Dawn looked around the shop. Fred, George, Ron and Hermione weren't looking very happy with her. "I already told you: what Ginny does is up to Ginny. We aren't going to make her do anything."
"What's up Hermione?" asked Harry. "You guys weren't this upset when I left this morning."
"I've been doing some research," said Hermione. "I found this in Flourish & Blotts." She pulled out a book that she'd been hiding under the counter. Dawn looked at the cover: A Treatise on the Mythology and Methodology of the Vampire Slayer.
"Oh," said Dawn. "I can understand why you might be a little upset, but that book is totally obsolete now."
"What do you think upset us?" asked Ron.
"Uh, the bits on Slayer life expectancy?" asked Dawn.
"That's the big one," said Fred.
"What about Slayer life expectancy?" asked Harry.
"They rarely made it to eighteen," said Dawn. "Buffy's getting close to being one of the oldest on record."
"What?" asked Harry. "But she can't be more than…twenty-five?"
"Twenty-two, and I'll tell her you said that," said Dawn. "But that's all changed now! We're still working out the details, but we're making things different!"
"What are you making different, Miss Summers?" asked Professor Dumbledore.
"For starters, we want Ginny to finish her education before we'll consider asking her to take on the duties of a Slayer," said Buffy. "We don't want to put any girl at risk until she's at least eighteen years old. Old enough, and with the education she needs to make an informed decision about whether or not she wants to accept the risks involved with being a Slayer. If she does decide to take up the duties of a Slayer, she will be partnered with another, more experienced woman, maybe more than one. I don't want to see any girl having the weight of the world placed on her shoulders alone.
"I was called when I was fifteen, like Ginny here. For a lot of my first year I was alone. My first Watcher died, and I went through hell with no one to help me for months. Then Giles found me, and I haven't really been alone since. I've gathered friends who've helped me, and kept me alive this long. I wouldn't have made it without them. Now I want to do the same for the other girls who've been called.
"That's another big change we're making. For the first couple of years, I kept being told that I had to keep my being the Slayer a secret. I couldn't tell my friends or my family anything about it. Because of that I lost all my friends, and my mom…well she spent a lot of time thinking I was a no-good trouble making juvenile delinquent or something, and she just couldn't deal. Things were pretty tough between us for a while, but they got a lot better after she found out the truth.
"We don't want Ginny walking around wearing an 'I'm a Slayer' t-shirt," said Buffy. "It should still be kept a secret from most people, but we think it's best if her family and close friends know about it."
Buffy paused to take another sip from her tea. All that talking was making her throat dry. Dumbledore waited a few seconds before he asked his next question. "So what exactly do you want Miss Weasley to do now?"
"I don't want Ginny to say 'yes' to being a Slayer yet. All I want is a 'maybe.' If she says 'maybe,' we'll see to it that she gets the sort of education that she needs to be able to tell us 'yes' or 'no' sometime down the road. If she says 'no' now, we won't ask her again, but we'll leave an address where she can contact us, if she changes her mind."
"Ginny isn't going to any school but Hogwarts!" burst out Mrs. Weasley.
Buffy smiled at her. "I'd never heard of that school before this morning, but any school that has a course in…" She looked at Lupin, and her smile widened. "…what did you call it? … Oh yeah, 'Defense Against Dastardly Auditors.' Anyway, a school that teaches that, and would have someone that Giles thinks as highly of as Mr. Lupin as one of its former professors sounds like the sort of place that Ginny could get the sort of education she would need to be a Slayer.
"If you do say 'maybe' we'd like to have a look at your curriculum, and maybe make some course suggestions for her…maybe arrange for some private tutoring in some specialised areas, but I don't think there will be any problem with Ginny continuing in her current school. Hey, I grew up in the California public school system. You'd have to look pretty hard to find a worse learning environment, and I turned out okay."
Giles cleared his throat.
"I suppose that not everyone agrees with that."
"As a minor inducement to getting a 'maybe' from you, we will pay all reasonable expenses for Ginny's education," Buffy looked back at Dumbledore. "Uh, how much does a year at Hogwarts cost?"
