Willow came to in the train compartment, setting across from Harry, and looked around groggily. "What happened?"
Harry looked relieved that his sister was conscious and said. "We aren't sure. The train came to a sudden stop and the lights went out. After that, it got really cold and I could feel you were in trouble, so I tried to get out the door, but it was locked. There was a sudden scream that sounded like a ghostly shriek and the cold went away. We were able to get the door open and found you in the hallway, so I set you down in the set. Are you ok Willow?"
The Wicca looked around at the concerned faces of her friends. They all had questioning looks except for Dawn. The Slayer's little sister looked at Willow with a calculating eye. The Empath could feel she wasn't happy.
"Yeah, I'm fine Harry. Something attacked me in the hallway, but I destroyed it. I'm not sure what it was though, but it wasn't demonic just dark." Willow explained. There came an urgent knock on the door.
Hermione pulled out her wand and asked. "Who is it?"
"It's Remus Lupin." They heard the Werewolf call from the other side of the door.
Ron reached over and opened the door. The Hogwarts Professor stood in the crowded compartment and looked around at the children. He saw they appeared to be fine, except Willow was pail. He asked Harry what happened, and the young boy explained the events. The Professor gave the Wicca a piece of chocolate.
"That creature was a Dementor, Willow, and until right now, I've never heard of one being destroyed. If I may ask how did it?" Lupin questioned the young girl.
Willow slowly chewed her chocolate as she thought of a response. It was Dawn who answered for her though. "She literally overwhelmed its very being with her own magic and willed it dead. It's an attack based on pure raw magic that has no defining element except power."
Hermione was astonished. "That's incredible! A spell like that could do almost anything! Could you teach us how it works?"
Willow looked sheepish as she told her friend. "I could but, other than Harry, no one else in this car could hope to use it without passing out or dying, and even then it probably wouldn't work. I do know another Charm that might actually work in destroying a Dementor that I could show you."
Lupin looked between Willow and Dawn curiously. There seemed to be more going on than ether girl was saying. "Look, I'm going to check with the conductor and see if everything is alright. I would suggest you kids get dressed in your robes as we will be arriving soon." With that Lupin left the car.
It wasn't much longer before the train arrived at Hogwarts. The group exited and walk on to the platform. Of to the side Hagrid was yelling. "Firs' years, firs' years overhear. As'o new students."
Willow, Dudley, and Dawn fallowed the little kids over to the half giant. Hagrid then led the group down a path around a bend, to a lake with boats waiting. In the distance the children could see what had to be Hogwarts. "No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid said. After everyone was settled in the Grounds Keeper hollered. "Forward!" The boats seemed to glide across the lake to an underground dock.
After they landed, everyone walked up a set of stone stairs to a large door that Hagrid pounded on. It was soon answered by Professor McGonagall with her standards stern face. "The firs' years Professor." Said the half giant kindly.
"Thank you, Hagrid, that will be all. You may head to Great Hall." McGonagall said stern but politely. She turned back to the first years and gave her usual speech about the houses, and then went back into the hall to check if things where ready. McGonagall returned and led the students inside.
Dawn was in love with the school. She wished Buffy were here to see it with her though. The young Witch looked out across the sea of new faces, as each face stared back at the three older kids curiously. A few noticed Willow and began to point excitedly. After everyone made it to the front, McGonagall brought out a stool and placed an old Wizard's hat on top of it. The old dusty hat opened up a mouth-like rip in the bottom and began to sing a song about Hogwarts.
After the song, McGonagall pulled out a scroll from her pocket and rolled it out. She looked at the first years and said. "When I call your name, you will come up and set on the stool. I'll place the hat on your head, and it will sort you into a house. You will then go set at the table indicated. Abigail Arrow." McGonagall said as a small black girl with long hair bounced up to the stool.
Abigail became the first Ravenclaw and the sorting continued for almost an hour. Finally, after the last of the first years went, McGonagall looked at the three remaining older students. She turned back towards the school and said. "We will now sort the new third year students joining us. Dudley Dursley, please come forward."
The school watched as the very wide boy mad his way up to the stool. As he sat on it the old wooden seat, and it creaked loudly. Somehow, the old stool held Dudley as McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on his head.
