Chapter 7
The afternoon passed quickly, Buffy attending Charms and Herbology, with Ron and Harry. Hermione didn't take Herbology anymore, she had chosen Arithmancy instead. Buffy enjoyed Herbology, though she had no knowledge of any of the plants they studied. Charms was okay too, she had spent the lesson talking to professor Flitwick about being a Slayer, while the class practised the disillusionment charm on one another. Evening came and they ate a large dinner, Buffy particularly exhausted after her first day of school. She had really enjoyed herself, it wasn't like High School, she didn't get any homework yet, and magic was cool. She actually found something she was halfway decent at, other than slaying.
After they
had finished dinner, they got up to go to Hagrid's Hut, but before they left
Professor McGonagall came over to them.
"Miss Summers, Professor Dumbledore
would like to see you in his office," she said, then disappeared from the hall.
Buffy looked at them with a worried look on her face.
"You can't have done anything wrong,"
Hermione said, laughing. "Don't look so scared, he probably just wants to know
how your day went." Buffy grinned.
"Force of habit," Buffy confessed. "My
old principal at Sunnydale, Snyder, hated me with a passion. He hardly needed
an excuse to chuck me out."
"You got
expelled?" Ron said in awe. Buffy grinned.
"Twice actually," she said nonchalantly.
"First time coz I burnt down the gym, which was full of vamps and the second
was because of Snyder, they thought I'd attacked people and killed someone so
he expelled me. I don't care; I never want to go back to Sunnydale High while
he's there." Ron gazed her in admiration.
"I'll meet you guys at Hagrid's," Buffy said quickly as they reached Dumbledore's
office. "Don't bother to wait for me." They waved as Buffy said the password
and travelled up to Dumbledore's Office.
"So what do you think of Buffy, herm?" Ron asked eagerly as she disappeared
behind the gargoyle.
"She's really nice," Hermione said
sincerely. "When Dumbledore said it was going to be a seventeen year old
Californian I thought she was going to be really stupid or really stuck up, but
I was wrong. She is really great. Plus, its nice having a four with a girl, it's
a bit difficult having two boys as best friends, now she can be on my side in
the arguments!"
"She is really nice," Harry said. "It's
going to be good having her around, she can beat up Malfoy for us!" They left
the castle to go down to Hagrid's Hut.
Buffy knocked on the office door, and then entered at Dumbledore's assent. She sat in a chair in front of his desk, while Dumbledore smiled at her benignly.
"I have received
a letter from Rupert Giles," Dumbledore informed her gently.
"You have?" Buffy gasped, not aware that
she had stood up. Dumbledore looked at her piercingly and handed her the
letter. Hands shaking, she read it.
Dear Professor Dumbledore,
Thank you for writing to me and letting us know that Buffy is safe. I'm glad
she's at Hogwarts, I cannot think of a better place for her to recuperate and I
trust that you are taking good care of her. I am glad she can help you, by
taking care of Harry Potter. If there is anything we can do in Sunnydale, then
don't hesitate to ask. Could you please pass on a message from all of us in
Sunnydale. Tell her that we are all missing her very much, Willow and Xander said to
say that in particular, and we want to hear from her and see her whenever she
is ready if she can just write to us. Tell her we are all well, and Willow says that the new Slayer
is no where near as great as she is. Lastly tell her that we love her loads,
and that we are all thinking of her constantly, especially her mom.
Thank you again,
Rupert Giles
Buffy wiped
away the tears that had fallen before looking at Dumbledore again.
"As I said, Buffy, you can write to them
whenever you want, you can use Fawkes my phoenix, if you like, he delivers
almost instantaneously." Dumbledore said seriously. "But only when you are
ready. You are welcome to stay at Hogwarts for as long as you like, and while
you are here, you have the freedom to do whatever you feel necessary." Buffy
wiped away yet more tears that were steaming down her face and gave him a small
smile.
"I think I want to write to them soon,"
she said. "And I need to write to my mom. When I left, we weren't on the best
terms, in fact she told me not to come back. But it's good to hear that she
still cares about me. Thank you for writing; I didn't have the courage to do it
myself." Dumbledore looked at her, his heart going out to this girl who was so
young, yet had so much weight on her shoulder, just like Harry.
"As I said, just come and see me when you are
ready," Dumbledore said. "Now, how was your first day? I have had reports from
your teachers, and all of them have said that they were impressed by your
aptitude. Even professor Snape," he finished, his moustache twitching. Buffy
smiled as she wiped away the last traces of her tears.
"I really had a good time," she
admitted. "It was the most fun school has ever been. It wasn't like school at
all. And I can actually do magic, which fills me with geeker joy." Professor
Dumbledore smiled.
"I'm glad you are fitting in," he said. "And
how are you getting on with the other students?"
"Okay," said Buffy. "It's better now that they
know I'm just a regular student, even though I'm not. I haven't really spoken
to many others. Harry, Hermione and Ron are really great; they've been really
nice to me. And Lavender and Parvati in my dormitory, they're nice too. But
Dragon Malfoy, or whatever his name is, I don't like him. He makes me wanna go
wild bunch on him." Dumbledore smiled indulgently.
I would appreciate it if you refrain
from that," he said lightly, still smiling slightly. "Good. If you have any
problems, come to me or Professor McGonagall. I think you will do very well
here." Buffy got up to leave, and then turned back to him.
"Oh, I meant to ask," she said quickly. "Harry
wants me to try out for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Would that be okay for
me to play?"
"I see no reason why not," Dumbledore said. "You are, of course, just a regular Hogwarts student." Buffy grinned and waved goodbye as she left.
She ran
down to Hagrid's Hut, relishing the feel of the cold air on her skin. Reaching
the door, she knocked on it politely, and heard barking within. The door was
thrown open and a huge black dog jumped on Buffy, throwing her backward off her
feet and licking her face.
"Fang, Fang!" Buffy heard someone yell,
and the dog was pulled off of her. She got up, wiping her wet face on her
robes, and giggling.
"I'm sorry," a huge man said apologetically. "He
just gets like tha', excitable yeh know." Buffy was still giggling.
"No, its fine," she said, "It was kinda
fun. I'm Buffy, by the way."
"Hagrid," he said, offering a gigantic hand
which Buffy shook. "Course I heard all bout yeh, from Dumbledore and these
three. Come in, come in" Buffy followed him in, and saw Harry, Ron and Hermione
with large cups of tea and untouched rock cakes in front of them.
"'Ave some tea," Hagrid said helpfully,
pouring her a cup. Buffy immediately warmed to this man, he was friendly and
she liked him straight away. She took the cup and sat next to the others.
"How 'ave
yeh first days been then?" Hagrid said, settling down in his chair. Buffy told
him about her lessons while Fang sat with his head in her lap, drooling on her
robes.
It was a really pleasant evening, sitting in the cabin, in front of the roaring
fire and getting to know Hagrid, and Harry, Ron and Hermione better. As Buffy
settled into her four poster bed that night, she felt that maybe, just maybe,
she could be happy again somehow.
