Chapter 7:

The rest of the week was uneventful. There was no school board meeting, because it would only embarrass Lucius Malfoy and strengthen Buffy's position with the board. Buffy got a few more angry letters, but most were of the pleasant kind. It seemed she and Duncan were a hit with the students.

Buffy was asked a lot of questions about the demon snake. She answered as much as possible without telling them right out she was the Slayer.

The Weasley twins pulled a prank with the Slytherins and got away with it. Draco even managed to insult Buffy two times more. It wasn't a surprise that he insulted her, but he done it in front of her. Buffy just shook her head in disappointment. She didn't even take away points from him again.

It was Friday and Hagrid came late for breakfast. Buffy noticed.

"Okay Hagrid, spill it. Where is the fire? A big guy like you wouldn't be late for breakfast, if his life depended on it" Buffy gave him one of her teasing smiles.

"No fir', Buffy. Somethin' is eatin' ma spiders and other creatures in the Forbidd'n Forest"

"We should patrol tonight to make sure it doesn't pose a threat to the kids" Buffy suggested. "I'm free after the extra class tonight"

"Tha' be fin' with me" He went to sit next to Buffy. Buffy liked

Hagrid.

The second day at Hogwarts he introduced her to the magical creatures in his care. Others would call them monsters, but he treated them like harmless critters. With a posture like his they probably were. Most of them behaved very carefully around her as if they knew what she was. A few were frightened and a few challenged her. She had to punch one in the head to keep it submissive; she thought it was a Hippogriff. Hagrid came between them and didn't notice the strength she used. He was always the strong guy around. He was very bad at judging other people strengths.

Around him she didn't have to be too careful about hurting him. She sometimes had to laugh about the treatment she got from the half giant. He didn't want to bruise her. He always was careful around everybody. She could relate. He really was a gentle giant.

Buffy looked at the Slytherin table and noticed how Draco was brushing a strand of hair out of his face. He was using less gel compare to the beginning of the week. Since she and Dawn talked about his hair and that it would look nicer without all the gel. He was using gel less every day.

Dawn notice her smiling at Draco. A quick glance toward Draco and she was thinking the same thing as her sister. It made her giggle. It attracted attention from the rest at her table.

At the teacher's table Snape was brooding about Dawn. His reluctancy to have Dawn as his assistance evaporated slowly after a few days. She was very good at it, of course he would never tell her directly or to anybody else. But he was snarling less at her and at least he was grateful that she didn't blow up his basement.

Before breakfast began Dumbledore stood up to make an announcement.

"Attention Please. Students, it seems that there is an unknown creature in the Forbidden Forest who is scaring the wildlife. From now on everybody has to be inside before dark and are only allowed after dark in company of a Professor or staff member. I only have three words left. Eat your bellyful" Dumbledore had a big smile on his face and food appeared on the plates.

The day went on. Students went to classes to learn and the professors were there to teach them. Lunch came. And after the afternoon classes detention for Dawn and the twins. Dinner came and with dinner came the list of Buffy's extra class. It wasn't in alphabetic order.

'The Weasley's Twins

*

*

Ron Weasley

*

*

*

Neville Longbottom

Harry Potter

Hermione Ganger'

Dawn looked at the list and saw the twins name at the top. "Hey boys. She put you guys on the top of the list"

"Ha, she put us at the top because we are special" "She picked us first. We are honoured" The twins were expecting to be on the list, the moment Buffy said Gryffindor.

"Hey Ronskin is on the list. It is a family reunion. No Ginny through" "But Neville, Harry and Hermione are. Harry I can understand. He is a trouble maker like us" The twins grinned. "But why Neville or Hermione"

"Hermione volunteered" Dawn informed them.

"No bloody way" They said simultaneous, then one of them spoke. "She had to know this is a punishment class" "She is way to intelligent not to"

"She thought she might learn something. I think that is why Harry and Neville are on the list too. Buffy probable thinks they can benefit from it"

"Move it Mudblood" Draco pushed Dawn lightly to the side to look at the list.

The twins got angry. "Take it back. Snake boy" "Or you will regret it severally" The twins stood in between Draco and Dawn ready to pound on him.

