BATTS

"Horace! Horace!" Professor Merryweather called at dinner. "Have you seen what that gel of yours is up to at your table?"

Horace Slughorn stopped salting his chips and frowned over at the Slytherin table. He soon found the 'gel' Galatea Merryweather was talking about. Buffy Summers had shot a plume of dark smoke out of her wand. The cloud had changed, taking on the silhouette of a bat which hovered in the air above the table. Travers had covered his face with his hands – as if he couldn't bear to look at what she was doing– while across the table, Fiona Goyle and Uma Crabbe were in fits of giggles.

He was just about to call out when more bat motifs rose into the air. This time they were not just sent up by a Slytherin. Bat signs hung over the Ravenclaw table, the Hufflepuffs, and even over the Gryffindor table where Rubeus Hagrid had sent up his very own – slightly wonky – bat sign.

Next to Galatea, Pandora Trelawney was squinting up at the signs, her eyes magnified through the lenses of her spectacles.

"Bats," intoned Pandora Trelawney, "are occasionally seen as a sign of freedom of expression and non-conformity. However, in most countries, they are generally seen as a sign of misfortune. For instance, a bat seen in the house is an sign someone is about to go blind, become insane, or die violently." She pushed her glasses further up her nose and regarded Slughorn dolefully. "Perhaps... Buffy has chosen it as her own dark emblem. A dark mark. A sign of the Witch she intends to become."

Dumbledore leaned forward in his chair to look past Slughorn's belly and gave Trelawney a sour look. Sadly, the Divination professor missed it. She'd removed her glasses and was polishing away the greasy fingerprints on a napkin before replacing them.

"Look!" she called, pointing an accusing finger at Buffy. "She's sent up another one."

This time the smoke rearranged itself to form letters – B-A-T-T.

Trelawney sniffed condescendingly. "It seems... Miss Summers needs to learn simple spelling."

Slughorn obviously didn't know what to make of it. He regarded Buffy's sign with a perplexed frown. "I'll speak to her later, although I've no idea why you think she's the ringleader. There's just as many on the other tables sending up signals as there are Slytherins." He paused, his fork halfway to his mouth, and watched Hagrid send up another bat signal. "Albus, you'd better take care. The Gryffindors are in on it – whatever 'it' is – as well."

Albus sighed as he reached for the salt cellar. "Possibly, Horace. I think the time has come to cut off the serpent's head."

Slughorn wagged his finger at him. "Now, now, Albus. You leave my House emblem alone! I had enough trouble replacing that poor serpent's head on the fireplace." Slughorn chuckled at his own joke. "Why do I have the feeling...you know exactly what all this is about?"

"Merlin and Morgana! I wish I did!" Galatea Merryweather's voice boomed out. "Albus! If you know what that sign means, I demand that you tell me!"

Dumbledore cut into his steak. "I had a problem with Buffy and Tom in my class earlier." He looked up as he said Riddle's name, checked the Slytherin table again and noted that Riddle and several of his closest friends were absent. "I'd asked them to Transfigure kittens into ducks. Buffy took exception to the task, claiming concern over the kitten's health and Tom Riddle became annoyed at her reluctance to participate."

Mentioning Riddle's name, gained Slughorn's full attention. "And?" the potion's master asked. "Don't drag this out. I want to know what happened."

Dumbledore shrugged a shoulder. "Wands were drawn and jinxes cast." He poured himself a goblet of wine, deciding not to mention how Buffy had changed the stone flags to slippery ice by using runes. He preferred information like that didn't get out – it could fall into the wrong hands and lead Buffy to fall into those same wrong hands. "They shall both receive their punishments presently."

"If you're planning something severe – for either of them – I want to know about it." Slughorn had left his meal and was staring at Dumbledore with a troubled expression. " I've never known Tom to seek out trouble. In fact, he normally goes out of his way to avoid conflict. He and Miss Summers seemed to be getting quite close at one point, although... I suppose... he has always preferred the company of boys over girls."

Dumbledore hmm'd at that. "Don't worry, Horace. I have a punishment in mind that I'm sure you'll approve of."

Merrythought huffed loudly and pointed her fork at Albus."Getting back to the subject at hand..." She waved her fork at the bat signs. "What about them?"

"The Darkness comes for us all!" Trelawney wailed. "I foresee tragedy! I foresee Death! The dark shadow slithers along the castle's corridors, searching for the weak ones to feast upon. I see students dying. I see us all as corpses in our coffins, slowly putrefying with brown grave water dripping onto the floor."

"I say!" Slughorn yelped. He'd been in the middle of pouring gravy onto his plate. "Pandora! Some of us are trying to eat!"

