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 9


“I’m sure I’m getting this wrong,” Xander said his gaze shifting from Remus Lupin to the empty fireplace. “You want me to step into the fireplace, say where I want to go, and then throw the ashes down?”

“Yes,” Lupin smiled. “Just be sure to speak clearly.”

“Can’t we drive?” Dawn asked skeptically.

“We could but it would take longer,” Tonks answered, “The kids aren’t old enough to apparate or we could do that.”

“So we apparate and meet the kids there?” Xander suggested hopefully.

“You won’t like Apparating anymore than this,” Ron told him.

“Why don’t the kids go first,” Willow suggested, “That way we can see it actually work.”

Everyone agreed and Ron stepped forward first. He took a handful of Floo Powder and stepped into the fireplace. “Diagon Alley.” Ron disappeared in a large green flame.

“Now he’s just there?” Dawn asked, “How do we know he didn’t burn up or something?”

“The flames aren’t hot,” Hermione assured her, “I’ll go next.”

One at a time each of the kids stepped in the fireplace and disappeared. Dawn going last, with a reminder from Lupin not to get out before she saw the others, Tonks followed Dawn. Xander and Willow went next, followed last by Lupin.

Lupin stepped out of the fireplace in Diagon Alley in time to see everyone still laughing at Xander who had been complaining about the mess involved with traveling by fireplace.

“Honestly Xander,” Dawn forced her smiled back while helping him brush floo powder from his shirt, “You’re the only that got dirty.”

“Where to now?” He asked ignoring Dawn, when he spotted Lupin.

“I believe we all need to visit Gringotts,” Lupin said, “So we should head there first, and then everyone can go their separate ways to collect their supplies.”

“What if we have no supplies?” Xander asked.

“You can come with us,” Fred suggested, “We’re working on setting up our new shop.”

“Yeah, we can use an extra opinion on some of the new jokes,” George agreed.

Everyone made their way to Gringotts. Dumbledore had arranged for an account to be opened for Willow, Dawn, and Xander so that they would have funds available for their visit. After everyone had made their withdrawals and more complaining from Xander who didn’t like the carts used to get to the vaults anymore than he had liked Floo travel, they headed back to the street.

“Everyone have their lists?” Tonks asked, “We aren’t coming back before school starts.”

Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny waved pieces of parchment in the air. Dawn also had a list of items that Ginny and Hermione thought would be helpful for her to have while there. Willow gave her a small pouch of coins and the kids went off in search of school supplies, agreeing to meet at the Leaky Cauldron at six o’clock so they could be home in time for dinner.

Xander headed off with the twins to see the location of their soon to be opened joke shop. Tonks had a meeting with some other Aurors but said she would make it back in time to return home with them. When they were alone Willow turned her attention to Lupin.

“Okay there’s like a million things here I want to see,” Willow smiled, “That Magical Menagerie place looks cool, I’ve never seen a pet store with owls before. Oh, and that book store that had books that were attacking each other. And did I see a store with chocolate frogs jumping around in the window. Not sure I want to go there though, don’t really like frogs. And what’s Quidditch? Do you really fly on brooms? If you do can I learn? Did I see chess pieces attacking each other in that one window?”

“So you’d like to see everything then?” Remus laughed. It had been along time since he had been around anyone that seemed to enjoy everything so very much.

“Yeah, not a problem is it?” Willow grinned, she felt like a little kid in a really big candy store right now. The magic was pushing against her, just like at the house, but it was mostly good magic.

“Well we’d better get started then, which would you like to see first?” He asked, “I would suggest Flourish and Blotts. If you’re going to make any purchases books will be the easiest to carry.”

“’Kay bookstore it is,” Willow agreed and they headed across the street to the large store.

Willow’s eyes widened when they walked into the large store. She loved bookstores anyway but this one was amazing. The walls were lined with books from the floor to the ceiling. The books with pictures on the covers were watching her as she moved. She walked slowly through the store stopping to pick up books occasionally so she could examine the covers. She had never seen so many books on magic before, which was really saying a lot considering the collections both Giles and Wesley had. When she reached the display of books that seemed to be attacking each other she reached for one only to have her hand grabbed by Remus.

“Don’t touch them,” he told her releasing her hand, “They’re dangerous.”

“What are they?”

