As you all know...I think...I'm well ahead in the writing of this. I'm in the middle of C34. Despite this, I'm not feeling like writing at the moment, so the posting is slow going. Sorry, not sorry. It's partly because I'm working a ton (and got into with my boss yesterday...my job is ridiculous!) and I'm exhausted (totally sick and tired) and partly because there just doesn't seem to be that many people reading and commenting. So...when I get like this, I take a step back and do some reading instead. Some of my reading is just other fanfics (I'm a HUGE Drarry fan and there are LOADS of those to read) and some of it is research for more chapters for this (I've visited my library and brought a few books home AND ordered a few books from Amazon). Needless to say (I hope), I am STILL working on this...and WILL push through the doldrums...or whatever this is! *sigh*
Anyway, thanks for your patience...and double thanks to those who give me reason to continue!
Chapter Twenty-three
Battered and Bruised
"I'll get it, Buffy," Tom said, gently touching her shoulder as he got to his feet.
Sighing, Buffy nodded and sat down, waiting for his return. It did not take long for Tom to re-enter the room. He was holding a letter from Hogwarts in one hand and had a small brown owl on his opposite arm. Ignoring the owl, he was studying the envelope as he walked back into the room.
"Oh!" Edna said, gaping at the owl, as the boy walked nonchalantly into the room with an owl on his arm! "Your post comes by owl?"
Tom ignored the Watcher's exclamation and questions, because...obviously it came by owl—and because she didn't deserve a response after all her rude behavior.
"Your letter, Buffy," he said instead, as he reached the girl to whom the letter belonged, extending the letter out to her—then petting the creature he was holding. After Buffy had taken the letter, he took a piece of meat off his plate and fed it to the owl.
Buffy gave him a tight-lipped smile as she looked at the envelope in her hand, opening it slowly and reading to herself.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Armando Dippet
Dear Miss Summers
After speaking with Headmaster Dippet and several others at our school, it has been determined that you will need intensive training to bring you up to speed. We are aware that not all of it can be done in the short time we have, but we will certainly give it our best effort, as will you we're sure. Once you arrive at Hogwarts, your progress will be assessed and from there you will be assigned tutors to further your studies.
As you are aware, term begins 1 September, so we must start immediately. I will be in the area tomorrow and will drop by at 9:00am, so that we can discuss the proposed schedule in person. After that, we will make a trip to Diagon Alley, where we can purchase the supplies you will need to attend Hogwarts.
Yours Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore,
Deputy Headmaster
After reading the letter, Buffy read it a second time, then handed it to Tom.
"This doesn't sound too difficult, Buffy," he said after reading it himself.
Buffy scoffed. "Four years of work in just eight weeks?!" she grumbled, pushing her plate away and dropping her head to the table. "Kill me now! Please. Someone just...put an end to me!"
Tom smirked and Edmund chuckled.
"It can't be that bad, Buffy," Edmund said, shaking his head.
Tom shook his head. "It's not. Buffy will be a natural, I'm sure of it."
Buffy groaned. "I'm an awesome Slayer, Edmund...not so great at being a student. In fact, I'm more skilled at burning down my school than attending it."
All the adults frowned, but Edmund laughed.
"You laugh, but I'm serious!" Buffy cried. "At Hemery I burned down the gym. It was vampire related, but...yeah."
Pursing her lips, Edna glanced at her husband.
"Buffy, I suspect that some of our classes at Hogwarts are much more like being a Slayer than ordinary Muggle classes," Tom said. "Like...Defense Against the Dark Arts, for instance. Of course there are books to read and study, but there is the physical half of it. I'm sure you'll excel at that part. Even Charms and Tranfiguration are more doing than just reading and studying. You have to get the wand movements down and the incantations, but I know you can do it."
Buffy's expression lit up. "Gawd, I hope so."
"And I'll help you," Tom said.
"As will I," Edmund offered. "I don't know the material, but I'd be willing to sit in on study sessions...if you'd both have me. I'm an extremely good student and an excellent tutor, I've been told."
Sighing, Buffy nodded, then quietly said, "Okay."
