Okay...first...only day off right now is Wednesday (today), so...that's why this didn't come on Sunday. Sorry. *insert sobbing emojis here*

Second...I absolutely HATE naming chapters, so...sometimes the titles will be random...and won't make sense. Sorry, not sorry. Suggestions for them are WELCOMED! Haha.

~oOo~

Chapter Fourteen

"Miss Smarty-pants"

"Okay. So. What's our next move?" Buffy asked. She had sat herself back down at the table next to Tom—giving him a little kick to keep him on point, because he seemed distant—and Dumbledore had joined them, sitting at the head of the table. Sophie and Vin had seated themselves as well—Vin with obvious reluctance. Dumbledore's appearance had just made the dark-haired witch want to disappear up into her bedroom. Seeing him brought up just too many memories—both good and bad.

"That part is simple. If you'd like to attend Hogwarts, then you can let me know...as late as the 31st of July and as soon as right now," the older man said. "The sooner the better, I'd say, as it would get Edna Giles off your back."

Vin harrumphed. "I wouldn't count on Edna backing off," she said.

Dumbledore shook his head. "Precedent has been set. She will not have a choice."

Sophie barked out a laugh. "You don't know Edna very well if you think a past altercation with the wizarding world is something our sister will be too concerned with."

Buffy waved her hand to dismiss the subject of Edna. "I'm not worried about Edna. I can handle her control freakishness."

Dumbledore nodded. "All right then, the sooner you decide on this would be most beneficial for you as well. You have four years worth of studies to catch up on before the 1st September." We should get to work immediately."

"Grr argh!" Buffy groaned as she dropped her head to the table with a thump. "That just... blows!"

This got Tom's full attention. He was now staring at the girl beside him.

Dumbledore seemed to find amusement in Buffy's actions. She might be a Slayer, but she was also a typical teenager. Not a Ravenclaw then, he decided on the spot. That narrowed it down slightly.

"If you aren't going to the witchy school, dear, you'll have to start at one of the schools here, or...the neighbors will talk," Sophie added, trying to make Buffy see that getting out of school was never an option.

Vin huffed. "Since when have we cared about those busybodies?!" she asked snidely. "Besides, in these times, the schools are held in the Underground tunnels, so there's that cheerfulness."

"I suppose," Buffy grumbled, sitting up again. "And here I thought I'd get a pass on the school stuff on account of the time-travel and...you know...the dying!"

Dumbledore studied the girl. "You died...in your time?" He'd been reluctant to ask too many questions. It was never good to know too much about the future—or so they said—but he had to admit that he was curious. Who wouldn't be?! It was too bad she hadn't been from the wizarding world in her own time. If she had been, he wasn't sure he'd have been able to resist questioning her further.

Buffy shrugged. "I might have. I think I did anyway. The Master was... is...a really powerful vampire dude and so challenged in the looks department. Like... totally dogly, if you know what I mean. And old! Like, older than any vamp on record. I definitely remember him biting me," she said, her hand going up to her scarred neck. "And then there was this underground pond that he dropped me in. That's the last thing I remember. I mean, I think I sorta, kinda, vaguely, remember falling in there. I think I drowned. It's all a bit foggy. I was definitely soggy." She shook her head. "After that, I remember waking up here at Vin and Sophie's house. Tom was here. I totally attacked him," she said, looking at him guiltily as she playfully bumped his shoulder with hers. "Sorry," she whispered.

Dumbledore watched Tom Riddle try to look annoyed with Buffy Summers, but he couldn't quite pull it off. It was fascinating to see the connection these two had made. There was clearly something about this girl that just pulled you in, Dumbledore decided as he looked from Tom to Buffy and back again.

Somehow, just the movement of Dumbledore's eyes had drawn Tom's attention and given away the fact that they were being watched. It was obvious when the boy realized his defenses were down, because his demeanor completely changed, his already dark eyes going nearly black, his usual veil dropping over his features.

"Hmm. Interesting," Dumbledore said when the moment was over. "I will see if I can do a little time-travel research."

Buffy's eyes widened. "Can you send me back?" Her heart began to beat a little bit faster. She was enjoying this little vacay and the discovery that she had magic, but...she missed her mom and her friends.

"I am not sure. Time-travel is possible, but I'm not sure where exactly you'd be sent. You could end up elsewhere...maybe even further in the past. Or you might go back to the exact moment you left and then you'd be..."

