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 have given a rating of PG due to a swear words,
adult themes and some violence.
This rating may be increased for later chapters.
It has been one hundred years since my last update (I am a fan of exaggeration) and I apologise profusely to all those that enjoy this story. Thankyou to all my reviewers, and now that I am on a three week break from university there will hopefully be a lot more posts.
§ - sonofgloin
The doors of the hospital wing crashed open.
"Poppy!"
The matron bustled out of her office looking scandalised but this soon turned to horror.
"Severus, Severus what's happened?"
"Later Poppy, help me!"
Professor Snape was at the doors of the ward with Dawn in his arms. She was still unconscious and horribly burned. Snape still had the length of wood through his torso and was struggling under the weight of his injuries and his student.
"We have to get the headmaster-,"
"There's no time," growled Snape "Poppy I'm dropping her."
Madam Pomfrey took out her wand and levitated Dawn to a bed. When Dawn had left his arms Snape collapsed to his hands and knees, the blood still streaming from his head and dripping from his mouth; He knew he had a punctured lung. The potion's master gasped for air and rolled onto his side, a pool of scarlet blood running out of him in an ever widening circle.
"Locomotor."
Madam Pomfrey now floated Professor Snape to a bed, who too had lost consciousness.
"This will hurt Severus."
She took hold of the steak and reefed it out. Snape roared back to awareness gasping for air.
"Help her," Snape demanded holding Poppy back "I'm fine."
"Stop it Severus," demanded Madam Pomfrey "I have to stop this bleeding."
"NO!" he yelled.
"Anethious!"
Snape's head lolled to the side and he fell asleep under the charm. With a few taps of her wand Snape's cuts here healed but Dawn needed the attention again. Madam Pomfrey went to her bed and gasped. Dawn was so horribly burned by the chemicals that she was nearly unrecognisable. The liquids had combined into a caustic acid boiling all her exposed skin. Poppy didn't know what to do but remove her soaked clothes; the potions were already seeping through the fibres making destructive holes and tearing at Dawn's flesh.
An hour passed and the matron still worked alone. Snape's internal injuries were healed and he was cleaned up and resting comfortably, it was Dawn that was causing the most problems. No matter what Madam Pomfrey tried her scars wouldn't disappear; the flesh was red raw and weeping terribly. It smelled like burning rubber and had begun to turn black.
"Poppy?"
The matron looked up terrified.
"Dumbledore, I-I can't stop it."
The headmaster walked up to her placing his hands on her shoulder.
"The poisons have entered her system; I don't know what to do Albus."
"Calm yourself, do what you can."
The life sphere used by all healers to measure a sick patient's wellbeing was glowing very palely. In a healthy person it would be as bright as a light globe. Dawn didn't stir or move or even seem to breathe, then all of a sudden the sphere went black as night.
"Albus," gasped Poppy "She's dead."
Dawn opened her eyes and was in terrible pain. All she could see was the roof which was light-green and very clean looking. She couldn't hear anything, or didn't think she could. Everything was a blur. Then everything flowed back in quick succession. Snape, Occlumency, the visions, the blood. Dawn sat up and gasped which was a big mistake. Her head spun and every molecule of her hurt.
"She's awake," said a voice "Get a healer."
"Why is it that every time we leave you alone you seem to end up in hospital?"
Five worried faces looked at Dawn as she lay in bed at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.
"What are you-," said Dawn in a dry, raspy voice but couldn't say anymore if she wanted to; she was exhausted.
"Shh," said Elsie who looked paler then anyone "Don't try to talk."
The six just sat in silence, Dawn's friends gathered around her on chairs.
"We wanted to come when we heard but Dumbledore made us wait."
Dawn's brow furrowed.
"What day is it?" she asked painfully.
"It's Saturday night honey," said Gilrean "You've been unconscious for three days."
Something in the back of Dawn's head clicked on for no apparent reason.
"Saturday, Paige," she breathed "Your birthday."
Dawn tried to sit up more but she was held down.
"Don't be silly," said Paige "That's not important, we've been here all day watching over you. I'd nearly forgotten about it, good one."
Dawn managed a weak smile.
"Oh," she whimpered "What did your grandma get you?"
"I haven't opened any presents," said Paige "So I'm really hoping it was nothing alive."
Dawn giggled then coughed.
"I've ruined your day," she said with watery eyes "I'm sorry."
"Don't be a git," smiled Paige "I'm just glad you're okay. That's more then enough of a present."
The ward wizard came with Dawn's medication which she was happy to find tasted like pumpkin juice. By now the healers had managed to reduce Dawn's chemical burns to a deep, red tinge and by all accounts the girls had given Dawn from Dumbledore she was glad her friends hadn't seen her straight away. At seven o'clock the apprentice healer came in to check over Dawn to a general call of "Hello salty goodness". The medication kicked in and Dawn felt about half a percent better.
"How did I get here?"
"Dumbledore," said Elsie in a shaky voice when none of the girls seemed to want to answer "Madam Pomfrey couldn't help, he said your heart even stopped. When that happened he turned your bed into a portkey and brought you here."
Dawn hated she was thankful for Dumbledore saving her but at the moment she was too tired and weak to manage a scowl.
Dawn didn't have her wand with her so when the dinner trolley clattered by she was very wary. Fortunately she found she didn't have to skip the meal because everything was delicious which contradicted everything she knew about hospital food. The ward witch even found five spare plates which meant Elsie, Pansy, Gilrean, Paige and Beth could stay for dinner too. While the others were engulfing their baked dinners with thick, rich gravy Dawn was only allowed a small bowl of chicken-noodle soup. She slurped it disdainfully but was rather enjoying it.
