Chapter 6:

Buffy entered the teacher's room whistling. She got some strange look from her fellow teachers. She got some knowing looks form some of the other staff members, especially Minerva. Albus looked very amused with himself and Snape looked more annoyed then ever. Duncan was hiding his face behind his newspaper. She knew, he knew that she had entered the room.

She looked around the room and gave them a glare. "Okay, what's going on? You better spill it before I get impatient." Buffy had her hands on her hips.

Duncan put down his paper and was the first one to speak. "I just want to say, that I behaved like a perfect gentleman and said nothing, Ma'am."

Buffy gave him a stern glare. "What didn't you say?"

Duncan handed her his Daily Prophet. "Look at the society pages."

Buffy took the newspaper and quickly turned to the society pages. "Oh, my god." Buffy held her breath for a moment. " 'Hogwarts Professors out on the town.'

The DADA Professor Summers and her assistant Baker, a decorated Auror form Texas, US of America, have been seen entering a Muggle Dance Hall called Diana's Flower in London. The establishment has a very seedy reputation in the muggle community.

There is little known about Professor Summers's past and why Headmaster Dumbledore would hirer her. There are a lot of rumours flying around this woman, who claimed to have worked with not one, but two Slayers. But this rumour can't be verified, because the existence of the Slayer is not widely established as a truth.

What did sip through her past, was that she had burned down a school building, in LA, California, the US of America and seemed to be implicated blowing up her school about two hours away form LA.

It seems that the Professor and her assistant have a secret affair, for they left Hogwart in secret and arrived in the same way in London. And nobody saw them leave London again. Are we really wanting our children to be taught by these people.' "

Buffy turned to Duncan and showed him the picture in the newspaper. "Look at my hair it is a mess. How could they print this picture."

Minerva let out a snicker and Snape snarled in disbelieve. Duncan just took a better look at the picture. "I think your hair looks lovely."

Buffy smiled at him brightly. "Thank you."

Snape couldn't hold it anymore. "Do you know what this will do to Hogwarts reputation. Little girl." He spit the last two words with venom and anger.

Buffy looked concern and guilty at Dumbledore, but he just had a twinkle in his eyes. She smiled back at him before putting her attention back at Snape. "Listen Sev." He hated it when she called him that. "Albus doesn't looked concerned so the only reputation at stake here is mine and I had a very good reason for blowing up my school." She wasn't going to elaborate to him why. She turned to Albus. "You know most muggle children dream about blowing up their school."

Albus laughed. Snape had a different reaction. "Arr, Merlin help me. That girl is really going to blow up my basement."

"There is a real possibility." Buffy said in a matter of fact voice. This made a few of the others Professors laugh.

Snape couldn't rest it there. "And what about you and the goof over there?"

"Hey!" But Snape ignored Duncan.

Buffy voice went a notch colder. "One." She put one finger in front of his face. "It is none of your business. Two." The second finger went up. "I'm not interested in him."

"Hello, bruised ego." Duncan interrupted her.

Buffy smiled at him. "But any woman who gets him may praise her lucky stars to get such a wonderful man even if he is goovey."

"Ego healed completely." Duncan grinned brightly at her.

"Are there any other questions, Sev?" Buffy looked at him to dare to say something.

Snape didn't get the hint to shut up. "What were you two doing in London?"

Buffy sighed. She took a look at the Daily Prophet, picked it up and shoved it into Snape's arms, so that he could read the front page. She then turned to Madam Pince. "Pince, can I talk to you about ordering some books and sending them to my friends."

Dawn entered the Great Hall with Fred and George. Harry and the rest of the gang were right behind them. Dawn saw Draco sitting laughing at the Slytherin's table. Dawn had to force the two boys to walk to him.

Arriving at the table Dawn spoke first. "Hey, Draco. The twins here have some good news for you."

Draco was reading the Daily Prophet. Looked up at her and grinned. "I got enough good news about your pyromaniac slut of a sister and her spankey boy of assistance."

Before Dawn or the twins could say or do anything, it was Ron who came into action. "You slimy git of a mother fucker." He threw himself toward Draco, but the twin stopped him.

"Don't swear, Ron." Hermione told Ron before turning to Draco. "Didn't you learn yesterday. Not to insult the Professor."

"Especially if she was going to give you the points back, she took away from you yesterday." Harry added to Hermione's dialogue.

Draco was confused for a second, but got fast over it. "After what I read in the Daily Prophet. I don't think she would be for long." Draco gave them an evil grin, that was mirrored by the other Slytherins around him.

Dawn took the newspaper from Draco and began to read the article. At the end she passed a small giggle. This confused the Slytherins. "Buffy's going to hate the picture. Look at her hair." She showed the picture to the others.

