Title: Potential
Author: Shannon
Email: angels_soul_1@yahoo.com
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Willow/Remus Lupin
Disclaimer: BtVS and A: tS belong to FOX, UPN, WB, And ME. Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling
Distribution: My Site: Shades of Grey (http://www.shadesofgrey.us/) NHA, WLS, FF.Net and Twisting the Hellmouth. Anyone else that has my permission for other fics feel free, anyone else wants it just let me know where it’s going.
Spoilers: Anything through Season 7 of BtVS, Season 4 of A: tS, and Order of the Phoenix for Harry Potter.
Summary: What if Willow’s spell in ‘Chosen’ activated a Slayer at Hogwarts.
Author’s Notes: I want to thank everyone who sent such wonderful feedback and encouragement for ‘The Missing Headmaster’. Made it much easier to ignore the idiot flaming me and to decide to continue in a new fandom for me.

Part 5


Hermione stood between Tonks and Moody at the airport. They were here to pick up Willow Rosenberg, Dawn Summers and Xander Harris. They were the people Lupin’s friend was sending to train her as a slayer. Well, two of them were coming to train her. Lupin had said that Dawn was about her age, and had been having some problems since the battle that had activated all the slayers. Mr. Giles was sending her hoping that time away would help her adjust. Unfortunately Professor Lupin didn’t know what any of them looked like. He had seen pictures of the older two but that had been several years ago, and he didn’t remember much other than Willow Rosenberg had red hair.

Hermione had been sent along, because no one else had ever been to an airport before. Harry was the only one other than Hermione that even fully understood how their guests would be arriving. Harry had offered to go but Moody had felt it was too dangerous. Moody was now shifting restlessly watching all the people making their way off the plane. He wasn’t happy about being in such a crowded place and Tonks wasn’t helping as she craned her neck to get another glimpse of the plane on the runway. They were both supposed to be blending in but they were doing it badly.

Moody had complained about Tonks appearance since breakfast. Today her hair was short and a very bright shade of pink. Hermione and Harry had both assured him that no one would notice. Moody had a hat pulled as low as he could over his magical eye, which made him stand out more than Tonks hair. Not that leaving the eye visible would have been better.

“I think that might be them?” Hermione pointed out three people coming toward them.

“Hi,” A red headed woman said cheerfully as she approached them, “I’m Willow Rosenberg. Don’t suppose you’re here for me?”

“Hello,” Hermione extended her hand to the woman, “I’m Hermione Granger.”

“Hi,” Willow shook her hand, when the girl let go Willow pulled her hand away rubbing it slightly with the other, where the other girl had gripped too hard. “This is Xander Harris and Dawn Summers.”

“Hello,” Hermione smiled at the other two people then saw Willow rubbing her hand, “I’m so sorry I--.”

“It’s okay,” Willow assured her.

“Seems to be a common issue for new slayers,” Xander agreed adjusting the bag on his shoulder and looking at the older man, and woman with pink hair on either side of Hermione.

“Sorry again, this is Mad-Eye Moody and Nymphodra Tonks,” Hermione gestured to each of them.

“Hi,” Willow smiled at each of them.

“Mad-eye?” Xander raised an eyebrow as he looked at the man.

Moody pushed his hat back slightly letting them see his covered eye.

“Okay so that’s—different.”

“Please call me Tonks,” The woman with pink hair extended her hand to Dawn.

“Hello,” Dawn answered quietly.

“We should probably get out of here,” Hermione suggested. “I’m sure you’re all very tired.”

Willow and Dawn were looking at the sub-compact car in front of them. Xander was helping Moody load the bags in the trunk. There was no way they would all fit in this car. There were six of them and this car would hold four at the most.

“It’s bigger than it looks,” Hermione said when she saw the two women looking at the car.

“Excuse me?” Willow said not wanting to admit they had been questioning their host’s judgment.

“The car. It’s enchanted. It’ll expand to hold all of us. That’s how they’re fitting so much luggage in the trunk.”

A few minutes later everyone was piling into the car that expanded as Hermione had said to give them all plenty of room to be comfortable. Once the car started moving Willow glanced over at Dawn who hadn’t spoken more than a few words since the ride to the airport this morning. Xander saw Willow’s gaze and looked at the younger girl too. He hoped Willow and Giles were right and spending time here with other girls her age that she could talk to, about all the parts of her life would help.

