Disclaimer: I still don't own Dawn (or any other Summers for that matter), I'm on the waiting list for my very own Sirius but alas I do not yet own him or the other Marauders/HP characters that may or may not pop up. Don't own 'Hang' either, Matchbox Twenty does (though I wouldn't mind my own Rob Thomas, either!)

Rating: Still R/18 for future chapters and a few current mentioned concepts.

A/N: Yeah, I've taken a little while with this one, I know. Bad me. Thing is my work thinks I go on uni holidays for the sole purpose of working more hours for them (bastards). Also had a few storyline issues, but I'm happy to say I think I've managed to resolve them, and it looks as if in future chapters I might be able to add a little more meat to this little Marauder stew I'm a-cookin' here. This chapter will probably be... not what you were all expecting when I first mentioned this possible story arc, so please feel free to let me know exactly what you think of it! Remember, it's not about things ending well, it's just about endings. (PS, I think a lot of you will really like what's coming up in chapter 10, just to keep you on the edge of your seats, and the next chapter I promise will be up by the end of the month at the latest!)

Reviewers, how I adore you all! Sonofgloin, Stacca, Summer Scythe, Lunawolf, Kat, eyexcandy, harmoni9, Mademoiselle Morte, Alan Pitt, Eleclya111, Prophetess of Hearts, xoulblade, Christa, magicfaerie, tals, RoseWill, Buffster3000, danceforfreedom, AnitaBlake/BuffyFan, GirlWhoLovesThisStory

CHAPTER NINE
Hang

"Miss Summers, may I see you in my office for a moment?" Professor McGonagall asked, her tone, as always, leaving no room for argument.

Dawn blinked. Her first instinct was to blurt 'I didn't do it', whatever it was, but she held her tongue. Nodding her assent, Dawn scrambled to snatch up her bag and follow her head of House out of the Great Hall. She was so busy trying to figure out what she could possibly be in trouble for (life without her friends was much more compliant with the rules) that she didn't notice those four friends slipping away from the Gryffindor table after her.

McGonagall ushered Dawn into a seat in front of her desk before settling into the one behind it. The Transfiguration teacher picked up an envelope that had been lying on her desk and studied it for the longest time.

Dawn let a couple of minutes tick by in silence before her patience waned. "Professor- what-?" she began, but was silenced with a look.

"A few evenings ago, Miss Summers, I was visited by four of your fellow Gryffindors. Friends of yours, I believe. Now, they thought it best they not inform me of the particulars of the situation, but two at least were very adamant that they owed you an apology."

"I don't understand, Professor. What do you mean?" Dawn stammered, knowing perfectly well who the four Gryffindors in question were but having no clue as to what they were on about with all this.

"Your friends wished to make you a peace offering, for which they requested my assistance... though perhaps this may explain the situation better than I can," McGonagall said with a faint smile, finally passing the envelope over to Dawn.

Dawn turned the envelope over in her hands for a few seconds, before ripping into it and pulling out a short letter.

Our dearest Kitten,

We overheard what you said to Lily and Isabel in the Library on Monday and we wanted to say thanks. After the prats we acted like, we really don't deserve your loyalty and we're sorry we upset you like that. (We're gonna try real hard to stop hexing Snivellus- Marauder's honour!) To show you just how sorry we are, and how much we care, we tracked Buffy down for you. And whenever you feel ready, Professor McGonagall has promised to take you to see her. Please accept this as our apology, Dawn, we hate having you mad at us.

Yours always,
Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot & Prongs.


Dawn re-read the words twice through the tears clouding her vision. She looked up at McGonagall questioningly, scarcely daring to believe it could be true. McGonagall just nodded her head towards something just over Dawn's shoulder. She turned to see James, Sirius, Remus and Peter standing just inside the door to McGonagall's office, all aiming 'don't hate me' grins at her.

James was closest. Dawn leapt out of her chair and hurled herself into his arms, feeling them wrap around her protectively.

"Thank you," she whispered into his chest.

"It was our pleasure, Kitten," he said, rubbing her arms affectionately. The sounds of three boys clearing their throats pointedly startled Dawn and James apart.

That familiar, 'good, down-low tickle-' as Fait described it, fluttered through the lower regions of Dawn's tummy a moment later when Sirius put his arms gently around her and kissed her cheek with feather- light lips. Oh yeah, she was a-goner.

"Missed you so much," she'd murmured into his ear before she could stop herself.

His response was to kiss her cheek again, dangerously close to the corner of her mouth. Over Dawn's shoulder, James recognised the almost predatory glint in his best friend's eye and knew at once what it meant. It meant that Sirius Black wanted Dawn Summers. And Sirius usually got what he wanted, especially when it came to girls, and especially now it seemed he was back in with a chance with Dawn.

