Hi All. No idea if anyone still reads these things, but I've had new inspirations so thought I'd somewhat finish what I started. As usual, let me know what you think. Some of this was written a LONG time ago. I've gone through and fixed a few things, written a few things- so if you feel there are two different writing styles, that's why :)

Chapter 4

Dumbledore stepped through the front door of Buffy's flat and smiled at those gathered. His eyes were alight as he examined the misfit group.

'Professor Dumbledore,' Giles greeted. 'Welcome. Let me introduce to everyone.' Giles completed the introductions quickly and stepped away from the group, leaving them to mingle. Buffy noticed the Professor's gaze lingering on Willow.

'I can honestly say it is a pleasure to meet you all,' he acknowledged warmly 'Although, I am sure I should have met at least one of you earlier,' he glanced meaningfully at the redhead.

Willow smiled shyly. 'Hi, Professor,' she gave a small wave. 'I'm sorry I didn't come, but I got the letter at a really difficult time and I just couldn't leave, you know what I mean, of course you do, you're the principal, sorry, headmaster. Too many things were happening and if I had left to go to your school, which I'm sure is great, by the way, then everything would have gone to hell,' Willow finished, finally out of air.

'Literally,' Xander observed truthfully.

'Yes,' Dumbledore chucked appreciatively. 'I do remember your apology letter. I must say was the first of its kind I had ever received. It is nice to finally meet you, Miss Rosenberg. Will you be attending this year?'

Buffy interjected quickly, not wanting Dumbledore to get the wrong idea. 'No, Professor. It will just be me for now. Willow has more important things to do here.' It sounded cruel and Willow looked slightly hurt but Buffy couldn't bring herself to feel sorry for it. This was for her, not Willow.

'Ah,' Dumbledore clasped his hands together. 'I understand. Are you ready to leave?'

'Yes. Oh, wait, no…' she turned and sprinted to her bedroom at the back of the flat. In her haste to pack, she had almost forgotten the most important thing of all. She came back down the hallway, Mr. Gordo tucked safely under her arm. The pig had seen her through a lot, had made it out of Sunnydale in one piece and she wasn't about to leave him behind now.

The others were talking as she approached the main room and she paused at the doorframe, just out of sight.

'I fear Buffy doesn't really know what she is getting herself into,' Giles was appealing worriedly. 'She is still very young and, though she has seen much more than anyone her age should, this may just be the battle she will not walk away from.'

'You mean she'll die?' Willow piped up and Buffy gritted her teeth. They didn't exactly have much faith in her.

'Yeah, that would be bad,' Xander affirmed. 'Let's not do that.'

'Good Lord, no,' Giles sounded shocked, but Buffy knew the thought had crossed his mind briefly also. 'Lord Voldemort is an evil being, no more so than many Buffy has already seen,' Giles explained. 'But in an entirely different way than she is used to. His last act before he disappeared was to attack a child, a mere baby.'

Buffy snuck back down the hallway and stood in her doorway for a moment. Giles' fears were groundless. Did he honestly think that anything would scar her more than her friends pulling her out of heaven than deserting her later? That was a pain that would never heal, no matter how much time passed.

She made her way loudly back to the living room, smiling brightly as everyone turned to look at her. Dumbledore smiled at her indulgently. He knew I was listening, she acknowledged with a wry grin. He nodded at the pig in her arms. 'I assume you are ready now, Ms Summers?'

Buffy glanced around at her friends and felt her mood change. She would miss them, yes, but her heart lifted at the thought of escaping, even if the escape meant that she would be fighting in a war she had no hand in creating. A break was a break.

After a round of teary goodbyes, she bade them one final goodbye and went to stand beside Dumbledore. 'Are you sure you're ready?' he asked her seriously.

Buffy cast one last glance at her friends. 'Oh, yeah.'

Buffy clutched her heaving stomach as the spinning finally stopped and she felt the earth return to under her feet. Putting out an unsteady hand, she grasped the closest solid object, which just happened to be Dumbledore, and tried to ease her rolling insides. When she felt sufficiently recovered, she restored herself to her upright position and took in her surroundings.

They appeared to be in an office and an odd looking one at that. The room was circular and books and paintings lined the walls. Woah! The paintings moved! Buffy watched as the people in the painting roused, coming to life, so to speak, and focusing their attention on the young girl in their midst.

'Who is she, Dumbledore?' one of the more crotchety men demanded of the wizened wizard. Dumbledore merely smiled at gestured for Buffy to take a seat. 'Well?'