"I like it." Ron told her with a twinkling in his eyes. Dawn smiled and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Let me see it." Harry took the Daily Prophet from Dawn and read it. "Burned down a school building.... blowing up her school ..." That got the twins interested. ".... secret affair ...." That got the girls, Ginny and Hermione attention.

"They wont sack her for the burning down and blowing up the schools." Dawn reassured her friends. "And there is definitely no affair between those two. Snape got a bigger change than Duncan."

A few of the boys wanted to throw up after hearing that. Draco just grinned. "So what did the slut do in London."

Ron growled, but his brothers stopped him before he could do anything stupid. Dawn ignored it and took the newspaper back form Harry. She saw the front page and read it quickly, then she smiled at Draco and slammed it in front of him to read. She crossed her arms.

Draco took a closer look at the article. " 'Vampire threat neutralized!

For a long while a Vampire gang has terrorized London City. Because of the underground and the large sewer system it was impossible to go down and located them. The Ministry has already lost two Aurors in their attempt to stop the gang.

Early this morning a Ministry official announced that the gang has been neutralized. The official wouldn't collaborate on how. The rumour goes that it was a whole division of Aurors, who had information on the nest whereabouts and went in with their wands in a blaze glory.

It seemed ,that half of the division ended up in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. But no deaths are reported. All in all it was a successful operation and London can breath freely again.' "

Draco put the newspaper down. "So she was part of the division of Aurors."

Dawn leant forward until she was inches away form Draco's face. She gave him a wolfish smile. "She was the division." The shock that appeared on Draco's face was evident. "And you called her a slut." Draco almost peed in his pant form dread.

Dawn was loving this. "The school building she burned down was full of vampires and the school she blew up, had a little snake infestation." She stopped for a dramatic pause. "Do you know the little snake Harry had a problem with in his second year." Draco nodded. "That was just a baby compare to the snake Buffy blew up." His eyes went wide open.

"Mr. Malfoy, just the boy I was searching for." A hand dropped on Draco's shoulder and he jump up and screamed like a girl. His face went into horror, when he saw who it was.

Buffy entered her office and found her desk full of letters. She curious pick one up and read it. She picked another one. It was technically the same letter. The same outrage, the same demands and both came from Slytherin's parents. At that moment a house elf entered her office full with letters in her arms. She dropped them on the desk.

"Hi, Zoy. Are there more letters?"

The elf looked up at her and smiled. "I have one more run to go. Professor."

"Are most of the letter delivered by Slytherin owls?"

"Yes, Professor. But I thought I saw one from the Weasley's. I separated it from the rest." She pointed at the desk.

Buffy picked up a red letter. "Zoy, do you know my name?"

"Yes, Professor."

"Try to use it and don't hit yourself over the head because you forgot." Buffy smiled at the elf.

The elf smiled at her. "Yes, Buffy." And she left the office.

Buffy shook her head in disbelieve. She looked through the stack of letters and found the letter she was looking for. She left her office and went to the Great Hall. She could hear her sister before she entered the hall.

"..... called her a slut." Okay, that didn't sound good. She picked up the rest of the conversation. It was about her and the articles. She entered the hall and found out Dawn was talking to Draco, who seemed a little frightened. Nobody saw her enter, She approached Draco from behind. "..... the snake Buffy blew up." His eyes went wide open.

Buffy put a hand on Draco's shoulder. "Mr. Malfoy, just the boy I was searching for." Draco jumped up and screamed like a girl. Buffy almost laughed at the horror in his face. Draco was sitting on the table and the other Slytherin made sure there was enough space between them and Buffy. Buffy looked pass Draco to Dawn. "Causing trouble again." Buffy voice wasn't accusing, but amused.

"A little, but he started it." She pointed at Draco, who was shaking form fear.

Buffy smiled at him. "Stop shaking. I don't bite. The table isn't there to sit on. Come here and sit on the bench." She winked him off the table and forced him to sit on the bench in front of her with his back to her. She put both of her hands on his shoulders. He shrunk physically. "Straighten your back. You don't want it to grow crooked." That got her a few laugh. Even from some Slytherins. "I like your hair. But I think you use to much gel." She looked at Dawn. "Don't you think so, Dawn?"

"Less is definitely better. He should let a few strands fall to the side or in the front." Dawn suggested.

"You think his hair is long enough for a ponytail. I think it would look so cute on him." A few of the girls giggled, Ginny was one of them.

