Long babble...read it or don't!
Okay...so I had a HUGE scare this week! My story was GONE...including the SIXTEEN chapters that I'd written for this story, but had not yet posted. Everyday I take my laptop to work and spend 30 minutes of my lunch working chapters. On Wednesday I logged on and my 501 page doc was GONE! The entire thing...just...GONE! One of my brothers is a tech, so I immediately texted him and he said when I got home from work, he would look at it...remotely, as he lives 312 miles away from me!
Somewhere in all there, I messaged a friend...who I send ALL my chapters to (she's read 56 of 57)...to see if she still had them...and she did, so she sent them back to me! Yay again! The rest of my day was excruciating. I just wanted to get home!
So, after at least an hour and half of my brother poking around on my computer (and him complaining that I had too much open and running at once), he found my doc and managed to put a copy of it on my desktop. Yay.
But then...after my brother and I disconnected, something went all wonky. I mean, my computer is OLD and always struggles to run correctly, but...NOTHING would load. Everything online kept saying "not responding." I wanted to SCREAM! I will admit that I absolutely DID scream. And there were some tears too!
Further, when I decided to open my doc to do some writing...to get my mind off my computer problems...I found out that my Out of Time doc was read-only, so I had no way to add to it or edit it. And that it wouldn't let me take it out of read-only, because I didn't have permission to do so. No permission to access MY OWN FUCKING DOCUMENT! I tried to copy/paste it as well...that was a no-go! I was, of course, FREAKING OUT! More tears! AND I couldn't open Sharie's copies either!
Messaged my brother the next day and he said he could most definitely fix it all (doc and restore my computer). He had me email him the read-only doc...which I'd tried and failed to email to myself (but it wouldn't attach)...but it attached when I sent it to him...and he fixed it. Then the weird things was that...suddenly the document was back in my Word program. Like...just THERE! So I immediately renamed it and sent it to myself AND saved it on a flash drive! Not that I should freaking care, because I have like two people who are enjoying this! Lol.
Okay...done with THAT nonsense!
So here's a new chapter...
Chapter Forty-two
For the Sake of Progress
Buffy snorted. "I don't know why you didn't stop me when I was asking about cleaning spells and just tell me about that Evanesco thing," she griped as they left the kitchen and went into the ground floor lounge to wait for Vin and Sophie to join them.
"Well, as I said, it's a complicated spell and I didn't want to rush you beyond the spells that you had already managed to teach yourself," Dumbledore explained.
In the kitchen, he'd had her go through some of her spell work, afterward asking to examine her wand. She'd readily turned it over to him—which he'd given her a mild scolding for, as 'One should never simply relinquish their wand,' he'd told her.
Buffy had simply rolled her eyes, then explained that she could have easily taken it back if she wished, then smirked and asked if he wanted a demonstration of her other skills.
The man ignored the mild threat, but wondered about her slayer skills. "I really am impressed by your progress, Miss Summers," he said instead. "I am astounded by what you've accomplished on your own."
"I'm not sure I appreciate that look of surprise," she said, her eyes narrowing at the look on the man's face. "But...thank you. I think."
Dumbledore laughed. The girl was quite entertaining. "For someone self-taught, you are doing extremely well. Better than some who have professors hovering over them, I would even go so far as to say."
Buffy shrugged. "Well, no one likes a hoverer," she quipped. "And I do have help. Vin and Sophie don't have our kind of magic, but they're powerful witches for sure. This entire house is full of magic. And I've had Tom too. He's a very good instructor. And a good friend."
Dumbledore narrowed his eyes a bit and hoped the girl didn't notice. She was shrewd though and did notice.
"I'm not sure why you dislike him," she said. "He's been...good to me."
Dumbledore sighed—but was saved by Vin and Sophie entering the room. He didn't know what to tell the girl anyway. She would see through any vague explanation he could give her and she'd never accept that it was just a feeling he had.
"Oh. Professor Dumbledore. We didn't know you were here," Sophie said—causing Buffy to roll her eyes.
"You did so!" she contradicted. "You two left me to answer the front door in my jammies! Thanks ever so!" The younger witch glared daggers at the older witches.
Sophie huffed as she plopped down on the sofa. "My hair is ruined!" she lamented. "Who has purple hair?"
