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:

"Burning Down the House" Belongs to the Cardigans and Tom Jones

"The Mustard Song" Belongs to Joss Whedon

I have given a rating of PG due to a swear words,

adult themes and some violence.

This rating may be increased for later chapters.


AN: Thanks again to all my readers and reviewers. This was a quicker update then the last one so maybe the next one might be in less then a month :)

Anoron: I am glad that you loved it, well, loved it, loved it, loved it :) Glad you liked my Sirius too. Well, you find out this chapter what Dawn was up to, but I dont know how people will take it, and will let me know either way. It won't be all though, there is a lot more Slytherin to come out in her yet.

Susan: Chapter was up and the vines were all gone. For those playing at home Dumbledore and the other teachers got rid of it (No big spoiler)... It is about the only thing he has done ever... Hope you keep reading and sharing your thoughts.

Bex: I just have to say you rock. I hope you didn't get hurt when you fell out of the chair and that you have it in you to keep reading. It is all updated and I am working before university starts back to get the next chapter up and running.

Amanda: Thanks for the kind words. I was hoping people would get the message and I am glad that you got it in the end. Hope you like this chapter as much as the last, and dont you fear, there will be more Sirius to come.

PunktheTurtle: You are officially my longest reviewer ever. I usually only get flames that long so for it to be nice words was great. Just kidding though, I haven't got any flames... yet :S... It is great you like the songs I put in and the only thing I can tell you about them is when they happen try not to think of them as breaking into song, but saying the lines. The way I thought of it is that the characters dont know they are singing and neither do the people around them. It was just one of my sonofgloin ideas for a different way of telling the story i.e. Telling the story at points through song (Let me tell you I had no idea what I was getting myself in for). I would love more then anything to give you all the answers to your questions because you obviously care enough to ask them all. But I cant answer some of them for two reasons 1. Beacuse I have no idea of the answer myself and 2. Because if I tell you it will completely ruin the plot and you will hate me forever and never review again because the Fic will be too boring to get through. But here goes for the ones I can: As for the pure blood stuff I am not sure on technicalities but it may come up in the course of the story (Hmm good idea for the breakup). Harry and Cedric will be the only ones to compete (sorry to those who wanted to see Dawn taking on a dragon) but thats not to say I dont have some nice stuff planned for those times for her. How could there not be more bashing of the tragic trio? Read on for the next installment :) and yes, imply away that i am bashing on them cause that is exactly what I am doing :) As for the friendship, hmm, lets just see what mood I am in... Sirius wont be forgotten about is all I will say and there will be some more to do with occlumency but you will have to wait to find out what... Phineas may make another appearence or two and all the key stuff may also be addressed... Loved the questions and loved answering them. If all people were like you the Fic world will be a happier place :) All updated and hopefully another will come soon (All planned just have to write) so enjoy...

babytigercub15: I like you like the fic. All updated now for you to read. Thanks.


Monday morning couldn't have been any different to the day before. The clouds were gone and the autumn sun shone down brightly on the grounds of Hogwarts. One thing hadn't changed however, and that was Dawn's foul mood. She had lain awake for half the night fuming over Dumbledore's decision. She couldn't understand why the headmaster wouldn't let her study Occlumency, but decided then and there that she would find out.

She stood at the middle of three dorm windows looking out into the purple morning. As usual, the other Slytherin forth years were still asleep and Beth's snores shook the stands and hangings of her four-poster bed. After all this time however Elsie, Gilrean, Paige and Pansy had learnt to use some well placed silencing charms.

As the ground shook beneath her feet Dawn let her mind drift back to Sunnydale and the Scoobies. She wondered how quick owl post travelled and how long it would be until she got a reply from her sister; if one came at all. Dawn had no idea what was going on with the First or how many of her friends were still alive.

"Morning honey."

Dawn broke out of her daydream and turned around. Gilrean was stumbling out of bed, hair dishevelled and eyes thoroughly sleepy.

"Hey," said Dawn "Sleep well?"

"Y-y-yeah, I guess," she yawned wiping some of the tiredness away "How are you?"

"Good," replied Dawn lying just a little "I didn't sleep too well though."

"Cheer up," reassured Gilrean "We've got history of magic this afternoon. That should give you a bit of catch up sleep."

Dawn smiled.

"You can have the bathroom," said Dawn "I might lay back down for a while."

Lying down on her soft mattress again didn't bring Dawn any relief. She tried closing her eyes but every time she did Dumbledore's stupid fat head would appear and give her minds eye a quick wink. Before long Gilrean was out of the shower and charming her hair straight.

"Your turn," she said seeing that Dawn couldn't get back to sleep, and Dawn rolled over and stumbled out of bed into the jade-green bathroom.

"Who's looking quite the hottie then?"

Dawn had stepped out of the bathroom five minutes after Beth's drool puddle had dried up. She smiled at her fellow Slytherins but it didn't extend to her eyes. She wasn't wearing what she was wearing to impress; she was wearing it out of spite.

"Who did that?" asked Pansy who was extremely impressed.

"Me," shrugged Dawn who was now glancing into her bedside mirror putting mascara on.

She re-capped the brush and battered her eyelids innocently before picking up the lipstick and puckering at her reflection. Elsie was shifting her weight while continuing to look Dawn up and down.

"What?"

"McGonagall's not going to like this Dawn."

Dawn smiled thoughtfully.

"Minerva 'aint the head of Slytherin house, and I don't think Snape – or any guy for that matter – will mind what I'm wearing."

Elsie didn't look too confident but didn't say anything further. The blonde girl simply took her uniform into the bathroom and closed the door with a snap.

"Can you do the same for me Dawn?" asked Pansy who's face now reflected a deer in the headlights in awe of the Summers girl.

"How bout we see how I go today," replied Dawn as Elsie's words sunk in.

She had thought the idea brilliant last night as she set to work, but that was before she realised there were other teachers at Hogwarts with as much sway – or more so – then Snape. As rash as her decision was though there was no way she wasn't going through with it now.

"If I get a years worth of detentions, well know not to make any alterations to yours."

Pansy agreed but huffed as she pulled out her own uniform.

