Disclaimer: I own nothing. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the property of Joss Whedon, Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling, and Imitation of Life is by REM. I make no money (happy now?)

A.N.: Sorry these chaps have been slow coming, I feel like I haven't slept in a month. This is just a short one again, too. Kind of a transitional thing while I got into gear for the next level of the story (so I'm sorry if it sux). I love reviewers, so keep that up please: begs

Anoron

Reviewers:

Sonofgloin- Glad you appreciate my weird sense of pranking. And I hope you were 200, that would be so cool! XX

Kit- Thanks for the ideas about the snow pics popping up later. It just might happen.

Angelus Cado- I'm glad you're enjoying, I do try to update whenever I can, but unfortunately I've been a bit lax lately. Sorry. Will try harder.

Phoenix83ad- Now I keep thinking of that episode of 'Friends' you alluded to; "We were on a break!!!" Hey, another Tara fan! I loved Tara too (she was a much, much lovelier character than Willow). Figured there'd be a few of you who identified with the 'cute little boy' act, one way or the other. I actually based Romulus on my Dad's partner's 5 y.o. son, so I've learned the hard way this last year what it's like not to be the baby anymore! And it was a mix with Rom, he was being cute and genuinely liked Dawn, but in true little sibling style, he was always up for a bit of mischief that would get to the male Marauders! The dreams Dawn keeps having are sort of a link, sort of not. Something big MAY come of it in future chapters, but for now all I'm trying to do is establish Dawn's powers in Divination, which will continue to develop and change as she does so eventually she will not only see what's happening in Sunnydale, but she'll get flashes of a HP future as well... I'm working on it. Voldemort will pop up when I think of something to do with him (I'm not so good at working with him for some reason, it really bugs me!) Thanks for the review, did I mention I love big reviews? XX

Mademoiselle Morte- Well I just couldn't bear to break them up now, could I? LOL

Eleclya111- I'm glad you liked the lighter chapter! It was surprisingly more heavy going to write than all the crap I put them through in Chapters15/16!

Lunawolf- Little kids (especially the cuties) have that effect on most girls I think! And Rom was fun to work with.

Clcountry- Damn you! Making me feel the need to go down storylines I promised myself I wouldn't! You've made it so I can't stop thinking about bringing the Scoobies in now! But don't stop reviewing just coz I yelled at you! Inspiration is a good thing.

Allen Pitt- Look to the first option for the possibilities of the sequel's setting you mentioned. My theory was this with Buffy- yeah, she'd want to quit, she's probably even try, but she's a Slayer. No matter how much she wants to give it up (look at season 1 in particular and a bit of season 2 i.e. 'What's My Line') she eventually comes back to it because it's an inescapable part of who she is. So in the long run, it works out the same as heading into season 6, only instead of being depressed about her resurrection, Buffy's major life gripe is the loss of Dawn. And I am thinking of a way that the Scoobies will know Dawn's 'alive and well', it will probably be resolved by the end of this story if my sketchy plans come to fruition! Thanks for the review & the thoughtfulness as always.

Yoshocrow- Thanks for the review & questions. I might not have made it all clear enough, but Dawn is dreaming events as they happen in Sunnydale (and in the case of Connor's birth, L.A.) It's basically just developing her skills in Divination that may or may not come in useful for the future of the Hogwarts crew... ;-)

SiriusEarendil- Hehe. You know I'm enjoying your split personality dilemma between Sirius and Remus... Sorry, but I doubt I'll be making it easier on you anytime soon! This is the evil personality talking, by the way!

Eyexcandy- Yeah, I did do the almost break-up just to scare you! Flame your life away, it all banks up in the review tally! LOL

Daydreamer04- Glad you liked little player in training Romulus! Sorry the update took a while!

FunkyWitchOnFire- Dude, that is the coolest name I've seen all week! Thanks for the review, I promise I'm always writing more whenever I can!

Janine- Thank you, when people tell me I've done something in a realistic way it is the best encouragement! I'm glad you're enjoying the story and thanks for the review (I like reviews, by the way)


CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Imitation Of Life

"I don't even know what to look for," Dawn admitted, pulling her robes tighter around her. The castle halls were draughty in winter as it was and the fact that it was about 2AM made the air downright icy.

Sirius shrugged. "We'll know when we see it, Kitten. Just have that parchment and quill ready to write it down if Wormtail and I find anything, ok?" He tossed a tired grin over his shoulder before returning to his task as he and Peter searched the seventh floor hall for any hidden rooms or passages they hadn't yet discovered.

Dawn sighed and began to pace back and forth. She hadn't realised that researching this map idea of Remus' would be so much hard word, and endless late nights. All she wanted was a hot bath and a warm bed. She whirled to keep pacing and stopped short. There was a door between the really bug vase and the window she was certain hadn't been there a minute ago.