"Think we could get a 'hello' in sometime today?" a dry voice asked a minute later, when Sirius still hadn't let go of Dawn. Sirius shot Remus a dirty look as Dawn disentangled herself from his embrace, grinning broadly as she rushed to catch both Remus and Peter in a tight hug.

"This is so amazing, I can't believe you guys did this for me!" Dawn squealed, practically dancing on the spot in her excitement.

"Do I take this to mean I shall soon be supervising a short trip to muggle America?" Professor McGonagall asked, breaking in on the friendly reunion before Sirius could try to kiss Dawn a third time.

Dawn nodded happily. "Yes. Yes please, Professor!"

"Very well. But there will be several ground rules you must be made aware of before we go anywhere," the Professor warned.

Dawn slid obediently back into her seat, listening intently. If it meant she got to visit her sister in any way, shape or form, she'd listen to McGonagall's ground rules all night long.

"Firstly, and this is very important, if we come across Buffy Summers, you may observe her as much as you like, but do not, I repeat, do not initiate contact with her," McGonagall lectured, her eyes piercing into Dawn's.

Dawn's face fell. She wasn't even allowed to talk to Buffy? It was like having all the diamonds in the world dangling in her reach, only to have them yanked cruelly away at the last second. Not even attempting to hide her disappointment, Dawn just nodded glumly while she tried to bite back her emotions from spilling over in the middle of the office.

Seeing her disappointment, McGonagall softened a little. "You must understand, your sister in this world most likely has no knowledge of what muggles call the supernatural. It would be dangerous to have you in direct contact with her, you are in danger of accidentally disclosing far too much information."

Again, Dawn nodded and fought bravely for her composure. "Yeah, she'd probably wind up thinking I was a total nutcase," she joked feebly, while Sirius rubbed her back to comfort her. "Ok the, what's ground rule number two?"

"We can arrange a Port-Key to the Campus where Miss Summers attends University, but it will be on a strict time-frame. Three hours, and then we will be returned to Hogwarts. And do not for one moment think you will ever be leaving this castle again should you fail to return with that Port- Key!"

Dawn gulped. "Yes, Professor."

"Naturally, you're expected to catch up on any class work missed while you're away, and no you won't be exempt from any assignments set in that time."

Dawn shrugged. No surprises there.

Finally, McGonagall's gaze flickered to the four boys, all crowded behind Dawn's chair looking incredibly pleased with themselves for what they'd done. Deep down, McGonagall couldn't help but think they had every right to look so smug. Still, she had her reservations of about this next part of their little plan.

"Also," she sighed. "You and I will be joined by two of your friends here. Mr. Potter and Mr. Black have insisted they accompany you to see Miss Summers... and they've promised to behave themselves under the threat of receiving detention from now until the end of their days at Hogwarts," she reminded James and Sirius harshly.

Dawn twisted in her seat to look up at them. They were really coming with her? James was grinning that eternally boyish grin of his. "As if we wouldn't be there for this, Kitten."

Dawn smiled. She turned a questioning glance to Remus and Peter, wondering if they'd be able to come too, but Remus shook his head.

"Someone's got to stay behind and get all your assignments. Peter and I volunteer," he grinned, enjoying the sight of Dawn whole-heartedly returning the smile. The disappointment and horror her eyes had held towards him when she realised he was too weak to stand against his friends was no look that Remus would be able to forget for a very long time.

McGonagall cleared her throat to regain her students' attention. "I believe that covers everything. Have you any idea when you'd like to go, Miss Summers?"

Dawn stood up, ready to leave that very moment. The professor chuckled. "We can't leave right now," she said.

Dawn pouted and sank back into her seat.

"Well, I shall organise this for as soon as possible. What classes do the three of you have on Friday afternoon?"

"Care of Magical Creatures and Divination," Dawn supplied, suppressing the urge to add 'so nothing important, really.'

It seemed, however, that McGonagall shared her unspoken sentiments. "Well if Mr. Lupin and Mr. Pettigrew here can pass on their notes from Care of Magical Creatures to you, I'm sure your studies will not suffer if we activate the Port-Key on Friday after lunch. Now it is getting late, the five of you need to return to your Common Room. Unless you had any further questions?"

Sirius had one, and was not afraid to voice it. "I've got a question- Dumbledore's let Dawn leave the school twice now without permission because she doesn't have a guardian. Does this mean she gets to come on the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend, too?"

Dawn blinked. A Hogsmeade weekend? What was that, and how was it different from a regular weekend? McGonagall arched an eyebrow at Sirius.

"I shall speak to Professor Dumbledore," she said briskly, waving them all out of her office.

They stepped out into the hall, closing the door behind them. For a moment the reunited friends just looked at each other, unsure of what to do next. Then the grins broke onto their faces simultaneously, and Dawn knew just what was coming. Before James could even finish bellowing "group hug!" Dawn had held her arms out and let the boys crash into her.

