A/N: I realise that this took longer than usual, considering that I try to update roughly every week, but you have to admit, it's a monster of a chapter! I'm not apologising for the slight delay. The chapter was a b#&% to write! For a good crossover, I felt that I had to explain a few concepts the way I see them and that's what this is about. Dumbledore answers questions, and plans are made for the next few chapters. I had to take into account the fact that the Haliwells didn't know much about the wizarding world or Hogwarts.

We find out a little more about Talia here. Ori asked me in one of her reviews if Talia had a prophecy about her, the way Wyatt did. I'd never thought about it before, but it was too good an idea to resist and I've incorporated it in this chapter, so thank you Orifor that.

And some people cough Mickis cough asked if Talia's planning on letting Cole know of her attending Hogwarts. I'm not going to directly answer that, but please, think back to the kind of relationship Talia has with her father. The two of them have been known to break the rules and to step out of the roles the world has carved for them, before.

Ernie: We. Would. Also. Like. To. Thank. Mixer. For. Being. The. First. One. To. Review. The. Last. Chapter. Only. Minutes. After. Its. Upload. And. For. Making. Cinammon. Grin. With. His. Acute. Observation.

Enjoy the chapter everyone and, remember, your reviews make my day!

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Afternoon Tea

"We're going to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz..."

"I swear to God, Paige," Phoebe groaned, "if you sing that stupid little song just one more time..." she threatened.

"Okay, okay, sheesh! I can't help it! The stupid song's stuck in my head!"

The two sisters continued tidying up the living room. Admittedly, there wasn't much to do, and Phoebe resorted to simply fluffing out the couch pillows, while Paige just gazed out of the windows to the garden outside. After this morning's early events, a nervous excitement had settled over the Haliwell manor. The time for the day's most anticipated event was almost here, and the tension was palpable.

"We haven't seen a real wizard in a long time," said Paige breaking the silence. "And according to Leo this Professor Dumbledore's really powerful. I wonder what he's like..." she said, getting lost once again in her own thoughts.

Phoebe threw her a funny look and went about her business.

"Make yourself useful, would you Phoebs?" asked Piper walking into the room and the china cabinet. Opening the elegant glass-and-oak door, she started taking out Gram's best porcelain.

"What's with the good china?" asked Phoebe, moving over to help her sister and taking a delicate porcelain teapot from Piper.

"Well… this guy's pretty big in the wizarding world, right? And since Talia and Wyatt are determined to go to his school come hell or high water, I want us to make a good impression."

"I bet you he's got long, flowing white hair," said Paige dreamily, obviously still contemplating their guest's appearance.

Phoebe frowned.

"Why would you say that, Paige?"

"Well, in practically every movie and cartoon, wizards always have long, white flowing hair. Maybe a beard too...a ridiculously long beard that reaches up to his waist..."

Piper snorted.

"That's ridiculous Paige and you know it," she chided, setting out the good china on the low table in front of the couch. "In practically every movie and cartoon, a witch has long stringy hair, a hooked nose and warts. Does my hair look stringy to you?" she asked with amusement, pointing at her silky, hair.

"I guess not," mumbled Paige disappointedly. "          Well what do you think he'll look like?"

The three sisters stayed silent for a while, contemplating Paige's question.

"Maybe he'll be tall, dark, handsome and mysterious," said Phoebe dreamily, "in his forties, and have dark hair with just a touch of silver. He'll have dark, intense eyes and he'll be dressed in a grey, business suit, wand tucked away safely in his pocket..."

"Sheesh!" exclaimed Paige.  "He's a school headmaster Phoebe, not the magical version of James Bond!"

"Looking for husband number three, are you Phoebs?" asked Piper amusedly. "And besides, you heard Leo, Professor Dumbledore is over a hundred years old, so he's definitely not in his forties!"

Phoebe looked slightly embarrassed at being caught daydreaming, and was rather uncomfortable at the mention of her previous marriages. Needless to say they hadn't worked out. She shouldn't have been so hard on herself really, considering that her first ex-husband had been a demon, and was now the Source of All Evil, and her second husband had been a mortal who, despite thinking that he could handle her life-style, had been proven wrong. To her credit, the moment she did, and after seeing her sister's expression, Piper felt bad for mentioning Phoebe's previous marriages. Fortunately, Paige seemed oblivious to the whole thing.