The girls joined Dawn in the common room half an hour later. There was still some time before breakfast so the six decided to kill time downstairs.

Elsie had her head buried in the previous days Daily Prophet, emersed in an article about the freeing of captive dragons. In complete contrast Beth was laughing her head off at jokes in a monthly magazine called The Quibbler. She said her father was friends with its editor, George Lovegood.

"He's really strange sometimes," informed Beth "Going off to Romania and Russia and all these other weird places looking for nonexistent dark creatures."

"You never know," said Dawn evasively with her mind on a certain cave in Hogsmead "They could exist."

Luckily for her however she had managed to quash the Grim theory before it spread around the school. She though Sirius wouldn't be too happy if Professor Trelawney and her Divination class turned up on his doorstep for a practical lesson. Dawn had told the other Slytherins that she had seen it again in the wizarding town on Sunday chasing a cat or two. Beth liked this news the most who had kept her eyes closed since the siting and could finally open them again, resolved that if she couldn't see the apparition she wouldn't be hurt. Falling down three times and kicking and bumping several appendages in the process didn't ever dissuade her.

"Can you hear that?"

"Hear what?" asked Paige.

There was a muffled sound like someone was yelling from inside a distant closed room and the pattering of many tiny something's.

"That," said Pansy getting to her feet who had just been lazily brading her hair and staring off into space.

The six girls left the dark leather lounges and started scanning the room.

"I don't hear anything," admitted Beth who had found her way under the main common room table.

"Me either," coughed Gilrean from inside the hearth.

Pansy however was winding her way towards the Slytherin portrait entrance. She opened it and the girls heard rushed conversation splattered with indignant shrieks from Esmeralda. All at once the furore fell away and there was silence. Pansy walked back in.

"It's for you Dawn."

Dawn's brow furrowed as she walked towards the opening.

"It's about time," growled Kennedy who was glaring at Esmeralda "She wouldn't let is in."

"You are not Slytherins," demanded Esmeralda "You are not allowed in!"

"There was a Ravenclaw in out common room last night," said Rona.

"Like that's surprising," spat the portrait "Donald Greenleaf is probably too stupid to tell the difference!"

"Hey," cut in the Potential, defending the Huffelpuff common room keeper.

"Sorry Esmeralda," said Dawn calling to the other Slytherins and stepping out into the hall "We're going now anyway."

Elsie, Gilrean, Pansy, Paige and Beth huddled behind Dawn and the others not saying a word. As far as they knew not other house member had even set foot in Slytherin corridor for over nine hundred years.

Dawn felt horribly in the middle, trying to breach the gap between her friends. It was so awkward she felt sick.

"S-so why did you guys come down here?" she offered as a way to stem the thick silence.

"People were looking at us," said Amanda as she pulled at her clothes "I don't know how you talked me into this."

"Well that was kind of the point," said Dawn adjusting a fold or two "That people look I mean."

"You all look great."

Dawn's stomach rushed with pride and gratefulness. She turned and smiled warmly at Elsie who hitched her bag a little higher on her shoulder and gave a shy grin back. It meant a lot to Dawn for the Slytherins to like the Potentials and for one of them to broach the gap was heartening.

"Thanks," said Kennedy who really looked at the pretty blonde girl for the first time.

Rona and Amanda however simply mumbled something that closely resembled Gobbledygook.

By the time the nine reached the entrance to the great hall they had made a lot of progress. Elsie had found a soul mate in Amanda, discussing ancient wizarding philosophy and the pro's and con's of charm and potion therapy in magical medicine. Beth and Pansy were chatting happily to Rona about a boy in Huffelpuff called Cedric Diggory – Beth insisted on knowing if Rona had seen him with his shirt off – and Gilrean, Paige and Kennedy were having a whispered conversation that no one could overhear. Dawn was simply trotting along beside the lot of them feeling very happy about herself and the fact she achieved something nobody else had: A total Hogwarts house conversation that didn't involve profanity, the hexing of body parts, or the throwing of moveable furniture.

"Ready girls?" asked Dawn with a nervous and mischievous grin.

"Are we really doing this?" pleaded Amanda who had her arms crossed and her lip quivering.

"You bet cha," smirked Kennedy who forcibly unlocked the potentials arms.

Dawn turned around facing the room giving a steadying exhale of breath.

"Here we go."

If there had been music and a few hundred camera flashes the scene wouldn't have looked very different to a runway walk at a fashion show. Dawn, Rona, Amanda and Kennedy's faced were locked in grim defiance but that was not what every single person in the great hall was looking at. Every fork and knife and cup that was raised to bite or sip froze and stayed there. Dawn found the most satisfaction in a sixth year Ravenclaw who instead of pouring milk into his cereal bowl was pouring it into his lap and not seeming to notice. All the first year boys had gone rather red and there were more then just a few raised eyebrows from the forth years and above.

With each step the knee high boots crashed through the silence. The magically shortened skirts fell and moved gracefully several inches more then usual above the footwear, overhung by the untucked white-collared shirt. Around each of their necks was their respective house tie loosely strung, and their open jet-black robes billowed behind them as though blown by some unseen air.

"Which table?" asked Rona who didn't seem to mind the attention as much as she though she would have done.

Dawn didn't have to think though; she knew exactly where they were sitting.

"Slytherin."

The nine took their seats still watched by all the eyes in the room.

"Want something Draco?" asked Dawn curtly as the forth year looked at her, taking bites of his toast but missing each time.

"N-no," he said dismissively and went back to talking with Crabbe and Goyle but not before having to snap his fingers under their noses to regain their attention.

"It's working," hissed Amanda as though she doubted it ever could have "People are noticing."

Dawn took a quick look around and beamed.

"I knew it would all along."

"How dare you!"

Dawn's eyes closed and her stomach fell. Thirty five seconds had to be some kind of record for her. She looked up into the stern face and smiled.

"Good morning Professor McGonagall."

The lips on the transfiguration teacher pursed even more. When she spoke her voice was so venomous it was like being bitten by a rattler.

"How could you, this is unacceptable."

Her eyes turned to Kennedy.

"And from a member of my own house, disgusting."