'What have we here. It's been a while sense I sorted someone as old as you Mr. Dursley, but let's see. You have the mind for Slytherin but I don't think you would like it there, so where to put you.' The Hat said.
Dudley was a little startled at first by the hat talking to him but recovered quickly. He thought back. 'Could you please place me in Slytherin. My cousin will go there, and I would like to be with her if I can't go to Gryffindor.' The truth was Dudley was scared and would like to be with someone he knew.
'I'm sorry Mr. Dursley but nether house well work for you. You'll have much more luck in...' "Hufflepuff!" The Hat finished with a shout.
Dudley stood and took of the hat and gave it back to McGonagall. He walked over slowly to the table that was clapping. Dawn noticed Harry looked relieved but said nothing to Willow, who was paying more attention to her cousin.
McGonagall looked back at her scroll and called. "Willow Potter." The hall grew deathly quiet as the redhead made her way to the stool.
As the hat was placed on her head, Willow felt it enter her mind. She opened herself up to the intruder and waited. 'My, I've never sorted one as powerful as you before my dear. You could fit into any house you wanted.' Thought the hat.
'Put me in Slytherin.' Willow thought confidently.
'Are you sure dear. Harry would love for you to be in the same house as him, I'm sure. You may have used Dark Magic, but it was for courageous reason.' thought the Sorting Hat.
'It is for a courageous reason that I must go to Slytherin. I need to keep an eye on that house, as to protect the world and Harry from any possible future evils. I know not all Slytherins are bad, there were Death Eaters from other houses, but they are more likely to do bad things. My future husband is also in that house and I know he has already killed someone.' Willow answered back.
The hat could think of no rebuttal. 'Very well dear if you're sure.' "Slytherin!"
Willow walked over to the Slytherin table as it roared in applause. She looked at her disappointed brother and smiled sadly. Harry just turned back towards his friends. They had already discussed this prior to today, but he was never good with the idea. The redhead sat between Pansy and Vincent as McGonagall called Dawn to the stool.
Dawn placed herself on the stool confidently. She had never been shy about being in front of a crowd. Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head and stepped back. 'Well, aren't you a curious one. So full of courage like your friend Ms. Potter, and so determined to go to Slytherin instead of Gryffindor also like Ms. Potter. If I may ask why that is dear?'
'I love Willow so much, but I have seen that Witch at her worst. Someone needs to be around that can tell her she's wrong when she is, otherwise there could be a repeat of Sunnydale.' Dawn thought.
'You have a point dear but Slytherin is the absolute wrong house for you. I could never place you there knowing that it would only harm your growth as a Witch.' The hat answered.
'So, what should I do then Mr. Hat? How can I look out for Willow if I'm not in the same house as her?' Dawn asked angrily.
'By helping to keep a close eye on her heart. Harry is the key to saving Willow from Dark Magic dear. No matter how far she falls, the connection she has with her twin is stronger than any Dark Magic Willow could ever invoke.'
"Gryffindor." The hat sad loudly.
There was a roar of applause at the Gryffindor House Table as the rambunctious group welcomed their newest member. Dawn walked over and sat next to Hermione and smiled happily at the group of friends she met on the train. She looked across the hall at Willow though and smiled sadly. The Wicca just smiled back at her and mouthed. 'It cool. Good luck.'
Willow turned to her house and looked around. She was about to ask Crabbe to introduce her to everyone, but Albus Dumbledore stood up. The Great Hall grew quiet as everyone gave him their full attention.
"Welcome!" said the old Headmaster, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast. . . ."
Dumbledore went on to explain the Dementors of Azkaban would be staying at Hogwarts, and ask that the students stay clear of the creatures. He gave a few warnings that Willow knew where directed at Harry and his friends.
"On a happier note, we have two new teachers with us this year. Allow me to introduce Professor Lupin for Defense Against the Dark Arts." Albus said as a man in worn down robes stood and waved. There was some applause from the school as people looked him over carefully. He soon sat back down.