Goyle and Crabbe came in between them. "Just try it" "Yeah, try it"

Before the twins could do or say something, Dawn put a hand on their shoulder. "Down boys, he isn't worth getting into trouble"

"It seems you trained your dogs well" Draco had a smirk on his face.

The Twins growled. "Well at least mines are intelligent" She waved with her hand toward Goyle and Crabbe as evident. "And by the way. I have a pair of wolves, not dogs like yours" The twins made her point by howling to the moon, which they didn't see, because they were inside.

This irritated Draco and his minions. He looked at the list again and saw Ron was on the list. "There's missing a Weasley on the list"

"Yes, we are disappointed about Ginny. She couldn't even get into trouble the first week"

"We hope she will make it up next week" The twins were mocking Draco.

Draco saw that he wasn't making any progress with insulting the Weasleys so he was going to try it with one of the others on the list. But was interrupted by a voice behind them.

"Hey, why am I on the list?" It was Harry with Hermione and a few other Gryffinors including Neville.

Draco saw his chance. "It seems you lost your status as teacher's pet,

Potty" Draco was grinning evilly, but it evaporated quickly.

"But Draco, don't you know that you are my teacher's pet?"

Buffy looked at him with at hidden smile. There were a lot of laughs and giggles. He hated it, when she was popped up behind him. She moved like a ghost. It really unnerved him. He almost thought she was following him, but why would she do that?

Draco growled at her. This just made her smile. She thought he was entertaining. "Are you trying to make my life a living hell?"

Buffy grinned.

"Well Mr. Malfoy. It seems that Mr. Potter has Professor Snape to make his life a living hell. So I thought, you don't deserve anything less. And voila here you have one too"

Buffy spread her arms as if presenting herself to the group. Draco's outrage could be seen on his face.

"Your hair looks better. I love that you took my advice"

Draco's face expression changed for one moment to the other until it went blank. He turned and left without a word. Goyle and Gabbe and a few giggles followed him.

Buffy turned to Harry.

"To answer you question. I think that you" She turned to Neville and gave him a reassuring smile. "And Mr. Longbottom here will benefit from my class"

Neville smiled and was happy that he didn't get on the list for something he done wrong. Harry still had his doubts.

"And what can we benefit from it" "We really see no benefit in something that is a punishment for the Slytherins" "The only benefited see in it, is laughing at them. But I don't think you will allow that"

"For you two it is pure punishment"

The Weasley's hold the hearts in mock hurt. No wonder Dumbledore let get them away with a lot. You couldn't stay mad at them for long.

"And why am I on the list?" It was Ron.

"You will know that tonight" Buffy turned to the rest. "Dinner will be served in any minute now. Why don't you guys go to your tables?" And smiled at them.

They went to their tables and Dawn stayed behind with Buffy. Dawn spoke when they were out of earshot. "At the end of the year you have him eating out of your palm or he is going to strangle you"

"He really looks cuter with his hair loose" Buffy pointed out. "Maybe we should start with his wardrobe now" Dawn giggled and Buffy smiled.

"Lets go eat"

The Great Hall was emptying itself quickly after dinner. Only the Slytherins, a handful of Gryffindors and their Heads of their Houses were left behind. Buffy stood at the double door with Duncan and Dawn.

"You sure you don't need my help? Before you only had to deal with a part of them and they liked our class" Duncan asked in concern.

"Don't worry. I got Minerva and Snape to back me up" Buffy was pushing Duncan gentle out the hall.

"Snape is one of my worries" Duncan was grinning.

"Go" Buff gave him a last push and turned to Dawn. "And why are you still here?"

"I just want to tell you. Give them heck and go easy on the twins" Dawn was blushing a little at the end.

"Go" Buffy pointed at the door.

"I'm going. I'm gone" Dawn stepped out of the hall and Buffy closed the door and shook her head in amusement. She took her robe off and turned it inside out and the robe turned into her black duster. She walked toward the teacher's table passing the Slytherin table. She jumped, turned and sat down on the table facing the students and dangling her legs.

"Where shall we begin?" Buffy gave them a wicked smile and removed a parchment from a pocket. She was reading it as if the others weren't there. She looked up from it. "If I call your name, come fore and stand to the left of me" She pointed to the left with her head and read the names from her parchment. One by one they walked to her and stood next to her.

