Chapter Four: I'll make you an offer you can't refuse
The room they walked into was warm and crowded with smiling and laughing people. The table seemed to be buckling under the mountain of food that was piled on top of it and the chairs people sat on were an odd assortment that seemed to have been pulled from numerous different sets. The dishes in the sink were being washed by a scrubbing brush that moved of its own accord and the pudding that sat at the end of the table nearest to where they had entered had what looked to be a miniature dolphin swimming happily in the chocolate sauce.
"Are you seeing this?" Faith whispered into Buffy's ear as they ducked out of the way of a plate that whizzed by their heads to sit in the sink.
"Tiny marine life in the pudding...yeah I'm seeing it," Buffy said incredulously.
"Buffy, Faith let me introduce you to the Order of the Phoenix," Dumbledore said simultaneously gaining everybody's attention as he spoke. Buffy felt Faith shift uncomfortably next to her when the gaze of everybody in the room turned to them.
"This is Sirius Black, it is his house in which we currently reside," Dumbledore said indicating a skinny man with shoulder length black hair and kind eyes, "Next to him we have Mundugus Fletcher, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Alastair Moodey, Nymphadora Tonks."
"It's just Tonks," the woman with shocking purple hair interrupted the older man, "I don't know how many times I have to tell you that Dumbledore."
"I'm sorry my dear," Dumbledore said kindly, "You must forgive my forgetfulness, I am an old man you know. Now next to Tonks we have Arthur and Molly Weasley and their children Bill, Fred, George and Ginny," Dumbledore said pointing to the family all with orange hair.
"It's nice to meet you," Buffy said and Faith nodded her agreement.
"Now dears you must be starved, here have a seat," Mrs Weasley said grabbing the two Slayers by their shoulders and pushing them down into tiny space between Fred and George.
They found two plates shoved in front of them piled high with all sorts of mouth watering food and they didn't take a moment before digging in. They were indeed hungry, it had been several hours since they had eaten and for Slayers that was a big deal. Their metabolisms worked differently to those of a normal human and for that reason they needed to eat on a much more regular basis. Buffy hadn't realised exactly how hungry she had been until the first bite of roast lamb hit her lips and she bit back a moan of pleasure as the succulent meat slid down her throat.
"So you girls are from the Muggle world," Mr Weasley said with an excited smile on his face, "Tell me, what exactly does one do with a hole punch?"
"Puts holes in paper," Faith said around a mouthful of creamy mashed potato.
"Fascinating," Mr Weasley said, "And what about a spork?"
"It's like the cross between a spoon and a fork," Buffy told him, "Most people use them to eat cake or soft fruits."
"Wonderful!" Mr Weasley cried, "Fantastic, who would have thought that such a thing would have been possible."
"Oh Arthur really let the poor girls eat in peace," his wife said swatting him on the shoulder, "You must excuse him he really is fascinated by all things Muggle."
"It's okay, we're pretty much wide eyed about everything we've seen here so far," Buffy said.
The sound of thundering footsteps on the stairs made them all turn towards the doorway where a gangly redheaded teen hustled his scruffy brown haired friend through. They were followed by a bushy haired girl who rolled her eyes at their antics and pushed her way past them to sit by Ginny.
"Ron can you at least try to act like you have some manners when we have guests," Mrs Weasley said as three more plates whizzed off the shelf and onto the table. Ron looked over then taking in the table and looking for who he didn't recognise.
"Bloody hell," he said his ears reddening when he took in the new arrivals.
"Manners Ron," Mrs Weasley said hitting him over the back of the head with a tea towel.
"Sorry Mum," he blushed.
"Buffy, Faith this is Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter," Dumbledore said.
"It's nice to meet you," Buffy said again.
"Harry Potter, baby who beat that dark wizard dude?" Faith asked from next to her.
"One and the same," the scruffy haired boy said, "Only I'm not baby sized anymore."
"Oh yes Harry you're so manly," Fred teased.
"You're practically ancient," George chimed in.
"Harry and Hermione were bought up in the Muggle world as well," Mr Weasley told the two Slayers, "I'm sure you all could have some very interesting conversations about extension cords."
