Chapter 56: O.W.L. Scores

July 20, 2003

Buffy and Dumbledore stepped through the back door of the Burrow. She looked over at Mrs. Weasley. "Hello, Molly."

"Buffy, dear!" Mrs. Weasley said. "Gracious, Albus, you gave me a fright, you said not to expect you before morning! Then Harry and Dawn arrive with Willow…"

"We were lucky," said Dumbledore. "Slughorn proved much more persuadable than I had expected. Buffy, Dawn. Harry and Willow's doing, of course. Ah, hello, Nymphadora!"

Buffy, Harry, Dawn and Willow looked at each other knowing that Tonks hated her first name.

"Hello, Professor," Tonks said. "Wotcher, Buffy."

"Hey, Tonks," Buffy said.

"I'd better be off," Tonks said quickly, standing up and pulling her cloak around her shoulders. "Thanks for the tea and sympathy, Molly."

"Please don't leave on my account," said Dumbledore courteously, "I cannot stay, I have urgent matters to discuss with Rufus Scrimgeour."

"No, no, I need to get going," said Tonks, not meeting Dumbledore's eyes. "'Night—"

"Dear, why not come to dinner at the weekend, Remus and Mad-Eye are coming—?"

"No, really, Molly… thanks anyway… Good night, everyone. Tonks hurried past Dumbledore and Buffy into the yard; a few paces beyond the doorstep, she turned on the spot and vanished into thin air.

"Well, I shall see you four at Hogwarts," said Dumbledore looking at Harry, Buffy, Dawn and Willow. "Take care of yourselves. Molly, your servant."

He made Mrs. Weasley a bow and followed Tonks, vanishing at precisely the same spot. Mrs. Weasley closed the door on the empty yard and then looked over each of the Potters, especially Dawn and Buffy.

"You two look thin," Mrs. Weasley said. "Have you been eating enough?"

"Molly," Buffy said. "We're Slayers. Dawn and I have to have three times what everyone else does because our metabolism is ramped up because of the excess energy our bodies expend."

"Right," Mrs. Weasley said. "Sit down, I'll cook something up."

As Buffy, Dawn, Willow and Harry sat down, Crookshanks jumped onto Harry's knees and settled there, purring. "So, Hermione's here?" he asked happily as he tickled Crookshanks behind the ears.

"Oh yes, she arrived the day before yesterday," said Mrs. Weasley, rapping a large iron pot with her wand. It bounced onto the stove with a loud clang and began to bubble at once. "Everyone's in bed, of course, we didn't expect you four till tomorrow. Here you are—"

She tapped the pot again; it rose into the air, flew toward the Potters; Mrs. Weasley slid a bowl neatly in front of Dawn, Buffy, Harry and Willow as the pot tipped over and poured thick, steaming onion soup into each.

"Bread, dears?"

"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley," Dawn and Harry said.

"Please," Willow and Buffy added.

Mrs. Weasley waved her wand over her shoulder; a loaf of bread and a knife soared gracefully onto the table; as the loaf sliced itself and the soup pot dropped back onto the stove, she sat down opposite them.

"So, Buffy, you four persuaded Horace Slughorn to take the job?"

"We did," Buffy said.

"He taught Arthur and me," said Mrs. Weasley. "He was at Hogwarts for ages, started around the same time as Dumbledore, I think. He can be charming when he wants to be, but Arthur's never liked him much. The Ministry's littered with Slughorn's old favorites, he was always good at giving leg ups, but he never had much time for Arthur—didn't seem to think he was enough of a highflier. Well, that just shows you, even Slughorn makes mistakes. Did you get Ron's letter?"

"We got no owls," Buffy said. "I suspect that Albus had them stopped, Molly. We were dealing with an apocalypse. The kind that literally closed the Hellmouth and destroyed the town of Sunnydale."

"My dear!" Mrs. Weasley said shocked. "Well then this will be some good news, Arthur's been promoted!"

"Congratulations," Buffy and Willow said.

"That's great!" Harry gasped.

"I'm glad," Dawn said. "He deserves it."