"Tuition and board are free, to all who have the talent to receive an invitation," said Dumbledore. "The students are only required to pay for their basic school supplies, books, robes etc. The typical student gets by on about 150 Galleons a term."
"Um, sorry, but where I come from, a Galleon is a boat," said Buffy.
Lupin smiled. "It works out to about $1,200."
"Pfft! No problem." Buffy noticed Mr. and Mrs. Weasley both shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
Dumbledore tented his fingers and thought for a moment. "You mentioned 'private tutoring in some specialised areas' Miss Summers. Hogwarts is rather isolated. It would be difficult to have a Muggle provide tutoring to one of our students."
"We also have a staffing problem," said Giles. "The First killed most of the qualified Watchers, and completely disrupted the organization. We are in the position of having to recruit new people, and it is very difficult to find suitable candidates. We are having to look outside of the usual recruiting grounds for new Watchers." He looked at Remus. "You were one of the people that I planned to look up while I was back here in England, to talk to about joining us. Since you already know Ginny, and her family, I think you would be an ideal candidate to be her Watcher."
Buffy watched Lupin, the Weasley's, and Dumbledore exchange some worried glances. "Unless you have some objection," she said quickly. "Is there any reason Mr. Lupin shouldn't be a Watcher?"
Hermione pointed to an item in a table in one of the later chapters of the book. It was a listing of various demon types, and the ways to kill them. "So, do Slayers kill werewolves?"
"No!" said Dawn. "God, this book was obsolete the day it was printed! Werewolves aren't even demons. They're people. I even had a werewolf as a babysitter when I was a kid…not during the full moon of course."
"You know a werewolf?" asked Harry.
"Yeah," said Dawn. "Oz is a real cool guy. He played guitar in a band. He was Willow's—she's the one who did the locator spell that found Ginny—first serious boyfriend. He helped Buffy save the world at least three times.
"Even if Buffy finds a werewolf while it's all furry, and trying to eat people, she'll try to capture it, rather than kill it. She even got a tranq gun just for handling situations like that."
"What's a tranq gun?" asked Ron.
"Sort of a Muggle way of doing the same thing as a Stupefy curse," said Hermione.
Dawn looked down the list of 'demons' in the book. She recognised several of them as being 'mostly harmless.' "This list is crap." She pointed to another demon she recognised. "Look, I know one of these too. Clem is one of the nicest fellows you're ever likely to meet! Sure, he likes to eat kittens, but other than that, he's a real sweetheart."
"So, the Slayer doesn't just kill all demons?" asked Ron.
"Some might have in the past, but not Buffy," said Dawn. "And that's not the way we're teaching the new Slayers. Some demons Buffy pretty much kills on sight, like vampires, but for the most part, she's willing to leave anything alone that isn't trying to kill people. There have even been a couple of vampires that turned out to be good guys, but they were both extraordinary cases involving gypsy curses, or experimental computer chips shoved into their heads."
Dawn looked at Hermione carefully. "Why did you pick the werewolf off that list? Do you know a werewolf?"
"So you have no objection to having a werewolf as one of your Watchers?" asked Lupin.
"Not if the girl he's watching has no objection," said Buffy. "At least for the girls who are still in training. For an active Slayer…too much shi—" Buffy glanced back toward the Weasleys. "I mean stuff tends to go down during the full moon to have a Watcher who's out of commission on those nights.
"But while she's in training…I think it would be a good example to her of how the world isn't all black and white. There's a lot of grey. You have to look for the good, amidst the evil, and use your judgement."
"I might have an objection," said Dumbledore.
His announcement took everyone by surprise. "Why would you object?" asked Mr. Weasley.
"I have no doubt that Remus would be a most admirable Watcher for Miss Weasley," said Dumbledore. "My objection is of a more selfish nature. I was planning to invite him back to Hogwarts as our Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor."
Lupin was stunned. "But after the last time— So many of the parents objected!"
"The mistake we made last time was to hide your nature from them," said Dumbledore. "This time we are going to announce quite openly that our DADA Professor is a werewolf. While I am sure that there will be some parents who will object loudly…they may even pull their children out of our school…I think that now the majority will accept you.
