When Abraxas climbed to the top of the stairs, he was surprised and pleased to see Walburga waiting outside of Professor Merrythought's classroom.

"You go in without me," he said to Marcus Lestrange, who'd come with him. "I need a word with Walburga."

Lestrange gave him a calculating look. "Was it her who told you Dorothea had Grindelwald's book?"

Abraxas nodded a little cautiously. Most of the Slytherins knew by now that Dorothea had been suspended from Hogwarts, very few knew he'd been the one who'd thrown her name in. If the Lestrange family suddenly declared a close friendship with the Parkinsons, this could get very awkward. "Er, I'd never normally snitch on someone, but she accused Buffy first."

"Ah." Marcus bit his lip."That might be my fault."

Abraxas was so surprised he almost tripped over his own feet. He stopped, looking directly at the other boy and wondering if he'd heard him right. "What? It's your fault? How?" He screwed up his face. "What are you saying, Marcus?"

Lestrange flushed red. He shifted, turning so that his back was to Walburga and she couldn't see what he was saying. "Look, it was me who gave Buffy the book," he whispered. "She doesn't know. I put it in with the rest of her books when she wasn't looking."

"What did you do that for, you numpty?"

Lestrange gave an exasperated head shake. "Why do you think I did it? So that she'd read it, of course. Who better to to put an argument forward for magical superiority and blood purity than Grindelwald?"

"You arse! I nearly had a heart attack because of you this afternoon," Abraxas snapped. He felt like hexing Marcus' head to the floor. Buffy wouldn't have known the book was banned. No doubt, she'd just stuffed it into her bag without even looking at the title. And Tom... Tom would go mental if he found out what Lestrange had done. "You know Riddle has his eye on her, don't you? What do you think he'd have done if she'd been suspended because of you?"

Lestrange looked aghast. "You mean, he 'likes her', likes her?"

Abraxas nodded smugly. The signs were there, even if it was hard to believe a brilliant boy like Tom would fall for a... well, whatever Buffy was. Personally, he thought she was one crazy witch, but perhaps that was Tom's type.

"But he can't like her!" Marcus protested "He's a... and she's..." he bit his lip, biting back the rest of his reply.

Abraxas could almost see Lestrange's brain turning the idea over and getting panicked. Tom had a rotten temper and a devious mind to go with it. Lestrange's life wouldn't be worth living if he interfered with Riddle's plans – whatever they were.

"Abraxas, do me a favour. Don't tell him I gave it to her," Marcus begged. "I only did it because my father told me to."

That surprised Abraxas. Why would Minister Lestrange ask his son to give Buffy a book by a wanted Dark Wizard? The British Ministry was supposedly working against him, as were the MACUSA.

"Are you trying to get her into trouble?" he asked carefully, not liking the sound of Minister Lestrange's plan. "Riddle really will go mental on you if you are. And don't think I'm going to be daft enough to stand in his way."

Marcus shook his head. "Dad doesn't want her in trouble. He told me to watch over her and help her out." He hesitated, "She's a little odd, but she's a nice girl."

Over Lestrange's shoulder, Malfoy could see Walburga watching them – no doubt wondering what they were discussing. "You know, some people might not believe you have her best interests at heart. People like the Blacks, for instance. She's under their protection."

"I'm trying to protect her too," Marcus whispered back. "Who do you think used a Vanishing Charm on Lockhart's mouth? I wanted him to shut up about her." He gave Malfoy a narrow look. "And don't think I've forgotten it was you who tried feeding her to a flock of Dementors."

"That was an accident!" Malfoy spluttered. "I didn't know the Dementors were hunting above Hogwarts."

"Father was furious when I told him what you'd done."

"And I paid the price for it!" Riddle had punished him, the Blacks had ignored him, his date had ditched him, and a boggart had attacked him. He'd suffered enough for that one mistake.

"Look," he said. "I know what you're up to. You're trying to shift the blame onto me. Well, this time I had to fix your mistake." Actually, it was Walburga who'd sorted the problem out, only he wasn't about to admit it.

"She didn't have the book on her, so what are you on about?" spat Lestrange. He turned and set off for the room once again.