~oOo~
Buffy's letter was passed around the table. Vin and Sophie studied it together, then handed it to Edmund. After Edmund was finished, he glanced at Buffy—who nodded—then he handed it to his mother, who read it and then passed it to her husband. After several minutes, Buffy was holding it once again.
"Welp! I think I've had it for the day," Buffy said as she faked a yawn and stretched, then stood up. "I think I'll turn in."
All the females sat there staring up at her—and all the males stood up with her, both Tom and Edmund frowning. Rupert watched her with confusion, then nodded. "I suppose it's been a long day for you three, out in the city. Goodnight, Buffy," he said.
Buffy smiled at him. "I'll just take my plate to the kitchen," she said without really looking at anyone else—then pranced out of the dining room, pretending to yawn again as she went.
Everyone sitting again, they watched her go.
"What just happened here?" Edna queried as soon as the Slayer was out of the room.
Keeping her face straight, Vin shrugged. "She's tired."
Edna snorted. "Right. She was just talking about going out hunting."
"Maybe all the talk of studying exhausted her," said Vin.
"Pfft! That's absurd," Edna said with a shake of her head. "A Slayer does not become exhausted by mere talk!"
Sophie grinned. "Well then, perhaps she's planning to sneak out again."
Edna's eyes rounded with alarm. "She can't do that! You must stop her!"
Sophie chortled her amusement. "We've already told you that Buffy's a guest in this house and that she's welcome to come and go as she pleases. Just like anyone else would be."
"But...she's just...a teenager!" Edna sputtered.
Vin shook her head. "And the poor girl has lived a lifetime in her fifteen years."
"Or sixteen," Sophie reminded.
Vin nodded. "Right," she said with a frown. "Sixteen there...fifteen here. Not sure why the difference in our time."
Sophie frowned. "If she spends a year here in this time, do you think she'll be sixteen or seventeen when she gets back to her time?" she asked.
Vin shrugged. "Who knows."
Sophie mirrored her sister's shrug and hmm'd. "To be young again," she said dreamily.
Vin flipped her long, dark hair off her shoulder and grinned. "Forever young, my dear," she said. "Forever young."
"Too true," Sophie agreed with a grin, then picked up her wine glass and sipped.
"Does it matter?!" Edna snapped, cutting off her sisters' meaningless and nonsensical conversation. "Miss Summers is a minor and you two are the adults here! You keep saying that you're keeping her, but you two aren't behaving like parents. She needs guidance and rules, not the freedom to do anything she bloody well wants to do."
Vin shook her head. "And, as you keep pointing out, we're not mature enough to be parents, so...we're just housing her."
Sophie nodded. "Exactly! Don't worry, dear sister, our little Slayer will return."
The Watcher huffed. "If Buffy knows she can come and go, then why would she feel the need to sneak out?" she pushed. "Why not just tell us what she's doing and walk out the front door?"
Rupert sighed. "Perhaps she needed some space, love," he said. "We've been trying to control her every move since the moment we discovered her existence."
Edna glared at her husband.
"I haven't been trying to control her," Tom grumbled, his eyes on his plate.
Vin glanced at the dark-eyed young man. She could see by his posture that his feelings were hurt—and that he was struggling to come to terms with his feelings.
"I'm sure it has nothing to do with you, Tom," she said, sending a glare at her youngest sister—causing Edna to look at her son and sigh. He looked a bit hurt as well.
Blinking, Tom looked up at the dark-haired witch and tried to put his mask back on. Nodding, he said, "Of course not."
"I think it's time we left," Edna said, placing her napkin on the table.
Rupert nodded. "Quite right, dear."
Edmund sighed. "I'll just...help to clear the table first," he said. "Tom?"
Pulling himself from his thoughts, Tom focused on Edmund. "Yes. Of course," he said as he got to his feet and started gathering dishes. At Wools he hated being on dish duty, but here it felt different. Who knew that some Muggles weren't so awful!
As the boys started to pile dishes on the table, the four adults silently watched, then stared at each other.