"Have I missed much?" asked Dawn halfway through her meal while eyeing off Beth's baked potato – her apatite had at least managed to come back.
"Not much," said Pansy over a mouthful of beef "It's been rather quiet actually."
"So no one's missing me?"
"Amanda, Rona and Kennedy are," said Elsie who hadn't really touched her meal "They were in the office when Dumbledore told us five. They were pretty cut up by it but for some reason he wouldn't let them come."
Dawn would have been a lot more vocal about this point but she was distracted by the fact Beth had seen her looking at her potato and without a second thought – or the better advice of the healer – had forked it and stuck it in Dawn's bowl with a friendly smile.
"How are we feeling Miss Summers?"
Dawn's healer had walked into the room with a big grin. Hippocrates Smethwyck must have been in his late seventies with rather thick glasses perched precariously on the end of his stubby looking nose.
"Okay," said Dawn pushing her empty bowl across the table.
On the entrance of the healer the girls stopped eating, well, all except Beth. Hippocrates moved hand and wand over Dawn looking in her eyes and up her nose and even checking the toes on both feet.
"Will she be okay?" asked Elsie nervously.
The healer looked at Elsie and smiled warmly.
"Your friend will be fine dear, took six of us to bring her back don't you know, can't go and let her die now can we?"
Dawn felt oddly comforted by this.
The chain-watch the healer was wearing chimed as loudly as a grandfather clock.
"Ah, it is seven-thirty; Minerva McGonagall should be here soon to pick you all up."
Dawn's heart sank. She didn't want her friends to go but she didn't have the strength to stand up to the Hogwarts deputy headmistress. No sooner has the healer left when Professor McGonagall walked into Dawn's room shaking off a vulture shaped umbrella.
"Good evening girls, Dawn," she smiled.
"Hello Professor," droned the six knowing what her arrival meant.
The Slytherin's looked so sad that it seemed each of them could burst into tears any moment. Dawn wanted nothing more then her friends to stay. It was Elsie that spoke though.
"Can we stay a little longer Professor?"
McGonagall sighed but not in a terse way, more somewhere between sympathy and an inability to disobey her orders.
"I'm afraid not, Miss Evans," she said "Professor Dumbledore has requested that you all accompany me back to school tonight."
Elsie nodded sadly. The girls turned to Dawn with their head bowed.
"Well, bye then," whispered Beth in a defeated sort of way.
Each of them took it in turns to give Dawn a hug but she was more interested in McGonagall. The Professor was shifting her weight and balling her hands uncomfortably. As Elsie gave Dawn a kiss on the cheek Minerva McGonagall broke.
"Oh alright," she sniffed reaching for her tartan handkerchief and dabbing at her eyes like Gryffindor had just won the Quidditch cup "You can all stay the night, but you will be returning to school with me tomorrow morning."
The six girl's faces broke into a wall of glistening white teeth.
"You mean it?" shrieked Pansy.
"Yes Miss Parkinson. Now stop jumping before you do yourself an injury."
Pansy calmed down.
"I'll arrange everything with the ward witch-,"
"What about Dumbledore?" asked Dawn from behind her friends.
Professor McGonagall didn't even seem to falter.
"He'll see reason," she said "Now wait here."
McGonagall walked you of the room and the girls beamed. The fact that her friends would be staying with her even for one night made Dawn happier then she had been in a long time.
There wasn't enough space in Dawn's room to conjure five beds so the ward wizards did some quick wand work and summoned two lounges, to recliners, and a fluffy green beanbag. In the tussle for best real-estate Beth landed the beanbag when she tripped over Pansy missing the biggest lounge.
"I'll be back at nine o'clock in the morning for you all," demanded McGonagall "I want you all to be ready by then, understood?"
The girls nodded innocently but Dawn would have bet a galleon – if she had one – that the girls wouldn't be ready before noon.
The rest of the night wasn't filled with anything particularly interesting but Dawn was still glad for the company. The light drizzle that was falling when Professor McGonagall had come and gone had grown steadily heavier and the six were sitting under warm blankets contentedly listening to the wireless wizarding network. Dawn's head started to droop around ten as the Weird Sisters sang like sirens of near sleep.
"I don't know about you guys," she said tiredly "But I'm going to sleep."
There was no answer. As Dawn looked around she saw that Elsie, Pansy, Paige, Beth and Gilrean were already all asleep and she was quick to follow.
CRACK-BOOM
Dawn started awake as a tear of lightening streaked across the dark sky. She had been having a dream of indistinct shapes and colours that made her feel sick and was just glad that she had been woken by the storm. The other girls were still fast asleep with Beth curled up like a little puppy on her beanbag. Dawn had a very dry throat and reached for the water jug beside her bed. As she did she gasped.
"Who's there?"
Silhouetted by the window was a tall dark shape. It moved forward into the lantern light and Dawn's brow furrowed.
"Professor Snape?"
Severus Snape walked into the light looking extremely grave. His skin seemed paler then usual and indeed looked like someone had died.
"What-," Dawn began quietly.
"It's my fault."
"What's your fault?" asked Dawn sitting up painfully.
Professor Snape stepped amongst the makeshift beds to stop beside Dawn. He looked at her sadly.
"This," he said simply.
Dawn was confused.
"You didn't do this."
"Yes I did," said Snape "If I had not taught you, this would not have happened."
"I wanted to learn," pleaded Dawn.
"And I allowed it," said Snape looking mournfully at her.
He sat on a stool net to Dawn's bed.
"You couldn't have known that would happen," said Dawn.