With each new reprimand her voice was getting steadily louder.

"Well!" she roared "Explain yourselves."

"For what?" asked Dawn inquisitively while making sure not to show the slightest sign of understanding or a grin.

"FOR WHAT!"

The knives and forks at Slytherin table actually shook.

"Your uniforms young lady, I don't know how you did it, or even why you did it, but you will go and get changed or receive detention."

"Professor?"

Professor McGonagall turned and glared and Dawn was sure she saw smoke shoot out of her nose.

"Yes Miss Evans?"

Amanda gulped but answered nonetheless.

"There is no rule saying the manor in which we should wear our uniform; only that each piece should be present in their respective colours."

Dawn smiled at the Potential. She might be foolish, but not stupid; rash, but not completely retarded. She made sure Amanda checked out all Hogwarts rules beforehand so they wouldn't get completely busted. McGonagall on the other hand looked as though her head might explode at any moment.

"I believe she is right Minerva."

"This doesn't concern you Severus."

"Begging your pardon, but Miss Summers is in the house I lead, so I am afraid it does concern me."

"Very well," gritted McGonagall "I will leave it to you to punish her."

"And why will I be doing that?"

Dawn actually shuffled along the seat and cringed, convinced the hex Professor McGonagall was about to hit Snape with would hit her too.

"Why?" shrieked McGonagall "Why! What they are wearing is totally inappropriate."

Snape looked down at them.

"I don't see any trouble in their attire, and I believe Miss Evans was right in what she said. Hogwarts policy does not state the manor in which the uniform should be worn."

"So if they wore their socks on their head that would be fine?" thundered McGonagall.

"Here now what's going on? Missing something good am I?"

Professor Sprout had bustled up to the Slytherin table wearing a big grin and rubbing her ruddy hands together.

"Goodness," chirped the Herbology teacher with open eyes looking down at Dawn, Rona, Kennedy and Amanda "You girls do look spiffing."

Dawn was sure that Professor Snape snorted but all Minerva McGonagall could do was silently gape like a Grindylow out of water.

"Daisy," she hissed "You agree that these ladies," she waved her finger furiously at them "Are dressed suitably?"

Sprout took another look at them as though to confirm.

"Everyone should have a sturdy pair of boots, and who likes to garden in constrictive clothes? Helps with the jumping out of the way of the chomping cabbages."

Sprout laughed heartily.

"Unbelievable," said McGonagall shaking her head.

"Ah, professors?"

The call came from around their knees and Dawn leant over the table to see who spoke: Professor Flitwick was looking up at them all. No sooner had the charms teacher appeared that the raucous broke out again. The four heads of house were so immersed in the arbitrary argument that all the students had long since started going on with breakfast.

"Now if we could all talk about this quietly," pleaded Flitwick.

"Now Thomas," said Sprout with a grin "It's not often we hear Minerva raise her voice."

"I thought sarcasm was my department Daisy," drawled Snape with a smirk.

"I'm glad you three find this so terribly funny."

"AAAHHH!"

Silence fell and the hall as one turned to look at the entrance. Like a tumultuous wave the laughter broke upon the walls. At the doors stood three figures, the centre of which was in nothing but a pair or ragged pink and orange poke-dotted underwear. As Kennedy had reached for her knife while enjoying the head of house battle she had mistakenly laid hand on her wand. As a result a sizeable stream of purple fire rocketed through the air hitting the unsuspecting Ron Weasley and reducing his robes to ash.

This was now such a regular occurrence that Kennedy no longer looked abashed and the only people to run after him and his anguished cries of embarrassment were Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.

A new voice cleared its throat and gained the attention of the Hogwarts teachers and most of the near at hand Slytherins. Professor Dumbledore stood behind them with his long fingers pushed together and looked at them each in turn from behind his half moon spectacles.

"Lessons will be starting soon," he said firmly "I suspect you shall be wanting to get to class."

"Right you are Albus," said Sprout with a jump.

He then looked at Dawn who averted her eyes. Her shoulders doubled over and she cringed outwardly like she was being cut again on top of Glory's tower. When she looked up she stared straight at Professor Snape with a helpless, pleading expression. She noticed a strange light behind his dark eyes but he left without a further word to anyone. McGonagall looked planted to the spot but finally moved after a significant look from the headmaster and a large expelling of air from her nose. Flitwick toddled off to the Ravenclaw table to a call from a group of smart looking third years.

"Are you okay Dawn?" asked Elsie worriedly.

"Fine," she assured her with a weak smile as the bell for class rang.

"What have you's got?" asked Rona.

"Defence against the dark arts," said Beth excitedly "I wonder if Professor Wells' scars have healed yet?"

"You?" asked Elsie.

"Divination," said Kennedy.

"Arithmancy," said Amanda with a look at her timetable.

"No," grimaced Rona "History of magic."

The girls giggled.

"Good luck," added Dawn "See you in the quad at break?"

"Sure," the three Potentials agreed.

The nine left the hall together and with a last wave went their separate ways to their classes.

"All right you lot, settle down."

Moody was grunting and sighing his way into the defence against the dark arts room as the Slytherins took their seats. By some horrible misfortune Dawn had found a seat in front of Draco, Crabbe and Goyle. Even after the Professor's request they still seemed to want to talk. Elsie turned around and shushed them but it didn't help.

"You all know Professors Wells and Jenkins," growled Moody pointing at them with his gnarled hand "They'll be helping me with our studies."

Andrew and Anya had walked in behind the ex-Auror and stood beside the blackboard. Andrew's arm was in a sling and his leg was in a cast and Dawn didn't even want to know what happened this time.

Dawn hadn't been in this room before and was taking in all its features. At regular intervals along the walls were diagrams of dark creatures and antidotes to their poisons and Moody had added to these defensive items with several dark detectors such as sneak-o-scopes and a sizable foe glass.

"Ow!" snapped Dawn putting a hand to the back of her head and turning around.

Draco wasn't looking very worried that the pencil he was charming to flip across the desk had skidded off and hit Dawn. She scowled at him and turned back around rubbing her head.

"Right then!" shouted Moody as though his formidable presence didn't hold the attention of every person in the room "What was the term we all learnt last lesson?"

