As Buffy is a top predator, I actually saw her as a lion, but a few reviewers from TTH convinced me to go another way. This chapter is dedicated to reviewers who share their creativity to help guide the story and enrich my writing. Thanks to all of you who take time to review. I also wanted to remind you that Mad-Eye Moody/Crouch Jr. is not on staff, so things are going to go differently. I do NOT attempt to take dialogue from the book or movie. It's the gist of things when it comes to Dumbledore's announcement at end.

Chapter 2: The Heart of a Dragon

******Where We Left Off******

Buffy could feel herself change, but it wasn't like her bones popped or she felt pain. One minute she was human, and then the next she was something else. Power filled every part of her—it was incredible. At first, she was unsure what exactly she was, but she felt taller and invincible. Then her classmates screamed, and she turned to see the threat. That's when she discovered that she had a tail. It lashed out and knocked over desks, and her classmates screamed in terror.

"She's a dragon!" Xander saw in awe. Buffy was a beautiful green dragon with a spiked tail. She wasn't huge for a dragon, but she was still frighteningly large, her head nearly to the top of the very large room.

"She's magnificent!" Draco exclaimed.

Professor McGonagall was shocked to her core and worked hard to cover her surprise at Buffy Anne's form. "Buffy, please change back to your human form," she said in a firm tone.

Buffy nodded her massive head and remembered what she was taught. Then she looked down and saw her normal hands and feet. "I did it!" she said.

"Yes, you did," Professor McGonagall. "I don't believe I've ever heard of an Animagus taking the form of a dragon."

"Buffy always has to be different," Cordelia said, rolling her eyes.

"You're just jealous that her dragon form is way cooler than your cat form," Xander said.

"Nothing is cooler than a panther!" Cordelia said with a haughty toss of her hair.

"We must get you registered at the ministry as soon as possible," Professor McGonagall said. She knew her students would not be able to focus after that impressive display of power. Now the slayer was even more formidable. The Order must be told of this development. "Students, you may go." She looked at her newest students. "You three stay behind."

Draco waited outside as his fellow Slytherins couldn't stop chatting excitingly about Buffy's incredible transformation.

"I can't believe it!"

"Did you see that?"

"Who would believe Snape's daughter would be so magnificent in every way!"

"She obviously was placed in the wrong house. Clearly a heart of a dragon is a Gryffindor," a Gryffindor said to another. Draco glared at them but didn't engage.

"She's too beautiful to be Snape's daughter," another said.

Finally, everyone drifted away, carrying the new gossip with them. Soon, it'd be all over school what the new Americans were able to change into.

When his cousin finally came out of the classroom, he stepped away from the wall he was leaning against. "Are you in trouble?" he asked.

"Nah," Cordelia said. "She just has to take us to the Ministry of Magic tomorrow to register."

"She explained more about our forms," Buffy said. "I guess it's very rare for students to even have forms or be able to change so easily."

"I think it's 'cause we grew up on the hellmouth," Xander said. "All that dark energy makes some forms of magic easy for us."

"Then how come Willow has no animal form?" Buffy wondered.

"As a Ravenclaw, she should excel at everything," Cordelia said.

"Being an Animagus is rarer than you think," Draco said. "I've not told anyone that I even have a form. Weasley calling me a ferret was just a coincidence. He didn't actually know that was my form. My father was quite angry when he found out I was a ferret."

"So some forms are better than others?" Xander asked.

Draco didn't like being questioned by a Gryffindor, but Xander had been surprisingly nice to him. "Of course," he said.

"What kind of dragon was I?" Buffy asked.

"You didn't look like one clear form," Cordelia said.

"You were a bit like the Romanian Longhorn dragon," Draco said. "However, you weren't as large."

"You didn't have as many spikes as in the books," Xander added.

"You were a very pretty dragon—not a monster," Cordelia said with a grin.

"So even as a dragon, I'm short?" Buffy complained.

Xander put his arm around her shoulder. "You are a dragon, Buffy. Nothing short about you," he said.

Buffy smiled, mollified. "I'm going to need one of you to take a picture next time," she said.

"You know there's mirrors," Draco pointed out. "You can see how you look for yourself."

Xander laughed. "Good one," he said.

Buffy stuck out her tongue. "I wonder if I breathe fire?" she asked. "I bet I could kill a lot of vampires with fire breath."

Draco looked puzzled. "Why would you want to do that? There's no vampires at Hogwarts," he said.