"Hey, a door!"

Sirius and Peter turned to look at the new door. Dawn turned the handle and gave a cautious push. When she laid eyes on the enormous bed and much, much larger bathtub steaming and overflowing with bubbles, she gasped.

"It's like it read my mind." She wandered dreamily into the room that seemed to be offering everything she wanted right at that moment on a silver platter. There was even an extra large block of chocolate beckoning at her from the bedside table. Dawn bounced up and down on the mattress experimentally.

"Where did all this come from?" Sirius asked, casting an approving eye about the pocket of cosiness they'd stumbled upon.

"I don't know," Dawn replied, slapping Peter's hand away from the block of chocolate he'd been stalking. "I was just pacing in between the vase and the window, thinking how all I wanted was a hot bath and a warm bed, and boom- instant pampering."

"So this room appears here when you want something?" Peter asked, rubbing at his slap-marked hand.

"Pretty much," Dawn yawned. "Maybe we should ask Locky if the House-Elves know anything about it next time we're down at the Kitchens... So can we call it a night yet?"

A devious little smile flickered over Sirius' face. "Not just yet," he said quickly. "Wormtail, why don't you head back to the dorms and see if the other guys have finished in the dungeons yet? We'll be along a little later, I just want to do a couple of experiments on this room while we're here."

Peter nodded, almost reluctantly, and made his way towards the door. When it had closed behind him, Sirius turned his wolfish grin on Dawn. She bit her lip, recognising the hungry, almost predatory manner that had come over him the second they were alone.

"Alone at last," he murmured, drawing a smile from Dawn. They'd been searching the upper levels of the castle alone the two previous nights since their return to Hogwarts, while Peter, Remus and James concentrated on the dungeons. But when on both occasions they'd returned to the dorm late, dishevelled, and without results the other boys had had enough. So tonight Remus and James had sent Peter along like a faithful watchdog to keep an eye on them.

Dawn leaned over to kiss him slowly. "Mmm- I've been wanting to do that all night."

"I've been wanting you to do that all night, too," Sirius agreed. Then his cheekiness returned, he glanced pointedly between Dawn and the steaming bath still waiting patiently to be used. He dropped his voice to a husky whisper. "Weren't you saying something about wanting to take a bath? Sounds like a pretty good idea to me..."

Dawn's eyes widened in comprehension. "You... you don't mean... that we should... together... in there... naked?" she blushed at the embarrassing, terrifying, intriguing prospect.

"That's the general idea, Kitten," Sirius confirmed, a touch of amusement in his voice. His fingers reached out and deftly flicked the clasp of her robes open. "It'll be fun, and I promise you I'll be on my best behaviour. You know, if you want to."

Dawn chewed her lip as she considered the proposition. "You won't look? You promise?"

"Marauders' Honour." He slid her robes off her shoulders.

Dawn waited until he had his back turned, making sure he wasn't peeking. Then she hastily undressed and took refuge in the cover of the hot water. She swam around the tub, pretty sure if it got any bigger it would fall into the category of an Olympic swimming pool and was careful not to look back until she heard the little splash signifying Sirius' entry into the water. He swam over and brushed a couple of stray bubbles out of her wet hair.

"See? This is fun, isn't it?"

She nodded, then giggled. Before Sirius could figure out what was so funny, he'd been kissed, splashed in the face and Dawn had dived under water and shot away. Once he'd managed to clear the water and bubbles from his vision, Sirius gave chase and they played happily in the water that never seemed to get cold or run out of bubbles.

When they tired of the game, they floated lazily around, talking about nothing in particular but enjoying the peace and the comfortable companionship they'd been able to find in just being together. When too much time had worn away for them to ignore and their fingers had shrivelled like prunes, Dawn and Sirius figured their shared bath had come to an end. Dawn looked around the edge of the bath, and all of a sudden realised there were no towels or robes for them to wrap themselves in to dry.

"There's no-" Dawn began, then stopped short. A large stack of fluffy white towels had appeared at the edge of the bath. "Towels," she finished lamely.

She looked to Sirius, who obediently, if a little reluctantly, turned his back again while she climbed out, wiped the excess bubbles from her skin and wrapped herself securely in one of the long bath sheets. She called back an all-clear to Sirius, pleased to note that he'd behaved like the perfect gentleman he was with her most of the time. By the time he was out of the water and into his own towel, she'd set herself up propped on the pillows of the large bed. The block of chocolate was opened and resting on her stomach as Sirius climbed up and stretched out alongside her.

"You know, much as I loved the Observatory, I think this is going to have to go into the record books as my favourite room at Hogwarts," Dawn popped a square of chocolate into her mouth.

"I can respect that," Sirius agreed. He reached out for the chocolate, but Dawn slapped his hand away as smartly as she had done with Peter. When he pouted, she relented with a sigh and slid a square of it into his mouth.