"And I still don't know why it did," added Snape resting his hands on Dawn's mattress and looking at the floor.
Dawn looked passed him to the window where heavy rain spattered against the glass and the faint glow of the street lamps illuminated the slight frost.
"You nearly died," whispered Snape not looking at Dawn "You did die."
Dawn saw his grey hands shaking on the bedclothes, clenched together with pain and anger. She took her hand from beneath the covers and placed it gently on top of his. He looked up immediately, tormented grief looking at her from every inky depth. She smiled softly at him.
"I won't let you blame yourself Professor."
She squeezed his hand slightly not looking away.
"It wasn't your fault."
Snape was far from believing her but he seemed to accept her word.
Beth snorted and both of them jumped. Snape stood, moving back towards the window. They didn't say another word and as he passed into the shadow again he disappeared with a small pop.
Dawn had to spend another full week in hospital. She wouldn't have minded but no sooner had she regained consciousness and the school week began that she received daily owls from Hogwarts carrying truckloads of homework. Professor Flitwick had even sent along a crate of crows and toads so that Dawn could practice her silencing charms. A more animated howler came from Buffy demanding that Dawn never take advanced potions classes again or she would give Dumbledore permission to let her stay dead – She wasn't quite sure how she heard this story – but her favourite packages were the boxes and boxes of chocolates, flowers and the toilet seat from the Weasley twins, that had arrived from students of Hogwarts wishing her well. Dawn was surprised to see packages not only from Slytherin but the other houses also, although she was quick to notice no such presents from the tragic trio or Draco Malfoy.
She was just biting into her last chocolate frog when Elsie, Gilrean and Professor McGonagall walked through the door on Saturday morning. Dawn was so glad to be going home she didn't even care that the Professor was scowling at her for not being packed.
"How are you feeling?" asked Gilrean giving Dawn a tight hug.
"Good as new," said Dawn turning to Elsie.
She then looked at McGonagall with open arms.
"You don't want one?" she asked mildly.
Dawn caught only the slightest fleck of the professor's smirk.
"I'm afraid not," answered McGonagall "But I do have something for you."
Her hand dove into her bag and pulled out a wand.
"Oh, thank god," growled Dawn rolling her eyes with glee "I so didn't want to pack."
She took the wand off the professor and in a quick swish her bag was packed and floating along in front of her, with the room cleaned and redecorated for good measure.
Her saddest farewell was to apprentice healer Augustus Pye, but she was soon reminded by Elsie of Cedric Digory and other as equally as delicious sixth years. As they neared the exit to the hospital Dawn asked how they were getting back to Hogwarts.
"We've been taking the Knight Bus," said Gilrean "That's why the others aren't here. Even Beth's stomach had a bit of trouble getting over the last trip."
Dawn frowned.
"Sounds great."
The four of them stepped out into the cool September morning being swept up in a storm of foot traffic. Seeing they were back in muggle London there was to be strictly no magic which meant lugging Dawn's trunk through numerous puddles and icy rain to a secluded enough spot for the Knight Bus to be stopped. Elsie, Dawn and Gilrean dropped the trunk four times – three of which were on Elsie's foot – and they only kept up with the Professor because of the large green hat she was wearing.
"This should do," said McGonagall.
THUMP
The girls looked up at her dejectedly, gasping for air and holding their stitched sides. Professor McGonagall stuck out her wand and with a loud snap the Knight Bus screeched to a halt. Unfortunately it had screeched to a halt in a sizeable puddle leaving the four of them soaked to the skin. Dawn thought it would be an understatement to say McGonagall wasn't happy.
"Ello all," said a pimply faced boy who looked about sixteen to Dawn.
McGonagall breathed through her nose like a territorial dragon pushing the silver so forcibly into the boy's chest he banged into the purple vehicle and stepped on without a word. Dawn was amazed by the triple-decker bus looking up at its streaky windows through the pelting rain.
"Come along girls!" snapped McGonagall.
"I'll get that for you," said the boy to Dawn "Hello Gilrean."
She rolled her eyes.
"Hello Stanley."
He grunted and heaved trying to lift the trunk.
"Do you need some help?" asked Dawn.
"GIRLS!"
"I'm fine," assured Stan in a strained gasp with his legs wobbling and the sound of more then one joint cracking "Bye Gilrean."
Dawn, Gilrean and Elsie stepped onto the bus.
"Who is he?" asked Dawn.
"Stan Shunpike," sighed Gilrean.
Elsie giggled and Gilrean glared at her.
"He has a thing for me."
Dawn blanched.
"You poor thing."
"Don't worry," assured Gilrean taking off her coat "He might not get it but he is definitely not my type."
All three levels of the Knight Bus were decked out with mismatched tables and even more mismatched chairs. Because it was Saturday morning the transport was particularly crowded. As a result Professor McGonagall was perched haphazardly on a high chair at the front of the second level with the three Slytherins being squeezed into an ironing board sized table at the back of the third. While Elsie was on a bar stool and Gilrean was quickly sinking into a poof, Dawn was trying not to slip off the banana shaped inflatable pool toy she had been seated at.
"You might want to hold on," said Elsie and Gilrean in unison.
"Wha-AHHH!"
The Knight Bus shot off like a proverbial bullet with Dawn landing on her back with her feet somewhere over her head.
"Are you okay?" asked Elsie offering Dawn a hand while using the other to hold on for dear life.
"Fine," growled Dawn "But this driver won't be."
Dawn stumbled back to her banana and looked out the window.
"Where are we?"
A moment ago they had been in a rainy muggle London and now they seemed to be rocketing down a desert track.