"You were the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we have had at Hogwarts in a long time. I know this. The staff knows this. Most of the students you taught know this. Many of the parents who demanded your removal the last time have had the opportunity to listen to their children's opinions about you, and the other DADA professors, and some your most vociferous opponents have now changed their minds, and quietly asked that I consider reinstating you. After recent events, they know that we need a good Defense Professor.
"Remus Lupin, I would like to offer you the position of Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Lupin looked stunned. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water for several seconds. He blinked. "I— I— I don't know what to say!"
Dumbledore smiled. "A simple 'yes' or 'no' will suffice."
"Yes!" said Lupin. "I'm sorry, Ripper, Buffy, but to have my position at Hogwarts again…It's too great an opportunity to turn down." He smiled at the Weasleys. "And I'll still be one of Ginny's teachers."
"Indeed you shall," said Giles. "I see no conflict."
"What do you mean?" asked Lupin.
"What's Hogwart's policy on—if you'll pardon the expression—moonlighting?" Buffy asked Dumbledore.
Dumbledore smiled understanding. "As long as they don't interfere with their duties as a teacher, Hogwarts Professors are free to pursue other ventures."
"Ginny's tutoring should only take up a few hours of your, and her, time each week," said Buffy. "Giles here was my high school's librarian while he was acting as my Watcher for three years… Of course I never understood how they justified keeping a librarian on staff at that school, I can only recall people actually checking out books from his library four times."
"You and your friends chased off anyone who came looking," said Giles.
Buffy smiled, and shrugged at him. "Anyway, Mr. Lupin. If you are willing, we think that you could act as Ginny's Watcher, while still fulfilling your duties as the Hogwarts DADA professor. There is, I suspect, a great deal of overlap between the two jobs."
"I— If Professor Dumbledore has no objection," said Lupin. "I would be most pleased to operate in both capacities."
Buffy smiled. "We still haven't heard a 'maybe' from the Weasleys." She saw that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were looking uncomfortable. "No rush," she added. "School doesn't start again for nearly a month, right? You have till then to let us know, one way or the other. We'll be at the hotel till Saturday, and then we're going back to Giles' place in Bath." Buffy rummaged around in her purse and pulled out a note pad, and pen. She wrote down the addresses and phone numbers of their hotel, and Giles' flat in Bath. "Here's how you can find us." She ripped the sheet from the pad and held it out to Mr. Weasley.
"Oh!" Mr. Weasley took the sheet of paper. "I just love Muggle telephone numbers!"
"He just needs to figure out how to work a phone," mumbled Lupin.
"Oh, Dawn mentioned something about you wanting to see something like that." Buffy took out her cell phone and flipped it open. She saw 'NO SIGNAL' displayed on the screen. "Huh? Doesn't seem to be working."
"I'm afraid the spacial distortions of this establishment play havoc with Muggle communications devices, Buffy," said Dumbledore.
"I wish I knew that coming in," said Buffy. "If Willow discovers she can't talk to us she might panic, and Willow in a panic…not pretty, especially since we seem to be masked from her location spells while we're here too."
"That puzzles me," said Mrs. Weasley. "You seem to be aware of magic. This Willow person you speak of seems quite adept at some fairly complicated spells, but you had never heard of Hogwarts, and seem to live entirely in the Muggle world. How could that be?"
"If I might venture a guess?" said Dumbledore.
"Go ahead," said Buffy. "Your guess is probably better than mine."
"Your Willow is a practitioner of Wiccan magic, is she not?" asked Dumbledore.
Buffy smiled. "A friend who should know once called her the most powerful Wicca in the western hemisphere…and I think she was underestimating Will."
"Ah, I understand," said Dumbledore. He turned to the Weasleys. "This is something that I think it is best that I discuss with Buffy and Rupert in private. They have given you much to think about as well. Perhaps we should adjourn this meeting, until some later time?"
The Weasleys got up from their sofa, as did Remus Lupin. Buffy and Giles stood as well, and went to the door with them. They shook all of their hands again before they left. "I hope we'll be hearing from you soon," said Buffy as they left. She and Giles went back to the table and sat back down with Dumbledore. "So what about Willow?" she asked.
