Title: Where Do We Go From Here?
Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize.
Authors Note: Alright if you haven't read the other re-done chapters you should be fine, but this one you should read, as I've changed quite a bit.
Katherine Elizabeth
Chapter 13: Goodbyes and Hellos
Early morning, on the day Dawn was scheduled to leave for Hogwarts, She woke to the most wonderful smell, and upon entering the kitchen she discovered Buffy just putting down a plate piled high with raspberry chocolate chip pancakes, while Giles was pulling a pitcher of milk out of the fridge. Buffy and Giles greeted Dawn warmly, and asked her to grab the utensils. Dawn acquiesced, and went to the kitchen drawer, she set down three sets of utensils on the table where Giles had already arranged the plates and napkins. Once the table was set and the drinks were poured they sat down to breakfast.
"Did you make these yourself, Buffy?" Dawn asked, through a mouthful of the incredibly delicious pancakes.
"I made the batter, but Giles wouldn't let me make the pancakes" Buffy pouted. "I make one mistake and it haunts me for the rest of my life, I mean how was I supposed to know you had to butter the pan? It's not like I set anything on fire, well except for that apron Andrew sent us…" Buffy rambled while Dawn and Giles just rolled their eyes at this, remembering when Buffy had tried to make pancakes earlier that summer, and ended up filling the kitchen with smoke, and a tiny bit of fire.
"I was rambling again wasn't I?" Buffy asked with a small wince.
"Just a bit." Dawn replied before going back to her breakfast.
"I really gotta stop that."
After breakfast Dawn went up to her room to make sure she had packed everything. After she was positive she wasn't forgetting anything she pulled her suitcase out of her room, and down the stairs. Buffy and Giles were waiting for her in the front hall, and when she entered Buffy stepped foreword and took her suitcases, while Giles opened the door for them.
The ride to Kings Cross train station was uncomfortably quite, and seemed to take forever. The peacefulness that had surrounded the small family during breakfast was now gone, and had been replaced by an overwhelming sense of sadness for Buffy and Giles, and uncontrollable excitement for Dawn. When they finally arrived at the train station they were all happy to get out of the car.
"Buffy who was it Dumbledore said we were supposed to meet at the train station?" Giles asked suddenly.
"Um, Hagrid something." Buffy replied.
"Ah, and how are we supposed to recognize this Hagrid when we see him?" Giles asked.
"Didn't Dumble D say he would be the tallest man with a beard on platform ten?" Dawn asked.
"Actually he said Platform nine." Buffy corrected, "You wouldn't happen to know were that is would you?" She asked turning toward Giles.
"Well, let me see if this is platform six and this is platform seven, then platform nine should be right over there." Giles replied looking around, and spotting the little sign that said Platform Nine in large black letters.
"Oh, that makes sense, how did I miss that?" Buffy asked.
"Buffy, sister dearest, your blonde." Dawn replied as if explaining something to a little child.
"Thanks for pointing that out, but you missed it to, so what's your excuse?"
Giles just rolled his eyes, and led the way to Platform nine, ignoring the half-hearted banter between the two sisters. He couldn't help but think of how empty their small house was going to feel, for the next year, without the constant sibling rivalry. A small frown creased his forehead as he realized that he wasn't just sending his Slayers sister off to school, he was sending the youngest of his surrogate daughters to live away from her family until Christmas. He sighed sadly as they reached the platform, and he stopped walking and turned around to see Buffy and Dawn still bickering.
"Ehem," He coughed loudly, getting the attention of both Summer's girls "We're here."
"Oh, sorry," Buffy apologized, and Dawn looked sheepish. "Now does anyone see a tall guy with a beard?"
"No but that sounds really funny." Dawn giggled. Buffy rolled her eyes and turned to Giles just as he exclaimed:
"Oh my!"
Dawn and Buffy turned to look in the direction Giles was staring, and they saw not only the tallest but also the biggest man either of them had ever seen.
