Ch 4: Apologies, fights & more

When Harry arrived at Ginny's dorm she had already changed into her tight cotton, black sweats and Gryffindor tank top, with her brother Charlie's name on that she wore to Quidditch Practice and made her look absolutely fabulous with the way it hung off one of her shoulders no matter what she did. 'How in bloody hell am I supposed to act normal with her wearing THAT?' the boy who lived thought.

"Knock, knock" he finally said after standing there for a minute. Ginny had been surprised, completely lost in her thoughts, so she jumped like a foot and then turned around to see him. 'Oh my lord he looks so nice like that. Standing there, leaning against the doorway with his tie loose and shirt un-buttoned a little bit. OH bad me I shouldn't be thinking these things'.

They were both rather quiet for awhile until they remembered that they indeed had voices, and could use them too. "Ginny, about what was said in the chat, ignore them. They were just freaked out that you spoke like that with us listening and all. They do still see you as the little girl who just entered Hogwarts".

She looked up at him and realized he was walking towards her, closing the gap between the two of them. "Do you see me as that little girl still Harry?" Ginny could now feel his warm breath upon her neck. "I haven't seen you as that girl for quiet a few months now Ms. Weasley. To be specific, since the end of the 3rd task". The young Weasley turned around to hide her reddening face. She was now facing the window in her room that faced the lake. There was a half moon out and no clouds about. A thought occurred to her that it would be the perfect night to sneak out and go flying in the moonlight, especially with Harry by her side.

"So you...?" She asked, not quite knowing if she was dreaming and the harsh reality would wake her telling her he did not. Harry then went around her so he was blocking the window and could see her blushed face that was darkening by the second, "Yes, I really like you. I know it took me bloody long enough to figure out what was going with my feelings, but I do. I suppose I have had these feelings since I discovered them that day but I was... distracted at the time".

Ginny had tears of happiness in her eyes and looked absolutely gorgeous to Harry, but then again she looked gorgeous even when she was cleaning the attic that summer with dust all over her. He had finally said what she had been waiting to hear since she meet him all those years ago. Giving into a sudden urge Harry had gotten, he bent down toward Ginny and he kissed his red head.

-Buffy's chambers-

The blonde was now very exhausted. She had been decorating her rather large room's walls with her possessions. Weapons she had since becoming the slayer, old pictures of loved ones and random magazine pictures she liked. Buffy had been working on this since she had gotten back from the Hospital Wing.

Dumbledore had informed her of something once it was only just the two of the alone that Voldemort was after Harry AND her. The slayer sighed as she thought 'I so hope he doesn't have a stalker-ific crush or something, because that's the VERY last thing I need at the moment'. As if the PTB had decided to pick on her she sensed Angel coming towards her room.

The unsuspecting vampire was about to knock when she suddenly yelled angrily "Go away! I don't want to talk to you right now. So you can go loose your soul to Cordy for all I care-".

Her hand flew over her mouth before she could add anything else. But it was too late now. The damage had already been done. It hurt Angel she would say something like that to him, something so hurtful. He understood that they had been through a lot but that was uncalled for "Oh really? Well why don't you and Spike go have sex again? Oh, opps ... my bad, I almost forgot you made him leave!" The vampire yelled before stomping off. Buffy was leaning against the door with tears flowing down her face.

-Astronomy Tower-

It was now the early morning and Willow was sitting underneath the beautiful stars that looked down on her. She had come there to sort out her confusion with her... Situation. 'Why do I feel this way? I shouldn't be doing this yet. I should be all Goth and mourning over Tara. Or should I? I do feel as if I am over it. I mean if I should like somebody that it should NOT be Snape of all the choices. But he does have a nice...NO bad me! Bad me. But oh goddess-'. Suddenly candlelight fell near the doorway that made Willow jump up from where she had been sitting and turn towards the door.

'Well, speak of the devil', there at the door was Severus Snape himself. If she didn't know any better, he was acting as nervous as a high school boy asking some girl out but had this guilty look with his appearance. His robes that usually were neat were now messy like giving off a sexy look, as if he had come out of one of the broom closets with her, and for once it looked as if his hair had been WASHED!