"You all are sweet," beamed Mrs. Weasley. "Yes, Rufus Scrimgeour has set up several new offices in response to the present situation, and Arthur's heading the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects. It's a big job, he's got ten people reporting to him now!"

"Does he think there is anything I need to worry about?" Buffy asked. "You know as a Slayer?"

"I do not think so, Buffy," Mrs. Weasley said.

"Is Mr. Weasley still at work?" Harry asked.

"Yes, he is. As a matter of fact, he's a tiny bit late… He said he'd be back around midnight…" She turned to look at a large clock that was perched awkwardly on top of a pile of sheets in the washing basket at the end of the table. "It's been like that for a while now, ever since You-Know-Who came back into the open. I suppose everybody's in mortal danger now… I don't think it can be just our family… but I don't know anyone else who's got a clock like this, so I can't check. Oh!"

With a sudden exclamation she pointed at the clock's face. Mr. Weasley's hand had switched to "traveling."

"He's coming!"

And sure enough, a moment later there was a knock on the back door.

Mrs. Weasley jumped up and hurried to it; with one hand on the doorknob and her face pressed against the wood she called softly, "Arthur, is that you?"

"Yes," came Mr. Weasley's weary voice. "But I would say that even if I were a Death Eater, dear. Ask the question!"

"Oh, honestly…"

"Molly!"

"All right, all right… What is your dearest ambition?"

"To find out how airplanes stay up."

Buffy, Dawn, Willow and Harry looked at each other and rolled their eyes. For them airplanes flying was just a fact of life.

Mrs. Weasley nodded and turned the doorknob, but apparently Mr. Weasley was holding tight to it on the other side, because the door remained firmly shut.

"Molly! I've got to ask you your question first!"

"Arthur, really, this is just silly…"

"What do you like me to call you when we're alone together?"

Mrs. Weasley turned bright red. "Mollywobbles," she whispered, mortified, into the crack at the edge of the door.

"Correct," said Mr. Weasley. "Now you can let me in."

Mrs. Weasley opened the door to reveal her husband.

"I still don't see why we have to go through that every time you come home," said Mrs. Weasley, still pink in the face as she helped her husband out of his cloak. "I mean, a Death Eater might have forced the answer out of you before impersonating you!"

"I know, dear, but it's Ministry procedure, and I have to set an example. Something smells good—onion soup?"

Mr. Weasley turned hopefully in the direction of the table.

"Buffy, Dawn, Willow, Harry! We didn't expect you four until morning!"

Mr. Weasley shook hands with each of the Potters then dropped into the chair beside Harry as Mrs. Weasley set a bowl of soup in front of him.

"Thanks, Molly. It's been a tough night. Some idiot has started selling Metamorph-Medals. Just sling them around your neck and you'll be able to change your appearance at will. A hundred thousand disguises, all for ten Galleons!"

"And what really happens when you put them on?"

"Mostly you just turn a fairly unpleasant orange color, but a couple of people have also sprouted tentaclelike warts all over their bodies. As if St. Mungo's didn't have enough to do already!"

"It sounds like the sort of thing Fred and George would find funny," said Mrs. Weasley hesitantly. "Are you sure—?"

"Of course, I am!" said Mr. Weasley. "The boys wouldn't do anything like that now, not when people are desperate for protection!"

"So, is that why you're late, Metamorph-Medals?"

"No, we got wind of a nasty backfiring jinx down in Elephant and Castle, but luckily the Magical Law Enforcement Squad had sorted it out by the time we got there…"

"Anything, I should be worried about, Arthur?" Buffy asked.

"Not at the moment, Buffy," Mr. Weasley said knowing she was asking as a Slayer. "If something comes up I will owl you immediately."

"Dawn, Harry," Buffy said noticing a yawn escape her sibling's faces. "Bedtime."

"I've got Fred and George's room all ready for you, Buffy, you and Willow will have it to yourselves," said Mrs. Weasley.

"Thanks," Buffy and Willow said.

"I take it they used the money I gave them to open their shop?" Buffy asked. "And they likely have an apartment above it?"

"I wondered where they got the money," Mrs. Weasley said. "At least I am glad they got it from you than by other means."

