A/N: Yeah, I was stuck, but then whole new ideas for this popped into my head so, here I go, trying to make them all seem right. Anyway, I'm gonna be introducing a new character who plays a small role in this story. Weird thing is, I'm also stealing her name for a major character in 'A Test of Grace'. It's the same name, but a different person. So I'm curtailing any questions that might jump from this.
Chapter Eight
In a darkened corner of the Leaky Cauldron, two figures sat hunched over a table. One was an elderly man, his robes midnight blue in hue, and his long white beard trailed over his hands. Across from him sat a young woman. Her hair was as black as the moonless night sky, and her crimson robes were overlaid with the finest of black Spanish lace. She watched the man's face.
"It is about time that you summoned them, Albus. They should know of the gifts they inherited." A faint French lilt echoed in her voice.
"They are but three years old, Rebecca. Are you sure this is the wisest idea, my dear?"
"I saw what I saw, Albus. It is time. One has already called on her gifts."
Rebecca stopped speaking as a graying man entered the pub. He spotted Albus and made his way over to them. Albus rose.
"Rupert, just in time."
"Yes, Charlie's portkey just activated. They should be here any moment now."
"Good. Rupert Giles, this is -"
Albus Dumbledore was cut off by the sudden appearance of three men, four women and three young children. All holding onto a Campbell's soup can. Albus immediately recognized the red-haired man as Charlie Weasley.
"Sorry we're late, professor. The mites here had some explaining to do."
"Ah, yes, yes of course. I am Professor Albus Dumbledore. I suspect you all know Rupert Giles?"
"Yeah, the man haunted our lives for the past nine years. I'm pretty sure we can id him." The dark haired man with a black eye patch over his eye said.
The children were set on the ground as the grown-ups introduced themselves. The petite blond woman shook Dumbledore's hand.
"Buffy Summers, this is my sister Dawn."
"Hey."
"Xander Harris. One-eyed carpenter extraordinaire."
"Willow Rosenberg. Wicca."
"Amy Madison, and this is my fiancé, Andrew Wells."
The rest of the newcomers, Andrew included, turned to stare at Amy. She smirked at them.
"What? A girl waits two years for him to make a move, you think she's willing to wait forever?"
"But we didn't even use the big board to explain anything."
"Dear God, please tell me he's not taking about S-E-X explanations." Dawn groaned.
"I think he's talking about where they think their relationship is going. Dear goddess, please be talking about that." Willow croaked.
None of them, save Rebecca, saw the three children walk away. She slipped into the darkness and followed them.
Joy scrunched up her nose. It smelled so icky. Like that time Uncle Xander gave Jimmy too much hot dog slices and Jimmy got really sick. All over the place.
"It smells like Spike's leather dusty." TA, batting at the air like Aunt Dawn did when Spike smoked.
"It smells gross. I wi-" Jimmy started to say, but TA and Joy slapped their hands over his mouth.
"Dontcha remember nothin? Momma told you those stories about Aunt Anya, and Half -" TA tried to form the name but gave up, "Hallie and Da Hoffman. Veggie demons who like the W word tons. You want a demon here?"
"It'd be nice if they had those senses candles Aunt Dawnie burns." Jimmy said. He liked hearing the stories about the demons, but he didn't want any here. Unless they were Clem, cuz Clem was funny. He looked kinda like a scabby puppy, only tons bigger.
They walked the doors and were gonna go outside, when a pretty lady knelt before them. She looked kinda like somebody they knew.
"Who're you?" TA asked.
"Such a bold question for such a little thing." Her voice sounded funny.
"My Aunt could kick your ass." TA knew she wasn't supposed to say things like that, but she was kinda scared, and Jimmy and Joy didn't need to know that she was scared, so she acted tough like Aunt Buffy.
"Your Aunt is the slayer. I have no doubt that she could. What is your name, young lady?"
"Tara Anne Madison. What's yours?"
"Rebecca Lynn Sainte-Germaine. I am a good friend with Albus Dumbledore. We should return to him at once. And your names?" She looked over TA's shoulders. Jimmy pushed Joy behind him.
"James Peter Madison and Joyce Lily Madison." He spoke for the both of them.
"I could've told her my name, Jimmy. I'm not a baby." Joy pouted.
Rebecca arched an eyebrow at the young girl. Ah, the girl had something in her. Spunk. It would be needed in her life. She had foreseen this.
Albus watched the young woman's exchange with the children and smiled. The wheels and cogs of his old mind were constantly turning. Rebecca led them back to their mother.
"This place smells funny, Momma." Joy whined.
"Joy, that's not polite."
"But it's icky, like when Uncle Xander gave Jimmy all those hot dog slices and he puked all over the new couch and we had to burn all of Aunt Dawnie's candles, and keep the windows open for a whole week!"
TA ignored Joy's comments. She had locked eyes on the oldest man she'd ever seen. Well, who wasn't a vampire, anyway. She looked up and remembered his face from their book.
"Dumbiedore." She whispered in awe. She remembered her most favorite picture, when his beard was doing a silly dance. She thought really, really hard. Suddenly, it started to move, all by it's lonesome. Grampie Giles noticed it first.
"Dear lord, his beard's possessed!"
"Hey, it's doing a jig!" Xander cried. He was trying so hard not to laugh.
"No, Xand. It's doing the Snoopy dance!" Willow chuckled.
Jimmy and Joy burst out laughing. They knew what was causing it. Cuz it was TA's favorite picture.
"My dear girl, is there a reason you felt my beard ought to dance?" Dumbledore asked TA.
"Yup, cuz your heart's still so sad. It needed a good laugh."
"TA did this?" Buffy asked, when she finally stopped giggling.
"Yes, Tara Anne is quite gift, as well as Joyce and James. Headmaster, they simply cannot stay here. The sights and smells of this pub are quite disturbing."
"What do you suggest, Professor Sainte Germaine?"
"They can come to my home. It's quite spacious. And I'm sure I can find someone who is more than eager to see them."
* * * * *
A large flat in London was Professor Rebecca Sainte Germaine's home away from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She entered, muttering something softly under her breath. TA stared at the moving pictures on the wall. Amy held her tightly in her arms, but TA wanted down.
"Momma, down! I wanna look!" She squirmed against her mother.
"Nothing will harm them, Amy. This house has been child proofed." Rebecca said laughing softly.
"Why is that?"
"My sister recently came to stay with me -"
"And I haven't left yet." A tall brunette woman replied from down the hall, a grin plastered on her face. Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Dawn all did a double take.
"Sam?"
A/N2: As always, tell me how I did.