"My guess is Egypt," said Gilrean as the bus stopped at the feet of the sphinx then rocketed off again just as quickly leaving Dawn on the floor again.
After her second dive Dawn exchanged the banana for a U-shaped couch that assured all three of them would not go flying anywhere else anytime soon.
"Hey," said a voice "You can't go changing the furniture."
Dawn looked up at the conductor.
"Oh hi Gilrean."
"Hello Stan," grunted Gilrean angrily as Dawn and Elsie nudged her.
Distracted by the dark haired girl he asked would the girls like their complementary bag of peanuts.
"No thanks," said Dawn "We're good."
She wiped out her wand again and conjured a boiling pot of tea with fine china cups and sauces. To go along with this she added a huge plate of teacake, coffee biscuits and hot scones with raspberry jam and thick, clotted cream.
"Bye then Stan," said Dawn blandly as she picked up the pot to serve.
Five minutes later the conductor spoke over the loud speaker announcing the order of stops. None of them were particularly happy to hear it would be a forty-five minute ride.
With better seating though Dawn found the journey semi-bearable. The point she emphasised was that she was seeing most of the country she would otherwise not have a chance to visit. They had just let off a plump red-haired lady at a five story house that looked to only be held up by magic, with a pigpen and an unusually large amount of garden gnomes running around, when Dawn shared a thought.
"I was thinking about something," she said.
Elsie took a sip of tea as Gilrean fished in hers with a spoon for a lump of biscuit that had fallen in from too much dunking.
"I hate it when that happens."
"Yeah me too," dismissed Dawn quickly "I was thinking about Paige's birthday."
"You missed it hon, remember?" said Gilrean.
"You don't think she has delayed amnesia do you?" joked Elsie.
"Shut up," pouted Dawn "I was thinking of doing something for her, sort of a belated party. Have you guys done anything?"
Gilrean coughed in her cup.
"No," said Elsie patting the Slytherin on the back "We were thinking a dinner or something when you got back. Paige didn't mention anything. She hasn't even opened her presents."
Dawn felt extra horrible now.
"That settles it then," she said picking up a custard tart "We'll have a party, but lets make it a surprise, can one of you occupy her somehow?"
"Shouldn't be a problem," nodded Gilrean biting into a new biscuit "When were you thinking we could have it?"
"ASAP," said Dawn "Maybe next Friday night?"
"Sounds good," said Elsie "I can't wait… Oh, just don't tell Pansy, she can't keep a secret."
Dawn nodded and the three chinked their glasses together at the beginnings of a well hatched plan.
"Come along," bristled Professor McGonagall "We're the next stop."
There was one scone left and Dawn offered it graciously to the flustered and hungry looking McGonagall.
"Thankyou Miss Summers," she said in a voice that could be deemed cheerful for her "That Stan Shunpike was trying to palm off some ragged old nuts and tap water to me."
She bit into the scone and closed her eyes.
"Honestly," she said thickly "We don't pay our money to have rubbish thrown at us that's older then me."
Dawn wasn't exactly sure how old that could be but simply nodded and smiled agreeably knowing only too well the wrath of a woman being asked her age. The four moved to the front of the bus and stood near the driver. When the Knight Bus stopped not a chandelier hanging from the roof even swayed. Dawn then noticed the driver looking at the headmistress who had her hand firmly around her wand.
"Bye Gilrean," called Stan Shunpike from the vehicle as the four stepped out into the rain.
Gilrean turned and shouted something at the boy but it was drowned out by the roaring of the motor and the screeching of the tyres as it headed off to Kent. Back at Hogwarts Dawn could float her trunk gracefully along before her then realised it could make a nice umbrella so floated it above them then huddled under it with her friends.
The grounds were empty because of the weather and the rain had been so heavy here the lake had almost grown half its size again. They were thankful to get inside and were welcomed by a few students including Hannah Abbot, Susan Bones and the three Potentials. Amanda, Rona and Kennedy jumped on Dawn and hugged her silly not perturbed by the soaking attire leaking on to them.
"Don't you ever do that again," yelled Amanda thankfully.
"Good to have you back," said Rona.
Kennedy just held on for dear life.
"Could you imagine what Buffy would have done to us if you died," she said finally when they broke apart.
Dawn's happiness came down a notch. Dawn dried them off in an instant but McGonagall kept her for a moment for her orders.
"You are to report to Madam Pomfrey tonight for a check-up by healer Smethwyck's orders."
"Yes Professor," said Dawn blandly.
"Very well," sighed McGonagall "Off you go."
It was only half an hour until lunch so the welcome party separated and made plans to get together in the great hall.
"I'll save you's a seat," said Kennedy "The others won't mind changing tables for one meal."
Dawn thought of the tragic trio's faces and couldn't wait.
When they got to the Slytherin corridor there was a lot of commotion coming from ahead of them. It sounded like scuffling feat mixed with the indignant growls of elderly lawn bowls players.
"What is it?" asked Gilrean but her question was answered as soon as they got to Esmeralda's portrait.
"DAWN!"
A shrieking Dilys Derwent was beaming down as the Slytherin with tears in her eyes. Dawn however looked back with amazement. Three weeks ago when she walked into Dumbledore's office after the house elf incident she was sure not one of the room's inhabitants would ever speak to her again. Now however it seemed that every Hogwarts headmaster was squeezed into Esmeralda's frame. Armando Dippet and Everard Hopgood were seated on the floor near to being trampled by their peers. Even so they looked horribly delighted to see Dawn.
"How are you dear?" yelled Dilys to a wave of agreeable murmurs.
"I'm fine," said Dawn simply, a little overwhelmed at the turnout.
