Chapter 14: Return to Hogwarts

September 1, 1992

Joyce, Harry, Buffy, and Dawn arrived early at the Weasley's home. They were to be going together with the Weasleys' and Hermione to the train station from there. They waited patiently while Mr. and Mrs. Weasley argued about a car that they owned.

Buffy had grown tired of waiting and stood up, "Mom, can we just Floo to the Leaky Cauldron and get a taxi from there to King's Cross?"

Joyce sighed and looked at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as they noticed the time.

When at last they were all in the car, Mrs. Weasley glanced at Joyce, and said, "Muggles do know more than we give them credit for, don't they? I mean, you'd never know it was this roomy from the outside, would you?"

Joyce rolled her eyes.

Mr. Weasley started up the engine and they trundled out of the yard. They wound up having to go back a few times for things that had been forgotten; George—box of Filibuster fireworks. Fred—broomstick. Ginny—her diary.

They reached King's Cross at a quarter to eleven. Mr. Weasley dashed across the road to get trolleys for their trunks and they all hurried into the station.

"Percy first," said Molly Weasley, looking nervously at the clock overhead, which showed they had only five minutes to disappear casually through the barrier.

Percy strode briskly forward and vanished. Mr. Weasley went next; Fred and George followed, followed by Hermione and Willow.

"I'll take Ginny and then Buffy come right after us. Then, Harry and Ron, you're after her, and Joyce and Dawn after that," Mrs. Weasley said, grabbing Ginny's hand and setting off. In the blink of an eye they were gone.

Buffy took a run at the wall and slammed her trolly into it hard. She noticed several people looking at her and made an excuse of misaligned wheels before returning to Joyce, "I don't understand we still got a couple minutes but I couldn't get through."

Joyce walked up to the barrier and leaned against the wall trying to push through. "That's odd. It shouldn't be closed, Dawn, why don't you try."

Dawn walked up to the wall and leaned against it and try as she might was unable to pass through the barrier. She walked back to Joyce, Harry, and Buffy, "I can't get through either."

Joyce frowned and shook her head and looked up at the clock, "Well the train just left, let's go back to the car and wait for Molly and Arthur. Once they come back, we will Floo Dumbledore and let him know."

A few minutes later Mr. and Mrs. Weasley walked back to their car, "Joyce, what's going on, why didn't you and they come through the barrier?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

Joyce sighed and looked at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, "Well it's like this. Buffy tried going through the barrier and hit a solid wall. I tried going through it and it felt solid to me as well. Then I asked Dawn to try and she couldn't get through either."

Mrs. Weasley looked at the Potters and Ron confused. She and Mr. Weasley had no problem getting through the barrier. "That's weird we just came through it just fine. Let's return to the Burrow and we will Floo Dumbledore."

An hour later Joyce, Molly, Arthur, Ron, Harry, Buffy, and Dawn sat in the kitchen as Dumbledore appeared out of the fireplace. "Afternoon everyone, now what is this about missing the train?"

Buffy told how she had tried to get through the barrier, followed by Joyce's attempt and finally Dawn's. They then said that after they had left to wait by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's car that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had been able to pass through it just fine.

"That is quite unusual; the barrier isn't supposed stop people from going through for at least fifteen minutes after the train has left. That way parents seeing their children off can get back out. Something must have intentionally stopped you. I will contact the Ministry and have them check why you couldn't get through. Now we should be getting you four to Hogwarts," Dumbledore said.

Buffy looked at everyone, before finally looking at Dumbledore. "So how are we getting to Hogwarts? We can't Floo with our trunks. And Side-Along Apparation isn't possible with so many of us."

Dumbledore smiled and pulled out a rope out of his pocket, "Portus. There now everyone going will grab the rope. I would suggest tying the trunks together so that they don't get left behind. Then we will take this portkey straight to Hogwarts."

Buffy looked at Dawn and smiled as they got ready to go as Ron and Harry did the same. Then they bid Joyce, Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley goodbye and grabbed the rope. In an instant they were at Hogwarts.

Dumbledore led them to the Gryffindor Tower, "Get settled in. The train should be here in about three hours. I will see you three at the feast."

A few hours later they were sitting at the Gryffindor table as McGonagall called out name of First Years being sorted. They had been telling everyone what had happened with the barrier when they heard McGonagall call out, "Weasley, Ginevra."

Dawn looked up and waved at Ginny as she sat on the stool. A moment later the Sorting Hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR."

Ginny was excited as she rushed over to sit in between Ron and Willow.

"And lastly," McGonagall said. "we have a new student transferring from Ilvermorny. Maclay, Tara."

Willow looked up as she remembered the name of the girl, she had met in Diagon Alley. Tara had never answered on how she had been able to cast a spell not only wandless but wordless also. She watched as Tara sat down and McGonagall put the sorting hat on her head. A moment later the Sorting Hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR."