When the last joined them, she spoke. "Congratulation. You passed the class" There were a few outburst of surprise. "You can leave and if you behave, you don't have to come back" They didn't move. "Go, before I change my mind" That got them going and they marched out of the Great Hall and the last one closed the door.

Buffy put the parchment on the table and looked to the rest of the class. "I bet we will see a few of them back" That got her a few snickers, especial form the Gryffindor table. "Now lets come to the part why you are here. Most of you already know" She looked at the Weasley's twin and then at most of the Slytherins. "Some of you are here because they are arrogant mean impolite bulling bigots"

A few wanted to protest, but with a look of Buffy they shut up before opening their mouths. Buffy changed the direction of her speech and her audience. "Some are here, because they think they can get away with anything without any consequents" Her gaze fell on the twins, who were smart enough to look embarrassed.

"Some of you are here to control their temper" She looked at Ron, who just pointed at his hair. Buffy smiled.

"Some of you are here to understand something" She looked at Harry, who looked confused.

"Some of you are here because you'll benefit greatly from this class" She looked at Neville, who just smiled at her.

"And one of you is here, because she wants to learn something she probably already knows" She looked at Hermione, who blushed.

"What kind of class this is? Well, you could call it a character building class. What is the lesson plan? That would be a good question. To tell you the truth, I don't really have one. I'm improvising" She gave them a silly smile.

Of course it was Draco, who opened his mouth. "So you don't know what you are doing?" Buffy gave him a look he understood immediately. "Sorry Professor"

"To answer Mr. Malfoy's question. I know the destination of our little journey. Some of you will take the high road and some of you will take the low road and all of you will arrive at different times" Buffy paused for a moment to overlook the crowd. "How shall we start this class?" Buffy thought about it. "Why are wizards better than muggles?"

There was a shocked expression on everybody's face. Nobody expected this question from her. Snape was shocked and McGonagall dumbstruck.

"I thought you pureblood were brought up with a superiority complex. I bet you guys could give me at least one example why wizards are better than muggles" In Buffy's voice was a small hint of daring them to speak out.

"We've got magic" The answer came from an unlikely source as the question. It was Harry. He didn't know, what Buffy was doing, but he trusted her.

Hermione was confused. Her brain was working on overload, and then she got it. "We've got more power than muggles"

The Slytherins couldn't be left behind and they began to shout stuff like; 'we are smarter', 'we have better transportation', 'we dress better', etc. .

When Buffy heard that one about 'we dress better' she almost peed in her pants. She needed all her control not to laugh. The best came from Ron 'we've got quidditch'. Even the Slytherins laughed and agreed with him. Only Draco didn't participate.

"I heard some good answers. I want you to write an essay about 'Why are wizard better than muggles'. I want it Wednesday at latest Thursday before dinner" Buffy gave them homework.

"Our next stop is a small exercise. First team up in pairs of two" The Slytherins teamed up with each other and the Gryffindor did the same. "I bet everyone of you has insulted somebody this week some even more than once" Buffy looked straight into Draco's eyes. He looked down in embarrassment.

"Your partner is the person you insulted. So start apologizing"

There was a Gryffindor boy and a Slytherin girl left in both groups.

"You" Buffy pointed at the boy. "There is a Slytherin girl left over there. Team up with her" The boy did what she told him, if reluctantly. Buffy saw the twin were up to something. "Weasleys, I want to hear serious apologies" The twins gave her a sour face for ruining their fun.

Buffy went to stand next to Snape and McGonagall. "How do you like my class so far?"

"Fascinating" McGonagall smiled at Buffy.

"I hope you don't expect them to apologizing to those they have offended" Snape's voice was contemptuous.

"Little baby steps first, Sev" Then she grinned. "I left the best for last" Snape didn't like the sound of that. She walked away from them to listen to the apologies and give them some pointers. After awhile they started to begin using their creativity and some had even fun.

"We are done for tonight. Only some more homework assignment" Buffy produced two boxes from her duster and put them on the teacher's table. "The left one, it has pieces of parchment with Gryffindor's names and the right one has Slytherin's"

"The name you pick will be the person you going to be nice through the whole week" A Slytherin boy went for the box on the right. "Wrong box Mr. Baddock"

The boy looked bewilder at her. "You mean I have to be nice to a Gryffindor" Buffy nodded, picked the Gryffindor box up and shoved it in front of the boy with a smile. With a loathed face he hesitantly picked a piece of parchment up. Ron laughed. Buffy gave him a smile. "Mr. Weasley, why don't you pick one out of the Slytherin box?"