"When we heard what happened we were frightfully worried," continued the old healer "I popped into my other frame no less then eight times while you were away to get updates for Dumbledore."
"We were all in a right state," chirped in Armando "Couldn't sleep-,"
"Couldn't eat," added Everard dodging a knee from a portly looking monk.
"But as long as you are alright now dear," said Dilys as though she were talking to a person that had started to go deaf.
"I am," assured Dawn even turning around on the spot "Good as new."
There were too many faces to count in the portrait –not to mention a very red in the face, suffocated looking Esmeralda – but Dawn did notice one missing entity.
"I see one person was too busy to come."
"What's that dear?" asked Dilys a little confused.
Dawn smirked a little.
"Old Phineaus isn't here."
Dilys actually laughed out loud.
"Yes he is," she said is comical and distinctly victorious sing-song voice.
Her cardigan covered arm reached into the back of the pack and her concentration was openly displayed by the tongue between her teeth. Her face changed to triumph as she clearly took hold of something.
Dawn had to bite back her laughter as Phineaus Nigellus was reefed to the foreground of the portrait and pushed forcibly into the front of the frame. The cherry for Dawn was the piece of violently pink cardboard he held dejectedly in his hands that he had obviously been forced to make himself. Across the retina-burning colour was written in thick purple letters:
'WELCOME BACK DAWN, WE MISSED YOU!'
"It's beautiful Phineaus," said Dawn in an Oscar winning performance for best actress in a supporting roll "It means so much."
She wiped away a tear and gave a dramatic smile and elated convulsion. Phineaus simply scowled down his nose at the girl and when Dilys finally let him go he slumped and stalked out of frame.
"We best be off," groaned Armando getting to his feet with a few creaks and cracks.
A muffled female call of approval filtered up from somewhere beneath the sea of bodies.
"Really?" asked Dawn.
"I'm afraid so," sighed Dilys "There's always some sort of business to attend to, we just wanted to see you back safely."
One by one the headmasters filtered out and at the bottom of the stack very crumpled and dishevelled in her chair was Esmeralda.
"Password?" she croaked.
As the smell of ceder and leather filled Dawn's senses she knew she was home. The feeling was warm and comfortable and the prickling heat from the hearth as it touched her skin made her smile. It was a miserable day outside so the common room was unusually full for a Saturday. People from first year to seventh were sprawled over desks or rugs or lounges gossiping about the latest Huffelpuff scandal and the best way to let the whole school in on it. Some were painfully going through a mountain of homework while transfiguring a cup into a toucan. Most however were simply relaxing with friends discussing the upcoming Triwazard Tournament. All this changed when Dawn came in. If Slytherin's didn't drop everything and come to give Dawn a hug or wish her well they were sure to call out and wave from some corner of the room.
Crabbe and Goyle muffled hello over a few choc-chip muffins Vincent's mum had sent from home, but there was no such greeting from Draco Malfoy who had his head buried in the Weekend Prophet. A girl called Millicent Bullstrode even gave Dawn a box of Honeydukes best chocolate on her way up the stairs.
When the forth year girls' dorm opened there was a storm of shrieks and hugs to match the violent weather outside. Paige roped herself around Dawn's shoulders, Beth gripped at her middle and Pansy had attached herself to Dawn's left leg.
"Welcome back honey," squeaked Paige which soon turned to a scream as the four of them tried to move at once resulting in a heap of adolescent girls on the floor.
"She just got out of St Mungo's," said Elsie as she and Gilrean helped to untangle the mess "We don't want her to go straight back."
With the five others helping, Dawn's things were away in no time and the smell and sight of lunch was only feet away. As the six entered the great hall Huffelpuff, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw were as eager as the Slytherins to welcome Dawn back. Gryffindor table was completely full with a mix of the four house colours and true to her word Kennedy had saved six seats for the Slytherin girls.
"Alright Dawn?" grinned Fred Weasley "Get our gift?"
"It was lovely," said Dawn rolling her eyes "I'll have to start a collection."
The twins laughed and looked as though they just made a mental note to get on her next addition straight after lunch.
At twelve-thirty the food materialised with pizza on the menu. There was everything from plain cheese to nothing but anchovies. Dawn chose the latter. She was so happy she didn't think anything could burst her bubble.
"Where are we going to sit Harry?"
Dawn put down her goblet of butterbeer to see Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger sidle in and look awkwardly at their house table.
"Hiya Harry," called George Weasley waving at him with a slice of ham and pineapple.
"Er, hi George. There's no chance we can squeeze in is there?" the boy asked looking at the other house editions.
The whole table went quiet.
Dawn looked between the three then at the other Gryffindors who looked anywhere but at Harry. Then Kennedy opened her mouth. She stood up a little to see over heads and looked around.
"There's room at the Huffelpuff table," she said blandly sucking a piece of meat out of her teeth. The tragic trio's faces dropped looking around for support… None came.
"Oh, okay, right then," said Harry defeated.
The three turned and walked to the Huffelpuff table. As soon as their bottoms hit the seat the conversation broke out again at the Gryffindor table though they had never been interrupted.
On her sixth slice Dawn looked over to them and saw that they sat at the table practically alone eating what was left of the pizzas which was mostly celery and asparagus. The only others at the table were from Huffelpuff: a forth year boy who had developed a contagious rash from a cauldron spill in potions and an impressive looking sixth year girl who had contracted the rash from the forth year boy. Dawn turned back to her anchovy pizza and concluded this was her best day yet.