"I'd be in that yucky pond," Buffy finished with a shudder. The thought of that was horrifying!

"Let's just focus on the here and now...for now," he suggested.

Buffy nodded emphatically. "That's doable."

From across the table, Vin frowned with concern. "Have you made your decision then, Buffy?" she asked. She knew that magic had caused the death of Ariana Dumbledore, but she'd never been told the ins and outs of what had happened to her childhood friend. At some point, she would have to corner Albus and get all the details.

Buffy shrugged. "I'm going to this...Hogwarts place, of course!" she said as she ran her fingers over the envelope her letter had come in—and smiled as she looked at the letter again. "But...I totally need to learn how to control my magic...if I'm going to do this. I can't arrive there all wild thing."

Dumbledore smiled. "Good. And I agree. Some training is in order. In order to start your education you'll need to visit Diagon Alley to buy your wand and school supplies. We should go as soon as possible and begin your lessons immediately afterwards," he said as he rose from his place at the table.

"Now?" Buffy asked.

Dumbledore chuckled. "No, my dear, but I must be on my way. I need to inform Headmaster Dippet of your decision to attend and let him know that we've managed to come up with a preliminary plan. I shall contact you in a few days time."

"Oh. Okay. That sounds...sound," Buffy said with a nod. "Can Tom come with us? I won't feel comfortable if he's not there."

Dumbledore glanced from the girl to the boy, then back. "If you both wish it."

"And Vin and Sophie?" Buffy continued. "Because they're like, my moms now."

Sophie smiled and sniffed with emotion. Vin looked a little uncomfortable, but she too smiled.

"Of course, Buffy," Dumbledore agreed. "They are, for all intents and purposes, your family now."

Buffy sighed with relief. "Awesome."

"So, just one more order of business," Dumbledore said. "If you could officially respond that you'll be in attendance at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I'll take my leave."

"Oh. Okay. What do I have to do?" Buffy asked.

"Well, typically there's an adult in the house who has a wand, but since that's not the case here, you can use mine," Dumbledore said, pulling out his wand and a scroll containing all the names of the new students starting at Hogwarts that year."

Tom jumped in here. "Wait! I didn't do that," he said.

"It's necessary in Buffy's case, Tom. For one, she's not entering as a first year. First years usually have parents who take care of it. In your case, I informed you of your invitation and handled the rest. And secondly, we need 'magical proof' that she's making this choice. That way the Watcher's Council can't deny that she's a witch or make any further attempts to remove her from the Fairweather household."

Buffy frowned at this part. "And you're sure they can't take away my Slayers' powers? Because, I don't want that!"

"If everything is as you said...that there is already another Slayer in this time...then I don't see why there'd be reason to deactivate your powers. Besides, the amount of magic required to do that would be exhausting for all parties. Even dangerous. And, it would call for you to be in their presence, at their headquarters, for spell to be performed. They won't admit this, but it would be more harmful to the Council than beneficial. They will let it go. And, as a precaution, I will put you under my protection henceforth."

Buffy shrugged. "All right then," she said, reaching for the older man's wand.

"Wait!" Tom interrupted again. "You don't know what happened when she touched my wand."

Albus Dumbledore's brows rose.

"Yeah, there was total sparkage, all over the park," Buffy added. "It was very pretty."

"That didn't happen here," Vin said, "when we walked in on you two...touching his wand."

Both Tom and Buffy shivered at the mention of their shared intimacy.

Dumbledore watched them, then nodded. "I will keep my hand on it as well then...to control whatever extra flow of magic there might be."

Buffy glanced up at Tom, then back at Dumbledore. "Okay, Professor, whatever you say."

~oOo~

As it turned out, Tom left with Dumbledore. It was the fastest way for the boy to get back to the orphanage—the professor would be able to get him inside and up to his room undetected.

But not before bidding Buffy and the Fairweathers a good evening...

Standing next to Buffy, Tom looked both Vin and Sophie in the eyes and smiled at them charmingly. He was very good at being charismatic when he needed to be.

"Thank you both, once again, for inviting me into your home despite showing up unannounced," Tom said.

"Don't be silly, Tom," Vin said with a shake her head. "As we've already told you, you're welcome here anytime."

"Well, thank you," he repeated. "And for allowing me to spend time with Buffy as well, I am quite grateful."

