The castle was big, no big wasn't the right word. It was huge. Buffy had just gone off the transportation vehicle, that kinda looked like a muggle submarine, only a lot bigger. That was how they had got there. They had all gone down the cave that lead to the sea. The "submarine" was already there waiting for them. It had four major rooms, one for each house. For some reason the houses were kept separately. Buffy hadn't really noticed as she had Angel to keep her company. The trip had gone fast. When the submarine had started it had gone straight down several hundred feet before it kinda went through a portal and before they knew it, they were on their way up again and the submarine had reached surface once more. Now they were all standing at what had to be the Hogwarts grounds. Lots of kids were standing there, all wearing four different colors, yellow, scarlet, blue and green. Like they were wearing themselves. The gang were standing together, waiting to hear what was gonna happen. An old man in a cloak and hat, with long white hair and beard, walked towards Ms. Calendar.

- Ah, Calendar, how lovely to see you once more. Looks like you've brought a nice set of students this year also.

- I have, Dumbledore, Ms. Calendar said, shaking the man's hand.

- Lets get your lot inside, they look like they're about to come down with a cold, everyone of them, he chuckled. - Not used to winters I suspect.

At that moment, Buffy realized that she was shivering like a leaf. Angel noticed, too, and placed his arms around her, trying to rub her warm. She smiled gratefully at him. Dumbledore lead the way and the entire Hogwarts school and the students from Luna followed him into the castle. Knowing their way around, the Hogwarts students settled at the four tables in the Great Hall, which looked a lot like Luna's dining room, only the ceiling was bewitched to look like the sky. It was amazing to see how it was like. The teachers had settled, but the Luna students were still standing at the back of the room, uncertain of where to sit. To their rescue, Dumbledore stood up and told them which tables were the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin tables. Buffy and Angel was looking for a spot to the two of them at the Gryffindor table, but couldn't find one. A red-haired boy with freckles gestured for Buffy to take the seat next to him. Angel settled at the other empty spot further down the table. Buffy suddenly felt uncertain of what to say or do, so the boy was the one starting the conversation.

- Hi, my name is Percy, Percy Weasley, he said, holding out his hand.

- Buffy, Buffy answered, shaking his hand, feeling a bit dumb, but maybe it was something people did here. People were more polite here in England. - Buffy Summers… um… which grade are you in?

- I am a fourth year here.

Their conversation was ok, a bit on the stiff side. He seemed like a nice guy, but the whole politeness, like he was greeting the president or something. Maybe he was just nervous about having new students visiting the school, like she was about being here. The name, Weasley seemed oddly familiar, but she couldn't yet put a finger on what. Percy continued with boring her on telling her his plans for the future, that he wished to work for the Ministry of Magic, so therefor he was going to take both his O.W.L's and his N.E.W.T's very seriously. It was like she had screamed for someone to save her from this boring conversation, because suddenly she had two boys standing right in front of her. They were identical twins, red hair and freckles like Percy had.

- Hullo, hope Percy here isn't boring you to death…

- …we're used to him doing that to the family, but we couldn't let him go through putting strangers through it…

- …so that's why it's the Weasley twins…

- …to the rescue. I'm Fred…

- …and I'm George.

Buffy smiled. They looked like they were just above Dawns age, she would probably think they were funny.

- Excuse me, but we were talking here, Percy said, giving them a glare.

- We noticed, that's why we came to save her, one of the Twins said, Buffy wasn't sure who.

After five minutes the twins had gone and Percy continued with what he thought was a fascinating tale. Buffy had to use all of her self control not to yawn. Luckily, when she finally did yawn, Percy just figured she was tired from her trip. Not too long afterwards, Dumbledore rose again, telling the prefects to guide the newly arrived students to the common-rooms. Finally managing to escape Percy, Buffy sought out Angel. She loved being back in his arms, even though she could only be to the common-room, because she was very sure boys and girls slept in different dormitories, just as they did at Luna. Buffy had expected the usual marble statues, but all she could see while walking along the corridors were armors and moving pictures. They finally reached a portrait of a pretty large woman. The picture asked for the password and the boy gave it to her, Goblin Rebel…

Buffy wondered what the next day would bring and the next morning at breakfast, she found out. Dumbledore announced to the newly arrived students that a teacher would take each of the four house groups around the school and grounds, so that they wouldn't get too many problems getting to their lessons, because while staying there, they would have normal lessons. Buffy looked at the teachers tables and noticed that Ms. Calendar wasn't up there. After breakfast, when a teacher had gathered the Gryffindor part of the Luna students, she asked her where Ms. Calendar was. The teacher quickly explained that she only stayed one day, bringing the students, because the Headmistress couldn't exactly stay away from her school a whole month. She would be back, when it would be time for them to return to their school.