"Come on," Sirius snorted when he'd swallowed the small morsel she'd allowed him. "You can't tell me you'd really be able to finish that entire block off all by yourself."

Dawn regarded it critically. It was incredibly big. But then it was chocolate. She nodded. "Easily."

"I dare you."

Sirius watched, awestruck, as Dawn proceeded to snap off long rows of chocolate squares and devour them one after the other. When she finished, she tossed the wrapper aside and smirked in triumph.

"That has got to be the most brilliant thing I've ever seen a girl do," Sirius informed her frankly and then he kissed her. After a minute, he pulled back. "And there's that whole upside of you now tasting like chocolate, too."

With a little giggle, Dawn pulled Sirius closer so she could snuggle into him. They had planned on going back to Gryffindor tower so that they wouldn't be too greatly missed, but it was so late and they were tired, warm and far too comfortable together. Next thing either of them knew, the weak greyness of early morning greeted them as they awoke together.

"Oops," Dawn yawned. "Our bad."

"Damn shame, that," Sirius mumbled back, his hand tangling in the still-damp strands of Dawn's hair to urge her face up to his. "But there's nothing we can do about it now."

"So this is your 'experiment'?" a loud voice boomed. "A bathtub, some towels and a block of chocolate?"

"James!" Dawn bolted upright and clutched at her towel.

James smirked and tossed the discarded chocolate wrapper he'd come across aside. "This is exactly why we told Wormtail he shouldn't have left you two alone."

Remus shook his head in mock disapproval before he began to wander about the discovered room to investigate for himself. Dawn half expected him to take out a camera and start snapping away like a detective at a crime scene. James was regarding her and Sirius so shrewdly it made her blush; he was mentally piecing together what might have unfolded between them and evidently reaching the conclusion that it was still a little too early in the relationship for him to have a little chat with Sirius about the dangers of hurting your best mate's pseudo-sister. Peter had yet to even acknowledge them, he stood just inside the doorway, pink-faced and looking pointedly away from the underdressed couple. Dawn frowned to herself. Had he just looked at the pile of jumbled clothing left by the bathtub and scowled?

Sirius yawned hugely and sat up at last. "So is there any particular reason you lot are here?" He stretched his muscles out a little. "Or do you just like interrupting and invading people's privacy?"

James smirked again. "Just checking up on you, of course. But maybe you two should think about putting your bloody clothes back on. Wormtail over there's never seen a naked girl wrapped in a towel before, I don't think the poor bloke knows what to do with himself."

Peter's blush deepened to cherry red.


"I know we've had this discussion before, but I'd like to take another moment to impress the seriousness of this situation upon you all."

James and Sirius immediately tuned out Professor McGonagall's little post-holiday lecture. Remus was paying his usual respectful attention to the Professor while Peter tried not to look completely petrified. Dawn, however, wasn't even attempting to hide the fact that she was terrified. Her wide, fear-glazed eyes were fixed on her parchment as her quill flew back and forth across it, furiously recording every word that came out of Professor McGonagall's mouth.

"Your OWLs that are coming up in June are the most important exams of your education thus far. At the moment, I estimate that the majority of you are averaging anywhere from 'Acceptable' to 'Outstanding' in the Ordinary Wizarding Level, but I will not tolerate any slackness between now and the end of the year!" McGonagall thundered, and both Dawn and Peter eeped.

Remus smiled at the little sounds coming from the seats close by him, his gaze beginning to slide over the other students in the room and focusing specifically on one, even while he continued to listen. Isabel was sitting next to Lily as usual, and while Lily was taking a couple of notes, Isabel was paying for more attention to the young Gryffindor staring back at her. Isabel smiled at Remus and all thoughts of McGonagall and the OWLs evaporated. He felt a warm blush creeping up his cheeks as he smiled back and stared into her warm chocolate eyes.

Remus continued to stare, allowing himself to become distracted by thoughts of how lovely she really was. There was a strength about her thin, athletic frame that put his mind at ease and the way her short blond hair, cropped just a little shorter than his, even, fell around her face gave her an almost womanly air. Isabel was mature. She was loving, sweet, open- minded ... He could tell her the truth about what (no, who, as Dawn constantly reminded him) he really was, surely. Maybe she wouldn't be afraid, maybe she'd accept him as unconditionally as a girlfriend was supposed to. Or maybe she'd slap his face and run screaming into the distance to escape the filthy monster trying to seduce her.

He sighed, deciding it was better for his health if he ended his train of thought right then and there. Then he realised he was still staring at Isabel, and the connection had gone beyond cute, beyond creepy, and was bordering on Sirius and Dawn's behaviour at their most sickeningly attentive. With a quick, sheepish grin in his girlfriend's direction, Remus forced himself to tune back into what McGonagall was saying.

