Disclaimer: See chapter 1 for full disclaimer and notes.
Thanks to my reviewers. Sorry for the delay, I was out of town last weekend. The next chapter should be up next weekend.
Chapter 5: The Wizened Wizard
"Wait, so how come we'll be able to see it?" Dawn asked Professor McGonagall as the train came to a stop.
The five passengers began to gather their belongings and step off of the train.
"Well, really it's just a precaution. Since you have been formally invited and you're not exactly a group of ordinary muggles, I don't think the charms will prove any sort of hindrance."
"I suppose we shall find out soon enough," said Giles, the last to step off of the large red train. "If I may ask, why did you not simply apparate to the school?"
"Ah, well, first of all, you can only apparate as far as the front gates. There are also precautions to keep uninvited visitors out." McGonagall paused for a moment, before looking a bit, to Tara's disbelief, embarrassed? "As for the matter of the train ride, well, Albus informed me of your imminent arrival, and I was curious, you see. It's not every day that I meet muggles who also know of our world."
The group approached a large carriage that was waiting to take them around the nearby lake and, Tara assumed, to the school. She wasn't sure what to expect at this point. Giles had told them that the school was a castle, but the closest she had ever been to one was paintings in her art history books. She was excited yet apprehensive about the thought of possibly exploring her first actual castle, and a magical Scottish Castle at that. She was broken out of her reverie by Dawn's startled yelp.
"What the heck are those?!"
The group came to a startled halt a few feet away from the carriage.
Tara looked to where Dawn was pointing and was startled to see two large black, well, horses wasn't exactly right.
McGonagall waved her hand at the animals as Giles helped her into the carriage. "Don't worry about them, dear, they're perfectly friendly."
As a look of sadness briefly passed over the professor's face, Tara filed away the animals for later investigation. She couldn't even think of a possible reason for Dawn's mention of them to sour McGonagall's formerly cheerful demeanor.
----------
The carriage pulled to a stop in front of the school a few minutes later, and Dawn immediately jumped out, followed by Tara, both with jaws dropped open and wide eyes. Even Anya seemed impressed and taken aback, though she had heard about the school many times in her thousand years and supposedly knew what to expect.
McGonagall's smug look told them that she had been expecting this reaction, and Tara couldn't see how anyone could react with any less awe at their first viewing of the majestic castle.
"Wow," was all Dawn said as she looked around at the grounds.
Tara nodded, "It's beautiful."
Giles noted, with some amusement, that Tara finally seemed to fit in to her surroundings. He had always thought her means of dress slightly out of the norm, but her long skirt and corset made her look almost like a maiden who lived in the castle before her, or perhaps, in the manner of the usual fairy tale, needed rescuing from a handsome prince. Or princess, as the case may be.
Giles's observations were interrupted by the huge front doors opening to reveal the brightly lit front hallway.
Dawn gasped, and Tara had to agree that the effect of the light filtering through the stained glass windows created a dazzling display of color. She only had a moment to observe this before she was overcome with the urge to giggle at the man who now stood before them.
"Now, that's a wizard," Dawn said as she grinned widely at him.
He smiled back and Tara almost had to let out a gasp of her own at the energy and, well, goodness radiating off of him. She took a step back before she could stop herself. The man simply smiled at her with an almost knowing look, though Tara supposed that if he had this much power, he most likely did know quite a few things instinctually.
"Ah, Minerva," the old wizard said to the professor, who took the opportunity to join him at the top of the stairs, "I believe Ms. Granger needed to speak with you about her studies. She should just be finished eating. I believe you may still catch her."
McGonagall looked slightly put off by the quick dismissal but disappeared inside without broaching an argument.
"Well now," the old wizard said after she was gone, "I believe introductions first, then, perhaps, a tour."
Even Giles, who had presumably been to the school more than once before, seemed excited at the prospect.
The white-bearded man extended a hand to Anya and shook lightly, "I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of this fine institution. You must be Anya. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Rupert has sung your praises to me on more than one occasion. Though, not literally, which is a shame."
Anya blushed and Tara almost giggled as the thousand-year-old ex-demon was instantly transformed into a nervous schoolgirl. Before Anya had the chance to reply, Dumbledore moved on to Dawn, who shook his hand eagerly.
