Written by Zinna
Dawn is Buffy's little sister, born at the beginning of Buffy's sophomore year in college (Buffy vs. Dracula). She is humanized by monks from a great ball energy, otherwise known as the "key". When Dawn appears in the Summers household, she's already a sulky teenager. Dawn's childhood years, though they never existed, were already embedded in the memories of the Buffy, her mom and all her friends. Mostly, Dawn is your garden-variety bratty younger sister interested in tagging along with Buffy and trying to "big-kid" things, but all she ever seems to do is get in Buffy's way. Dawn acts like any young person would in the face of danger (she screams and runs away). Buffy appears to resent Dawn having luxury of the being scared when Buffy never had that chance (she was called to slayerdom at Dawn's age).
No one questions Dawn's arrival until Joyce, Buffy's mother, collapses and has to be hospitalized (Out of My Mind). At first the doctors are unable to diagnose the cause of Joyce's collapse. Joyce is released but continues to suffer from headaches - the doctors decide to do more tests. Buffy becomes preoccupied with fear for her mom's health. Later, Buffy is warned she will be attacked through her family (No Place Like Home). Anya tells Buffy of a spell that will put her into a trance. The trance will allow Buffy to see if some invisible evil is causing Joyce's headaches. Buffy performs the ritual and becomes entranced. As Buffy explores her house under the spell, she sees Dawn disappearing from all the family pictures. In Dawn's room Buffy sees that it is really a storage room and none of Dawn's things are really there. This leads Buffy to conclude that Dawn is not her natural sister. Buffy confronts Dawn as if she were a demon, come to hurt her family. Dawn is horrified that Buffy would be so mean to her.
Buffy finds clues leading her to a warehouse where Glory, a hell god, is torturing a monk. Buffy attempts to fight Glory and finds out Glory, a beautiful blond woman, has 10 times Buffy's strength, speed, and agility. Buffy just barely manages to get the monk and run away. Glory has done quite a number on the monk - he is dying despite Buffy getting him out immediate danger. In his last breaths he tells Buffy that Dawn is actually a human form of energy that the monks embedded into Buffy's life, knowing that she'd protect it from Glory. The monk also tells Buffy that Dawn does not know what she is; as far as Dawn is concerned she is human - she is Buffy's sister and nothing else. Buffy feels a bit overwhelmed by the prospect of having to protect human being that isn't her sister, but as she accepted her duty as a slayer, Buffy accepts that Dawn is her's to keep safe (still No Place Like Home).
As time passes we see that Dawn and Buffy's bond grow stronger as they have to face the news of their mother's declining health (Joyce is diagnosed with brain tumor in Shadow) with only each other for consolation. Joyce goes through dangerous surgeries and the anesthesia causes Joyce to have a couple of less lucid moments. During her psychotic episodes she gains the understanding that Dawn isn't actually her daughter, but she also understands that they must take care of Dawn as if she were. She shares this sentiment with Buffy and makes Buffy promise to take care Dawn no matter what.
Finally in Blood Ties, Dawn really gets a chance to show us what she's made of (literally and metaphorically), which lets us know that though Dawn seems to be a weak link a times, she really is cut from the Buffy Summers cloth. Up until this point, Dawn's mostly known for being huffy, prone to tantrums, whining, making naïve mistakes and causing trouble. So, when Buffy eventually tells the gang that Dawn is the key, and the gang starts acting all strange around Dawn at Buffy's birthday party, it's surprising to see Dawn take action, rather then sulking about and whimpering. Dawn being intuitive like Buffy immediately notices the Scoobies weird behavior. Dawn takes note of Giles hiding a book when he sees Dawn entering the room and figures out whatever's going on has something to do with the book. Finally, Dawn gets fed up confronts the Scoobies (cutting straight to the point like Buffy would). They all attempt to cover up the truth, but Dawn is not satisfied with their excuses and proceeds to throw a tantrum (not like Buffy) and storms off (classic Dawn move). Later, Dawn sneaks out (taking matters into her own hands, giving no thought to the dangers involved, sneaking out her window and down a tree, sound familiar to you?) and runs into to Spike, who helps her break into the magic shop and look at the book Giles hid. The book helps Dawn to figure out that she is the key and not a real human at all. Dawn is devastated by this news and becomes a little delirious with emotion and rightly so. She returns to Buffy's birthday party with self-inflicted bleeding cuts up and down her forearm. Dawn cuts her arm to see if her blood is real, if she is human (it looks like natural human blood - Dawn is human). She wants to know what she is and everyone including Buffy is at a loss on what to tell her. Dawn doesn't really know how to takes this.