Monday morning brought classes back in full swing and a brief appearance of the sun. Care of Magical Creatures apart from being muddy brought about Hagrid telling the class that two of the blast ended skrewts had mysteriously disappeared overnight. It was then that Dawn and Elsie noticed how much bigger Arthur had seemed to become. In transfiguration Dawn vanished her badger on the first attempt which she and McGonagall were delighted by until they realised it has escaped. They found it again as it swung from Draco Malfoy's leg as he ran around the room screaming from where it bit him. History of Magic had blended so seamlessly from giant wars to goblin rebellions that the majority of the class didn't wake up. Some interesting developments arrived in defence against the dark arts when Professor Moody displayed the next set of jinxes to the class. It culminated in Andrew becoming a green, four-humped camel and Anya yelling at Moody about plagiarising her idea with the Egyptian farmer in 284AD. She covered this quickly though by pointing out the unusual shape of the camel's genitals.
The last class before dinner was potions. Most were starving after the long cold day and seeing as today's lesson involved stirring a cauldron every eight minutes there wasn't much to keep their minds off their growling stomachs.
Dawn rested her chin in her hand stirring the black gulping liquid while staring off into space. Professor Snape hadn't even yelled at Harry Potter today and the worst thing the said to Nevil Longbottom was 'This is even below your usual standard'. She was looking at the potions master without really taking him in. He sat at his desk with his head down marking preliminary NEWT papers for his seventh year class.
"He's acting a bit strange today isn't he?... Dawn?"
Elsie spoke to her but she didn't notice.
"Dawn," said Elsie again nudging her a little.
"Sorry, what?" asked Dawn sleepily, putting down her spoon and looking at the blonde girl.
"Snape," said Elsie nodding in his direction "He's, sad or something."
"He's always sad," Dawn pointed out.
"No," said Beth quietly joining in the conversation from an adjacent table "He's usually moody, or brooding-,"
"Or conniving, calculating, pensive," added Pansy, Beth's partner.
They all looked at him.
"Yeah" said Elsie "He's never, well, he's never sad."
Snape didn't even move from his table as copious amounts of orange smoke billowed from Nevil Longbottom's cauldron.
"Something's up," Elsie finalised "Non-Gryffindor bashing Snape is well, well it's just plain scary."
The bell rang for the end of class.
"Take a sample of your potion and bring it to me for marking," called Snape without looking up "Then you may go."
The class did as he said. Dawn packed the ingredients away as Elsie corked the bottle and went to the front of the room. As Dawn picked her bag up and threw it over her shoulder all she could do was sigh.
That night there was no hot shower and early bed for the Slytherin forth years as it signalled the first Astronomy lesson of the year. Dawn was all excited about the fact they would be going to the top of the Western tower – the tallest turret and highest point at Hogwarts – at midnight but her enthusiasm wavered as she stuck her arm out of the dorm window to see if she would need a coat and her arm became a solid mass of frozen tissue. She pulled it back in and closed the curtains.
"You're freek'n kidding me."
The girls laughed.
"It's not that cold," observed Beth as she pulled on a thin jumper.
"Hello Beth," growled Dawn through chattering teeth "I'm from California, 100 degrees is cold there."
Beth looked at Elsie.
"Fahrenheit honey."
Beth nodded and smiled.
On the way out Dawn insisted that she was sick but the girls grabbed her but not before Dawn grabbed a blanket or two. On the stairs they ran into the Slytherin forth year boys which resulted in a tussle for first to the bottom.
"Nice blanket," sniffed Draco as Dawn held one right up to her nose.
"Nice personality," returned Dawn lowering it just long enough to retort.
The girls refused to leave though while Dawn had the coverings so in the end she could do nothing but drop them and pout all the way to the astronomy tower.
Dawn knew they were getting close even before they were there. The portraits of dignified wizards and forgetful trolls gave was to planetary and galaxy systems. Dawn counted past Pluto and Saturn with its icy moons and wondered if she waved at the picture of the revolving earth whether she would be able to see herself in it. They got to Mercury and the sun and then a solid looking door with a brass plaque that read 'Astronomy tower'.
Draco Malfoy pushed on the door at exactly midnight and instead of opening it dissolved like adding salt to water. The room in front of them was completely black and there didn't even seem to be a sound coming from it.
"Ladies first," said Malfoy waving his hand at the opening.
"Please," said Beth pushing him out of the way "You act like we've never had an astronomy lesson before."
Dawn followed in behind making sure not to be more then two steps in front or behind or next to anyone. It may not have been her friends' first time in the pitch black, soundless, and distinctly horror movie feeling room at midnight, but it was hers. The first thing she noticed was how dark it was. She indeed thought that if anyone asked what the colour black smelt like she could point them in the direction of the astronomy tower.
"Where's Professor Sinistra?" Dawn asked but no one had a chance to answer.
A wave of colour and tumultuous wind swept across the class. All Dawn could remember seeing was the red eye of Jupiter and the rings of Uranus before the class was swept out of the Milky Way galaxy all together. As fast as they left, the scene slowed with visions of local galaxies then sped forward again as fast as before into another.
Dawn wasn't moving but the visions were so real and life-sized it felt like she was hurtling through space at light speed. She fell backward into Crabbe as they stopped inches from a grey moon then landed gracefully on it. The class was dimly lit by two dwarf stars and they marvelled as the dust swirled around their shoes. Then for no reason they heard a string of joyful humming and whistling and Professor Sinistra came over the horizon.
"Oh hello," he said smiling as though they were all at a Saturday afternoon barbeque "Is it midnight already?"
The class would have answered but their mouths wouldn't close again. The professor scratched at his little pointed beard looking at his class then at the surrounds.