"There was in Sunnydale," Buffy said. "It was on a hellmouth and had lots of demons and vampires."

"You guys are serious about the hellmouth stuff?" Draco asked, astonished. He thought that was just American bravado.

"As a heart attack," Xander said.

"We're going to be late to our next class," Cordelia said.

Buffy followed her cousin to their next class, which was potions. In this class, she was reunited with Willow and her father.

Xander and Cordelia filled Willow in on what happened while Buffy spoke to her father.

"You turned into a dragon?" Severus asked, shocked.

Buffy nodded. "Yes, everyone was pretty freaked," she said. "Cordelia was a cool panther while I was a freakish looking dragon."

Severus put his hand on her shoulder. "There's not much time now to speak, but there's nothing freakish about you, my dear," he said. "You are extraordinary in every way is all."

He started class after she was seated, giving the class their instructions. Buffy sat next to Willow, who was excited for her.

"I can't believe you all have animal forms, and I don't," Willow said glumly.

"You have much more raw power than any of us, Will," Buffy said. "It's like having red hair. Most don't."

"Yea, I know," Willow said. "But I feel left out."

"I bet we can find a spell that will allow you to turn into whatever form you want," Buffy said.

Willow's eyes lit up. "There's potions that allow you to do that!" she said excitedly.

"Of course, there is," Buffy said.

"Ladies, focus," her father said, giving them that look of his.

Buffy grinned while Willow looked guilty and began copying down the ingredients he had written on the board.

Severus had trouble focusing on his class as he thought of the ramifications of his daughter's newest ability. As students were going to lunch, he met with Giles, Minerva, and Albus to discuss it.

Minerva was still rattled, pacing in Albus' office. "I just cannot believe the three of them—it was as natural as breathing. It's unheard of. A hyena! Then a panther—Cordelia was stunning," she said. "Then, Severus, your daughter—a dragon!" She was unable to form complete sentences.

"That is most impressive," Albus said, stroking his beard. "She is going to be quite formidable."

"She already is," Giles said. "This is just another weapon for her to use—that's how she will see it."

"It will make her even more attractive to the Death Eaters and their master," Severus said sourly.

"Yes," Albus agreed. "I am hopeful, however, that the upcoming school activities will keep everyone too occupied."

"I will have Buffy train in her dragon form," Giles said. "She needs to be in complete control at all times."

"Not until she registers with the Ministry," Minerva said.

"Of course," Giles said.

They spoke a few more minutes and then proceeded to the dining room.

*****Later During Dinner******

At dinner, everyone was sitting with their prospective houses. Buffy and Cordelia found that their new animal forms had made them immensely popular. Cordelia almost felt like she was back in Sunnydale holding court. The confusion that their fellow Slytherins felt toward Buffy also dissipated. There was nothing the group respected more than power, and it was clear that Professor Snape's daughter had it in abundance. The fact that she was cheerful and friendly to everyone was ignored and put down to her being an American. It was well established that Americans were much friendlier than Brits anyway. No one putting any stock into the twins comment that both girls were misplaced.

At dinner, Professor Dumbledore stood up to make announcements.

"Our new Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Wyndam-Pryce and Professor Giles, the new Ancient Language professor, are starting a new dueling club after school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. It is open to all years and will allow you to practice various modes of dueling that the classroom does not have time for," he announced.

Eager and excited voices broke out as every house had opinions on it.

"Did you know about this?" Cordelia asked Buffy.

She nodded. "Yes, Giles mentioned it during training earlier," she said. "He says that we have to come at least on Fridays as he will be using our hellmouth experiences in it."

Cordelia shrugged. "I'll be happy to demonstrate my running and screaming skills," she said.

Buffy laughed. Then Dumbledore continued.

"There will be no Quidditch this year," he said.

"What?" the twins and many other shouted and began protesting.

"Silence!" he called out, giving the Gryffindor table a stern look. "The reason it is canceled is due to a special event that will be taking place at Hogwarts. It is called the Triwizard Tournament."

The students again broke out in loud whispers, and Dumbledore held up his hand for silence. "This special event will begin next month. This tournament calls for a single champion from each of the three largest wizarding schools in Europe to compete in a series of three trials. The winner will earn a prize of one thousand galleons."