Buffy saw Dawn and Harry yawn again. "I take it Harry is with Ron and Dawn is with Hermione and Ginny as usual?"

"Yes."

Buffy looked at her siblings. "Bed."

"'Night, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," said Dawn and Harry, standing.

"G'night, Harry, Dawn," said Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

Harry and Dawn headed upstairs.

"Buffy, there is something we need to discuss with you," said Mrs. Weasley. "What exactly happened in Sunnydale? Ginny said she could feel Dawn next to her, asking her if she wanted to be stronger. Then she said she was and she believes she is now a Slayer."

"She is," said Willow as Buffy looked at her. "Remember when Dawn and I said we could feel Slayers awakening everywhere?" Buffy nodded. "I can feel that Ginny is a Slayer and even if I couldn't there were some, during the spell, that Dawn and I felt as if they were standing next to us saying, yes. Ginny was one of them."

Buffy nodded as she turned back to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. "We were fighting the First Evil. To defeat it, Willow and Dawn called all the girls who were Potentials as Slayers. We took the ones we had in Sunnydale into the Hellmouth and took the fight to the First. We knew that when Willow and Dawn cast the spell that everywhere in the world, anyone who had the potential to be a Slayer would be called. Since Willow says she can tell that Ginny is a Slayer, then with your permission and as long as Ginny consents, I will train her. One thing I am changing compared to the old Watcher's Council is that all Slayers get a choice on whether they want to fight the Forces of Darkness or lead normal unencumbered lives."

Sometime later Buffy and Willow headed up the stairs to Fred and George's bedroom on the second floor. Willow pointed her wand at a lamp on the bedside table and it ignited at once, bathing the room in a pleasant golden glow. Though a large vase of flowers had been placed on a desk in front of the small window, their perfume could not disguise the lingering smell of what they were sure was gunpowder. They looked and saw that the twin-sized beds had been pushed together and magically sealed together to form a full-sized bed.

Joyce hooted happily at Buffy and Willow from her perch on top of a large wardrobe, then took off through the window; the couple knew the owl had been waiting to see them before going hunting.

They changed into their pajamas, and got into the bed cuddling up close to one another and were instantly asleep.

July 21, 2003

Buffy woke to find the dazzling sunlight streaming through the window as she noticed that Willow had been watching her sleep.

"Morning, baby," Willow said as she kissed Buffy.

"How long have you been awake?" Buffy wondered.

"About thirty minutes," Willow admitted. "I love watching my wife sleep. You look radiantly beautiful as your breasts rise and fall with each breath you take while your asleep."

Buffy blushed.

After they had gotten dressed and exited into the hallway, they heard voices in the room across the hall.

"I know someone who's worse than Umbridge," said a voice from the inside the room.

Buffy opened the door and saw that Harry and Ron were with Ginny, Hermione and Dawn. "Morning," she said. "Now someone is worse than Umbridge? Why?"

"Fleur," Ginny answered. "She's driving me mad."

"What's she done now?" asked Hermione sympathetically.

"It's the way she talks to me—you'd think I was about three!"

"Oh, Ginny," said Dawn as she pulled her girlfriend into an embrace.

"She's so full of herself," said Hermione.

The bedroom door flew open again, and they turned and saw Fleur standing in the doorway.

"Buffy," she said in a throaty voice. "Eet 'as been too long!"

As she swept over the threshold toward them, Mrs. Weasley was revealed, bobbing along in her wake, looking rather cross. "There was no need to bring up the tray, I was just about to do it myself!"

"Eet was no trouble," said Fleur, setting the tray down on a table and then swooping to kiss Buffy on each cheek. "I 'ave been longing to see 'er. You remember my seester, Gabrielle? She never stops talking about Buffy Potter. She will be delighted to see you again."

"How is she doing?" Buffy asked.

"Fine, 'dank you for asking," Fleur said. "She will be here next summer, when we—but do you not know?"

Her great blue eyes widened and she looked reproachfully at Mrs. Weasley, who said, "We hadn't got around to telling Buffy, Willow, Dawn or Harry yet."

Fleur turned back to the Potters. "Bill and I are going to be married!"