"That has got to be the biggest man I have ever seen," Giles said.
"Uh huh," Both Buffy and Dawn muttered in agreement.
"I wonder if he's part giant," Giles pondered aloud, "I've always wanted to meet a giant, it would be such a fascinating experience, don't you think…"
"Wow, I never realized how incredibly contagious Willow's rambling is." Dawn commented, while Giles continued to talk.
"Yeah, even Giles caught the rambling bug." Buffy replied.
"…But I do hear they are quite dangerous…" Giles continued rambling, as the supposed part giant spotted them and started walking in their direction. "…That could be just over exaggeration though…"
"Oooo look, he's coming our way." Dawn said suddenly.
"…I'll have to further research it now that I … Oh." Giles stopped abruptly when he saw that the part giant was now standing right beside him.
"You must be Hagrid." Buffy greeted him, surprisingly the only one not staring at him in shock.
"That'd be me." He replied in an accent Buffy couldn't quite place. "And you must be Ms. Summers." He grinned extending his hand for her to shake.
"Call me Buffy" She replied, shaking his hand, which could only be described as ginormous.
"Nice to meet ya Buffy." He grinned warmly, "I take it this is Mr. Giles."
"Call me Giles," Giles replied after coming out of his shock, and shaking Hagrid's hand.
"Oh, I'm Dawn" Dawn offered timidly.
"Well o'course you are," Hagrid grinned, and held out his hand. "Rubeus Hagrid, pleased to meet." Dawn grinned at Hagrid who reminded her of a big teddy bear, a big tall, hairy manlike teddy bear.
"Well, now we 'ad best be on our way, the train's making a special trip jus' for you, we wouldn't want ter miss it." Hagrid said cheerfully. He led them over to a pillar in the center of the platform, and stopped facing the solid brick wall.
"Now alls you got ta do is walk straight at the barrier, right here," He pointed to the center of the pillar, "And you'll go right through ter the other side." Hagrid looked to see that they all understood, and after a few quick nods, he turned to Buffy.
"Alright, Ms. Sum… err…Buffy you firs'." Hagrid said.
Buffy gulped and looked at Dawn and Giles for help, then she looked up at Hagrid, "Alright but if I run into that wall I'm soooo gonna kick your ass." And with that she turned and walked straight at the wall, and just when it looked like she would run into it she disappeared.
"See it's easy," Hagrid grinned, and turned back to Dawn and Giles, motioning them forward. Both hesitantly walked in front of the huge man, and through the wall. It was a rather odd feeling for the both of them, one second they were looking at a brick wall, and after a flash of dark they were staring at a jet-black train labeled The Hogwarts Express.
"Wow," Dawn gasped as she and Giles stared up at the train.
"Ya know," Buffy said, when she noticed Dawn and Giles come through the barrier, "I never really thought a train could be pretty before, but damn that's a pretty train." A moment later Hagrid was standing next to them.
"The train should be leaving any minute now," Hagrid informed them, "I'll jus' take your luggage onto the train while you say goodbye"
"Thanks Hagrid," Dawn replied, before he had entered the train carrying all of her luggage.
"Well," Dawn said, sadly as she turned to Giles, "I guess this is goodbye."
"Only until Christmas," Giles replied.
"Yeah," Dawn said wiping tears out of her eyes, "But I'm still gonna miss you." And with that she through her arms around him in a giant hug.
"I'll miss you too Dawnie," Giles said softly, as he hugged her back. They pulled out of the hug, and Dawn turned to Buffy, while Giles collected himself.
"I thought we got our teary goodbyes out of the way already," Buffy said as she saw Dawn's teary eyes.
"I know, I'm just really gonna miss you both." Dawn said.
"Yeah, well, you'll be back home before you know it." Buffy said, before the sisters hugged one last time.
"Time ter go," Hagrid called out as he stepped off the train. Buffy, Giles, and Dawn turned to him. "I Put yer stuff in the first compartment to yer right, sorry I won't be coming with ya but I got some business ter take care of in London."