"... And if you remember nothing else heading into your OWLs, it is vital you remember that," McGonagall concluded.

Biting back a groan, Remus glanced over at Dawn's sheet of parchment covered in uncharacteristically cramped, hurried writing. Thank Merlin she seemed to have got it all covered, he'd have to ask to copy her notes later. Dawn herself looked as if she'd just been delivered her last rites. Sure, McGonagall often said she was a gifted Transfiguration student and the spells they performed in class were beyond simple for her most of the time, but what about that written component? They were supposed to be able to recall every spell used in ever lesson for the past five years, four of which she hadn't even been around for? She didn't even want to think about the Charms exam.

McGonagall then launched into the actual lesson, which seemed to have a calming effect on Dawn. When there was a dinner plate set before her, and nothing but her wand and the strict instructions to turn it into a warm-blooded animal, the world just seemed to make that much more sense to her. She closed her eyes and fixed a clear picture of what she wanted to create in her mind before focusing on the plate and waving her wand.

Peter shrieked in fright and scrambled several paces away from his and Dawn's desk. Dawn grinned at the full-grown cow standing on the desk, blinking mildly at her. Then she felt the wood start to shake. She shot out of her seat to safety just in time; with a series of creaks and cracks, the wood tore and the desk collapsed. When the dust had cleared, Dawn's cow was left standing shell-shocked in the pile of rubble.

"Of course some of you may want to place your dinner plates on the floor before you begin," McGonagall said sardonically.

The rest of the class tittered and Dawn felt the blush settling over her cheeks. The Marauders, all laughing now, gave a quick round of applause and joined her as she walked cautiously over to pet the cow.

"Sorry Bessie," Dawn murmured. "Didn't mean to scare you."

"Bessie?" James wrinkled his nose in distaste.

"Well it was either that or Meatloaf!"

Dawn led Bessie clear of the debris so that McGonagall could repair the damaged table with a flick of her wand. Sirius showed her how to adapt a conjuring spell and she spent the remainder of the lesson conjuring grass to feed the docile cow who barely seemed fazed by the menagerie that had sprung up around her. When James' brumby reared up and bucked at her, Bessie merely gave a soft moo in reply and pulled some more grass out of Dawn's hands.

"Stop that, Glue-stick!" James called, trying to reign the brumby in. Dawn tried not to snicker too loudly at the name.

Sirius considered the dinner plate before him, and then a decisive smile settled on his face. He waved his wand, producing a bull to go with Dawn's cow. Then he noticed how sharp those horns were and his grin short-circuited.

"Er, everyone in Gryffindor might want to take their ties off," he called.

There was a great flurry of movement while everyone rushed to put anything with red on it out of sight, and Peter instinctively ducked under the repaired desk to hide. Remus grinned to himself at the way Isabel had rushed behind him, clinging to the back of his robes for protection.

James sauntered over to Lily. "Don't you worry about that pretty red hair of yours, Evans. I'll protect you." He puffed his chest out as if to prove his masculinity.

Lily raked a critical eye over the boy. "I think I'll take my chances with that bull, Potter." She flicked her hair over her shoulder and returned her attention to the puppy she'd transfigured her plate into.

Dawn watched the meeting between Bessie and the bull unfold like a soap opera. Bessie became aware of the new male, she stopped pigging out on the grass quite so much as he approached. Sirius' bull came closer, Dawn tensed when she realised just how much power would be behind those horns if they rammed into her, but it paid her no mind at all. The two animals sniffed each other experimentally and then mooed in greeting.

Dawn let out a little "Aaw." It was almost romantic. Bessie and her new bull boyfriend turned together and started munching on the grass still held limply in Dawn's hands. Dawn shifted in apprehension. A bull trying to hit on her cow was one thing, but a bull with horns that almost grazed her chin as he ate grass from her hands was entirely another. Sirius came over to help conjure enough grass for the two animals and Dawn relaxed a little under the protection of his nearness.

The bell rang and everyone abandoned their animals to begin packing up. Dawn reached out to pat Bessie one last time before she had to leave her behind to God knew what fate. Maybe she'd be turned back into a dinner plate.

"Potter, Black, a word," McGonagall called. The classroom emptied, except for the two boys and Dawn waiting for them. She wasn't walking all the way up to the Divination tower alone. McGonagall arched an eyebrow. "Your detentions begin this evening. My office, six o'clock sharp."

James and Sirius only smiled, untroubled by the news. "See you then, Professor," they chorused.

They began the slow walk up to the seventh floor. "Ok, what's the deal?" Dawn asked. "I've never seen you two accept a detention so easily before."

They shrugged. "Well from the way you and Dad told it, we've only got detention because McGonagall had to make the Malfoys think we've been punished," James pointed out.

