Title: Where Do We Go From Here?
Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize.
Authors Note: Ok chapter 12 is re-done and ready for your enjoyment, at least I hope you enjoy it.
Katherine Elizabeth
Chapter 12: Reactions:
"Bloody Hell!" Dawn and Harry stood in complete shock looking at the people assembled in the room.
"Surprise" Buffy said, as they all waited for either Dawn or Harry to say something.
"What's going on?" Dawn and Harry asked at the same time, realizing that they had obviously been left out of something again.
"It's called a surprise party guys." Buffy smiled.
"Buffy, are you crazy, what are they doing here?" Dawn asked; tilting her head in the direction of the Wizards she had met at the Order meeting, while Harry looked on in confusion. "And why are there clearly magical things everywhere?" she finished in a whisper she knew only Buffy could hear.
"They came for the party." Buffy said innocently. "I woulda thought that was obvious." Dawn stared in shock at Buffy, before turning to Giles.
"Giles, Buffy has obviously cracked, why are Ron and Hermi..."
"You know Ron and Hermione?" Harry asked all of a sudden.
"Yeah." Dawn replied, "Wait a minute, you know Ron and Hermione?"
"Yeah, they're my best friends!" Harry replied, still confused, and kind of angry that no body was explaining what was going on.
"So you're a wizard?" Dawn asked, although it was more a statement then a question.
"And you're a witch." Harry replied.
"Gee," Dawn said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, she turned from Harry to look at Buffy, Giles, and Dumbledore. "I guess it really is a small world after all."
"Would someone please explain what is going on?" Harry asked, not really knowing what to say to Dawns comment, he glanced at his two best friends who were grinning broadly at the confusion on his face.
"I think that would be a good idea, why don't we all sit down and have some tea, while I explain." Dumbledore spoke up, his eyes still twinkling.
"Yes, that would be good," Giles replied, "I'll go get the tea, why don't you start explaining." Ron, Hermione, Buffy, and Dumbledore quickly took seats around the coffee table, leaving the couch empty for Harry and Dawn.
"This would be the part where you sit down," Buffy said, gesturing to the empty couch. After a moment, Dawn and Harry sat down next to each other on the couch, and looked expectantly at the others.
"Ok, we're sitting," Dawn said, "Would you please tell me what is going on?"
"Ok, Dawn, remember the day after we visited Bletchley Park with Giles, and the others?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah, but I don't see what that has to do with..."
"Let me finish Dawn," Buffy said. "Remember how you came in late, and Faith caught you up on what Dumbledore had told us?" Dawn just nodded, while Harry looked on in confusion.
"Well do you remember what she said the name of that boy was?" Buffy asked.
"Uh... no, she never told me." Dawn replied. Buffy nodded.
"You remember that Ron and Hermione are best friends with this boy, right?" Buffy said, wondering when Dawn would get it.
"Yeah, what was his name anyway, and why didn't anyone ever tell me?" Dawn asked still confused.
"Dawn, his name is Harry, and we didn't mean not to tell you, it just worked out that way." After several seconds of pondering what Buffy said, Dawn's jaw suddenly dropped to the floor, and took on and O shape.
"You mean..." Dawn trailed off, and looked over at Harry in shock, "Oh wow, that explains so much, except for why you didn't tell me earlier."
Just then Giles came in and passed out tea to everyone before taking a seat next to Buffy. Dawn just sat in shock, as Buffy avoided her question, and let Dumbledore explain to Harry.
"Thank you Mr. Giles," Dumbledore said, before turning to Harry, who was still confused. "Now Harry to answer your questions. The reason we are here is because I recently found out that you and Ms. Summers had become friends, and you didn't know that she was aware of the Wizarding world, and she didn't know that you were the boy who lived. I found out when I heard her talking to Buffy about meeting you at the park, when I was here inviting them to join the Order."
"Wait, your all in the Order? I thought you were muggles?" Harry asked, momentarily forgetting that Dawn had just said that she was a witch.
"Not really," Buffy replied, "You see I'm a Slayer, and Giles's my Watcher."
"Oh," Harry said in surprise, he had heard about slayers in defense class.