"Congratulations," Harry, Buffy, Dawn and Willow said as Fleur swooped upon each of them and kissed them all on the cheeks.

"Bill is very busy at ze moment, working very 'ard, and I only work part-time at Gringotts for my Eenglish, so he brought me 'ere for a few days to get to know 'is family properly. I was so pleased to 'ear you would be coming, Buffy—zere isn't much to do 'ere, unless you like cooking and chickens! Well—enjoy your breakfast!"

With these words she turned gracefully and seemed to float out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

Mrs. Weasley made a noise that sounded like "tchah!"

"Mum hates her," said Ginny quietly.

"I do not hate her!" said Mrs. Weasley in a cross whisper. "I just think they've hurried into this engagement, that's all!"

"Is that what you think about us, Molly?" Buffy asked. "After all it was only a few months after Willow and I started dating that I proposed."

"Well…" Mrs. Weasley was unsure how to answer Buffy without offending her or Willow. "Well obviously if you knew that you two were made for each other, what was the point in waiting?" she said.

"Very tactful, mum," Ginny said.

"Whereas Bill and Fleur… well… what have they really got in common? He's a hardworking, down-to-earth sort of person, whereas she's—"

"A cow," said Ginny, nodding. "But Bill's not that down-to-earth. He's a Curse-Breaker, isn't he, he likes a bit of adventure, a bit of glamour… I expect that's why he's gone for Phlegm."

"Stop calling her that, Ginny," said Mrs. Weasley sharply. "Well, I'd better get on… Buffy, Dawn, Willow, Harry; eat your eggs while they're warm."

Looking careworn, she left the room.

"Don't you get used to her if she's staying in the same house?" Harry asked.

"Well, you do," said Ron, "but if she jumps out at you unexpectedly, like then…"

"It's pathetic," said Hermione furiously.

"You don't really want her around forever?" Ginny asked Ron incredulously. When he merely shrugged, she said, "Well, Mum's going to put a stop to it if she can, I bet you anything."

"How's she going to manage that?" asked Dawn.

"She keeps trying to get Tonks round for dinner. I think she's hoping Bill will fall for Tonks instead. I hope he does, I'd much rather have her in the family."

"Yeah, that'll work," said Ron sarcastically. "Listen, no bloke in his right mind's going to fancy Tonks when Fleur's around. I mean, Tonks is okay-looking when she isn't doing stupid things to her hair and her nose, but—"

"She's a damn sight nicer than Phlegm,'' said Ginny

"Ginny," Buffy said. "Be glad we're not in school. I would have deducted house points for the nickname."

"Sorry, Buffy," Ginny said. "I'd much rather have Tonks in the family though. At least she's a laugh."

"She hasn't been much of a laugh lately," said Ron. "Every time I've seen her, she's looked more like Moaning Myrtle."

"That's not fair," snapped Hermione. "She still hasn't got over what happened… you know… I mean, Sirius is her cousin!"

"And he almost died," Buffy sighed. "If not for Dawn he would have."

"Exactly," said Hermione. "She thinks it was her fault!"

"How does she work that one out?" asked Harry.

"Well, she was fighting Bellatrix Lestrange, wasn't she? I think she feels that if only she had finished her off, Bellatrix couldn't have tried to kill Sirius."

"That's stupid," said Ron.

"Guilt can be a powerful thing, Ron," Willow said as she looked at Buffy who gave her hand a gentle reassuring squeeze. She then looked back at Ron. "Guilt can make you do things, sometimes terrible things. I blamed myself when Warren killed Tara. The same is true for Tonks. She blames herself for Sirius almost dying."

"Willow's right," said Hermione. "I know Lupin's tried to talk her round, but she's still really down. She's actually having trouble with her Metamorphosing! She can't change her appearance like she used to. I think her powers must have been affected by shock, or something."

"I didn't know that could happen," said Harry.

"Nor did I," said Hermione, "but I suppose if you're really depressed…"

"Depression can make you do some things, some bad things," Willow said as she remembered what her depression had done. It had turned her dark and she had gone out and killed Warren as a result.

The door opened again and Mrs. Weasley popped her head in. "Ginny," she whispered, "come downstairs and help me with the lunch."

