Well, I'd intended to post this yesterday, but my training at work prevented it. I came home DEAD tired and just blobbed in front of the telly and watched my team LOSE! *sigh*

Anyway, here it is...

~oOo~
Chapter Twelve
Lectured

Buffy brushed her palms together—to get the vampire bits off herself—then looked both ways at her new friends. She was surprised to find them both on the ground. She hadn't realized they'd both been knocked around in the fight. Either they'd slipped on the wet grass or...maybe the flying vampire had bowled them over. She didn't know which, or if something else had happened, and it didn't matter.

Not knowing who to go to first, she waited, allowing them each to stand on their own. Boys didn't always welcome a girl's help, she knew—and they probably appreciated it even less in 1942.

"Everyone okay?" she asked as they got up.

"I believe so, yes," said Edmund as he got up and bushed off his backside. He looked only slightly rattled. Buffy noted that his hair was mussed up—no longer perfectly coiffed—and that his breathing was somewhat off, but he appeared fine.

Not overly freaked out, then, she thought. She turned her gaze on Tom next. He was already on his feet, a scowl marring his handsome face and, though he didn't look to be upset about the vampire, he was definitely upset about something. She wanted to go to him, but resisted the urge.

"Tom?" she said instead.

"I am fine, thank you!" he snapped at her, his eyes darting from place to place—causing Buffy to realize he was looking for something.

Buffy watched him for a moment, then started looking around too. Maybe if she found whatever he was looking for, then he wouldn't be so angry.

"What are we looking for?" she asked after a few minutes.

"Nothing!" Tom hissed.

"Maybe if you retrace your steps," she suggested.

Tom glared at her, but started for the point he'd been struck and stood there trying to remember the sequence of events and exactly how he'd been moving when the vampire had pushed him aside. Throwing his arms up in the air, his right more angled to the side, he turned is head and started off in that direction.

Buffy watched, then followed him, fanning out when they'd found nothing.

Then she saw something out of place, a very light colored something, stuck in a tree and went for it.

"You looking for this?" she asked as she reached out to get it.

Tom spun around and started toward her. "Don't touch that!" Tom yelled—too late.

Buffy was already holding the bone colored stick by the time Tom's words reached her. She didn't know what the big deal was—until the stick started to vibrate in her hand, sending an almost electrical charge up her arm and into her entire body. Even her hair was fluttering as if a breeze had suddenly kicked up. She'd have let go of the stick if it didn't feel so good.

"Buffy, you're glowing!" Edmund said in awe. He was approaching slowly.

"Am I?" she asked, spinning around.

As she spun, she waved the stick, causing steaks of colored light to fly in all directions. Some bounced off the ground and rebounded into the sky. Others glanced off the trees and ricocheted around the park. Edmund dropped to the ground as one beam of light flew at him, while Tom ducked beneath another.

"What is that thing?" Edmund hollered.

"Give it to me! It's mine!" Tom hissed, his dark eyes even more shadowed than usual as he moved in her direction.

Buffy smirked. "Seeing as I'm holding it, it's mine until I say otherwise," she countered.

Buffy's taunting comment stopped Tom in his tracks. He was so angry that he'd almost missed what she'd said. Or rather, that she'd responded to his last words—which she shouldn't have been able to understand. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself.

"May I please have that?" he asked politely. "It's mine and I'd like to put it away. It can be dangerous."

Buffy appeared to think it over, then dropped her arm so that the thing in her hand was aiming at the ground, the quick movement sending out another wave of lights, this time accompanied by a crackling noise that sounded like lightening.

Both Edmund and Tom jumped back.

"It might be better if you don't move," suggested Edmund.

"Stand still, Buffy!" Tom commanded tersely. "I'll come over and retrieve it!"

Buffy nodded and waited.

Approaching slowly, as if he thought Buffy would suddenly point his wand at him and hex him, Tom used caution as he reached out and plucked the wand from her limp hand.

"Thank you," he said, slipping it into a hidden pocket. He was furious with himself for even bringing it out with him. And now it had been used—outside of school! He wondered what was going to happen next. Would he receive some sort of punishment for this incident? For the use of underage magic? Were there any Muggles around who'd witnessed the display of lights and sounds? Would the Muggles have to be Obliviated? Would he be in trouble for breaking the statute of secrecy? He was almost frantic with worry.

