~*~*~

"Wow," Dawn breathed as the two humans and the vampire entered The Leaky Cauldron. "Wow...Diagon Alley's out that way...and..."

The bartender shook his head, laughing. "You'd think she'd never seen this before. A grown witch..."

"She's not a witch," Willow said.

All activity stopped.

"What's a Muggle doing in here?" an old hag with a bubbling pipe screeched. "Get out!" Other witches and wizards clamored for Dawn to get out as well, getting out of their seats and surrounding the girl.

Dawn backed into Spike, who put an arm around her shoulder and vamped out. "She's my assistant!" Willow said. "We're on our way to Hogwarts to teach."

"And you're taking a vampire?" a younger voice said from the shadows.

"He's supposed to help teach Defense against the Dark Arts," Dawn said.

The young man with the young voice came into the light and snorted. "You-Know-Who's gone. What need is there to teach that class? I mean, it's just a way for Potter to keep his name fresh in everyone's minds..."

"That's enough, Draco," the bartender said.

"Enough? Not hardly," Draco Malfoy said, coming right up to Dawn, who was only a few inches shorter than him. "And to bring a Muggle to the school...at least she's not a Mudblood."

Spike had heard enough and picked up Draco by the collar on his worn shirt. "Leave. Her. Alone," he said, still fully vamped.

Draco shuddered slightly.

"Spike," Willow said softly. "Let him go."

Spike unceremoniously dropped the young boy so he landed rear first on the floor. "We need a Stan Shunpike," he said, not bothering to lose his demon visage.

A thin man stood up. "That'd be me," he said, his voice shaking.

"You're supposed to take us to Hogwarts."

The man nodded. "Y...yes."

"We're packed. Let's go."

The man grabbed his hats and beckoned to the three travelers. "F...follow me."

***

Once Spike dropped his vamp face, Stan Shunpike became more at ease with them almost instantly. "You're Muggles?"

"She is," Willow said, looking at Dawn. "But her sister was the Slayer."

"The Slayer...human with superhuman powers who fights the demons?"

"That'd be her." Willow looked uncomfortable continuing the conversation. "How long will it take to get to Hogwarts?"

"A few hours," Stan replied. "Make yourselves comfortable.

Spike snorted derisively. "On that thing?"

Stan smiled. "Oh, you'll see..."

***

"All right, Red, I have to say I'm impressed. Triple Decker, a room..." Spike smiled at the witch. "This isn't bad." He laid down on the bed.

Willow looked at him. "Spike, am I doing the right thing?"

"What do you mean?"

Willow sat next to him. "I mean, going there. I'm not a real witch. I don't have a wand or anything like that, and..." She shook her head. "Dawn's never going to fit in."

Spike smoothed Willow's hair, kissed her forehead lightly. "Red, you've done a lot for Dawn since Buffy died. And me too," he added. "And you gave up a lot to come to London to be near her. I know Anya and Xander would have loved for you to go to New York with them, or Cordelia and The Great Nancy Boy wouldn't have minded having you in Los Angeles."

"But," Willow prodded.

"But, you came here, to study your craft. And you got...sidetracked. And now you can study it while helping other people."

"Why, Spike, I do believe you're a big softy," she said, snuggling into his embrace and closing her eyes.

"Well, don't be spreading it around. Not good for the rep."

But even as he said it, Spike smiled at the wondrous creature he held in his  arms. He loved her just as much as he'd loved Buffy, maybe more. And if this was what she wanted, he'd do everything he could to make it happen.