Chapter 3: Diagon Alley

July 30, 2001 – Monday

Summers Home

All three sisters sat together in the living room, surrounded by the warmth of their shared memories and the weight of their loss. The atmosphere was heavy, but there was a sense of acceptance and unity that had been missing for far too long.

Dawn and Buffy spent the day sharing stories about Joyce with Hermione. They spoke of her warmth, her wisdom, her quirky sense of humor, and the way she always made them feel loved and safe. While Hermione would never actually get to meet their mother in person, the stories they told filled a slight hole in her heart that had been aching since Joyce's passing.

Tears flowed freely as they reminisced about their mother, but these were tears of shared grief and healing. They laughed through their tears as they remembered funny anecdotes and heartwarming moments, and they clung to each other, finding solace in their shared love for Joyce.

Hermione listened intently, hanging on every word as Dawn and Buffy painted a vivid picture of the woman who had brought them into the world and shaped their lives. She felt like she was getting to know Joyce in a way she had never imagined, and it brought her a strange sense of comfort.

As the afternoon sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on the room, the sisters continued to talk and cry, sharing their pain and their love for the woman who would always be a part of them. And in that shared grief, they found a deeper connection and a renewed strength to face the challenges that lay ahead.

July 31, 2001 – Tuesday

Summers Home

It was five minutes till 10 o'clock, and Dawn was running late that morning. She had been in her room, hunched over her desk, writing something on a sheet of paper when she heard Buffy's urgent voice yelling up the stairs.

"Dawn, it's almost time!"

Panicking slightly, Dawn hastily finished her writing and stuffed the sheet of paper into an envelope. On the envelope, she had written a single word: "Hermione." She propped it up on her desk so it would be visible to anyone who entered the room. With a quick glance around to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything, she grabbed her suitcase and dashed downstairs.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she could see the clock ticking down. She didn't have a moment to spare. Dawn hurried to where Buffy was waiting, holding a rope that Dumbledore had told them was a portkey, which would transport them to Hogwarts. With only seconds to spare, Dawn grasped the rope firmly.

It happened immediately: Dawn felt as though a hook just behind her navel had been suddenly jerked irresistibly forward. Her feet left the ground, and she found herself speeding forward in a howl of wind and swirling colors. Her hand remained glued to the rope, and she felt as though it was pulling her magnetically onward. There was a sense of exhilaration mixed with trepidation as she hurtled through space, knowing that in mere moments, she would arrive at Hogwarts

Hogwarts

They touched down in Dumbledore's office, and Dawn, feeling disoriented from the portkey journey, rushed over to a nearby trashcan and proceeded to empty the contents of her stomach. Buffy, ever the supportive sister, rubbed her back comfortingly as Dumbledore observed them with a thoughtful expression.

As soon as Dawn was done and feeling somewhat better, she wiped her mouth and sat down next to Hermione, who gave her a sympathetic look.

Dumbledore, with his usual calm demeanor, pulled out a piece of chocolate from his desk drawer and handed it to Dawn. "Go ahead and eat, it will help."

Dawn nibbled on the chocolate, appreciating the gesture. "Thank you," she said with a small smile.

Dumbledore then continued, addressing their practical needs. "I took the liberty of getting Dawn and Hermione's school books, as well as a few of the books you will need, Buffy, so you can begin learning to use a wand. I also gathered the necessary supplies not only for the tutoring sessions but for your classes this coming term. All that remains is getting you wands and robes, Dawn and Buffy, updating your robes, Hermione, and getting dress robes for the three of you."

"Dress robes?" Buffy questioned, raising an eyebrow.

Dumbledore smiled kindly and nodded. "For women, think of them like muggle prom dresses or evening gowns. Now, as it's getting late, I will show you to your rooms, and I will have dinner sent up to you."

Buffy and Dawn exchanged glances, still adjusting to the idea of their new magical world and the eccentricities it brought.

August 1, 2001 – Wednesday

Madam Malkins, Diagon Alley

The next morning found the three sisters inside Madame Malkin's dress shop, a place filled with an assortment of wizarding robes. Madam Malkin herself, a squat, smiling witch clad entirely in mauve, greeted them warmly.