"Yup," Dawn continued for Buffy, finally coming out of her state of shock. "And Our friends who you met before, well, Faith is also a Slayer, and Willow is a kick ass wicca, she taught me everything I know, and Xander, well Xander is technically a muggle, but he knows all about magic and stuff"
"So you see Harry they're not really muggles, they're just part of a slightly different magical world." Dumbledore informed him, "But I digress, the reason we are here, is because after I found out that you two had become friends, I considered telling you, but I figured it would be much more fun to surprise you." Dumbledore said, sounding rather childish.
"So you all knew that we were friends, and purposely didn't say anything just so you could see the shock on our faces when you showed up here tonight?" Harry asked.
"Pretty much." Buffy grinned, "It was an awesome plan, and very rewarding, the looks on your faces when you walked in... Oh man it was hilarious."
"I'm guessing this was all your idea?" Dawn asked, slightly annoyed.
"Oh, I wish," Buffy, replied, "Nope this one wasn't my idea, it was all Dumbledore, he thought of everything, even the decorations."
"Why am I not surprised?" Harry grumbled, he was still a bit mad at Dumbledore for keeping so much from him the year before.
"Now, now, Harry, none of that, I just thought it would be a nice surprise." Dumbledore said cheerfully, standing up. "And now that we have all that out of the way, what do you say we enjoy the party? Unless you have any questions?"
"I have a question," Dawn spoke up. "What are we celebrating?"
"We are celebrating your going to Hogwarts, and Harry's birthday." Giles replied.
"What?" Dawn and Harry spoke at the same time for the third time that night.
"It's your Birthday?"
"You're going to Hogwarts?"
Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, and Buffy cracked up laughing, while Giles tried to hold in his laughter at their surprised faces.
"Yes, Harry, Dawn will be attending Hogwarts this year, in fact that is where she is going tomorrow." Dumbledore informed him. "Because Ms. Summers has missed the first five years of school, she needs to catch up as much as she can before she can start the sixth year."
"Oh," Harry replied.
"Actually that reminds me, I meant to ask the three of you earlier if you would mind coming to Hogwarts in about a weeks time to help tutor Ms. Summers?" Dumbledore asked. The Gryfindors three exchanged excited grins, before Hermione answered for all of them.
"Of course Professor, we would love to." Hermione replied.
"So where did you think she was going, mate? Durmstrang?" Ron spoke to Harry for the first time that night, while Dumbledore and Giles went into the living room to set the table, and Buffy went to answer the phone.
Harry blushed slightly, of course Dawn was going to Hogwarts, he didn't know how he had missed it before, she was a witch, friends with Dumbledore, and she was going away to a boarding school, of course it would be Hogwarts.
"Ron, stop teasing Harry, how was he supposed to know, it's not like anyone told him" Hermione said as she lightly smacked him upside the head.
"Speaking of people not telling other people things," Dawn interrupted, turning on Harry in mock anger "Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday?"
"I forgot?" Harry tried with a small smile.
"Try again, mister." Dawn said, while trying to keep the smile from her face.
Ron sniggered while Harry tried to come up with a valid reason why he hadn't told Dawn it was is birthday, but he was saved the trouble when Dawn noticed Buffy standing in the doorway with the phone still in her hands. She was starring into space with a sad expression on her face.
"Buffy, what's going on?" She asked, suddenly very serious. "Who was on the phone? Is there trouble?"
"What?" Buffy said, her eyes refocusing on Dawn. "Oh no Dawnie, nothing like that, I was just talking to Faith". Ron opened his mouth to ask who Faith was, but Hermione elbowed him in the stomach, not wanting him to intrude on the conversation.
"Robin was abducted by a weird vampire cult last night." Buffy announced. "They were trying to pull a Mayer Wilkins, and ascend to a higher level of evil."
"How did they do that?" Hermione asked curiously, unable to help the curiosity, even though she didn't know any of these people.
"They used his blood, and an amulet to do some spell, but they didn't really read the fine print, and as soon as they added his blood, they were dust." Buffy explained.
"Why did it have to be his blood?" Harry asked.
"The spell called for the blood of a Slayer, and the blood of a Wizard, all from one body, or something." Buffy replied, "Robins mom was a Slayer, and his dad was a Wizard, so he fit the requirements perfectly."
"Is Principle Wood ok?" Dawn asked.