"Oi! It was me who warned her." Malfoy stared over at Walburga who was pretending not to listen. "Look, you go into the room and I'll follow in a minute."

Once Lestrange had shut the door behind him, he addressed Walburga. "Can I ask you something?"

Walburga looked up from examining the runes carved into her wand handle. "If you're going to tell me something horrible, like you fancy one of my friends and ask me to put in a good word for you, the answer is NO."

"I don't fancy any of your friends!" Abraxas replied hotly. "And if I did, I wouldn't need anyone's help getting a date with them." He puffed out his chest. "The Malfoys are known for their immense charisma. I virtually have to beat the girls off with sticks."

Walburga gave him a sidelong look and smirked.

Malfoy ignored the slight. No one could charm Walburga, not even Orion, and he was going to marry her. "It's Buffy who I'm interested in."

"Ha! You wouldn't get a date with her either."

He gritted his teeth. "I don't fancy Buffy. Firstly, she's a gobby bint and secondly... I'm not going to step on anyone's toes. What I want to know is; what happened today?" Lowering his voice – despite the corridor being empty apart from them – he continued, "How did you know that Dorothea had a copy of Grindelwald's book in her trunk? I thought you were making it up?"

Walburga stared off down the corridor. "I was told."

"Told? Who by?"

"Did I say a person told me?" Walburga leaned her back against the wall, a secretive smile playing on her face. "I take Divination, Abraxas. No matter how well hidden, we have ways of discovering secrets."

"Ha! I don't believe you."

"That's all I'm telling you."

Abraxas gave her his most winning smile. A smile that – according to his self-help book 'Charming the Fairer Sex Without The Use of Wand Magic' instantly made girls go weak at the knees. "Don't you think I deserve to know?" he wheedled. "I'm the one who told you that Sluggy had Buffy's trunk and what he was looking for. I also put myself on the line and snitched on Dorothea for you. You know that she's claiming she never saw that book before today? She's blaming Buffy for it being there. She thinks Buffy used magic to transfer it between trunks. Could that be true?"

Amusement glittered in Walburga's grey eyes. "Perhaps."

Perhaps? Malfoy's jaw dropped. "She's right? How did it get past Sluggy's nose without hm seeing?"

"Shush," Walburga warned.

A group of Gryffindors had come up the stairs and were about to enter the corridor. On seeing the two glaring Slytherins, they hesitated, unsure if it was safe to come any closer. Walburga and Abraxas watched the group nervously enter the duelling chamber.

"All you need to know," she said when they had gone, "is that I've made promises to certain people. What I will say is... There's more to Buffy than meets the eye."

"Not that tosh about Buffy being a Pureblood again!" groaned Malfoy. "I can't believe people actually fall for that story. I won't."

Walburga scowled. "That broom of hers you liked so much... Who do you think sent it? Her absent father, is my guess. Once he's softened her up with expensive gifts, he'll show his face. You mark my words. Especially when he finds out that his daughter is no slouch at magic."

"You think he's rich and powerful?" Malfoy asked thoughtfully. Would Tom be interested in this? Possibly. If Riddle's interest became serious, Buffy's father could become either a bonus or a major inconvenience.

On the other hand, perhaps it was wiser not to say anything to Riddle about Buffy at the moment. This afternoon he'd gone to his room and found Tom reclined on his bed reading 'Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches'. When the young Dark Lord had seen him, he'd slid the book under the bed and glared at Malfoy. His expression hadn't changed as he'd relayed the afternoon's events. That glower had been quite unnerving.

Walburga shrugged. "I don't know who her father is. But what I do know is that there is more to Buffy than meets the eye. Let's just say... being a Lovegood has its advantages."

Malfoy gaped at her and then laughed drily. "Har, har! No chance!"

Walburga regarded him steadily.

She meant it? "Have you seen the Lovegoods?" he asked. "I thought Lovell was a mute until Buffy came to Hogwarts. His father is..." He whistled and made a circling motion next to his temple with his finger. "And Buffy's mother is the family Squib. I don't see what advantage there is to have a family like that."

Walburga shrugged again. "They're weird. What does it mean to be weird?"

"That you have no friends?" suggested Malfoy. "That you get dirty socks thrown at you and people pee in your bed? That's what happened to Lovell; I have friends in Ravenclaw who told me."