"They're both in love with the Slayer," Edna said quietly.
Sophie grinned. "You don't say."
Edna shook her head. "This is not at all amusing, Sophronia! A Watcher cannot fall in love with a Slayer!"
"And yet your son has fallen for her," said Vin.
"As has Tom," Sophie said, worried now.
Edna shook her head. "This is why Slayers are separated from their families and isolated. They need to keep their focus on their duty. And that is slaying! Not their family, friends, or boys!"
"Buffy is focused. She doesn't appear to be, but she is," Vin said. "We have to remember that she's just a teenager though. She needs to have some semblance of life while she can. Otherwise, what's the point?"
"We all know her life won't be a long one," Sophie put in—causing Edna to pick up her wine glass and down what was left.
"This isn't going to end well," Edna predicted.
~oOo~
"Should we go down and try to stop her?" Tom asked after setting his stack of dishes in the sink.
Edmund shook his head. "I think she's probably already gone. She's fast."
Tom frowned. "I'd still like to check."
Edmund nodded his agreement. "All right."
Together the two boys left the kitchen and went downstairs to Buffy's bedroom and, as expected, found it empty—except for a little note from their friend. Edmund found it and read it first, then held it out to Tom, saying, "Auntie Sophie was right, she's sneaked out."
Sorry guys!
I needed to get out for a few hours.
See you when I get home, Tom!
In the morning, I guess. Don't wait up! Lol.
See you next time, Edmund...whenever that is!
Thanks for going to the movies with us today.
Tell your mom she'll get a report...if I find anything.
xoxo
Buffy
After reading it, Tom hissed angrily and tossed it on the floor. Instantly, the missive burst into flames. Frowning, Tom stared at the burning paper, then stomped on it. He could feel his magic tingling all over his skin.
"Wow!" Edmund exclaimed. "I suppose that's it then." With a sigh, he bent down to pick up the charred remains of Buffy's note and set it on her bed, then started for the door.
Tom nodded, but had already decided that this was far from over! Edmund Giles might be able to accept that Buffy had run off into the night alone, but Tom Riddle had a few choice words for her and he'd be damned if he was going to wait until morning to tell her how he felt about her little disappearing act. He wasn't sure if he would have wanted to go with her, but he'd have liked to be given the choice. Or, at the very least, been told in person that she needed some time to herself. She was, after all, the only reason he was here.
That wasn't precisely true, he'd rather be anywhere that wasn't Wools, Buffy or no Buffy. But he would put that spin on it if it induced feelings of guilt on her part.
"Are you coming, Tom?" Edmund asked at the door.
"Oh. Er. Yes. Of course," Tom said as he followed the other boy upstairs.
Together they reentered the dining room and finished clearing the table. By this time the adults were finished with their conversation, but hadn't masked their looks of concern for the two boys.
"You were right, Auntie," Edmund said as he buttoned up his jacket. "Buffy left a note in her room. We went to check on her."
Sophie nodded. "Thank you, dear," she said as she leaned in and kissed her nephew's cheek.
Edna frowned and opened her mouth to say something—then decided against it. Instead, she looked from her husband to her sisters, a look of desperation in her eyes.
"What is it, Edna?" Vin prompted.
"You'll let us know that she returned safely?" she said, showing her worry.
Vin and Sophie exchanged a surprised glance. "Of course, Edna," said Vin with a nod—followed quickly by Sophie's offer. "I can even run out to a phone and ring you at the office, if you'd like."
Edna blinked at her sisters' willingness to accommodate her. "I would very much appreciate it," she said. She considered asking if they could stay over, but knew that with Buffy and Tom staying there, there wasn't room for three more people.
"Then that's what we'll do," Sophie said. "Now...you three go home. We're exhausted."
Edna resisted the urge to roll her eyes—because, how could her sisters be exhausted when they'd most likely done nothing but sleep all day?!—and allowed her husband to slip her coat on.
"Thank you for supper," she said instead. "It was delicious."
Vin and Sophie grinned at the compliment—they weren't accustomed to receiving them from Edna—and gave their sister a rare embrace. And, unfamiliar with such affection from her sisters, Edna stiffened slightly.