"I'm hanging out with my girlfriend!" said Ginny, outraged.

"She will be down in a couple minutes, Molly," said Buffy. "I need to talk to Ginny about what you informed me and Willow on last night."

Mrs. Weasley nodded, and withdrew.

"She only wants me there so she doesn't have to be alone with Phlegm!" said Ginny crossly.

"I'll help you," Dawn said. "So, you won't be alone with her."

"Thanks, Dawn," Ginny said as she kissed Dawn.

"Now, Ginny, your mom told me that you felt like Dawn was standing next to you and that she was asking you if you wanted to be stronger," said Buffy.

"Am I actually a Slayer?" said Ginny.

"Yes," said Dawn and Willow instantly.

"During our spell we felt you saying, yes," said Dawn. "Plus, Willow and I now can tell where a Slayer is. With that sense I can tell you are one."

"That said," said Buffy. "Your mom and dad agreed, now I need your consent. You see you have a choice to make. You can be trained to fight the forces of darkness or you can choose to live a normal life if you so desire. I didn't have that choice, so I am giving all the newly called Slayers the choice."

Ginny looked at Dawn for a moment and then back at Buffy. "I would like to get the training. I want to stand with Dawn protecting both wizards and muggles alike."

Dawn smiled as she leaned over and kissed Ginny.

"Then when we return to Hogwarts, we will start your training," said Buffy. "And since you want to stand at Dawn's side doing this, you two will be training side by side. And then eventually patrol with each other.

Ginny smiled as she and Dawn headed out the door.

"Dawn should have eaten more," Buffy said as she finished her plate of food. She had noticed that Dawn's was half finished. "Her stomach is going to be complaining if she doesn't eat more." She then looked at Ron. "Your mom said Fred and George's shop is going well. Said they have got a real knack for business."

"That's an understatement," said Ron. "They're raking in the Galleons! I can't wait to see the place, we haven't been to Diagon Alley yet, because Mum says Dad's got to be there for extra security and he's been really busy at work, but it sounds excellent."

"Can't wait to see it," Buffy admitted as they looked at her. "I gave them their seed money, remember? I'm basically a silent partner."

"What about Percy?" asked Harry. "Is he talking to your mum and dad again?"

"Nope," said Ron.

"But he knows your dad was right all along now about Voldemort being back—"

"Dumbledore says people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right," said Hermione. "I heard him telling your mum, Ron."

"Sounds like the sort of mental thing Dumbledore would say," said Ron.

Buffy sighed as she remembered what Dumbledore had said to her. In the excitement of their arrival she had forgotten. "Harry, Willow, you remember last night that Albus spoke to me in private?" Harry and Willow nodded. "He is going to give us and Dawn private lessons this year."

"Why?" Harry wondered.

"No idea," Buffy said. "It could be something to do with the prophecy."

"I wonder what he'll teach you?" said Hermione. "Really advanced defensive magic, probably… powerful countercurses… antijinxes… and evasive enchantments generally. I wonder when our O.W.L. results will come?"

"I'll go see whether any owls have come…" Buffy suggested. She and Willow headed out and downstairs. They found Dawn sitting at the kitchen table in great agitation, while Mrs. Weasley tried to lessen her resemblance to half a panda.

"It just won't budge," Mrs. Weasley was saying anxiously, standing over Dawn with her wand in her hand and a copy of The Healer's Helpmate. "This has always worked before; I just can't understand it."

"It'll be Fred and George's idea of a funny joke, making sure it can't come off," said Ginny

"It better come off!" said Dawn angrily. "I don't think you would like your girlfriend looking like she's part panda."

"No, I wouldn't," Ginny agreed.

"Don't worry, either of you, we'll find an antidote," said Mrs. Weasley soothingly.

"Bill told me 'ow Fred and George are very amusing!" said Fleur, smiling serenely.

"Yes, I can hardly breathe for laughing," snapped Dawn.

"Fleur, better not get on Dawn's bad side," Buffy said. "After all my sister was called as a Slayer." She looked toward Ginny, Dawn and Mrs. Weasley. "One of Fred and George's joke shop items I take it?" They all nodded.