“So Hermione,” Willow turned her attention to the new slayer, “What’s it like living in a wizarding family?”

“I wouldn’t know,” Hermione smiled, “My parents are muggles.”

“’Kay what’s a muggle?” Xander asked. “It’s not a demon is it?”

“Actually you’re a muggle,” Hermione shrugged. These people were nothing like she had expected.

“So Muggles are incredibly handsome men with only one eye?”

That did get a response from Dawn, for the first time in days, she laughed. Which was quickly joined by Willow’s giggling, Xander frowned when he saw Hermione cover her mouth to hide her smile.

“It’s not that funny,” Xander insisted glaring at Willow.

“Sorry,” Willow and Dawn both wrapped an arm around Xander.

“You know you’re the most handsome man in my life,” Willow kissed his cheek as Dawn moved her arm to turn her attention back to the window.

“Not saying a whole lot Will. Since your last two honeys were girls.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t say that Andrew or Giles were cuter than you,” She offered.

“Great so I’m cuter than the old watcher guy and the King of Geekdom.”

“Yep,” Willow turned back to Hermione, “So a muggle is?”

“A non magic person,” Hermione explained, “So Mr. Harris and Dawn are both muggles.”

“Call me Xander, and,” he turned his attention to Willow, “would Dawn be a muggle?”

“Dawn are you a witch too?” Hermione asked the other teen-ager. Lupin hadn’t mentioned it if she was.

“Nope, I’m a key,” Dawn answered without turning away from the window.

“A key?” Tonks asked turning to face them.

“Long story. We’ll explain another day,” Willow offered.

They had just pulled up in front of a row of rundown houses. Dawn frowned as she climbed out of the car. The whole street was a mess. Most of the houses looked deserted or condemned. Everyone quickly grabbed the bags out of the trunk and Moody led them to a spot between two houses. He set down the bags and searched his pockets finally pulling out a small folded scrap of paper.

“Read it, memorize it, and pass it to you’re friends,” He told Xander handing him the paper.

Xander unfolded the paper and read the words handwritten there.

The Headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix are located at 12 Grimauld place.

Xander passed the note to Willow who looked at it, then back at the houses and frowned before passing it to Dawn. Xander saw house number eleven and house number thirteen but there was no twelve. Dawn finished reading the paper, frowning at the houses in front of her and handed the paper back to Moody who shoved it back in his pocket.

“Now think about what you just read,” He said gruffly.

All three did as they were told, eyes widening when a house began to push its way in between the two that were already there.

“Is that house—?” Xander whispered to Willow.

“Appearing out of nowhere?” Willow finished, “Yep.”

“Hurry before anyone comes along. And please do not make any noise in the hallway,” Moody quickly picked up a suitcase and headed to the door.

Everyone followed Moody into the house. Tonks coming in last and bumping the umbrella stand near the door, causing it to crash to the floor.

“I’m sorry--,” Tonks dropped the suitcase and bent for the umbrellas.

Before she had finished speaking the curtains around the large hallway had flown open. Several paintings began yelling at once. Several people came down the steps, and out of the kitchen. A plump red headed woman yelling at Tonks about her clumsiness, as several others began tugging on the curtains trying to cover the paintings.

BESMIRCHING THE NOBLE HOUSE OF BLACK—BLOOD TRAITORS—ALLOWING MUDBLOODS—NOW MUGGLES—MY HOME—A DISCRACE—

Dawn covered her ears in an attempt to block the yelling. Hermione, Tonks and Moody were busy helping the others close the curtains.

“I don’t think they’re happy to see us,” Willow told Xander.

“You think?” Xander said then looking around at all the people in the hallway, “Will, you sure we weren’t coming to visit your family?”

“What?”

“Look at these people,” Xander motioned to the six red headed people in the room.

“Yep Xander, this was all a really elaborate way to get you to meet the rest of my family,” Willow smiled. “Know what, I’ve got to help them.”

At that Willow waved her hand at the portrait nearest the door and muttered something that Xander couldn’t understand. Before Xander could ask the curtains yanked out of everyone’s hands and closed, cutting off the shouting.

“You must be Miss Rosenberg,” Lupin said. He had been facing the girl when the curtains closed. He wasn’t sure what she had done, but she had done something. “I’m Remus Lupin.”