Buffy snickered. "Lots of people in my time dye their hair unnatural colors," she told them. They ignored her.
"Good morning, Albus," Vin said to the man. "What brings you here this morning?"
Buffy narrowed her eyes at the dark-haired woman—she knew full well why Professor Dumbledore had stopped by.
Dumbledore seemed to know the sisters were being sneaky. "I've dropped in to assess Buffy's progress," he told them—even though he knew that they knew. "She seems to be progressing nicely."
Vin nodded, her eyes going to her sister, then back to the man. "Buffy had mentioned that she was denied her request to have the Sorting Hat brought here...to have her sorted prior to arriving at Hogwarts."
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes. I'm afraid that's not possible. The Sorting Hat doesn't—"
"Leave the castle," Sophie interrupted sardonically. Leaning forward, she twirled a purple strand of hair and smiled at him shamelessly. "But what if we have another idea."
Vin snorted—and Buffy sat upright, interested. Idea?
"What sort of idea would that be?" Albus Dumbledore asked. He could see the calculating look that the sisters exchanged.
Vin sat up and looked at the man. "We were thinking that, since Buffy is late in attending your school, it isn't fair that she should be subjected to this sorting while the entire school watches."
Albus began to shake his head. "All the first years are sorted in front of the entire school," he said.
"That's not the same," Vin objected. "All the first years have the other first years with them. They are not alone in their scrutiny. Buffy will be a spectacle."
Albus nodded. "This is true," he agreed.
"And Buffy isn't going in as a first year," Sophie put in. "It will be hard enough being the new girl in school. Wouldn't it be nice for her to arrive already knowing her House?"
"Like I've said, the Hat doesn't leave the castle," he reiterated.
"We understand, Albus," said Vin. "However, what if we were to take Buffy to the Hat?"
Dumbledore's eyes went wide. "You want to take Buffy to Hogwarts before term starts?"
"Oh! Lavinia! That's a fabulous idea!" Sophie burst as she sat bolt upright—her purple hair completely forgotten as she bounced in her seat. "A family holiday to Scotland! I would love it!"
Vin nodded. "Isn't it a great idea, Soph?! And you didn't know your sister was brilliant."
Sophie giggled. "I always knew you were brilliant. Always!"
Vin waved a hand dismissively. "Anyway, it wasn't really my idea, was it?" she said, looking at Buffy.
Sophie gasped, then glanced over at the girl. "That's right! Buffy came up with this herself."
Albus Dumbledore stared at the sisters, then looked at Buffy Summers—then sighed. "I will need to discuss the proposal with Headmaster Dippet and see if it's acceptable to him. Strictly speaking, Muggles aren't usually allowed on Hogwarts grounds."
Both the sisters glared at the man. "And neither one of us is a Muggle, Albus!" Vin snapped.
Albus shook his head. "Of course you're not. I just meant...well, the students families do not usually visit," he backtracked.
Sophie huffed. "This is a special circumstance, Mr Dumbledore," she said. "And...possibly it could be arranged for Buffy...for all of us...to tour the castle. And be introduced to the staff."
"It would make us feel so much better about sending Buffy off to school," said Vin. "It would give us an image of it in our minds. After all, most of the other students' parents attended Hogwarts, so they all know what it's like."
Pouting a little, Sophie nodded. "And we don't. This would be perfect."
Dumbledore nodded. "It's certainly an interesting idea. I will need to discuss it with the headmaster, of course...and possibly run it by the Board of Governors. And we would need to wait a few weeks for the staff to return. Some remain in the castle over the summer, but most go home to their families," he explained.
The sisters nodded. "That makes sense," they said in unison—then looked at each other and squealed like school girls. "We're going to Hogwarts!"
Dumbledore just stared at them. He considered correcting them...reminding them that it was only a possibility...then decided not to bother, because they would only hear what they wanted to hear—or start on more convincing arguments.
~oOo~
They were still sitting in the lounge, having tea now, and discussing the Muggle war—and whether or not the wizarding world should be a part in it—when there came a knock on the front door. Grinning, Buffy popped up and excitedly said, "That'll be Tom!"
The three adults watched her leave, then Albus turned and looked at the sisters. "She's quite fond of the boy," he said. It was a statement, not a question.