Trelawney's eyes grew even larger. Seeing she was being stared at, she blushed and scrambled to her feet. "I know when I am not wanted. A Seer knows these things, but I only tell you what the spirits tell me!" She threw her patchwork bag over her shoulder, dislodging her long tasselled scarf, which fell into the gravy boat. Fishing the scarf out, she wrapped the sodden fabric around her neck before dashing away, leaving a trail of brown liquid behind her on the ground.

"At least, she had the brown liquid part of her vision right," observed Dumbledore. "I doubt, we will see her face at this table for the rest of term." He eyed the gravy on his plate, sighed, and pushed it away. Horace was right, death and decay were not fit subjects for the dinner table.

"Personally, I hope she takes all her meals in her room," Merrythought replied happily. She finished chewing and dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. "Every morning, she insisted on telling my she saw my death in my teacup. I took to drinking instant coffee to thwart her." She jerked her head towards the back of the hall; Buffy was leaving a bat sign floating behind her. "Getting back to the smoke signals, Albus. Why BATT?"

"Ah." Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and fiddled with the stem of his wine glass. "I am not certain, but... I believe that it may stand for Ban Animal Transfiguration Tests. I can only assume that Buffy has become so upset that she's turned it into a personal crusade."

"The silly gel! Animals don't mind being transformed." Merryweather glared at Albus as if it was entirely his fault. "I had a cat who loved it when I transformed him into a new animal. He was a very smart cat. I think it must have tickled."

Slughorn's eyes had gone misty. "I've never really liked transfiguring animals," he said quietly.

That surprised Dumbledore.

"Oh, I know," he went on, seeing Dumbledore's look. "Sometimes it must be done, but I've always wondered about long term effects. When I was a boy, I had a cat named Hebe who began to think she was a dog. When I told my father that I believed it had been caused by Transfiguring, he said I was an idiot and to shut up going on about it."

Merryweather shook her head. "You're too soft, Horace."

Slughorn shook his head. "She was my cat, Galatea, and special."

Watching another bat signal rise into the air, Dumbledore replied, "I don't think showing kindness and compassion to creatures is to be discouraged."

Horace Slughorn beamed.

Merrythought snorted and pointed at the hovering BATT signal. "Something needs to be done."

Dumbledore nodded. "I shall speak to the Headmaster and address the school in the morning. I've checked with the school board, and neither the OWL or NEWT examinations require a real animal to be used during the examination or before. I don't see why we can't use a transfigured object if the task makes students feel uncomfortable."

There was a bang and they all turned. Hagrid's wand had shot a smoke message into the air. This message was more ambitious, it read 'If It Has A Mother, Go Transfiggure Another'.

Dumbledore grimaced. Hagrid was soft-hearted. If he thought animals were being hurt, he'd most likely break into the classrooms and start 'rescuing' them. It might be better to speak to Hagrid as soon as he'd dealt with Tom and Buffy, rather than leaving it until morning.

Tom arrived early for his appointment with Dumbledore. After nervously running a hand through his hair and checking his tie was still straight, he knocked on the office door and waited.

The Transfiguration professor came to the door and Tom searched his face – it gave no hint of his mood or how he intended to punish them. Tom could have used Legilimency, but he was too wary. A teacher – especially one like Dumbledore – would sense the intrusion of his mind and then he'd be in even more trouble. So, he avoided the older man's eyes and looked about him instead, taking in the full bookshelves, the piles and piles of books that were stacked on the chair seats, and watching the tinkling magical instruments dotted around the room. There was no sign of Buffy.

"Stand over by my desk, Tom. As you can see, we await your Housemate's arrival." Dumbledore twitched the long maroon robe he'd changed into since dinner and dropped into the chair at his desk. He flicked open his pocket watch and checked the time. "It lacks two minutes until the hour. Miss Summers is most likely on her way."

Tom doubted it but stayed silent. Standing quietly with his hands behind his back, he waited and watched while the Transfiguration professor took out a first-year student's essay and began marking.

Finally, Dumbledore had had enough. Putting his quill down, he re-checked his watch. "Miss Summers is almost ten minutes late. Do you happen to know why that is?"

"I came straight from my homework group, Professor," Tom replied evasively. "I missed dinner and haven't spoken to her." The homework group was really a meeting of the Knights, and they'd been discussing their plans for Dearborn. With a little bit of luck, the Gryffindor would be spending time in the infirmary shortly.

Dumbledore placed both of his elbows on the table, steepled his hands and regarded Tom over the top of them. "Is there something I should know? You may as well tell me. It isn't like I won't find out at some point."