Ron's face rivaled that of the Slytherin boy. "No bloody way" Buffy gave him a look and he sulked toward the box and picked one and read it.

"Millicent Bulstrode. I have to be nice to Millicent" He looked at Buffy. "You know how hard that's gonna be?" The twins laughed.

"I never said this is going to be a easy class" Buffy gave him a small grin. She turned to the twins. "You two don't have to pick one each. Only one"

Fred took the honour. "Look George we got Victoria Hallcock" Both boys looked at a fifth years Slytherin girl with a wolfish smile. The girl went a little pale.

"When I said 'nice' I meant don't treat her like family, Weasleys"

"Merlin, she is good" "She knows us almost as good as Ma" The twins looked at each other. Both had a mischievous smile on their faces. "Maybe we should call her Professor Ma"

"No!" Buffy yelled out. "It is bad enough I got you two as students" The expression on Buffy's face made everybody laugh, even Snape had a small smirk.

The picking went on. They didn't like it, but it wasn't as reluctant as at first until Draco had to pick. "Draco you can pick one for the three of you. You are like the Weasley twins. One package deal" Draco really didn't like to be compared to any of the Weasleys. He snarled at her. Crabbe and Goyle stood behind him with stupid expressions on their faces. At the same time as Draco picked a parchment Harry did.

"No" Both yelled in union.

After reading both parchment Buffy laughed out loud. Draco had Harry's and Harry had Draco and co. "You guys can pick somebody else. I'm not that cruel"

Harry picked a first year Slytherin boy and Draco picked Ginny. "Oh great I got a Weasley"

"Oh, you are in trouble" Buffy expressed. Draco looked confused at her. "You don't have siblings, Mr. Malfoy?"

"No, Professor"

"Then I shall explain to you the intriguing relationship between little sisters and big brothers. They might tease each other even hate each other, but when somebody messes with their little sister. Things get ugly" Buffy pointed at the Weasleys. "And Ginny has six older brothers who love her deeply and three of them are in wand reach" As on command the Weasleys glared at him and Draco took a step back.

Pansy wasn't lucky either she got the twins. Buffy looked over the class.

"It seems that Mr. Longbottom is the last one"

Neville picked nervously a parchment, afraid to read and gave it to Buffy. Buffy opened it carefully. "Bad luck. You got Malfoy" Seeing Neville's face. "You can change, if you want to" Giving him a pity face.

After seeing her face Neville put himself together. "No, Professor" Buffy gave him a reassuring pet on the shoulder.

Buffy produced a roll of parchment and put it on the table. "Put the name of the person you picked behind your name and you can leave. Don't switch names" She turned to the Professors. "How did you like the ending?"

"Brilliant and entertaining. Albus would have loved it. I think he will keep this class if it works. He is trying for years to think up something to keep the loathing between the Gryffindors and the Slytherins to a minimum" McGonagall responded.

"It will never work, at the end of next week they are at each others throats" Snape snarled at her.

Buffy ignored him and saw that Harry and his gang came to her. "How did you guys like the class?"

"I hate it" Came from Ron.

"As punishment goes. Very creative" "You could teach Mom a few tricks" "Or better not. Please don't speak to her" The twins were almost begging.

"She has an appointment with me this Monday" Buffy could hear the twins groan.

"I'm a little confused about the written assignment" Harry looked confused at her with a look that said 'explain please'.

But Hermione was the one to explain it. "It is easy to say you are better, but to prove it and writing it down is harder and forced them to think about it" Hermione beamed when she saw Buffy nod.

"Now, if there are no other questions I have a date with Hagrid to find a beast in the Forest" There weren't any and they said their goodbyes and Buffy left the Great Hall. Harry thought about something and followed her out. Hermione exchanged a look with Ron and they followed Harry.

End Chapter 7.

:: Next Chapter ::

:: Back To WhiteWolf's Page::
:: Back to Author's Page ::
:: Slightly Over The Edge ::