"Well yes, of course she is," said Vin, frowning at the man.
"Why wouldn't she be fond of him?" Sophie asked. "He's a nice young man. And he's nice to look at." She smiled at Dumbledore, then looked at her sister.
Smiling as well, Vin nodded. "Very nice," she said, not specifying which 'nice' she was referring to.
Dumbledore frowned a bit. He didn't think the boy was nice. He was polite and helpful at Hogwarts, but it was almost too much. It always seemed calculating and false—like there was a purpose for it and that he disliked being nice. "Well, he's never been very friendly," he said instead.
Sophie laughed. "That isn't a reason to dislike someone, Mr Dumbledore," she said. "Not everyone is naturally friendly. Goodness knows how anyone could be, living where he does! Every time we go there to collect him, everyone is always scowling at him... and us! They're all just so rude."
Vin nodded. "Very rude," she agreed. "I don't believe he has any friends, Albus. It wasn't easy getting him to open up to us...or to Buffy. But she's pushed her way past that hard shield he's put up and...we've managed to follow her."
"That goes for all of us," Sophie added with a nod and a smile. "Buffy has dug her way in and now..." She shrugged.
Vin nodded as well. "She feels like... family."
"Family," Sophie said at the same time as her sister.
"And honestly, so does Tom," said Vin. "We loathe that he has to reside at Wools." She said the last word as if were a dirty and disgusting thing. It was to her! To them! "That place is little more than a roof over his head, Albus. I'm not sure he even has enough to eat."
Sophie shook her head. "At least we've finally gotten him to agree to stay for meals," she said with a smile.
Vin nodded. "When he first started coming over, it definitely wasn't easy. It was as if he was too embarrassed to accept a meal from us," she explained. "I know food is scarce, but...he's a growing boy, Albus."
Dumbledore looked from one sister to the other. Clearly, they loved the boy!
Sophie heaved a sigh. "We are thankful that Buffy can be here, but...what about Tom?"
Vin looked at the man who was not much older than they were, despite appearances. She could tell that he was perplexed by the situation—and not much confused this man, she knew. "Sophie and I have never put much trust in family...outside the two of us," she said. "But Buffy is a part of us now. She has wormed her way in."
Sophie was nodding. "And so has Tom," she said determinedly.
"Besides his best efforts to keep us out," Vin added with an amused chuckle.
Dumbledore looked between them again. He could see the love they had for the girl, but Tom was another story. He was baffled by the change he'd seen in the boy—and in disbelief that the change was real. He kept looking for clues that Tom was just trying to pull the wool over their eyes. So far, he'd found no reason to believe the boy was deceiving them.
"Hmm. I can see that she has," the man said—without mentioning Tom Riddle. "She's...hard to resist."
Vin chuckled again. "She really is," she said, looking at the doorway as Buffy came back through it. She hadn't missed that the man had left Tom out of his comment.
"You should have seen the mess, Tom," Buffy said animatedly as she pulled the boy through the doorway. "The entire kitchen looked like it was a potions war zone! And it got my hair...see?" She reached up and tugged at a strand of lilac tinged hair. "Purple!"
Following her, Tom nodded. "I'm sure the color is removable," he said.
"Naw. It matches today's outfit," Buffy said as she gestured at her top in a voila! sort of way.
Tom's eyes went to her blouse and darkened lustfully—there was far too little material, leaving much too much skin showing. But he liked it! What fifteen year old boy wouldn't like seeing what Buffy had to offer?!
Then he seemed to realize they weren't alone, so he cleared his throat and looked at Vin and Sophie. Both women were grinning at him knowingly. They were amused by his obvious distraction—and attraction.
"Good morning," he said with a nod, his gaze then traveling to Dumbledore. "Good morning, Professor."
Dumbledore nodded. "Tom. I see that you've all, but moved in," he said.
His face reddening, Tom narrowed his eyes, wondering if Professor Dumbledore's comment was snide. The old man's blue eyes were twinkling with amusement and curiosity and...something else. Tom couldn't quite put his finger on it though. And he was sure that the three adults had been discussing him before he'd come into the room with Buffy.