- Ok, students, I am professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house, which means that I'm your superior the month you're staying here. First we'll start with the classrooms, so that you won't get lost. We'll continue with some other rooms in the castle that's worth knowing about, before we end the tour at the Hogwarts grounds. Any questions?

Everybody shook their heads. So the tour began. They were showed up and down staircases, in and out of rooms. The classrooms, were not near each other. Take Divination, for example. It was located high up in one of the towers and Potions were taught down in the dungeon. They were shown the library, the hospital wing. Then they were out on the grounds. They were shown the pitch, which was quite like the one they had at Luna, then they were shown the Greenhouse and then a funny shaped house or cottage. Buffy wasn't completely sure what to call it and out from this house/cottage a man, both tall and wide, came out. He was gigantic.

- Professor McGonagall maam', so these are the new Gryffindors. Nice ter meet yeh all, he said, cheerily. - A nice looking bunch, ain't 'em…

- Group, this is Hagrid, the game keeper here. As I understand you don't have one at Luna.

The group shook their heads, all wondering what a game keeper did.

- Hagrid, why don't you tell them what it's about. And I'll leave them with you. I have got a class to prepare.

- Ok, Professor McGonagall mam', Hagrid answered, turning towards the bunch. - So yer all wondering what a game keeper does, ey? Well me job is to take care of the creatures aroun' Hogwarts. Sometimes I've got a job or two to do in the Forbidden forest. I'm also Dumbledore's helping hand. Sends me to do important Hogwarts stuff, he does. Before I stop talkin', I have to remind yeh all that the Forest is out of bounds for every student as it's dangerous. So don' try to be brave, the forest live of those.

After that, they were free to go, but Hagrid held her behind. She was a bit confused by it, but stayed behind.

- Yeh're the Summers girl, aren't yeh?

- Um… yeah?

- So yeh're the slayer. Dumbledore told me about yeh. Figured yeh might be able to help me out, he did.

- Help you? With what?

- Oh, just things I've got to do in the forest now and then. Yehr watcher wanted yeh to patrol each night. But we've got none of 'em vampires here. But we've got other creatures an' it's not always fun going alone in the forest, but if yeh don' want to, I understand.

Buffy had been a bit surprised by it all, but for some reason, she liked the man and agreed to help out, whenever she would be needed. Giles had been right, she needed to patrol and since Hagrid was so sure they didn't have vampire problems there, she had to get the action somewhere else, like in the Forbidden forest. After their chat she returned to the castle and met up with the entire gang, which was waiting for her in the Entrance Hall. They didn't have lessons the first day, so the rest of it, they spent on exploring the castle. When they got tired of it, each of them returned to whatever common-room they had. There they spent the evening chatting with the kids in the House. Buffy didn't enjoy it as much as she would have liked, because Percy kept following her. She finally escaped up the stairs to the girls' dormitory after kissing Angel good night. She hoped Percy would take the hint.

The good thing about having classes was that she would avoid Percy Weasley, who for some reason, had developed a crush on her. He was a nice boy, but there were so many factors that went against him. The biggest of them all was that she loved Angel more than anyone else. Besides that there were just so much she could take of the formal way of talking he had. He was also just fourteen, two years younger than her. Ok, he was going on fifteen, but then again, she was going on seventeen. Then there was the fact that he didn't seem to understand rejection. At the moment, she didn't even want him as a friend. It was a harsh thought, but he was really annoying.

Buffy learned that the subjects and system and everything was quite like what she was used to at Luna. She found out that the boring subjects still was boring here and the Potion's teacher here was just as mean as Snyder. One would think they were related. Except for that they didn't look a thing alike, but they had a very similar personality. The difference here was that Snape, the Potions teacher, didn't hate the kids, but favored his own, the Slytherin bunch. Well, he might hate the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff bunch, because he loved taking points from each of the three houses. Buffy had disliked him from the very first lesson. He had started by quizzing them all, not asking the ones that shot their hands in the air, but the ones that didn't. Each "I don't know" or wrong answer, gave him an opportunity to take points, which he never seemed to miss. During the first week, he managed to take almost 60 points from her altogether.

History of magic was strangely enough even more boring than it was at Luna. At least their teacher had to take a break from talking to breathe, but this teacher didn't, since he was a ghost. She heard from some of the Hogwarts kids that Professor Binns died at that very school, but got up, continuing to teach. Buffy didn't manage to learn a thing, because five minutes out in the lesson, she was fast asleep. The teacher never noticed it, so at least she was rested when she got out of the classroom. To top the likeness, Amy could tell her that the Divination teacher there also had to be crazy… Not like Drusilla, which was… special… but she couldn't be completely sane. Everything she saw in hands, cups, crystal balls and cards, were disasters, each worse than the other.