"Relax dear," Vin said as she patted her sister on the back.
"It's called a hug, if you didn't know," Sophie put in, squeezing Edna more than was necessary.
Edna snorted—then wiggled herself out of her sisters' arms. "Yes, yes, I know."
Vin and Sophie turned their goodbyes on Rupert and Edmund, telling them they shouldn't be strangers.
~oOo~
It was nearing dawn when Buffy dropped down from the grate above and struggled herself into her room. She was truly exhausted now that she'd been awake for twenty plus hours—and having had a vigorous night of slaying.
And she was hungry again! This reminded her that she needed to stash some sort of cookies in her room for post-slayage.
Sighing, Buffy pushed the outside door to her room shut and closed her eyes as she leaned against the door—but immediately opened them with her bedroom light clicked on. Instantly, her demeanor changed as she, stake in hand, readied herself to fight.
"Tom?" she said as soon as she recognized her friend. He was sitting in the chair that she'd brought down to her room and he didn't look very happy at all. For a moment he just glared at her, his eyes black in his fury. And then...
"Buffy?" he said, getting up and going to her. "What happened to you?"
He pushed her hair off her face and stared at the blood that was crusted in several places, then ran a thumb over the tender flesh of her bruised left cheek.
Buffy tried to wave off his concern. "All in a night's work," she quipped. "I'm fine."
"FINE?!" he burst, dropping his hands to his sides and staring at her in disbelief.
"I'll be fine," she corrected herself. "And shhh!" She absolutely did not want Vin or Sophie to hear them and come down.
Tom shook his head. "You're bruised and bleeding. You could have broken bones. Come sit down." Gently, he took her hand and led her to her chair and knelt down in front of her. "What can I do?"
"Nothing Tom. Really, I'm okay," she said. "The wounds...they're just superficial, I promise. Nothing's broken. I would know. Besides, I've had worse."
He frowned. Worse? It was hard to fathom that she'd been beat up worse than this.
"I just need a shower...and some food. And a bit of sleep. I'll be right as rain tomorrow. Promise." She sighed.
Tom nodded. "All right. You go shower and I'll get you something to eat."
Buffy bobbed her head and started to get up—then groaned. It was a struggle.
"Can you do that or...do you need help?" he asked.
Buffy chuckled. "Tom Riddle, are you asking to shower with me?" she teased.
The dark-haired boy blushed. "Certainly not!"
She grinned, wincing when doing so re-split her lip.
Tom reached out and wiped at the blood on her lip, then leaned in and gently kissed the opposite side of her mouth, then pulled her into his arms, desperately trying not to hurt her.
"I was hurt when you left, Buffy," he whispered. It was easier to admit with her in his arms, because he didn't have to look her in the eyes. "And then angry. Then worried when you were gone so long...and then angry again." He pulled back and looked into her luminous green eyes. "And then I saw you...looking like this and..." First, he shrugged—and then his eyes flashed with murderous fury. "And then I wanted to kill whatever did this to you!"
She smiled again. This time being careful not to cause herself more damage. "Already did that. Trust me, I look better than they do." She frowned at her wording. "Well, that's not completely true. I mean, they're not all bloody, because they're all...you know, piles of dust now."
"All? How many is all?"
"Um. Maybe seven?" Buffy shrugged.
Tom paled.
"To be honest, I don't remember," she went on. "Could have been more...or maybe less. It felt like they were everywhere. Let's say somewhere between five and nine."
Tom shook his head. "I think I understand why Mrs Giles says you need a Watcher."
"What?! No!" Buffy cried. "You'll see. Tomorrow I'll be all pretty again."
Tom chuckled. "Buffy, even all bruised and bloody, you're the prettiest girl I've ever seen." He ran a finger around the cut on her forehead.
"Aww. So sweet, Tomzy!" she said, leaning in and kissing him.
Tom let her kiss him. He couldn't help himself. He'd have liked to deepen the kiss, but knew she was in no shape for such things. Then he realized what she'd called him. "Do not call me that?" he growled at her.