"Oh! If only it were that easy to have him move in," Sophie grumbled. "That Mrs Cole...what a bi—"
"Sophie," Vin cut in warningly, frowning at her sister—and causing the blonde to huff with frustration.
"Are you hungry, Tom?" Buffy asked, giving his hand a gentle tug. "Vin went nuts in the kitchen this morning...before our potion went kablooey that is. There's so much food!"
"Oh. Er..." Tom dragged his eyes away from Albus Dumbledore and shrugged. "If you're certain there's no potion in the food, then..." He hadn't eaten at Wools. He'd been too anxious to do his chores in a timely fashion, so that Mrs Cole would have no reason to deny his request to leave again for the day. He knew she was glad to be rid of him, but he was waiting for her to tell him that he couldn't go—just to punish him for wanting to go. He'd have sneaked out if she'd told him he had to stay put, but it was easier to have her permission.
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Of course I'm sure. Sheesh! Come on," she said, giving his hand another tug, then letting go and bouncing out of the room—her skirt swishing as she went.
Tom glanced at the three adults, then followed his friend—listening to her tell him about breakfast.
After they were gone, Vin looked at the man. "Does the boy look like he's trying to deceive us, Albus?"
Sophie huffed again when Dumbledore didn't immediately respond. "Or more importantly, Mr Dumbledore, do we look that easy to deceive?" she asked, annoyed. "I mean, honestly, do we appear that dense?"
Dumbledore shook his head. "Of course not. It's just...I suspect there's more to the boy than what everyone sees," he said, trying to explain without really explaining. How did he tell them that everyone at Hogwarts seemed to be charmed by boy and yet he was not. Of course, no one had been with him at the orphanage the day he'd first met Tom either. And no one knew how unhappy the eleven year old was—or knew he'd been stealing from the other children at Wools.
"Isn't that true about everyone?" asked Vin.
Dumbledore sighed. "It is," he agreed, then dropped the subject—for the time being.
~oOo~
In the kitchen, Buffy maneuvered Tom to the table and all but pushed him down into a chair. After she and Dumbledore had Evanesco'd the potion away, she'd made quick work of putting away their leftovers—there were a lot—and then did the dishes, so there was no evidence that they'd been in the kitchen creating mayhem.
Next to no evidence, that is. This was where Dumbledore had taught her the handy dandy cleaning charms and spells, so that she could tidy the kitchen without using so much energy.
From the table, Tom looked up at the wall and cocked his head, causing a wave of dark hair to fall over one of his eyes. "You seem to have missed some potion," he said as he pushed the offending obstruction away from his dark eyes and scowled at the purple splotch that was still on the wall.
"Oh no, we left that on purpose," Buffy told him, then looked up at it. "I thought it looked interestingly pretty, with its varying shades of purple. Sort of Starry Night, but...lavender and lilac and... periwinkle. Don't you think?" She looked back at Tom.
Tom hmm'd.
"Instead of oil-on-canvas, it's...antidote-on-stone," she went on with a grin, throwing her hands up and shrugging a bit. "Dumbledore agreed."
"Hmm. Well, he would, wouldn't he? Given his affinity for purple," Tom said as he eyed the interesting, if accidental, artwork on the kitchen wall.
Buffy chuckled. "True. Anyway, I rather like it. It adds a fun splash of color to the kitchen. I'm hoping Vin and Sophie don't mind."
Tom stared at it for another few seconds, then looked at Buffy. "I don't think they will. Nothing seems to faze them," he said. The sisters seemed to take everything in stride—even having two unrelated teenagers thrust on them without notice.
Buffy nodded her agreement. "True again. They are...totally unflappable."
Tom smiled—and Buffy's heart fluttered at the look he was giving her.
"Breakfast?" she asked, going to the refrigerator. "What would you like? Vin made everything imaginable. I'll just get it all out and you can choose."
Tom watched her for a moment. She'd pulled out what looked like a start of term feast and then she was banging around at the cooker, grumbling about stupid ancient stoves. Smiling, he got up to assist.
