 Buffy died at the end of the fifth season ( " The Gift " ) , sacrificing herself in place of her younger sister Dawn ( Michelle Trachtenberg ) in order to save the world . In the first episode of the sixth season , Willow , believing Buffy to be in Hell , used magic to bring her back from the grave . Buffy was in fact at peace , in what she thinks was heaven , but she has kept this a secret from her friends . Since her resurrection , Buffy has been lost and without inspiration to perform her duties as a Slayer . Willow is romantically involved with Tara Maclay ( Amber Benson ) , a powerful but ethical witch . Tara has previously expressed concern at Willow 's use of her emergent magical powers for trivial or personal matters . In the preceding episode ( " All the Way " ) , Willow cast a spell to make Tara forget an argument about her abuse of magic . In the same episode , Dawn , who has been stealing from stores , including Anya 's magic shop , lies to Buffy and goes on a clandestine and almost deadly date . Left to take care of Dawn after the death of their mother Joyce Summers ( Kristine Sutherland ) in the fifth season ( " The Body " ) , Buffy has come to depend more heavily on Giles . Following Dawn 's date , Buffy asks Giles to shoulder responsibility for disciplining her , much to his discomfort . 
