When in England...

Gravity pulled on her as the train came to its stop. The brakes squealing, the steam blasting; it was all very breathtaking. However, the five-hour ride had wiped her out to the point where she didn't even notice the exciting feeling bubbling in her stomach.

Turning away from the window, she knelt down to grab her one bag. She had been told that she could go shopping later at the wizarding shops near-by. Blending in with everyone sounded much more appealing than standing out like a sore thumb. The train finally came to a complete stop. Don't stand before then, she told herself, giggling. No one got her sense of humor, but ah well. Out into the isle of the train. It was kind of strange to have a train be so empty. Only she and a few other teachers were passengers. She had never been on a train before, but she had always imagined that it would be filled with people, or something.

Her boots clacked against the metal steps as she stepped off of the train. The sight before her was absolutely beautiful. She had spent some time in England three years before, but this couldn't even compare to what she saw then. Tucking her waist-length red hair behind her ear, she took a deep breath in. Finally, she had arrived. Away from all of the drama back "home". Who was she kidding? There was no home anymore. Not since the Hellmouth had devoured Sunnydale. Ever since then they had all lived like rouges, traveling from Hellmouth, to Hellmouth. Gathering the chosen girls and teaching them. Frankly, she was kind of tired of it all. Which is why she left for England. Buffy had understood (and secretly told her she wanted to escape with her), but her lover did not. They hadn't spoke for six months, and she wasn't expecting to hear from her soon-- or ever. But that was okay... really... she was just a little heartbroken over-

"Rosenberg." The fierce voice snapped her out of her daze. What was she doing? Thinking of Kennedy... off in her own little world. Dumb, dumb, Willow!

She looked up to the figure standing to her left. Clad in black robes from neck to toe, Professor Snape stood, snarling, with his arms crossed against his chest. Willow remembered this man. She had met him very briefly when Giles had brought her to England after the "incident". He was just as scary as she remembered him to be. Her voice shaking, she said, "Uh... hello there... Severus, am I correct?"

If it were possible, his snarl became even nastier. "It is, but not to you," he snapped back. "At Hogwarts teachers have the decency to show each other respect."

"Then what should I call you, Sir Grouchy?"

Muttering in disgust, he finally managed to say, "Professor Snape, you little annoying brat." With a sharp turn, his robes flowed behind him, following him like a rush of water. "Come along," he ordered, beginning to briskly walk to the horse-less carriages. Of course, they were not horse-less to him. Oh he saw them, the horrible creatures called thestrals. He had enough death in his life that much was for sure. But that wasn't the thing to be thinking about now, was it?

"I thought Giles was going to come and pick me up," Willow offered, making it more of a question than a statement. Trying to keep up with Professor Snape was harder than it looked. He was moving quite fast considering how tight his entire outfit was.

"He is waiting for you at the castle. Something came up and he was detained," Snape explained quickly. He wanted her to shut up and shut up quickly. Even her voice was annoying to him. Why in Merlin's name did Dumbledore EVER hire her to do the job that HE wanted? And couldn't she walk any faster? "Do try and keep up Rosenberg." Snape called over his shoulder. It had been a year since he had first met her. The sobbing young whip hadn't made a real impression then, and she certainly wasn't doing a smashing job now.

Visibly straining herself, Willow called back, "I'm walking as fast as my feet will carry me, you grumpy pirate!"

Grumpy Pirate? What a ridiculous taunt. Couldn't she come up with anything more... original? Looking at her pathetic form, dressed in muggle jeans and a tight baby-t, Snape thought perhaps not. But just as he was about to say something stark in return, he was interrupted by a loud gasp coming from the new American teacher.

"WHAT on EARTH?" Her shaking hand pointed to the thestrals. "What-What are THOSE?" She drew the attention of the few teachers who had also been on the train.

Raising a curious eyebrow, Snape examined the new teacher carefully. So she too had experienced death. Ah yes, he had forgotten why she was taken to Dumbledore the first time. She had tasted the darkness. Killed. And she was losing control of it.

Willow was too freaked out to notice Professor Snape's curious look. She was wondering what the creepy dragon-horse things were. Their white eyes freaked her out, along with the fact that you could see their skeletons... and she wasn't even going to mention the bat wings. What kind of school was this? How could children ride in coaches being drawn by monsters?

Giving the American a stiff push towards the carriages, Snape explained, "They are called thestrals, Rosenberg. Creatures that can only be seen by those who have witnessed death. And they are ghastly fast, so we use them at the school." Still shaking, the young girl climbed into the carriage, with Snape close behind. "Because most students never have witnessed death, most don't overreact like you." He gave her a curt smile, which Willow quickly discovered was more terrifying than his scowl.

"Ah Miss Rosenberg! So good to see you again."

Albus Dumbledore. Willow could feel the smile growing on her face. The last time she had seen him was when Giles had brought her over to England after Tara's death. All her memories of him were simply filled with kindness. Picking up her pace slightly, she pulled the old man into a tight hug, "Professor Dumbledore!" The old wizard chuckled, as Snape looked to them in disgust. Pulling away, Willow's smile turned into a taunting mad face, "I told you to call me Willow."

His eyes twinkling, he replied, "Well then you must call me Albus."

"No I couldn't do that," Willow scoffed. "After all, you have given me so much-- I kinda have to show you respect. Because if not then I would feel all guilty like, and you really don't want me to feel all guilty like. Starts to smell bad after a while."