“The Monster Book of Monsters,” he explained, “They’re required at Hogwarts.”

“Okay can’t exactly be encouraging students to do their homework if they’re worried about their books biting them.”

“Hagrid is uh, unique in a lot of ways,” Remus laughed, “Find anything you’re interested in?”

“Uh, one of everything? Okay how about you suggest what I need if Dumbledore says I can sit in on classes while I’m there?”

“We should hear from him today, but I don’t think it’ll be a problem.”

Remus took her through the store handing her several books that he knew the professors would be using in their classes.

“Start with these,” he told her as they made their way to the counter to pay, “I’m not sure what level of classes you’ll be at, so if you need others owl me and I’ll get them for you.”

Willow paid for the books and they left the store to head over to the clothing shop across the street to look for robes. Willow looked around at the shapeless robes hanging in the shop. They certainly weren’t the most attractive of uniforms but it would be best for them to blend in with the rest of the school, all of whom would be wearing them.

“So I have to dress like Snape?” She asked looking at the dark robes.

“You don’t have to have black. The students have to wear black robes but you can wear whatever you wish.” Remus assured her leading her to the back of the store where there were several more colorful robes.

Willow examined the robes, finally choosing two in a deep green, a royal blue, and a dark burgundy one. She also decided it was best to purchase a black one just in case it was needed. She also chose a couple black robes and a dark blue robe for Xander, knowing he wouldn’t think to come in here and purchase them.

Lupin also suggested dragon’s hide gloves, a cape and a scarf for the winter. Willow quickly chose one of each for herself as well as Xander. Dawn was with Hermione and Ginny and they would make sure Dawn had what she needed, and the girl had no problem shopping for herself.

Dawn was walking between Ron and Harry listening to them explain the rules of Quidditch. The game was apparently important to both boys, Ginny occasionally offered a bit of information, though Hermione seemed to be ignoring the entire conversation. At the moment Dawn was regretting asking about it when she saw the Quidditch supply store.

“You’re bored aren’t you?” Harry asked noticing she no longer seemed to be paying attention.

“I’m sorry, just not really into sports.”

“You could’ve told them to shut up anytime,” Ginny said ignoring the scowl her brother was giving her.

“What’s left on our lists anyway?” Ron asked.

“I think we have everything,” Hermione consulted her list, “I just need to pick up a couple new robes, Dawn you’re getting some too right?”

“Yeah, Giles told me I would need them at the school.”

“We’re going over to Quality Quidditch Supplies then,” Harry said as they approached the store the girls needed, “Meet you for lunch in an hour?”

“Sure,” all three girls agreed as Hermione pulled open the door and the boys headed in back the way they had come from.

“Dawn do you want the school uniform robes or other robes?” Ginny asked searching through the racks of robes.

“What’s the difference?”

“School robes are black and have the Hogwarts crest on them,” Hermione explained then pointing to the colorful racks in the back, “Those are the regular robes, more variety.”

“Can I get both?”

“Sure,” Ginny said, “Willow gave you quite a bit of money.”

Hermione began searching through the school robes, choosing three for herself before helping Dawn and Ginny find a school robe as well as two other robes for Dawn. Both girls paid for their purchases and left the store.

“Granger, Weasley,” A voice sneered from behind them, “New mudblood?”

All three girls stopped walking, Dawn saw both Ginny and Hermione stiffen and frown. Obviously this wasn’t someone they wanted to talk to. Dawn wasn’t sure what a mudblood was, but it didn’t sound very nice, and she was reasonably sure he was talking about her.

“What do you want Malfoy?” Hermione finally said turning to face him.

“Who’s that?” Draco asked nodding toward Dawn, “One of your mudblood friends?”

Dawn looked at the scowling face of the blonde boy in front of her, he was probably about her age, so he must go to school with Hermione and Ginny. They obviously didn’t like him very much, and he didn’t seem to feel any differently about them. She’d been near him for less than five minutes and already Dawn didn’t like him.

“What’s a mudblood?” Dawn finally asked.

“Wizard or witch with muggle parents,” Ginny answered, “Not exactly the polite word to use though.”

“Then no I’m not a mudblood,” Dawn said deciding to ignore his attitude, one thing she had learned from watching Spike and Xander was that getting angry only encouraged irritating behavior.

