Chapter 25: End of the Journey

For a moment there was silence as Buffy, Ginny and Willow stood in the doorway, covered in muck and slime and (in Buffy's case) blood. Then there was a scream.

"Ginny! Willow!"

It was Mrs. Weasley, who had been sitting crying in front of the fire.

Buffy noticed that Dumbledore stood by the mantelpiece, beaming, next to Professor McGonagall, who was taking great, steadying gasps, clutching her chest. Fawkes went whooshing past Buffy's ear and settled on Dumbledore's shoulder.

Mrs. Weasley leapt to her feet, closely followed by Mr. Weasley, and both of them flung themselves on their daughters. Buffy herself was swept up in an embrace by Harry.

When Harry let go of Buffy, Ron embraced her and he whispered in her ear, "Thank you." When Ron let go Buffy was swept into Mrs. Weasley's tight embrace.

"You saved them! You saved them! How did you do it?"

"I think we'd all like to know that," said Professor McGonagall weakly.

Mrs. Weasley let go of Buffy, who hesitated for a moment, then walked over to the desk and laid upon it the Sorting Hat, the ruby-encrusted sword, and what remained of Riddle's diary.

Then she started telling them everything. For nearly a quarter of an hour she spoke into the rapt silence

Dumbledore, smiled faintly, the firelight glancing off his half-moon spectacles. "Ingenious. Simply... ingenious. Of course, Tom Riddle was probably the most brilliant student Hogwarts has ever seen. I taught him myself fifty years ago. After he left, I would occasionally hear stories of his activities – dark rumors - but after a while, even the rumors stopped. When he finally resurfaced as Lord Voldemort, most people had completely forgotten the clever Head Boy he'd once been."

"I didn't know whose diary it was, sir. I swear," Ginny said. "I found it inside my cauldron. The day we all went to Diagon Alley." Hearing this, Buffy frowned in thought as she remembered the events of that day and had an idea of how the diary had gotten into the cauldron. "But I understand if... given all the trouble I've caused... if you! —"

Willow sighed, "What I've caused, Ginny. If not for me you would never have gotten the diary in the first place."

"Wiser wizards than you have been hoodwinked by Lord Voldemort, Ginny, Willow," Dumbledore said. "No, I think you both have endured enough. I would suggest a bit of bed rest, however. And perhaps a large mug of hot chocolate. I always find that cheers me up. Minerva, will you show Ginny, Willow, Arthur and Molly up to the hospital wing?"

"Certainly, Albus," McGonagall said.

"You know, Minerva," Professor Dumbledore said thoughtfully, "I think all this merits a good feast. Might I ask you to go and alert the kitchens after you take them to the hospital wing?"

"Right," McGonagall said as she led Ginny, Willow out, and Mrs. and Mr. Weasley followed, still looking deeply shaken.

Harry, Buffy, and Ron watched them go as the door closed behind them the heard Mrs. Weasley say, "A diary that writes back to you! Honestly, Ginny! What were you thinking? Haven't I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain! And you, Willow, really getting possessed. I thought we taught you to guard your mind better than that."

Harry, Buffy and Ron turned back to face Dumbledore. "You three realize, of course, that collectively in the last few hours, you have broken perhaps a dozen school rules?" he asked. "With Buffy breaking the most. Harry and Ron, you two would be facing very likely detention for the remainder of the year. Buffy, you on the other hand, there is sufficient evidence to expel you."

Harry, Buffy and Ron answered simultaneously, "Yes, sir."

Dumbledore smiled, "Therefore, it seems only fitting… That all three of you receive Special Awards for Services to the School. And - let me see - yes, I think one hundred and thirty-three points apiece, which, I believe, should be more than enough to secure Gryffindor the House Cup."

"Thank you, sir," they said simultaneously again.

Dumbledore nodded as he handed an envelope to Ron, "Now, Mr. Weasley, if you would, have an owl deliver these release papers to Azkaban. We need our gamekeeper back. Then you may join your mother, father and sisters in the hospital wing."

"Thank you, sir," Ron said as he took the envelope and headed out the door.

Dumbledore turned to Harry and Buffy, "Buffy, I want to thank you. You must have shown me real loyalty down in the Chamber. Nothing but that could have called Fawkes to you. Secondly, I sense you both are troubled by something. Am I right?

Harry nodded, "It's just, you see, sir, We, along with Dawn, couldn't help noticing certain things. Certain similarities. Between Tom Riddle and us."

"You both can speak Parseltongue," said Dumbledore calmly, "because Lord Voldemort—who is the last remaining descendant of Salazar Slytherin—can speak Parseltongue. Unless I'm much mistaken, he transferred some of his own powers to the two you the night he gave you those scars. Not something he intended to do, I'm sure…"

Harry looked to Buffy who was just as surprised as he was, "Voldemort put a bit of himself in us?"

"It certainly seems so."