"Besides," she said, refusing to let go of her new, favorite topic, "you know very well Phoebe that wizards don't wear - what's that word they use to describe something non-magical? Muggle, that's it – muggle clothes. They wear robes. There's no chance that Professor Dumbledore would wear a business suit."

"Yeah, well, I thought that he might wear muggle clothes to look inconspicuous, you know?" a flustered Phoebe said weakly.

"Well, we'll know soon enough," said Piper looking at the grandfather clock that stood in the corner of the room. It read five to four. Professor Dumbledore - whatever he looked like - would be here soon.

"Talia, Wyatt," called Phoebe, "get in here! Professor Dumbledore should arrive any minute now."

Wyatt and Talia thundered down the stairs. Wyatt sniffed the air around them and his eyes landed hungrily on the plate of muffins his mother had spent most of the morning baking. He reached out for one, but his hand was slapped away, muffinless, by a glaring Piper.

"No you don't!" she said. "No one's touching those muffins until Professor Dumbledore gets here."

The two teens shared a look and sunk on the couch dejectedly, still staring hungrily at the muffins they weren't allowed to have.

"I'm not late am I?" asked Leo orbing in next to Piper.

"No," his wife said. "You're right on time."

He leant in for a brief kiss and Piper was perfectly happy to oblige.

"Ew!" exclaimed Wyatt in mock disgust.

"Yuck!" agreed Talia, taking up his queue.

"Not in front of the kids!" Wyatt protested further, covering his 'innocent' eyes with his hands.

"Our delicate, childish psyches will be traumatized forever!" continued Talia in a voice dripping with misery, placing a hand to her forehead dramatically.

Wyatt gave up on his act and stared at Talia instead.

"You know, you're a little bit scary when you've been reading too many books..." he said shifting slightly away from her on the couch.

Talia flashed a brief, wide grin.

"What? Did I use long and difficult words again, cousin?" she asked, feigning surprise and fluttering her eyelashes at him in mock innocence.

"It's not the long and difficult words I'm worried about," he explained, "it's the whole drama queen act," he stage-whispered conspiratorially. "Creepy!" he exclaimed, faking a shudder.

She hit him over the head with a couch pillow in retaliation.

The grandfather clock struck precisely four o'clock in the afternoon.

A loud crack filled the living room and, in their midst, suddenly stood a kindly-looking old man with - to Piper's incredulous look - predictably long, white, flowing hair and beard, and twinkling blue eyes behind a pair of half-moon shaped glasses. The wizard wore a set of light blue robes decorated with a curious assortment of darker blue stars and birds.

Paige sent Phoebe a triumphant I-told-you-so look. Phoebe rolled her eyes at her little sister's antics.

"Good afternoon," the wizard said, "I am Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I believe you have been expecting me...?"

"Good afternoon Professor," said Leo offering his hand to the old man. "I'm Leo Wyatt. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. Your reputation precedes you."

Professor Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled as he took the proffered hand in a warm handshake.

"As does yours, young man. There was that horrid affair with the Titans a few years ago...I must commend you on that. I heard that it was your quick thinking and reactions that saved the world as we know it. I believe that particular adventure earned you a seat in the Elder Council. It's an honor to meet an Elder."

Leo seemed flattered and Professor Dumbledore turned his attention to the others in the living room.

"And these lovely young ladies must be the Charmed Ones," he said, his eyes still twinkling.

"It's a pleasure to meet you professor," said Piper, offering her own hand in greeting. "I'm Piper Halliwell, and these are my sisters, Phoebe Halliwell and Paige Matthews."

The professor greeted each of the sisters separately and finally, his attention focused on the two teenagers who had stood up from the couch politely at the old wizard's entrance.

"Ah, and you two must be my, hopefully, newest students...?"

Talia offered her hand in greeting.

"Talia Turner, sir," she said. "It's a pleasure."

"The pleasure is all mine, I assure you," the professor said, his smile, if at all possible, widening further. "And you, young man, must be Wyatt Matthew Halliwell, am I correct?"