“Hi, you’re Giles friend right?” She smiled, “And please call me Willow. This is Xander and Dawn.”

“Nice to meet all of you,” Lupin smiled at the other two.

“I don’t mean to sound rude,” The plump red headed woman said quietly, “But could we do the introductions in the kitchen. Before we disturb them again.”

“Of course,” Lupin nodded, “Just leave your bags here.”

Everyone made their way quietly to the kitchen. Once there Lupin began introducing everyone to their new guests.

“You’ve already met Hermione, Mad-Eye, and Tonks,” He said, “So this is Molly and Arthur Weasley, and their children, Ron, Ginny and the twins Fred and George. And this is Harry Potter.”

“Mum, hope you don’t confuse her with one of your own kids,” Fred said gesturing to Willow.

Molly Weasley frowned at her son. Xander nudged Willow smiling. He wasn’t the only one to see the humor in it.

“It’s nice to meet all of you,” Willow said ignoring both Fred’s comment and Xander.

“Can we ask you some questions about the States,” George asked, “Specifically about joke shops there?”

Willow sighed as Xander made his way over to the twins. She could see that he would be bonding with them quickly, she was going to withhold judgment on if that was a good thing or not.

“Boys I told you not to bother them,” Molly warned scowling at her sons.

“There fine Mrs. Weasley,” Willow assured the older woman, “Believe me Xander is more than happy to talk about jokes with them.”

“So what’s with the talking, or well, yelling paintings in the hall,” Dawn asked no one in particular.

“Wizarding paintings and photographs all move and some talk,” Harry moved closer to her, “It takes some getting used to.”

“So do these one’s not like guests for some reason then?” Dawn asked.

“They don’t like anyone,” Harry explained, “This was my god-father’s house, before he died. The painting is his mother. She doesn’t like anyone that’s not pure blooded wizard.”

“So she does that often then?” Willow asked having caught Harry’s explanation.

“Whenever anyone makes noise in the hall.”

“Why doesn’t someone take them down?” Dawn asked. “Was your god father attached to them?”

“God no,” Harry laughed at the thought of Sirius refusing to remove the paintings, “He wanted them down more than anyone. She charmed the pictures as well as a few other things that she didn’t want removed.”

“Lovely woman,” Dawn muttered, “What happened to him?”

“Sirius?” Harry asked, “He—Bellatrix killed him.”

“I’m sorry,” Dawn said quietly. She hadn’t meant to bring up something that would hurt him, “Recently?”

“A month or so ago.”

“Why don’t you kids show Willow, Xander and Dawn to their rooms,” Mrs. Weasley said just as her husband cornered Willow to ask about airplanes. “They’ve had long days and I’m sure they’d like to rest before Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore arrive for dinner.”

“Is he staying for dinner?” Ron asked scowling at his mother.

“Of course, Dumbledore wants to meet our guests,” she answered, purposely misunderstanding her son’s question as well as ignoring the groans of all the other children.

“Professor Snape Mum?” George asked, not looking any happier than his brother did.

“Yes, I believe he is,” She answered.

“Isn’t it bad enough he has to come to give his report?” Fred muttered, “Now we have to have dinner with the git.”

“So this Snape guy not gonna win Teacher of the Year?” Willow asked laughing at the faces that had gone from happy to scowling so quickly.

“Not bloody likely,” Harry muttered, “I can show you your room Willow.”

“Thanks,” Willow followed him from the kitchen.

“Dawn you’re sharing a room with us, if you don’t mind?” Hermione said.

“That’s fine,” Dawn said and followed Hermione and Ginny to the stairs.

“Xander you’re in the room next to us,” Fred said leading Xander from the kitchen, “We’ll show you where it is.”

Ron and George followed Xander and Fred from the room. Once the room had cleared out a little, Tonks offered to help Molly prepare dinner. Mrs. Weasley looked skeptically at the clumsy younger woman but gave her directions on starting the stew.

“Minerva dropped off a trunk that was delivered to the school for Willow and Xander. It’s over in the corner. I wasn’t sure which room to put it in,” Arthur Weasley told Lupin

“I’ll go ask them about it. We also need to find out what they’ll need for training.” Lupin assured him, before heading out of the room.




Next Chapter