Chapter 24

Buffy was sitting in a far corner of the Gryffindor common room cooped up in a comfy armchair trying to study, which was proving to be more or less impossible. The room was constantly lit up with smiles, laughter and friendful banter, the happy voices never dying down. Over all it was a much warmer atmosphere then what she'd experienced with the Slytherins.

At first she felt a little out of place and very homesick. It was hard seeing her fellow students so joyful when she wasn't able to participate but after a while it got better.

They seemed to have accepted her now and no one but Hermione thought she was evil. Buffy began spending time with Ginny again and got to know her classmates. Whenever she was around she was the center of attention. They seemed to want to know everything about her and quite a few guys approached her about something called a Hogsmead weekend, whatever that was. She always declined though. After everything that happened with Angel she wasn't interested in anything like that yet or ever again for that matter.

Things with Harry were still extremely tense but they were working through it. They hadn't actually spoken more then a few words to each other but they were now up to smiling whenever they met in the hallways, which Buffy considered progress.

But now she had to study. If she was ever going to catch up, something she highly doubted, she had to spend a significant amount of time with her nose buried in one of the many books she had yet to read.

To say that she'd been surprised when she found herself actually interested in some of the books would have been the understatement of the century. She'd always hated school and consequently sucked at it but most of this magical stuff was actually starting to make sense. The things they had her learning were actual things she'd be able to use in her every day life. Take DADA for example, a class were she actually had a head start compared to the rest of the students. Finally there was a class that would make her slaying a thousand times easier. And potions turned out to be nothing like chemistry. Although Snape was a bit of a drag, she'd made it her new hobby to annoy him just enough so he'd get all red but still not get into trouble. It was a very delicate line.

"Alright, that's enough!" Exclaimed Ginny as she walked up to the blonde and grabbed the book nestled on her lap.

"Hey!" Protested Buffy. "I was reading that."

Ginny rolled her eyes and shook her head in a very disapproving manner. "I know. That's about all you've been doing all night."

"That's because I have to" Defended Buffy rising from her chair and taking the potions book out of Ginny's strong grasp. "Believe me, I'm finding absolutely no pleasure in this."

"Oh, I believe you but you need to have some fun."

"No, what I need is to catch up on five years worth of school work."

"And you will," agreed Ginny all the while pulling her towards the tables in front of the fire place were all of her friends were sitting, "tomorrow."

"That's what you say every night." Buffy was only half-heartedly protesting. Although she did find magical studies a lot more interesting then muggle studies she didn't want to spend her whole night in front of the book. There was only so much studying a Slayer could take before getting restless.

"And that's what you do every night, " countered the red head. "You just need to learn how to do both. But don't worry, I'm always here to help." She grinned and Buffy smacked her arm.

"Whatever would I do without you?"

"I honestly have no idea," answered Ginny looking so smug Buffy raised her hand to hit her again but this time the girl was prepared and went running towards the couches.

Buffy followed in a much slower pace, her eyes searching the room for her brother. So far she had yet to see him but she did spot the brunette Ginny had pointed out to her as Romilda Vane. The girl who would stop at nothing to get Harry. Buffy would make sure that never happened.

Romilda was talking to Lavender Brown, one of Buffy's roommates, and from the looks of things they were up to something. Buffy's eyes instantly hardened. She'd have to look out for the girl in the future but right now Ginny was waving her over and she really needed to have some fun.

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"You need this just as much as I do," stated Romilda. She was already getting annoyed with the other girl, who refused to see her plan, but she needed her. "You've always fancied Ron but he's never looked at you twice." She was getting ready for the ultimate blow.

"Always looking at that Hermione. You know, it's only a matter of time before they get together, right? Are you prepared for that?"

"O-of course," answered Lavender, her voice sounding very shaky. Romilda bet she was one the verge of tears. It made her smile, for now she had won.

"Seeing them together everywhere you turn, kissing, holding hands, cuddling? I don't think you can take it. But not to worry, if you go along with the plan that won't ever happen."

"I... it just doesn't feel right."

Romilda was doing everything she could to fight the very strong urge to suffocate the girl. She was so close.

"But it feels right to see him with Hermione?"

Lavender averted her eyes to the floor.

"That's what's going to happen if you don't stop it." The younger girl said with total conviction. She'd seen the way they looked at each other, Ron's insane jealousy over Krum but she'd also seen Lavender. For the past year or so she'd had her eyes on him, he of course remained clueless. But it was something Romilda could use. She needed un accomplice, someone who had complete access to her beloved Harry when she did not, someone who'd take care of the final stage of her plan while she was far away and couldn't be blamed if anything went wrong.

"Go ask Trelawney for all I care, I'm sure she'll see it in the future for you."

"I'll do it." Said Lavender her voice sounding very small.

Romilda could not stop the large smile that started to break out over her face. Soon Harry would be hers.

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"The silence treatment is starting to get old," said Buffy trying to get some reaction from her brooding potions partner.

"It's generally not considered silence treatment if we talk." He answered her gloomily, keeping his gray eyes fixed on the potion.

Buffy sighed. Draco had been like this for the last couple of days now. Refusing to talk to her if it didn't involve tutoring, not meeting her eyes, no nasty comments, he didn't even insult her. Something was seriously wrong.

"Fine ignore away. See if I care!"

Buffy felt like doing a victory dance when he finally teared his intense gray eyes away from the simmering potion.

"I don't make a habit out of talking to Gryffs."