"Oh, don't worry about it," Dawn replied, before turning back to Buffy and Giles, "Well, Bye." She said quietly before stepping up onto the train.
"Don't get into too much trouble," Buffy called. "Unless you have a really good reason."
"And be sure to write." Giles added.
Dawn waved goodbye as she felt the train begin to move, and she went inside, to find her compartment. It wasn't to hard since it was the first door on her right. She stepped inside and took a seat next to the window.
The whole ride was kind of a blur, she watched forests full of trees, and lakes and hills pass by, and at some point half way there a kind women pushing a trolley of food down the isle asked if she needed anything. She thanked the women, and as soon as she left went back to staring out the window. At some point towards the end of the ride, Dawn slowly drifted off to sleep.
She slept peacefully, dreaming of a certain dark haired wizard, for the rest of the ride. She was so concentrated on her dream, that she didn't even wake up when the train stopped, and its loud whistle blew. She didn't wake up until she felt someone shaking her by the shoulders, at which point she jumped up, successfully banging said person on the head.
"Oh bloody hell." Draco Malfoy cursed as he grabbed his now throbbing head, and bent over slightly in pain. "What the hell was that for?"
"Oh my god, I am so sorry," Dawn, squeaked as she realized what had happened, "Are you ok?" She asked, looking curiously at the hunched over form of a boy approximately her age.
"What do you think?" He snapped at her while straightening up. The moment he let his hands drop from his head, and opened his eyes, Dawn gasped and fell backwards.
"Aaaaah," Dawn screamed as she hit the compartment floor, her wide eyes never leaving Draco's face. Looking up at Draco's confused face she took several deep breaths.
'It's not him, it's not him,' She thought to herself, pulling herself together.
"What the bloody hell are you screaming about?" Draco asked, more then a little annoyed.
"Sorry, you just… uh, reminded me of someone I used to know." Dawn replied while pulling herself to her feet. Draco nodded although he really didn't care.
"I see, well, my name is Draco Malfoy, I am to be your tutor." Draco informed her disinterestedly, "That is assuming you are Ms. Summers?"
"Yup that's me, call me Dawn though," Dawn smiled and stuck out her hand for him to shake, "Ms. Summers is my sister."
"Alright then, Ms. Summers," He gave a little smirk and glanced down at her hand, without shaking it. "Leave your luggage, and follow me," And he turned on his heel and led her out of the compartment.
"Pleased to meet you too Mr. Malfoy," She replied sarcastically, as she followed him off of the train.
Draco led Dawn across the platform and down a small path to the bank of the lake. Beside the small pier a small rowboat was waiting for them. Draco gestured for her to get in, and in no time at all they were magically whizzing across the lake. As soon as the castle came into sight Dawn gasped in surprise.
"I assume you've never seen anything like Hogwarts Castle before, have you?" Draco asked hautely.
"In the words of Buddy the elf, it's ginormous!"
"Huh? Who's Buddy the elf?" Draco asked. "What does Ginormous mean?"
"Never mind," Dawn laughed, at how confused he looked, "I just meant it's really really big."
"Ah," Draco replied, not understanding Dawns strange way of speaking.
The rest of the boat ride went by quickly, and when they reached the other side of the lake Draco led Dawn up into the castle, and to the Great Hall, where Headmaster Dumbledore was waiting for them.
"Hiya Dumble D!" Dawn said excitedly. Dumbledore laughed heartily at the name.
"Hello Dawn, nice to see you again." Dumbledore nodded in her direction, "Mr. Malfoy, thank you for your assistance in getting Dawn up to the castle, Shall we head to the great hall for dinner now?"
Draco shrugged as if he didn't care even though his stomache was rumbling, Dawn nodded, and Dumbledore led the way. As they walked through the halls Dawn stared in wonder at the moving paintings, until they reached the great hall, at which point Dumbledore flicked his wand, and the wide double doors were flown open. Dawn's eyes bulged as she stared up at the beautiful ceiling, which looked just like the night sky.