"Yeah, Robin's fine, Faith sounded a bit shook up though."
"Faith? Shook up?" Dawn asked in amazement.
"I know that was my reaction to." Buffy replied. "Ok, I'm gonna go see what the old British guys are up to, I'll give you a call when we're ready to eat."
"Ok," Dawn smiled as her sister left the room, and she turned around to see Ron, Hermione and Harry looking rather confused. She couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you giggling about?" Harry asked.
"You guys look so funny, and confused." Dawn managed, as she was out of breath.
"That would be because we are." Ron pointed out.
"Very," Hermione agreed.
"Ok, I'll explain, what are you confused about?" Dawn asked.
"Who is Faith?" Ron asked.
"She is a slayer that was called some time after Buffy died the first time." Dawn told them.
"Buffy died?" the three Gryfindors practically yelled.
"Oh yeah, but that's a story for another time, really long and boring." Dawn replied. "Anymore questions?"
"Um... Ok, who's Robin Wood?" Hermione asked.
"Robin Wood, was the principle at my old high school, and he also just so happens to be the son of a Slayer who died in the 70's I think." Dawn informed them. "Also his dad was a Wizard, although he never knew, and that's why Robins blood was needed. And he's currently dating Faith."
"Oh, then why were so shocked that Faith was shaken up by the fact that her boyfriend was taken by a gang of vampires?" Harry asked.
"You would have to know her to understand, lets just say, she's always had a very cavalier attitude about guys, and never stayed with one for more then a week as far as we know. It's a big surprise that she has been with him for so long, and she seems to actually care about him."
"Oh," Harry replied, understanding, although he had never met a girl like that he could probably name a few guys at Hogwarts who were.
"If that's it, I believe I had asked you a question before Buffy came in and you never answered." Dawn pointed out.
"Errrr..." Harry didn't know how to reply. Just then they heard Buffy call to them from the dining room.
"Ooooooo, food," Dawn smiled, her stomach was rumbling, as she led Ron, Hermione, and Harry into the dining room. Harry sighed and silently thanked Buffy for her great timing today, what he didn't realize was that Dawn had noticed the sigh, and smirked, as she let him think he was out of the woods.
Dinner, which consisted of a large array of foods, most of which had been conjured up by Dumbledore, went spectacularly well. A large portion of the time was spent talking about how the Sunnydale gang had come to be in England, and how they had gotten into contact with the Order. After they had finished eating Dumbledore stood up and cleared the plates with a wave off his wand.
"I apologize, but I really must be going now," He said politely, "I will see you Ms. Summers tomorrow, the train leaves promptly at 11:00am, so don't be late. Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Granger, Molly has requested that you return by 11:00, you can use the portkey I gave you earlier, it will activate as soon as you are both touching it."
"Yes sir," Hermione replied.
"Good to see you again Mr. Giles, Ms. Summers" Dumbledore to them both. "Thank you for allowing us use of your home, you have been most hospitable."
"Don't mention it,"
"We'll see ya later, Dumble D" They all said goodbye to the Headmaster, and waved as he popped out of the room.
After Dumbledore left, Giles excused himself, saying he had some work to do, and Buffy announced that she was going patrolling, and went up to her room to change. After standing around for a few minutes trying to decide what they wanted to do, Dawn suggested watching a movie, so when Ron, Hermione, and Harry agreed, she lead them into the living room.
They spent the rest of the night watching movies and talking about Hogwarts until Buffy came home around 10:30, and asked to speak with Dawn in the kitchen. Dawn nodded, and told them she would be right back, before following Buffy into the kitchen.
"Is this about that red blouse, cause I swear it wasn't me, Faith packed it with her clothes when she left." Dawn blurted out the moment she walked in the room.
"What?" Buffy spun around to look at her, "That's not what I was going to talk to you about, but what a bitch, she keeps taking my clothes, I swear she is almost as bad as you. I mean that was my favorite red blouse, actually it was my only red blouse."
"Uhh, Buffy I think your forgetting something..."
"What?" Buffy snapped.
"Don't you remember where you got that blouse?" Dawn asked pointedly. Buffy frowned, "You stole it from Faith our first week in England."
"Whatever." Buffy grumbled. Dawn rolled her eyes.
"Ok, if that's not what you wanted to talk to me about, then spill, what's up?"