The Slayer rolled her eyes. "You still upset about that? It's only a week, get over it already."

"Don't kid yourself, Potter" he scoffed. "I couldn't be more happy to have you gone. You were never meant to be a Slytherin; you don't have it in you. You're to full of you precious morals, a do-gooder like your brother."

"Somehow I don't see that as a bad thing."

"No, of course you wouldn't." He sneered then turned back to the potion. Buffy sighed; once again their bantering session had been cut short.

The blonde was in no mood to be doing any schoolwork at the moment, especially potions so she let Draco do the work. Everyone else had their own cauldrons but since Buffy was a newbie and Draco was her tutor, they had to share. Also professor Slughorn had taken a leave of absence, probably too frightened from the demons a couple of nights ago, and Snape had taken over. He seemed to have no belief in the Slayer's abilities, although Slughorn had told him she was quite good for being a first timer, and therefore she was not allowed to do anything. Fortunately Buffy had no problem with that if it meant less schoolwork for her.

Searching the classroom she saw her brother working with Ron, the two of them laughing about something with Hermione behind them working with Neville. Claire was sitting in the front with the Pancy squad. They hadn't talked much either but Buffy was determined not to give up on their friendship just because they weren't in the same house anymore.

Sweeping her eyes over the room once again she found Lavender sitting alone a few tables away from Harry. She seemed a bit nervous, keeping her eyes on the bubbling potion while her hand went in and out of the pocket on her robes as if she was checking on something, assuring herself that it was still there.

Buffy knew she was probably just being paranoid but still she kept her eyes locked on Lavender, daring her to do something. When the girl slowly stood up Buffy tensed, ready for action.

She watched as Lavender cautiously made her way from her desk over to Harry and Ron, bending over to talk. Neither boy seemed to be paying her much attention so when she removed her hand from her robes holding a tiny glass vial no one seemed to notice, no one but Buffy that is.

Abruptly she rose from her chair and went running towards her brother.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." She threatened ignoring the incredulouslooks she was receiving from Harry and his friends.

"D-do what?" Lavender asked in a very shaky voice.

"Buffy, what are you talking about?" Questioned Harry.

"She's planning to pour something into your potion." The blonde still wasn't looking at him. She had her eyes trained on Lavender.

"N-no, I d-don't know what you're t-talking about." Stuttered the girl looking at Ron helplessly, begging him to believe her.

"Yes you do, I saw you."

"What is going on her, Potter?" Demanded Snape and for the first time Buffy saw the commotion she had started.

"This girl," Buffy pointed at Lavender anger burning in her eyes, "tried to poison my brother."

"I know you haven't been at Hogwarts long, Ms Potter" Snape sneered, "but we do not tend to respond well to idle accusations."

"It's not idle, I saw it!"

"And I suppose you think that that is enough reason for me to trust you."

"No but..."

"Did anyone else see this?" He asked the rest of the class but no one answered. "Then your claim is invalid, Ms Potter. Go back to your seat."

"But she's done something to his potion, I know it!" Buffy protested not willing to let her brother drink something that could be dangerous just because Snape was so biased in his opinion of her that she could never be right.

"Really? Then how do you attempt to prove it?"

"I don't know." Buffy almost screamed. She was finding it extremely hard to control her temper. This professor was just about to let Harry drink something that could possibly be poisoned just because he didn't like her. "You're the potions professor."

"Fine," he said, looking a little too pleased for Buffy's taste. "I guess the only way to find out for sure would be to try the potion. Since you're the one to lay the claim I think we've found our volunteer."

"What?"

"Buffy, you don't have to do this," said Harry with concern for his sister.

"No, I'm the one who saw it, it's only fair." Answered Buffy much calmer then she felt. She hadn't actually seen Lavender pour the love potion in but if she had... It didn't matter she was going to prove Snape wrong.

When Snape walked over to his desk to retrieve the cup that he'd left there, Harry pulled Buffy aside.

"Look, if you're only doing this because of what I said then..."

"I'm not. She poured something in your potion, what kind of sister would I be if I let you drink it?"

"So you're going to drink it yourself? Yeah, that's a lot better, thank you!"

"Harry, calm down. It's only a love potion and besides, Snape's here. When he sees me going all crazy over Romilda or Lavender, I haven't really figured out which one, then he'll cure me."

Harry snorted. "If you're lucky. You don't know Snape like I do."

He didn't have a chance to say anything else. By then Snape had come back with the cup in hand and looked rather impatient. A large crowd had gathered around Harry and Ron's table but they parted when Buffy stepped through.

Snape dipped the cup into the potion that was supposed to be against Doxy bites, so if Lavender hadn't poured the love potion in then it wouldn't do Buffy any harm.

Taking the cup from Snape with surprisingly steady arms she brought it to her lips, ignoring her brother's pleading gaze.

Harry could only watch as Buffy, stubborn as always, drank the all of the potion in one gulp. At first nothing seemed wrong and he began to suspect that maybe she'd been wrong but then her eyes grew wide. Her small fists were clenching at her sides and she was biting her lip, as if to keep from screaming. It began to become clear that she was in a lot of pain and Harry ran towards her to help. Just as he caught up to her she fainted in his arms.

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I'm really sorry this chapter came out so late but school's been pretty hectic for a while and sadly it takes priority. Thanks to the people who reviewed and just to make things clear Dumbledore isn't evil. You'll see why he said the things he did in the later chapters. Please don't forget to review!