"Here, let me," he said, pulling out his wand and lighting the burner when she couldn't get it lit. It had suddenly occurred to him that, since Buffy was a witch and living with witches—in their heavily warded home—she would probably be able to use magic within their home and not come under the censure of the Ministry of Magic. He was taking a risk, he knew, testing out his theory, but he felt fairly sure that he was right. After all, she'd been doing magic here for a few weeks now and there had been no repercussions for her underage magic—no threatening letters from the Ministry that he knew of—so he was rather hopeful. And he'd heard, by way of eavesdropping on some of the students in his House, that this was the case. Abraxas Malfoy went on and on about all the magic he used at home, but he'd somehow assumed his dormmate was exaggerating.
"Thank you," said Buffy, smiling up at him.
Tom nodded. He was happy to do it for her—and thrilled that he could do it during the summer when magic was strictly prohibited. Just another reason to like being at the Fairweather home, he decided. "You're quite welcome," he said as he stowed his wand and leaned against the worktop.
"I don't know why I didn't think of that," Buffy went on as she scooped food into a pan and started it reheating without asking Tom what he wanted. "Though, I'd give a lot right now for a microwave, so I could just nuke all this."
Tom frowned. "What is...a microwave?"
"Oh, it's a great invention in my time. Sort of like an oven... Well, it is an oven, but much smaller and faster. Saves lots of time heating and reheating stuff," she explained as she pushed food around in a pan. "Actually, I think they're working on the invention now." She frowned. "Hmm."
Tom watched her as she stood there heating up his food and smiled at her fondly. She was biting her lip as she turned over what she was reheating. It had looked like bacon, eggs, and beans that she'd dumped into the pan, but now it was all mixed up. And...had she added cheese? Where did the Fairweathers get all this food? he wondered. He was lucky if he were given a bowl of barely warm porridge at Wools each morning. He smiled as he watched Buffy cook—for him—thrilled that he would benefit from the association.
"I wish we had some tortillas," she said. "I would make you a breakfast burrito. Which would go great with salsa...if I had some of that!"
Buffy turned her head and grinned at him, then looked back at what she was doing. Tom didn't say anything. Instead, he just continued to watch her. She was standing a bit sideways—so he could see the side of her face—and she was frowning down into the pan. It looked like she was deep in thought—about what, he had no idea.
"Hmm," she said again. "I think this is hot enough." Nodding to herself, she picked up the pan and began to push the sizzling food onto a plate—and then onto another plate for herself. Putting the pan back on the stove, she handed Tom his. "Sit. Eat."
Tom started for the table. Sitting, he looked down at his plate and frowned at the mish-mash of food there. "Is this...edible?" he asked—and was unsurprised by the smack he received to the back of his head. He was getting used to her immediate corporal punishment.
"Rude much?!" she responded, sitting down across from him and starting to eat.
"Haven't you already eaten?" he asked.
Buffy nodded—but didn't say anything because her mouth was full.
"You eat a lot," he commented.
Her fork halfway to her mouth, Buffy halted and glared at him. "Not quite the thank you I was hoping for...for serving you breakfast."
Tom smirked. "I've just...never seen a girl eat as much as you do before," he said. "At least not the ones who are as tiny as you are." In his experience, girls tended to watch everything they ate, just nibbling at their food—the girls in his House at Hogwarts anyway. The girls at Wools were another story—they just weren't given enough food to be able to eat like Buffy did.
Buffy shrugged. "I burn calories like nobody's business and...I need it to sustain my energy output," she said. "I've told you this. It's like...what goes out, must go in."
Tom nodded. She'd told him, but it was still a wonder. "Yes. But I'm constantly amazed by the sheer amount you manage to put away." And still look like that! he said to himself—Buffy smirked at him, as if she'd read his mind. He wondered if she had. Had she been reading about Legilimency? She couldn't possibly have taught herself that skill!
"I guess I've been blessed with good genes," she said with a shrug—then pushed her fork into her mouth. After she swallowed, she changed the subject. "So, I've started on my second year studies. Would it be too boring for you if we worked on that today? Or would you rather go out and do something? I could study later, after you've left for the day."
"Oh. Studying is fine," he said. He would love to practice spells without having to worry about the Ministry getting involved. "And I'd like to see your first year spells and charms."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Oh goody! More assessments!" she grumbled.
Tom chuckled. "Not assessments, really," he said. "I'm just pleased for you...that you've been able to get through so much in just a few weeks."