"I need to go," he said, thinking that, if he made it back to Wools quickly enough, maybe no one would know he'd been there. That was silly, of course, anyone who'd be concerned about underage magic would have recognized his magical signature, due to the trace on his wand.

Turning abruptly, Tom started away—only to be stopped by Buffy.

"Tom. Wait! Don't go," she said, grabbing onto his forearm.

Forgetting her strength, he attempted to pull out of her grasp, but failed. "Let me go," he growled—adding, "Please" though clenched teeth when she didn't do as he'd asked.

"Tom," she said, loosening her grip enough to slide her hand down his arm to his hand and grasp again, firmly, so that he could not just pull away. "You don't need to go."

He shook his head. "I do. There are wizarding rules. Laws," he whispered, his eyes going to the other boy. "My people are not allowed to use magic in front of those not like us. Or at all outside of school until we are of age."

Buffy could see his mounting panic. She shook her head. "But you didn't use magic, Tom."

He scoffed. "I didn't, but...my wand surely did."

Buffy frowned. "You weren't the one touching it," she said, shaking her head. "It was me. Maybe they'll come after me. I'm not afraid, Tom. Let them try to punish me."

Tom shook his head. He didn't want her punished either. Then something occurred to him. If she was able to make his wand do what it did, then...maybe she was a witch! That was the best possible outcome in all this, he thought.

Frowning, he looked over her head toward the other boy. "Who's your new friend?" he asked.

"Oh. This is Edmund Giles. He's...um...well, he'll be a Watcher someday. His mother is Vin and Sophie's sister," she divulged.

"Buffy, do you not know the meaning of secret identity?" Edmund complained.

Buffy just laughed and waved her free hand dismissively. "All my friends know who and what I am," she said. "Edmund, this is my friend Tom Riddle."

The boys nodded stiffly at one another. They could not help looking the other over, to size each other up. Edmund could tell that Tom was the dark and brooding type—and poor. Tom, however, just saw Muggle when he looked at Edmund.

"I think you should come back to the house, Tom."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," he said—though he couldn't really think of a reason why.

No matter where he went, the Ministry would know where he was. If he went back to either place, they would send a person over, instead of an official letter by owl, due to the Muggles. If he went back to the orphanage, at least he wouldn't get in trouble with Mrs Cole, but she wouldn't be able to stop them from taking him if that was what they did for cases like this. But if he went with Buffy, he'd have Vin and Sophie and Buffy to protect him. Sighing, he nodded. He'd go with Buffy and take his chances there.

~oOo~

"Let me get this straight," Edna said as she paced in front of the three seated teens, stopping in front of her son, who was looking up at her nervously. "As asked, you went down to check on the Slayer."

"Hey!" Buffy interrupted. "I have a name, you know! It's Buffy, in case you've forgotten! No one refers to you as the Watcher, do they? No. And do you know why that is? Let me tell you why! It's because you have a name! Though, gotta tell ya, I have a few other things I'd like to call you!"

Vin and Sophie didn't bother trying to hide their amusement—they'd long since given up trying to stay in their sister's favor. Rupert and Edmund managed to keep their faces neutral—they didn't dare cross the woman they had to live with. Tom, on the other hand, had to look away—the mask of respect for his elders he usually wore slipping. And Edna, she glared at Buffy fiercely—furious at being called out by a mere child.

"As I was saying," the Watcher continued, looking back at Edmund. "You went down to check on Buffy."

"Yes Mother," Edmund responded, is expression grim.

"And then you decided you'd slip out and go hunting?" she asked Buffy.

Buffy nodded. "Yep! That about sums it up, yes?" she said.

Edna exhaled, her eyes going back to her son. "And you thought it prudent to join the Slayer... Buffy," she corrected herself, "as she went off on her hunt? Without telling any of us, I might add."

Edmund shrugged. "Yes. I decided it was better to go with her, so that she wouldn't be alone. She wasn't going to wait."

"I absolutely wasn't going to wait," Buffy cut in to confirm before Edna could question that part. "I needed to get away. Seeing him," she said, nodding at Rupert, "was...just too much." She looked at the man. "Sorry."

"That's quite all right, Buffy," the older man said. "Now that I know more, I understand."

Edna huffed and looked at her sisters. "Do you two allow Buffy to go out at any time, without supervision?"

Vin and Sophie frowned. "She's not our child, Edna," Vin said.

"Then why do you think she should be left in your care?" Edna snapped.