Dumbledore chuckled as Snape rolled his eyes in annoyance. How old was she? Three? There was no way the little girl before him could possible be the age he was told she was, twenty-three. And the language she used... Snape was very sure it wasn't English, as he could hardly understand what she was saying!

"I see that you haven't lost any of your charming wit," Dumbledore said, still chuckling. "I take it your trip was good. You sounded a bit uneasy about riding the Hogwarts Express in your last letter."

Nodding, Willow smiled again, "Yep. All right and dandy. It was actually going well until Mr. I'm-too-good-for-you showed up."

Blinking, Dumbledore asked, "You mean Professor Snape?"

"Look little girl-" Snape broke in.

Whirling around, Willow looked to Snape with wide eyes. She hadn't realized that he was still there. He was being so quiet, she thought he had dropped her off and left. He was so eager to get away from her in the carriage. She muttered a quiet "Opps..."

"Now, now, Severus, she didn't mean any harm. Did you, Willow?" Willow shook her head furiously no. "You see? It's just her way. I'm sure you gave her a very warm welcome to our school." There was that twinkling in his eyes again. Smirking, Willow couldn't help but think that Dumbledore had sent Snape to pick her up just to torture him. The old wizard began to walk through the Main Hall, up the stairs. Willow only assumed she was to follow him. "So Rupert tells me that your private training has been going well. He says that you haven't had an 'attack' from the darkness in three months."

Willow nodded. She thought that after what had happened with the Slayer spell, she would have never had to deal with her "dark-side" again-- but alas. The next time she tried a powerful spell, she relapsed. At least it was more controllable now. And, of course, Kennedy had been there to support her.

Dumbledore turned around and met her in the eye, "I see that your other side still bothers you."

"A bit."

"There is something about everyone that bothers them. Hidden pasts, habits, secrets that have never been told. But what we fail to realize is that is what makes us who we are. We can either try to run from it, or embrace it." As they reached the second floor, Dumbledore turned around, and loomed over Willow. How did the lovable old guy suddenly become so scary? "I must ask you, Willow, whether you are going to run or accept yourself for what you are? Only then, I can assure you, will you begin to be able to control the darkness within you."

Swallowing audibly, Willow tried to find her voice. "I-"

"Good Heavens, is that Willow I hear?"

Willow's eyes lit up at the sound of the new voice. "GILES!" And from behind one of the corners, Giles came walking, cleaning his glasses in his usual habit. Zooming towards her ex-mentor, she spared him no excitement as she glomped him. It had been two months since she had seen him.

"Ah-- air becoming harder to breathe--"

Snickering, Willow let go of the Englishman. "Giles you big poopy-head why didn't you come get me when I got here? Too important for me now, Mister History-of-Magic-guy?"

Giles couldn't help but smile. Same old Willow. "I'm sorry I couldn't meet you at the station, but Professor Dumbledore and I have been trying to set up a spell for two new students that will be arriving..." he looked to his watch. "Rather, any minute now."

Blinking, Willow asked, "Students? Why here so early? And a spell?"

Letting out a chortle, Giles wrapped his arm around Willow's shoulder and began to lead her into the room that he had just come from. "Yes, well it's rather complicated, really. And I'm afraid, we're going to need your help with this. Are you up for it?"

"Up and atom, Giles," Willow swung her right arm in front of her, as if to show it would be simple. "Just point me and I do the magics."

"Splendid, splendid." The ex-watcher nodded, "I was a bit afraid we wouldn't be able to pull this off. It hasn't been properly cast in a hundred years, but if we can actually pull this off, it would be very useful this year--" The two disappeared into the room, leaving only Snape and Dumbledore in the hallway.

"She did not answer your question, Headmaster," Snape remarked, a scowl still on his face. At least she was gone for a little while. Ah the blessed moments he didn't have to hear her annoying voice.

Dumbledore turned to Professor Snape, the twinkling still going strong. "I'm quite aware, Severus." He turned to the door where Giles and Willow disappeared to, smiling. "She quite reminds me of a certain person I took in about oh-- fifteen years ago. Running from the dark. Wanting to repent for all the evil he had done. Yes, quite a refresher."

"I do not remember ever being as strange as that one is," Snape retorted.

Chuckling, Dumbledore replied, "Oh no, Severus, you had your own strangeness about you. Still do, in fact. But that just makes you the Severus we all know."

"You know why I do this," Snape scoffed.

Nodding, Dumbledore turned to the younger Professor and smiled in support. "And I am very grateful for it. Your covert operation has been a great help to us all. Hopefully, our Professor Rosenberg will have the same success as you did, Severus."

"She is bursting with power. I'm not quite so sure it is safe to have her teach the students."

"Power doesn't always mean evil, Severus. You of all people should know that."

"But she can't control it, Headmaster." Shaking his head, "I really don't think that there is any hope for her ever being able to control it."

The Headmaster smiled again. "Then, perhaps, you should join us once our other guests arrive. I'm sure it will be quite a show."

To Be Continued...

Preview of Next:
Dumbledore smiled to the two teenagers, eager to see Clow's magic once more. The girl, whose name Eriol had told him was Sakura, looked so excited by the castle. She was the one who was the master of the Clow cards? No, the Sakura cards now. Amazing. She looked so fragile, so delicate. Hard to believe that she was so powerful. Much like the young Rosenberg up in the castle.