"So it's obviously not going to be as bad as the time we had to muck out the Owlery the muggle way," Sirius continued.

"And even if we get split up, my Dad gave us something over Christmas so that it wouldn't matter," James whispered as they climbed up to the Divination tower.

"What?" Dawn breathed back, curious.

"Show you later," Sirius muttered, reluctantly reaching for the pack of tarot cards on the table. "Now are you gonna read my fortune or what?"

"I'm not the one who needs the practice," Dawn shot back with an unladylike snort. "You read your own fortune." With that, she pulled out her Charms text and concealed it behind her Dream Journal so she could study something useful discretely. James and Sirius stared at her in horror.

"What are you doing?" James asked.

"Studying." Dawn did not even glance up from her page. "I'm so not ready for OWLs."

Sirius' jaw dropped. "Dawn, honey, it's January. Nobody is ready for OWLs."

She ignored his words, propping her book up as a flimsy barrier against the distractions trying to talk to her. Sirius and James shared a look and shrugged. Without Dawn to guide them and, well, do their work for them, neither knew exactly what to do with the deck of cards Sirius was still absently shuffling. In the end, James grabbed another deck to add to it and they settled on 'Go Fish'.

"Have you got a King of Cups?"

"Go fish. Got a Death card?"

"Fish. Queen of Hearts?"

"Bugger."

Dawn's book inched down to reveal a stony face. "Guys, I know it's only Divination, but some of us actually are trying to work here.

Both boys looked down, shrinking in their seats like chastised children. Their dejected poses tugged at Dawn's heartstrings.

"Oh, all right. Deal me in."

They beamed at her as if she'd just told them they could have ice-cream for dinner. Dawn put her books aside and held up a finger.

"Just one game, and then we all have to get some work done," she said sternly, trying to save face by putting off a concession of total defeat.

"Of course, Kitten," they patronised.


Dawn had decided she would wait up for Sirius and James no matter how late their detention ran. It was only fair, after all, considering the detentions had been earned protecting her honour and Dawn was eager for the chance to get some solid studying in while she waited.

She'd had an early dinner with them at five o'clock, and an hour later when they were knocking on the door to McGonagall's office, she was just curling up by the Common Room fire with her Defence Against the Dark Arts book. To her surprise, the two detainees strolled through the portrait-hole at seven-thirty, before most of the other students had even returned from dinner.

"You two didn't run out on Professor McGonagall, did you?" Dawn frowned. "'Cause you know she's gonna catch ya."

They only laughed. "No Kitten, she let us go," James promised. "I had to clean out the Transfiguration classroom while Padfoot took care of the Charms room."

"Uh-huh," Dawn said slowly. "And what's the catch?"

Sirius twirled his wand around in his fingers. "Well it was a little odd that she forgot to confiscate both our wands ... It took us about two minutes to Scourgify our rooms and then we spent our time planning a nice welcome back from the holidays gift for Malfoy."

Dawn frowned. "I'm not going to ask what you're going to do to Malfoy so I can honestly say I don't know anything about it, but how did you manage to talk about it when you were halfway across the castle from each other?"

James just grinned and jogged out of sight upstairs, Sirius slipped a mirror out of his robe pocket and into Dawn's hands.

"What, do I have something in my nose?"

He laughed. "No, baby. Just look into it and say 'James'."

"Ok then ... James."

Dawn jumped and almost dropped the mirror. When she looked into it, James' face was framed in the glass, grinning up at her. "Hey, Kitten! Like what my Dad gave me and Padfoot?"

"Very cool," Dawn approved. "Now will you get back down here, it's creepy seeing your face when I look in the mirror!"

Dawn spent the next few days in silent suspense. She kept waiting for something terrible and terribly funny to happen to Malfoy, but every morning he still stalked into the Great Hall as of he owned the castle. And every evening before his detention he still held court at the Slytherin table, rhapsodising to all who'd listen about why Mudbloods and traitors had ruined the school.

And then one day, when Dawn was least expecting it, the blond Slytherin in question looked decidedly uncomfortable when he arrived, late, for breakfast. Dawn studied the uncharacteristic wash of colour in his cheeks and the way his well-known interest in Sirius' older cousin Narcissa had taken a sharp downturn with mild interest. She arched a 'please explain' eyebrow at the boys.

"Thought you didn't want to know," James said.

"Changed my mind- it's a girl thing. Spill."

They all snickered. "We found a new use for the Shrinking Charm," Remus said almost conversationally.

"What-?" Dawn's eyes grew impossibly large. "Oh!"