There was a general sigh from the room.

"Constant vigilance," they droned half-heartedly.

"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" he erupted "Without it the Dark Lord could get all of you."

Dawn was sure half the room gulped as one. She was grateful for Sirius telling her about Voldemort but was still not sure why people were so afraid to say his name.

"If you will Professor Jenkins."

Anya stepped forward and all the Slytherin boys sat up a little straighter. All the Slytherin girls rolled their eyes at them.

"Okay," she said looking apprehensively at Moody "Before we go on with today's lesson, who can tell me the three unforgivable curses you learnt about last week?"

Several hands shot into the air.

"Yes, you there with the misshaped head."

The class turned to look at Goyle who had turned scarlet and promptly lowered his hand.

"Okay," said Anya wonderingly "You?" pointing at Elsie.

"Avada Kedavra," Elsie said knowledgably "The killing curse."

"Very good, twenty points for you," interrupted Andrew who was applying a grey unguent to a nasty cut.

"Andrew," snapped Anya "You can't just go giving out points like that."

Both Andrew and Elsie frowned.

"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"

The whole class jumped and Andrew fell off his stool spilling all of Madam Pomfrey's medicine.

"Yes," nodded Anya "Thankyou for that Professor Moody, we might have forgotten since the last time you told us."

She turned back to the class.

"Anyone else?"

Hands went up again.

"You with the pretty hair."

Anya leant in and whispered as though the rest of the class wasn't there.

"It's very shiny, what do you use on it?"

Gilrean was about to answer when Moody cleared his throat before taking a swig from his hipflask.

"Um, the Cruciatus curse," answered Gilrean "It causes pain."

"Great," said Anya "Take five points, and your friend better have five too even though she has a few split ends."

Dawn gaped at Anya who gave her one of her 'I didn't say anything' looks and continued.

"You don't have split ends," whispered Dawn in Elsie's ear.

The blonde girl however was looking at each strand sickly.

"The Imperius curse," came a familiar voice from behind Dawn "Gives the wizard who applies it total control over their victim."

The way Draco looked as he talked about the curse made Dawn feel strange. He seemed hungry or excited by the simple thought of it.

"Right," growled Moody from his chair by the window "And there is one student who hasn't had it tested on her yet."

Dawn turned around slowly.

"Miss Summers?"

Andrew and Anya blanched as one.

"No," said Anya stepping forward "You don't want her, she's all cranky and premenstrual."

Dawn's mouth fell open in humiliation, her eyes as wide as sources. The sniggers coming from behind her made the colour burn up her face.

"I-I so am not," Dawn spluttered in a vain attempt to recover a shred of dignity.

"Shut up Dawn," said Anya.

"I won't," said Dawn standing up.

"That will do ladies," grunted Moody "You know all of them need to be tested Jenkins, Dumbledore's orders."

Dawn faltered on the defiant step she was about to take towards the front of the room.

"C'mon Dawn," said Moody "Nothing to fear."

She gulped and knew that her rebellious charm had got her stuck in the owl stool again. She fumbled out of her chair and looked apologetically at Anya who looked back concernedly.

"Ready?" asked Moody drawing his wand.

"For wha,"

"IMPERIO!"

Dawn looked around the room at the countless furrowed brows, then at Anya and Andrew who were exchanging glances. She then looked at Moody who was pointing his wand directly at her and muttering something under his breath.

"What's meant to be happening?" asked Dawn "Oh! Is this one of those latent curses who's effects kick in after the spell has been cast?"

Moody lowered his wand and sighed exhaustedly.

"I don't understand it," he growled "Nothing happened."

"Well that's teen hormones for you, sit down Dawn."

Dawn didn't have to be asked by Anya twice, she took her seat back in between Elsie and Pansy.

The rest of the lesson went okay. Besides taking lots of notes from the blackboard Moody had used Andrew to demonstrate a few hexes and curses and their effects. The room was spattered with "Ahh's" and "Ohh's" and just a few "Eww's" as Moody replaced Andrew's limbs with tentacles before changing them back with its respective counter curse.

"Now you're not to be going and using these on other students," said Moody firmly.

Dawn however noticed for the first time all class Draco Malfoy's quill scribbling notes at supersonic speed.

The bell rang for break but before Dawn could leave Anya called to her. She walked up to the new Professor nervously.

"I didn't know nothing was going to happen."

"It's not that," said Anya "I need to talk to you."

She looked at the crowded Slytherins.

"Alone please."

"It's cool," said Dawn "I'll meet you in the quad soon."

Andrew had stumbled out behind Moody carrying a teetering pile of counter curse books which left the two alone.

"What?" asked Dawn.

"Not here," answered Anya with a suspicious look around the room "C'mon."

They left the classroom and headed to a higher part of the castle.

"Good morning Professor Jenkins."

"Good morning Daniel."

"Hi Professor Jenkins."

"Hello Grady."

"You're looking pretty today Professor Jenkins."

"Thankyou Adam, I know."

Dawn was simply looking at Anya with her eyebrows in her hair.

"You're popular."

"Yes," said Anya "I think it's the breasts, adolescent boys like breasts."

They were heading into the East of the castle, the halls of which had a very authoritarian feel to Dawn.

"Here we are."

They stopped in front of a portrait of a half-naked man - a single white silk sheet draped over his torso for coverage - who seemed to be dozing in the morning light.

"Nicolas," called Anya.

She smiled at Dawn girlishly and pointed at the painting.

"This is Nicolas."

"I gathered," said Dawn.

He yawned and stretched and opened his large green eyes.

"Good morning Professor Jenkins. Back so soon? Password?"

Anya looked suspiciously at Dawn and leant in to whisper the password to Nicolas. Dawn thought that seeing it was taking so long she was saying a lot more then just a password. She leant back blushing and Nicolas smiled.

"Come on in."

The portrait opened to reveal a large circular room.

"Wow," said Dawn as she walked in and looked around "Why can't I have this room and that Keeper? He doesn't have a twin does he?"

"Yeah," said Anya putting down a pile of notes "Brandon, but he's on Andrew's door."

