at the three house tables holding her friends. Rona looked relieved to be out of the spotlight, she was flashing Dawn an, it-will-all-be-okay look. Kennedy was still wearing her smile, sitting next to a pretty girl of the red-head family.

Maybe that's why she is happy thought Dawn. She has a thing for redheaded witches.

Her eyes landed finally on Amanda who looked a mix of wonder, fear and excitement. It seemed to Dawn too that her eyes were begging the hat to sort Dawn into Ravenclaw.

C'mon thought Dawn, What's taking so long? Sort me already.

Maybe it was broken. Maybe she wasn't really meant to be here even though she could blow stuff up. Maybe it had found nothing in her head to go with and so fell asleep. All this was rushing through Dawn's mind when she felt it stir. Her heart rushed, her palms were sweaty.

This is it thought Dawn. Ravenclaw, put me there, or Huffelpuff, no, Ravenclaw would be better.

The tear in the hat opened and the ball of anticipation jumped into the Key's throat.

This is great she though, her fear melting away in the electric atmosphere.

Dawn braced herself.

The Sorting Hat stiffened and bellowed to the hall at last one final deafening word:

"SLYTHERIN!!!"


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