"There was more to that phone call I got from Faith earlier this evening." Buffy started.
"I figured that, so what was it?" Dawn asked.
"Well, you know how I told you that vampire cult wanted to ascend to some higher form of demon, well they weren't doing it just for kicks," Buffy informed her, "They wanted revenge. I guess there was this great evil that was awfully mean to the vampires who started the cult, and awfully nice to some of their girlfriends, if you get what I mean."
"Oh," Dawn nodded in comprehension.
"Yeah, so they weren't strong enough to kill him, so they tried to ascend, using what looked like a copy of the amulet Angel brought from Wolfram and Hart, I guess they didn't know that it was swallowed by Sunnyhell." Dawn noticed that Buffy avoided saying anything about Spike, and realized that is probably why she had seemed so sad earlier when she came to tell her about the phone call.
"A phony Amulet?" Dawn asked.
"More like the wrong Amulet, that someone had transfigured to look like the other." Buffy told her.
"Oh, So what do you know about this bad guy?" Dawn asked.
"We know that he calls himself the Immortal, and he has been around for ages, hence the title, and we also know he is somewhere near Italy."
"Does that mean you're going to Italy without me?" Dawn asked, sadly.
Almost a year ago Buffy had told Dawn she wanted to show her the world, and after they left Sunnydale, she had promised that once things had settled down a bit she would, starting with Italy, at Dawns request. It saddened Dawn to think that Buffy would be going without her.
"Maybe not," Buffy replied, "Wills says it could take her till Christmas to pinpoint The Immortal's exact location, so in the meantime, I was going to hang around here, and make a few trips to see some of the newer Slayers around our area." Dawn smiled knowing that when Buffy said 'our area', she meant all of England.
"A few trips? Your gonna be busy." Dawn commented, "Do you realize how many Slayers there are in 'our area'?"
"Yup, but at least I'll have something to do while your away at Hogwarts." Buffy smiled, sadly. "I'm really gonna miss you."
"I'm gonna miss you to," Dawn replied, her eyes getting slightly watery, as she was pulled into a hug by her older sister.
"How will I ever survive without you?" Buffy asked with a smile, as she pulled away, and wiped at her eyes.
"You won't," Dawn replied, with a small giggle. "But hey, you forget I'll be home for two weeks around Christmas, and maybe while I'm here we can make a trip to Italy."
"Maybe," Buffy replied, with a grin.
Meanwhile Ron and Hermione were trying to work up enough courage to tell Harry that they were a couple, before it was time for them to go. Harry could tell something weird was going on by the way they kept shooting each other questioning glances. It was almost as if they were waiting for the other to start talking first.
"Um... guys, are you ok?" Harry asked, "You're acting kinda strange."
"Strange?" Ron practically squeaked, out the word, and Hermione elbowed him the ribs.
"Actually Harry, there is nothing strange going on," Hermione shot small glare in Ron's direction, on the word strange. "Ron and I just had something we needed to tell you."
"Ok," Harry replied, "What is it?" he noticed Hermione elbow Ron again, to get him to talk.
"Oh... well... eerrr... you see Harry,...ughh Hermione and I...err... I don't really know how to say this...um...we..." Ron mumbled, having been caught off guard, and not knowing the right way to say what he had to.
"We're dating." Hermione blurted out.
"Well that's one way to say it." Ron mumbled, as Hermione realized what she had just said, and clasped a hand over her mouth. "I thought you wanted me to tell him?"
"I'm sorry it just slipped out," Hermione defended, "Besides you were taking too long, it's not that big a deal."
"Yeah well..." Ron and Hermione stopped bickering when they heard Harry clearing his throat from the seat next to them.
"Are you two almost done?" Harry asked, with a smirk.
"Sorry," Both Hermione and Ron blushed the color of Ron's hair.
"It's ok." It was silent for a moment as they both looked at Harry expectantly.
"What?" Harry asked, noticing their odd expressions.
"Aren't you going to say something?" Hermione asked.
"Umm... Congratulations?" Harry responded, smiling.
"That's it, you have nothing to say about the fact that your two best friends lied to you, and are now dating?" Hermione asked. "Your not surprised at all?"