She sighed. "You're mean." She pouted. "Look at me, all battered and bruised and you won't let me call you pet names."
Ignoring her, he took her hand and pulled her into the bathroom, then started opening the cupboards, looking for a towel. When he found one he pulled it out and handed it to her.
"You shower and I'll get you a snack."
She nodded, then reached up and, without thinking, pulled her shirt off.
For a second, Tom watched her, then he cleared his throat and left the room. As much as he wanted to watch her strip down, he was terrified about what he'd see. Was she now covered in bruises or was she still as perfect as she was in his mind?
~oOo~
In the kitchen, Tom put the kettle on while he collected a plate of leftovers for Buffy—there was a ridiculous amount of them in the refrigerator—then waited for the kettle to whistle. While standing there, he briefly considered running upstairs to tell one of the sisters that Buffy was home safe, but decided against it since he couldn't say that she was also sound. He didn't think Buffy would appreciate it if the entire household was down in her room inspecting her injuries. And, if what she said was true—that they'd be gone the next day—then what was the point? It would probably only anger her and upset them to see her this way.
It took him longer than he'd anticipated to return to Buffy's room. He thought she'd still be in the shower, but she wasn't. Instead, she'd put on a nightgown—Tom gaped at how short her sleepwear was—and collapsed on her bed. It looked like she'd made an attempt to get under the blankets, but hadn't quite managed to cover herself completely.
Setting her food down on a table, Tom pushed her blankets back and adjusted her legs, then covered her up—noting that he saw no bruising on her bare legs. Taking care not the wake her, he sat down beside her and reached out to brush the wet strands of hair from her face. Afterward, he took a moment to study her face, thinking that perhaps she was already healing—just as she said she would. Maybe it just appeared that way, since she had showered and washed away all the dried blood, but...the cuts really did seem finer. Smiling down at her fondly, Tom moved to get up.
Rolling onto her side, Buffy opened her eyes and looked at him.
"Your food is on the table," he said, gesturing behind him. "If you wake up later and want it."
"Thank you."
He nodded. "Are you sure you'll be all right? Should I ask Vin and Sophie to look in on you?"
Buffy shook her head. "I don't want them to see me like this, but thank you. And yes, I'm fine."
"Okay. I'll just go then," he said and started to back away.
"Don't go," she said.
Stopping, Tom frowned—then glanced at her chair. "I can stay," he said as he went to her chair.
"Tom," she said, patting her bed weakly. "Sleep with me."
Tom's eyes went wide. "Buffy...that's..." He shook his head. "Highly inappropriate."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Gawd Tom, this isn't some indecent proposal. I'm not asking you to...you know...with me." Buffy blushed. "I just don't want to be alone. I'm talking sleep here. Both fully clothed."
"You call that fully clothed?" he said with a gesture at her blanket-covered body.
"Mmm-hmm."
Tom frowned. "I don't know. What will Vin and Sophie say?"
Buffy sighed. "Do they know you were waiting for me in my room?"
His face pink, he nodded.
"Then they won't even come down here. And they'll know you slept in my room," she told him—then smirked. "I promise not to molest you."
He snorted. "I make no such promises."
Buffy chuckled. "You're welcome to molest yourself all you'd like. Just...let me know, so I can hide. Or roll over, at the very least," she said, giving him a sleep-deprived smirk.
He blushed crimson. "You're a bit of a pervert, aren't you?"
"I would laugh again, but..." She yawned and closed her eyes.
Sighing, Tom turned off her bedside lamp, then pulled back her blankets and slid in beside her. When he'd settled himself on his back, just an inch away from her, she moved closer, wiggling herself between his body and his arm and putting her head on his shoulder, then draping an arm and leg over his body.
"Good night, Tom," she said. "Thank you for being here for me when I got home."
Wrapping his arm around the exhausted girl, Tom pressed her to him. "Please don't do that again, Buffy. At least tell me before running off."
She nodded. "Okay."
"And...you're welcome."
She smiled, then yawned—then passed out.