Their first weekend at Hogwarts, the teachers announced that they were arranging a Hogsmeade trip on Saturday. Every student from third year and up were allowed to go, if they had their permission slip signed. All of the Luna student were permitted to go. There was no need for a permission slip there.

- What's Hogsmeade, Buffy asked her friends.

- A completely wizarding village, Anya answered. - Kinda like the one I grew up, I think.

- It's amazing there, the Weasley twins told her, sitting really close. - They've got all kinds of shop there, always a blast…

- And how would you know, Percy asked them, suspiciously. - You've never been there, since you're too young…

- Well, sweet brother, Fred said, with his most sugary voice. - As you don't seem to know how to make things sound interesting, we do have other brothers who've been there, who do have that gift…

Percy only gave them a look. Buffy couldn't help, but agree with them. Percy wasn't fit telling stories to anyone. The only one more boring than him was professor Binns, the History of Magic teacher. Fred and George on the other hand were the complete opposite of their brother. Buffy was sure that the persons they didn't manage to start laughing, she could count on one hand. She also kind of agreed with Percy's suspicion, that the two trouble makers probably had a way of getting into Hogsmeade. She had no plans in telling anyone about them, 'cause she too, had a way of going around the rules. They were right about Hogsmeade. It was a really beautiful village, filled with exciting shops. Kinda like Strapford Alley, only less crowded, not that there weren't a lot of people there, having four Hogwarts classes plus two Luna ones. She wasn't sure where to go, but her pure-blood friends knew. They dragged the rest into a shop called "Honeydukes", which turned out to be the most amazing sweet shop she'd ever been to, including "Bubbleheads". There were shelves upon shelves with the most delicious and not so delicious sweets imaginable. Some of them, she'd seen before, but not all. "Bubbleheads" did have a lot of flavors, no doubt about that, but here they had more. She decided to buy some of the sweets she'd never tried before. She even bought the ones with "unusual tastes", but made sure they were placed in a separate bag. Like mother, like daughter. She wanted to have them, in case she met some obnoxious people. In the bag one could find things like blood-flavored lollipops and Cockroach cluster. Outside "Honeydukes", they continued down the road, where Buffy suddenly thought she saw something.

- Can you guys, wait here? I'll be right back.

- Where are you going, Angel asked.

- That house over there, I think I see someone there. I'm off to get a closer look.

Before anyone could protest, she ran between some houses, going out of sight, then they could see the ginger cat run towards the house. They didn't follow, but sat down at a bench, tasting some of the sweets they had bought. In the meantime, Buffy had reached the house. It looked fairly old and looked like it was going to fall apart any minute. Her eyes had been right. Right in front of her she could see the two red-haired boys trying to get into the house. (Brothers with imagination, my ass… Wonder how many time's they've been here…) She walked closer, as quiet as a mouse… funny, considering that she was a cat… Then she took a wrong step and a few rocks fell down, not making that much sound, but enough to make the twins jump and turn.

- Oh, kitty, you scared us, one of them said.

(Yeah, I can be quite scary…) Buffy decided to change her plans with just spying on them and transformed back to her normal self. The twins gaped at her…

- What's the matter, cat got your tongue, she asked.

- More like you got my tongue, the left one said.

- Blimey, you're an Animagus? I thought you said you were sixth year, the right one muttered.

- I am, have been Animagus for over a year now. Managed it in fifth grade. But don't tell anyone about it, all right? If my Headmistress finds out, I'm expelled for sure…

- Like we'd ever tell. Haven't you noticed. We're second years and in Hogsmeade, so we're not that strict about the rules, really…

- Yeah, how did you get in here, anyway, I thought every carriage was checked, so that noone would sneak in or out.

- We don't need a carriage. Found this map last year, told us everything we needed to get in here…

The left twin dug into his pocked and pulled out a piece of old parchment, held it before him. Then he pointed his wand at the map.

- I solemnly swear I am up to no good, he said.

