Chapter 22: Hermione & Dawn
May 8, 1993
Willow/Voldemort was furious the Potters had found out too much from Malfoy. He had to accelerate his plan if he was to regain his body.
As Harry and Buffy left the Great Hall with Dawn, Willow/Voldemort, Ron and Hermione to go and collect their Quidditch things, another very serious worry was added to Buffy and Harry's growing list. They had just set foot on the marble staircase when they heard the snake again.
"Kill this time…let me rip…tear…"
Harry shouted aloud and Ron and Hermione both jumped away from him in alarm.
"The voice!" said Harry. "I just heard it again — didn't you?"
Ron shook his head, wide-eyed. Hermione, however, clapped a hand to her forehead. "Harry — I think I've just understood something! I've got to go to the library!" she looked toward Dawn the only person of the group as good at researching as she was. "Dawn?" Hermione and Dawn sprinted away, up the stairs.
Buffy shook her head, "I heard it, Harry. Something is up."
"You think we should tell Giles or Dumbledore?" Harry asked.
Buffy shook her head, "We have no way of knowing of what we're hearing. They could say we're going crazy since we're the only ones that can hear it."
Buffy and Harry stood for a few moments as they tried to hear the voice again, but people were now emerging from the Great Hall behind them, talking loudly, exiting through the front doors on their way to the Quidditch pitch.
"You two better get moving," said Ron. "It's nearly eleven — the match —"
Harry and Buffy raced up to Gryffindor Tower, collected their Nimbus Two Thousands, and joined the large crowd swarming across the grounds, but their mind was still in the castle along with the bodiless voice, and as they pulled on their scarlet robes in the locker room, the only comfort was that everyone was now outside to watch the game.
The teams walked onto the field to tumultuous applause. Oliver Wood took off for a warm-up flight around the goal posts; Madam Hooch released the balls. The Hufflepuffs, who played in canary yellow, were standing in a huddle, having a last-minute discussion of tactics.
Buffy was just mounting her broom when Professor McGonagall came half marching, half running across the pitch, carrying an enormous purple megaphone.
"This match has been cancelled," Professor McGonagall called through the megaphone, addressing the packed stadium. There were boos and shouts. Oliver Wood, looking devastated, landed and ran toward Professor McGonagall without getting off his broomstick.
"But, Professor!" he shouted. "We've got to play — the cup — Gryffindor —"
Professor McGonagall ignored him and continued to shout through her megaphone:
"All students are to make their way back to the House common rooms, where their Heads of Houses will give them further information. As quickly as you can, please!"
Then she lowered the megaphone and beckoned Harry and Buffy over to her. "Mr. and Miss Potter, I think you'd better come with me…."
Wondering how she could possibly suspect them this time, Buffy saw Ron and Willow/Voldemort detach themselves from the complaining crowd; they came running up to them as they set off toward the castle. Professor McGonagall didn't object. "Yes, perhaps you'd better come, too, Mr. and Miss Weasley…"
Some of the students swarming around them were grumbling about the match being canceled; others looked worried. Harry, Buffy, Willow/Voldemort, and Ron followed Professor McGonagall back into the school and up the marble staircase. But they weren't taken to anybody's office this time.
"This will be a bit of a shock," said Professor McGonagall in a surprisingly gentle voice as they approached the infirmary. "There has been another attack … another double attack."
Buffy's insides did a horrible somersault. Professor McGonagall pushed the door open and they entered. Madam Pomfrey was bending over a girl with long, brown hair.
Harry gulped and elbowed Buffy, "It's Dawn."
Buffy blinked and ran over to Dawn.
And on the bed next to her was —
"Hermione!" Ron groaned.
Hermione and Dawn lay utterly still, their eyes open and glassy.
Willow/Voldemort hid her smile as she looked at what the plan had accomplished.
"They were found near the library," said Professor McGonagall. "I don't suppose any of you can explain this? It was on the floor next to them…" She held up a small, circular mirror.
Harry and Buffy shook their heads, both staring at Hermione and Dawn.
"I will escort you back to Gryffindor Tower," said Professor McGonagall heavily. "I need to address the students in any case."
Buffy shook her head, "No."
Professor McGonagall shook her head, "Miss Potter, the Slayer you may be. But you need to go back to Gryffindor Tower."
Buffy shook her head, "No. I'm not leaving Dawn. Not right now."
Just then Dumbledore entered the infirmary, "Miss Potter I know you are worried for your sister," he said. "But you will accompany Professor McGonagall back to Gryffindor Tower, NOW!"
Harry grabbed Buffy's arm and started pulling her away, "Come on, Bells, Dawn will be alright."
Buffy broke from Harry's grasp and ran back to Dawn, kissing her on the forehead, "I will find whoever did this, Dawnie. I promise, and make them pay." She turned and walked back to McGonagall, "I don't know who is doing this Professor. But they now have to deal with the Slayer." She turned and ran out the door before McGonagall could stop her.
Willow/Voldemort frowned. How had she not known that Buffy was the Slayer? She wondered if it was possible that Dawn getting petrified was a gross miscalculation on the part of the Riddle memory.
Willow smiled from somewhere in the back of her mind where Voldemort had pushed her when he took possession of her body, "If I were you, you better watch out."
Buffy stopped somewhere in the castle, she wasn't sure where, as she slid to the floor crying. Why did this have to happen she wondered? With Faith's help they had saved Dawn the year before. Now this happened and Buffy wondered if she was cursed being the Slayer.
Professor Dumbledore walked up next to Buffy and sat next to her. "How are you doing, Buffy?" he asked.
Buffy blinked, she hadn't heard any of the professors call her by her adopted name, "Not good, Professor."
Dumbledore nodded, "I can understand that. You feel that saving Dawn last year may have been in vain?"
Buffy nodded, "Yes."
Dumbledore shook his head, "It was not. Dawn lived; she continues to live. She is simply petrified and as soon as Professor Sprout's mandrakes are matured, she will be revived."
Buffy nodded and sighed, "What do I do now?"
Dumbledore smiles, "You live. I met another Slayer many years ago, long before I met Faith. She had said that 'Death Was Her Gift', that it was the same for every Slayer. That to die in the defense of others was the greatest gift they could give to humanity, both muggle and wizard alike. But for you I don't feel that is true. For you, Life is your gift. Just by living and fighting you keep those you love safe. If I'm not mistaken you will likely become the longest living Slayer in history. You will do that because you love. You have friends and family, something other Slayers did not have."
Buffy smiled, "Thank you, Professor. I guess I ought to get back to the common room."
Dumbledore nodded as he and Buffy stood and they walked to the Gryffindor Tower, "Now I must leave for a while. The board of governors has decided to suspend me because of the attacks. But know this should anyone need my help all they have to do is ask."
Buffy nodded as she entered the common room.
For days after Buffy was in the Hospital Wing every free moment she could get. Harry and Ron had witnessed firsthand Hagrid being taken to Azkaban and Dumbledore being suspended. Harry and Ron had even gone in to the Forbidden Forest based on clue Hagrid had given them and found a giant spider named Aragog.
It was one of Buffy's trips to the Hospital Wing visiting Dawn when she noticed a scrap of paper in Dawn's hand. She was prying it out of her sister's hand when Harry and Ron came in.
Harry looked at Buffy, "What's that?"
Buffy looked at the paper and smiled. "Dawn and Hermione figured it out."