They remained pleasantly tangled together until a loud, disdainful voice interrupted them. "I hope the two of you plan to bathe after rubbing against all that filth, Potter, Black."

The Gryffindors sprang apart and rounded on the intruders. There were two of them. One was Lucius Malfoy. The other, the one who had spoken, was not a student. He was far too tall and mature-looking, and something about him seemed to Dawn even more dark and intimidating than Malfoy. James and Sirius had both gone rigid, and Remus had tensed as well. Peter edged back just a little, and Dawn noticed that the other boys were trying discreetly to get between her and the older people before them.

"What's your problem, Lestrange?" Sirius growled.

"Well," the man called Lestrange returned in a cold, deep voice. "My problem, Black, is purebloods like yourself and your boyfriend Potter here who can't get it in their heads who they should and shouldn't be associating with. Just look at you- all wrapped up in the half-blood, the pathetic, flabby little Squib, and the little Mudblood whore!"

"You mind your tongue, Lestrange!" Sirius yelled. He, James and Remus had pulled their wands, but so had Lestrange and Malfoy, who did not seem at all threatened even though they were outnumbered by the younger wizards. The Slytherins, current and graduated, studied the group coolly, and Dawn shuddered as she felt not one, but two sets of cold eyes raking over her body appraisingly.

"I see what you mean, Lucius," Lestrange finally smirked. "As far as pieces of Mudblood trash go, I could definitely use that one before I discarded it."

Dawn couldn't help the waves of fear and disgust that crashed over her. Staring into the dark eyes of that man, she just knew he wasn't bluffing. He'd violate her and walk away untroubled by it just as easily as Malfoy would. She unconsciously sidled over until her body was shielded by Sirius'.

"We'll break any part of your body that ever touches her," James swore, his voice low and deliberate, his eyes narrowed dangerously. Beside him, Sirius was too livid for words. Remus was also silent, but his amber eyes had hardened and his wand was steady in his hand. Even Peter had begun to look angry, though his wand was still held limply by his side.

Lestrange was actually chuckling. He turned to his companion and spoke conversationally, as if the Gryffindors weren't even there. "You know, I think we've struck a nerve, Lucius. Perhaps they don't like sharing their little whore amongst anyone other than themselves."

Malfoy smirked evilly. "Perhaps we might have to convince them to be a little more... forthcoming."

"You son of a-" Sirius burst out. He'd forgotten his wand, he tried to hurl himself at the two pigs before him who would dare speak about Dawn that way, but he was held back. Dawn had a hold of the back of his robes, and Remus had seized his arm. In his place, James stepped up to the openly laughing Lestrange and Malfoy.

"No!" Dawn hissed as James' wand swished through the air. He managed to catch himself mid-flick as the door to McGonagall's office swung open behind them.

"What is going on out here!?" the Deputy Headmistress snapped, glaring at the group. Her eyes locked onto the ex-student, who'd hastily checked his laughter when she appeared on the scene. "Mr. Lestrange, what brings you back to Hogwarts unannounced?" she asked, a hint of coolness in her voice.

Lestrange smiled, though it looked sickeningly fake. "Professor McGonagall, how nice to see you again. I've come to visit my brother Rodolphus, there are, er... certain family issues of a delicate nature which we much discuss in person. Lucius was good enough to escort me to the Slytherin Common Room," he said smoothly.

"In future, please visit Professor Dumbledore's office before you take it upon yourself to wander about the school. We can't have just anyone waltzing on in, ex-student or not," McGonagall responded, not even bothering with the fake-polite tones.

"Yes ma'am. May I go with Lucius now?" Lestrange returned politely.

"Off you go then."

The Transfiguration Professor watched Malfoy and Lestrange until they rounded the corner at the end of the hall, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. A moment later, she shook her head and turned to the students she'd dismissed some time before. "What are you just standing there for? Get back to your Common Room," she snapped.

Knowing better than to cross McGonagall when she was in this kind of mood, the five scurried off to the Gryffindor Common Room. The room was virtually deserted, save for a few sixth and seventh years, as well as Isabel, who waved but pretended not to notice as Dawn followed hr friends straight up the boys' staircase. Peter barely had time to close the door before pandemonium reigned in the dorm. Even Remus was yelling. Dawn hadn't even known he was capable of it before this.

"Son of a bitch! I'll hex him straight back to hell!" Sirius was growling, clenching his fists as if he'd throw a punch at the next person to look at him sideways.

"Unbelievable!" James fumed. "How dare he say all that stuff about us. Nobody insults a Marauder and gets away with it!"

"You know what he was here for- visiting his brother my arse!" Remus snapped. Dawn's eyebrows hit her hairline. Remus Lupin yelling and swearing all in the one sentence? This must be big. His outburst certainly had the attention of the other boys.

"What do you mean, Moony?" James asked.