Dumbledore waited for silence to return and said. "As to are second new Professor this year. Rubeus Hagrid has agreed to fill in for the Care Of Magical Creatures position, as are own Professor Kettleburn has retired. He wished to spend more time with his remaining limbs."
This time the applause was much louder. Willow noticed her brother and Ron going wild along with several other Gryffindors. She also noticed several sour faces amongst the Slytherin table. Perhaps the three most noticeable were her betrothed and his two close friends.
"Now, let the feast begin." Dumbledore said as he sat back down. All the tables soon filled with food that magically appeared from nowhere. Willow felt a transfer spell and figured that it had all just had come from the kitchen. Vincent politely offered her some potatoes which she declined. She instead grabbed the baked chicken and green beans.
As Willow quietly ate her food, she listened to the conversation around her. Draco said to another tall lanky boy. "I can't believe that old fool made that oaf a Professor. He keeps playing favorites with the stupid Gryffindors. I sure wish my dad could've gotten him sacked last year."
The lanky blonde boy said. "I doubt he'll be teaching us for long. When enough parents here about it and start complaining, Dumbledore will have to replace him."
Pansy noticed Willow paying attention to Draco's conversation and said. "Oh, I'm sorry Willow, allow me to introduce you to everyone. This boy her talking to Draco is Theodore Nott, and the boy across from him is Blaise Zabini. The girl setting next to me is Millicent Bulstrode, and the girl next to Daphne is Tracey Davis. Everyone, this is Willow Potter, Vincent's bride to be."
Willow turned to Blaise with an appraising look, and asked. "What do you think of Professor Hagrid?"
The dark-skinned boy looked at the young Wicca with a bored expression and said. "I doubt there are many Slytherin's who will call him Professor."
Pansy gave Willow an apologetic look. She knew Hagrid was the Wicca's Godfather and she loved him like family. The rude things the Slytherins where saying must be taking a toll on her patients. The Slytherin girl had gotten to know Willow well over the Summer and liked her very much. The redhead just forced a smile and returned to her dinner.
Pansy noticed Crabbe and Goyle eating like wild animals, they had no manners or shame in how embarrassing they were being. Everyone at the table payed them no mind as they were used to it. She was really beginning to feel sorry for Willow as Vincent wasn't really making a good showing so far.
After a time, the dinner faded, and the desserts appeared. Chocolate cake, ice cream of every flavor, and trickle tart. Willow had a little bit of ice cream as conversation turned to Wizarding World gossip. Apparently, some heiress in Germany had run off with a Muggleborn Wizard. Her family was up in arms about it trying to find some legal way to annul the marriage. Apparently, the girl was promised to some wealthy lord in another country.
"Is there something that can be done about it though?" Willow asked no one in particular.
Tracey turned to look at her. "If there was a magical binding wedding contract, then yes. The heiress's magic could be bound, making her a Squib. This might force her to annul her marriage and return home, in hopes of marrying the wealthy Lord to get her powers back. Some contracts even have darker methods of control, like making the woman barren or making her so sick she dies. Those kinds of contracts are banned in Britain but not in every part of the world."
The California Witch looked at the short brown-haired girl in shock. "Her family would actually hurt or kill her to honor some contract. That's just horrible!"
Blaise looked at Willow with a scowl and said. "That's just how it's done in old families. I suppose someone like you wouldn't understand."
"Someone like me?" Willow asked in an angry voice.
"Yes." Bulstrode said hotly. "Some Halfblood from America would never understand the old ways of the Pureblood Families."
Everyone in the vicinity got quiet. Draco Malloy felt like banging his head on the table. His father had told him to make sure Willow felt welcome in Slytherin. He knew some of the more die-hard Purebloods would have a problem with her known Muggle heritage but had hoped they could still be civil about it. Keeping Willow happy with all these idiots around would not be easy.
"I'd like it if you didn't say such things about my future wife, Bulstrode." Crabbe said warningly.
Draco was about to breathe a sigh of relief until he looked at Willow. The reason why Crabbe said anything at all was not to defend his future wife's honor, but his. An old trick Purebloods used when they were forced to marry someone of less than perfect blood status was to never mention it. Over time people forgot, and you just kept calling yourself Pureblood. Bulstrode had reminded everyone that the redhead was less than pure, and Vincent wanted her to shut up about it. At first it may have sounded like he was standing up for Willow, and Draco hoped the girl took it as such, but the redhead wasn't fooled at all judging by her annoyed facial expression.