"Mrs. Weasley," Harry said as he, Ron and Hermione came down the stairs, "Have there been any owls this morning?"

"Not yet, dear," said Mrs. Weasley patiently. "But it's barely nine, there's still plenty of time…"

"I know I messed up Ancient Runes," muttered Hermione feverishly, "I definitely made at least one serious mistranslation. And the Defense Against the Dark Arts practical was no good at all. I thought Transfiguration went all right at the time, but looking back—"

"Hermione, will you shut up, you're not the only one who's nervous!" barked Ron. "And when you've got your eleven 'Outstanding' O.W.L.s…"

"Don't, don't, don't!" said Hermione, flapping her hands hysterically. "I know I've failed everything!"

"Remind you of someone?" Willow asked as she looked at Buffy.

"You," Buffy said.

"What happens if we fail?" Harry asked the room at large.

"Since you all are in Gryffindor, you discuss your options with me," Buffy answered. "But I will admit I will be disappointed in you all if you failed your O.W.L.s."

"At Beauxbatons," said Fleur complacently, "we 'ad a different way of doing things. I think eet was better. We sat our examinations after six years of study, not five, and then—"

Fleur's words were drowned in a scream. Hermione was pointing through the kitchen window. three black specks were clearly visible in the sky, growing larger all the time.

"They're definitely owls," said Ron hoarsely, jumping up to join Hermione at the window.

"And there are five of them," said Harry, hastening to her other side.

"One for each of our O.W.L.s and one for Willow's N.E.W.T.s," said Hermione.

The owls were flying directly at the Burrow, five handsome tawnies, each of which, it became clear as they flew lower over the path leading up to the house, was carrying a large square envelope.

Mrs. Weasley squeezed past them and opened the kitchen window. One, two, three, four, five, the owls soared through it and landed on the table in a neat line. All five of them lifted their right legs.

Dawn moved forward and found the owl with a letter addressed to her. Next to hers was Harry's and next to his was Willow's. She slit hers open quickly and unfolded the parchment inside.

ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS (A/N)

Pass Grades: Outstanding (O) - Exceeds Expectations (E) - Acceptable (A)

Fail Grades: Poor (P) - Dreadful (D) - Troll (T)

Dawn Marie Potter has achieved:

Astronomy O

Care of Magical Creatures E

Charms E

Defense Against the Dark Arts O

Divination E

Herbology E

History of Magic A

Potions E

Transfiguration E

"Willow, you will be happy to know that our time when we used to look through the telescope together back in Sunnydale, on nights Buffy patrolled, paid off. Got an Outstanding in Astronomy," Dawn said.

"Congrats, Dawnie," Willow said as she hugged the girl.

"And I got an outstanding in Defense Against the Dark Arts," Dawn said as she looked at Buffy. "Despite Umbridge's attempt to sabotage us, you were definitely the better teacher, Buffy."

"I'm glad, Dawn," Buffy said. She looked at her brother. "What about you, Harry?"

Harry handed his parchment to Buffy who read it. She saw that he failed Divination and History of Magic and that he passed everything else with either Exceeds Expectation or Outstanding!

"That's good, Harry," Buffy said as she smiled.

"I guess I will be talking to you after the start of the term," Harry said, "since Snape only lets in students with Outstanding for his N.E.W.T. Potions classes."

"By the looks of it," Buffy said. "Yeah. But look on the bright side. If you still want to help me after you graduate you don't need any of that. Of course, I should remind you that I would be happy if you did something that didn't involve what I do. Maybe you can become a professional Quidditch player?"

Harry looked at Buffy liking the idea of professional Quidditch player. But he still would like to help her and the Slayers. He turned and looked at Willow. "How did you do, Willow?"

Willow looked at her parchment and then at her brother-in-law. "Outstanding or Exceeds Expectation on everything."

Author's Note: Dawn's Exceeds Expectation score for Divination is a nod to my Wrong Memory series where Dawn is a Seer.

Side Note: When I did Dawn's OWL scores I had actually forgotten that I had written in that Dawn didn't take the Divination OWL, oh well. I'm leaving it in because of the nod.