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 7


Willow followed Xander down the stairs. Just as they reached the last step Xander stopped, seeing all seven teen-agers gathered near the kitchen door. Fred had a long string running from under the door to his ear.

“What do you think? Kids not allowed in the meetings?” He whispered to Willow. “Or are they playing that telephone game we played when we were kids?”

“I’m going with spying,” Willow smiled and moved soundlessly behind the Hermione. “Whatcha doin’?”

All seven kids jumped, turning to identify the voice. Fred was quickly pulling the string from under the door.

“You know Will, Buffy will probably be angry if you have to call and tell her I had a heart attack here,” Dawn said glaring at Willow.

“Buffy will probably be angry to find out you were here less than one day and already are getting into trouble,” Xander pointed out.

“We should be allowed in there,” Harry said, “It involves us too.”

“Why aren’t you?” Willow asked.

“It’s for members of the Order only,” Ron answered, doing a remarkably good imitation of his mother, “and children can’t join the Order.”

“And we can’t,” George gestured to himself and Fred, “Because Mum just says no.”

“I’m sure she had her reasons,” Willow suggested. “I understand this Voldemort guy is dangerous, and you are all very young.”

“Right, Will, ‘cause we didn’t get involved in dangerous stuff when we were their age. Hell, the twins are eighteen. We had stopped three apocalypses by then,” Xander pointed out.

“Okay so, maybe you can handle it,” Willow shrugged, “Have you tried asking Remus or Tonks are someone other than Mrs. Weasley for information. And what is that thing?”

Everyone looked to where Willow was pointing. Fred glanced at the thick string in his hand. Everyone was looking guiltily at each other not wanting to answer the question. Dawn finally spoke first.

“Tell her,” She said, “If you just tell her she won’t probably won’t say anything, but if you don’t she’ll keep trying to find out. She won’t stop, I know her, and then your mom will probably find out in Willow’s constant badgering.”

“You promise not to say anything?” Ron asked.

“As long as it’s not something dangerous, I won’t say a word. Xander either.”

“It’s an invisible extendable ear,” Fred said proudly.

“Extendable ear?” Xander asked.

“Invisible,” George clarified. “We had to charm them to be invisible because Mum found out about the ones we had last year.”

“So they let you hear the meeting?” Willow asked.

Before anyone could answer the door swung open to reveal a man in dark robes, snarling at them. Ron, Hermione and Harry who were closest to the door all took a step back.

“One would think as often as you find yourselves places you shouldn’t be, you would learn to make less noise,” The man snapped.

“Let me guess, Professor Snape?” Willow whispered to Hermione who was standing nearest her. Hermione nodded silently.

“Your mother would like you to help with dinner now,” He turned and walked back into the kitchen.

“Wow, isn’t he just a ray of sunshine,” Xander muttered, “Makes Angel look cheerful.”

“That was him in a good mood,” Harry muttered to Dawn as they all made their way to the kitchen.

Dawn followed the girls to the cabinets and began pulling dishes and silverware out to set the table. While Ron, George, Fred, and Harry helped Mrs. Weasley bring the food to the table.

“Xander, Willow, Let me introduce you to everyone,” Arthur Weasley pulled them over to the table and began introducing all the new arrivals. “This is Mundungus, Severus Snape, and Professor Dumbledore.”

“Hi,” Willow and Xander both greeted everyone.

“It’s a pleasure to meet both of you,” Dumbledore smiled, “We have heard a great deal about you, for many years.”

“Thank you,” Willow smiled. She immediately liked the older man.

Mr. Weasley pulled Xander into the seat between him and Tonks and immediately began asking questions about televisions. The kids were all taking seats on one end of the table. Frowning Willow saw the only empty spot remaining was between Remus and Snape. She moved and sat in the vacant chair. Willow watched Xander try to explain the way a television works to Mr. Weasley. She smiled thinking Xander knew more about it than she thought he did. Dawn was engaged in conversation with Harry. Both seemed to be taking a lot comfort in having someone to talk to who had recently been through the same kind of loss. Overall everyone was participating in some conversation, everyone but Professor Snape.

“So Professor Snape are you married?” Willow turned her attention to the man scowling next to her.

“No,” He said without looking at her.

“Girlfriend?” Now everyone at the table had turned their attention to the girl that was attempting to draw the potions master into a conversation.

“Hardly.”