Dawn gaped even further as she had a good look around. Anya's bed was a quadruple king size with large thick quilts and blankets and too many pillows to count. The floors were dark ash highly finished. The bathroom that was visible through an open door on the left seemed to be decked out in Italian tile with pearl fixtures and a bath the size of a small lake.

"Pity about the poor accommodations," said Dawn with a roll of her eyes.

She had thought her dorm was great but after seeing Anya's room she was a little jealous.

"They'll do," shouted Anya from inside one of her six magically operated fridges, coming out with a platter of rare cheeses and some smoked meats.

"So what did you want to talk about?" asked Dawn as she looked at Anya's meal with a growling stomach and not being offered any.

"Moody," said Anya thickly.

"What about him?"

Anya got up and went to the forth fridge returning with a large bottle of butter beer and a single cup.

"I'm not sure," answered Anya as she took a deep drink "But there is something off about him."

Anya went back to eating and Dawn had thought she must have forgotten the Slytherin was there.

"Like?" asked Dawn slowly "I need some direction here."

"Well," said Anya "We were talking the other night right, about old times and when he was an Auror and how he was hunting me for the ministry of magic until I taught him shiver me timbers. Then he didn't have a good reason to arrest me. Although, frequently there were handcuffs involved."

Dawn could have been pushed over with a feather. Her face was locked on stun and she was as rigid as stone.

"But don't worry," assured Anya looking at the girl "He had a lot more appendages then, believe you me."

"I should not be hearing this," stammered Dawn "You brought me here to talk about sex with Moody?"

"That's the thing," interrupted Anya "He didn't remember, and that's impossible, just ask Xander and Spike."

"I'll be sure to do that," assured Dawn taking a seat so she wouldn't fall over from sickness "So what's it mean?"

"I don't know," sighed Anya "He said he had been hit one too many times with an Oblivious hex, but there was something in his one good eye that looked nervous. The other one was just looking at my chest."

"And you want me to do what?"

"Watch yourself," said Anya firmly "Dumbledore was talking about hearing murmurs of Voldemort on the move again. He could have spies anywhere."

Dawn rolled her eyes.

"Like you would want to believe Dumbledore," she mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," said Dawn "If that's all can I go now?"

"Sure," replied Anya "I've already talked to the others."

Dawn turned to walk out.

"Oh, and Dawn?"

She turned back.

"Love the uniform."

"Thanks," she said with a grin and headed off to break.

Dawn found the Slytherin forth years and the Potentials chatting happily in the main quad. There were several people staring at them, half still amazed at the Potential's garb, the other half astonished that the Slytherins were talking to other house members.

"Hey," said Dawn sitting down next to Rona "Is anyone else hungry?"

There was a general murmur of consent among the girls – especially from Beth – so Dawn whipped out her wand and conjured a small, portable barbeque with hot buttered corn and backed potatoes with sour cream and chives. Even after their considerable breakfast Dawn had to conjure the round of vegetables twice more. Argus Filtch passed the girls four times before coming over to hand out a score of detentions. He was only stopped when Dawn offered him a sizeable cob and Mrs Norris a few fillets of smoked haddock. It looked to Dawn that the caretaker was about to cry and wondered if that was the first time in the fifty years he had worked at Hogwarts that a student, letter lone nine students had been nice to him. He hobbled off happily as the bell rang for second period, Amanda and Rona heading off for potions and charms and the others taking their time to care of magical creatures near the borders of the forbidden forest.

It was now the eighth day of Autumn and the girls were enjoying the sunshine on the walk to Hagrid's cabin. It didn't feel like a Monday to Dawn as the cool morning breeze ran over the baying grass, it felt more like a lazy Saturday on the middle of a long holiday with good friends and not a care in the world.

"Watch it Summers!"

Draco Malfoy had burst in-between Dawn and Elsie with a sniggering Crabbe and Goyle following behind. She stumbled forward nearly tripping over but was caught by Kennedy and Gilrean. Dawn's hand went straight to her wand and gripped it so tight the wood nearly splintered under her grasp.

"Forget him," sighed Elsie "You'll get used to it."

Dawn growled.

"I won't get used to it. He is such an immature little git."

The Slytherins stopped and Dawn turned to see what was the matter only to be crushed in a hail of delighted shrieks and painful hugs.

"What?" she choked as the ten arms crowded around her and Dawn was lifted off the ground several times in quick succession because of the excited jumping.

"You said git," screamed Pansy.

"So?" asked Dawn in midair.

"So it's your first true British word Dawn," called Beth from somewhere in the mix who was just a bit shorter then the other girls.

Dawn smiled. One simple word has just brought her even closer to her friends.

They saw the unmistakable form of Hagrid standing near the door to his cabin holding the colour of a huge, grey board hound. Behind him were several large crates that the dog was eager to look in and it seemed there was a small amount of charcoal smoke billowing out of them at certain intervals. The teacher was talking animatedly with a group of gathered Gryffindors, the foremost of which Dawn saw was the tragic trio.

"Hello Dawnie," cried Hagrid scattering Harry, Ron and Hermione but not seeming to notice.

They appeared half way through an important conversation with the Professor but on looking up he abandoned them to a directed glance of outright loathing shot at Dawn from the discarded Gryffindors.

"Hi Hagrid," said Dawn sticking her finger up at Harry, Ron and Hermione without looking at them, in a position where Hagrid couldn't see "What's in the boxes?"

Hagrid beamed and looked ad Dawn as though she was a baby dragon called Norbert.

"You jus wait'n see Dawnie, I've go' som'in special for ye' all today."

Dawn was genuinely excited but wondered at the looks of imminent doom and terror on the faces of every other student.

Kennedy went and joined two other Gryffindors called Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil taking Gilrean and Paige with her. Beth and Pansy were off at the boxes with Draco, Crabbe and Goyle which left Elsie and Dawn alone.

"What did Professor Jenkins want?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing much," answered Dawn lazily "Just reaffirming Moody's favourite saying."

"C'mon now everyone!' called Hagrid "Gather roun'."

"What are these things?" asked Draco in disgust.

Dawn squealed and Hermione Granger's hand shot into the air.