Sophie laughed. "As if we could prevent it, with the two of you traipsing all over London together," she said. "It's like you both have wanderlust, or something."

"And we don't wish to...prevent it, Tom," added Vin. "Whatever makes Buffy happy, makes us happy." She looked at the girl who'd only been in their home for a short time and realized she'd already grown to love her.

Tom nodded, pleased that they didn't seem to dislike him—as it felt like Dumbledore did. He glanced at the wizard, who didn't even appear to be paying attention, then his eyes found Buffy. She was smiling at him.

"I suppose I'll see you soon," he said.

Buffy nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! You'll have to help me find everything I need."

"Of course, Buffy," he agreed, his stomach fluttering uncomfortably. What was it about this girl that had turned him into such a mawkish individual? She was extremely pretty, but he'd seen pretty before. There was a whole gaggle of simpering teenage females at Hogwarts who were always fawning all over him, but he'd never been interested before. Never!

Buffy was also amusing. Half the time he had no inkling what she was saying, but it was the way she said things that drew him in. She was a puzzle—a delight in his otherwise dark and dreary life.

And her physical strength and extra abilities were appealing as well. The way she toyed with that vampire, then destroyed him without so much as a thought. She was amazing!

And the way she moved, with fluid and grace—it was like a dance. Everything about her seemed to captivate him.

Tom blinked himself out of his silly stupor. He hated that Dumbledore was witnessing his dreadful display of sappiness—though the older man wasn't even watching. Instead, Dumbledore was glazing up at a painting on the wall, studying it intensely. But Tom knew he was being weighed. He knew Dumbledore didn't miss a thing!

After a few moments, Dumbledore turned toward him and said, "Are we ready to depart?"

Tom gave a short nod, then looked at Buffy again. At this point Buffy flung her arms around him and squeezed. Tom's eyes widened, his face turning red with embarrassment—and the lack of the ability to breathe.

"Buff," he choked out. "Air."

"Oops! Sorry," she said as she loosened her grip—but she continued to hang on. "Thank you, Tom," she whispered. "I'm glad I'll have at least one person who'll know about me at school. Being the new girl at school is totes sucky! I've been there and...let me tell you, not fun!" Then she pulled back and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "See you in a few days? If not before," she whispered the last three words and winked at him.

Tom looked at Dumbledore, who nodded. "Yes, in a few days," the older man agreed. "It will be no more than a week. I will make all the necessary arrangements, then notify you both."

The two teenagers nodded, so Dumbledore continued. "I will also devise a practical yet intensive study plan."

Buffy grimaced and said, "Oh yay!"

This caused Dumbledore to chuckle. "It won't be torturous, Buffy. I suspect that magic will come naturally to you. And I am willing wager that Tom will help."

Surprised, Tom nodded. "Of course, sir. Whatever Buffy needs."

"Good," Dumbledore said, clapping is hands together. "Let's go then. It's late."

~oOo~

"Is everything all right, Tom?" Dumbledore asked when the two were standing outside of Wools.

For a moment, Tom didn't answer. He'd always been very careful not to let his guard down around this man, but it didn't really seem to matter—it appeared as if Dumbledore could see through every barrier he'd put up! Tom sent a fleeting glance up at the older man, wondering if he ever used his Legilimancy skills to penetrate his mind. That was one of the reasons Tom was constantly vigilant, never looking at Dumbledore in the eyes directly, for fear that he'd see inside his mind—and know all of his dark thoughts.

This reminded him that he needed to start practicing his Occlumency, as soon as a time presented itself. The problem was finding someone who was capable of Legilimancy to practice with—and trusting that person not to delve too deeply into his mind. There was no one that fit that description!

"I am...all right, sir," Tom responded cautiously.

Dumbledore glanced up at the orphanage in front of him—it was dark and dismal-looking. Quite a bit like the boy. He knew that Tom was wary of him. That much was obvious. He'd occasionally tried to draw the boy out, but he'd never been able to make a connection—Tom was just too suspicious. It had started on their first meeting, when he'd lectured the boy for taking things that didn't belong to him. Nothing had changed in the four years Tom had been in attendance at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. If anything, the boy had turned even further away from him.

Though, it did seem odd that Tom had been able to get every other professor—including Headmaster Dippet—wrapped around his finger.

"I feel that I've been...remiss in my dealings with you," said Dumbledore.

Tom glanced up at the man again, then quickly away. "Sir?"