"Two reasons," Sophie started. "One, because we found her and two—"

"Tom found her," Edna corrected her sister.

"That part doesn't matter," Vin cut in. "She was found by the three of us, at approximately the same time."

"And two, because Buffy wants to be here!" Sophie finished.

Edna snorted. "We don't all get what we want," she said. "But let's get back on track here." She looked down at the third teen. "And where do you fit into all this, Tom? You found this girl in a fountain and you're now part of the family?" she asked Tom.

Tom stared at her. What was he supposed to say?

Buffy answered instead. "Hey! Rude much? Tom is my friend. I met him the first night I arrived here. I hang with him sometimes and he... knows about me, so..." she shrugged, "that's how he fits into all this! The rest of the facts about him are...none of your concern!" Buffy was clearly fuming.

Edna frowned, as if she considered their answers only partially acceptable. It felt like she wasn't getting all the information. Tom wasn't speaking. Buffy was defensive and abrasive. And Edmund was only answering direct questions. She would question him more at home and he would tell her more.

"All right. Can you at least tell me about your kill. Please?" she tacked on at the end, obviously an afterthought.

Buffy shrugged. "Standard kill. It followed Edmund and me into Hyde Park and attacked. I fought it off and dusted it. Easy peasy! Not record time though. I've been quicker."

"Are you always so flippant about your duty?" Edna asked.

"Levity helps me survive the horror of it all, so yes, I am...at least 95% of the time," Buffy said. "Unless I deem there's a real threat, in which case I switch it up and I'm 95% vengeance."

Edna frowned, questioning the girls math skills, but sighed. "I think it's time we left for the night," she said, turning to her husband.

"Oh, so soon," Buffy chirped as she jumped to her feet. "I'll walk you out!" She was out of the room in a blink.

"Such a lovely girl," Edna said.

At the door, Buffy shook hands with Rupert and apologized again for her earlier awkwardness—then hugged him, because she couldn't help herself. Next she smiled at Edmund.

"Thanks for joining me tonight. You were a good Watcher," Buffy said—then whispered, "Sorry if I've gotten you into trouble. I'll admit it's a thing with me."

Edmund smiled at her. "I can believe it. It was jolly nice to meet you, Buffy. I hope we can do it again sometime," he said as he joined his parents.

Outside Buffy could hear Edna snort. "Not likely," the woman said snidely.

Edmund gave her one last look and mouthed, I'll be back.

~oOo~

Back in the lounge, Buffy sat down beside Tom—he had his head in his hands and he looked tense. The sisters had vacated the room in her absence—avoiding the awkward farewells at the door with their family—saying they needed to freshen up and that they'd be down again shortly. Buffy hadn't blamed them; Edna was dreadful.

"That was...something else," Tom said when Buffy sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. Despite the stress of the evening, he was basking in her nearness—even though it made him a little nervous. No one in his life had ever voluntarily touched him—not that he'd ever wished for such intimacy before. It was unwanted and yet...here he was...feeling oddly content. "I didn't expect all that when I came over tonight."

Buffy sat back up and looked at Tom. She could see and feel his contradicting emotions. "Why did you come over here anyway? And why didn't we see you before the vampire."

"I'd planned to toss stones at your window," he said with a smirk as he turned to look at her, his dark eyes sparking mischievously. "Then I saw you sneaking out with that Edward fellow," he snarled.

Buffy cocked her head and narrowed her eyes at his slip on the name. She decided almost immediately that it was totally intentional. "You were jealous!" she accused.

"No!" he quickly denied. "I just didn't want to interrupt...if it was a date." There! He'd put it out there.

"That was so not a date!"

"I know that now," Tom said, though he was still unsure. He still felt...an ache in the pit of his stomach when he thought about Buffy spending time with someone else—and that caused fury! He'd wanted to use Unforgivables on the both of them. The Watcher's boy for daring to spend time with his girl! And Buffy for thinking she was allowed to go out with anyone that she wanted!

"So then you what...you just followed us?"

Hating that she was asking—and that he couldn't make himself lie to her—he nodded. It was a clipped nod, because that's all he was capable of without giving in to the urge to hiss something at her angrily. "And then it all happened so quickly," he calmly said instead. "It attacked you. You killed it. Over."

She nodded. "Yeah."

"And then everything that happened afterwards," he said with a frown. "Merlin, what am I going to do about the display of magic that occurred at the park?" He got up and started pacing. "You don't know how serious this is, Buffy?"