“Oh, I’m sorry--,” Willow replied, “Boyfriend then?”

At her words Lupin and Tonks started laughing. All seven teen-agers covered their mouths in an attempt to hide their laughter, at least four of them knowing they would pay all term for laughing now. The more Lupin and Tonks laughed the redder Snape’s face became eventually drawing Mister and Mrs. Weasley, as well as Mundungus into the laughter as Dumbledore and Moody both tried to hide their smiles though their bodies were also shaking with silent laughter. Snape threw his napkin on top of his plate and stormed out of the kitchen without a word.

“So then no boyfriend either?” Xander asked as the laughter continued.

“Severus is not--,” Lupin said as soon as he stopped laughing, “no boyfriend. He’s just—.”

“Too unpleasant to possibly find someone of either sex to put up with him?” Tonks suggested.

“Well, yes,” Lupin agreed.

“I’m sorry,” Willow said quietly, “I was just trying to—and his reaction to my saying girlfriend—I thought---.”

“It’s quite all right Miss Rosenberg,” Dumbledore assured her, “Severus will be fine. He’s not accustomed to anyone asking him questions.”

“Maybe I should find him and--.”

“I suggest you leave him alone for now dear,” Molly Weasley said.

Willow agreed to hold off speaking to him for a while. She really hadn’t meant to embarrass him, she just wanted to include him in the conversation. She certainly hadn’t meant to make everyone laugh at the man.

Willow was pacing the length of her room, she had been for several hours now. She couldn’t sleep. Surprising really since she had been busy all day. She had checked on Dawn already, twice, but she seemed to be adjusting well to being here. She had made friends with Hermione, Ginny, Ron, and Harry quickly, and was now asleep in her room. She had even checked on Xander, which was silly really. He was an adult and hardly needed her to make sure he was all tucked in.

Her mind kept going back to dinner and Snape storming out of the room. He hadn’t come back in the room all evening. Remus had said he was still in the house somewhere, he planned on staying the night. Sighing Willow pulled her door open, if she couldn’t sleep she might as well go downstairs and find a book. Hermione had told her the Blacks had a very extensive library.

Willow made her way quietly down the stairs and toward the room that Hermione had pointed out earlier. The door was closed, so she knocked softly and waited a second before entering. No one had replied so she assumed it was empty. Pushing the door open she saw a dark figure sitting in a chair, back to the door. There were a few candles lit around the room but not enough for her to be sure who it was.

“Hi,” Willow said quietly, “I couldn’t sleep, I was just going to find a book.”

“Go away,” The voice snapped from the darkness.

“Oh, you,” Willow frowned, “I just wanted to say I’m sorry about earlier. I…”

“Fine Miss. Rosenberg, now leave.”

“No,” Willow walked into the room and pushed the door closed, “Not one of the kids that you can scare away by being crabby and glaring a lot. I’m sorry I embarrassed you. It wasn’t intentional, I was just trying to get to know you.”

“Fine, apology accepted, now will you leave,” he sighed. He did not want to talk to this woman.

“No, still want to get to know you.”

“Why?”

“Why what?” Willow asked, “Why do I want to know you? I’m going to be living in this house until September then I’ll be at Hogwarts. Odds are we’ll be seeing each other. Might as well be friends.”

“I don’t want any friends.”

“That’s sad,” Willow frowned, “You didn’t say I don’t need more friends. You said you don’t want any friends. Why not, friends are good.”

“Friends are a weakness,” Snape replied, maybe if he answered her questions she’d go away.

“Not always. I mean sure they can be, they can make you more vulnerable. Give someone something to use against you. But friends can be a strength too. Without Xander, I would have destroyed the world. No one could stop me; my magic wasn’t something slayer strength could stop. It wasn’t something more magic could stop, because anyone with any power at all, that got close to me, was just more energy for me to feed off of. It was Xander, Xander being my friend that stopped me.”

“You tried to end the world?” He asked there was no way this girl in front of him could be that powerful. Although, he had read about an American witch attempting just that a year or so ago.

“Yep, I’m not all that pleasant when I get cranky either,” Willow smiled. “I’ll go now but so you know, I won’t leave you alone until I’m either your friend or have a really good reason to not be. And I’m guessing if these people that live here trust you, there isn’t a reason to not be.”

Willow stood up and walked out of the room. He wasn’t going to talk tonight, no point in pushing now. She would let him think about what she had said; maybe he would come to her next time.




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