Across the hall, Harry straightened up in his set at Gryffindor Table. He quickly looked over at his sister with concern. Dawn noticed this and asked. "Is something wrong Harry?"
All the Gryffindors around Harry grew quiet to find out what was up. He looked back at Dawn and said. "I felt Willow get incredibly angry. Threw out dinner she was annoyed, angry, curious, shocked, then back to angry, and, just now, furious. I thought she was going to attack someone but she's back to being just annoyed again."
Ron looked at his best mate and said. "I know magical twins have strong magical connections, but this is ridicules."
Parvati Patil looked between the Potter twins and said. "I agree with Weasley. I have a twin in Ravenclaw, but we couldn't tell you what each other was feeling. It's like you and your sister are Siamese Twins joined at the magic."
Dawn explained to Harry. "It will be ok. Willow is more than capable of protecting herself."
Harry looked at Dawn and said. "I know she can but that's what worries me. When a Demon gets lippy, she could always blow its head off but that response won't work with the Slytherins."
"Yeah but think of the entertainment value." Ron joked. Hermione elbowed him hard in the arm causing the idiot to yelp.
"Don't worry Harry." The bushy-haired Witch said. "I don't think Willow will start shooting lightning bolts at her classmates." Dawn wisely decided to keep her mouth shut.
Not much longer the desserts faded and Dumbledore stood up once more. After everyone quieted down, the Headmaster wished them all goodnight and directed the Prefects to lead the young students to their Dormitories. Harry, Ron, and Hermione went up to talk to Hagrid and Dawn decided to fallow.
Willow saw her brother walk up towards her Godfather and decided to tell him goodnight. She turned to Pansy and said. "Can you wait for me in the hall? I'm going to tell Harry goodnight."
"Of course, Willow. We will all wait for you but please be quick, as I'm tired. I would like a bath then bed." Pansy said smiling politely. Daphne and the idiot three fallowed Pansy into the hallway to wait for Willow.
The Wicca ran up to Hagrid and jumped on his leg to hug him. The half giant just laughed and patted her back. Harry and his friends smiled up at the overly large man and congratulated him.
"So, Professor Hagrid, what will you be teaching us this semester?" Harry said jokingly.
"Non o' tha' Harry, non o' tha'. If it weren' for you lo' clearin me name las' year, it wouldn' be possible. You just call me Hagrid." The new Professor said.
Willow frowned at her Godfather. "No Hagrid, that won't work. You need to be shown the proper respect as an educator, or the students won't take you seriously. That means you need to assert authority like detentions and house points to miss behaving students. You need to be fair though. When we are in private will call you Hagrid but in class will call you Professor."
The group talk a little more before parting ways. Willow met the Slytherins in the hallway and fallowed them down to the Dungeons. They came to a blank wall and Draco said. "Devils Snare."
The wall melted away reviling the opening into Slytherin Dormitories. The room was dominated by a fireplace that resembled the one in Whitehall Manor. Comfortable looking green furniture was placed all around the room, and one wall held a bookshelf full of ancient tombs. It felt like they were under the lake.
Willow and the girls went down the left hallway in the back of the room. They passed two doors that red first year and second year until they came to the door marked third year.
The room had large four post beds decorated with green quilts and pillows. In front of each bed was the individual girl's trunk. The room had no ceiling. Instead it was opened to the Black Lake with only a barrier of magic keeping out the water. Sr. Huggs was waiting on Willow's bed.
Each girl took turns bathing and then climbing into bed. Willow went last so she could soak in the hot water longer. After getting dressed in night clothes, she went to the foot of her bed and opened her trunk. The redhead pulled out a novel she was reading and left the room. After returning to the Common Room, she sat by the fireplace and opened to the page she had last read.
As she had slept last night, she wouldn't need to tonight or tomorrow night. Sr. Huggs curled around her shoulders and Snuggles coiled up in her lap. It was going to be a long wait until morning.