Once again, he was interrupted by excited students. He let them chatter for a moment before holding up his hand again. "I must caution you that the tournament was discontinued years ago due to the vast number of student deaths—it is highly dangerous. That is why the Department of International Co-operation and the Department of Games and Sports agreed to reinstate the tournament under the condition that new safety rules are used, including no student under the age of seventeen will submit their name for consideration."

"That's not fair!" Fred complained.

"We can totally win that thing!" George added.

"It sounds insane," Harry stated. "Students died. Count me out."

"Yea," Ron said.

"I'm seventeen," Xander said to the twins.

"Really?" George asked.

"Buffy and Willow aren't. Cordy is, too, I think," he said.

"Are you going to put your name in?" Lee asked Xander.

He shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "I'm not sure I know enough to do very well."

"You could be the Hogwarts champion!" Ron said.

"The champion should come from our house," said Fred.

"Naturally," George agreed.

Xander was unsure, so he didn't argue. "Okay. Maybe," he said.

After dinner, he met up with Buffy, Cordy, and Willow. "Cordy, are you going to put your name in?" he asked.

"Of course not," Cordy said with a sniff. "Why would I risk death for some prize? I don't need the money."

Buffy laughed. "That's the Cordy we all know and love!" she exclaimed.

Joyce came over to them, giving Buffy a stern look. "Don't even think about trying to circumvent the rules. You are not putting your name in!" she informed Buffy.

"I wasn't going to, Mom. I have enough on my plate," Buffy said.

"The twins said I have to," Xander said.

Cordelia snorted. "Okay. Die a virgin," she said.

"Seriously?" Willow asked. "You're considering it?"

"Maybe," Xander said.

"Just putting your name in doesn't mean you'll be picked," Buffy said. "You should at least put your name in. If the school's magic thinks you could do it, then you can."

Xander smiled, liking the way she framed it. "That makes sense," he said.

"I think it's foolish of you to even discuss it," Joyce said.

"So, Mom, did you hear that Cordy, Xander, and I all have animal forms?" Buffy said, distracting her mother as they shared the events of the day.

The new DADA professor, Wesley Wyndam-Price, walked slowly to his quarters as he thought of how he'd frame his report. He'd been on the short list to be the next Watcher when Giles had contacted the Council about a position at a school of Magic. Giles didn't have a strong magical core, so his wand skills were not really on par. The Council had spoken to five candidates, but Wesley was the one who was a natural with a wand. The idea intrigued him so much that he couldn't possibly pass it up. For too long, the Council had no contact with the magical community. Many in the Watcher's Council did not even know the wizardry world existed. To have two Council trained watchers on staff at Hogwarts was quite an accomplishment for Travers, and he was happy to convince Wesley's father to grant his approval.

Rupert Giles had been very welcoming, helping Wesley to acclimate to this very unusual school. He'd arrived two weeks before classes begun and worked hard to familiarize himself with the various books available to teach the students. Alexander Harris had informed him that the Weasleys were convinced that the position was cursed, giving ample reasons why. Not wanting to take any chances, Wesley had performed three curse breaking spells over himself and the position. He had used Wiccan magic for at least one of them.

When he arrived back to his quarters, he made himself a cup of tea and sat down to compose his letter to the Council.

Rupert Giles continues to train Buffy. At least twice a week, they venture into the nearby forest—called the Forbidden Forest—that is full of dark creatures. Occasionally, her father joins them as he is more familiar with many of the creatures in the forest. Not all of them are innately evil. Rupert has told me that the school's magic affects his slayer's ability to sense evil while inside the building. "Everything is wiggy," was her confusing explanation. A new development with her, Cordelia Chase, and Alexander Harris is that they have discovered to have Animagus forms. Cordelia can assume the form of a panther, Alexander a hyena, but the slayer's form is dragon. The staff was quite surprised and a touch frightened at this development. It seems she is the first to have that form. This, of course, makes her even more powerful. I do not believe anyone can doubt that she is the strongest slayer in history.

He finished his letter with news of the upcoming tournament. After his letter was done, he used his owl to send it to the council.

It had been decided that Rupert was too close to his slayer to give objective reports, so the Council had ordered Wesley to report on the slayer. They did not want her drawn into the politics of the wizarding world—Voldemort had no real form, and thus was not considered a threat to the world at large. The slayer would not be used to police the magical community. Instead, she would learn to control her magic and become an even greater weapon for the Council.

A slayer was, after all, just a tool.

*****Chapter End*****

. Yes, I know the announcement was the same day as sorting, but it was too much. I moved it.