Buffy shrugged. "You were right. It's coming pretty easily to me. What can I say, I'm a natural!"
Tom threw is head back and laughed. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Summers...you've only gotten through your first year books. And you've exploded a potion."
Buffy glared. "Hey!" she bellowed. "That was not my fault. You can blame your damned owl for that little mishap. He flew over it and dropped an unwanted ingredient into the cauldron!"
Tom chuckled. "All right. I'll give you that one," he said. "But I would still like to see your spell work."
Buffy shrugged. "Yeah. Okay, Professor Riddle."
~oOo~
After finishing their breakfast, Tom took Buffy through her repertoire of spells and charms, nodding with each one completed to perfection. She was good, he had to admit—for someone completely new to magic, she was even better! Better than many who'd grown up with it, that was for sure.
Then she surprised him by cleaning up the kitchen magically—as if it were nothing more than a Lumos spell—because those were spells he didn't know.
"Oh. Um. Dumbledore just taught those to me," Buffy explained when he stared at her.
"Hmm. I would like to learn those spells," he said—not that he could ever use them at Wools. But spells were spells and he wanted to know everything.
Buffy shrugged. "Um. Yeah. Sure. They're super easy," she told him—then preceded to show him each one and tell him everything Dumbledore had said about them. When to use them...what chores they were best for. Etcetera, etcetera. "I would have loved to know these back home. Mom would have thought I was the best daughter ever!" She grinned.
"I'm sure you were...a good daughter," he said quietly—wishing he'd known his mother.
Buffy made a face. "Hmm. I don't know. I burned down my high school gym and...I sneak out of the house a lot...and my grades suck. Of course, mom doesn't know about he sneakage, but...she definitely does know I'm a delinquent, as far as school goes."
Tom frowned. "I'm sure it isn't that bad," he said. "If she were aware of the service you provide, then—"
Buffy laughed, cutting him off. "Yes, because a mental institution is where I'd like to live out the rest of my days."
The boy nodded his understanding. Sometimes he thought Wools was a bit like a mental institution—or, at the very least, a prison. All the rigid rules, scheduled mealtimes, being almost locked in. Sighing, he went back to the cleaning charms. Buffy was right, they were easy, he decided as he ran through them again.
While he was practicing, Buffy leaned against the counter and just watched him. She noted that, like herself, he was good at picking stuff up as well—and she wondered if he'd always been or if it had taken him time to get so good. Was he a natural or was he just well practiced?
And he was cute too...in his concentration. At first he'd frowned, but once he'd set his mind to the task—and was succeeding—his face transformed. He was beautiful in his work.
Buffy was still holding her wand. At first she was twirling it a bit, then she dropped her arm and started tapping it on her bare leg. Then she smiled to herself as an idea formed. Tom had no idea what had hit him when she sent a hex his way.
"Ouch!" he burst, abruptly turning his head toward her and glaring. "What was that for?!" he hissed.
Buffy shrugged, smiling a bit. "I was...bored," she said. "I think you've practiced those spells enough."
Narrowing his eyes, Tom faced her. She was just standing there, staring back at him with such an innocent look in her eyes and a slight pout on her lips. He noted that her wand hand resting on the worktop, but... Where is her wand? was his next thought. It wasn't in her hand. His own hand flexed around his wand and he searched. Then he caught sight of hers—she'd poked it into her hair. How he'd missed it just sticking out of her messy bun, he didn't know. And she was just staring at him.
Then it hit him...she was taunting him! Two could play at that game, he decided, as he shifted weight from one foot to the other and studied her position. She was just casually watching him—or so it appeared. Really though, there was nothing casual about her stance. She was waiting for him to make a move.
Buffy could see his confusion and she saw when he'd figured it out—when his grip on his wand tightened. She knew he was contemplating throwing a hex back at her and readied herself. She didn't reach for her wand. Instead she just waited—and hoped he didn't choose something too painful. Of course, she could handle any pain he sent her way—and she'd send it back at him tenfold if he did.
~oOo~
In the lounge, the sisters had just risen to show Albus to the door when they heard a shriek come from the kitchen. A second later, there was a shout and a crash, followed by another shriek.