"Miss Granger, updating your robes?" Madam Malkin asked with a nod of recognition, having noticed Hermione.

Dumbledore, standing behind the sisters, replied, "Miss Summers will be needing robes," indicating Dawn. He then gestured toward Hermione. "Miss Summers needs her robes updated," before finally motioning to Buffy. "Ms. Summers needs robes as she will be teaching at Hogwarts this year. Also, they all need dress robes." He concluded by addressing the sisters directly. "I will be down at Ollivander's when you are ready."

"Okay, we'll see you there in a bit," Buffy responded as Dumbledore left the shop.

As the sisters began to browse the selection of robes, Madame Malkin took Dawn into a back room. Inside, she stood Dawn on a stool, draped a long robe over her shoulders, and started to pin it to the right length.

However, their peaceful shopping excursion was abruptly interrupted when a voice from the doorway sneered, "Well... Well. If it isn't the mudblood, Granger."

Hermione instantly recognized Malfoy's voice the moment he spoke, and she turned on him, her temper flaring. "Shut it, Malfoy. And it's not Granger, not anymore. It's Summers."

Malfoy, never one to back down from a confrontation, couldn't help but smirk. "What, did your Muggle parents decide to give you up for adoption?" he taunted, clearly trying to get a rise out of her.

Buffy, who had been quietly observing the exchange, decided to step in. She turned to face Malfoy, her expression filled with irritation. "Actually, that would be a no," she stated firmly, her tone making it clear that she wouldn't tolerate any insults. "At least not in the way you're thinking."

Malfoy, always ready with a snide remark, couldn't resist another jab. "And who are you? Another mudblood?" he sneered as he looked Buffy up and down, clearly unimpressed.

Buffy took a deep breath, maintaining her composure despite the insult. "First off, you go to Hogwarts, right?" she asked, and Malfoy nodded reluctantly. Before he could respond, she continued, "Then you should know you just insulted one of your Professors. Second, Hermione is my sister, and I will not listen to anyone dissing her."

Malfoy chuckled, looking back and forth between Buffy and Hermione. "Sister, huh?" he mused, clearly not seeing any resemblance between them. "Sure, whatever you say. Personally, I don't see it."

Hermione rolled her eyes, unfazed by Malfoy's remarks. She knew better than to let his insults get to her. Buffy, on the other hand, had a more confrontational approach to dealing with the likes of Malfoy. "Really look closer…" Buffy said with a smirk. She glared at him daring to say anything else against her and Hermione.

As Lucius Malfoy entered the store behind his son, Hermione braced herself for the possibility of further unpleasantness. Malfoy senior had a reputation for being even more formidable than his son.

"Draco," Lucius began with a sigh, clearly used to his son's antics. "What is going on in here?" He turned to Hermione with a polite smile. "Ah, Miss Granger. How nice it is to see you again." He turned to face Buffy. "And you would be?"

Hermione nodded politely in response to his greeting. She then watched as Buffy addressed Lucius directly, her confidence shining through. "I assume you're his father?" Buffy asked, not missing a beat.

Lucius maintained his pleasant demeanor, offering his hand to Buffy. "Lucius Malfoy. I didn't catch your name."

Buffy grinned and shook his hand. "Buffy Summers, the Vampire Slayer."

Lucius's smile suddenly vanished from his face, replaced by a mix of surprise and curiosity. His icy demeanor melted away as he processed the unexpected revelation. "And what brings you here, Muggle?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of astonishment and intrigue.

Buffy met his gaze with a steady, determined expression. "Well, one, I am to teach the coming year at Hogwarts," she replied, her tone carrying a touch of confidence and defiance. "Don't believe me? Go down to Ollivanders," she continued, turning to Hermione, her voice gaining a touch of urgency, "right?"

Hermione nodded firmly, adding a layer of assurance to Buffy's words. Buffy turned back to Lucius, her eyes locked onto his, a fiery determination burning within them. "Ollivanders. Speak to Albus Dumbledore; he's waiting for us down there."

Lucius felt his world tilting off its axis. The unexpected news was a whirlwind of emotions crashing over him. But there was more to come, as Buffy continued, "Secondly, Hermione is my sister. I was just explaining to your son that when we get to Hogwarts at the beginning of the school year, I will not stand for anyone dissing my family."

