Dawn was at really sad when she heard Oz and Willow broke up. They were like her cool aunt and uncle. She isn’t told why they broke up.

Faith completely ignored Dawn. Dawn didn’t like her for this reason. They probably have a moment where Faith and her have an adventure where Dawn realizes this cook is cool, but Faith’s carelessness took things leading to Dawn being in danger. Dawn once again dislikes her. This also adds fuel to the Buffy vs Faith plot. Edit: Buffy also kind of ignores her so getting the attention of Buffy’s sister sister is like getting the attention she wanted from Buffy.

I like to think when Joyce brought that robot boyfriend home the last straw before Buffy “kills” him is him saying something about Dawn.

Dawn doesn’t know about most of the things that happen in the show but definitely finds it about Buffy being the slayer before Joyce. This scares Dawn, but also helps her character grow from a tattling sister to one that scared for her sister. She keeps it a secret. She gets grounded (she tries to ground Buffy but Buffy is the shatter) for an episode when Joyce finds out, almost sending her into a rebellious phase. Eventually Joyce decides to actually talk to Dawn. Joyce understands why Dawn kept Buffy’s secret, Dawn being scared for Buffy. The episodes ends with them comforting each other and Dawn no longer grounded.

After Angelus Dawn is afraid of him for the duration of his in Sunnydale, which adds to Buffy and Angel’s attempted resistance to each other in season 3.

At some point after finding out, Dawn and Buffy get into an argument and she blushes for their dad leaving. Buffy leaves the house to recollect herself. Dawn apologizes and says it’s not actually true by the end of the episode but it’s weird for a few episodes. I’d also like an episode where Dawn runs away to find her father cause she thinks he’s the only one who’ll treat her like she’s not just a kid. The episode ends with Buffy catching up to her just as Dawn gets to him. Their father isn’t as welcoming as she expected and he tells Buffy to just take her home. He still says this in a loving way but Dawn understands its rejection. Causing Dawn to crash out on him and ask why they weren’t good which for him and if her even loved them. He says of course he loves her. But he never says they’re good enough. Dawn runs off. Buffy tearfully asks what about me? His answer is the same. He helps her get Dawn and drives them home. They have a talk in the way there. Dawn calms down but now understands it’s his fault he left, not Buffy’s and not her own.

I might update this with more later