Chapter 3: Arriving at Hogwarts

October, 1990 - A Monastery somewhere in France

Several men dressed in monks' robes stood talking in the middle of chapel area.

"So, the Seer has seen the Beast manage to break from her mortal prison. That means she will be coming for the key."

"Then it is time. Do we have a vessel to house the key and a protector to give it to?"

"Yes, the vessel is a very powerful witch who died several years ago. We will resurrect the body and house the key in it. Then we will send it to the twins who lived to protect. The Seer has foreseen they will have the power to protect the key. We will use a de-aging potion as well a transfiguration spell so that she looks like their cousin. We should modify all person's memories involved including the vessels so as to protect the identity of the key."

"Agreed let us begin."

September 1, 1991 – 2:00 am PDT – Summers Home, Los Angeles, California

Buffy woke confused where she was as she looked around the room for a moment. It dawned on her that she was in Dawn's room. She thought over the dream and tried piecing it all together. She was sure the twins that lived referred to her and Harry. The cousin had to be either Dawn or Dudley. And from what Harry had told her she knew it couldn't be Dudley as Harry likely would rather not protect him if at all possible. That meant Dawn, still Buffy had to wonder was what she had dreamed just in her imagination or was it a vision of something that had already happened.

10:30 am GMT - King's Cross Station, London, England

Buffy, Dawn, Harry and Joyce stood on the platform between tracks nine and ten. Harry was looking over Buffy's shoulder at her ticket, "But there is no Platform Nine and Three Quarters," Harry said. "How are we supposed to get to Hogwarts from a platform that don't exist?"

Joyce shook her head and smiled and motioned for them to follow her. She pointed towards a column of bricks between platforms nine and ten. "There is the entrance to the platform, Harry," she said as she looked at the twins and saw their confused expressions. "It's made to look like you can't walk through it so Muggles don't accidentally find the train. Now I will take Dawn through to show you how. Then you two follow on behind me."

Harry and Buffy watched as Joyce and Dawn seemingly walked through a solid wall and vanished. Buffye gulped and then ran after Joyce diving through the wall at a run, and almost crashing into Joyce and Dawn on the other side. Harry was not far behind her. She looked around amazed at the sight and then smiled at her brother as they moved away from the wall behind them.

At that moment they heard a voice behind them speak up, "Why I live and breathe, Joyce Potter."

Joyce was the first to turn around and smiled before Harry, Buffy, and Dawn joined her in seeing who was speaking. At that moment they saw six red headed children and their mother. "Hello, Molly, it has been a long time. Thought I thought I mentioned in my owls that I had gotten married."

"You may have," Mrs. Weasley admitted as she hugged Joyce. She noticed her children as well as Harry, Dawn and Buffy looking at her and Joyce quizzically. "Joyce was in my year at Hogwarts," she explained. She turned and looked at the children with Joyce. "And who are these three you have with you?"

Joyce turned and smiled, "This is my daughter Dawn, and these are Harry and Isabella Potter. My niece and nephew, James and Lily's children."

Mrs. Weasley nodded as she could see the resemblance. "I should have recognized them," she said as she looked at the twins. "You both look like your parents." She looked back at Joyce. "These are only some of mine. The two eldest already have graduated. This is Percy, Fred and George, Ron and Willow, and Ginny."

"If I remember from your owls," Joyce said. "Bill and Charlie are the oldest. And let me see if I can guess which ones the twins are, Fred and George are the easiest they look alike. I would say the other twins are Ron and Willow, correct?"

Mrs. Weasley nodded and smiled. "You got all that from my owls, did you?" she asked. "Back at school they always said you were brightest in our year." Joyce blushed and nodded not finding what to say to the compliment.

Joyce and Molly stood talking as they watched the children, minus Ginny and Dawn, loading their possessions on the train before getting on themselves and waving goodbye. Buffy was the last to get on the train, after she did, she immediately got off and ran over to Joyce hugging her and Dawn, "I'm gonna miss, you."

Joyce smiled as she returned the embrace. "And we, you," she said. "We will see you at Christmas. Now you better get on that train before it leaves you standing here." Buffy nodded before getting on the train again, and going to find her brother.

