It's a super short chapter...sorry!

Chapter Twenty-nine
"What's in a Wand"

"It is not a myth," said Buffy. "I am not a myth."

The old man studied the young woman. They were so far apart in age. He was nearly one hundred years old and she...well, she was definitely under seventeen if she were going off to Hogwarts. And she claimed to be She, the one girl in all the world. The Chosen One. He'd heard the stories, but they were told as if they were myths. Legends. He looked at those standing with her and studied them. He knew Professor Dumbledore wasn't related to her, but the two women hovering close might be relations.

"And you are...her family?" Gerbold Ollivander asked.

Vin and Sophie looked at each other, then back at the old man and shrugged. "For all intents and purposes, yes," the dark-haired woman responded.

Gerbold frowned. "But the myths... stories of the Slayer," he corrected himself. "They always talk of the Slayer being alone."

Buffy snorted. "Yeah, well, all the others have been, I'm told," she said. "But not me. I have family and friends. People who know about me and help me."

Sophie nodded. "We're calling ourselves aunts, for the purpose of keeping Buffy out of the orphanages," she admitted to the man, her eyes briefly going to the boy with them. "But guardians is closer to the truth." She winked at the man.

Gerbold nodded. "And your... Watcher?" the old man pushed questioningly—he wasn't exactly sure he had the term correct. It had been some time since he'd read about slayers.

The Slayer nodded. "Oh. Well, I'm sort of between Watchers at the moment," she said. "It's...a long story. My Watcher is...well, he's... there." She gave a wave that indicated far far away. "And I'm like...here. As you can see."

Gerbold hmm'd, then glanced at Tom. He vaguely remembered him from four years ago, as Gerbold still quite enjoyed coming down into the shop in the weeks leading up to the first of September to watch all the new little witches and wizards being chosen by Garrick's wands. The boy had changed a bit—mostly in height—but looked quite a bit the same too. But he looked nothing like the girl. She was bright and cheerful, with her light hair and bronzed skin—and curious dancing eyes. She radiated warmth and friendship, but surprisingly not innocence. The boy, on the other hand, was dark and brooding—not cheerful at all. Tom Riddle was a decent counter to Buffy Summers sunny disposition. "And, are you family too?" he asked, despite the fact that he was nearly certain the boy was not family either.

Tom blinked. "No Sir, I'm not."

Buffy brightened. "Oh! Tom's the friend in the know," she said. "Um, I mean...he knows about me. Tom's the only friend I have here at the moment." She took her friend's hand.

"You have Edmund as well," Sophie put in quietly—causing Tom to purse his lips.

Buffy nodded. "Yes, but Edmund will be in London when I'm off at Hogwarts and he's..." She shrugged. "Well, he's Edna's son and...Giles' father, so...I can't get too close to him. I just...can't. It's weird." She shook her head. Her words caused Tom to visibly relax.

Vin nodded. "We understand, dear."

"I'm certain you'll make friends at school, Buffy," said Sophie.

Buffy smiled. "I always do," she said.

Watching the interaction, Dumbledore nodded, then spoke. "Whichever House you are sorted into will become your home whilst you are at Hogwarts, Miss Summers," he said. "You will find many more to befriend once you are there."

Sophie nodded. "I'm sure they will all be quite welcoming."

Tom frowned, thinking that perhaps they were being overly optimistic. In his experience, many of the students were not welcoming. Not at all welcoming. He remembered his treatment when he'd first arrived. The harassment he'd received from members of his own House had been worse than anything he'd experienced at Wools—until he'd learned enough to defend himself. Now most of them gave him a wide berth.

Dumbledore's gaze caught on Tom's unsure look. He knew it wasn't always easy for the students to be away from family and friends—not that the boy had either. Even now at Hogwarts he couldn't say he had friends.

But most of the children came to the school without knowing anyone else, because wizarding families were few and far between. Some had older siblings attending. Some had acquaintances that they knew through their families. Only a very few had actual friends.

But those few, who arrived with friends, still tended to struggle, especially if they were sorted into different Houses. It could be a trying time, the professor knew.

"What is...a vampire slayer?" Garrick Ollivander asked.

Turning, Buffy looked at him. "It is what it sounds like," she said to the wandmaker.

"And so much more," Vin added.

Buffy nodded. "Yes...though I don't come across other monsters often. At least not yet," she said. "I mean, Miss French was a praying mantis... the She-Mantis...that nearly killed my friend Xander, but...you know." She paused. "And there was the time that five students at my school, including Xander, were possessed by hyenas' spirits. They ate a poor little piglet. Later they ate Principal Flootie too. Not Xander though. He was...well, not there at the time. Oh! And then this other time, there was this demon called Moloch who was trapped in a book. My friend Willow scanned the book into a computer and..." She stopped talking and frowned. "I'm guessing that I'm not making a lot of sense."

Dumbledore chucked—everyone else shook their heads.

"Hmm. Sorry," said Buffy.

"Goodness. I hope it's quieter at Hogwarts," Sophie put in.

Dumbledore smiled. "It should be, but you never know," he said.

"So, is that enough information to help me find a wand?" Buffy asked hopefully.

Garrick Ollivander glanced at his father and grandfather, then sighed. "Though I loathe to admit it, I think the old system might be...the way it will have to be done for this one," he said sadly—upset that he would have to step back and allow another to create her wand. He would like to have been able to claim he'd made the wand that chose a vampire slayer.

Gervaise reached out and touched his son's arm, then looked at the girl. "So, Miss Summers, we will ask you to go home and return again another day. Bring with you something that has meaning to you. Some magical substance or...something supernatural. Bring it back to us and we will create a wand, especially for you. We will build it around the core you have chosen."

Buffy frowned. "But I'm not...from here," she said quietly. "I don't have anything that means something to me aside from...this." She reached up and took the silver cross she always wore in her hand. "It was given to me by a friend in my...at home and...I'm not prepared to give it up."

She glanced at Tom apologetically. She knew it bothered him when Angel was mentioned—even if not truly mentioned. He was jealous of the connection she had with Angel and she didn't blame him—not one bit—but no amount of jealousy could change her past.

After a moment, Buffy looked back at Gervaise Ollivander. "And everything else that's mine is at home and not reachable. And not magical."

Sophie reached out and took Buffy's free hand. "We'll find something, Buffy."

Vin nodded. "Of course we will."

"Maybe Edna can help," Sophie added.

Buffy grimaced. She'd prefer not to involve the Watcher—or the Council if she could avoid it. She knew anything they asked of Edna would go right back to the Council. Either that or she would owe Edna something for her assistance. She didn't want to be beholden to anyone Council-related.

But perhaps she wouldn't have a choice. Sighing, she nodded. Right now, their shopping expedition felt ruined. The whole point of all this—coming to Diagon Alley—was to get her wand. Sure, she needed other things too, but she'd be leaving without the most important item a witch needed—and her heart ached.