Remus was pacing. "There was no family business for Lestrange to take care of- think about it. Why would he be running around the school with Malfoy in that case, and since when did the walk from the Entrance Hall down to the Slytherin Common Room involve the corridor where McGonagall's office is?"

"And again, what do you mean?" James repeated, but Dawn has a sinking feeling that she understood what Remus was getting at. Something to do with that dark, intimidating vibe rolling off Lestrange.

"Well," Remus leaned in conspiritually. "I think that Lestrange might be one of V-Voldemort's Death Eaters."

Peter squeaked.

"Makes sense," Sirius nodded. "And I bet Malfoy is too, and they were having a meeting about whatever Voldemort's latest power-scheme is."

Even though her mind was bombarded with thoughts and questions about what the probable Death Eaters could be up to (and if it was about the Key) Dawn managed to grin proudly at Sirius. That was the first time she'd heard him say 'Voldemort' without stuttering. Peter was staring up at him in awe and both James and Remus had raised their eyebrows.

But Dawn was busy thinking again. "Lestrange... he said his brother was Rodolphus... that creepy Slytherin in Potions who's always staring at your equally creepy cousin?" she asked Sirius.

Sirius snorted. "That's the one, Kitten. The elder is Rabastan, he left Hogwarts the same year as my cousin Andi. He asked her out a few times, too, but let's just say he had even less luck than Prongsie's had with the Tigerlily."

Dawn giggled. James let out an indignant "Hey!"

"Something's definitely up with those guys," Remus sighed. "But I don't think we're going to be figuring anything out tonight, it's late. Come on, let's get some sleep."

"Ok. Goodnight then," Dawn returned, making to head out the door.

"Where d'you think you're going?" James called in a gleeful, sing- song voice.

Dawn stopped and turned back. The boys were all staring pointedly at her. She shrugged. "But I haven't got anything to sleep in."

"I don't mind."

Remus elbowed Sirius, hard, prompting him to hastily change his tune. "I mean, I'll get you something."

Sirius snatched up a long-sleeved, button-down shirt and tossed it at Dawn. Admitting defeat, and truthfully not minding it in the least, she slipped into the bathroom to get undressed. By the time she emerged a few minutes later, the boys were all already changed and settled in their beds and the lights had been dimmed. She hesitated a moment, wondering if it would be too forward of her to go straight to Sirius, but it seemed he'd already made room for her. The covers were still turned down, waiting for her, and Sirius patted the mattress.

"C'mon Kitten, you'll freeze wandering around in just that," he smirked.

Dawn flushed and hurried to slide in next to him, her uniform left on the bedside table. The shirt he'd given her, to say the least, was rather short. She lay on her side so she could face him, and Sirius rolled over so he was facing her, closing a fair amount of the gap between them in the process. A few minutes of silence ticked by.

"I am sorry about upsetting you," Sirius finally whispered.

Dawn smiled, refusing to let negative thoughts enter her head tonight. "I know. Let's just forget about it, ok?"

"I could deal with that."

"Hey, what's a Hogsmeade weekend, anyway?" Dawn murmured, remembering the question he'd asked McGonagall earlier in the evening.

"They're great Dawnie, you're going to love them. Hogsmeade weekends are when students get to go down to the village for the day on Saturday, and then after dinner, fifth, sixth and seventh years get to go back to the Three Broomsticks. That's a pub, but for Hogsmeade nights they turn it into a club. Prongs and I snuck into one last year, it was brilliant," Sirius grinned.

"Neat. But what does everyone do in the village all day?" Dawn pressed.

Sirius shrugged in the darkness. "Visit the shops and all that. Go to the Three Broomsticks, or the Hog's Head if you want something stronger than butterbeer... It's the only entirely magical settlement left in Britain, you know," he rushed on before she could reprimand him over the underage alcohol consumption reference. "There's also the Shrieking Shack- legend has it it's the most haunted building in Britain," he finished with a derisive laugh.

"But," Dawn prodded at his tone.

"Well," Sirius smirked. "The thing is, it's only been standing for five years, and all the terrifying ghostly noises coming from within it occur only once a month, on the night of the full moon, and it always sounds suspiciously like a wolf..."

"Ah," said Dawn knowingly. "So that's what all the scary noises are."

"I'm not scary," grumbled a sleepy voice from across the dorm.

"Course not, Remus," they chorused back, trying not to laugh.

"Would you two shut up and go to sleep?" James called a minute later.

Dawn and Sirius, like chastised children, reluctantly settled down, avoiding each other's gaze lest they burst into wild giggles. A moment later, James' hand shot out accusingly, pointing at his best friend's bed.

And keep your hands where I can see them!"


"What news, Rabastan?" a high, cold voice demanded.

A figure, robed in black, his face masked in white, bowed slightly. "My Lord. If this 'Key' is at Hogwarts, the old fool Dumbledore has hidden it well. Neither myself, nor my informant have yet been able to locate it."