Draco was official confused. He knew, that she knew he had insulted her again. Why was she acting like she wasn't angry at her. He had no idea, what to expect from her. He wasn't the only one confused. Hermione couldn't understand her either. The Weasleys just thought it was funny. Ginny even felt a little sorry for him. Harry knew, that Buffy was setting Draco up for something. He didn't know what, but it must be big. Dawn had the same idea, that's why she played along.

"This is the second time you insulted me." Buffy looked directly into Draco's eyes, who looked up at her. "And still you are slow with a response."

"I'm sorry." He looked painfully apologetic.

"Maybe there is still hope for you, Mr. Malfoy." Buffy looked sad. "It is a pity I can't say the same for your father." She dropped a letter in front of Draco. "Am I correct to assume, that you father wrote this letter?" It was more of a statement than a question.

Draco picked up the letter and recognized his father's handwriting. "Yes, it is." He wanted to give it back to her.

"Open it and read it." She gave him a blank look.

He open the letter and started to read it. " 'Ms. Summers, "

Buffy interrupted him. "No dear, hi or hello. How rude and he didn't use my Professor's title. That shows a very lack of respect. Read on Mr. Malfoy."

Draco continued. " 'I heard from my son, that you are punishing the Slytherin House for the indiscretion of a few individuals of his House. It doesn't do a teacher credit if she singles out a House, because of a few rotten apples.' "

Buffy interrupted Draco again. "A few individuals, a few rotten apples. I heard to many Mudbloods to be only a few." She looked around the Slytherin table and a lot of them looked down. " And where did he get the idea I was singling out the Slytherins. I distinctively remember, that I said a few Gryffinors will join the Slytherins." She looked down at Draco. "You don't seem like a boy who lies to his father or leaves important information out. Your father might punish you for it." Draco had a pained expression on his face. "No, this is just your father way to discredit me. Not very nice of him." She gave Draco a signal to continue.

" 'After reading about your indiscretion with your assistance last night in the Daily Prophet. I'm planning to summon a school board meeting to discuss the matter.' "

"Here he treats to fire me for an indiscretion, where there was none." Buffy looked at Dawn. "I hope you set them straight about me and Duncan."

"Oh yeah, I told them Snape had a bigger change than Duncan." Dawn responded.

"No way, he is creepy." Buffy heard a snarl from the teacher's table.

"Yeah, but he is evil and you like your men with a little evil in them." Dawn continued.

"If he loses the snarl and learns to wash his hear, he might look slightly attractive." Buffy turned to Draco. "Go on, read on." She smiled inwardly at the reaction this might have on Snape.

" 'If you reconsider the punishment toward the Slytherin House, to show me as your goodwill to the misunderstanding of this House. I might convince the board to be lenient on your indiscretion.' "

"Translation. You better jump through my hoops or I'll use all my influence to scare the board into firing you. Nice father you have there." Draco seemed to be blushing.

" 'I hope we could have a peacefully understanding in the future.

Yours truly,

Lucius Malfoy.' "

" You better understand quickly who is the master and who is the slave. Your Master, Lucy Malfoy." Even Draco had to let out a snicker. Buffy looked down on Draco. "Do you think I could ever be a slave, Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco looked into her eyes for a moment. "No, Professor."

Buffy pulled out her other letter and threw it to Ron. "Is that a letter from one of your parents?"

Ron recognized his mother's handwriting. "It's my Moms."

"Why don't you read it out loud?" Buffy reassured him.

"You really don't do favouritism. First you humiliate a Slytherin and now you planning on humiliate a Gryffinor." Even a few Slytherins laughed at Ron's joke.

Buffy smiled. "Don't worry I'm sure the worst your mother can do is embarrass you." Buffy still had one hand on Draco's shoulder.

Ron opened the letter. " 'Dear Professor Summers ' At least she started the letter nice and respectful." A few Snickers and giggles were heard. " 'I have received letters form my children, that they adore you.' " Ron was blushing a little. " 'I want to apologise for any bad behaviour from Fred and George. They don't mean it bad.' "

"Ma really knows us." "But how can we do our pranks?" "If Ma rats us out on the Professor."

Buffy smiled and Ron continued. " 'On the other hand Ron is a good boy.' " Ron was beaming with pride. " 'He only gets in trouble with the help of his brothers or helping Harry Potter. This doesn't mean that Harry is a bad influence. On the counter he is a good influence as is Hermione Ganger. As by now you would have noticed, the three are inseparable. Hermione is a dear and tries to keep the two boys out of trouble.' "

Harry and Hermione had both a big smile on their faces. They both liked Mrs. Weasley.

" 'Ginny my youngest and the baby of the family, is as shy one. I don't expect any troubles form her. But she is a Weasley and they either cause trouble or trouble find them.' " Ginny was blushing.