"I'm Dawn," she said, still grinning.
"Of course," the Headmaster replied, his reserved smile moving up a notch at the young brunette's enthusiasm. "Rupert has also told me many fine things about you."
Giles's laugh was quickly turned into a cough, but not before Dawn noticed. She narrowed her eyes and shot him a withering glare.
"He listens to Buffy too much," Dawn said, slightly pouting.
Dumbledore laughed, "Your sister, correct?"
Dawn nodded.
"Yes, well, I'm sure she would have some wonderful things to say about you too. It seems to me that the most lively tend to inadvertently attract the most trouble."
Dawn beamed at him.
"I believe there are at least two students here who would agree with that sentiment, though they seem to be the cause of at least a few of their mishaps. It is a shame they did not stay over for break. I suspect you would have a lot to talk about."
Dumbledore smiled at Dawn's sheepish look. Tara tried not to think of all of the times in the past when Dawn unknowingly caused trouble for the Slayer, most recently and occasion on which Giles did sing some praises, and, well, other things. Tara shuddered a bit. She quickly recovered from her thoughts and smiled at Dumbledore as he finally turned to greet her.
"And that leaves Miss Maclay."
"Pleased to meet you," Tara greeted him, surprised at how strong his grip was. Obviously he still had a bit of physical power along with his disconcertingly strong magical abilities.
Dumbledore examined the blonde girl for a moment, his expression revealing nothing of the conclusions he was drawing.
"I apologize for overwhelming you earlier. I must admit, it has been a while since anyone has tried to get a reading on me in quite that way. If I had known, I would have taken some preventative measures."
Tara tried not to look embarrassed that he had known exactly what she had done to make her react that way.
"It's okay," she finally stammered out, still sounding slightly guilty.
Dumbledore gave her a knowing look, "I trust everything was to your satisfaction."
Tara simply nodded, smiling a bit.
"Yes, well, I suggest you refrain from using you abilities around some of the current residents. Specifically, Professor Snape and young Mister Potter. Though, Minerva might find it a bit disturbing too."
He put his arms around Anya and Dawn and led two confused, one amused, and one sheepish guest into the school.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," he said, as the front doors closed behind them.
Thanks to my reviewers. Sorry for the delay, I was out of town last weekend. The next chapter should be up next weekend.
Chapter 5: The Wizened Wizard
"Wait, so how come we'll be able to see it?" Dawn asked Professor McGonagall as the train came to a stop.
The five passengers began to gather their belongings and step off of the train.
"Well, really it's just a precaution. Since you have been formally invited and you're not exactly a group of ordinary muggles, I don't think the charms will prove any sort of hindrance."
"I suppose we shall find out soon enough," said Giles, the last to step off of the large red train. "If I may ask, why did you not simply apparate to the school?"
"Ah, well, first of all, you can only apparate as far as the front gates. There are also precautions to keep uninvited visitors out." McGonagall paused for a moment, before looking a bit, to Tara's disbelief, embarrassed? "As for the matter of the train ride, well, Albus informed me of your imminent arrival, and I was curious, you see. It's not every day that I meet muggles who also know of our world."
The group approached a large carriage that was waiting to take them around the nearby lake and, Tara assumed, to the school. She wasn't sure what to expect at this point. Giles had told them that the school was a castle, but the closest she had ever been to one was paintings in her art history books. She was excited yet apprehensive about the thought of possibly exploring her first actual castle, and a magical Scottish Castle at that. She was broken out of her reverie by Dawn's startled yelp.
"What the heck are those?!"
The group came to a startled halt a few feet away from the carriage.
Tara looked to where Dawn was pointing and was startled to see two large black, well, horses wasn't exactly right.
McGonagall waved her hand at the animals as Giles helped her into the carriage. "Don't worry about them, dear, they're perfectly friendly."
As a look of sadness briefly passed over the professor's face, Tara filed away the animals for later investigation. She couldn't even think of a possible reason for Dawn's mention of them to sour McGonagall's formerly cheerful demeanor.
----------
The carriage pulled to a stop in front of the school a few minutes later, and Dawn immediately jumped out, followed by Tara, both with jaws dropped open and wide eyes. Even Anya seemed impressed and taken aback, though she had heard about the school many times in her thousand years and supposedly knew what to expect.
