Hey guys – so sorry for the length between updates. I had a vacation and then a surgery.

For those of you who've reviewed with criticisms, I want you to know that I read and take all of them seriously and am trying to slowly fix the story.

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Chapter Six: And Jill Came Tumbling After

When the trio arrived at Ollivander's it seemed to be completely empty. Unfazed, Dumbledore walked in with a smile on his face that to Buffy seemed more like he was entering an old friend's home than a highly frequented shop. All she could see was shelves upon shelves of boxes.

"Maybe we should come back another time?" she inquired. Albus simply shook his head and walked more fully into the shop.

Just as she was about to suggest leaving once again, Buffy heard a voice from her right.

"Dumbledore, to what do I owe this pleasure? I didn't think I'd be seeing you for a few months yet."

"This young lady," he gestured to the blonde teen, "would like a wand."

As quickly as a breath Buffy was confronted with magic measuring tape flying around her measuring things she felt couldn't possibly have to relate to the wand. Ollivander himself was not far behind, circling the girl and scrutinizing every detail.

"So you just found out you're a witch have you?" he queried.

Buffy looked to her two companions for any hint as of how to answer the question but Remus seemed as lost as she did and Dumbledore pretended not to notice her glance. "Sure," she finally decided, "we'll go with that."

Ollivander was confused by her answer but chose not to pursue it. He simply headed back into the stacks, picking out boxes her thoughts might suit her. Even after his departure the tape continued to hover beside the girl and it was making her antsy. Several minutes later Ollivander returned with ten or twelve boxes by Buffy's estimate. He handed her one. Immediately she could feel the wrongness of it. Nothing clicked with it in her hand. She shook her head and held it back out to him.

"Are you sure? You didn't even give it a go," but even as he said the words Ollivander reached out and took the wand back from her.

They went through box after box with the same results. Buffy never even flicked the wands before she turned them down. She was certain that if a wand was for her she'd feel it right away. Ollivander left and came back with ten more boxes. None proved to be the slayer's. They continued this way for an hour. Just as Buffy was about to give up Dumbledore walked over and placed a comforting hand on her arm. From the very first wand she tried, he seemed to be a war with himself over something and it appeared that he had finally come to a decision.

"Ollivander if you would please get the box I left with you. I think it's ready for a new owner now." Though his voice was content the shade of his eyes was duller than Buffy had ever seen it.

Ollivander was shocked by the request and couldn't quite form the sentences he needed. "Are you sure… I mean it was… and this girl she… why would she…that wand?"

"Yes my old friend. Please, if you would, bring it here."

"What wand is he getting and why is he only getting it now?" Buffy was confused. If Albus thought this wand was right for her why hadn't he brought that up an hour ago? The headmaster didn't answer.

Ollivander came scurrying back to them with a box far different from the others. It had flowers carved into its edges, the wood was darker, richer, and even Ollivander himself held it with more regard. He held it out for Dumbledore even though he was unsure of the decision.

The wizard took it and looked at it lovingly for a moment before he turned to the blonde. He then opened the box and lifted the wand from inside. Buffy took the wand from him and instantly felt the connection flair. The room pulsed around her and she could feel the shift in the air. She turned toward Dumbledore with a questioning stare but smiled to let him know it was the correct wand for her. He smiled affectionately back.

"It was your mother's."

Buffy nearly dropped the wand in surprise. Her father rarely mentioned her mother; it pained him too much. Sometimes Buffy forgot the smell of her perfume or the sound of her voice, she had so few memories to work with. Now that she knew though, the wand did feel as comforting as being cuddled in her mother's arms after a nightmare.

Ollivander stared at the girl. He had been so confused at why Dumbledore would give such a precious thing away to some random girl. It made much more sense now that he knew her to be the man's daughter.

Buffy had forgotten Remus was even there until she heard him stumble onto a chair. As much as she felt like doing the same, Buffy needed to be close to Albus. He wrapped an arm around her much as he had earlier. Then with everyone staring at him to explain, the headmaster opened up.

"The night of the attack I had taken you with me to Hogwarts. You wanted to play with Fawkes as you so often did back then. I didn't even know what had been done. She had no chance to run. Voldemort killed her quickly. He didn't leave his mark above the house as he normally did. I walked in with you asleep in my arms to find her lying on the ground. I still do not believe he had any intent on her. He wanted to attack me, to hurt me, and that was one of the best ways to do it. After that I couldn't chance you getting hurt Buffy. I couldn't watch you all the time and I was afraid the minute I looked away you'd be gone. So I sent you to America so that you would be safe. There was a small ceremony. I sold the house. I gave Ollivander the wand to keep. I had no doubt that someday another wizard would need it. I had thought… I had hoped that it would be you." He finished softly, looking down at the daughter who reminded him so much of the slain woman in his nightmares. His love for her swelled. No matter what had happened, this beautiful girl was still alive and that brought him hope.

Buffy tried to piece together everything he had told with her own memories. She remembered playing with Fawkes. It was the one and only time her father had taken her with him to Hogwarts. Thankfully she was spared the image of her mother's corpse. She had been fast asleep long before they're reached the house and hadn't woken until the next morning. She remembered first meeting the Summers'. She remembered being three and missing her daddy after her first nightmare in America.

Remus now had the information he had been seeking for days. He remembered the time around when all of this would have been happening and things fell into place easily. Dumbledore had become so cheerful suddenly during his second year. The lycan guessed this was when Albus had met Buffy's mother. Then, in his seventh year, the headmaster had withdrawn from everyone. He'd missed a few days and didn't tell anyone where he'd gone. The funeral and the arrangements to send Buffy away had taken those days. Remus was saddened to think of how alone Dumbledore must have felt. He'd kept that part of his life a total secret. Not even The Order had known about Buffy.

Buffy looked down at the wand she clutched. "Jack and Jill raced up the hill…" a nursery rhyme her mother had quoted often. "… and Jill came tumbling after," Buffy whispered.