CHAPTER SIX: THE VISIT
For the most part, the lessons that Hermione and Buffy were taking were actually fairly interesting. Both girls seemed to catch onto what they were being taught with ease, and Buffy found herself immensely grateful that Hermione had wanted to take on the extra load of work as well.
Most of the Professors were only too happy to give help to the two enthusiastic sixth year girls. Snape, of course, was reluctant about it. Oh, he would help of course, but he would choose the hardest potions that were learnt by seventh years and expect them to complete them perfectly. And of course, if even the slightest of mistakes were made, he would yell at them and tell them that they had no right trying to learn sixth and seventh years in one block.
But Buffy and Hermione were not to be discouraged. They pored over books and texts, potions and charms, spells and jinxes until they thought that their eyes would fall out of their sockets from reading too much.
Of course, reading and studying twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, can get incredibly tiring. Four weeks after beginning their tutoring, Buffy and Hermione found themselves moping due to missing their significant others.
After much pleading with Giles and Dumbledore, Buffy and Hermione were given permission to apparate to the Burrow, where Harry was staying with Ron. The girls couldn't have been more excited about it. They each packed a bag with a weeks worth of clothes, and said their goodbyes to the Professors. Most of them were grateful for the break away from the girls. It wasn't as though they didn't enjoy teaching the girls, and they were definitely grateful to have two bright students who were serious about studying, but they too needed a break, even though term hadn't started yet.
"You ready?" Buffy asked, holding onto Hermione's hand.
Hermione gave a nervous nod. She hadn't ever apparated with Buffy before, and even though she knew that her best friend could do it, she was still somewhat apprehensive. She'd heard horror stories of people being splinched, with parts left behind if an apparition went badly.
She closed her eyes and felt the world spin around her. When her eyes opened, she smiled widely.
"Ron!"
Ron turned, a wide grin on his face. He raced towards the two girls, barely sparing a second to grin at Buffy before he threw himself at Hermione, kissing her fiercely. Buffy smirked and turned away, looking for her own boyfriend.
She gasped as she nearly ran into him. Her eyes went wide and she felt her mouth water. In the two months that they hadn't seen each other, Harry had shot up another inch or so, and he'd lost what little was left of his puppy fat. His eyes were still as gorgeous as ever, and his permanently messy hair gave him a scruffy and sexy look. Added to that, he obviously hadn't shaved, and there was a fine layer of stubble on his chin.
Following Ron's example, she threw herself at Harry, who caught her and returned the kiss with equal enthusiasm. Breathless, they finally pulled away.
"You look…just, wow," Buffy said.
Harry grinned self-consciously and held his girlfriend close. "I could say the same about you," he replied quietly, his breath tickling her ear, sending shivers down Buffy's spine.
Suddenly, from behind them, came two simultaneous mock-retching sounds. The foursome turned to glare at Fred and George, who had wide grins on their faces.
"Awww…it's so cute," Fred mocked.
"Ickle Ronnikins, and wittle Harry," George continued.
Buffy just laughed. She stepped out of Harry's arms and gave each of the twins a hug. She'd definitely missed their antics, even if they did drive her crazy half the time.
"It's good to see you guys again," Buffy said.
"Same to you Buffy," Fred said, an oddly sincere note in his voice.
"So," Hermione said. "Where's everyone else?"
"Well, Percy's at work," Ron began.
"Oh Mr Fudge, may I lick your boots," George said, in an accurate Percy-voice, filled with stuffiness and self-importance.
"Charlie's still in Romania, Bill and dad are at work as well. Ginny's around here somewhere, and mum-"
"RON! WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT LEAVING YOUR BROOM IN THE YARD!"
Ron sighed. He knew he'd forgotten to do something.
Buffy looked to her friend, her eyebrows raised. The tips of Ron's ears went red. He'd forgotten that Buffy had never met his mother or his three other brothers.
A plump red-haired woman came into the kitchen, her face still full of fury. She immediately softened when she saw Hermione and Buffy.
"Oh Hermione," Mrs Weasley gushed. "It's wonderful to see you again. I'd clean forgotten that you and your friend were coming today."
Hermione hugged the woman, still incredibly grateful that Mrs Weasley hadn't begun hating her just because she'd started dating Ron. If anything, it had made Mrs Weasley even more protective of her.