“You’re parents aren’t muggles then?” Draco asked raising an eyebrow, “Or you’re not a witch?”

“I’m not a witch, and technically I don’t have parents.”

“So you just sprung up out of thin air?” He sneered.

“Actually yeah I did,” Dawn said cheerfully, “I was mostly a big ball of mystic energy but then some monks turned me into a girl, they made me from the slayer so I would say she would kind of be the biological parent and not really a muggle right?”

Ginny and Hermione covered their mouths trying to hide their smiles at the look of complete confusion on Draco Malfoy’s face. He was staring at Dawn, mouth open, trying to comprehend what she had just said.

“C’mon girls,” Dawn finally said when Malfoy had spoken for several seconds. “Let’s go find someone that can form actual sentences.”

The three girls walked away giggling and whispering to each other.

“You do realize he’s going to make your life hell at Hogwarts right?” Hermione asked when she stopped laughing.

“I’ll try to work up a proper amount of fear,” Dawn said smiling. “Sorry a Hell God tried to kill me, I have a hard time working up a lot of fear over a blonde with an attitude. Hell I had that at home with Spike.”

“We have to go meet the boys now,” Ginny pointed out.

“Do you know who that Spike guy Dawn’s mentioned a couple times is?” Harry asked Ron.

“No why?”

“Just wondering if he was her boyfriend?” Harry answered, “I mean, they never really explained why she was here, just that her sister and that Watcher thought she should get away.”

“You like her?” Ron asked, Harry had been asking a lot of questions about Dawn all day.

“What, no, just curious.” Harry pushed open the door to the café where they were meeting the girls and immediately spotted them at a table in the corner.

Dawn waved to the Harry and Ron when she saw them heading toward the table. She moved to the corner of the booth to make room for someone to sit next to her. When they reached the table Ron scooted in next Hermione, leaving the seat next to Dawn for Harry.

“Find robes you like?” Harry asked Dawn.

“Well I wouldn’t say I like them, but yeah found robes.”

“Are you going to get a pet?” Harry asked. “For at school?”

“Am I allowed?”

“Why not?” Harry shrugged, “Students can have owls, rats, toads, or cats. So I don’t see why you can’t.”

“Well, I don’t want a rat, gross,” Dawn frowned, “We still don’t know if I have to share a room with Willow so no toad, she has a thing about frogs. But an owl or a cat would be cool.”

“We can stop and look at them after lunch,” Harry offered.

“I promised Fred and George I’d stop at their shop,” Ron said quickly, “Ginny and Hermione why don’t you come with me?”

“I’d rather go…” Hermione began then Ron leaned over and whispered something Harry couldn’t hear. “Oh, well okay I can go with you, Ginny you too okay?”

“But I don’t…”

“Ginny,” Ron warned.

“Fine,” Ginny conceded, obviously she was missing something but she could ask later.

“Okay so now I have robes, books, and potions stuff,” Willow said as she finished the last bite of her ice cream. “Though I don’t know if learning more about magic is worth working with Snape, he makes Angel look down right cheerful. We saw Fred and George’s joke shop, and went to that Quidditch store. Which sounds like a really cool game, you know as far as sports go. I brought that Wizard’s chess set, maybe we can play later. What else did we still need to see?”

Remus didn’t speak for a minute, she had been talking like a little kid on a sugar high all morning. Most of the time he wasn’t sure she expected a response. Although he was enjoying himself for the first time in weeks, they had been laughing and talking for hours. She knew he was a werewolf but wasn’t bothered by it, had even offered to contact a friend of hers that had spent the last few years learning to control his own wolf to the point of not changing during the full moon. Judging by the way she was looking at him, she must expect an answer this time.

“We haven’t been to the candy store, or the Magical Menagerie yet.”

“Is it okay to buy an animal?”

“Yes, I’m sure Dumbledore won’t mind,” he assured her, “The students have them.”

“Another cat would be cool, never did find out what happened to Miss Kitty Fantastico,” Willow sighed, “But an owl would be great too, I could write home more often.”

“You can use the school owls when you’re at Hogwarts,” Remus pointed out, “While you’re at the house, I’m sure Harry or Ron would let you use their owls.”