Now that everyone was sorted the feast started. Buffy looked towards the high table and noticed that Giles was sitting up there. "Excuse me for a moment, guys." She walked to the table and looked at Giles, "What are you doing here?"

Giles smiled as he stood up and motioned her away from the others at the table, "Officially I'm the new assistant librarian. Unofficially we still have to keep up on your training; you are a Slayer after all. I set it all up with Dumbledore, he set aside a spare classroom for me to train you in. You of course can bring Harry and Dawn also, if they want to continue to train with you. Now why don't you go back and get something to eat and we will talk about this more tomorrow."

Buffy nodded and headed back to her spot at the Gryffindor table.

Voldemort looked over the group smiling, his plan was working. The Weasley girl had his diary. With the help of the portion of his soul trapped in the diary he would be able to come back.

September 12, 1992

It was the end of the second week, and Buffy sat on the Quidditch Pitch waiting her turn to try out for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Oliver Wood had put up a notice the week before that they would be holding tryouts for a Chaser as one of the students who had been a Chaser had graduated the year before.

Buffy had spent the last two weeks practicing quidditch and just improving her flying skills with Harry. She waved to her brother as her name was finally called.

She grabbed her broom; Harry had bought her during their trip to Diagon Alley, and flew up beside Harry who gave her a pat on the back, "Good Luck, Bells."

Buffy smiled and then was off, with her Slayer reflexes she managed to score more points than anyone else who had tried out. Oliver was smiling and nodded, "I think we have our new Chaser, Isabella Potter. Everyone else thank you for trying out and better luck next time."

Buffy stayed in the air for a few moments before landing next to her brother who hugged her tightly.

"I know you could do it, Bells." Harry said. "Hey, Wood, you know this is becoming a family sport, don't you? Two Potters and Two Weasley's out of all 7 players. Two families make up half the team, now."

Buffy blushed as Oliver nodded, "Ok practice will be Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings after classes, as well as Saturday Afternoons. Except on a Hogsmeade weekend, when there will be no practice."

Buffy sighed. She couldn't wait till she was a third-year student and was allowed to go to Hogsmeade.

September 3, 1992

As Dawn, Harry, Ron, Buffy, Hermione and Willow neared the greenhouses for their herbology lesson they saw the rest of the class standing outside, waiting for Professor Sprout. They had only their classmates when Professor Sprout came striding into view across the lawn, accompanied by Gilderoy Lockhart.

"Oh, hello there!" Lockhart called, beaming around at the assembled students. "Just been showing Professor Sprout the right way to doctor a Whomping Willow! But I don't want you running away with the idea that I'm better at Herbology than she is! I just happen to have met several of these exotic plants on my travels…"

"Greenhouse three today, chaps!" said Professor Sprout, who was looking distinctly disgruntled, not at all her usual cheerful self. She took a large key from her belt and unlocked the door. Buffy and Harry were about to follow Dawn, Willow, Ron and Hermione inside when Lockhart's hand shot out.

"Harry! Isabella! I've been wanting a word—you don't mind if they're a couple of minutes late, do you, Professor Sprout?"

Judging by Professor Sprout's scowl, she did mind, but Lockhart said, "That's the ticket," and closed the greenhouse door in her face.

"Harry, Isabella," said Lockhart, his large white teeth gleaming in the sunlight as he shook his head. "Harry, Isabella, Harry. Isabella. When I heard—well, of course, it was all my fault. Could have kicked myself."

Buffy and Harry looked at each other clearly having no idea what he was talking about. They were about to say so when Lockhart went on, "Don't know when I've been more shocked. Intentionally missing the train. Having Professor Dumbledore bring you! Well, of course, I knew at once why you'd done it. Stood out a mile. Harry, Isabella, Harry. Isabella."

"Gave you both a taste for publicity, didn't I?" said Lockhart. "Gave you both the bug. You two got onto the front page of the paper with me and you couldn't wait to do it again."

"Oh, no, Professor, see—" started Harry.

"Harry, Isabella, Harry, Isabella," said Lockhart, reaching out and grasping the twins' shoulders. "I understand. Natural to want a bit more once you've had that first taste—and I blame myself for giving you that, because it was bound to go to your head—but see here, you can't start missing the train just to get yourselves noticed. Just calm down, all right? Plenty of time for all that when you're older. Yes, yes, I know what you're thinking! 'It's all right for him, he's an internationally famous wizard already!' But when I was twelve, I was just as much of a nobody as you are now. In fact, I'd say I was even more of a nobody! I mean, a few people have heard of you, haven't they? All that business with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!" He glanced at twins' lightning scars. "I know, I know—it's not quite as good as winning Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award five times in a row, as I have—but it's a start, it's a start."

He gave Harry and Buffy a hearty wink and strode off.