Buffy felt overwhelmed as she followed Professor McGonagall through the serpentine and shadowy hallways of Hogwarts. There was so much to take in that it could overwhelm the senses. There were portraits and tapestries and statues everywhere in contrasting styles. Baroque paintings hung next to medieval stained glass across from rococo doorways. Nothing was modern looking and there was nothing synthetic and cheap like plastic.

You're a long way from Sunnydale, thought Buffy.

Buffy had longed to be away from the Hellmouth when she lived in Sunnydale. She'd complained about how boring Sunnydale was with just the Bronze for entertainment and the nearest mall forty minutes away. Living in a castle in the middle of Scotland near a town without any clubs didn't seem like much of a trade off. But it was definitely an adventure.

"Knut for your thoughts?" asked Willow, who was walking besides Buffy.

"Listen to Willow, at least you're down with wizarding money. I'm still having trouble going from dollars to pounds."
"I just think I should immerse myself in wizarding culture."

"Immerse away. I'm still going to miss my c.d. player."

Professor McGonagall stopped abruptly at a door. Buffy and Willow stopped short and their trunks and Kitty Fantastico's cat carrier, which were hovering behind them, bumped the backs of their legs.

"This is the defense against the dark arts classroom," said Professor McGonagall. "Your office is through the door at the back of the room. Your personal quarters are nearby."

Professor McGonagall wasn't kidding. About twenty feet down the hall was a tapestry of a red dragon. Professor McGonagall moved the tapestry aside revealing a dark wooden door. She tapped the doorknob with her wand and the door opened slowly. Buffy gasped in surprise. The room was already lit with lamps in sconces on the walls. A fireplace had a small fire taking the slight chill out of the air.

"Are you sure this is mine?" asked Buffy.

"I trust it's enough?" asked Professor McGonagall.

"No, I mean yes, it's more than enough. It's much more than I expected, not that I expected little," Buffy stopped talking and took a deep breath, hoping to start over. "Thank you, professor. It's very nice."

Professor McGonagall nodded. "You may call me 'Minerva,' we're colleagues now."

"Yes, of course. Minerva."

"I'll just show Miss Rosenberg to her quarters. Dinner is at six in the Great Hall."

"Thank you," Buffy said again.

"I'll visit you when I'm done unpacking," said Willow waving.

"See you!"

Buffy led her trunk through the doorway and let it drop on the center of the floor. The room was dark because it had no windows but the lamps on the walls flickered merrily. There was a red couch against the same wall as the door. There was a coffee table with several mismatched plush-looking chairs. The fireplace was in the opposite wall. There was also a roll-top desk against the wall perpendicular to the couch. There were several empty bookshelves across from the desk. A small crystal chandelier caught the light from the lamps.

There was a door near the fireplace. Buffy pushed it open and gasped again. The room was dominated by a large canopied bed. There was also a vanity and dressing table with a mirror in an ornately carved frame. Buffy opened a small door and found a cupboard. The room had large windows hung with soft pink drapes. There was another fireplace across from the bed.

Buffy glanced through the doorway to make sure that no one was around. Then she took off her boots and flopped onto the bed. She stood up and started to jump on the bed. Buffy laughed happily and then noticed another door.

She went through the door and entered a huge bathroom. There was a huge claw-footed tub that could seat at least two. Buffy tried the water and rummaged through the cabinets. There was already toothpaste, a toothbrush, and other toiletries in case she had forgotten hers. Buffy touched the light blue towels that were incredibly soft.

Buffy smiled happily even as she started the tedious task of unpacking. The trunk opened revealing a wide variety of suitcases and boxes that were shrunk. Buffy took out a suitcase that resumed its normal size when she took it out of the trunk. The suitcase was full of Buffy's favorite things. She took out a picture of herself with Xander and Willow and put that on the coffee table. She put a picture of herself with her mother and Dawn next to it.

Hi, mom, Buffy thought sadly.

Buffy took out Mr. Gordo and her diary next and put those in her bedroom.

There was a knock at Buffy's door. Buffy opened the door.

"Willow, you're unpacked already? That was fast."