"When I came for you at the age of eleven, I hardly gave you the attention you needed to get started. I didn't even take you to Diagon Alley myself. Instead, I gave you vague directions and expected you to get there on your own. And I have not truly looked into how you've been doing here at Wools. I have been neglectful and I'm...sorry."

Tom blinked. He was taken completely by surprise. He was not expecting this at all. He'd sort of figured that Dumbledore had written him off—which was part of why he'd closed himself off to the older wizard.

That and the fact that he had so much frustration and loathing for the world in general. And questions. He still wanted to find out about his parents—and how he'd truly become an orphan. He knew his mother to be dead—she'd died just hours after giving birth to him—but who was his father? Why hadn't the man claimed him? And why was he stuck in a Muggle orphanage? Did he have no relatives at all? He hated Wools! In his hate, he'd done things—horrible things that were unforgivable—and he wasn't sorry.

After several moments of not saying anything—he just couldn't figure out what to say—Dumbledore sighed.

"All right, Tom. Let's get you back inside."

"It's really not necessary, Professor," Tom said. "I sneaked out, I can get back in."

"Ahh, but... will you go back in?" Dumbledore asked, his blue eyes twinkling. "Or will you go back out into London...or Soho?"

Tom managed to keep the smirk off his face. He could not allow Dumbledore to see that he was getting to him. The old man just needed to go and leave him alone!

"All right Tom. I will leave you here on one condition," Dumbledore said. "And that is that you promise to go back inside to your room and that you stay inside Wools until I contact you."

Tom frowned. He knew that if Buffy asked him to, he'd sneak out again.

Dumbledore chuckled. "Once there was a time in my life when I had someone so important that I'd have also found it hard to make such a simple promise. I can accept that."

Tom wondered who that someone was, but gave his professor a farewell nod and left him on the street.

"I will ask instead that you refrain from using any magic."

Tom nodded. "Of course, Sir," he said, because he did not want to jeopardize losing his wand.

~oOo~

After Tom was gone, Buffy sat down on the sofa with a sigh and looked at the sisters. "So...I'm a slayer and a witch, huh? This is pretty heavy."

Sophie smiled. "It seems so," she said.

"Are you sure attending Hogwarts is what you want?" Vin asked.

Buffy shrugged. "I need to get trained up if I have this ability, don't I?"

Sophie nodded emphatically, but Vin looked less sure.

"I'm just worried about you, Buffy," the dark-haired sister admitted.

Sophie frowned. "And I'm worried about you, Vin! Could you enlighten us?"

With a sigh, Vin poured more wine for both of them and sat down. "I knew Albus' sister," she said flatly.

"I got that part!" Sophie snapped. "But you're leaving out a lot!"

"You were too young to remember Ariana before her attack. You were just a baby. I hardly remember that Ariana," Vin said as she got up and started to pace. "I mostly recall the odd things that happened around her, but we were children, so...I didn't question it." She frowned, a faraway look in her eyes. "Until those boys caught us playing with her magic. She was creating real magic for me, not just parlor tricks. But when she was unable to show them how to reproduce the magic, things turned violent. I'm not sure what happened to her at that point, because she'd sent me away to fetch her parents." Vin stopped there. She'd downed her glass of wine—and then smashed the glass into the fireplace. "And I just left her there!" Vin screamed. "Alone. With those boys!"

"It's not your fault, Vinnie," Sophie said. The woman was on her feet and wrapping her sobbing sister in her arms. "What were you, five or six?"

Her head on Sophie's shoulder, Vin nodded. "We were six. And I should have stayed. I should never have left her."

"You were six. No one could have expected you to stay there."

Vin sniffled. "That's what her mother said later...when they were moving away. The attack had left Ariana emotionally scarred and unable to control her magic, which had infuriated her father. He sought revenge against the boys who'd hurt his daughter and then he was just... gone. I didn't know where at the time, but I now know he was sent to the wizarding prison.

"So her mother decided to move her family to Godric's Hollow, where she felt she could keep her daughter secluded and safe from the outside world. And since Ariana's mother was on good terms with our mother, she promised to keep in touch. But the few times I saw Ariana after the incident...before they moved away..." Vin shook her head, tears coursing down her cheeks. "She wasn't the same. And it seemed that her magic was gone. Or maybe she just refused to use it. I don't know.