Wyatt smiled, nodded once, and shook the man's hand.

"Professor Dumbledore, please have a seat," said Piper, taking a seat of her own on the arm of the armchair Leo was already making himself comfortable in.

Professor Dumbledore obliged and the rest of the Halliwells followed suit.

"Would you like some tea, Professor?" asked Phoebe.

"Some tea would be lovely."

"How do you take your tea, sir? Sugar? Cream?"

"A spot of cream and five sugars, thank you."

Phoebe nearly raised an eyebrow at the request for so much sugar, but she stopped herself just on time and complied with the wizard's request.

The next few minutes were spent pouring tea for everyone and passing around the muffins.

"Professor Dumbledore, I must say, we were all rather surprised to see Talia's and Wyatt's letters arrive this morning," said Piper, refusing to stall any longer.

"I should imagine. Not many Wiccans have ever attended Hogwarts," he admitted. "That's why I'm here, of course. There must be a million questions you wish to ask me about the school and the wizarding world."

"Professor, you've just said that not many Wiccans have ever attended Hogwarts before," Talia furrowed her brow. "I wasn't aware that there was precedent for this," she said cautiously.

"Oh yes," the Headmaster's eyes were twinkling, "it has happened before. Of course, in every case, extra tutoring in wizarding magic and the wizarding world was required. Disappointed that you won't be the first Wiccan in Hogwarts, Miss Turner?"

"I think, reassured, would be a better word, Professor," clarified Phoebe looking at Talia for approval. Her daughter nodded. "We've set a lot of precedents in this family and we've found that, that's not always a good thing."

"Professor, in your letter, you've mentioned that Hogwarts has recently decided to open itself to Wiccan students. Will there be other Wiccan students there?" Paige asked.

"I'm afraid not Miss Matthews," said the Professor, turning in his seat to face the younger Charmed One. "This is an experimental program and Mr. Halliwell and Miss Turner will be the first Wiccans to go through Hogwarts in a rather long time." He turned towards Wyatt and Talia. "In fact I was hoping that we keep the fact of you two being Wiccans and your powers, a secret," he said with a conspiratorial wink. "Wiccans tend to be a bit of a sensation in our world and the last thing we would want is for the other students to be jealous of all the attention you two will be receiving. The professors will need to know that you are Wiccans of course, but I'd prefer being the only one at Hogwarts to know of your powers. "

"What exactly do you know of our powers Professor?" asked Talia, cautiously once more.

"Your powers are quite legendary Miss Turner," he said with amusement. "Your cousin is of course the Twice Blessed Child and you, the Child of Two Worlds."

The Halliwells turned in unison to look at Talia.

"The Child of Two Worlds?" asked Wyatt with his eyebrow raised, voicing everybody's thoughts.

Talia seemed embarrassed with this revelation and refused to meet her family's eyes.

"What, you didn't think you were the only one with a prophecy of your own, did you Wyatt?"

"Why didn't you tell us Talia?" asked Phoebe.

Talia shrugged.

"No point," she said.

"You knew about this, didn't you?" asked Piper, turning an accusatory glare at her husband.

"Yeah," he admitted. "The other Elders told me when we first found out about Talia. I didn't think it was that important."

"Well, let's hear it. What's the prophecy?" asked Paige curiously.

"A child forbidden shall be born, not of a woman.

Worlds will crumble, fall and merge,

The moment it takes its first breath.

Fight, Struggle and Strife shall be its cause,

Be it for right, or be it for wrong.

That is the fate of the Child of Two Worlds," Talia quoted easily, even though she hadn't thought about the prophecy since she came to live with the Halliwells.

"It doesn't sound like I'll be having much of an easy time, does it?" she asked rhetorically and with a grimace.

"It comes with being a Halliwell," said Piper, reaching out to touch Talia's shoulder in a comforting gesture, trying to console her niece.

In an attempt to remove the attention from herself, Talia turned to face Professor Dumbledore who, she noticed, had been observing the proceedings with interest.

"Professor, did you say that you would like to keep Wyatt's and my powers a secret even from the other Professors?"

"Yes," admitted Dumbledore. He smiled at them. "You two are quite famous in the magic worlds, be it Wizarding or Wiccan. We wouldn't want you to attract too much attention, would we?"

