Buffy sat tapping a pen on her desk. She stared at the blank sheet of paper facing her. Mocking her with its blankness. She got up and started pacing. It was three days before school started and she still didn't have a lesson plan.
Buffy walked back to the desk and picked up a letter. She sat down on the couch and reread it;
"Dear Miss Summers,
Thank you for writing me. I only taught one year at Hogwarts but I will try to be of help.
When I taught at Hogwarts I focused on dark creatures and how to deal with them. I didn't think it was necessary to deal with dark wizards because Voldemort was supposed to be vanquished. I would do things very differently were I to teach again. Here is what I would focus on:
-Popular hexes and counterspells. This can be modified depending on the grade-level.
-Dark objects and cursed artifacts.
-Focus on the three Unforgivables and how to counter them.
-Dealing with creatures that Voldemort has allied himself with before, i.e. vampires, werewolves, giants, dementors, and inferi.
-Basic first aid
-Poison detection and protection. You may want to work with Professor Snape on this.
I hope this is helpful and feel free to write if you need more help.
Sincerely,
Remus Lupin"
It was Willow who had suggested writing to past defense against the dark arts professors for advice. Buffy was more than a little dismayed to learn that only three were coherent enough to communicate, and that one of those had been locked in a trunk the whole year and the other hadn't taught anything practical.
The list from former professor Lupin helped, though. Buffy took out a piece of paper that had blocks like a calendar and she began to fill in topics. She definitely felt more confident.
The three days sped by quickly and the start of year feast came faster than Buffy expected. She was trying to arrange her teaching robes over her clothes. Face it, she thought, There's no way these are going to look cute. A knock at the door interrupted Buffy's thoughts.
"Hey, Buffy," said Willow when Buffy opened the door. "Are you ready for the feast?"
"I'm hungry, that's a good start," said Buffy, still fussing with her robes. "I guess I would be a little conspicuous if I just wore my regular clothes."
"Just a little," said Willow. "They're not so bad, though. I'll be thankful for them on those bloated days."
"You always see the bright side, Willow."
They left and made their way to the Great Hall. The four tables had been moved away from the walls and hangings in the House colors were hanging on the walls. The hall was empty at the moment but soon it would be full of students.
"Are you excited about Dawn being sorted?" asked Willow as Buffy sat down.
"I am. I hope she does well here. And it's a relief to not have her going to school on a Hellmouth."
"She'll do fine," said Willow, moving to take her seat as students started filing into the hall.
Buffy was a little overwhelmed at the sight of the students, there had to be hundreds of them. It was hard to believe that she would be teaching them when not so long ago she would have been one of them.
Another group of students was entering. They were all tiny except one, Dawn. The sorting had begun. Buffy ignored the other students in anticipation of Dawn being sorted. Finally, Professor McGonagall called out "Summers, Dawn" and Dawn sat on the little stool. Buffy noticed that a lot of the students looked puzzled, probably about Dawn's age. It took a little while but the Sorting Hat finally cried out "Gryffindor!"
Dawn squealed and ran to the Gryffindor table.
"Hi, guys! I can't believe I made it into Gryffindor," said Dawn, seating herself next to Harry.
"Congratulations," said Hermione diplomatically.
"Welcome to Gryffindor," said Neville. "I'm Neville Longbottom."
"Hi, Neville," said Dawn.
"I hope you don't take this the wrong way," said Seamus, who was sitting next to Neville, "But aren't you a little old to be just starting at Hogwarts?"
"I'm a transfer student," said Dawn and launched into the explanation of how not so long ago she had been a collection of mystical energy but now she was a human girl and needed a magical education. She would have continued with the mind-numbing explanation but Dumbledore interrupted with his beginning of the year speech.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" he began. "I know you are all eager to start our delicious feast so I will be brief. We have some new faces at the staff table that deserve introduction. Professor Summers," he indicated Buffy, "Will teach defense against the dark arts and Professor Rosenberg," he indicated Willow, "Will teach muggle studies. Let's give them a warm welcome!"
There was a burst of applause for the new professors.
"I hope that returning students will bear with me when I remind you that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to students. Also, I must remind you that though some students have made this a habit, wandering around the school after dark is forbidden. These are dangerous times and we must all be vigilant. I only have two more words; tuck in!"
Food appeared suddenly on the tables.
"Snape doesn't look too pleased," said Harry.
Ron glanced at Snape.
"How can you tell? He always looks like that."
"He's probably pissed that my sister's teaching," said Dawn. "He was really opposed to appointing her."
"How come?" asked Hermione.
"Oh, he said she was too young and too inexperienced and was too much of a troublemaker," explained Dawn.