After a day of brooding, trashing her room and storming around like a rebel without a cause Dawn runs away. She ends up at the hospital, apparently trying to get some answers about her origin from the mental ward (there's that intuitiveness again, she knows that the crazies can see her in her actual state). The crazies aren't much help but they do confirm the key must be destroyed. Dawn runs into Ben (an intern that helped with their mother) and she admits to him that she is the key. Ben reacts strangely as well, telling her to get away from him. Turns out Ben can shape-shift into Glory despite his own will (Glory's is stronger). Dawn knows that Glory is dangerous and smartly pretends to be naïve when Glory questions her about "the key". Dawn is able to dodge that bullet, but she's not out trouble yet because Glory plans to suck energy from Dawn's brain. Luckily, Buffy shows up just in time to fend off Glory long enough to get Dawn out of harms way (well long enough for Tara and Willow to perform a spell that transports Glory out of there). Dawn is still perturbed as to why Buffy and the Scoobies would care so much about her since she's not real. Buffy grabs Dawns open wound and mixes Dawn's blood with blood from her wounds, telling Dawn that it doesn't matter how Dawn came to be; she's human now, she's Buffy's sister, and they both bleed Summers blood. This episode is the first time it is apparent that Dawn has brains, guts, and tremendous strength of will, even if Buffy will still have to save her from time to time.
Eventually Joyce dies of an aneurysm (The Body) and Dawn has to take on a new role, as does Buffy. With their mother gone, Buffy has to assume guardianship of Dawn. Buffy is very afraid of this daunting task. Dawn, on the other hand, begins to feel alone and unwanted. She thinks that Buffy can't stand her (as a result of their antagonistic relationship and it would seem she is still skeptical of Buffy since Buffy attacked her, when Buffy was under that spell) and wouldn't want her around especially now that their mother isn't there to make them get along. Dawn also notices that Buffy seems to be taking care of the funeral arrangements very methodically, leading Dawn to believe that Buffy isn't feeling very much emotion. At first, Dawn decides she must get her mother back (Forever). Dawn steals a black magic book from Willow and Tara's room. She enlists Spike to help find spell that will bring her mother back from the grave. She convinces Spike to help her gather the ingredients of a dangerous spell, which is not small feat - she has to go into the nest of the large three-headed demon to get the demon's egg for her spell, never allowing her courage or determination to falter. Lastly, Dawn stands up to Buffy and tells Buffy how neglected she's been feeling when Buffy tries to chastise her for performing such a dangerous spell. Then as Buffy breaks down during Dawn's scolding, Dawn realizes how hurt her sister is and how much Buffy needs her. This is a very poignant moment because when Buffy hears what could be her dead mother knocking on the door, she completely forgets that bringing Joyce back from dead is wrong. In fact, Buffy runs to the door to see her mom and Dawn quickly reverses the spell to make sure no more damage is done. This is when Dawn realizes she must be strong for Buffy just as Buffy must be strong for her.
Of course contending with her mother's sudden death isn't enough, Dawn still has to be wary of Glory. Glory is unrelenting in her search for the key; she even sucks energy from Tara's brain in her efforts (Tough Love). Despite Buffy and Dawn's ability to hide Dawn's true identity, Glory finds them out. Once Glory knows Dawn is the key there's only a matter time before she kidnaps Dawn (Spiral) and holds Dawn hostage so she can use Dawn in a ritual that will drain Dawn's blood and allow Glory to regain entrance into to a hell dimension Glory was once expelled from (Weight of the World and The Gift). Dawn doesn't get to be scared garden-variety teenager anymore. In fact, Dawn shows extraordinary bravery in the face of her captors, a hell god and her lackey-human side, Ben. Dawn makes several failed attempts to escape. She tries to reason with Glory's human side, Ben. She does an excellent job of playing on his weakness and humanity but in the end his fear overpowers him and Glory remains triumphant. When Dawn sees how weak Ben is in the face of Glory's power, Dawn becomes disgusted and screams at Ben to change to Glory. Dawn prefers Glory in-your-face evil to Ben's cowardice.