" 'But to the point why I'm writing this letter. I've read the Daily Prophet and I'm abhorred about what I've read.' "

"Did you see how nice Mrs. Weasley is by soften the blow. Read on Mr. Weasley." Buffy was waiting for the blow.

" 'How do they dare to blemish the reputation of a Hogwarts Professor without any proof. I already sent an angry letter to the editor of the Daily Prophet.' "

But it never came.

" 'I think you and Mr. Baker, who seems like a good catch, look like a nice couple and were very discreet by going out in London, out of the way of those young impressible minds. But you should ask Mr. Baker to chose a better establishment next time, like a nice restaurant or the Leaky Cauldron.' "

Dawn laughed and Buffy soon followed. It was one of the twin who spoke. "You better watch out. Professor." "Mom is on a matchmaking warpath. Before you know, Mom is making wedding plan." Buffy was shocked for a moment and gave the twins a tern look. She heard some snickers form the teacher's table.

" 'I'm sure you had some good reasons for burning those schools down, but I don't think Albus would appreciate it if you would burn down Hogwart.' I say vampires and a big snake counts as a good reason in Mom's book. I didn't know Mom had a sense of humour." Ron looked at his siblings.

"How big was the snake." A Slytherin girl asked.

Buffy gave her a faint smile. "You see this hall. If the snake would have rolled up he barely would have fit in it." A few 'wow's and open mouths with shocked expression.

"You are lying." It was Draco. "No snake can be, that big."

Buffy smiled at Draco, who looked up at her. She still had her hand on his shoulder. "Calling somebody a liar is very impolite. What am I going to do with you?"

Draco got the hint. "Sorry, Professor. But I still don't believe that a snake can be that big."

"You probably right. But this wasn't a normal or magical snake. It was a demon snake, a pure demon snake." Okay, that got her a few reaction. She turned to Ron. "Continue."

" 'My husband Arthur is suspecting that you didn't go to London for just a night out. His contacts at the Ministry told him that no Ministry men were responsible for taking down those awful Vampires. My husband is a smart man ' I agree with Mom ' and he concluded that you and Mr. Baker were responsible for it. If you did, I must congratulate on a job well done. Please keep an eye on Harry. He needs all the help he can get.

I also heard about you punishing the Slytherin students for some bad behaviour. Feel free to do the same with Fred and George. ' "

"Mom!" Both twins yelled outraged in union as if she was there. Ginny giggled and Ron just smiled. Dawn followed Ginny's example and also giggled, which upset the twins more.

Ron continued ignoring the protest, that came from the twins. " 'Yours friendly,

Molly Weasley.' " He gave the letter back to Buffy. She also took Malfoy's letter with the other hand.

She turned to address her students and put one letter in the air."Tell you parents if their letters resemble Malfoy's letter only a little I've thrown them away. If they have trouble with my teaching they can make an appointment with my assistance for next week." She put up the other letter. "If they resemble Mrs. Weasley. I'll try to write back and love to meet them. They can also make an appointment with Mr. Baker." She put the two letters back in her robe. "Now go back to your tables, breakfast will start when you are seated." A crowd was gathered around the Slytherin table, with Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws and Gryffinors. They quickly went back to their tables.

"Dawn?" Dawn turned back. "Please don't blow up Snape's basement."

"You are the one who blows things up, not me." Dawn looked insulted.

"Because I'm smart enough to keep anything explosive away form you." Buffy retorted.

"Buffy!" Dawn stamped on the floor and turned her back to sit between the twins, who were laughing.

Buffy turned to Draco. "Mr. Malfoy, please tell your father I would love to meet him." Before Draco could respond, she walked toward the teacher's table to be greeted by Dumbledore.

"An excellent move, my dear." Dumbledore had a twinkle in his eyes.

"I agree with the old man. You roped that wild pegasus." Duncan put in his piece of mind. "Those two letters. You picked right."

"I didn't read them." Buffy went to sit between Duncan and Minerva.

"You just picked two letter in random?" It shocked Minerva.

"Not really. I read two letters form Slytherin parents and they were similar. So it wasn't hard to think, that Malfoy's letter would be worse. Plus Draco is the leader of the Slytherin House. It was a logical choice. I'm good at improvising." Buffy face brightened up. "But Mrs. Weasley's letter, I couldn't believe the luck I got with that Weasley women. She is a godsend. I had an idea that her letter would be nicer, but never this way. I own her one."

The food magical appeared on the tables and breakfast started.

End Chapter 6.

 

:: Next Chapter ::

 

:: Back To WhiteWolf's Page::
:: Back to Author's Page ::
:: Slightly Over The Edge ::