"So, we should be in Slytherin," Harry said. "The Sorting Hat could see Slytherin's power in us, and it—"

"Put you in Gryffindor," said Dumbledore calmly. "Listen to me. You both, as well as Dawn, happen to have many qualities Salazar Slytherin prized in his handpicked students. His own very rare gift, Parseltongue—resourcefulness—determination—a certain disregard for rules," he added, his mustache quivering again. "Yet the Sorting Hat placed you three in Gryffindor. You both know why that was. Think."

"It only put Harry and Dawn in Gryffindor," said Buffy, "because they asked explicitly not to go in Slytherin…"

"Exactly," said Dumbledore, beaming once more.

"But myself," Buffy continued, "while yes I did ask to be placed with Harry. When I learned I was a Potential, I thought it was because the sorting hat had seen that I would become a Slayer. It even stressed the word potential to me."

"It very well might have taken that in to account, Buffy," Dumbledore said. "But it was because you asked to be placed with Harry that you were placed in Gryffindor. It is our choices, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. If you want proof that you belong in Gryffindor, Buffy, I suggest you look more closely at this."

Dumbledore picked up the blood-stained silver sword, and handed it to Buffy. She turned it over, the rubies blazing in the firelight. And then she saw the name engraved just below the hilt.

Godric Gryffindor.

"Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that out of the hat," said Dumbledore simply.

"Which means if I am a true Gryffindor," Buffy said. "Then Harry and Dawn are as well."

"Exactly, Buffy," Dumbledore said.

"What about Dawn?" Harry wondered. "If Voldemort put a bit of himself in us. Why can Dawn understand Parseltongue?"

"I believe the Key is the answer," Dumbledore said. "We will never know how or even when it was created. But we do know that the Key is ancient magic that predates anything we've ever known about magic. It is possible that magic has given Dawn abilities she never knew she had."

Dumbledore pulled open one of the drawers of his desk and took out a quill and a bottle of ink.

"What you both need, is some food and sleep. I suggest you both go down to the feast, while I must draft an advertisement for the Daily Prophet. We'll be needing a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher… Dear me, we do seem to run through them, don't we?"

"Professor," Buffy said. "I think I would rather go see, Dawn."

"Of course," Dumbledore said. "She along with the others that were petrified will be waking soon."

Buffy and Harry crossed to the door. Harry had just reached for the handle, however, when the door burst open so violently that it bounced back off the wall.

Lucius Malfoy stood there, fury in his face. And cowering behind his legs, heavily wrapped in bandages, was Dobby.

"Good evening, Lucius," said Dumbledore pleasantly.

Mr. Malfoy almost knocked Buffy and Harry over as he swept into the room. Dobby went scurrying in after him, crouching at the hem of his cloak, a look of abject terror on his face. Mr. Malfoy fixed his cold eyes upon Dumbledore.

"Dobby!" Buffy said with realization. "This is your Master? The family you serve is the Malfoys!"

Mr. Malfoy glared at Dobby and then returned his attention to Dumbledore. "So! You've returned!"

"Well, you see, Lucius," said Dumbledore, smiling serenely, "the other eleven governors contacted me today. It was something like being caught in a hailstorm of owls, to tell the truth. They'd heard that Arthur Weasley's daughters had been killed and wanted me back here at once. They seemed to think I was the best man for the job after all. Very strange tales they told me,

too… Several of them seemed to think that you had threatened to curse their families if they didn't agree to suspend me in the first place."

Lucius Malfoy frowned, "From the beginning, my only concern has been the welfare of this school and its students. I assume the culprit has been identified."

"We have," said Dumbledore, with a smile.

"Well?" said Mr. Malfoy sharply. "Who is it?"

"The same person as last time, Lucius," said Dumbledore. "But this time, Lord Voldemort was acting through somebody else. By means of this diary." He held up the small black book with the large hole through the center, watching Mr. Malfoy closely.

"I see…" said Mr. Malfoy slowly to Dumbledore.

"A clever plan," said Dumbledore in a level voice, still staring Mr. Malfoy straight in the eye.

"Fortunately, Buffy, who happens to be a Slayer, discovered it. One only hopes that no more of Lord Voldemort's old school things find their way into innocent hands. The consequences for the one responsible could be... severe."

Lucius Malfoy stared icily at Dumbledore, then turned away. "Come, Dobby. We're leaving."

As Dobby scuttled toward the door, Lucius Malfoy kicked him through it, then followed Dobby out.

"Go on, Harry," Buffy said. "I will join you in the hospital wing. I have one last bit of Slayer business to take care of."

Harry looked at his sister and followed her gaze and nodded in understanding as he left the office.

Buffy turned back toward Dumbledore. "Professor, I wonder if I could have Riddle's diary?"

"What kind of Slayer business would you need it for?" Dumbledore asked as he remembered what she had said to Harry before he left.