Another thing to note about Dawn's strength of will is her faith in her sister. Throughout her dealings with Glory, Buffy has always maintained that she's no match for Glory's power. When Glory kidnaps Dawn, Buffy goes catatonic unable to fathom getting Dawn back from such a powerful being. Dawn, on the other hand, remains positive that Buffy will find a way to save her and defeat Glory. Even when Glory has Dawn captive and is throwing her around like a rag doll, Dawn is asserts, to Glory's fury, that Buffy will come for her and Buffy will rise to challenge. Say what you want about Dawn being whiney or whatever but, that takes guts!
Buffy and the Scoobies are able to devise plan of action to take Glory down and keep Dawn alive, but unfortunately Glory isn't the only one that wants the hell dimensions to explode into this earth. As Buffy and the Scoobies defeat Glory and her minions in the battle of their lives. Dawn remains tied to really really high contraction built to allow Dawn's blood to drain on certain spot. Doc, a Glorificus worshiper, comes and begins slicing Dawn before Buffy has a chance to get to her. Dawn bleeds and the ritual begins. Buffy gets there just before the dimensions begin to open up but once they start there's no stopping it, save for killing Dawn. Buffy tries to get Dawn down, but Dawn remains steadfast, ready to die and save the world from its horrible fate. Buffy won't allow it (She jumps, i.e. dies, in Dawn's place), but it says a lot that Dawn is willing to do such a thing. Dawn may not be a slayer, but in the first year of her life she certainly survives more than her share of trauma, maybe even more than slayers before Buffy.
The following year is no picnic either; Dawn has to carry on living day-to-day life with her most beloved mother and sister dead and buried. She has to see a likeness of her sister in robot everyday (Buffybot stays around so that Dawn can stay with Willow and Tara instead becoming a ward of the state and the robot keeps demons from figuring out there's no slayer protecting Sunnydale), making it impossible for her to properly grieve her sister's death. Then as if her life weren't traumatic enough, Willow and the rest of the Scoobies (minus Giles) bring a bewildered Buffy back from the grave. Dawn is of course happy to see her sister alive, but imagine the emotion she must be feeling when this happens (Bargaining). Needless to say, Dawn develops various emotional issues that manifest in Dawn's need to steal things from everywhere she goes. Dawn, however, for the most part keeps her rapidly declining emotional health under wraps and tries to keep out of everyone's way. She admirably tries not be a burden so that the Scoobies can take care of her while still managing to fight evil, pay the bills, and everything else, but Dawn does get into trouble from time to time like in All the Way, when she sneaks off to hang out with some boys that turn out to be vampires and when she is kidnapped by Sweet's men in Once More With Feeling. Dawn remains relatively calm and cool on the outside (she merely quotes Buffy, "The hardest thing to do in this world is live in it." see The Gift for details) when she finds out that Buffy doesn't even want to be alive, because Buffy was happier dead (Once More With Feeling).