Wyatt and Talia shared a look then nodded in agreement. Wyatt sighed in resignation. It was nothing new. But Talia remained momentarily frowning at Dumbledore's peculiar request. Her brow soon smoothed out and it appeared to the others, if any of them had noticed, that she let pass, whatever had bothered her briefly.

Talia's previous lifestyle had taught her to always be suspicious of everyone and everything, but Wyatt often teased her that she was usually more paranoid than cautious. She decided to give the professor the benefit of the doubt, even if she got the succinct feeling that there was something he wasn't telling them. Besides, she was dying to go to Hogwarts and, as opposed to the rest of the Halliwells, she didn't mind a little adventure one bit! 'Fight, struggle and strife' was, after all, part of her prophecy and part of being a Halliwell. The last thing, she decided, she wanted, was for her mother to get suspicious herself, freak out, and forbid her go.

Talia sighed almost inaudibly.

Even if Phoebe forbade her to go, Talia would go anyway. But her relationship with her mother wasn't quite as strong as either of the two Halliwell women wanted it to be, and disobeying her mother's direct orders, would certainly hurt it further. They both tried of course, but despite her efforts, Phoebe often failed to understand her daughter, and Talia was the first to admit that she wasn't exactly the easiest person to get along with, even without the constant demon attacks her presence at the manor brought on. Talia would keep her suspicions about Dumbledore's motives to herself, she decided. She would just have to make sure that she went to Hogwarts with her eyes wide open, looking out for anything suspicious that would indicate adventure rearing its ugly head.

She focused her attention back to the conversation happening around her, hoping that she hadn't missed anything important during her private musings. She found a pair of twinkling blue eyes looking right back at her.

"What exactly do you mean by extra tutoring, Professor?" asked Wyatt.  "And, forgive me, but how different is wizarding magic from Wiccan magic?"

"If you do decide you want to join the school, and, I for one, very much hope that you do," Dumbledore specified, "then the extra tutoring you will require, will unfortunately take up most of your summer."

He smiled apologetically.

"Wizarding magic involves harnessing your inherent magical abilities and conducting them through a wand. Wiccans use their magical power in its rawest, most pure form, and that's without the individual powers each Wiccan has. That kind of magic is impossible for most of us wizards to do. You see, Wiccan spells invoke the raw powers of the earth and the world around them, while wizarding spells require the magical energy of a witch or wizard to be channelled through their wand, in order to come into effect. Wizards exhibit wandless magic mostly only at times of extreme intense emotion, and they usually have no way of control over that magic.

"Wizarding magic is relatively newer than Wiccan magic, but it's still thousands of years old. Wiccan magic is also a lot more intuitive than wizarding magic, which is why there are no Wiccan schools. Wizarding magic is very structured. Specific movements of the wand, accompanied by specific words, bring about specific results. For example," said the professor, taking out his wand. "Wingardium Leviosa," he said clearly, aiming his wand at one of the muffins on the plate.

The muffin, completely unaided, floated towards him, and into his outstretched hand.

"Show off," teased Paige, who had taken a liking to the smiling old man. "Muffin," she called and another muffin orbed from the plate, into her own hand.

Wyatt rolled his eyes.

"Now who's being a show off, Aunt Paige?" teased Talia.

Piper glared at the three youngest members of her family, but Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled watching the exchange.

"There's a lot more spells you can learn. From charms such as the one I just showed you, to jinxes and curses. But that's not all you can learn at Hogwarts. Classes include History of Magic, Arithmancy, Divination, Care of Magical Creatures, Defence against the Dart Arts, Ancient Runes, Potions... and these are only some of the subjects you can study. You will of course be required to be proficient enough in whatever subject you choose, by September, so as to be in the same standard as the other pupils in your class."

Talia's eyes, literally, lit up.

"I've always wanted to study Ancient Runes..." she said.

"And what about Care of Magical creatures?" asked Wyatt eagerly. "Do we get to study dragons?"

For some strange reason, Wyatt had had quite the fixation on dragons ever since he was a baby.

The Headmaster chuckled.