'Never you mind, Phinneas,' Dumbledore answered pleasantly. 'All will be revealed.' At this, Buffy saw the people in the painting move closer to them, if that were at al possible. They seemed to be listening even more intently.

'Now, Ms. Summers,' Dumbledore began as he seated himself behind the desk the Buffy sat before. 'You replied to our letter even though you new naught of what was happening here. Why?'

Buffy took her time to answer. There were many reasons why she had responded. To get away for a while, to help make difference, go where she was actually needed, not where she was wasting time and space. She mentioned as such to the Professor.

'I guess, Professor,' she started slowly, mulling over what she wanted to say. 'I have a few reasons, not just one big one.' He smiled gently at her and she felt the courage to say what was on her mind. 'You obviously did you research on me, Sir, so you know what my life has been like the past few years. My friends, slaying, life itself has all gotten so… difficult. Ever since we closed the Hellmouth I feel as though I am no longer needed. There are more slayers being found every day. Instead of being "The One" I am now one of many and don't get me wrong, that's great, but ever since that day,' she hesitated slightly before plunging in. 'I feel like I'm living on borrowed time. I feel like I'm done. I did what I was supposed to do, I fulfilled my destiny and now I sit around twiddling my thumbs thinking "what now?".

He nodded, a seriously look flitting across his face briefly. 'You have done many great things, Miss Summers. I feel you are doing yourself an injustice. Your destiny is what you make of it, even if it's, as you say, twiddling your thumbs.'

'In all honestly, Sir,' she clasped her hands in her lap nervously. 'I think your letter came at the perfect time. Fate is something I believe in. If I hadn't received the letter when I did, I don't think I would have been there much longer. I was beginning to feel… trapped. A trap of my own making, really.'

'And now?' he watched her with a gaze she felt could see every hidden corner inside her. She imagined it was extremely hard to keep secrets from this man. She'd hate to be a student.

'Now?' she smiled widely. 'I feel like I can breathe again. I feel… free. Every mile we put between us and there was like shedding myself of unnecessary weight. I love my friends and my sister. They are all my family, but things aren't fully right between us yet and I think this time will give us the space we-I- need to heal.'

'They do say something about time and healing things,' Dumbledore grinned cheekily at her and she felt herself respond in kind. 'I am glad we will be able to aid you in some manner as you are to aid us. Now, would you like a tour, Ms Summers, or would you like to talk more on what is expected of you?'

Buffy scoffed. No brainer. 'Tour! Let's see what you've got, Dumbles.'

'Holy great castle, Batman,' Buffy gushed in awe as she stared up at the massive castle that seemed to materialize out of nowhere. Is this where the student's stayed all year? No wonder they never wanted to go home. Buffy couldn't imagine people wanting to leave this place for any reason. It was huge!

'The castle has many enchantments on it, to keep it from Muggles prying eyes. The Wizarding World is a closely guarded secret. Still, we have our little… mishaps.'

Buffy couldn't tear her eyes from the GIANT FREAKING CASTLE. 'Mishaps?'

'Ah, yes,' Dumbledore said merrily. 'The young ones sometimes lose control of their magic in moments of high emotion. Blowing up Aunts like balloons, sprouting a field of flowers in a shopping mall, bouncing upside down on one's head down a street. All things the Ministry take care of.'

'Ministry? Like… government?'

"Just so, yes,' he replied in the same happy tone.

'Pass,' Buffy screwed her face up. She never mixed well with Authority. 'Other mishaps?'

Dumbledore's smile lost a little of its shine as he stared off into nothingness. 'Yes… sometimes even the elder generations can lose control of their magic…' he trailed off and was silent for a moment before turning back to Buffy with the twinkle in his eye back in place. 'In moments of happiness some elder Wizards have been known to celebrate a little too hard and forget who is around them. Or some Wizards create things or modify Muggle artifacts that Muggles can accidently get their hands on. All matters dealt with by the Ministry of Magic.'

'Them again, ugh,' Buffy wrinkled her nose at another mention of the Ministry. She just couldn't help it. 'Well, Dumbles,' she reluctantly turned from the view and looked expectantly at him. 'That's the lake, the Forest,' though they didn't go in, much to her disappointment… 'The Great Hall, the Kitchens and now the whole thing. What's next?'

Dumbledore grinned happily at her and she felt a little apprehension at how happy he looked. 'The train station.'

I edit my own stuff but even I miss things. As always, let me know what you think :)