Willow entered the room. "I used magic, silly."

"Oh, I don't know that spell," said Buffy lamely.

"It's easy, watch me."

Willow took a deep breath as she took her wand out of her pocket. She pointed the wand at the trunk and then at the rest of the room. Willow and Buffy had to duck as items flew out of the trunk and arranged themselves.

"I probably should have warned you about that," said Willow.

"Just a little," said Buffy while laughing, "That was an awesome spell though."

"Are you still feeling uncomfortable with the spellwork?"

"A little. I mean, I had to learn seven years of standard spells over a summer. I'm used to punching things being enough. But I'm doing really well with defensive spells. I guess that comes naturally to me."

"You just need more practice," said Willow comfortingly.

Buffy closed the trunk, shrunk it, and put it in the back of her cupboard.

"Maybe Snape is right," Buffy said glumly. "How am I supposed to teach these kids? They can probably do more magic than I can teach them."

"But you have life experience," said Willow. "You've seen and fought evil things. These kids need to know what they're going to face now that Voldemort is back."

"I guess so."

"Giles and Dumbledore believe in you and I'll be here to help you."

"If he's still speaking to me after spending a couple of weeks watching Dawn."

"Well, Xander and Anya will be there too."

"Yes, Giles's other favorite people. I'm going to owe him hugely for this," Buffy said laughing. "Maybe I can get out a couple of times, show Dawn around."

"We can show her merry old England. And merry old Scotland? Do they call it that?"

"I don't know. Have you picked out all of your textbooks yet?"

"Yes," said Willow brightening. "I'm using Unmuddling Muggles: Facts and Theories for the Confused, Curious, and Clueless."

"Wow, that's some title."
"Did you notice that a lot of the books have titles like that? It's kind of weird. And I have some of the user manuals from my laptop and DVD player, things like that. I thought that I could make handouts of those to explain how everyday household things work. What are you using?"

"I don't know yet. Giles sent me a list of recommendations, here, let me get it."

The list had placed itself on the coffee table. Buffy opened it up and read;

"Buffy, These volumes have been invaluable in my study of defense against the dark arts—"

"Giles, you could have just said 'books-good.'"

"Like he should talk about defense against the dark arts, just keep him away from the band candy."

"Hey, I'm still trying to repress the memory of him and my mom," Buffy shuddered. "Ok, here's the books; Defense Against the Dark Arts, well that's to the point, Protecting Yourself, A Guide to Vampires and What Lurks in the Dark. That sounds promising. Oh there's more to the note, By all means, avoid any books by Gilderoy Lockhart, he is profoundly stupid. Ok, I'll avoid anything by Gildawho Lockwhat. I was planning on going to the library to check out the books. Do you want to come? I know you've logged more than your share of library time, you don't have to if you don't want to."

"Me not want to go to the library? Of course I want to go to the library, this is Hogwarts, they're supposed to have one of the best magical libraries in Europe."

"That was a little too much enthusiasm," Buffy said. "Let's go."

Buffy changed her shoes and they were ready to go.

"Wait, I have to set my password."

Buffy closed her eyes and remembered Professor McGonagall—Minerva's—instructions. Tap the doorknob once, say 'obfirmo,' tap it again, and say what you want your password to be.

Willow watched as Buffy followed McGonagall's instructions and was amused when she said "Mr. Gordo."

"What?" asked Buffy, "He's the only reliable man in my life right now, except for Giles and that is too ick for words."

The women made their way laughingly to the library. Willow was right, it was amazing. There were stacks and stacks of books that made a veritable labyrinth. Buffy easily found the books she was looking for.

"Well," said Buffy, "Giles failed to mention that Defense Against the Dark Arts is thirteen volumes long and was written in 1757. Protecting Yourself is ok, but it's a little dense. It might make a good supplement. I think I'm going to stick with A Guide to Vampires and What Lurks in the Dark. This is definitely the best book."

"Wow," said Willow, "You're thinking like a teacher. Look at Teacher Buffy."

"I've definitely spent too much time in this library," said Buffy. "What time is it?"

"Uh-oh, it's six-fifteen. We're late for dinner."