Eyes wide with curiosity—and worry—the three adults hurried to the kitchen to see what was happening in there. What they encountered had them stunned. The two teenagers seemed to be dueling, each throwing spells at the other causing the room to be lit up colorfully.
"Take that!" Buffy shouted as she threw a spell that flashed turquoise as it flew across the room at Tom.
Tom side-stepped the hex, letting it hit the wall behind him, then sending something blindingly bright back at Buffy—causing the Slayer to tuck and roll away from it.
From the floor, Buffy pointed her wand at Tom and whispered a spell that knocked him to the floor, then grinned and jumped to her feet, poised to cast again.
On the other side of the room, Tom scrambled up and responded with another hex—which Buffy quickly shielded, causing the chartreuse bolt to bounce away from her and hit the cabinets to her right.
"Hah!" she shouted, pushing her bangs off her face. "Missed me! And you know what they say about that?"
Positioned defensively, Tom frowned. "I don't believe I do...know what they say about that."
Buffy shrugged. "You know... missed me, missed me, now you gotta kiss me."
Tom pushed his dark hair back as well and smirked at her—then sent something else her way.
Quick at a blink, Buffy grabbed a dish off the table and used it to deflect—sending the hex off toward the stairs, where it hit the banister and ricocheted up to the first floor—causing a shattering of something upstairs.
"Impressive reflexes, Summers," he said, circling her.
"Is that all you've got, Riddle?" she asked him.
"Shall I send something a little more..." he started to say when a throat cleared from the doorway.
"What is happening in here?" Dumbledore asked as he walked into the room.
"And what have you done to our kitchen?" Sophie burst, her eyes going around the room and taking in the mess.
"Oh. Um. We were just, you know...letting off some steam," Buffy said. She glanced at Tom "Playfully, of course."
Tom nodded, immediately lowering his wand and straightening up. "Yes, of course. Playfully," he repeated. "Nothing more, Sir."
Buffy snorted—and Dumbledore frowned. "You're not supposed to use magic outside of Hogwarts," he said, almost dumbly.
Buffy huffed. "How then am I supposed to get up to speed?" she asked. "I mean, you saw me doing spells before this."
"Well yes, but I was assessing your progress," the man said. "That's...permitted."
Buffy snorted. "I've been doing spells for the last couple weeks, Professor. How am I to progress if I don't practice?" she countered.
"She's right, Albus," said Vin. "It's like her slayer training, she needs to practice this too."
"Practice?!" Sophie burst. "Looked like they were trying to kill one another! And what about my kitchen?! It's a disaster!"
Buffy and Tom looked around. They'd not been aware that they'd turned the kitchen upside down while flinging their hexes around. There were broken dishes on the floor and scorch marks on the walls—and food on the ceiling! And who knew what they'd broken upstairs in Tom's room.
"Um. We'll clean it up," Buffy immediately promised, causing Tom to nod.
"Bloody right, you will!" Sophie snapped, glaring at them.
Biting her lip, Buffy looked at Dumbledore hopefully. "Um. I'm sure there is a spell or two to repair the dishes...am I right?"
The man stared at the girl for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. Of course there is. Several, in fact," he said. He was still rattled by the 'playful' duel he'd just witnessed. It looked significantly more serious than that, but...both teenagers seemed none the worse for wear, he decided after scrutinizing them both. They were both winded and perspiring a bit—as if they'd worked hard at their spells—but not too damaged. Buffy had a few scuffs on her knees, due to crawling on the floor, and Tom had a bit of scratch on his cheekbone, but otherwise they were fine. And they also appeared earnest in their promise to reverse the damage to the kitchen. Sighing, Dumbledore decided to let them off the hook—but he would definitely have to keep an eye on these two!
~oOo~
So there you have it...a new chapter!
And to go with my loonnngggg babble (at the top)...this morning I ordered a new laptop off of Amazon. It will be here on Thursday this week. It cost me $44 in shipping to get it this week on the 23rd...instead of free shipping on the Monday after (27th). The reason I want it this week is because I will be going to another week of training for work (DMV2 training) on March 26th through the 31st and I did not think I could wait! Again, not that anyone in here gives two shits about my laptop troubles. Haha. I was ready to call it quits after the week I had and just mark this shit complete, but...well, I hope someone is enjoying my nonsense!