Dawn manages to keep her issues to herself for quite some time, but partly due to the fact that everyone, namely Buffy and Willow (her two prime guardians) being completely preoccupied with their own issues (Buffy secretly getting it on with Spike and Willow attempting to deal with her addiction to magic). Instead, Dawn spends most her time brooding and never tells anyone how she feels unless demonstrated through a tantrum or a sulky accusation. Dawn's flare for the dramatic isn't exactly her best asset in this case since her fits and whining or stomping about wears on Buffy's patience, making it hard for Buffy to have deep meaningful discussions with Dawn about feelings and besides that it never seems like it is a good time for Dawn to address her feelings with Buffy. For example, in Dead Things Buffy, thinking she killed a girl (she did not, by the way) tells Dawn that she may have to go away for a while. Dawn instantly thinks this separation is welcomed by Buffy (considering how distant and melancholy Buffy has been since her return from the grave). So, instead of listening to what Buffy has to say or telling Buffy how hard things have been, Dawn yells a Buffy until finally Buffy gives up and leave things unresolved (Buffy is very disturbed at this point by the prospect of having killed someone and she doesn't have the time or patience to make Dawn understand). Later when Buffy explains that she won't have to leave after all (she figures out Warren killed the girl and made Buffy think it was her), Dawn storms out the room (still pissed that Buffy was leaving in the first place) and Buffy doesn't feel like going after her. Dawn remains huffy, moody and silent for sometime. It's goes unnoticed until Willow, hopped on magic, drives Dawn and herself into a pole, and then as result of Willow's magic high, a side-effect demon factures Dawn's arm while Willow remain unconscious in the wrecked car (Wrecked). Once Buffy sees Dawn hurt, she has a minute to realize it's partly her fault for being so into her own troubles, but then she has to deal with Willow's addiction to magic and Dawn's feelings get pushed to back burner once again. Dawn punishes Buffy for neglecting to deal with her by making snide remarks and giving Buffy attitude.
If Dawn hadn't inadvertently wished that people would stop leaving her to a vengeance demon disguised as a school counselor, it probably would have taken forever for Buffy to deal with the fact that Dawn wasn't coping as well as they would've like to believe (Older and Far Away). What's more, when Buffy and the Scoobies are all stuck in the Summers house for 2 days with a mysterious disappearing demon, as result of the wish, no one really has the time (they're all dealing with issue of being stuck in the house) to properly deal with the discovery that Dawn's really sad and she's raging klepto. So even though Dawn's issues are revealed and Buffy becomes fully aware of her rabid neglect of her guardian duties, the relationship doesn't mend over night. Buffy, however, makes an effort to spend more time with her sister, especially after she tries to kill her in Normal Again. Dawn does her part to be forgiving once Buffy begins to make an effort.
Dawn's relationship with Buffy appears to be on mend, when more tragedy strikes - Tara is shot and killed by a stray bullet meant for Buffy. Dawn, unfortunately, finds Tara's body after everyone has left the house (Willow on rampage to get magic that will help her avenge Tara's death. Buffy, with a bullet-hole in her chest has been rushed off to the ER. Xander went to look after Buffy). Dawn stays with Tara for a long time, until Buffy and Xander return from the hospital many hours later. Of course Dawn is traumatized, but she doesn't have much time to think about, as Willow's gone completely dark. Buffy does her best to console Dawn, but she has to save Willow. So, Buffy takes Dawn to Spike's for safe-keeping. Dawn knows that Buffy wants her to be safe, but she won't allow herself to sit around when she could be out doing something. So she takes matters into her own hands, she convinces Clem (Spike left for Africa) to help her find Rack's (Willow's magic dealer). Dawn finds Willow at her darkest and attempts to talk to some sense into her. It doesn't work but Dawn gives the whole Dawnie try. Unfortunately, all it does is make DarkWillow want to turn her back into a beam of light, but as always when Dawn is in trouble, Buffy shows to keep DarkWillow off of Dawn (Villains and Two to Go).
As the Scoobies face their biggest villain to date, DarkWillow, it becomes apparent to Buffy and Dawn that Dawn isn't a little a girl anymore. Once they are trapped in a hole made by DarkWillow's bomb, Dawn tells Buffy what's what. Dawn points out Buffy hasn't had much luck protecting her from hardship or evil, so Buffy should stop trying to shield her and let Dawn fight. When dirt demons start attacking from all sides, Buffy, heeding her sister's plea, hands Dawn a sword and lets Dawn fight for herself. Dawn turns out to be a natural with the sword and she bests her attackers with little to no help from big sis. It looks like in the coming years we're going to see Dawn turn her flare for the dramatic into viable fighting asset. Maybe with both girls fighting evil together, they'll find a better way to make their relationship work.