"Do you think they penalize teachers for being late to dinner?"

"I hope not," said Willow.

They entered the Great Hall in good spirits. What Buffy assumed were the student tables were empty and pushed against the wall. The staff table at the end of the room was full, though. Buffy couldn't help but be impressed by the Great Hall with its enchanted ceiling. It was currently a clear, cool night.

"Hi," Buffy said feeling shy. "Sorry we're late, we got caught up in the library."

Dumbledore smiled. "It's no matter, I'm glad you're exploring Hogwarts. I trust your time at the library was fruitful?" he asked.

"Very," said Buffy. She eyed the staff table, looking for empty places. Dumbledore sat at the center of the table with Professor McGonagall to his right. There was an empty seat next to Professor McGonagall that was, unfortunately, next to Professor Snape. The other empty chair was next to Professor Flitwick. Buffy started walking there but at that moment Professor Flitwick said, "Miss Rosenberg, I'd love to hear your thoughts on Unmuddling Muggles. Was it helpful?"

Willow walked over to sit by him, casting an apologetic smile at Buffy.

I won't let this ruin my dinner, thought Buffy. I will be civil and mature, I'm an adult now.

Buffy sat down next to Professor Snape who didn't acknowledge her presence.

"How are you finding Hogwarts?" asked Professor McGonagall.

"I like it very much," Buffy answered truthfully. It differed very much from the future she had imagined for herself but there was something very charming about Hogwarts. Buffy's home at Revello Drive seemed so empty to her after her mother died. Hogwarts, though barely inhabited at the moment, seemed full of life.

"Have you chosen the texts that you will be teaching this year? I need to send out the booklists to the students soon," said Professor McGonagall, sipping her goblet.

"Yeah, here, I have it written down. I'm using A Guide to Vampires and What Lurks in the Dark by Felix Temperance," Buffy said reading from the now smudged and torn list that she had in her pocket.

Severus snorted when he heard the name of the book Buffy had chosen.

This girl is a hopeless amateur, he thought.

"Excuse me?" Buffy said.

Severus was briefly disconcerted. It was if she had read his mind.

If Severus was ruffled he didn't show it. "I said nothing."

"Yes you did," Buffy said, "You snorted. That's something."

Severus raised his eyebrow at her. This was the problem of hiring an outsider to teach, she had no clue of the respect she owed him. No student who came out of Hogwarts would dare speak to him with such impertinence.

Buffy focused on dinner for the first time. She had no clue where to start. The problem was that English food differed somewhat from what she was used to. There was salad, Buffy took a hearty portion of that. There were a variety of pies. Buffy was wary of them after she learned what was actually in shepherd's pie.

"A Guide to Vampires and What Lurks in the Dark is good for amateurs. It should suit you perfectly," he said coolly.

Buffy saw a plate with chicken and gladly reached for it.

"Well, I guess that depends on your definition of amateur. I've been slaying for seven years now."

"That's hardly any time at all."

"Well, maybe compared to you," she said, then gasped. I can't believe you just said that! she thought. "I mean, I'm not saying that you're old or anything, you're just older than I happen to be right now." Buffy shut up.

Shutting up is the smartest thing she's ever done, thought Severus, seething, though his face revealed nothing.

They spent the rest of the meal in silence. They didn't notice it, but Professor McGonagall had heard their exchange. Minerva smiled to herself.

I do believe she's going to give him a run for his money, thought Minerva. Good for her.

"If you'll excuse me," said Buffy.

"Of course, have a nice night."

"Thanks," Buffy said and she could have sworn that Professor McGonagall winked at her.

Buffy walked out of the Great Hall alone since Willow was deep in conversation with Professor Flitwick. She took a deep breath once she was outside of the hall.

That man is the most frustrating, antisocial jerk I've met since Spike, thought Buffy. No, Snape was worse than Spike. Spike was a vampire, he couldn't help being ill-tempered, rude, and generally unpleasant. Now is not the time to think of Spike.

"You're right," she said to herself and started walking to her room to get her coat. Buffy was frustrated and irritated but it was nothing a little patrolling couldn't cure.