A tall, lean figure swept closer to Rabastan, red eyes narrowed dangerously. "You disappoint me, Rabastan. If you ail to produce this energy source soon, I shall be forced to punish you. You wouldn't like that, would you? Though often I find pain can be... quite the motivator..."

Rabastan cowered a little. "My Lord-"

"Silence!" Voldemort hissed "I must have the Key. We know almost nothing of it, only that it is a previously unheard of source of mystical energy which has somehow appeared at that asinine school. But the power, oh they say its power is a thing of glory. With that power and that power alone, I would be unstoppable. Now, Rabastan, do you understand why I will not tolerate your failure?"

"Yes, my Lord. I will not fail you, I swear," Rabastan grovelled, only to be cut off once more.

"See that you don't," said Voldemort silkily. "But what other news, what of our potential recruits? Your informant- is he loyal?"

Rabastan nodded eagerly. "Yes my Lord, he is loyal. He will come to serve you well, as will many others currently trapped at Hogwarts. There is but one concern for most of them- Albus Dumbledore. Many remain loyal to your noble cause, but most are reluctant to enter into formal service right under Dumbledore's nose... they simply bide their time until they may join and serve you, my Lord."

Voldemort seemed to muse over the point for a long while. "Most are reluctant?" he finally asked.

"Well," Rabastan shrugged. "I know of at least one who would take great pride in accepting the Dark Mark, and would probably relish sporting it right under the old fool's nose."

The red of Voldemort's eyes lit up. "I am curious. Perhaps you should, when chance allows, bring this person to meet with me, He and I will have much to discuss."

"She'd be delighted, I'm sure," Rabastan responded with one final bow.

Voldemort's eyebrows rose slightly. She?


Dawn bolted upright, breathing heavily. She wasn't sure what had woken her, but she vaguely thought she'd been dreaming. Something about red eyes, dark and intimidating presences, and a sense of danger and foreboding that she couldn't quite shake even in her conscious state. Beside her, Sirius had stirred, jolted awake when the arm he'd thrown across her in sleep was bucked off by her sudden waking movements.

He sat up slowly beside her, blinking sleep out of his eyes. "Dawn? What's wrong?"

Dawn's breathing calmed, she turned her head to look at him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. I was dreaming."

"Another nightmare?" he gently brushed her hair back off her forehead.

"I don't think so. I can't really remember. Whatever it was, I don't think it was a good dream, anyway. But not really a nightmare, I guess," Dawn frowned. The elusive memories were tickling at the edge of her conscious mind, dancing just out of her reach. She sighed. A pair of strong hands settled on her shoulders and eased her back down onto the pillows.

Before she knew what was happening, she was laid out on the bed, Sirius leaning over her. He'd stretched one arm out to the mattress beside her head to brace himself, keeping his full weight from pressing on her, but Dawn could still feel a large degree of contact and her skin was tingling with it.

"It's late, Dawnie. Try and get some more sleep, ok?" Sirius whispered.

"Ok," Dawn breathed, wondering how she was supposed to close her eyes when they were already caught up in getting her gaze lost in his. Her heart thudded painfully as he lowered his head towards hers, her breath caught in her throat as his lips came within moments, millimetres of closing in over hers. Something in her mind exploded.

"Rabastan," she gasped. Sirius had been so close that her lips grazed his with their movement.

Sirius jerked back as if he'd been slapped. Well, that there was more effective than a cold shower. But Dawn's eyes had widened, she'd propped herself up on her elbows and began whispering urgently.

"My dream- I just remembered. It was Rabastan Lestrange, he really is a Death Eater, he was talking to Voldemort. They're looking for the Key, Sirius. They're looking for me," she almost whimpered.

"They'll never hurt you, I promise. We'll tell Dumbledore first thing, don't worry," he soothed, shifting himself into a more appropriate position now that his moment to strike had passed.

"He's got a spy here, he's trying to recruit people at Hogwarts to become Death Eaters," Dawn continued.

Sirius nodded. "We'll tell Dumbledore," he repeated. "It'll be ok."

Dawn tried to relax, but for the rest of the night she slept only fitfully. She spent most of it lying awake, playing absently with Sirius' fingers as he slept peacefully beside her, one arm again slung protectively across her. When the day broke, she crept unnoticed back to her own dorm.

Professor Dumbledore had been most interested to hear of Dawn's dream, he'd spent half an hour before breakfast questioning her over exactly what she'd heard Voldemort and Rabastan Lestrange say. Dawn recounted the conversation as accurately as she could remember it.

"Hmm," Dumbledore said softly, frown lines creasing his forehead. "Are you certain you heard no names of students mentioned?" he asked for the fifth time.

Dawn nodded. "Certain, Professor. Just Rabastan Lestrange. Will he be caught? What's going to happen to him?"