"Dobby is the reason we weren't able to board the train. The rogue bludger was his doing also. While I don't agree with the routes he took, he was just trying to protect us. I figure if I took off one of my socks, then gave Mr. Malfoy the diary. He might …"

"Hand it potentially to his house elf who would find the sock and would find himself freed by his master," Dumbledore said with a laugh. "Yes, you may have it."

Buffy smiled as she removed her sock and then stuffed it into the diary before taking off after Mr. Malfoy. She ran down the dark corridor and caught up with Mr. Malfoy and Dobby at the top of the stairs.

"Mr. Malfoy," Buffy said, skidding to a halt, "I have something of yours!" She thrust the diary into his hands.

"Mine?" he replied. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I believe you do. After all I've talked to Willow Weasley. She remembers everything that happened while Voldemort possessed her. You slipped that diary into Ginny Weasley's cauldron that day in Diagon Alley."

Malfoy shoved the diary into Dobby's face, then leaned close to Buffy and, with a nasty grin, he whispered, "Prove it!" He turned away.

"Open it," Buffy whispered as she looked at Dobby who clutched the diary in his hand.

Dobby looked down curiously. Inside he found a sock.

"Dobby! Dobby, come!" Mr. Malfoy called out.

"Master has given Dobby a sock. Master has presented Dobby with clothes. Dobby is... free!" Dobby said excitedly.

"What? I didn't –" Mr. Malfoy said as he wheeled around and saw that Dobby was indeed holding a sock. He then noticed that Buffy was standing with one leg crossed, her right ankle was bare. Instantly, he charged at her. "You've lost me my servant!"

Dobby was about to step between Mr. Malfoy and Buffy when Buffy stepped forward.

"I am a Slayer," Buffy said and with a small amount of her Slayer strength she sent Mr. Malfoy flying backward, he landed in a crumpled heap. Rising, he stared murderously at Buffy.

"Mark my words, Isabella Potter. Slayer or not, you'll meet the same sticky end as your parents one of these days," he said. "They were meddlesome fools too." With that he turned and stormed off.

"Isabella Potter freed Dobby!" Dobby said. "How can Dobby ever repay her?"

"Just promise me something," Buffy said.

"Anything, miss," Dobby replied.

"You will never try to save mine, Harry or Dawn's lives ever again," Buffy said as Dobby grinned. "That said could you answer me one question?" Dobby nodded. "I understand why you wanted to protect me and Harry. But why Dawn?"

"The Key," Dobby answered.

When Buffy arrived at the hospital wing, she had learned that house elves could perceive the Key and that was how Dobby had known that the Key was bound to her sister. She smiled as she stepped into the hospital wing and saw Hermione and Dawn sitting on their hospital beds talking to Harry. Buffy ran over to Dawn and wrapped her arms around her sister. "Don't scare me like that again, Dawnie," she said.

"I promise," Dawn replied.

May 9, 1993

The next day at breakfast Justin hurried over from the Hufflepuff table to wring his hand and apologize endlessly for suspecting Buffy, Dawn or Harry. Dumbledore announced that Gryffindor had won the house cup for the second year in a row and that as a school treat that the end of term exams had been canceled. Finally, Dumbledore announced that, unfortunately, Professor Lockhart would be unable to return next year, owing to the fact that he had some legal issues to deal with as it was revealed that other people had actually done what he claimed to have done himself. Quite a few of the teachers joined in the cheering that greeted this news.

"Shame," said Ron, helping himself to a jam doughnut. "He was starting to grow on me."

June 20, 1993

It was time for the journey home on the Hogwarts Express. Harry, Buffy, Ron, Hermione, Dawn, and Willow got a compartment to themselves. They made the most of the last few hours in which they were allowed to do magic before the holidays. They played Exploding Snap, set off the very last of Fred and George's Filibuster fireworks, and practiced disarming each other by magic. Harry and Buffy were getting very good at it.

They were almost at King's Cross when Harry remembered something. He led the group in to the next compartment where Fred, George, and Ginny were. "Ginny – what did you see Percy doing, that he didn't want you to tell anyone?"

"Oh, that," said Ginny, giggling. "Well — Percy's got a girlfriend."

Fred dropped a stack of books on George's head. "What?"

"It's that Ravenclaw prefect, Penelope Clearwater," said Ginny. "That's who he was writing to all last summer. He's been meeting her all over the school in secret. I walked in on them kissing in an empty classroom one day. He was so upset when she was — you know — attacked. You won't tease him, will you?" she added anxiously.

"Wouldn't dream of it," said Fred, who was looking like his birthday had come early.

"Definitely not," said George, sniggering.

The Hogwarts Express slowed and finally stopped. They returned to their compartment, "Hermione you will write, won't you?" said Harry. "And of course, I expect Ron and Willow to walk over to the house from the Burrow every once in a while."

Ron, Willow and Hermione nodded.

"Your mom will be proud of what you accomplished this year, won't she?" Hermione asked as she remembered that Joyce had legally adopted both Buffy and Harry and that the twins considered Joyce their mother even though in reality, she was their aunt.

"Yes, she will be proud," Harry said.