“Harry’s is that beautiful snowy owl right?” Willow asked, “Ron’s is that little bundle of feathers that seems to need Ritalin?”

“Ritalin?”

“Sorry, drug used to control hyper-activity,” Willow smiled, “We used to think Spike needed it but wasn’t sure how it would affect vampires.”

“I’m sure everyone would agree then that Pig could use some of that,” Remus agreed, “How is Hermione’s training going?”

“Great I guess,” Willow answered, “Xander wants to start teaching her how to use some of the weapons tomorrow. I’m not sure though, her coordination isn’t that good, she can block okay, but not avoid.”

“This is going to be difficult for Hermione,” Remus said, “She’s very good at things she can learn from a book, but you can’t learn to fight that way, the boys say she doesn’t do well in her flying lessons either.”

“I can totally relate to the book thing,” Willow laughed, “Total geek here. I don’t think there’s a way to use books for this though, unless I throw them at her instead of the plastic balls. Remus would you be willing to help us with something tomorrow?”

“You want me to help throw books at Hermione?”

“No, Xander wants to do the weapons thing, but he can do that later in the day,” Willow explained, “I want to see how her instincts are, can she sense danger and magic and stuff.”

“She said she’s felt something when I’m around.”

“Good, now we’ll see how well she can pinpoint the feeling,” Willow said, “Dawn can help and maybe Harry or Ron. A vampire would be great but not available right now. One day maybe I can Angel to visit.”

“I’ll be there,” Remus said wanting to do anything he could to help Hermione, and at the same time it was giving him a reason to spend more time with Willow.

Remus watched her as she talked more about her friends visiting, and ways to help Hermione. The girl intrigued him, she had been through more in the last seven years than most people experience in their entire lives and none of it seemed to affect her at all. She was happy and confident. She had only been here three days and he was already dreading the day she would leave to go to Hogwarts with the kids, everything would go back to it’s normal quietness. He wanted to spend more time with her, though he was fairly sure she saw him only as Ripper’s friend, and as far as he could tell she looked at Rupert Giles as a father figure. Which brought up a whole other problem, this girl was twenty-two years old, he was old enough to be her father, which means he shouldn’t be thinking about her any differently than he thought of Hermione.

Willow had stopped talking realizing Remus was no longer really listening to her. He was staring at her. She looked back at him, he looked fairly happy, she hadn’t seen that since she arrived. He had this sad look most of the time. Molly had said that he had taken Sirius’ death very hard, and being a werewolf had caused a lot of his sadness too, there was a lot of bigotry in the wizarding world against them. He had a hard time finding work or even a place to live. The bigotry explained him still being single, he was a handsome man, why was she even thinking that? He was as old as Giles. Well, she thought, sometimes Giles didn’t seem that old anymore either. She didn’t feel like a kid anymore, you could probably only fight so many apocalypses before you just couldn’t hold on to that innocence anymore.

“Willow?”

“Sorry,” Willow blushed, “lost in thought.”

“Shall we head over to the candy store now?” Remus suggested, “We only have a little more than an hour until we have to meet the others.”

“Yeah,” Willow said, “Let’s go.”

Xander was sitting at the large counter in the back of the store watching the twins unpack boxes of Skiving Snackboxes as they told him about their last year at Hogwarts. He particularly enjoyed the magical fireworks that multiplied or exploded when you tried to get rid of them. He waved when he saw Ron, Hermione, and Ginny push the door open.

“Get all your school supplies?”

“Yeah,” Ron held up several packages.

“Beat anyone up Hermione?” Fred asked.

“Not yet,” Hermione smiled, “Though it was tempting when we saw Draco Malfoy.”

“What did he do?” Fred asked, they were all aware that Draco was a potential problem now that he blamed Harry and the others for his father being in Azkaban.

“Insulted Dawn mostly,” Ginny smiled, “But she can seriously take care of herself.”

“She didn’t hurt him did she?” Xander asked raising an eyebrow. Dawn had enough of Buffy in her that it could be a possibility even without slayer strength.

“Just his ego,” Hermione grinned, and explained the encounter.

“Speaking of,” Xander smiled, “Where are Dawn and Harry?”

“Hopefully realizing Harry likes her,” Ron grinned.

“You set them up?” George laughed, “You do remember the Cho fiasco right? He doesn’t do well with the dating thing.”