Mrs Weasley turned to Buffy, and her face went pale. Buffy stiffened and Harry stepped forward, putting a calming hand on the small of her back. Buffy relaxed against him, but kept her eyes on Mrs Weasley. She'd been getting this reaction wherever she went unless she was in a muggle populated area, and after a month at Hogwarts, she'd nearly forgotten that most of the wizarding world was somewhat terrified of her.
"Mrs Weasley, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Buffy Summers," Harry said calmly.
"Girlfriend?" Mrs Weasley repeated.
Buffy stepped forward slowly, her hand stretched out to the older woman. Mrs Weasley hesitated for another moment, before taking a deep breath and shaking Buffy's hand.
"It's nice to meet you Mrs Weasley," Buffy said quietly. "I've heard a lot about you from Ron and Ginny. And the twins as well, but I've learned not to trust anything they say."
"Oi!" Fred called out indignantly.
"We're trustworthy!" George continued.
"We're the trustworthiest people-" "That you've ever met." "Well, except when we hand out sweets…" "Or wands…" "Or parchment…" "Or quills…"
Buffy grinned. "So apart from all that, I should trust you," she concluded.
The twins shared a look, turned back to Buffy and nodded decisively. "Yes!"
Mrs Weasley took in the way her family was interacting with Buffy. She did have to admit that she was incredibly frightened of Buffy Summers. She'd read the reports in the papers about who she was, and what had happened between herself and Lord Voldemort. Knowing that a seventeen-year-old girl had taken down the most feared wizard in the world, and that she just so happened to be related to him, made Molly Weasley somewhat afraid.
But seeing her teasing Fred and George, and hugging Harry, she couldn't help but wonder about the other side of the fence. She saw Buffy as Voldemort's daughter, but, being a mother, she wondered what the girl was truly like. What she had felt when she'd discovered who she was related to. She felt a pang of sadness run through her, and a desire to help this girl.
"I'm sure Buffy and Hermione must be hungry after their trip," Mrs Weasley announced, easily taking on the position of matriarch. "Some food perhaps."
Neither Buffy nor Hermione were about to turn the woman down, so they just nodded enthusiastically. Harry leant forward to mutter something in Buffy's ear.
"Yeah, real long trip Summers," he whispered, again making her skin tingle. "It took, what, all of three seconds?"
"Four," she whispered back.
He grinned and sat beside her at the table.
Ginny came rushing in from outside, stopping suddenly when she saw the two extra people at the table. She gave them both enthusiastic hugs and sat opposite them, trying to keep out of reach of Fred and George who seemed to want nothing more than to torture their youngest sibling.
"Hermione, you and Buffy are staying in my room," Ginny explained. "I hope you don't mind – Fred! Stop it! – I hope you guys don't mind sleeping on the floor."
"It's fine Gin," Buffy said through her laughter.
"Or," George began mischievously, "we can have Gin in with us, give Ron Gin's room, and let Harry and Buffy have Ron's room."
"George!" The surround-sound telling off came from Hermione, Mrs Weasley, Ginny and Ron.
"You're such a git," Ron muttered, the tips of his ears turning bright red, as they often did whenever he was highly embarrassed.
Harry just grinned. He always found himself smiling a lot whenever he was at the Weasley house. There was so much craziness in the Burrow that he always wondered what it would have been like to have grown up in a house like this one. There had never been laughter and playfulness at the Dursley's.
"Ron just doesn't want us shagging in his bed," Harry commented, leaning in to Buffy, but loud enough so everyone could hear him.
The twins howled with laughter, and Harry pressed a kiss to Buffy's now-red cheek. She and Harry had never actually discussed taking their relationship further than some incredibly intense making out sessions, but the thought of sleeping with Harry was making her brain do strange flip-flops.
"Harry Potter, you are completely incorrigible," Mrs Weasley chastised.
"And proud of it," Harry replied with a grin.
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Evening fell, and Buffy's cheeks were aching from all the smiling and laughing that had happened over the last few hours. She was suddenly very much looking forward to being back at Hogwarts with all of the other students. She'd forgotten how crazy being with people her own age could be.
Just as the seven teenagers were about to go outside to catch the last of the sunlight in order to play quidditch, they were distracted by two pops that sounded within seconds of each other.
"Hey dad," the twins greeted simultaneously. "Good evening Percy." "Smashing to see you again." "Positively corking."
Buffy grinned. She'd heard so much about Percy Weasley, and she had to admit that she had wanted to meet their third eldest brother.