Tom remained silent. Not off me, you won't. Slytherins did not grass on their fellow Slytherins, not unless he'd told them to.

"Tom..?"

But Dumbledore was right about this. There were too many people who'd seen her. The Transfiguration professor would know soon enough. "Sir, I believe... Buffy has set a table up in the entrance hall. Perhaps... it's caused her to be detained."

"A table?" Having gone straight to the Headmaster's office after dinner, Dumbledore hadn't been anywhere near the entrance hall. "Why would Buffy set up a table in the entrance hall?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.

"She..." Tom began again, "It's... to advertise her BATT club, sir. The sign above it reads We Aren't Mad Muggle Scientists'.I gather Buffy is being surprisingly successful at persuading others to support her cause." Tom wasn't sure how he felt about it. To give her her due, going in from the 'we're not Muggles' angle was a good way to garner support. Who wanted to be associated with the darker side of Muggle experiments? Just the thought of it made the Purebloods nervous and she even had the Muggleborns worked up enough to sign her petition.

Dumbledore just stared at him– speechless. It made Tom uneasy. Then, from behind the high shelving, Fawkes began to sing. It was a sweet and comforting sound, even to Tom, and Dumbledore visibly relaxed upon hearing it. That was until the phoenix's song stopped and he let out a warning squawk.

Dumbledore was up and at the door – yanking it open. Tom turned, peering around the robed figure. Was that Buffy? Sure enough, the blonde girl stood in the hall, a compact mirror in one hand and a comb in the other.

"Oh! You made me jump." Buffy gave the professor a bright, untroubled smile, and Tom's heart skipped. "I was just..." She waved the hand holding the comb, "...combing."

Dumbledore bristled with disbelief and indignation. "Are you trying to tell me, that you have been stood outside of my door for the last ten minutes – grooming yourself?!"

"Ten past? I thought it was five to?"

"It is ten minutes past the hour."

"Um, sorry? I sprinted up here at the speed of light..." Her eyes widened and she lost her smile. "No! Not really as fast as the speed of light. That was, like, a metaphor. I just ran."

"Why run if you thought you were early? Hmm? You aren't allowed to run in the corridors, Miss Summers." Dumbledore stepped aside and gestured for her to enter. "Stand over there, beside Tom. He managed to arrive in good time, and you should have done the same. I'm very disappointed at your lackadaisical timekeeping."

Tom swivelled, to face the desk again. Lackadaisical timekeeping? Is that all Dumbledore is going to say to her? No punishment?! How strange! He normally only turns a blind eye to his Gryffindors' misdemeanours.

Buffy took her place beside Tom and tried to look contrite. If Tom had to score her, he'd give her one out of ten for both success and effort.

"I'm sorry for keeping you all waiting. I got caught up in..."

"Recruiting others to cause trouble in my lessons," Dumbledore finished for her.

Buffy swung her head in Tom's direction and gave him a hard look. Tom was all too aware of her, but he refused to meet her eyes and, instead, pretended to read the headlines of the paper 'Transfiguration Today' thatDumbledore had left on the desk.

"It wasn't done to cause trouble for you," replied Buffy, frowning at how Tom ignored her. "I just think, what you're doing is wrong. I'd have been here earlier, only Wally insisted on our photos being taken and that made everyone else come over to the table. Orion didn't want to, but she made him. She says BATTs could be the start of something –."

"Miss Black is wrong," Dumbledore interrupted. "BATTs isn't the start of anything. I've spoken to the Headmaster and together we ave decided that anyone who feels uncomfortable using animals need not do so. I shall announce it at breakfast."

"Really?" Buffy's face lightened. "You're really gonna change the rules? For me? That's never happened before."

"No rule is being changed, and it isn't about you," Dumbledore said quickly. "If anyone else had objected as strongly as you, I'd have done the same."

Tom kept his face carefully blank. He didn't believe Dumbledore would have done this for just anyone. He favoured her. No – she worried him! Why? Buffy claimed Dumbledore was a friend of her mother and that's why he'd tutored her over the summer. What was behind this? Was Dumbledore her real father? Inwardly, he shook his head. He didn't think so. Not unless Buffy favoured her Lovegood mother in both her looks and character.

Buffy beamed. "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore! Honestly, I was dreading coming up here and facing you over this. Hogwarts is doing the right thing. Lots of students have signed my petition. We were gonna boycott your lessons until you changed your mind."

"How lovely of you all," Dumbledore replied, not looking in the least bit worried that students weren't going to attend. "It's a good thing that we are of an accord over this.

However, we are not here to discuss your bat crusade, but the disruptive behaviour you both caused in my class. Do you realise how rude and disrespectful you were? Not only to me but to your classmates. Have you anything to say?"