Dumbledore smiled gently at her, but there was little humour in it. "Professor McGonagall mentioned her concerns regarding Mr. Lestrange last night. But as one suspicious arrival at Hogwarts and the dream of a fifth year Gryffindor are hardly the most incriminating pieces of evidence, there is little I can do beyond sending a letter to the Ministry of Magic suggesting they keep an eye on him."

Dawn faltered. Right, laws to follow and all that. How frustrating. She was used to Buffy's method of find the bad guys and pummel them. Messier, but generally more effective. "Oh. Ok then. But what about the students? If we can figure out who they are, maybe we can stop them from ever joining Voldemort outright, and-"

Dumbledore held up a hand to quiet the girl. Dawn snapped her mouth closed, mentally chastising herself for the babbling. But the Headmaster looked more heartened and amused than annoyed.

"Please, my dear, enough of this worrying about that which you cannot hope to control. Instead I think it best you concentrate on matters more relevant to yourself at this time. Such as the short trip to America which shall be taking place this Friday," he chuckled.

Dawn's whole face lit up, causing the Headmaster's chuckles to deepen a little. How he enjoyed seeing happiness in his students. "If yourself, Mr. Potter and Mr. Black would care to join me here after lunch on Friday, you'll be Port-Keyed to America with Professor McGonagall. Now off you go, Dawn. We can't have you missing breakfast."

Dawn grinned. "Thanks Professor."

"My pleasure. And Miss Summers? I do hope you enjoy your Hogsmeade weekends as well."

Dawn couldn't wipe the grin from her face as she practically bounced along to the Great Hall for breakfast, her upset over dreaming of Voldemort somewhat soothed just by letting Dumbledore know. She spotted her friends at the Gryffindor table, and plopped into a seat between Sirius and Peter.

"Good morning," she chirped.

Sirius arched an eyebrow. "You're awfully chirpy for someone who spent half the night tossing and turning, and then was up and off at first light." The other boys smirked at the several surrounding people who'd done double-takes as they misinterpreted Sirius' mostly innocent observation. Dawn shrugged.

"I went to see Dumbledore this morning, about the dream I had last night," she said quietly.

James nodded. "Yeah, Sirius told us about that. Why didn't you wait for one of us to go with you, Kitten?"

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Not completely useless you know, Prongs. Besides, I woke up before all you guys and I wanted to go before I forgot any major details. And guess what? Dumbledore said we can go see Buffy this Friday afternoon."

The boys all grinned, enjoying Dawn's obvious excitement. "That's great," Remus told her, setting a full plate in front of her. "Now you'd better get to work on that breakfast or you'll be late for class."

Resigned to the care of her occasionally over-protective friends, Dawn did not bother to argue but simply started in on her breakfast.

Dawn glanced nervously up at Sirius and James as they rode the moving staircase up to Dumbledore's office. The trio were dressed in muggle clothing, but had concealed their wands on themselves for the trip to America. James and Sirius each held one of Dawn's hands as they walked in to meet the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress.

"Ah. Just in time," Dumbledore waved them in. "The Port-Key activates in just a few minutes. Do you understand that you have only three hours in which to observe Buffy Summers, and that you must avoid any direct contact with her?"

The trio nodded as one. Dumbledore smiled. "Excellent."

Professor McGonagall stepped forward, a ladies' hat held in her hand, which she offered to her students. Dawn took a hold of the hat's brim and the boys quickly joined her.

"Enjoy your trip," Dumbledore said by way of farewell, looking at his watch. "Five, four, three, two, one..."

Dawn felt the jerk behind her navel, and a split second later Dumbledore's office had swirled away in a haze of blurred colour and rushing air. Crisp colours and a stretch of bright blue sky bombarded her senses, Dawn's feet slammed into the pavement and she automatically latched onto the nearest body to keep herself upright. She looked up to see who she'd grabbed and hastily pulled away.

"Sorry, Professor," she mumbled, blushing.

McGonagall raised an eyebrow as she straightened the muggle dress she wore. "Quite alright, Miss Summers. Port-Keys take some getting used to."

The two boys were gaping openly at their surroundings, completely awed to be in America, even though the only sight to greet them was the open dumpster of the ally they'd landed in.

"Is California always this... bright?" James asked, wrinkling his nose and squinting in the sunlight. Dawn fought the urge to giggle. She'd never realised exactly how pale her friends' skin was, until she'd seen them in the full brightness of a glaring California day.

"I don't remember it being this bright, actually," Dawn mused. Then again, the California she'd left behind had been one riddled with pain and fear and darkness.

"Come on," said McGonagall. "We really don't have all day." The three students followed their Professor out of the ally, finding themselves practically on top of the UCLA Campus. They followed the signs until they reached the Administration building, and McGonagall halted them all with a stern look.

"I'm going in here to find out exactly which class Miss Summers is in at the moment. Wait over there by that tree, and DO NOT MOVE UNTIL I RETURN. Is that clear?" Sirius was already raising his hand to salute, but Dawn intercepted him, catching his hand and holding it down by his side.