'Wow it seems he learned that there is something called shampoo' Willow thought. "Um Professor Rosenburg... I... Eh" he managed to get out before his nerves took over again and couldn't speak again. The red head was now getting very interested in what the potions master had to say that was making him so nervous-like now "Yes Professor Snape...". He finally seemed to calm some and rushed to say "Well one can we call each other by first name basis now. After all we are going to be working with each other on a day-to-day basis. And second um...I...err... Sorry". Her slight angry look that she had been wearing upon her face on was now gone. She was shocked that he even knew the word "sorry".

She then strolled over to him and shook his hand "Deal, your forgiven but I'm sorry as well". Severus then got a questioning look on his face that made him look even more attractive and said "Whatever for? You have nothing to apologies for that I'm aware of". Then Willow stepped closer to him so they were incredibly close. Like the last time they had been near each other.

"For this". The Wicca then captured his lips with her own. The kiss, to say, was amazing. At first it was soft and sweet because the dark haired man didn't respond from a huge shock to his system. 'Why in heavens name is she kissing ME of all people? I'm almost old enough to be her father – OH DEAR LORD THAT GILES MAN IS GOING TO MURDER ME! But this is rather nice change of things; I'll worry about her father figure later ' he thought as he finally responded. Her smooth hands crept up his back slowly all the way up to his hair then she played with it. He growled when she did and pulled her even closer to himself. He had her trapped by gripping her hips so she wouldn't be able to run not that she wanted to though. Finally after a lack of oxygen became a major issue they broke the kiss but were still very much in one another arms. Severus was now kissing and sucking spots upon her frail neck. Willow couldn't do much besides moan in pleasure. When they realized what time it was, and that Hagrid would possible catch them on the way up to breakfast, they bid each other good night or morning.

-At breakfast-

Angel was glaring at Buffy who happened to be three seats down the table from him. He was still very pissed about what had happened the previous night, what with all the yelling and insults. It was not likely there'd be forgiving until one said sorry first and they both knew at this point that was not going too happened. Willow was next Buffy and kinda twitchy like because she was keeping the secret of smoochies.

Willow was wearing a sleeveless jungle green turtleneck. Xander & Anya noticed this because they knew Willow didn't wear that shirt unless she had something to hide. Anya, who was next to her, leaned over and asked "So who got ya?" Willow went as red as her hair then before running out of the room to hide. Ron had noticed this and went after her for reasons unknown, much to Hermione's dislike. Harry & Ginny on the other hand didn't have a clue what was going on because they were just staring into each other's eyes. Just loving how the other loved them really.

But they got pulled back into reality when, "HARRY POTTER & GINNY WEASLEY! IF YOU TWO DONT STOP MAKING GOOGLEY EYES AT EACH OTHER IM GONNA HEX YOU INTO A PLACE WHERE YOUR ROBES WILL BE OUTTA STYLE". Everyone turned to the voice that said it to see a grouchy Hermione.

Coming out of her own little world of the Angel-drama; Buffy adds teasingly and kind of cooing at the same time, "Awww, did Harry finally ask out Ginny? "

The two teens went a pale-rose at this remark, but then the twins joined in on the fun "Bout bloody time too! We were beginning to think the two of you never would. Well, when's the wedding?" If possible, they went so red that it seemed like the Weasley hair color were a light shade of pink.

After that talk disappeared for awhile. They ate quietly until the owl post arrived. A tired, ruffled owl flew over to the young slayer and crashed into her untouched meal. 'Well, there goes the breakfast I was so looking forward to eating' she thought sarcastically as she picked up the parcel.

-Dear Ms Summers

We regret to inform you that Lord Voldemort has killed the last of your kin. He attacked-

Buffy didn't bother to finish her letter. She threw as far as she could away from herself before dashing out of the hall. The teachers looked around at each other before Xander finally picked it up and read the continents of it.

He then let out many swears which startled everyone, then said "I am gonna kill that son of a b-- once I find him!" Of course this made them all the more curious on what had happened. Calmly Dumbledore asked "Xander, what had happened? And please watch your language".