"D'you know Dawn?"

Dawn looked up astonished.

"Blast-Ended skrewts, but Hagrid, aren't they hard to find?"

Hagrid beamed and his eyes filled with tears of pride.

"Righ' yeh are on both counts Dawn. Had a bit o' trouble, er, acquire'n these, but got em ere none the less. Does anyone know where they come from?"

Hermione Granger's hand shot up again waving in front of the Professor's face but Hagrid didn't seem to notice it. The Gryffindor was on tiptoe and grunting with knowledgeable strain.

"They're,"

"They primarily come from South-East Asia," answered Dawn "Although they have been recently successfully bred in Africa and some Indonesian islands."

The class gaped at Dawn but she went on.

"They are a cross breed between manticores and fire crabs, first introduced into the Vietnamese jungle as a way of handling bowtruckle plagues. But because they were successful there in trials other ministry of magic departments for the regulation and control of magical creatures introduced them also."

Hermione Granger lowered her hand and fell back onto her heels with her bottom lip quivering.

"Blimey Dawn," said Hagrid shaking his head "Take thirty points for Slytherin."

Every student in care of magical creatures erupted in cheers and applause, all except Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy.

"Now there's enough ere for two to a skrewt," informed Hagrid "So choose yer pairs and get yer skrewt and try em at a bit o' food I laid out. Not quite sure wha' they'll enjoy so give em a bit o' each."

Dawn walked up to the crates with Elsie and unlike Draco who chose the biggest and meanest looking one there they selected the smallest and cutest looking – which for a blast-ended skrewt was rather hard.

"I don't know why he has to always have the biggest and best," said Elsie looking at Draco who was waving his skrewt under Ron Weasley's nose.

"I assure you its size issues," snorted Dawn.

Both of them sank into giggles.

Hagrid was walking between the groups giving instruction on the best way to handle the creatures and why it was good to be aware of the three hot spots: The stinger, the sucker and the end. A boy in Gryffindor called Dean Thomas found these the hard way when a skrewt's end exploded on his hand.

"What next?" asked Dawn who had managed to feed her and Elsie's skrewt everything Hagrid had laid out including the cardboard containers they were in.

The other groups however were not having so much luck. Hermione Granger was now at such an end to get hers to eat something that she was smooshing pig intestine randomly over the skrewt's body in hope of finding its mouth.

"Um," thought Elsie "Pie? I like pie."

Dawn wriggled her wand and produced two plates of steaming apple pie and ice-cream and a small blue bowl of the same with the name 'Arthur' on the side in gold lettering.

"Arthur?" asked Elsie thickly over her first spoonful of delicious desert.

Dawn placed the skrewt down next to the bowl and took up her own plate.

"I think he feels like an Arthur."

"Ere everybody," called Hagrid to the class "Come look."

The Gryffindors and Slytherins crowded around Dawn, Elsie and Arthur looking amazed.

"Isn't tha' sweet," beamed Hagrid "He's go' a little bowl and all."

"Adorable," drawled Draco.

Being the only two in the class to successfully feed the skrewts Hagrid dealt out another ten points to Slytherin. On hearing this Hermione put down her encrusted skrewt and her shaking handful of snail entrails.

The bell for lunch rang and the class heaved a collective sigh.

"Righ' then, just nip the skrewts back in their crates and you can go."

As Dawn and Elsie were putting Arthur away, Hagrid came over to them looking rather strange.

"What's wrong?" asked Dawn who noticed the tragic trio also staying around to find out.

"Nothin', nothin'," said Hagrid dismissively "I was just wonderin' if you might like to 'ave a cup o' tea and maybe some lemon cake with me is all."

Dawn saw Harry, Ron and Hermione's mouths drop.

"I'd love to," said Dawn who was convinced the tragic trio's mouths couldn't drop any further until she got the answer to her next question.

"Can Elsie come too?"

Hagrid beamed at the blonde Slytherin.

"O'couse, O'course, more the merrier I say."

"Hagrid!" snapped Harry with a glare.

"You three'll be righ' putin' them creates ova' by the pumpkin patch then. Bye now."

With that Dawn followed Hagrid into his hut and closed the door with a snap.

Dawn thought Hagrid's hut was kinda funky and so it seemed did Elsie. It was like a cosy little cottage only with everything fifteen sizes too big. Hagrid busied himself with the kettle and tin of cake while Dawn and Elsie each took an ear of Fang to scratch.

"Enjoyen' yourself then Dawn?" asked Hagrid "All yer teachers tell me you're doin' great in their classes. Just as good as Elsie here."

He smiled and handed them a cup of tea and they smiled back.

"Thanks, yeah," said Dawn admiring the bucket-sized china "I love it here."

"How about you Elsie? Enjoyen' the semester so far?"

"Yeah," said Elsie with a sip of tea "All except history of magic."

Hagrid laughed.

"Well its bin' tha' way since I went here."

They all talked for about half and hour, Hagrid asking Elsie how her father was who was a senior member of the Wizengamot.

"Good man yer father," he told her "Righ' decent wizard he is too, one o' the best Aurors the ministry had till the, er, well, yes… Dawnie have anotha' piece o' cake."

Hagrid went rather red and sorry looking and turned away from Elsie. She was looking sad and distant and Dawn thought it better not to push the subject any further at the moment.

When the two left Hagrid's they heard grunting coming from behind the hut and went to have a look. Peaking around the gathered stone they saw Harry, Ron and Hermione struggling to lift the crates into place. Just to be nice Dawn placed a weighing charm on the last box and giggled to herself. Elsie however wasn't paying that much attention.

All the way back to the castle Elsie was quiet but when Dawn asked what was wrong the Slytherin have an unconvincing excuse that she was fine but just a little tired.

They got back to the great hall halfway through lunch. There were about eight soups on the menu today and Dawn went for the chicken and French herb clear soup with plenty of crusty and thick buttered bread. All through lunch Dawn shot looks at her friend and watched as Elsie swirled her seafood chowder lazily around the bowl without taking a bite.

When the bell rang again Dawn pulled her to one side out of the stream of students heading for afternoon classes. She noticed the tragic trio being swept in the opposite direction obviously having missed lunch.