As the train pulled out of the station Buffy and Harry stood at the window waving at Joyce and Dawn till they rounded the bend and moved on out of sight. Houses flashed past the window. The door of the compartment slid open and Ron and Willow came in.

"Anyone sitting there?" Ron asked, pointing at the seat opposite Harry and Buffy.

"Everywhere else is full," added Willow.

"Are you two really Isabella and Harry Potter?" Ron blurted out. "And have you really got—you know…"

Harry and Buffy looked at each other and sighed. Buffy brushed her hair away from her cheek as Harry pulled back his bangs to show their lightning scars.

"So that's where You-Know-Who—?"

"Yes," said Harry, "but neither Bells or I can remember it."

"Bells?" Willow asked.

"Nothing?" said Ron eagerly.

"Harry's nickname for me," said Buffy. She hated that Harry had chosen that nickname for her, especially when she kept reminding him her name was Buffy now. "My name is Buffy now though."

"Well—I remember a lot of green light, but nothing else," Harry admitted.

Buffy looked back out the window as she let her thoughts drift off and slowly her eyes began to close as she drifted off to sleep.

August 24, 1991 – Sunnydale, California

Faith Lehane, the current Slayer tried to pull one of the monks that had guarded the Key to his feet. But she could see he was not going anywhere.

"You have to... The Key," he said. "You must protect The Key."

"Protect the Key," Faith said. "Right, we'll do it together." She looked back toward the warehouse and where the demon she had fought and had lost against was. "Far from here."

"Many have... died... many more, if you don't... keep it safe..."

"How?" Faith asked. "What is it?"

"The Key is energy. It's a portal. It opens the door..."

"The Dagon Sphere?" Faith asked as she remembered a round glowing ball, she had found the night before.

The monk shook his head. "For centuries it had no form at all. My brethren... its only keepers. Then..." he said as he pointed back at the warehouse. "The abomination... found us. We had to hide The Key... Found a body, resurrected it, and placed the Key within it. Sent it to the twins who lived. You must help them protect it."

September 1, 1991 – Hogwarts Express

Buffy woke as she was shaken by her brother, "Bells," he said. "Wake up we're almost there. You need to get in to your robes."

Buffy peered out of the window. It was getting dark. She could see mountains and forests under a deep purple sky. The train did seem to be slowing down. She looked at her brother. "How many times do I have to ask you to stop calling me that."

Harry laughed and looked at Ron and Willow. "As many times as, I keep calling you Bells, Bells."

They took turns changing into their robes. Buffy and Willow were first as they took off their jackets and pulled on their long black robes. When they stepped out in the corridor Ron and Harry did the same.

The train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way toward the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students, and Buffy heard a familiar voice: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Isabella, Harry?"

"It's Buffy, remember Hagrid," Buffy said. "Hagrid, I need to talk to one of the Professors, it's urgent."

Hagrid looked at the twins and a frown appeared on his face, "Is something wrong, Isa … Buffy?"

Buffy looked at her brother who in turned looked at her, she could see the concern on his face. She hadn't told him about either of the dreams she had about the monks. Since Harry had woke her up on the train, she knew that they were important. How she wasn't sure. "I don't know, Hagrid, I hope not. But I need to talk to one of the professors to figure it out."

Hagrid nodded as Ron and Willow walked up behind Harry and Buffy. "Okay, Isabella, once we reach the castle and while you, Harry and the rest of the first years are being sorted, I will talk to Professor Dumbledore and let him know you want to see him." He turned his attention back to the others on the platform. "C'mon, follow me—any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"

Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that Harry thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke much.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

There was a loud "Oooooh!"

The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Harry and Buffy were followed into their boat by Ron and Willow.

"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then—FORWARD!"

And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.

"Mind telling us what's up, Buffy?" Willow asked.

Buffy looked around to see if anyone was listening and then told them about her dreams. Harry was shocked to say the least that his sister hadn't told her about the dreams.

"Ok based on what you heard the monks said in your dream they sent someone to us with something we have to protect. I assume the someone you think could be Dawn," Harry said.

Buffy nodded, "That's why I need to talk to a professor. I need to know if my dreams are real or not and if I'm correct about Dawn having this key that the woman, that they called the abomination, wants."