Dawn, carrying a garment bag that held both her school robes and dress robes, entered the scene, her presence adding to the whirlwind of emotions. Her voice was cool and composed as she said, "'Mione, your turn," prompting Hermione to enter the fitting room.

Lucius looked at Dawn with wide eyes, unable to conceal his astonishment. His voice, now softer, carried a sense of disbelief and a trace of vulnerability as he turned to Draco, seeking answers. "Draco," he said, addressing his son with a hint of bewilderment, "you never said anything about Miss Granger having a twin."

Malfoy shrugged, his shoulders tensing slightly as he indicated his unawareness about Hermione having a twin. His voice carried a hint of embarrassment and resignation as he muttered, "I didn't know."

Dawn, wearing a sickly sweet smile that hid her true feelings, decided to shed some light on the situation. She stepped forward with a knowing look in her eyes, aware of the conversation she had overheard in the back room. Her voice was calm and matter-of-fact as she explained, "Because he wouldn't have known. I've grown up with Buffy. Didn't know about the witch stuff till Hermione found us. Well, not wand magic anyways. I knew about Wiccan magic, though. We've got a couple of friends back home in Sunnydale that are Wiccan witches."

Buffy chimed in, introducing Dawn to the father-son duo. Her voice held a sense of pride as she said, "This is mine and Hermione's other sister, Dawn. And as you can see, she is Hermione's twin."

Lucius, still processing the unexpected turn of events, nodded curtly. He turned to Draco, his voice regaining a touch of its usual formality. "Draco, come. We will get your robes updated later," he said, leading his son away from the situation

Ollivanders, Diagon Alley

A while later, after Buffy had been fitted for her robes, they made their way to Ollivanders. A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as they stepped inside. It was a tiny place, sparsely furnished, with only a single spindly chair where Dumbledore sat. His presence exuded a sense of wisdom and calm.

Dumbledore greeted them with a warm smile. "Everything go alright at Madam Malkin's?" he asked, his voice carrying the weight of his curiosity.

Buffy, still processing the earlier encounter with the Malfoys, explained, "I guess. Ran into one of the students and his father, by the name of Malfoy. Had a few words with them both." Her tone was tinged with a mix of frustration and confusion. Then, she couldn't help but ask, "By the way, what is a mudblood?"

Hermione grimaced, her expression reflecting a mix of discomfort and disappointment. She replied, "It means dirty blood. Mudblood's a really foul name for someone who is Muggle-born, someone with non-magical parents, someone like us. It's not a term one usually hears in civilized conversation."

Dumbledore nodded sagely, his voice filled with a sense of understanding. "Some wizards, like the Malfoys, think that they are better than everyone else because they are what is considered pureblood," he explained. "In reality, there is no such thing anymore, hasn't been for a good many years. Most wizards and witches are half-blood or less."

As they absorbed Dumbledore's words, a soft voice broke the silence, causing Buffy, Dawn, and Hermione to turn and face an elderly gentleman.

"Good afternoon," he said politely, his eyes twinkling with an air of mystery and wisdom.

"Hello," responded Dawn and Hermione in unison, their voices carrying a blend of curiosity and respect.

Buffy's Spidey senses went on high alert the moment she laid eyes on the shopkeeper. Her instincts were finely tuned, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She turned back to Dumbledore, her voice laced with a mixture of surprise and concern, "You didn't say your wand maker was a demon."

The man smiled cryptically. His eyes held an ancient wisdom, and his voice was calm and reassuring as he responded, "How else have I been in business for nearly two millennia? Don't worry, Slayer, I am not a threat."

Buffy's curiosity piqued, she was met with a question from the man that revealed his knowledge of her unique background, "Though I am curious, how come a Slayer is to receive magical training? I thought the Watcher's Council forbade it."

Buffy exchanged a knowing glance with Dawn before explaining, her voice carrying a hint of bitterness, "I no longer work for the Watcher's Council, haven't for a few years."

Dawn chimed in, her tone reflecting her own distaste for the organization, "Yeah, they gave her this test that got me and our mom kidnapped."

Buffy nodded, her gaze hardening as she added, "And almost got me killed. That's why I broke off ties with them. The only time I've dealt with them since was to get information on something I am currently facing."