The atmosphere in the room was relaxed despite the strange situation they were in. Buffy and Faith found that conversation came easily between themselves and the other teens. Despite not having that much in common they got on well and it put everybody at ease. Once they were full to the brim Mrs Weasley waved her wand and their dirty dishes whizzed off the table and into the sink. In their place appeared tall glasses that were filled with a foamy golden liquid.
"It's called Butterbeer," Hermione said off of their confused looks.
"Is it real beer 'cause I'm not twenty-one yet," Buffy flushed.
"Lighten up B," Faith said taking a big gulp of her beer, "Drinking age in England is eighteen."
"Which I'm not and you're definitely not," Buffy said grabbing the mug from Faith's hand as she went to bring it to her mouth again.
"You don't have to worry they're not alcoholic," Tonks said turning back to Ginny and transforming her face so that she had the beak of a duck.
Faith spluttered into the mug she had stolen back from Buffy when she saw what the purple haired woman had done. Buffy hit her on the back as she coughed and watched in fascination as Tonks' face transformed back into her normal visage.
"Tonks is a Metamorphmagus," Hermione said, "She can change her appearance at will."
"You'll have to excuse Hermione," Ron said, "Harry and I think if she reads anymore books she'll turn into one."
"Some people appreciate learning Ronald," Hermione said indignantly.
"Well some people have better things to do with their time," Ron retorted.
"Smashing thing to say in front of your Headmaster Ronald," George applauded.
"Absolute corker of a thing to say," Fred joined his applause.
"Shut up," Ron huffed throwing his napkin across the table at them.
"Believe it or not Mr's Weasley I am more than aware what goes on in the castle," Dumbledore said his eyes twinkling in amusement.
"Albus is it about time we explained to everybody why our guests are here," the gruff voice of Alastair Moody interrupted their laughter. Both Slayers had been careful not to stare at him as the glass eye which spun madly in his eye socket made them feel like they were constantly under scrutiny.
"Of course," Dumbledore said, "I was hoping Remus would be here for the explanation but I suppose Tonks can fill him in at a later date."
"Alright Fred, George, Ginny, Ron, Harry and Hermione it's time you lot started cleaning your rooms like you promised me you were going to do ages ago," Mrs Weasley said as the named teens groaned in unison.
"Come on Mum we want to know what's going on as well," Ron pleaded.
"Come on Mrs Weasley," Harry and Hermione said.
"Molly they deserve to know," Mr Weasley reasoned with his wife.
"They are just children," Molly said shrilly.
"Who have all been exposed to more dangers than many of us have," Moody said gruffly.
"Come on dear," Mr Weasley said wrapping his arms around his wife, "Let's hear what Albus has to say."
Mrs Weasley grumbled but allowed her husband to guide her back down to her seat.
"There is a myth in our world of the Slayer, a young female bestowed with supernatural strength in which she is Chosen to fight the vampires and demons and other forces of darkness," Dumbledore said.
"But the Slayer is just a myth right, an old wives tale to help little kids sleep at night," Hermione said.
"I don't really feel like a myth do you Faith?" Buffy asked her counterpart.
"Not right now," Faith shrugged, smirking at the open mouthed faces of the other occupants in the room.
"Yes, Buffy and Faith are Slayers," Dumbledore told them.
"But there's only supposed to be one right, doesn't the story go 'One girl in all the world'?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, you see that is where the interesting part of the story begins. Two years ago Harry when you faced Voldemort after the Triwizard Tournament, when he regained his body something significant was happening simultaneously in the Muggle world. Young Miss Summers here was facing a particularly powerful vampire known as the Master and drowned, rendering her technically dead for a couple of moments. Miss Summers as you can see was resuscitated but her death allowed for another Slayer to be called and for the first time there was two Slayers activated at one time. So as Voldemort regained his body to once again become a force of powerful dark magic, in the Muggle world this was counterbalanced with an insurgence of good in the calling of two Slayers at once," Dumbledore told them.
"So we're here to help you fight this Voldemort guy right?" Buffy asked.
"In a way," Dumbledore smiled, "You see there is a Prophecy, the Prophecy of the Interficio which states that when the dark returns two supernatural warriors will come from Muggle birth and they will be crucial in determining light from dark."
"So they're like dark wizard detectors?" Ron questioned.
"That part of the prophecy isn't very clear, all we know is that the Slayers are required to be here if we are to have any chance in defeating Voldemort," Moody told them.