Ron and Willow looked at each other and then at Harry and Buffy.

"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.

"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.

"Trevor!" cried Neville blissfully, holding out his hands. Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle.

They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.

"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?"

Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.

The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Harry's first thought was that this was not someone to cross

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." McGonagall said as she pulled the door wide. They followed her across the flagged stone floor.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend free time in your House common room.

"The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule-breaking will lose House points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever House becomes yours.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

Buffy watched as her brother nervously tried to flatten his hair.

"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly." She left the chamber.

"How exactly do they sort us into Houses?" Harry asked Ron and Willow.

"Some sort of test, I think," Ron answered. "Fred said it hurts a lot."

"You know Fred and George," Willow said. "Fred was joking, I think."

Suddenly a blond-haired boy stepped up in front of Buffy's face almost nose to nose. "Do you mind?" she asked as she took a step back away from the boy.

The boy laughed. "So, the Potter Twins have come to Hogwarts," he said. "If you both know what's good for you, you won't hang around the wrong sorts." He motioned toward Ron and Willow.

"I think we can spot the wrong sorts from here," Buffy said.

"Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."

Professor McGonagall had returned.

"Now, form a line," McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me."

Buffy, Harry, Ron and Willow walked across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting.

McGonagall led the first years up to the front.

Buffy heard Hermione whisper, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History."

McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty.

The hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth and it sang. When it was done the whole hall burst into applause.

"So, we've just got to try on the hat!" Ron whispered.

McGonagall stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"

A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. A moment's pause—

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.

On and on it went one student after another in alphabetical order by their last name until…

"Potter, Harry!"

Harry stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall.

"Potter, did she say?"

"The Harry Potter?"

"That must be his sister, the blonde girl that was standing next to him, Isabella Potter."

Harry sat on the stood and McGonagall put the hat on his head. Buffy watched and waited, it seemed to be taking a long time for the hat to call out which house Harry would be assigned to. Suddenly it shouted…

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Potter, Isabella!"

Buffy walked up to the stool and she sat down. The last thing she saw before the hat dropped over her eyes was Harry craning his next from where he now sat at the Gryffindor table. Next second she was looking at the black inside of the hat. She waited.

"Ah the other Potter," said a small voice in her ear. "Difficult. Very difficult. You are very much like your brother. You like he have plenty of courage, a sharp mind, talent and a thirst to prove yourself. Oh, my goodness, you are a Potential I see. That makes it even more difficult. Where to put you?"

Buffy gripped the edges of the stool and thought, With Harry, I want to be with my brother. We were just reunited a few weeks ago. I want to be with him.

"Are you sure?" the voice asked. "Well, if you're sure—better be… GRYFFINDOR!"

Buffy look relieved and got off the stool. She started for the Gryffindor table and Harry when she saw one of the professors waving her over. He smiled at her as she approached. "I will have Professor McGonagall bring you to my office after the feast, Ms. Potter. We can talk then."

Buffy nodded and then proceeded to go sit by her brother.

Later after the feast Buffy was led by McGonagall to the headmaster's office. She only waited a brief moment before Dumbledore walked in, "Now what is so urgent that you needed to see a professor?"

Buffy looked down and sighed before returning her gaze to the headmaster, "Well I had a dream, well actually 2 of them. They seemed so real when I woke up." Buffy proceeded to tell Dumbledore of her dreams. When she was done, she sat there waiting for him to say something.

"Well, Miss Potter, I do believe you have some sort of cognitive ability that manifests itself while you're asleep. I do believe that your dreams actually happened. In fact, I wouldn't hesitate to think your suspicions of your cousin Dawn maybe correct, that she may indeed be the person the monks resurrected and have in her possession this key that this abomination could be looking for. I will talk to your aunt and we will see about bringing Dawn here for her own protection till we can learn more. If it turns out she does not have the key no harm, no foul. She will just be a leg up compared to other first years, next year. I will get some of the professors researching this in their free time. Don't you worry we will do everything to protect Dawn."

Buffy nodded and smiled, "Thank you, Professor." He nodded and then proceeded to take her to the Gryffindor common room.