"Very clear, Professor," Dawn said before turning to head straight for the tree McGonagall had pointed at. Sirius, his hand still caught in Dawn's and himself unwilling to break the contact, had no choice but to follow obediently. A grinning James joined them. The trio stood, looking around and trying to appear as inconspicuous as three unsupervised fifteen year-olds could on a College Campus. The minutes dragged by, but still there was no sign of McGonagall's return.

"What's taking so long?" Dawn sighed, her entire being radiating tension and impatience. "All she needs is a class schedule!"

Sirius rubbed her back soothingly. Then an idea popped into his head. "Maybe they wouldn't give it to her, and she's gone and lost her temper way worse than usual. You know, like the time we turned all the spaghetti into worms? And now she's busy performing counter-curses and memory charms to fix all the damage she's done in a rage!" he said, quite proud of his theory.

James blinked. "Padfoot?"

"Hmm?"

"Whatever you're on, can I have some?"

"Prongs?"

"Hmm?"

"Go and get f-"

"Lady present."

James' quick reminder brought Sirius' sentence grinding to a halt in its tracks. He shot an apologetic glance at Dawn, but he needn't have bothered. She'd forgotten the boys even existed, she was staring down the path, her face creased into a half-smile, her eyes alight with wonder.

"Buffy," she breathed.

Immediately, James and Sirius whipped around to look. A young woman was heading their way, with a few books and papers gathered in her arms. The three teens stared, taking in the mass of wavy blond hair, the delicate features of her face, and the tiny, almost dancer's build bathed in golden- brown skin. The boys frowned in concentration as they watched Buffy Summers walking closer to their tree, apparently unaware of all the attention she was receiving. Though she really looked nothing like the slender brunette by them longing to pounce on her and hug her to death, the boys could sense the vague familiarity, even between this version of Buffy and Dawn.

"I wish I could talk to her. Not to tell her who I am or anything, but just to say something... anything so she would see me... so she'd know I exist," Dawn whispered, leaning forwards as Buffy went to pass them.

Sirius and James shared a look. With the perfect timing that could be mastered only by the two of them, they shoved Dawn bodily into Buffy and disappeared behind their tree, peeking around the trunk to watch the show. Dawn went crashing into Buffy and the two girls tumbled to the pavement, scattering Buffy's belongings in the process. Dawn whimpered as Buffy glared at her. Oh, if she got out of this alive those boys were so going to pay.

"Walk much?" Buffy snapped.

Dawn's eyes clouded over, her mouth was hanging open in horror. She had a lot of childhood memories of that icy voice, and the superior, hollow look in the blond's eyes, before Buffy was called as the Slayer. When she spent her life acting like a world-class 'Spordelia'. She didn't want to believe this could be real, that if she'd never been called, Buffy was destined to remain a snooty valley-girl forever. Buffy arched an eyebrow as the seconds ticked by, and still the younger girl remained gazing stupidly at her, as if her brain had shut down on her or something.

"Hey? What's your damage, anyway?" she tried, snapping her fingers in front of Dawn's face. Dawn jolted back into focus.

"S-sorry," Dawn stammered, ordering herself not to cry. "I didn't mean to. The pushed me," she explained lamely, looking around for the culprits but finding that they'd mysteriously disappeared. Invisibility Cloak, or just classic Marauder style?

Buffy huffed, and then to Dawn's amazement, she seemed to soften into something remotely resembling the Buffy Dawn knew and loved. A sparkle brought her eyes to life, and a small but genuine smile curved her lips upwards. "I guess it's ok. I've been needing an excuse to shop for new jeans anyway. Were they boys who pushed you? Boys can be real jerks some- no, scratch that, MOST of the time."

Dawn giggled. The tree behind her had just huffed indignantly. Twice. "They really can," she agreed, raising her voice to carry to the two fiends behind the tree.

Buffy, having dusted herself off as much as possible, was busy gathering up all the books and papers she'd dropped and Dawn scrambled to help her. Sirius smiled to himself as he watched Dawn working with this variation of her sister, his mind suddenly drifting to Regulus and his own bittersweet feelings about his sibling.

"Thanks," the elder said as the two girls stood. They locked gazes for a minute and Buffy's eyes widened suddenly, as if in recognition of the girl before her. "Hey, don't I know you? I know it's weird, but I feel like I've met you before or something."

"No, we haven't met," Dawn squeaked out, a little too quickly to be casual.

Buffy's forehead creased in thought. "Really? You sure? What's your name?"

"Dawn Summers."

Dawn froze. Oh God, oh no... she hadn't, had she? This was it, McGonagall would kill her for sure. It was official: Dawn Summers was the stupidest person alive. Even the tree behind her was groaning at her stupidity.