"You didn't lie to me, Hermione, this is the first time I've seen you since you got together." Harry reasoned, "And I'm not surprised in the least, because I've known for the past two years that the two of you were completely besotted with each other. You were bound to get together at some point."
"What?" Hermione and Ron gaped at him.
"The only thing I'm surprised about is that it took you this long to figure it out." Harry added.
"How is it that you knew we would get together before we did?" Ron asked.
"It was obvious," Harry replied with a laugh, "The whole school knew."
"What?" Hermione shrieked, "Why didn't anyone tell us?"
Harry just went on laughing, as Ron and Hermione tried to get over the fact that everyone at Hogwarts had known they would end up together, before they themselves actually knew it.
"Are you alright Harry, mate?" Ron asked, Harry just laughed harder, until finally Ron and Hermione joined in.
"What are you all laughing at?" Harry, sobered up slightly, when he noticed Dawn in the doorway, looking quite teary eyed, but smiling nonetheless.
"Hey, What's wrong?" Harry asked, quickly getting up, and walking over to where she stood. He was suddenly very serious, and his voice was full of concern. "Why are you crying?" At that point Ron and Hermione also noticed Dawn, and looked
"Nothing's wrong, silly," Dawn said with a slight giggle, when she noticed how worried he sounded, "Buffy and I were just saying our goodbyes now, so we don't have to do it at the train station tomorrow."
"Oh, ok," Harry replied, "You're sure your all right?"
"Yup I'm all good and happy," Dawn smiled, "And you never answered my question, what exactly is so funny that I could hear you three laughing your heads off from the kitchen?"
This of course started Harry laughing again, and it took them several minutes before they calmed him down enough to tell Dawn, just what had been so funny. Dawn had laughed, and congratulated them, before they all noticed the time, and that Ron and Hermione were supposed to portkey back to Headquarters in less then a minute.
After saying a few hurried goodbyes, Ron and Hermione portkeyed out of the living room, with a pop, leaving Harry and Dawn alone. Harry noticed that he had to be getting back to his Aunt and Uncles house, and Dawn said she would walk with him, seeing as she hadn't patrolled in a few nights, and figured she wouldn't get the chance for a long time, after going to Hogwarts.
"I just realized something." Dawn said suddenly, after several moments of walking in silence.
"What?" Harry asked, noticing the odd smile on Dawns face.
"We're both going to Hogwarts this year!"
"I know," Harry said, slightly confused.
"No, I mean, this morning I thought I would never see you again, and now, after next week, we're going to see each other every day." Dawn couldn't control the happy smile that spread across her face.
"I know," Harry, grinned, just now realizing that he and Dawn would be living in the same school, for the next two years.
"I'm so excited, I can't wait till you, Ron, and Hermione can come to Hogwarts, I don't get why Dumble-D doesn't just have you come with me tomorrow." Dawn said, "What am I going to do for a week in a castle all by myself?"
"You won't be by yourself, some of the professors will be there, and you'll probably be studying the whole time, but hey if you get bored, you can always owl me." Harry pointed out.
"Owl?" Dawn asked with a laugh. "What are you talking about?"
"Owl post, it's how wizards send mail." Harry replied.
"Ok, that's odd, how does it work?"
"You just give your letter to an owl, and tell it to whom the letter is to go, then they fly off and deliver it." He explained.
"Cool!" Dawn said with excitement, "I wanna try!"
"I tell you what I'll send you a letter with my owl, Hedwig, so that you get it your first morning at Hogwarts, and then you can write your own letter, and use Hedwig to send it back." Harry replied.
"I can't wait." Dawn smiled, as they reached his street.
"Well, I'll see you in a week." Harry was surprised when Dawn suddenly threw her arms around him in a hug.
"See ya in a week," She grinned after pulling back, from the hug.
"Bye." She heard him say as she walked off with a grin. In fact she didn't stop grinning until she was halfway home, and she ran into a fledgling vamp. Even then she only frowned for a moment before using a charm to freeze the vampire, and staking it. Then she dusted off her clothes, and made her way back home, grinning in excitement the whole way.
TBC...
Authors Note: Ok now here is where things actually start to change, hope you're all enjoying the fic, and don't forget I'm a fan of reviews,
"luv ya like a fat kid luv cake"
Katherine Elizabeth