Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer belongs to Joss Whedon. Harry Potter and company to JK Rowling. I'm just flattering through poor, poor imitation. All fun, no profit.

AN: Thanks to all my reviewers. I think I've become addicted to feedback, which is a very scary thing. Special thanks to the hat trickers manticore-gurl071134 and Rosie W. And on with the show.

A Bicycle in the Family Tree

Part 3

"I knew it! You are trying to kill me."

Draco looked at Buffy with frustration.

"Nobody is trying to kill you," he said in a tone that clearly added a few choice words to the end of it.

"Yeah, well, I don't know what planet you come from, but here on Earth we're taught 'fire burn' at a very early age. No matter what color it is."

This discussion was taking place in front of a large fireplace that had begun to burn a merry green after Draco had tossed some powder on it and told Buffy to jump in.

"Draco is right, dear," said Narcissa. "Traveling by floo is a safe as… "

"Stabbing yourself with the Dagger of Death," supplied Draco.

"Yes. Wait, no! Draco, will you please just let that go?" Narcissa shook her head and turned to Buffy. "Speaking of, how is your hand?"

"Speaking of what?" exclaimed Draco. "We were talking about my pain, not hers. We're not even home yet and she's already getting all the attention."

"It's fine," said Buffy, displaying her newly bandaged hand to Narcissa and repressing the urge to stick her tongue out at Draco. "A couple of days and it'll be good as new."

In truth the cuts would probably be healed before tomorrow, but Buffy was determined to keep her slayer status to herself. After all, it was the revelation of her calling that had induced Joyce to kick her out of the house. She wondered if Joyce regretted her harsh words, or if she was glad to have gotten rid of the daughter who had caused her so much trouble. Adopted daughter, corrected Buffy mentally. She was probably glad to be rid of such a bad seed.

Buffy felt her eyes begin to burn and she blinked a few times. She would not cry in front of these people she barely knew. She would also not jump into a fire for them.

"So, I'm not jumping into this fire," she told Narcissa conversationally. "How about we take a taxi instead?"

Narcissa chuckled. "We can hardly take a taxi to England."

"England? I didn't realize… I mean, I heard the accents and everything, but I didn't think we'd be traveling so… far. Or, you know, by fire."

"It's a very simple and well-known way to travel—in the magic community," said Draco. He eyed Buffy suspiciously. "Which leads to the question of magical abilities. As in yours."

Buffy laughed. "Magic abilities? That'd be a big none. Buffy and magic go together like cookies and ass."

"In the park you said that you knew magic."

"I said that I knew of magic, not that I did it."

"Mother, we cannot possibly take her home. A squib in the Malfoy family? It's never happened before and I refuse to let it happen now."

"What did you just call me?" asked Buffy in a dangerous tone. Narcissa cut in before he had a chance to reply.

"Draco, there's no proof that she's a squib. Just because she hasn't done magic yet doesn't mean she can't learn. I expect that she was simply brought up muggle. Weren't you, dear?"

"I don't know. I think we're Presbyterian but I really haven't been to church in a while. I mean, I've been in churches, but not for uh, worship reasons…"

Buffy trailed off when she saw the blank expression on Narcissa's face.

"So I guess 'muggle' isn't a religion?"

"It means non-magical," explained Narcissa.

"Oh. Well then, yeah, I'm a muggle. Like I said, me and magic are non-mixy things."

"I'm sure that's not true." Narcissa thought for a moment. "Draco, give Buffy your wand. She should be able to use it."

"I'm not giving her my wand," exclaimed Draco.

"I'm not touching his wand," said Buffy at the same time.

Narcissa rubbed her eyes. "This would be easier if we could just get you home. Are you sure you won't use the floo?"

Buffy eyed the fire.

"I'd really rather not."

Draco stepped in front of the fire.

"I've had enough of this. I'm going home. Then she," he said with a pointed look at Buffy," will see it's safe, and I won't have to deal with this boring melodrama anymore. Two birds."

"Excelling idea, Draco," said Narcissa, choosing to ignore his second reason. She and Buffy watched as he pulled another handful of floo powder out of the bag and tossed it onto the fire. Dropping the bag next to the fireplace, he stepped in.

"Malfoy Manor."

Then they were alone. Narcissa turned to Buffy and smiled.

"You see? Perfectly safe."

Buffy refrained from pointing out that she had no way of knowing where Draco was and whether he was safe. She assumed that he wouldn't kill himself just to trick her into following suit, though.

"Will you go now?" asked Narcissa.

Buffy stared blindly at the fire.

"I'm scared," she said softly.

"This isn't about the fire, is it?"

Buffy was careful to not look at Narcissa.

"I don't think I'm ready to give up on her yet."

Narcissa reached out to touch Buffy, then pulled back her hand.

"There are so many things I want to say," said Narcissa. "That if she could let you go she didn't deserve you. But I don't have that right because I let you go, too. The circumstances… there are always circumstances."

She paused, fiddling with the ornate band on her ring finger.

"I don't know what happened between you and her. I don't know what will happen between you and I. I can't guarantee happiness. But… earlier you said you would try it for a little while. That's all I'm asking for. A little while."

Buffy looked at Narcissa and saw that she had closed her eyes.

"And then," she continued, "you can come back here. Or not. But… you'll have a choice."

A choice. Ever since Buffy had found out she was the slayer, she had felt like all of her choices had been taken from her. Slay this vampire, stop that apocalypse, lose your mother, murder your lover… being the chosen one had taken everything from her. And so she had quit. But life as a runaway, she soon discovered, was not exactly teeming with opportunities.

A choice. She was sick of life in LA. She was not ready to go back to Sunnydale. And then there was option number three. In truth, she was terrified of going to live in England with complete strangers, who apparently were part of a "magical community" and used fire to get around.

A choice. She would be crazy to go. It was dangerous. She knew nothing about these people who claimed to be her family. It was a stupid thing to do on just about every level that existed.

Narcissa still had her eyes closed, Buffy saw. If she had any sense she'd leave right now and pretend it all never happened.

The door to the street was seven feet away. The bag of magic powder was still by the fireplace. Buffy took a deep breath and made her choice.

"Malfoy Manor."

Buffy had never been accused of having an abundance of sense.

AN again: Feelings. Sigh. Someone pointed out in a review that I need to include those, and rightly so. But it's so hard! I do humor, not angst. And there's nothing funny about angst. Unless it's done wrong, and then it's hilarious. Anyway, I gave it my best shot. Getting rid of Draco did a lot towards making this happen. You just can't have a heart to heart with snark boy in the corner. Hopefully it helped explain some of Buffy's decisions.

Oh, and one last thing. I've been updating at a fairly regular and frenetic pace, and I know that's appreciated. But guess what? It's the weekend, and it's Valentine's day. Interpret that however you want.

~Eris~