"Oh Wow, it's beautiful."
"Yeah, it's alright." Draco replied. "It's a charm, by the way, nothing most wizards haven't seen before, but I wouldn't expect you to know that as you're…."
"Duh," Dawn interupted, "I'm not stupid I can see that it's a spell."
"Well," Draco started, but didn't go on not knowing what else to say.
"Please take your seats." Dumbledore said, as he had already taken his seat at the single table that sat in the center of the great hall. Seeing as it was the summer there was only on big round table at the center of the room, at which several of the professors were sitting. Dawn and Draco sat next to each other across the table from Dumbledore. Draco sitting right next to Professor Snape, who Dawn had met while visiting the headquarters for the order of the phoenix.
Food had already appeared on the table, and most of the Professors had already started eating, so Dawn and Draco filled their plates and dug in. The Professors talked to each other across the table, but Draco and Dawn were pretty quite, both concentrated on eating their meals, as they listened to the chatter of the teachers. After everyone had finished eating Dumbledore stood and waved his wand, emptying the table immediately. Everyone silenced and turned to look at him expectantly.
"Now that we have all successfully filled our bellies I would like to take this opportunity to introduce our newest sixth year student, Ms. Dawn Summers, and say welcome to Hogwarts." The other professors applauded as a welcome before Dumbledore continued, to introduce the professors to Dawn, most of which she would not remember the next day. Once he had finished he waved his wand and desert appeared, everyone then went back to their chatting.
Dawn assessed the selection of deserts, as she tried to remember the names of the proffesors she had just been introduced to. Her confusion must have shown on her face because suddenly Draco turned to her and said.
"You know I've heard muggles are slow," He began with great disdain, "but to be befuddled by the simple task of picking a desert is so very depressing, that I…"
"Hey!" Dawn interrupted him indignantly, and then lowered her voice so the teachers wouldn't hear, "I was not confused about what desert to pick, I was trying to remember the names of the proffesors, cause I kinda blanked out during that part of Dumble D's speech." Dawn replied.
"How very responsible of you." Draco commented with a sneer.
"Hey, I know three of them." Dawn defended herself.
"Oh really?"
"Dumble D, McGonagal, and Snape." Dawn replied quietly, "But I already knew them."
"I see." Draco replied, and went back to his dessert with the intent of not speaking to Dawn again unless absolutely necessary.
After dinner Dumbledore informed Dawn that she would be staying in the guest towers with Draco until the other students arrived. Draco then silently showed her up several flights of stairs and to a portrait of a grassy landscape with a little girl in a Victorian style dress in the foreground, sitting in the grass picking little white flowers. Dawn looked confusedly around the hall for a door wondering why they had stopped.
"Why did we stop?"
"We have obviously reached the entrance to the guest rooms." Draco informed her, before demanding the attention of the little girl. "Emma" The Little girl looked up and smiled, waving at Draco.
"Password please?" she called out, while twirling her auburn curls around her fingers.
"Knightley." He replied, and the portrait swung open and he climbed in followed by Dawn who gasped the moment she laid eyes on the beautiful room they had just entered.
She barely had time to inspect the common room as Draco pointed to one of the staircases, and told her she was to sleep up there. So Dawn said goodnight, to which Draco did not reply, and climbed up the curving staircase, to her most spectacular bedroom. The large four poster bed in the center of the room was so inviting Dawn didn't even change out of her clothes, she just fell onto the bed and was asleep in minutes.
TBC…
Authors Note: I've seen the error of my ways, thanx to my lovely reviewers, and Draco should be more in character now, than he was before. Hope you liked, please review. The last re-touched chapter will be up soon, and after that I'll be back to new chapters, and hopefully more frequent updates from last time.
"Luv ya like a fat kid luv cake"
Katherine Elizabeth