"Oh yes," he sighed "Nearly forgot. Welcome to the Pegasus galaxy."
Elsie gave a squeak that Dawn couldn't tell was of fear or overwhelming joy then the teacher spoke again.
"Don't usually do this until NEWTS but that's what you get for having eager students."
Professor Sinistra took out his wand and as soon as Dawn blinked from the blinding white flash they were all back in a very solid looking classroom.
"What was that?" asked Draco.
"Something beyond your comprehension Malfoy," said Sinistra "So for now its back to good old telescope and noggin work."
Dawn wasn't sure if it was senility or eccentricity she was getting from the Astronomy Professor but she knew she would get on well with him. Now the space thingy – she had no other name for it – had stopped Dawn saw that there was nothing particularly interesting about this room except three glass cases in one corner. The sign above them read 'Caution, do not touch'. The first held what looked to be a black hole, the second a chunk of radioactive asteroid, and in the third a two-headed foetal pig from the London natural history museum.
"Eww," said Dawn pointing it out to Elsie.
"C'mon," she said "Everyone loves foetal pigs."
At the other end of the room was a spiral staircase that Sinistra was already halfway up, still humming to himself.
"Come along girls," he called back "The cat didn't get its milk from the cow."
"Wha-,"
"Don't ask Dawn," said Paige pushing her forward "It's just better not to ask."
At the top of the stairs was another door that opened onto a roofless landing. One hundred feet up the wind was twice as cold as back in the dorm and three times as strong. Dawn took out her wand and conjured a hot water bottle which she quickly stuffed down her top and laughed at the other girls who were shivering for making fun of her before.
Sinistra had placed brass telescopes around the landing and gave them the task of finding and recording the coordinates of certain heavenly bodies in the night sky. Dawn actually enjoyed it for the first five minutes when the worksheet called for 'moon' and for some reason 'Hagrid's cabin' but it wasn't as fun when it was microscopic stars with twelve silent letters in their name.
"How are we meant to catalogue them if we can't pronounce them?" asked Dawn only getting an answer when five more hot water bottles were summoned.
"Here," said Elsie handing over her sheet "Refkneamenaquelous is a little hard to find."
Dawn just gaped.
After an hour of class which included Professor Sinistra stripping down to his long johns and howling at the moon the Slytherins were back in the common room sitting around the large fire. Dawn had conjured some white hot chocolate and microwave marshmallows which was just the sugary call for such an ordeal.
"Man I'm tired," she said yawning widely and rubbing her left eye "Long cold days require much deep sleep."
"Really?" asked Pansy who was sitting up rather straight and talking rather quickly "Because for some reason I don't feel tired at all and even though I've been awake as long as you and had to fit in all that homework I didn't do and could stay up for ages more I'm not even tired."
Pansy drained her cup and banged it down.
"You know what I mean?"
The other five girls looked at each other then at their own mugs and decided it would be better not to finish theirs.
On Wednesday morning the girls got back their potions marks. Elsie and Dawn fought for the parchment as Hermione Granger let it fall sadly from her hand. In the corner was a large silver 'O'.
"Well done Miss Summers."
"Why thankyou Miss Cowen, same to you."
After exchanging marks Paige and Gilrean and Beth and Pansy had also gotten outstanding. Dawn had to smile to herself as she heard Hermione telling Harry and Ron she only got an acceptable.
"I don't understand it," she whimpered "I did everything right and they still got better then me."
Dawn also saw Harry Potter and Ron Weasley weren't too forthcoming with sharing their grades.
Compounded from their last stirring lesson the potions class had a complete theoretical lesson which consisted of taking long and seemingly unimportant notes from the blackboard. The only person who seemed happy about this was Nevil Longbottom.
Professor Snape had come into class five minutes late – a thing that never happened, not even during the great hinkypunk plague six years earlier - and magically wrote up the notes before retreating to his desk and more assignment marking.
By her nineteenth page of notes Dawn's eye and mind had started to wander. First it fell on Kennedy who was tapping her pen absentmindedly on her parchment. Dawn could just tell what the Potential was thinking about but thought it best not to ponder too long. Pansy was floating notes to Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil with resultant giggles, and beside Dawn Elsie had her nose buried in an Arithmancy text after having already taken down all the notes. Without noticing Dawn found herself looking at Draco Malfoy who was pulling faces and whispering and pointing at the tragic trio with Crabbe and Goyle giving their usual on cue laughter. Dawn knew it was completely immature but to her overwhelming horror she caught herself in the beginnings of a smile. Immediately she turned back to the board.
Blood root she thought taking in the next line Blood root is commonly used for-
"We're allowed to look sweetie."
Dawn's eyes snapped to Elsie who hadn't taken her nose out of that book.
"Wh-What?" asked Dawn half laughing half amazed.
Elsie casually looked up very nonplussed.
"Draco, you're allowed to look."
Dawn raised an eyebrow, looked across the room then back at her partner.
"I so wasn't looking at Malfoy."
Elsie shrugged with a small grin on her face and went back to her reading.
With five minutes to go the class was in a positive uproar. There were loud conversations and laughter broken out all over the dungeon and the class could have passed for an animated charms lesson if it wasn't for the dank stone walls and bad mood lighting. Through all of this though, Snape hadn't moved.
This is enough thought Dawn I'm going to talk to him after class and get to the bottom of all this.
"Miss Summers," called Snape as the bell rang "I would like a word."
She impulsively sat back down in her seat from the Professor's remark.
"Why?" asked Dawn feebly but she got no reply.
The class was filing out noisily not aware of anything different.
