Title: Willow's Salvation

Author: Rose ([email protected])

Rated: R

Pairing: Willow/Snape, Harry/Hermione, Ron/Brandy(OFC), Ginny/Draco (eventually)

Summary: Willow gets some rehabilitating Hogwart's style

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. Willow and the Sunnydale group belong to Joss Whedon. The Harry Potter crew belong to J.K. Rowling. I am just playing in their playground.

Spoilers: BtVS: Season 6, Harry Potter: All the books, just to be safe

Distribution: If you want it, just email me and ask, I would be flattered if you did. Want it that is.

Feedback: Please, pretty pretty please.

- Chapter 1 -

Sanctuary

Willow stopped outside the door that lead to Giles' office. She wasn't sure why he wanted her to meet him, but she was sure it had something to do with her rehabilitation.

She reached for the doorknob but stopped when she heard voices coming from inside the room. Leaning forward a little she listened intently to the conversation taking place inside.

"Of course, Rupert. I understand you're concern. But trust me when I say that your young charge will have the utmost care and attention at the school and I believe it would be the best option that we have at the moment."

Willow's brow crinkled in worry. What was going on? Who was in there with Giles? And school? What school? Just what in hell was going on?

Suddenly Willow was brought out of her inner monologue by another voice premeating from the room. It was a deep and silky voice. A dangerous voice.

"Albus, I believe I agree with Mr. Giles. What this girl has done was a major offense. It took all your pull to keep the Ministry from dragging the child off to Azkaban. With all that happened, are you sure you want to submit the students to all this?"

"Yes Severus, I believe that between the two of us, as well as the rest of the staff, we will suceed in our task."

Again Willow wondered what was going on. Obviously, Giles didn't think that he could help her. She had known that when he had dragged her to England in the first place. In Willow's mind she was beyond help. And now he planned to pawn her off on complete strangers? Not if she could help it.

She was just about to retrace her steps down the hall and make good her escape, when the door was suddenly yanked open and a tall, dark and dangerous looking man filled the doorway. Willow gaped at him for a minute. He was tall, with lank, black hair that brushed his shoulders. His features could not be called handsome, but he was attractive in his own way. Or, at least he would be if he wasn't so scowly faced, Willow observed. And he was dressed entirely in black...robes?

What the...

"I assume you are Ms. Rosenberg?" The silky voiced man inquired.

"Eep." Was all Willow could say.

With an arched brow and a sweep of his arm, he motioned for her to enter the room. Once inside, Willow noticed that Giles was indeed there, seated behind a desk with a gentle smile on his lips.

"Ah, Willow. So glad you could join us. May I introduce you to an old acquaintance of mine. This is Albus Dumbledore." Giles nodded towards an elderly man off to his left that Willow just then noticed.

Although when she did notice, she wondered how she could have missed him. He was elderly, in such a way that he had a flowing white beard, so long that he could have tucked it into his belt. And he too was dressed in robes, only they were purple as opposed to the man behind her. He even had on a pointy hat much like a wizard would wear.

Then it dawned on her. That was exactly what he was. A wizard. She turned back to her mentor. "Giles?"

Giles sighed, then rose to his feet. "Willow, we have known each other for 7 years now?"

Willow nodded.

"And all that time, especially when you began your dabbling in the magical arts, I never took the initiative to actually help you understand what you where getting into. I apologize for that. I thought that I could make it up to you by being your savior now that you desperately needed it. But I have come to the realization that I am not the one to do so."

Willow only stared at him blankly.

"Albus has agreed to step in and take you under his wing so to speak. I believe it is best that you go with him, let him tutor you and with any luck, hopefully you will be able to find your way to the light once more."

Willow bowed her head for a moment. When she looked up again, her eyes where glistening with unshed tears. What could she say? She knew that she had royally screwed up. Even now she could still feel the smothering sensation of all the dark magic she harbored within herself.

She inhaled a deep cleansing breath, slowly exhaling it out, then steeled her resolve. She looked Giles square in the eyes and nodded before turning to the old wizard, who was looking at her with a welcoming look in his blue eyes.

With one last sigh she said, "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get this show on the road."

~*~

They had left Giles' office, and where now standing outside of the building. Willow was staring at her two companions in confusion.

"Excuse me, but, what did you just say?"

Snape, he had insisted she address him as such, fixed Willow with a stare that told her he was highly annoyed. Which must have been the only look he knew because his face seemed to stay stuck in that expression. Either that or a sneer.

"We are going to Apparate to the gates of Hogwarts. I will need you to stand close to my side so that I can apparate you with me."

"Oh, that's what I thought you said." Willow scrunched her nose up in confusion. "Huh?"

Snape let out an exasperated sigh and looked up at the clear sky overhead and slowly counted to ten.

Albus Dumbledore let out an amused chuckle. "Severus, please do keep in mind that Ms. Rosenberg has not had the proper introduction into the wizarding world. She is not familiar with most of our terms. You must be patient."

"Yes Albus, I know. But as you also know, patience was never one of my better qualities."

"Apparantly neither was manners." Willow mumbled.

Snape whipped back around to face the little redhead beside him. Eyes narrowed, trademark sneer again in place. "What did you just say?"

"Now who's the one with the comprehension problem?" Willow replied. She was really tempted to stick her tongue out at him, but then thought better of it. The man looked about ready to do some damage. And she would prefer to get to their destination in one piece.

The sound of laughter drew both their attention back to the elder of their little group. "I can tell that this will indeed be an interesting term this year. Don't you agree, Severus?"

"Oh yes. Loads of fun."

Willow had to smother a giggle as the sarcasm dripped from Snape's voice at his comment.

"Alright then. Let's get moving, don't want to stand here all day do we?" Willow piped up and moved closer to Snape.

With a little apprehension, Snape wrapped an arm around the red head and drew her to him, then closed his eyes. For a moment Willow wondered what he was doing. Then she felt a slight tugging sensation and everything around her blurred and finally disappeared. She felt dizzy and would have fallen if not for the strong arm encircling her waist.

Hmm. Nice hands. Willow thought idly.

Then everything came back into focus, her dizziness passed and the tugging stopped. Snape dropped his arm from around her so fast that she stumbled. He shot a hand out to steady her, then almost as quickly withdrew it again. When Willow had her bearings about her enough, she looked up, and her jaw dropped.

She was standing in front of what could only be described as a dream, a castle of fairy tale proportions. A beautiful sight in itself. Willow heard a faint popping sound to her right and she glanced over to see Dumbledore appear at her side.

He gave her a warm smile and with a twinkle in his eyes said, "Welcome to Hogwarts, Willow Rosenberg."

~*~

TBC...