Then he gave Buffy the parchment, which now suddenly had ink spreading over the pages, a message appearing:

Then the ink became a map over the entire Hogwarts school, with moving ink dots labeled with people's names. The twins explained to her how they had found it at Filch, the caretakers office last year and how they managed to work it. They could tell her they had been in Hogsmeade every single Hogsmeade trip after that, and then some, going through one of the seven tunnels that the map showed. They were careful of course, letting noone that knew them, see them, keeping themselves out of trouble. Buffy was impressed and just a little bit jealous. How many times she could have had good use of a map like this, but she doubted there were a map of Luna. After talking for a few more minutes, the twins went with her back to the gang. They all visited "The three Broomsticks", the local pub, where they sat down at one of the table, placing the twins in the corner, so that they wouldn't be discovered. There they told the twins everything about Luna and in return, the twins told them all of the little secrets of Hogwarts they had discovered in their very short time there, being only second years…

After that the twins showed them other places they just had to see, one of them, "Zonkos" were their favorite shop. It was filled with all sorts of practical jokes. Those of them who had money left in their money bags got rid of them now, as there were just so much they wanted to buy. At the end of the day, they said bye to the Twins, who went down the road to head back through one of the tunnels, making sure noone got suspicious of them. The gang took their bags also, so that they could pretend they had bought it to them in Hogsmeade. Buffy could feel the suspiciousness in Percy as she handed the twins the bag, saying loudly that she thought they would like the content, but she didn't care. He couldn't prove a thing. Maybe if he thought of her as a rule-breaker, he would give up his crush…

The following week was quite like the first one, without the introduction and such. The only thing that really stood out, was that Wednesday morning she got an owl from Hagrid, who wanted some help with a new pet of some kind. So after classes that day, she went down to his hut. Looking into the window, she suddenly wished she hadn't come. It was a dog, a big dog with three heads. It was about her height. But a promise was a promise, so she knocked the door, hoping he wouldn't hear with the growling and all, but he heard and he opened the door.

- Hullo, Miss. Nice of yeh to help me. Ain't he beautiful? Just bought 'im down at the pub. He's just a pup, now, so I'm having a bit trouble with his teeth. What I need yeh to help me with is putting a rope around his three jaws. I can always manage one other head, while I'm tying, but two is just a bit much, so if yeh can try an' put this rope around one of the heads, I'll hold the other two off…

Buffy couldn't do anything, but shake her head. Beautiful was not the word she'd choose to describe the dog. huge and vicious would do better, but not even those words were good enough. She did however what Hagrid had told her to. It wasn't as easy as Hagrid had made it sound and she got a few bites, one of them was very deep. It was a miracle that she finally got the rope around the mouth and tied it tight enough to hold the mouth shut and keeping the dog from loosing it. Hagrid also got some scrapes by the teeth, but nothing like what Buffy got. Sure she was strong, but he had to be kidding with thinking she was fit to do this. Hagrid managed to tie the other two heads, but it took time. When they were done, he took a look at her arm.

- Yeh, better go to the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey will mend this in a second. Thanks for the help. Gotta keep him from biting. Then I'll have to find out how ter calm him down…

- What are you planning on calling him…

- Fluffy, Hagrid replied.

Buffy shook her head at his reply. Any other name would fit better than Fluffy… She really hoped he was being ironic, but the way she saw him staring at the dog, made her understand that he wasn't. He seriously meant it. He was gonna name the dog Fluffy… She did get more notes from Hagrid, asking her to help him, but she reclined. There was no way she was going anywhere near that dog again. Sure, Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse had mend the injury in a second, she was not about to volunteer to get anymore of them. Instead, she spent her time with her friends. Most of the time, Fred and George was with them. It didn't matter that they were four years younger, they were a lot of fun.

But Buffy's favorite pastime was Angel. They wanted to be together, but it would be just too risky. It seemed like every time they did anything, they were discovered. They hid away and snuggled very often, but that was as far as they went. It would be just too embarrassing to be discovered by someone else. But the temptation was very big and finally they decided to go to one of those secret rooms that Fred and George had told them about. They were making out already before they had gotten there. They said the words the twins had told them about and entered. But stopped, when they saw two persons moving in there… There was no doubt what they were doing and only a few seconds later, Buffy realized who she was watching. She grabbed Angel and dragged him out, blushing incredible from what she had just witnessed. Not long after Faith came running out, fully dressed. Spike was right behind her. The two couples stood at opposite sides of the hall, both extremely embarrassed. They silently made an agreement, not to tell anyone else about it. Then Faith and Spike fled down the hall, leaving the room for Buffy and Angel.

If it hadn't been for the fact that they hadn't been this close for weeks, Buffy would have gone after her cousin, but a kiss from Angel, made her forget everything she had seen, well at least for the moment and they seized their opportunity. Buffy didn't manage to get Faith alone for the next few days, but finally she managed it. Even though it had been embarrassing on both parts, there were something she just had to know.

- So… you and Spike… Been going at it for long, she asked, then smacked herself mentally for saying that.