"He won't be trying to rape anyone for a while, at least," Sirius reasoned, giving Dawn's hand a quick squeeze when he noticed her wince. He knew she was doing much better these days, and their little bath together was proof that she was much more comfortable, but she still didn't like to talk much about what she'd been put through. He was sure she'd talked it out with Lily and Isabel, though, and he had his suspicions she'd confided in Remus more than once, but he didn't mind in the least. Whatever made her feel better, helped her get it out of her system, couldn't be a bad thing in his mind. And there were some things that she just couldn't share with him sometimes, any more than he'd go confiding in her about how crazy he sometimes got, having her so close and yet not being able to have her as fully as he wanted. It was an unspoken compromise he'd willingly accepted.

"Is it ... Is it a permanent charm?" she asked, curious.

"Unfortunately, no. organic things can't be permanently shrunk," Remus supplied, absently wondering if he should offer her a quill and parchment to take notes. She might want to write that down for in case she needed to know for her OWLs.

"Well, does..." Dawn started giggling madly, turning her face into Sirius' shoulder to hide her blush.

"Oh Merlin," Sirius muttered. "This is going to be one of those embarrassing, ridiculous questions that should be saved for girls' dorms and sleepovers, isn't it?"

She nodded, still overcome with her giggles. "If ... If Shrinking Charms don't work permanently ... What about ..." More giggling. "What about ... Engorgement Charms?"

James, Sirius and Remus all rolled their eyes. Girls. Remus cleared his throat. "I'm not sure, Kitten. Can't say I've ever tried it, personally. I suppose it's be true, Hagrid's still having troubles with his Halloween pumpkins."

"No, they don't work," Peter supplied sadly.

Dawn stared at him for a full ten seconds, wondering how he knew for sure that an Engorgement Charm couldn't help a guy out in that way. Then she returned her face to the sanctuary of Sirius' shoulder, shaking and biting the inside of her mouth to keep from outright laughter. It really wouldn't be appropriate to laugh about that, Xander had always been adamant that people should never joke about size. Of course, Xander had never known he'd said anything on the subject within earshot of innocent, delicate little Dawn. She'd just accidentally on purpose overheard the conversation her sister had been having with her friends. From the looks on their faces, the other three boys seemed to share Xander's sentiments. James and Remus were looking at Peter with a thinly veiled mix of pity and disgust and had evidently lost their appetites. That was a big deal, especially for James.

Sirius was trying to elbow Dawn discretely. "You shouldn't laugh, Kitten. It's one of those sacred topics," he hissed in her ear, though Peter hadn't seemed to notice anything out of the ordinary as he continued his breakfast.

"I know," Dawn choked, controlling herself with a superhuman effort. "Sorry. I'll behave now."

Remus just shrugged at her before he went to sit with Isabel for a change of scenery ... and conversation. "Morning," she chirped, kissing his cheek.

"Good morning," Remus wound his fingers through hers, thrilled with the small comfort of even being able to do that. He'd never considered he'd be able to have a girlfriend, given his condition, but dating Isabel had come as naturally to him as Quidditch did to James. If only honesty came to him so easily, life would be fairly well perfect. Remus pushed the dark thoughts that had clouded over his face aside and walked with the other Gryffindors down to Potions.

The Slytherins had already gathered; Dawn instinctively checked her robe pocket for her wand as she slid into the seat next to Remus. She was certain Malfoy had told at least some of them about what had happened just before Christmas, and she hadn't really had to face any of them so closely since, what with the holidays and all.

Bellatrix's dark eyes glittered, her calculating stare trained on Dawn. But Dawn had stood up to her once before, and since the first time she'd told Bellatrix to back off, it had become a little easier to do. Blue eyes hardened and her jaw set insolently. The challenge was accepted, and neither girl was willing to break the staring contest.

Finally, Bellatrix stood to make her move. Every movement was slow and deliberate, Dawn's chin lifted a notch in defiance as the bigger girl stalked over, and Dawn's fingers closed around he wand. Bellatrix leaned over Dawn, resting her fisted hands heavily on either side of Dawn's empty cauldron.

"You're going to pay for what you did to Lucius, Mudblood," she hissed. "You and the two blood-traitors."

Dawn stood up, glaring. "And my little dog too? Try it." She arched an eyebrow. Malfoy himself knew he didn't have a chance at getting revenge on Dawn with Dumbledore watching his every move and she didn't think his friends would get too far, either.

A scowl settled over the dark-featured face, the voice remained low and snake-like. "The Dark Lord is very angry about this; he'll make sure you get what's coming to you, one way or another."

By contrast to Bellatrix's low threats, Dawn's voice carried clearly across the dungeon. "And how do you know what Voldemort's planning, Bella? Hang out with him a lot?"

The entire class froze at the sound of meek little Dawn Summers, second in timidity only to Peter Pettigrew, saying 'Voldemort' out loud. She hadn't even flinched. Not to mention the insinuation that Bellatrix Black was somehow connected to the dark wizard. Deep colour flooded Bellatrix's face. She raised her wand. So did Dawn, James and Sirius. Remus was on his feet, too.