"I'm not so sure about dragons. Although, to be honest, I wouldn't be surprised, knowing Hagrid, our Care of Magical Creatures professor," he seemed to lose himself in thought. "He did try smuggling a dragon to Hogwarts once, but that was against the rules and it had to be removed." His eyes focused back to an excited Wyatt. "But there are a lot more magical creatures you can study. An almost infinite amount."

Wyatt's eyes widened in admiration.

"I could've used some divination lessons myself," commented Phoebe to herself.

Professor Dumbledore looked at her questioningly.

"One of my powers is receiving premonitions from the past, present and future," she explained.

"A seer," said Dumbledore nodding in understanding.

"Phoebe's also an empath!" added Leo proudly. "Unless I'm mistaken, that's another branch of divination, isn't it?"

Professor Dumbledore did some more nodding.

Leo was very proud of all the Halliwells, despite their unconventional way of doing things, and he had defended them on too many occasions to count, to the other Elders. They were his family after all. And they had never let him down so far.

"I'll tell you this," said Phoebe with a grimace, answering the wizard's question that Leo had missed, "my powers are a real pain in the ass to control!"

"Potions sounds fun," added Piper next to him, wistfully. "What wouldn't I have given for a few proper lessons when we first found out we were witches," she said, sharing a look with Phoebe who seemed to agree.

A curious look passed in Dumbledore's ever-twinkling eyes at the mention of the words 'potions' and 'fun' in the same sentence, but only Leo noticed.

"And you guys will definitely be taking Defence Against the Dark Arts, right?" asked Paige. "If you ask me, I'd say that sounds like the most useful subject out of all of them.

A few nods succeeded that statement.

"I'll make sure to leave a list of all the subjects available, before I leave," Professor Dumbledore offered. "Now, is there anything else you would like to know about Hogwarts or the wizarding world? May I remind you that I came here so you could ask me questions," he chuckled.

"How do you propose the summer tutoring to take place, Professor?" asked Leo returning to a subject that seemed to have been abandoned for a while.

"Ah yes, of course. I was hoping that Wyatt and Talia spend time in Hogwarts over the summer. It would be easier for the tutoring to take place there. You see, some of the teachers choose to stay at the school over the holidays. I'm sure they will be more than happy to help them catch up with wand magic."

The Charmed Ones' and Leo's eyes moved to Talia and Wyatt. The cousins shared a look and nodded. In that moment it was clear to all that they had decided to go ahead with this, even if it meant sacrificing their entire summer to study wizarding magic. Their minds were made up and no one could change them.

"I thought we still had 'til September before the children had to go to Britain," said Piper sadly.

"I'm sorry, Ms Halliwell," Dumbledore said, and she could see he meant it, "but I honestly don't see any other way if they're going to be ready to join their classmates in September," he admitted.

"How long is 'some time', Professor?" asked Phoebe.

"It all depends on how quickly the children go through the curriculum, but I should say anywhere between one and two months. Maybe even more, but I doubt that. I have heard how magically gifted Talia and Wyatt are. It really would be of most benefit that the children's tutoring begins as soon as possible."

"Professor," spoke Talia, "you seem to know quite a bit about us. Are you familiar with the more...delicate matters of our family history?"

Dumbledore looked sombrely into dark eyes that begged for his approval.

"I can safely say that I know all about your family history," he said. "As well as your individual histories..." His eyes bore into her own trying to reassure the young girl. "You must understand Miss Turner, that I make it my business to research prospective students before I offer them a place at the school. That way, I know exactly what I'm getting into when they join the student body."

Wyatt smiled at the Headmaster. The boy was impressed with how the wizard had handled Talia's carefully worded question, reassuring her insecurities, and freely gave him his approval with a slight nod.

"Professor, this is no light matter. Trouble has a way of following us Haliwells," insisted Piper doggedly, determined to get this across. "We would hate to think that Wyatt and Talia's presence at the school put anyone else in danger. After all, not everyone is as adept at protecting themselves as Talia and Wyatt are."

"I assure you Ms Halliwell, Hogwarts and its grounds, as well as the nearby wizarding village of Hogsmeade, are under heavy magical protection. No demon or warlock will be able to sense Miss Turner's and Mr. Halliwell's presence there."