He looked incredibly pissed and then said "What has happened? I will tell you. The Powers That Be decided to make an already, mostly destroyed woman an orphan. In other words, Buffy's dad also Dawn's dead! Voldemort got them about a week after we got here". Anya, Angel and some others gasped. It had seemed that Voldemort had started to make the vicious attacks again that wounded most painfully all around. And now they had to help a grieving slayer, first they had to find her though.

-Forbidden Forest-

Willow had retreated to sit underneath a Willow tree when she heard somebody running and sounded like... crying? "Hello? Who's there?" The redhead asked into the forest, then after that realized probably shouldn't have. Within seconds Buffy was hugging her and sobbing her eyes out. "Willow...Voltron dude...Dad... Dawn...gone" was all the blonde slayer could get out. Willow held her as they both cried for Dawn and her father once Buffy was able to get out the tale more verbally.

15 minutes later Angel found them in the same position. He had been assigned to look around the forest while Xander and the others search the grounds and elsewhere. The sight he saw before him broke his anger at his slayer. Buffy's shirt was torn and bloody from getting hit by the Whomping Willow accidentally when she had run past it into the forest. And her jeans were filthy with the all mud. The vampire then did what he could best think of: give her hug. Buffy knew it was Angel who was now holding her but nothing mattered now. Her sister was to never be with her again in this life. She would only be in her dreams with her sister again and that was not good enough after everything.

-1 week later-

That's how long it had been since they had heard of Dawns death, nobody in the gang had really cared about the death of the slayers "father", and the only father in her life in their opinion was Giles. The Scoobies all looked like complete crap. Buffy had refused to leave her room or let anyone inside still. She had even put a spell on her door and all windows so as to make sure that this would happen! And to make the situation better, the rest of the students would be arriving in the next 12 hours. So Harry, Ginny, the twins, Ron, Hermione asked the scoobies if they wanted to go to Hogsmeade with them. Only Angel, Willow & Xander had decided to go with them. Anya had been summoned and couldn't go.

They were now there and were listening to a magical XM radio. At the moment 'All the Things She Said' by T.A.T.U was currently on. The song was currently making a huge guilt factor on Willow. It kept screaming at her 'you're supposed to be mourning over Tara and not having hot sexy kisses with Snape'. Ever since that kiss it had been replaying inside of her head over and over. That had also been the last time either had communicated to the other in any sort form. But they'd be talking soon because of their class tomorrow. Willow just gulped her butterbeer some more to try to make herself think of something else to make her ignore all this major complication.

Angel on the other hand was currently worried about Buffy. She was obviously still mad at him and when she did leave her room to get some food, she was like a zombie! 'I hope to the PTB that she gets out of this soon' he thought. Xander looked over at him and immediately recognized 'Buffy' face. Then Xander got the boys together and they took him out of there for a good ole male bonding thing. The three remaining witches just sat there in silence for awhile until Hermione asks "Willow, are you angry with yourself or something?"

She stopped when she noticed Willow smiling sadly at her but then looks down at her glass when she answers, "Thanks Herm-is it OK if I call you that? You can call me Will if you want when you're not in class and no other students are around. I fell like I'm betraying Tara, you know my very-much-dead-girlfriend somehow because I care for-ye gods-Severus" she rushed out at the end.

For once in Hermione's life her jaw had dropped and she did not know what to say. "OH Herm, don't tell anyone else please! Same for you Ginny, not even Harry. I don't even know if he likes me like I like him. The only response I have gotten from that man is a very VERY nice kiss. I can't even tell Xander this! Imagine how he'll react" she informed them. Ginny sat there very surprised; the red-head could not, nor would she let herself, imagine what their kiss look like. Sure, she believed they held some attraction for each other as hope but now that it was happening? She probably only would have more surprised if Tom Riddle came back as a freaking rabbit.

The girls talked for hours when Ginny asked Hermione "So, I know Ron fancies you but is in denial: But do you fancy him?" Hermione turned red and nodded. "I really hope he does something about it soon though! I have been waiting forever it seems. If he waits to make his move on me until 7th year I will punch him, I swear!" the bushy-headed girl threateningly joked.

The three ladies giggled as they paid for their drinks and headed back to the school.

y'all are quite lucky, I almost posted the chapter AFTER this before this and you lkot would have been very confused. Post it later this weekend 10/17/08

Vixen519