Walburga made a tsking sound with her tongue. "Being weird means you think differently to others and see potential where others do not. You... think outside of the box." At the word 'box', she snickered.

Deciding that Walburga was pulling his leg, Malfoy let out an annoyed huff. He was just about to ask what the real joke was when Walburga stopped, and pushed past him.

"Buffy is here. That's who I've been waiting for. I need to speak to her before she goes in to Merrythought's class." And Walburga strode away without a backward glance.

…..

"Whatcha doin', Wally?" Buffy asked the taller girl advancing on them like a warship in full steam.

Walburga visibly shuddered. "Merlin and Morgana, don't call me that bloody awful name. It's bad enough my brothers calling me that without others aping them. Why weren't you at dinner? I wanted to talk to you."

Buffy gave Lovell a meaningful side look. "We missed it. I had one of the Elves bring us a tray. There was something we needed to ask her."

"I suppose you didn't feel like facing everyone after today," mused Walburga, ignoring what Buffy had just said. "Penelope isn't very happy with you. If I were you, thank Merlin I'm not, I'd watch my back for stray hexes in the corridors. If she causes you too much trouble, let me know."

"Um, okay." Buffy wasn't happy that she'd inadvertently made an enemy. Didn't she have enough already?

Now!" Walburga rubbed her hands. "I want a full explanation on this slaying thing you've been chosen to do." She grinned. "Excuse the pun, but I'd like a stab at it myself. There are far too many of the demonic scum roaming around and protected by the Ministry. Vampires, werewolves, hags, centaurs and so on. They all need eradicating."

Lovell paled. "This isn't a joke, Walburga. Buffy could get into a lot of trouble being the Slayer."

Walburga stiffened. She tilted her head back, regarding him coldly, and Lovell wilted beneath her icy contempt. "Lovegood," she hissed. "Who gave you permission to address me by my first name?"

"Me," said Buffy shortly. "Deal with it."

Walburga blinked in surprise, her mouth moved silently for a moment before she exploded with, "Did someone die and crown you Queen of Slytherin?!"

The smile Buffy gave her was as fake as it was wide. "Queen of Slytherin? I've gotta say, Wally, that has a nice ring to it. The queen says Lovell is my cousin and if he wants to use your given name he can. It's what the normal people do and no one dies of it. All this formality and stuffiness you have is gonna make my head explode. Just... STOP it."

She took a deep breath and went on. "And if you really want to become one of my..." she hesitated, unsure of how she should finish that sentence. She wanted to say 'a Scooby', but it felt wrong – there'd only ever be one set of Scoobies. She needed another name for her trusted circle in this dimension. Tom had his Knights; she should have her... what? Ladies? Lovell might not like that. Gang, crew, associates? "Um... a member of my Order."

Walburga looked startled, Lovell worried.

"The Order?" he asked. "Order of what? The Order of Watchers?"

Buffy tried not to freak out. "That comes too close to the Council for my liking."

Lovell tried again. "What about... Order of Those Who Fight Against Evil In All Its Forms?

"Too much word-age. It needs something shorter, like the Scoobies..."

Lovell frowned. Buffy had told him all about the Scoobies from her past life. Would he 'get' it, though? "Something... like a... pet name."

"Knuts," Lovell said thinking of his toad.

Walburga laughed. "The Order of Nuts. Lovell and Travers will fit right in. Myself, not so much."

Buffy glared at both her cousin and Walburga. "Not the Order of Nuts."

Walburga wasn't deterred. "What about... Buffy Summers and the Order Of The Boggart?"

The name seemed to hover in the magical air of Hogwarts, like a promise about to happen.

"Maybe," Buffy grudgingly replied. Although there was a nice ring to it, she shot the girl a stern look. "That has reminded me. When I asked you to find a hiding place for Grindelwald's book, did you say anything to Spikey?"

"I may have mentioned that Dorothea was trying to force you out of Hogwarts," Walburga replied primly. "He didn't seem to like it. Boggarts can be so territorial. I may have also wondered out loud if there was a way of hiding the book in her trunk without Slughorn noticing. It wasn't my fault he liked the idea..."

….

A/N;

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