His smile widened as he seemed to appreciate their reasons. "Ah," he said, his tone now friendly, "The name is Ollivander, Garrick Ollivander." He then turned his attention to Dawn, who had stepped forward, and pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?" he asked, shifting his focus to the task at hand.

"Well, I'm right-handed," Dawn replied, her voice steady as she held out her arm, ready for Mr. Ollivander's measurements. She watched with fascination as the wandmaker took precise measurements from her shoulder to finger, wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit, and around her head. His words carried an air of magic and wonder as he explained, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Miss Summers. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand."

With swift efficiency, Mr. Ollivander began to select various wand boxes from the shelves, his movements filled with purpose. "Right then, Miss Summers. Try this one. Willow and dragon heartstring. Ten inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave."

Dawn took the wand, her fingers tingling with anticipation, and with a sense of curiosity mingled with a hint of foolishness, she waved it around. However, her attempt was short-lived as Mr. Ollivander promptly snatched the wand out of her hand.

He continued his search, his fingers deftly selecting another wand from the array of boxes. "Beechwood and phoenix feather. Nine inches. Quite whippy. Try—"

Dawn attempted to give this wand a try as well, but before she could even fully raise it, the wand, too, was swiftly taken back by Mr. Ollivander, leaving her with a sense of anticipation and curiosity about the magical connection she might soon discover with the right wand.

"No, no — here, oak and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy," Ollivander suggested, his eyes alight with anticipation. "Go on, go on, try it out."

Dawn took the wand, a sense of excitement coursing through her as she held it in her hand. She felt a sudden warmth envelop her fingers as she raised the wand above her head, bringing it swishing down through the dusty air. A stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a dazzling firework, casting dancing spots of light on the walls.

Ollivander couldn't contain his delight, exclaiming, "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. You must be very pure of heart and soul."

Dawn blinked, genuinely surprised by his words. "Soul? I always wondered if I actually had one."

Ollivander's smile held a profound wisdom as he responded, "Yes, my dear. Despite what you were created to house, you indeed have a soul." He glanced at Buffy, his gaze filled with a depth of understanding. "No worries, I will take that knowledge to my grave."

Dumbledore chimed in with his own assurance, "I can attest to Ollivander. If he gives you his word, he won't break it." His words carried the weight of trust and respect for the wandmaker's integrity.

Buffy nodded, her trust in Mr. Ollivander bolstered by Dumbledore's vouching for him. "Alright, as long as Albus is vouching for you."

Mr. Ollivander's eyes gleamed with excitement as he hurried over to retrieve a specific wand from a box. He presented it to Buffy with reverence, explaining, "Now, Ms. Summers, I believe I have the perfect wand for you. Willow and hair of the First Slayer, nine inches."

Buffy accepted the wand, her heart racing with anticipation. She gave it a wave, and as sparks shot out from the end, a feeling of connection surged through her. Ollivander clapped with delight. "Much as I thought," he admitted with a warm smile. "That wand was created for another Slayer who was not able to defy the Watcher's Council."

He then reached for some coins and made to hand them to Dumbledore. "Professor, since you have given me the opportunity to wand the Slayer, no charge."

Dumbledore nodded and gestured toward Buffy. "Ms. Summers can have it. It is, after all, her money."

Buffy, perplexed by the mention of money, turned to Dumbledore with a furrowed brow. "My money?"

"Yes, it is an advance on your salary for the coming term," Dumbledore clarified. "I also took the liberty of opening you an account at Gringotts. Your wages will be directly deposited into your account there."

Buffy appreciated the information and the key, recognizing the practicality of such an arrangement. She was prepared to adapt to this new world's customs. "Thank you, Albus."

Dumbledore's reassurance continued as he added, "The only thing you will not be paying for is anything related to Hermione and Dawn's schooling at Hogwarts. That includes, tuition, school books, potion ingredients and the like. Both of them have full scholarships to attend."

Buffy nodded, grateful for the scholarship opportunity that would ease the financial burden on her family. She then turned her attention to Ollivander, who smiled as he handed her the money. She accepted it with a gracious smile in return, appreciating the generosity and support she was receiving in her new role at Hogwarts.