Dumbledore frowned at Buffy and Giles. "Some magical knowledge has fallen into Muggle hands over the years. It has been mixed with a lot of nonsense, known as Wicca. Wiccan practitioners even call themselves 'witches' though of course very few of them are.
"You say your friend is powerful?" asked Dumbledore. Buffy and Giles nodded. "This can be very dangerous. One of your Muggle writers once said 'A little learning is a dangerous thing.' Someone with true talent, learning wiccan magic, can be very dangerous."
Dumbledore saw the look that Buffy and Giles exchanged. "Your Willow has caused some troubles, has she not?"
"Well, yeah," said Buffy. "She went through a real bad patch a year ago, but she's gotten better."
"Miss Harkness has improved her control a great deal," added Giles.
"Amelia Harkness?" asked Dumbledore.
"Why, yes!" said Giles. "You know her?"
"I know of her," said Dumbledore. "We have met, and corresponded over the years. A year ago she wrote to me to say that she had found a girl with truly incredible power, who had done terrible things, but pulled herself back from the brink. I asked if I could meet her, but Amelia said I was too late. Her student had a greater task ahead of her."
"That's our Willow," said Buffy. "We couldn't have stopped the First without her. It was her spell that made Ginny a Slayer."
"I would still very much like to meet your Willow," said Dumbledore. "A witch with such power, able to resist the pull of that power without training. She must be a truly extraordinary person Miss Summers. Almost as extraordinary as your sister."
Buffy's blood froze. She remembered the comment Dumbledore had made earlier about Dawn. "What about my sister?" Her voice was icy.
Dumbledore looked at her over his glasses. "You are aware of her true nature are you not?"
"I am very aware, Mr. Dumbledore." Buffy saw his eyes flick toward Giles. "And so is Mr. Giles. Stop talking in riddles, speak very plainly about what you think you know about Dawn, or this conversation is over!"
"Quite right Miss Summers," said Dumbledore. "Your sister is the Key. I always knew that the Monks of Dagon were arrogant, but I never suspected that their arrogance would reach so far. They paid for it in the end of course."
"You know about the Key?" asked Buffy.
"Only in the most general sense," said Dumbledore. "I know it has power. I know that people crave that power. I know that others would kill to keep that power from falling into the wrong hands. What sort of person are you, Miss Summers?"
"I am a person who will kill anyone who would hurt Dawn," said Buffy.
"You know she is not truly your sister," said Dumbledore.
"I knew that when I died to save her, Mr. Dumbledore." Buffy glared into his eyes, daring him to make some further comment. Dumbledore looked back, with a calm, steady gaze. Both of them waited for the other to blink.
Dumbledore blinked first. "Buffy, have you considered where Dawn will go to school next year? My understanding is that her previous school is now as the bottom of the Sunnydale Lagoon." He smiled.
"What do you have in mind?" asked Buffy.
"Dawn's nature gives her a great deal of inborn talent," said Dumbledore. "To leave such talent untrained is dangerous, as it was dangerous in your friend Willow."
"You want to train her?"
"Yes."
"Why should I trust you any more that anyone else who wants to use Dawn?"
"Because like you with Miss Weasley, I am leaving the decision in your hands," said Dumbledore. "Dawn may come to us, or she may not. The decision is yo— Well, actually, I think it should be hers."
Buffy smiled at Dumbledore. "Touché, Professor Dumbledore. You're right. Dawn is grown up enough to have a say in her major life decisions."
"I don't expect you to buy…what is the phrase, 'a pig in a pike?'" asked Dumbledore.
"'Poke,'" said Giles. "'A pig in a poke.' A 'poke' is a bag, its contents invisible to the buyer. A 'pike' is a fish."
"Of course." said Dumbledore. "It makes sense now. Who would buy a pig inside a fish? Silly thing to do. Back to what I was saying: I think it would be worthwhile for you to visit Hogwarts, so that you may also make an informed decision about whether or not Dawn should join us, and also evaluate our suitability as a place for Miss Weasley's education as a Slayer."