"They really won't?" asked Phoebe, even though Leo had already told them this morning.

She had spent so many years dodging warlocks and demons that she found it extremely difficult to believe that there was any place out there that was truly safe from them.

Professor Dumbledore shook his head.

"The wards in the area are too strong," he assured her.

"What's Hogwarts like, Professor?" asked Paige curiously.

"It's a huge, ancient castle," said Dumbledore proudly, "thousands of years old. Full of such beauty and mystery, that, even I, after so many years, cannot profess to know all its secrets. It was built before the witch persecutions, by the four greatest wizards of the time. It has extensive grounds and is situated on the borders of the largest magical forest in Britain. The grounds even include our own lake! It gets better. If any muggles happen along, all they see is an illusion of a derelict old castle, which is little more than ruins, surrounded by warning signs at how dangerous the structure is."

"Would we be allowed to visit, Professor?" asked Piper.

"Am I right in assuming that you are thinking of travelling by orbing or flaming to the school?" he asked, revealing how much he knew about them, once again.

"Will the wards allow that, Professor?" asked Leo, interestedly.

"I believe they will, Mr. Wyatt. Hogwarts is protected against most wizarding means of travel, for safety purposes, since the school is part of the wizarding world.

"But, magic can't be traced inside the Hogwarts wards, and the Wiccan and demonic worlds, don't really know of its existence, or can trace its location. And, in any case, there is very little contact between those two worlds and ours. There was just never any reason to protect against orbing, shimmering, or even flaming."

"So we can visit," said Phoebe in relief.

"I don't see why not. Although, of course, during term time, we would much rather that parents wouldn't."

"Will I be able to hear Wyatt or Talia if they call for me?" asked Leo.

"Oh yes. I don't think that will be a problem. Mr. Halliwell and Miss Turner are still your charges, you will be able to hear them and orb to them, even on school grounds. May I just caution that when you do, it be out of sight of the other students and teachers. We wouldn't want people to ask too many questions. Now, is there anything else you would like to know?"

"Err, Professor?" asked Talia tentatively, "If we're going to pretend we belong in the wizarding world, shouldn't we get ourselves a couple of wands? You wouldn't happen to know where we could get them from, would you?"

"Silly me!" exclaimed the Professor smiling sheepishly. "Of course you need wands, along with the rest of your school supplies. You have to go Diagon Alley for all that."

"Where?" asked Paige.

"Tell you what," continued Dumbledore, "I'll send Hagrid, that's the Care of Magical Creatures teacher I mentioned earlier," he explained, "to pick all of you up tomorrow morning and take you to Diagon Alley, where you can buy anything you need for Hogwarts."

Wyatt looked up in excitement at the mention of what, Talia was pretty sure, would turn out to be his favourite subject. It all depended on what this Hagrid was like.

"That would be great, Professor Dumbledore," Leo said. "Thank you."

"Wyatt and Talia can come to Hogwarts next Monday, if that's alright with you."

Talia and Wyatt shared another of those looks that left the grown-ups feeling extremely left out.

"That would be wonderful Professor!" she said smiling wildly and her eyes practically sparkled. "We can't wait!"

Professor Dumbledore smiled and got up off the couch.

"If that is all then," he said, "I'd better be going. A headmaster's life is a busy one, even during the summer holidays! And besides, I'm sure that you all would like to get back to whatever it was you were doing before I arrived." His eyes twinkled again as he got up from the couch. The Halliwells and Leo followed suit, politely

"Monday," muttered Piper sadly so that no one but Phoebe heard. "That's only a week away."

Everyone else was busy saying their goodbyes to the old wizard and no one saw Phoebe thread her arm through her big sister's.

"I know honey. But look at them," she said, gesturing to their children. Talia and Wyatt were positively glowing and Wyatt was gesturing wildly in his conversation with the headmaster. "They're really excited about this! And you know it makes sense."

Piper sighed.

"Yeah I know," she said, leaning her head against Phoebe's.

"Goodbye, everyone, and thank you for the tea!" the old man said, waving his goodbyes. "I believe I'll be seeing you, in a week's time," he said turning to Talia and Wyatt before disappearing from the Halliwells' living room with a polite crack.