"Enough!" Lily snapped, storming over. "All of you just sit down!"

Bellatrix snorted. "Why would I listen to a Mud-"

"Two reasons," Lily interrupted firmly, trying to ignore the growl that had come from a little to her left, where James stood. "First, I'm a Prefect so all I have to so is say the word for you to find yourself on detention. And secondly, you're really, really outnumbered this time."

The Slytherin considered a moment before withdrawing with a deep scowl. Even with Rodolphus Lestrange and Severus Snape backing her up, they were still outnumbered by the swarm of Gryffindors. Only when all was clear did the Gryffindor lot break ranks.

"That was so scary," Dawn whispered to Remus as they sank back into their seats.

"I know, but you did well," Remus returned, absently reorganising their books around their cauldrons.

"Thanks," Dawn breathed. She hesitated, then plunged in. "Um, how's with you and Isabel? You looked a little upset about something at the end of breakfast."

Remus flashed dulled amber eyes in Dawn's direction. "I was just wishing I could tell her. I really want to and I know I should, she deserves the truth," he mumbled. "But I'm afraid."

Dawn looked down. She wished she could tell him it'd be ok, but she just didn't know that for sure. She'd never forgive herself if she told him that and it all turned out to be a big lie. She patted his hand pathetically. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"Not yours, either."

He smiled then.


The autumn leaves crunched underneath her feet as she took tentative steps forward. Dawn had been standing outside Godric's Hollow from the minute she closed her eyes to sleep. But the scene of the mid-autumn night around her was hazed, blurred, like it was a long way away from her or something.

The white cotton nightie from Mrs Potter billowed ominously in the breeze, ghostly in the clouded moonlight. Dawn took a few more steps up the drive, not quite sure what was going to happen, or what was supposed to happen next. Sounds and visions assaulted her in response to her unasked question, bombarding her all at once. She couldn't be sure what had come first; the man's shouts, the woman's screams, the baby's cries, the high-pitched cackle or the explosion that shook her very bones. She'd closed her eyes against the onslaught, when she opened them again her whole body slackened with horror.

Dawn sank to the ground before the smouldering ruins of Godric's Hollow. And then she saw it again- bright green. Innocent eyes and a lightning bolt scar.


Dawn shuddered as she opened her eyes, enveloped in the darkness of the girls' dorm. The tears were already cascading down her face.

"Oh God. No."

Not caring if she woke the other girls or not, and not caring that she'd vowed never to let James or Sirius see her in that nightie again if she could at all prevent it, Dawn fought clumsily through her curtains. Her feet collided with the floor and she stumbled along, almost blinded by the tears. She pushed into the boys' dorm and straight over to Sirius' bed.

Sirius' first impression when he woke up was that someone had gone and dumped water all over him. How else was the wet patch spreading rapidly over the chest of his shirt to be explained? Then he realised there was a quivering American trying to burrow that little body of hers right through him.

"Dawn?" He shifted, trying to relieve some of the pressure she was unknowingly placing on certain sensitive areas while still wrapping his arms around her. "Baby, what is it?"

She wrapped both her arms and legs around him for comfort, if she wasn't crying it would've been heaven for him. "Dream," she sobbed. "Godric's Hollow. Laughter. Screaming. Baby crying. Explosion," she relayed, unable to get more than a word or two out at a time in explanation.

Luckily, Sirius had learned to interpret Dawn's distressed post-dream babble. It didn't take him long to figure out that she'd dreamed about Godric's Hollow. That she'd heard laughter (presumably Voldemort's), that someone had been screaming and there had been a baby crying in the house before the explosion. And then he was in a state of near-panic himself.

"Voldemort's after the Potters?" Just saying it aloud almost made him want to vomit.

Dawn twitched in his arms. "Think so. But not now. Had a feeling like it was a long way off," he voice crackled.

"Still," Sirius pressed, not willing to take the chance. Not with the Potters. "You should write it in your Journal tomorrow, and we'll tell Dumbledore about it, too."

"Ok," Dawn sniffled. "What about James?"

"I guess we might have to tell him too. We'll let him know after we've got Dumbledore to check on Mr and Mrs P at their house. If it really is a long way off, no sense in making him worry."

"Mm-hmm," Dawn returned, wiping at her face.

Sirius helped her out by kissing the last droplets of saltwater away. "Staying here?" he whispered, already knowing she wouldn't be leaving tonight even if she wanted to. He wasn't letting her out of his sight with the state she was in.

"Will you hold me?" she asked in a little voice.

"Never let you go," he promised, pulling her even closer and arranging them around each other. Dawn buried her face in his neck, one hand reaching up to absently twirl a lock of his longish hair around her fingers. Sirius waited until she was fully asleep to untangle her legs from around him and hopefully save them both a rather embarrassing wake-up call in the morning.