"What's wrong?" asked Dawn pleadingly.

Elsie was looking at her shoes and didn't answer.

"Elsie," said Dawn again putting a hand on her arm "I thought we were friends, I thought we could tell each other anything."

Elsie looked up with tears streaming down her face. She looked imploringly at Dawn and bit back a sob.

"Please not here, I don't want the others to see."

Dawn's heart raced at the pain she saw Elsie was going through but she respected the girl's wish. She rubbed Elsie's back and walked out with her arm around her on the way to class.

The Ravenclaw and Slytherin forth years were waiting outside the greenhouses when Elsie and Dawn turned up. By then the blonde girl had done a complete one-eighty and was acting like she had just gotten thirty-eight OWL's.

"Hey Dawn," said Amanda pulling out her dragon-hide gloves.

"Hey," said Dawn "I'm hoping there are no tendril plants in the lesson today."

She could remember only too well Rona's wayward plant and didn't want to repeat it; although she was now very skilled in wand work.

When the Professor turned up however and unlocked greenhouse four she informed the class they would be harvesting bubotuber pus. All the girls were not very pleased but the boys seemed rather excited. Sprout also told the class that there were only a limited number of plants and so people would have to share. Her mistake was also adding 'First come, first served' which meant a storm of eager bodies stampeding through the greenhouse door like a crazed pack of rhinoceroses.

The trays filled up quickly and being at the back of the line didn't help Dawn. By the time she got in the door there was only one place left and neither her nor the current occupant looked very pleased.

"One mean word to me Malfoy and I will curse your arms off and replace them with cactuses."

Draco scowled at Dawn.

"You could try Summers but that would require talent."

Dawn scowled at Draco.

"Right now class," called Sprout "Just pop the fluid sacks as you would a stubborn pimple."

Beth dry reached at the thought which wasn't helped by the vapours of the soon flowing pus. The air was quickly thick with the stench of petrol and most of the classes eyes were burning. Professor Sprout had summoned large fans to waft the fumes to the back of the class but having your gloves covered in the creamy goo didn't help.

"Sorry Summers," laughed Draco as he accidentally-deliberately splashed a large amount of the pus onto Dawn's working apron which fizzed and bubbled burning a hole in the fabric.

"No problem Draco," smiled Dawn whilst pointing her wand at Draco beneath the table and muttering a little something under her breath.

He was wondering why everyone was laughing at him as he went to get an empty beaker to fill but couldn't see what everyone else could: A sizeable sign magically stuck to his back saying 'I'm a really big dickhead'. Even Crabbe and Goyle were laughing but didn't dare to tell him in case Dawn did something worse to them.

When all the pus had been harvested there was still ten minutes left till the end of class and Professor Sprout let the students go and sit on the grass outside the greenhouses. The afternoon sun was warm and cheering and the only thing funnier then the sign on Draco Malfoy's back was watching him try to remove it after seeing the neon glare reflected in the greenhouse glass.

"You'll pay Summers," spat Malfoy as the red gleamed beneath his white hair.

"Bring it on bitch," yawned Dawn laying back on the grass in the sunshine.

Draco looked furious but stalked off without another word.


Dawn looked down at the green luminous hands of her watch and saw it was eleven fifty-eight. She was waiting behind the statue of a one-eyed witch in mortal fear of being caught but her fast rising rebellious streak was slightly outweighing it. She had arranged to do some castle patrolling with Rona, Kennedy and Amanda as a way of proactively making the halls safer while deliberately disobeying Dumbledore's wishes. The next minute slipped by and she still didn't hear the slightest sound of footsteps.

"HOLY CRAP! Amanda, you scared the hell out of me!"

Amanda had melted into view taking the chameleous charm off then removing the silencing shroud.

"Hi," she smiled "You realise if we're caught we'll be expelled."

"Yep," said Dawn.

"Then killed by Buffy."

"Yep," said Dawn.

"Then why are we doing this?"

"It's the Slytherin way," said Dawn.

Amanda nodded.

"Hang on!"

But she couldn't protest and in fact lost all the air in her lungs. Professor McGonagall was standing right in front of them. The two were about to die when the Professor started to glow and shrink leaving a flustered Kennedy standing there.

"Impressive," said Dawn.

Amanda was still stuck on petrified.

"How did you do it?" asked Dawn.

"Advancement glamour," said Kennedy "Auror level spells. Read about it ten minutes ago."

There was only one Potential left to come with six seconds to spare. As they looked up and down the hall they saw and heard nothing until the wall opposite them gave a sudden ripple like a stone being dropped in water and Rona stepped out.

"Displacement charm," she said before any of them could ask, seemingly very pleased with herself.

On Dawn's orders they left the hall to the relative safety of a third floor classroom. It happened to be the defence against the dark arts room which worked in their favour: The foe glass that was on the wall was a hazy blur of indistinct cloud.

"So what's the plan?" asked Kennedy who was excited as usual at the prospect of killing things.

"I figure a full castle sweep," said Dawn in military fashion "Astronomy tower to potions dungeon. We each take a,"

"Hang on," interrupted Amanda "We're splitting up?"

"Yes," nodded Dawn "Each of us takes a wing of the castle."

"No," shook the heads of the other three girls.

"We're going together," said Kennedy.

"That's right," added Rona "Cause knowing our luck we'll get done for being out of bed three hours after curfew and you'll get a goodnight's sleep."

"Fine," said Dawn "We'll stay together… Babies."

The comment didn't faze the Potentials though. They knew if they were four together instead of one alone it might only be twelve hundred days of detention then multiple expulsions.

Dawn opened the creaking door and looked into the hall. There was no sight or sound of anything so she turned back.

"Let's go."

Amanda's anxiety grew with each floor they passed. The tower rooms had nothing in them and the most interesting thing they found on the seventh floor was a room that contained a single table with a mace, a packet of heart medicine, a pink teddy bear and a stack of nude magazines on top. The girls were a little puzzled at this as that was what each were thinking about as they passed a length of bare wall but closed the door again without another thought which melted instantly back into a stone wall.