"I really am sorry," Tom got in quickly. He doubted they'd be suspended, but he could lose his prefect badge over this. Why had he been such an idiot? Even Malfoy had looked at him as if he'd grown a second head. "Sir, I behaved stupidly. I only did it because I was worried about Buffy."

"Huh?" Buffy asked.

"I was worried Buffy would lose us more House points," he lied, keeping his voice steady and earnest. "I want my House to win at the end of the year."

"Liar," Buffy muttered under her breath, only Riddle heard her. Louder, she said, "Professor, I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have hexed Tom like that in front of the entire class. I'm suitably ashamed of my conduct. It was, kind of, a pathetic performance." She smiled sweetly at Tom. "I'll try to do better in future. Tom deserves... so much more."

Threatening him! She'd never do that to Dearborn... Hurt, and angry she's the power to make him feel that way, Tom returned her saccharine smile with one of his own. "As do you, Miss deserve... much more."

Buffy stiffened, and then her smile grew sharper and feral. "Any time."

Tom's magic bristled, the room growing darker. "Name it."

Buffy looked down and then up at him from under her lashes. Somehow managing to appear sassy and dangerous at the same time. "Bring on whatever you've got, Tom-Tom."

"STOP THAT!" Dumbledore slammed his fists down on the desk, making the magical instruments and books jump.

Tom shot him a startled look. Merlin! I forgot about Dumbledore again! Why? Why do I forget everything else when Buffy antagonises me? It isn't as if she's more dangerous and powerful. I need to focus more, and not just on her! Stupid, besotted idiot!

"He started it!" whined Buffy.

Tom swung around. "What? I did not!"

"Did too!"

"I did not!" He folded his arms and glared at her.

"SHUT UP!" Dumbledore rose to his feet. "I have never known a pair of students like you." He gave Tom a long, appraising look. "You are a prefect, Tom. You shouldn't stoop to her level."

Buffy made a choking noise. "Hey! I'm standing right here! And so, he's a prefect, not perfect – big deal."

Dumbledore pointed a finger at her. "A prefect is a position of authority, given to those who have our trust. I doubt Tom wishes to lose his badge."

Buffy opened her mouth.

"Say nothing more, Miss Summers," Dumbledore warned. "Not unless you wish to spend the next few weeks explaining to Joyce the reason why you've been suspended from school in your first year."

Over in the other part of the room, behind the partition, Fawkes launched himself into the air and landed on top of the bookshelf. He perched there, the feathers on his head puffed up, one reptilian eye glittering angrily as he regarded the two students below.

"Fawkes!" Dumbledore called, and the bird flew over to land on his shoulder. "Even Fawkes is disgusted by the behaviour of you both. I had wondered if the punishment I have in mind for you was a little harsh. Professor Babbling thought so. However, after seeing your behaviour just now, it makes me wonder if it is severe enough..."

Neither Buffy nor Tom spoke. She shuffled her feet, and Tom waited.

"The Headmaster thought suspending you was the better option. I convinced him to allow me to give you another chance. A chance of becoming friends and restoring harmony between you."

Tom didn't like how Dumbledore's lip curled into a smirk, or the sound of this. Buffy's brow wrinkled. She, wisely, kept silent.

Dumbledore scratched Fawkes' head, the bird raising his orange feathers so that the man's fingers could scratch deeper, the bird's eyes glowing in the warm lamplight.

"I shall give you a choice," said Dumbledore. "You can either take the Headmaster's punishment – suspension until the end of term – or mine. If you take mine, you will work together – supervising detentions – and Buffy will accompany Tom on his prefect patrols so that she can learn how important their work is. Tom, you will lose your access to the prefects' bathroom during the punishment, and you will both forfeit visits to Hogsmeade."

Tom thought the punishment didn't sound too bad. He was still wary. If it seemed too easy, too simple, it probably was. There must be more to this than what Dumbledore was saying.

"But I'm supposed to be going to Hogsmeade tomorrow!" Buffy said "It's my first time and Roz helped me make a three page shopping list of all the essentials I need to buy. Plus, my friends and I have plan-age."

Tom bit down on his cheek to avoid snarling a reply at her. He knew what those arrangements were – a date with Caradoc Dearborn! He forced himself to relax, to remember that the Knights had orders and Dearborn would be in no condition to go on a date.

"Not any longer." Dumbledore was saying. "Unless you prefer the Headmaster's option and then – if your mother is agreeable to you leaving the house while suspended – you'll have a lot of free time to visit the Hogsmeade shops."

Buffy dropped her head. "No, I'm good."