- Um… you can say that, Faith muttered. - Couple of weeks, not that it's any of your business…

- I know, but I just wanted to know one thing. You are being careful, right?

- Come on, Buffy. How stupid do you think I am? Of course I'm being careful.

- Good. I just wanted to be sure… I was a bit surprised. You and Spike haven't been dating that long.

- We've been dating enough. I'm not like you. Waiting over a year. I think it's just a waste of time. And don't start calling me a slut because of it…

- No, noone's calling anyone a slut, here. You know I would never…

- I know. Sorry to snap at you, but it was just, well… embarrassing to be caught like that…

- Tell me about it, Buffy muttered. - I wasn't caught in the act, but the whole gang got to find out…

- Yeah, sorry about the whole, giving Angel the silent treatment…

- I know, you were all just caring about me. And it was sweet of you. But it wasn't nice to let him suffer for something he hadn't done.

- I know, and as I said. I'm sorry about all that.

After that conversation, they never spoke about it again. They just agreed on a sign, so that they wouldn't catch each other in the act. The thing was that the room always seemed to be taken. What were they, going at it like bunnies? So Buffy and Angel found an other way to get the room for themselves. Late in the evening, Buffy transformed into the cat and walked around the corner long before him. If she saw anyone, she would meow, so that Angel could go into hiding. Then she reached the secret opening. The minute Buffy transformed back, she suddenly heard a voice. She turned around and saw Dumbledore himself, standing in front of her. (Great, more trouble… Now I'm so being expelled…)

- Ms. Summers, he chuckled. - How unusual, meeting you here at this time.

Buffy was surprised. Dumbledore was smiling. Ms. Calendar would be furious if she had found them sneaking around the school at night. Luckily for Angel, he hadn't turned the corner, so Dumbledore hadn't seen him. He gestured for Buffy to follow him into his office. If she had met anyone else, she would be trembling at this point, but there was something in Dumbledore's eyes that made her relax. Once they had gotten into his office, he asked her politely to sit down.

- You probably want an explanation of why…

She started rambling, but Dumbledore gave a sign for her to stop.

- No, Ms. Summers, I don't need any explanation. I may be an old man, but I was young once, too. Don't forget that. A clever thing, going in front, checking the way, I must say. But we won't talk about that. I know it's embarrassing talking with an old codger, like me. I'm more interesting in hearing about you. I knew of course about you exceptional great strength long before you came here. It fascinated me. Then finding about your Animagi skills. I'm impressed. Not many of your age are able to do the same. You must be extremely talented.

- Not really, Buffy muttered. - I'm not good at Potions, Herbology or History…

- You don't have to be good at everything to be talented. In fact, when I was your age, I had trouble with a few subjects myself. Not that I see myself as talented. I'm just an old fool, he chuckled.

- I wouldn't say that. I've heard from everyone here that you are the greatest wizard in the world.

- That's just what it says in the books. I'm old, so I've learned through my life, that's my great talent. I've seen a lot of great wizards in my time, a lot younger than me. But you, my child, have the possibility to become a great witch. If you hadn't had the talent, you would never have triggered the power of Animagi. You have the future in your hands. Best to figure what you want to do. You can work for the Ministry, or study fascinating creatures. You could travel around the world. There are so many possibilities for a talented witch like yourself, and I wanted to say to you, that if you even considered teaching, I would be very pleased to give you a job here, after your graduation, of course, but I'd like you to think about it. The teachers here come and goes. Some stay for a long time, others for merely a year. But what they all have in common, is that they're not here forever. Consider it an option, and I shall be in touch…

With that, she was allowed to go back to her dormitory. She got up and walked to the door, before turning.

- You won't say anything to Ms. Calendar right? She'll expel me…

- Don't worry, he chuckled. - I wasn't much of a rule-obeyer myself in my day. Your secret's safe with me…

The rest of the stay was very enjoyable. But soon the month had passed and it was time to return to Luna again. Ms. Calendar had returned for the parting feast and sat by Dumbledore up at the teachers table. Buffy saw him winking at her, his eyes assuring her that he would not say a word. She sighed in relief. The food was very good and the people were extremely friendly. Buffy told the Weasley twins that if they ever were in Los Angeles they had to visit her, that she had a sister, only two years younger than them. Percy tried to get the same invitation, but Buffy ignored him. That was the only thing that worked with him. He couldn't take no for an answer. In the end, she wasn't that bothered anymore, because she had too many good things to think about. The gang were already planning all the things they were going to do once they got back to Luna. Buffy gave a glimpse towards Faith and Spike and knew that it would become a hard struggle to get the room for themselves, but one way or the other, they would manage…