McGonagall's smug look told them that she had been expecting this reaction, and Tara couldn't see how anyone could react with any less awe at their first viewing of the majestic castle.
"Wow," was all Dawn said as she looked around at the grounds.
Tara nodded, "It's beautiful."
Giles noted, with some amusement, that Tara finally seemed to fit in to her surroundings. He had always thought her means of dress slightly out of the norm, but her long skirt and corset made her look almost like a maiden who lived in the castle before her, or perhaps, in the manner of the usual fairy tale, needed rescuing from a handsome prince. Or princess, as the case may be.
Giles's observations were interrupted by the huge front doors opening to reveal the brightly lit front hallway.
Dawn gasped, and Tara had to agree that the effect of the light filtering through the stained glass windows created a dazzling display of color. She only had a moment to observe this before she was overcome with the urge to giggle at the man who now stood before them.
"Now, that's a wizard," Dawn said as she grinned widely at him.
He smiled back and Tara almost had to let out a gasp of her own at the energy and, well, goodness radiating off of him. She took a step back before she could stop herself. The man simply smiled at her with an almost knowing look, though Tara supposed that if he had this much power, he most likely did know quite a few things instinctually.
"Ah, Minerva," the old wizard said to the professor, who took the opportunity to join him at the top of the stairs, "I believe Ms. Granger needed to speak with you about her studies. She should just be finished eating. I believe you may still catch her."
McGonagall looked slightly put off by the quick dismissal but disappeared inside without broaching an argument.
"Well now," the old wizard said after she was gone, "I believe introductions first, then, perhaps, a tour."
Even Giles, who had presumably been to the school more than once before, seemed excited at the prospect.
The white-bearded man extended a hand to Anya and shook lightly, "I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of this fine institution. You must be Anya. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Rupert has sung your praises to me on more than one occasion. Though, not literally, which is a shame."
Anya blushed and Tara almost giggled as the thousand-year-old ex-demon was instantly transformed into a nervous schoolgirl. Before Anya had the chance to reply, Dumbledore moved on to Dawn, who shook his hand eagerly.
"I'm Dawn," she said, still grinning.
"Of course," the Headmaster replied, his reserved smile moving up a notch at the young brunette's enthusiasm. "Rupert has also told me many fine things about you."
Giles's laugh was quickly turned into a cough, but not before Dawn noticed. She narrowed her eyes and shot him a withering glare.
"He listens to Buffy too much," Dawn said, slightly pouting.
Dumbledore laughed, "Your sister, correct?"
Dawn nodded.
"Yes, well, I'm sure she would have some wonderful things to say about you too. It seems to me that the most lively tend to inadvertently attract the most trouble."
Dawn beamed at him.
"I believe there are at least two students here who would agree with that sentiment, though they seem to be the cause of at least a few of their mishaps. It is a shame they did not stay over for break. I suspect you would have a lot to talk about."
Dumbledore smiled at Dawn's sheepish look. Tara tried not to think of all of the times in the past when Dawn unknowingly caused trouble for the Slayer, most recently and occasion on which Giles did sing some praises, and, well, other things. Tara shuddered a bit. She quickly recovered from her thoughts and smiled at Dumbledore as he finally turned to greet her.
"And that leaves Miss Maclay."
"Pleased to meet you," Tara greeted him, surprised at how strong his grip was. Obviously he still had a bit of physical power along with his disconcertingly strong magical abilities.
Dumbledore examined the blonde girl for a moment, his expression revealing nothing of the conclusions he was drawing.
"I apologize for overwhelming you earlier. I must admit, it has been a while since anyone has tried to get a reading on me in quite that way. If I had known, I would have taken some preventative measures."
Tara tried not to look embarrassed that he had known exactly what she had done to make her react that way.
"It's okay," she finally stammered out, still sounding slightly guilty.
Dumbledore gave her a knowing look, "I trust everything was to your satisfaction."
Tara simply nodded, smiling a bit.
"Yes, well, I suggest you refrain from using you abilities around some of the current residents. Specifically, Professor Snape and young Mister Potter. Though, Minerva might find it a bit disturbing too."
He put his arms around Anya and Dawn and led two confused, one amused, and one sheepish guest into the school.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," he said, as the front doors closed behind them.