"That's worth looking into," said Kennedy "We might have to double back later."

Two more floors down and there hadn't even been a spider to squash. Dawn however had not lost her determination or enthusiasm. The Potentials had though.

"This will only end badly," said Kennedy without wavering though sounding like she was channelling Professor Trelawney.

"I agree," whispered Amanda "This isn't smart."

"You can't just stab things and hope they'll go away," added Rona like a true Huffelpuff "It takes hard work. What are we doing?"

Dawn stopped and looked at them.

Dawn:

Fighting fire with fire

The Potentials looked back at her with concern

Kennedy:

Watch out

You might get what you're after

Cool babies, strange but not a stranger

All:

Burning down the house

Dawn stuck her face on a defiant look of 'give me what you've got' and walked off again. She'd now pulled her wand out as though she would be duelling a hoard of dark wizards any second now.

Dawn:

Hold tight

Rona rolled her eyes.

Rona:

Wait till the party's over

Dawn looked sternly at her.

Dawn:

Hold tight

Amanda saw the Slytherins determination and shook her head.

Amanda:

We're in for nasty weather

Dawn:

There has got to be a way

All:

Burning down the house

The girls hid on the fifth floor behind a tapestry of a young viscountess as the Bloody Baron floated past looking very menacing as his silver blood stains glinted in the candle light. The four of them stepped onto a downwards staircase as it moved them from the North to the South corridor.

Dawn:

Here's your ticket pack your bags

Time for jumping overboard

The transportation is here

Kennedy stepped off looking thoroughly bewildered

Kennedy:

Close enough but not too far

Maybe you know where you are

Fightn' fire with fire

A flooded corridor signalled the group getting to the second floor. They were passing Moaning Myrtle's bathroom which they had already been well warned to stay away from. Dawn didn't mind though, Myrtle was already dead, she couldn't kill her again.

Amanda:

All wet

Kennedy laughed.

Kennedy:

Hey you might need a raincoat

Dawn:

Three hundred and six-ty five degrees

All:

Burning down the house

Six ghosts swept by them as they got to the great hall and several portraits grunted in their sleep as they walked past.

Dawn:

My house's

Out of the ordinary

Rona looked at her

Rona:

That's right

Don't wanna hurt nobody

Amanda:

Some things sure can sweep me off my feet

All:

Burning down the house

In the entrance hall the girls past a wall of headmasters and as Dawn looked at the sleeping Dumbledore it reaffirmed the message in her mind.

Dawn:

Fighting fire with fire

Rona:

Fighting fire with fire

Amanda:

Gonna burst into flame

Dawn:

Fighting fire with fire

Kennedy:

Fighting fire with fire

Amanda:

Gonna burst into flame

All:

Burning down the house

Before the girls left the entrance for the last corridor Dawn turned back to Dumbledore's portrait who's chest was raising and falling slowly.

Dawn:

No visible means of support and you have not seen nothin' yet

Fighting fire with fire

"You know I was just being rhetorical back there," said Rona with a smile.

They were now in Huffelpuff corridor so downcast at the non-appearance of dark creatures that the four of them were drooping along not caring for secrecy or the slightest thread of stealth. Kennedy was lazily running her hand over the left wall not caring when she met a portrait and even if she resultantly poked several occupants in the eye or ear.

"Can you hear something?" asked Dawn stopping.

She pushed her ear to the wall and listened. There was a faint sound of talking. She followed it along until she came to a large portrait of a bowl of fruit then passing over it went to the other side.

"It's coming from behind here."

Kennedy was ignoring her and slowly ran her finger

over the fruit. The yellow pear in the centre giggled then turned into a shiny silver doorknob.

"Good work Kennedy," said the three others.

"What?" asked Kennedy.

Dawn put her hand on the cool metal and turned and pushed.

Elf:

They got…The mustard… OUT!

All:

They got the mustard out

The four girls paused in horror at the shirt wielding demons.

"AAAHHH!..."

"AAAHHH!..."

"AAAAAAHHHHHH!"

The screams of the creatures were drowned out by the yells of the spells and bangs and crashes of colliding hexes. Jets of flame and coloured light shot over the kitchen upending tables and reducing pots and pans to dust.

"REDUCTO!"

"STUPEFY!"

"IMPEDIMENTA!"

"CARASARA!"

The things fled for their lives banging into each other and falling over chairs in the process. One saw an opening in the door and ran for it.

"Get it," screamed Dawn "Kill the demon before it gets out."

Rona aimed a stunning spell at it but it missed and blew a sizeable hole in the wall.

"After it!"

"ACCIO!"

Four summoning charms rang out and weapons flew to the hands of the girls from coats of armour around the room; they wanted to do the killing the old fashioned way. Dawn led the way out of the kitchen closing and hexing the door shut when everyone was out.

By the time they left the corridor the creature was at the top of the marble staircase. Kennedy threw her broadsword at it which missed by a hair and sunk into the banister to its hilt.

"C'mon," yelled Dawn "Get it!"

They chased it through three floors still unleashing axe, dagger, javelin and spell at it but always just missing, with it yelling something about 'Leave Dobby alone' every few steps.

"What is it?" puffed Rona.

"A demon," said Amanda.

"But what kind?"

"It keeps saying Dobby," yelled Dawn "Maybe it's a Dobby demon."

They were now at the forth floor and closing in. It was getting tired and looked frantically both ways at an intersection of halls.

"Sir, save Dobby sir," it cried turning to the right.

"We've got it," shouted Dawn triumphantly "We've,"

But they hadn't. As they rounded the corner after the Dobby demon all four of them fell to the floor in terrible shock, slinking backwards in terror. The thing was cowering behind the leg of a tall dark figure. Who had caught them out of bed at three in the morning but the headmaster of Hogwarts… Albus Dumbledore.


You run to your door. One hundred heavily armed henchmen of your arch nemesis are three feet from you. You jam the key in the lock. It breaks. You fall back in tears as the baddies draw their weapons.

"Help me sonofgloin," you cry aloud "Help me."

You then hear an almost godlike voice whisper:

"sonofgloin only rescues those that review him."

Which path do you choose to take?

§- sonofgloin