Dawn woke him so ridiculously early he felt as if he'd just gone to sleep and if it wasn't obvious that she hadn't gotten any real sleep at all, he'd have seriously considered kicking her out of his bed and rolling over. Instead he yawned, kissed her good morning and told her to meet him in the Common Room when she was dressed and ready.

A while later they found themselves in the familiar setting of Professor Dumbledore's office, Dawn curled in a chair and relating the dream she'd had in as much detail as she could remember. Dumbledore listened in silence as Dawn explained what she'd Seen, nodding his head to encourage her. Only when she was done did he open his mouth to speak.

"Well Dawn, I can assure you there was no disturbance at the Potter residence overnight. And from the description you gave, you have had a vision of an event that may come to pass years from now. Remember it, but do not let the images you have seen trouble you my dear," he advised.

Sirius' eyes flashed angrily. In the seat next to Dawn, he straightened. She had just come in and told him about a truly disturbing vision she'd dreamed, and all Dumbledore could say was 'don't worry about it'? Sirius was not at all satisfied. Nor, apparently, was Dawn.

"But Professor, shouldn't we be doing something about this?" she pressed. "I don't care if it's years from now, I'm not going to just sit back and let something bad happen! People have visions of bad things so they can stop them from actually happening. Besides, even a concrete prophecy can be thwarted, Buffy does –did- it all the time!"

Dumbledore held up a hand to ward off further protests; it looked as if Sirius intended to pick up where his girlfriend left off. "Now do you really think I intend to take no further precautions in light of this new possibility? I will speak to Mr Potter today and advise him to add to the protection spells that guard Godric's Hollow, of course."

Both students looked down sheepishly.

"So, if that satisfies the both of you, off you go then. I have a floo call to make," Dumbledore smiled. "And Miss Summers, I am aware that your upbringing was rather unique, but I must remind you that the Wizarding world is on the verge of war. And whatever your talents, experiences and instincts may be, war is no place for someone so young as yourself."

Dawn bit her lip and looked down. She was being told the same thing she'd heard a million times in Sunnydale- there were all these important things going on around her, and she wasn't allowed to help with any of them. If possible, she suddenly felt even worse than when she had come into the office.

"Yes Professor," she mumbled, not looking at him. It was still much too early to head down to breakfast, so they returned to the Common Room to curl up in front of the fire together.

Dawn sighed. "What am I going to tell James?"

"Hmm?" Sirius jerked upright as if he'd been caught dozing. He was still groggy as he tightened his hold on Dawn. "What do you mean?"

She snuggled into him. "About my vision. I mean, 'by the way, James, I saw your childhood home destroyed in my dreams' isn't the best follow-up to a good morning."

"Don't tell him then," Sirius shrugged. "You heard what Dumbledore said, this is just something that might or might not happen years from now. Besides, the Potters don't even have a baby. What good would it do to worry James over something so vague?"

From the way Dawn tensed and shifted away with a sharp jerk of her shoulders, Sirius started to think that maybe he'd said something wrong. the way those blue eyes of hers had flooded with hurt-tinged anger were a pretty big clue, as well. "Well I know it doesn't seem like such a big deal to you, but then you're not the one who keeps dreaming of people you care about getting hurt!"

She tried to storm off in a huff, feeling just a little ridiculous even as she did so, but Sirius made it somewhat difficult by grabbing her wrist in a firm grip. "Dawn, don't ..."

"Don't what? Be upset? I don't see why I shouldn't be, Sirius." She yanked her arm back so she could cross them both over her chest.

"I'm sorry, ok?" his voice raised a bit. Why were they arguing again? "I didn't mean to put your dreams down or anything, I just wanted to say I don't think we should worry James over things not set in stone. You said it yourself- it seemed like a lifetime away!"

Dawn looked away. Maybe he was making just a little more sense than she was. Still ... "You want me to lie to James?"

He let out a gruff sigh. "Just don't tell the truth if he doesn't need to know about it. It can't hurt him, Kitten, but we know hearing the truth will."

"Ok." She looked back at him and deflated a little. "I'm sorry, I think I just had a sleep-deprived mood swing or something. I shouldn't have acted like such a prima bi-atch."

"Bi-atch?" he smirked, and she knew she was forgiven.

She shrugged and smiled and leaned in for a kiss. The next thing either of them knew, the Common Room had grown considerably lighter around them and there was a voice trying persistently to break into their awareness.

"Oh, come on, you two. What if I had been one of the first years?"

Blinking, dishevelled, Dawn and Sirius broke apart and stared dazedly up at the slight smirk on Lily's face.

"Get a room."


A.N.: Next chapter is going to be big in more ways than one... just to get you all curious. Reviews are good!

Anoron