Dumbledore nodded. "I thought so. And what about you, Tom? Will you be travelling back to Wools earlier than expected, or are you happy to stay?"

To return to a world without magic, wartime rations, Mrs Cole's drunken temper tantrums, snivelling brats, and a frigid bedroom? "No, thank you, Professor. I'd rather stay and accept my punishment." This wouldn't be difficult. He'd spent the past four years being nice to people he despised. It should be easier dealing with one he liked – once he had Dearborn out of the way.

"Very well." Dumbledore opened the drawer in his desk and took out two lengths of tangled silver chain. The magical metal chains snaked around his hands, gleaming in the light as they encircled his wrist and forearm. Untangling them, he laid each one on his desk, where they continued to coil and twist around each other like a pair of mating snakes.

Buffy's head swivelled in Tom's direction; panic on her face. Tom shook his head. It wasn't wise to challenge Dumbledore over this, not yet – they needed to learn his plans.

"These chains will bind you at the ankle and wrist, until you have learnt civility and, hopefully, friendship. They will break between the hours of 10pm and 8am. Neither of you will be able to leave the Slytherin quarters without the other. During the week, they will break and allow for differences in timetables."

"What about my extra evening classes? I take Ghoul Studies and Ancient Studies. Tom doesn't." Buffy sounded frightened.

Tom didn't like the sound of Dumbledore's punishment either. He had plans – dark plans. How could he use the darker spells, learn more about horcruxes and whisper instructions into his Knights' ears with Buffy peering over his shoulder? He was a Dark Lord in the making: he needed... space!

"Ah, Buffy, I knew you'd ask." Dumbledore sounded smug as he stroked the phoenix's head. The bird flicked its wings and cocked its head, looking at Tom. Tom had the urge to wring its neck and then its owners. "All the extra classes and clubs will be suspended."

Buffy moaned. "I like Ghoul Studies. The ghouls are funny."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "They are? That's the first time I've heard them called that." He sucked his teeth, watching her, then gave a little shake of his head. "Each to their own, I suppose. Professor Merrythought told me that you have an unusual way of dealing with the more unruly ones..."

"I hit them over the head with my book," Buffy supplied. "iGreat Expectations/i. It's a Muggle book and the perfect size for slam-age."

Dumbledore hmm'd. "Professor Merrythought also said she was ready to give you an 'Outstanding' grade on that class anyway. As for Ancient Studies... you are already ahead. Professor Babbling can provide you with extra reading if you wish."

"How long before the chain rejoins after our different classes?" Tom asked. His knights were going to hate this.

"Within ten minutes. I suggest you don't dawdle. If you are not within three feet of one another at that time, the chain will rejoin you by force. It may cause you some... slight pain."

"This whole thing is totally evil," hissed Buffy. "I could be in the bathroom." Tom agreed with her.

Dumbledore tilted his head, giving serious consideration to her words. "Some evils are necessary. This is necessary, but I don't personally regard it as evil. The Headmaster and your Housemaster and several other teachers all agree with me."

"What about restroom breaks?" Buffy asked, seeking an avenue of escape. Tom didn't blame her for trying. There had to be a loophole in this – somewhere.

"I shall assign you an extra ten minutes every three hours."

Buffy's mouth dropped. "But... I'm a girl! I need to do girly things! I need more time!"

Dumbledore wouldn't budge. "Then I suggest... you make the most of the time you are allotted." He picked up the chains and wrapped one end around Buffy's wrist and the other around Tom's. The silver chain encircled their wrists, fitting snugly, but not tightly.

"Aren't you scared?" Buffy asked as Dumbledore crouched to secure their ankles with the second chain.

There was a dark undertone to her voice which made Tom's eyes slide to her face. She wasn't exactly threatening Dumbledore, but... iWhat was she thinking taking Dumbledore on? He was older than them, more experienced and far more powerful./i The Transfiguration Professor took it as a threat as well; he paused before casting the Charm to bind them together.

"Scared?" he asked. His face stern was stern and unyielding as his eyes scanned Buffy's face. "What have I to be scared about, Miss Summers?"

Buffy examined her fingernails. "Only our crazy teenage hormones," she replied. "You're using bondage chains to fasten students together so they have to get all close and personal. What happens if you find us... bonding..." She looked up, watching the effect of her next words on his face, "... naked, on the teacher's table in the Great Hall."

Dumbledore spluttered, his face flushing. It took him a few seconds before he regained his composure. "I presumed you'd both be able to control your baser instincts. If not... there is always the other option – suspension."

Tom stared straight ahead of him. Desperately trying to think of his Arithmancy homework and not the image Buffy had just planted inside his head.