"I have been in contact with your Watcher Rupert Giles," Dumbledore told the Slayers.
"Giles knows we're here!" Buffy said incredulously, "Why didn't he give us a heads up before we woke up in the Twilight Zone?"
"The magic we used to get you here would not have worked had you been aware," Dumbledore explained.
"I'm okay with kicking this dude's ass," Faith shrugged, "What about you B?"
"I'm okay with it," Buffy nodded, "Just point us in the right direction."
"Well you see that is half the problem, we don't know exactly where Voldemort is hiding," Tonks told them.
"Although his followers are surely making themselves known," Mr Weasley said pulling the latest issue of the Daily Prophet from his back pocket.
"There have been spottings of Death Eaters all through Diagon Alley, most of the shops have all but closed down," Sirius said.
"Death Eaters?" Faith asked.
"It is what Voldemort's followers call themselves," Harry told her.
"Catchy," Faith said.
"So Buffy and Faith we are so pleased you are here, your presence is crucial should we wish to eventually triumph over Lord Voldemort and I wish I could stay longer but I'm afraid I am needed back at the castle. I assure you both you will be safe here and I will return as soon as I can," Dumbledore said standing from his seat.
"I'm not sure if we're meant to say thank you," Faith whispered to Buffy.
"If anything we should be thanking you Miss Lehane," Dumbledore chuckled making Faith flush.
After they showed Dumbledore out Buffy and Faith spent the afternoon getting to know the other teenagers in the house. The witches and wizards delighted in showing off all the magical enhancements the house had undergone much to Buffy and Faith's amazement. Fred and George had even let them try a few of the items they would be selling in their joke shop. Dinner had been a busy affair much the same as lunch with everyone crowded together along the long table. Buffy and Faith told stories of their slaying exploitations happy that they were able to shock the wizards just as much as the wizards were able to shock them. By the time night fell their heads were spinning with everything they had seen and learnt and as they said goodnight and headed to the room Mrs Weasley had set up for them they were more than happy to fall onto the soft purple mattresses that had been conjured.
As she lay in the dark Buffy found that she was missing her mother and her friends but the Order were friendly and welcoming so that helped take away some of the sting of being away. In all the chaos of the afternoon she had forgotten to ask Dumbledore if her mother knew what had happened to her, sure that Joyce would be panicking when she woke up to find her daughter missing. She hoped that Giles was able to explain to her what was going on so that hopefully she didn't worry too much. She was happy to be there if she could help these people as from the sounds of it Voldemort was really truly evil. She had to admit though the thought of facing him was nothing short of terrifying if he was able to kill with just the wave of his wand, in fact she wasn't even sure what they could do if he could kill them before they even made a move towards him.
"Faith, are you asleep?" she asked into the darkness.
"No, are you?" Faith replied.
"Yes, that was me talking in my sleep," Buffy rolled her eyes.
"Sorry B, kind of freakin' out a little over here," Faith said.
"It is a lot to take in," Buffy agreed.
"I don't even know what we're supposed to do," Faith said.
"I guess we just wait and see, I'm sure Dumbledore and the others will help us any way they can," Buffy said.
"You think we're gonna get one of those wand things?" Faith asked.
"I dunno, but I totally want one. You see how Dumbledore just conjured us clothes from nothing. Give me a wand and call me Buffy Spellman, I won't ever have to spend money on clothes again," Buffy said turning over so she lay on her side.
"Figures you'd get all squealy about the clothes," Faith chuckled, "What about that dinner, Mrs Weasley waved her wand and the most orgasmic chocolate cake appeared," Faith sighed wistfully.
"Can cake even be orgasmic?" Buffy asked.
"Did you even have any?"
"No."
"Well if you had you would know."
"Is there anything you can't turn into a sex reference?"
"Nope, goodnight B."
"Night Faith."
Albus Dumbledore looked up as the Transfiguration entered through his office door. Minerva McGonagall looked tired as she sat in the chair across from his desk.
"They are all settled in at Grimmauld place?" she asked rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"They fit in very well," Dumbledore smiled, "I think you'll like the Lehane girl Minerva, she has quite a bit of spirit in her."
"Did you tell them everything?"
"No, I don't believe it would be beneficial for them to know absolutely everything about why they are here."