I Don't Open Anything Anymore

Notes: I'm inserting a little more time into the end of Empty Places to do something that I thought needed to be done and to explore something that was interesting to me. Set in season 7. Dawn is 18 now, not 16. Sort of AU after this episode, sort of not. Guess what, Principal Wood does not exist... cuz he just doesn't, kay?

Note 2: The French is my own translation.

Thanks to the Buffyverse Dialogue Database for the quotes.

Thanks also to Feen for being Feen, Feen the beta Queen and for helping me solve problems, real life and otherwise. Also, a giant thanks to Redwolf for being the grammar monarch that she is!

Dedicated to tabakat, for sharing a wicked idea with me, let's see what we both come up with. Also to my mom for helping me with a bit of writer's block.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN Harry Potter, Buffy, or the characters in 'em... hello, poor college student here, dealing with a massive obsession.





"But I'm fine alone. It's not like anyone's coming after me. I'm not The Key. Or if I am, I don't open anything any more. It's over. Remember?"



PART 1

"I can't watch you just throw away everything that - I know I'm right about this. I just need a little - I can't stay here and watch her lead you into some disaster," Buffy said through gritted teeth.

"Then you can't stay here," Dawn half whispered. "Buffy, I love you, but you were right. We have to be together on this. You can't be a part of it." Buffy blinked her eyes in disbelief. "So I need you to leave. I'm sorry, but this is my house, too." Barely able to formulate the words in her brain, let alone her mouth, Dawn stood her ground, unable to say anything else.

Buffy looked around then walked out the front door, Faith following her. Dawn could barely hold herself upright, the emotion still bubbling in her stomach. She began to feel a familiar tingling sensation in her chest, something she hadn't felt in a long time, so long that she couldn't even remember when she last felt it. I know this feeling, Dawn thought to herself, but still had to deal with what had just happened. Buffy had left and Dawn had told her to go.

"I can't believe this," Dawn said in a hushed tone.

"It'll be okay Dawnie." Willow soothed, putting a comforting arm around the teenager and pulling her into a hug. She felt an energy pass from the young woman and flinched slightly at the strength of it.

Faith walked back in after her conversation with Buffy. She was visibly shaken by Buffy's declarations and her unexpected role as leader. She took one look at Willow holding Dawn and had no idea how to make things right.

Willow, still holding Dawn, raised her head to look at Faith, an encouraging but scared half smile on her lips.

"I can't believe Buffy's gone," Amanda gasped in disbelief.

Dawn began to shake with sobs into Willow's chest as she ran her fingers through her adopted sister's hair. Dawn was still radiating energy into Willow and the witch still had no idea where it was coming from.

"Well, if you ask me..." Molly started to say, but was cut off by a glare from Willow. "Umm... nothing."

"She just wasn't thinking clearly, you guys. She needs some time off and then she'll be back," Xander said, trying to assuage some of the fears rolling out of Dawn and the Potentials. She looked so small and helpless for the first time in years. Maybe those monks did too good a job of making her Buffy's sister. It would be a lot easier for her if she didn't have to deal with all of this.

"Xander's right, although I can't believe I just said that," Giles agreed. "She'll be back. We all just need some time to think." Standing up, Giles walked towards Willow and the crying teen. He placed his hand on her shoulder and she turned her tear stained face toward him.

"Oh, Giles," she cried and threw herself his arms. "I can't believe I did that. She's going to hate me," Dawn moaned into his shirt.

"Buffy's gone because she messed up," Kennedy stated.

The young woman in Giles' arms started to fume. She was done being sad, now she was just angry. No one was allowed to say things about her sister... but her. Her body temperature began to rise and even Giles could feel the difference, his arms falling away.

"Ding dong, the witch is dead," Rona joked.

"Shut your mouth," Dawn yelled pushing off of Giles' chest. She put her hand up in the air in front of Rona's face and the girl's lips fused together, sealing her mouth firmly closed.

End part 1