"I'll tell Flitwick you will be late," said Elsie picking up her things.
"Th-thanks," nodded Dawn.
She picked up her bag and walked to the teacher's desk wondering if she should be worried or not. Since the hospital nine days earlier Snape had hardly spoken two words to Dawn let alone looked at her. So now she wondered why out of the blue like this he wanted to talk to her.
The door closed with a loud clink as Dawn sat down at the desk. Snape was scribbling comments on a student's parchment and added a thick 'E' in the corner. He didn't look up at her for a long time and dawn didn't want to miss charms as today they were starting a new, complicated spell.
"Sir?" she asked quietly.
At this point he put down his quill and stood up. Snape turned his back on Dawn and walked to the cupboard he had days before smashed to pieces and it him in return. The Professor tapped his wand on it several times before it opened. When it did Dawn watched him reach in and pull out an old dusty tomb with pewter bindings and no apparent markings.
By now Dawn thought something was strange but didn't know what to say or ask. Snape was flicking through the yellowing pages then suddenly stopped, looking at the parchment strangely. He sighed and sat back at his desk before looking Dawn straight in the eye. Again it wasn't like Dumbledore's penetrating gaze but Dawn knew it looked for truth.
"What?" asked Dawn finally, pleadingly.
Again Snape sighed as though gaining the will to do something. He turned the book over in his hands then slid it across the desk for Dawn to see. She looked at him with a furrowed brow wondering what could be so important for her to see. She moved the volume closer and finally looked at the page. At the top in thin, spidery letters read the words 'THE KEY'.
She couldn't help it; her eyes flew open in shock and fear. In an instant her heart went from eighty beats per minute to three thousand and her stomach felt like it was eating her from the inside. This was so unimaginable that no matter how hard Dawn tried she couldn't mask her feelings.
"Wh-What's The Key?" she offered feebly to the Potions Master.
Dawn chanced a look at the Professor from under her brow but when she saw he was staring straight at her with a stern face she looked straight back down. Neither of them said anything so Dawn resolved to read what the book had to say about her. In fact, it said nothing at all about Dawn Summers but had a lot to say about the mystical ball of green energy dubbed 'The Key'. Not only did it speak of its power but of its origins. Despite the moment Dawn was actually interested in the fact she was kept in a peanut butter jar until The Key was needed for ritualistic activities.
"This is why Dumbledore didn't want you taught."
Dawn slowly looked up. Snape looked straight through her.
"He knew what you were and couldn't risk others finding out too," Snape said calmly.
"I so don't know what you're talking about-,"
"Yes you do!" hissed Snape cutting her off and hitting his fist on the table.
For the first time ever Dawn actually felt afraid in the Professors company.
"I saw it, all of it," he growled.
Dawn's throat tightened with emotion.
"I-,"
"What?" asked Snape angrily "Is this Miss Summers where you apologise for our stupidity? Hmm? Is this where everything is made better and you toddle off to class again like none of this happened?"
Why was Snape so angry? It couldn't have been about Dawn keeping her secret from him, or the fact both of them ended up in hospital. Dawn looked up at the Professor defiantly.
"Is this about me sir, or you?"
Snape gave the smallest show before looking as he ever did.
"What?" he asked.
"Sure you saw stuff in my head," said Dawn folding her arms and going from defence to offence "But I don't think you really give a damn about that. You work in a magic school, in a world of demons and ghosts and people you would never want to meet in an alley at night. No, I know what you're worried about; you're worried that I saw everything in yours."
Snape's face turned to a wall of fury.
"How dare you!"
"How dare you," bit back Dawn "Don't pin this on me, we were in it together. You might not have known the consequences but who can with magics? It was your decision to go against Dumbledore, your decision to teach me and your decision-,"
Dawn slammed the book closed and pushed it across the desk.
"To act on what you saw. You can't take the high road this time Professor; you were right in the dirt with me. You just have to realise that I don't care who or what you were, I see and know what you are now, and that is a good man and a good teacher."
Snape's face relaxed. Dawn wasn't sure he had ever been called either of those things. The Professor rubbed absentmindedly at his left arm then shook his head.
"I had no right-,"
"What?" interrupted Dawn "To be curious? If I had seen what you did I probably would have done the same."
"But you-," continued Snape.
"Saw everything in yours," said Dawn "So you didn't have the greatest childhood, that's no reason to think I am going to blab everything I saw to the school. We can't shape who we were, only who we are and what we are going to become, and you have to know I would never betray your trust."
Snape actually smiled a little.
"Thankyou Dawn."
"I can expect the same from you?" she asked.
"Of course," nodded Snape "It was only by chance I found this volume. It then provided answers I wasn't meant to find."
They sat silently for a while until Dawn realised she was already twenty minutes late for charms.
"Oh no," she gasped jumping up "Sir, I'm late, I have to go."
"Of course Dawn," said Snape "If Professor Flitwick is angry tell him to see me."
Dawn nodded but as she left the chair she stopped. She turned to look at the Professor.
"So when's our next Occlumency lesson?"
The Potions Master actually gasped.
"You're serious?" he said dumfounded "After what happened last time?"
"Well despite the fracturing knocks and fatal flesh wounds I still have all that lovely Key knowledge in my head that I don't want people to see."
"I-I can't," said Snape shaking his head.
"Why?" asked Dawn "You know what went wrong last time don't you?"
"Well, yes, I think so," said Snape.
"Great," smiled Dawn "Then we just don't do it again."
Snape didn't have time to argue. Before he could stop her Dawn was out the door and on her way to charms.
Is that another chapter down again? Maybe the next update won't be as long.
§- sonofgloin