“So you going to buy anything?” Fred asked.

Hermione frowned at both her friends when they began looking through the snackboxes.

“Don’t believing in skipping classes Hermione?” Xander asked.

“No I don’t,” Hermione answered, “What will Ron do when he can’t copy other people’s work anymore.”

“You sound like Willow,” Xander smiled, “That’s a good thing by the way.”

“Thank you,” Hermione turned her attention to Xander having decided complaining to Ron about his behavior was pointless. “I don’t suppose there are books I could read about slaying are there?”

“About how to slay?” Xander asked, “Doubt it, it’s kinda hands on. But if you’d like to read about past slayers we can write Giles see if he has any Watcher’s Diaries.”

“That would be great.”

“So Hermione,” Xander asked, “Do wizards eat junk food? ‘Cause I’m not going to last here if I don’t get some Twinkies.”

“Twinkies no,” Hermione answered, “There is a candy store down the street though.”

“Shall we then?” Xander walked around the counter and offered his arm to Hermione. “Leave your things here, we’ll come back for them.”

“Sure,” Hermione took his arm, setting her bags down. She followed him out of the store and directed him toward the candy shop.

Dawn and Harry moved slowly through the store. Dawn had decided on an owl. She liked the idea of having a pet that no one else had when she returned home. Now it was just a matter of choosing the one she liked best. She had stopped walking in front of a small owl with black feathers.

“Black?” Harry asked.

“Ow,” Dawn pulled her hand away from the cage when the bird nipped her fingers with it’s beak.

As soon as she moved her hand it immediately bumped it’s head against the cage trying to rub against her fingers. Smiling she put her hand back near the cage and touched the top of it’s head. Harry reached in his pocket and pulled out a small owl treat and handed it to Dawn, who offered it to the bird.

“It reminds me of Spike,” She smiled, “This is definitely the one I want.”

Harry picked up the cage and they headed to the counter to pay for her new pet. She told him she was naming the bird Spike as they left the store and headed toward the Leaky Cauldron where they were meeting the others.

“So why did your friends work so hard at sending us off alone?” Dawn asked.

“I-I’m sorry I don’t--,” Harry stuttered.

“Not really big with subtle are they?” She smiled.

“No. Actually I think Ron just wants me to have a girlfriend so that he can be sure that Hermione and I--.”

“Ah, well as long as we know you’re human,” Dawn smiled, “I had to stake my last would be boyfriend.”

“Human,” Harry assured her as they walked into the small pub. “Why don’t you find a table while I get us butterbeers?”

“Sure.”

“So what are you going to name your new cat?” Remus asked.

“Don’t know yet?” Willow frowned at the cage he was carrying for her, “Any suggestions?”

“Let me give it some thought.”

They were heading toward the Leaky Cauldron it was almost time to meet the others. He hated for the day to end, he enjoyed the day with Willow. Privacy once they returned to Grimauld Place was going to be scarce.

“So Remus, do you ever go places,” Willow asked, “You know without a string of teen-agers.”

“Not often I’m afraid, at least not in the summer,” he frowned, “But maybe dinner or something could be arranged.”

“Oh and a movie?”

“Movie?”

“Yeah, well, I guess the whole moving picture thing, not as impressive when all your pictures move huh?”

“A muggle movie?” Remus realized what she was saying, “I’ve never been to one.”

“Would you be willing--,”

“That would be fine,” he assured her as they walked into the Leaky Cauldron and spotted Harry, Dawn and Tonks at a table. “Tomorrow?”

“It’s a date,” Willow grinned, “Hi guys.”

The three people at the table greeted Willow and Remus, then Remus excused himself to get more drinks while they waited for the others. Dawn showed Willow her owl, while she admired Willow’s cat.

Willow explained to Harry and Dawn about her plans for Hermione’s training tomorrow, both agreed to help out. When Remus returned they all discussed their days and waited for the others to arrive. Finally when everyone arrived they made their way to the back room to return home. Tonks offered to apparate Xander back, or at least close, the wards would allow them to apparate to headquarters, so he wouldn’t have to use the floo again. So everyone quickly gathered their packages, Xander and Tonks taking some to make it easier and stepping into the fireplace to return home. Xander and Tonks disappearing just before Willow vanished from the fireplace.




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