He looked very little like the other Weasley's. He had horn-rimmed glasses and a mop of curly red-hair. He held himself in a stiff upright manner that spoke of someone who thought very highly of himself.
"Really you two, must you always be so antagonistic?" Percy asked.
Buffy just smirked. She now understood why Harry, Ron and Hermione always cracked up whenever Fred and George did impersonations of Percy. They hadn't been exaggerating.
Percy suddenly turned his attention to the others. His eyes drifted over Ron, Harry and Hermione. They came to rest on Buffy and Percy completely paled. He took a step back and reached for his wand.
"Percy?" Mr Weasley asked, seeing his son reaching into his robes.
Percy's wand came out and he pointed it towards Buffy.
"What the hell do you think you're doing you great git?!" Ron yelled, stepping forward, reaching for his own wand.
"Don't even think about cursing her!" Fred agreed.
"Guys, stop," Buffy said quietly.
Ron and Fred stepped back down. They kept their hands on their wands and their eyes on Percy, but they knew enough about Buffy to realise that she didn't like other people fighting her battles.
Mr Weasley turned to look at Buffy. "Good lord."
Buffy sighed and felt tears well in her eyes. She'd forgotten how much this had bothered her. She turned to look at Harry.
"Maybe I should go," she whispered.
"No," he replied firmly. He turned to look at Percy and Mr Weasley. "I don't think you've been properly introduced. Buffy, this is Percy and Arthur Weasley."
"Good to meet you both," Buffy said quietly.
Mr Weasley bravely stepped forward and shook the girls hand. She smiled softly at him and Mr Weasley knew, just from looking into her eyes, that this girl would never harm him or any of his children. "It's a pleasure Buffy. Harry and Ron speak very highly of you."
"Oh, I wouldn't believe all of it," Buffy said with a smile, thankful that she could at least relax around Mr Weasley. He seemed like an incredibly decent man.
Percy couldn't believe that his father was actually talking to her. When he'd heard and read about Voldemort's daughter being admitted to Hogwarts, he'd been completely outraged. He'd heard Cornelius Fudge's complaints about the girl, and about how dangerous it was to have her at the school, and Percy had to agree with the Minister of Magic. Power was dangerous, and this small girl who held more power than Dumbledore and Voldemort was not someone that could be trusted.
"Are we sure we can trust her?" Percy asked coldly.
Fred and George rolled their eyes. "Yes Percy."
Percy just eyed Buffy coldly. She met his gaze steadily, forcing herself not to look away.
"I will never trust his daughter," Percy said coldly.
There was a sudden burst of noise from practically everyone in the room. Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Hermione and Harry were all protesting on Buffy's behalf. Buffy just stayed silent. Mr and Mrs Weasley looked highly uncomfortable, and Mrs Weasley felt her heart break for the young girl who looked oddly vulnerable.
Ron suddenly wolf-whistled, bringing everyone to complete silence.
"Alright, listen up!" he said loudly. "Let's all just calm down."
"Buffy…you are very welcome to stay here," Mrs Weasley said kindly.
"What?!" Percy yelped.
Buffy gave Mrs Weasley a half-smile. "I appreciate that."
Percy glowered at her. He couldn't believe that his family was so naïve as to take in someone who could kill them all with very little effort. He'd heard the rumours at the Ministry about the girl, and how she was feared above all other witches and wizards.
"Unfortunately, I don't think I can take you up on your offer," Buffy continued.
Harry looked at his girlfriend incredulously. "Buffy-"
She just shook her head. She turned slightly and pressed a quick and chaste kiss to his lips.
"I'm not about to make someone uncomfortable in their own home. I'll see you guys tomorrow morning," she promised.
"He leaves for work at eight," one of the twins informed her.
Buffy grinned. "Just leave me some breakfast," she teased.
The twins saluted her. Hermione and Ginny looked at her with sad eyes. Ron was glaring daggers at Percy, and Harry looked as though someone had just kicked his puppy.
"You really don't have to leave," Mr Weasley said.
"It's cool. It was nice meeting you sir," she said.
With a quick pop she had disapparated. Ginny was the first to approach Percy. She slapped him hard across the cheek.
No one reprimanded her.
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The chaps tend to get longer the further I get in. Not sure why.
And yeah, I know we're about six chaps in and nothings really happened yet. It will get there, honest. ;)
Toodles.