"For many years her mother continued to write to us. Mother would read out the letters to me, but she'd never let me read them myself." Vin frowned, wondering about the full contents of the letters—and where they might be. "And then Mrs Dumbledore's letters stopped. Later, I was fifteen at the time, we received a visit...from Albus...informing us of both Kendra and Ariana's deaths. And that's the end of the story."

"I suspect there's much more," said Sophie.

Vin shrugged. "I know there's more! But that's where it ended for me. I have no idea what happened to either of them. Well, I know that magic was the cause, but...that's it. The family was always secretive."

"Hmph! And it appears that ours is as well!" Sophie complained.

"I never meant to be secretive," Vin said, turning pleading eyes on her sister. "I just don't like speaking about my childhood friend who was viciously attacked and then later died."

"Yes, but don't you think you deserve answers?" Sophie asked.

"Answers won't bring my friend back, but...I do want them. I didn't think I'd ever see any of the Dumbledores again, so I thought I'd never be able to ask."

"Well, now you'll have the opportunity," Sophie said quietly.

"Yes, now I can," Vin whispered—then looked at Buffy. "But this is why I'm worried. Their sort of magic is dangerous."

Buffy shrugged. "Can't any magic be dangerous?" she asked. "Lots of things out there are menacey. I mean, my job slaying vampires and demons is all high risk and mortal peril, so...what's the difference?"

"She has a point," Sophie said.

Buffy grinned. "That's me, pointy girl."

Through her tears, Vin laughed. "I can't think about this any more tonight."

Sophie nodded. "You should go on up to bed."

Nodding, Vin hugged her sister again, then wrapped her arms around Buffy. "Good night, dear."

Buffy squeezed back, then watched Vin leave the room.

~oOo~

"So that was interesting, yeah?" Buffy asked Sophie.

"Very much so. I had no idea Vin had acquaintances in other magical communities until this evening."

"Vin said he visited with the news," Buffy prompted.

Sophie shook her head. "He didn't come when I was there. I'd have remembered him if he had."

"How old are you guys anyway?" Buffy inquired. "Because, I gotta tell ya, neither of you look as old as that Dumble guy."

Sophie chuckled. "Vin said she was fifteen when Dumbledore came to tell her about his sister, so that was...1900. I would have been about ten, depending on when he came that year. That was also the year that Edna was born."

Buffy's eyes widened. "Wow! So, you two are like...in your fifties?! Holy moly! I never would have guessed that one! You both look so... young! Like, no joke, in your twenties."

Sophie laughed again and flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder. "Well, we might use some of our magic to keep ourselves looking youthful. Who wants to grow old?" She shuddered. "It's partly why Edna has issues with us. Oh, and because we're 'flighty' and 'irresponsible.' And let's not forget that we're 'trollops' too."

Buffy laughed. "I don't think you're any of those things. I've been here a week and I haven't see either of you bring a man home. I mean, so you like to go out and have a good time, that doesn't mean you're getting horizonal with every man you meet! Edna needs to learn to mind her own."

Sophie giggled. "You do have a way with words."

"Just calling it like I see it," said Buffy. "And hey, I like to party. There's a club in Sunnydale called the Bronze that we hang at all the time...but you wouldn't find me hopping on an off every boy I encounter. Which is a lot! Lots of boys at the Bronze!"

Sophie snorted. "I certainly hope not! You're only fifteen."

Buffy frowned. "In my time I'm sixteen...and the kids there are...a lot more open with their bodies, I think, but...whatever. I'll try to behave."

Sophie pursed her lips. "Please do better than try."

"As for the other parts," Buffy continued. "You're taking responsibility for me, aren't you?"

"Hmm. Edna would say that the responsible thing to do would be to turn you over to the authorities. Or better yet, to the Council."

Buffy scoffed. "Hey, we all have our issues, but...you two took me in and are fighting to keep me, so I'd say that throws flighty out the window. Thank you for that, by the way. I'm not sure what I'd be doing if it wasn't for you guys."

Sophie smiled. "You're very welcome, Buffy. I have to admit that we've been rather...self-centered over the years, but...without anyone to depend on us, we haven't needed to be anything else. Edna has a career and a family, so it's different for her. She chose a different path."

"That's right. She chose differently than you and Vin. Her choice isn't any better or worse than yours. To be honest, I think maybe she envies your freedom, but that's not on you."

"You're very smart for your years, dear."

Buffy grinned. "Yeah, that's me, Miss Smarty-pants!"