Buffy watched him. She could tell it was serious. Tom didn't know it, but he looked terrified—and he'd be furious if he knew how much emotion he was showing.

"Who's Merlin?" she asked curiously—as a distraction—thinking about the mythological figure. "Isn't he just, you know...the stuff of stories?"

Tom stopped pacing and looked down at the girl. She was still sitting back on the sofa watching him. He shook his head. "Oh no. He was a real person. A wizard. In the same House I'm in. A very long time ago."

"House?"

"At my school. I told you. There are four Houses. Mine is Slytherin."

Buffy nodded. "I do remember you saying there were four Houses. What does that mean though?"

Tom frowned. "Slytherin?"

She nodded.

"It's the name of our founder. His name was Salazar Slytherin. Each House is named after its founder." He paused, his expression alarmed. "Why am I telling you all this?!"

Buffy shrugged. "Because I'm easily talkable."

Tom snorted. "Does that even make sense?" he asked.

She barked out a laugh. "You tell me."

"Hmm. You might be talkable," he said, " but you're also quite confusing."

"I aim to please. Besides, you understood me just fine."

"Anyway, I'm making my situation even worse by telling you more," he grumbled, sitting again. "I'm not allowed to tell people of my world."

"I'm not really supposed to tell people about my world either," she said.

"So I'd gathered."

For a time, they sat in silence—then she sat up straighter and looked at him. "Can I touch it again?" she asked. "To see if anything happens."

He stared at her. "You want to touch my wand?'

She smirked. "I'll let you touch mine if you let me touch yours," she offered playfully. She paused and pulled out her stake, holding it out to him in the palms of both of her hands like some sort of an offering to the gods.

He couldn't help himself. He grinned. He wondered if she knew what it sounded like she was saying. By the look on her face he'd say she did know, but he wasn't completely sure. Salazar, did he want to touch hers! And not her silly old stake!

"I'm not sure that's such a good idea," he said. "After what happened in the park, you might destroy Vin and Sophie's house and us with it."

Buffy pouted a little. Holding the wand had felt really nice, like it was an extension of herself. And warm and tingly. The lights and sounds shooting out of it were another story. A bit scary—and exciting too!

"What if...you hold it and I just touch it a little. To see what happens. Please," she whined.

Tom studied her face. Her lips were still pouting and her big green eyes were pleading with him to agree. Sighing, he felt himself give in. What was it about this girl that made him do things he'd never wanted to do before?!

"All right, but I'm not handing it over. It's too dangerous."

Buffy nodded. "Agreed."

Taking Buffy's hand, Tom stood, pulling her to her feet as well. "I'm serious," he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wand. "It's not a toy and...I'm in enough trouble as it is."

Buffy nodded again, her eyes on his wand. It was long and slim and she could see by the reverent way he held it that he was doing this reluctantly. His grip on his wand was gentle, but firm as he waited for her to touch it. He had no intention of letting go and she knew it.

Reaching out, Buffy instead placed her hand on his wrist and squeezed. His eyes rounded at the pressure—and the zing of magic he felt—his pupils dilating as they went from her hand on his wrist to her face. She was staring right back at him. He could see that she'd felt the magic too.

As they turned their eyes back down again, Buffy loosened her grasp and started to slide her fingers from his wrist to his hand. The wand seemed to be humming. Both of them sighed audibly.

Closing his eyes, Tom began to twist his wrist so that his hand was under his wand, with hers over it. In unision, they twined their fingers around his wand—and gasped.

"What are you two doing?" Sophie asked from the doorway.

Vin pushed past her sister, her eyes wide. "Don't touch his wand, Buffy!" she barked.

Buffy and Tom turned toward the sisters. "Why not?" she asked, confused. "It feels... good."

Buffy and Tom looked at each other. Both of them seemed to be glowing. Grudgingly, Buffy pulled her hand back and Tom dropped his arm to his side, his wand now aiming at the ground.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, pocketing his wand again.

"Oh! Don't be sorry," Sophie said. "That just looked a little too...

"Intimate," Vin finished.

"Is anyone hungry?" Sophie asked. "Dealing with Edna always makes me want to indulge.

Vin chortled a laugh and went to the liquor cabinet to refill her glass.

~oOo~

Your turn! Tell me what you think! *grin*

And...Jack...shut it! Haha.