"No kidding!" Buffy bubbled. "Wow! My name's Buffy Summers, how uber-wiggy is that?"

Thanking the Goddesses that Buffy truly was a blond, Dawn forced herself to smile and raise her eyebrows in feigned surprise. "Really? Cool."

She was desperate to panic, to scream and run away like the silly little girl she really was sometimes, but Dawn called on every last one of her nerves to stay calm. She'd made it through more nerve-wracking ordeals than a conversation with Buffy before, after all. Her smile became just a little more relaxed and she was finally capable of as much movement as a shrug.

"Maybe that's why I seemed familiar to you?" she offered meekly.

Buffy laughed. "What? Like we're distant blood relations or something. Hey, I know! Maybe there's some deep, dark Summers family secret and you're really my long lost kid sister who grew up miles away and this 'chance meeting' was totally destined to happen!"

You have no idea, Buffy. Dawn, more from stress and pent-up emotion than anything else, burst into giggles along with Buffy. A few strangely comforting moments passed between the girls, then Buffy checked her watch and sighed.

"I'm late for class. Again," she grimaced.

Dawn's eyebrows shot up. Definitely a Buffy. But then, it looked as if this version was actually planning on going to class at all, so that was a bit of an improvement. "Story of your life, huh?"

"More than I care to admit. But it was nice meeting you and all, Dawn," Buffy smiled warmly and shifted the pile in her arms so she could shake hands.

"Likewise Buffy," Dawn whispered, feeling the lump rising in her throat. Somehow this stupid, utterly pointless conversation just felt like endings to Dawn. She knew deep down this was why she'd come, to say goodbye to Buffy, but now that the time had come to let go, she wasn't so sure she'd be able to.

She swallowed and allowed Buffy's hand to slip from her own. Acting on pure instinct, Buffy reached out with her freed hand and pushed the hair back off Dawn's shoulders.

"Right. Well... bye," Buffy said softly. Finally she turned and walked away with some reluctance. Strange, Buffy could never quite figure out why, but a part of her wanted to never turn away from the shy, slightly weird girl she knew she'd never see again. It was only after she'd slid quietly into the back row of the lecture already underway that it occurred to Buffy she hadn't thought to ask what the kid had been doing on Campus, anyway.

Dawn watched Buffy go, a series of unnameable emotions welling within her. James and Sirius stepped up beside her so the three of them could watch the tiny blond disappear around a corner together. It wasn't until Buffy was out of sight that Dawn let the tears begin to fall. They streaked silently down her cheeks, making her look for all the world like a lost little girl.

"That wasn't my sister," she realised quietly. Sure, it was Buffy Summers, but not the Buffy that belonged to her. Not the one with whom she felt safe and sure of things. "I don't have a sister anymore."

James looked at her with sad eyes. "I don't have one either. Always wanted one though, Kitten. So... d'you think you could make do with a pain- in-the-arse brother to take care of?"

Dawn's glistening eyes flickered between James' sincere face and his outstretched arms a few times before she hurled herself into him. Sirius watched his two favourite people in the entire world accepting each other as family, surprised by the complete lack of jealousy he found within himself. Part of him wished he had it in him to do just as James had done and selflessly offer to be exactly what Dawn needed, but he couldn't do it. He could (and would) be there for her, that wasn't even a question, but those certainly weren't brotherly feelings that took a hold of Sirius every time he looked at Dawn, and it was pointless to pretend otherwise.

Dawn and James were still hugging, and finally Sirius began to tire of being a spectator. He plastered his most heart-wrenching pout on his face. "I'm getting a little lonely here."

Two arms, one belonging to James and the other to Dawn, reached out and grabbed hold of Sirius, yanking him into the embrace. A moment later, he felt James pull away and saw him flash a thumbs-up as Dawn was left securely in Sirius' arms alone.

James rolled his eyes and turned away. Knowing those two, they could be a while. It was just a shame that everyone but Sirius and Dawn had figured out that both Sirius and Dawn wanted to be 'Sirius and Dawn.' A formidable figure was stalking towards them. James tapped Sirius on the shoulder.

"Incoming," he called.

Dawn and Sirius broke apart just in time to look up as Professor McGonagall reached them. Her eyes were like daggers in her pinched, irritated face. She seemed to be visibly forcing herself to calm down, then she looked apologetically at Dawn.

"I'm sorry Miss Summers. It seems these muggles aren't so easily convinced to hand out personal information without authorisation. Perhaps, your last name being Summers, you could try?" she suggested.

Dawn smiled. "That's all right, Professor. I don't think I'll need to."

McGonagall arched an eyebrow at her three grinning students, but decided then and there that she would not ask. Dawn shared a look with Sirius and James.

"We got what we came for."


Well I always say it'd be good to go away
Oh but if things don't work out like we'd think
And if there's nothing there to ease this ache
And if there's nothing there to make things change
If it's the same for you I'll just hang.