"Too much of a troublemaker?" asked Hermione.
"Oh, she burnt down the gym at her first high school and she got into loads of fights at Sunnydale. In her defense, though, vampires were usually involved."
"Wow, Harry," said Ron, "Her record sounds worse than yours. Maybe there's hope for you yet."
"Vampires?" asked Hermione. "So Professor Summers is a vampire slayer? That's why Dumbledore hired her?"
"No," said Dawn, "She's the Slayer with a capital 'S.' The chosen one, to face the forces of darkness, blah blah blah."
Ron frowned. "You mean she thinks she's the Slayer, right? All the stuff about a chosen one is just a myth, I grew up hearing about that."
"No," said Dawn vehemently, "It's real. But I really wasn't supposed to mention it, it's supposed to be a secret. Buffy would kill me if she knew I told."
Harry looked at Hermione who looked at him questioningly. "Your secrets safe with us," he said.
Dawn looked around anxiously. Luckily, everyone in the Hall was talking so loudly that their conversation went unnoticed.
"Thanks, Harry," said Dawn, "That's very nice of you."
Ron choked a little, trying not to snicker and Hermione subtly elbowed him.
"You're from America, right?" asked Lavender, who was sitting across from them.
"Yes, California," said Dawn.
"What's it like?" asked Parvati.
"Well, it's a lot warmer than here and there are malls everywhere. It's kind of isolated here."
"Tell me about it," said Lavender. "Hogsmeade isn't bad but there aren't any clubs or anything like that anywhere near here."
"What do you do for fun around here?" asked Dawn.
"Date," said Parvati. "There are some really cute boys here. Neither of us is into sports but you can play quidditch and there are some clubs. School keeps us pretty busy."
Dumbledore interrupted the conversation again. "Now that we're all fed and undoubtedly sleepy, I must ask the prefects to lead you to your dorms. I must also point out the new Head Girl and Head Boy, Hermione Granger and Ernie Macmillan. I hope you have a good night's sleep before your first classes."
Students started getting up and making their way out of the Hall.
"Follow us," said Lavender.
Ginny and Ron were up and calling for the first years to follow them. Harry left with Hermione, relieved that Dawn was distracted by Lavender and Parvati.
"You really don't like her, do you?" asked Hermione.
Harry shrugged. "I just wish she'd treat me like I was normal. She acts like I'm something under a microscope to study and then ask out on a date. Also, she stole the silverware. You did notice that, right?"
Hermione laughed.
"Actually, I did notice. I was just shocked how brazen she was about it."
They made their way to the portrait of the Fat Lady. Hermione made her way to the front of the crowd.
"The password is 'abraxan,'" said Hermione. "Be sure that you don't forget it."
The portrait swung open and the Gryffindors started climbing through the hole.
"Come on, Dawn," said Parvati. "We'll show you to our dorm."
They walked up a circular staircase and stopped at a door near the top. Lavender opened the door, revealing a room with three beds and a fireplace. There were wide windows showing an exquisite view of the Hogwarts grounds. There was also a door that Lavender said led to the bathroom.
Dawn started unpacking the trunk that Buffy had bought her.
"Did you date anyone in California?" asked Parvati.
Dawn shook her head 'no.'
"I've never really dated anyone seriously," she said. "Some of the guys I've liked start out fine but then they just…change."
"Tell me about it," said Lavender, a little bitterly. "I was dating Ron for awhile, but then he got all hung up on Hermione."
"Hermione's a nice girl," said Parvati, "But I'll never see what Ron sees in her. She's pretty when she puts some effort in it, but she's also really bossy and thinks she knows it all."
"I guess that's why they made her Head Girl," said Dawn.
"So who do you like so far?" asked Lavender.
"Oh, I don't know, I haven't really seen anyone," said Dawn coyly.
"You can tell us," said Parvati.
"Ok, I guess I kind of like Harry Potter," said Dawn.
"Ohh, she's got good taste," said Lavender.
"Yeah, just don't go to any dances with him," said Parvati. "I went to the Yule Ball with him and he completely ignored me."
"But he has grown up nicely," said Lavender.
"Unfortunately, he's pretty attached to Ginny Weasley," said Parvati.
"What?" said Dawn. "All the good guys are taken."
"It's not all bad," said Parvati. "We can introduce you to some cool guys. Now that Ginny's dating Harry, Dean Thomas is free."
"There are plenty of cool guys here," said Lavender.
Dawn climbed into bed.
"I just hope I fit in," said Dawn.
"Don't worry," said Parvati. "Stick with us and you'll do just fine."