Chapter 14:

Charlie stayed about a week before he left. Buffy helped him to find the dragon's lair. Charlie gave her a lift on his broom. She didn't like to be away from Terra firma, but she wasn't scared or anything like that, just awkward.

They followed and observed the dragon for a few days. The dragon stayed away from the castle and the village. The Dragon was only hunting in the Forbidden Forest. He was staying away from any sign of civilization and he knew that Buffy was observing him, but didn't approach or attack her. He just tolerated her presents in his territory.

They were in the Teacher's Room discussing the creature's behaviour.

"I, for sure thought he would attack us when he saw us. Dragons normally don't like being observed. Much less tolerate humans in their territory." Charlie gave his expert opinion.

"Neither does this one." Buffy added.

Charlie looked confused. "What do you mean? He didn't attack us or scare us away."

"He didn't attack 'me' or scare 'me' away." Buffy made it clear that she was the reason why the dragon didn't attack.

Understanding came quick to Charlie. "So if I went alone, he would attack me?"

"At the very least he would scare you away. He might not attack you 'cause he knows your part of my Gang."

Charlie winked with his eyes. "Part of the Gang? Since when did that happened."

"First week of school, when I decided to make the twins my secret weapon and adopted the rest of the clan in my Gang." Buffy gave him a sly smile.

"Secret weapon?" Charlie was curious.

Buffy put her index finger on her lips. "Shh, don't tell the twins. It is so secret that even they don't know it." Buffy was grinning evilly.

Charlie didn't understand it all, and then realization came."You're going to pull a prank on them."

Buffy didn't respond and looked innocent.

Charlie laughed. "Please invite me to see it. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Oh I'm sure Albus would always welcome you here at Hogwart." It was an invitation to come visit.

Charlie understood the clue and smiled. "So does this Gang have a name?"

Buffy grinned. "Back home we're called the Scooby Gang."

"The Scooby Gang?" It was a strange name to call yourself, but Charlie thought it somehow would fit the Weasleys.

"It is a Muggle pop culture reference. You wouldn't know it." Buffy explained simple.

"Oh and how are we called here?" Charlie was curious.

"That's even a bigger secret." Buffy leant a little forward and grinned.

Charlie mimicked her. "If somebody asks me in which gang I'm in. What should I answer?"

"Say you're in Buffy's gang. I'm the ringleader." Buffy was showing some hidden amusement.

"I think you should keep the name Scooby, it fits, if you have the Weasleys in it." Snape was smirking at Buffy and Charlie.

Buffy looked angry at him for ruining her nice talk with Charlie. "Sev, didn't your mother teach you if you can't say nothing nice don't say nothing at all. Oh strike that, do you have a mother a tall?"

Snape's face went dark. A mixture of anger and hurt. Buffy saw it and recognized it. She went too far.

"I'm sorry, Severus." Buffy showed her most apologetic face. She knew how a mother can be a touchy subject. She would have gladly broken the bones from whoever had or would insult her mother.

Snape just looked at her with a blank face. He didn't snarl at her, when he turned and left the teacher's room. The room was quiet for a while.

"Wow, didn't know he was so touchy about his mother." It was Charlie who broke the silence.

"There you go Buffy. Couldn't keep you mouth under control." Buffy reprimanded herself. "Bad Buffy."

Charlie was amused by her antics. "Don't be too hard on yourself. He has the habit of getting the worst out of people." Charlie tried to be sympathetic

"I know." She sounded annoyed. "But I should know better. My mother taught me to be better."

Buffy looked at the door which way Snape disappeared. "I'll have to apologias. Damn I hate doing that."

Charlie laughed out loud. Buffy stood up.

"I better get it over with. The quicker the better."

Buffy walked toward the door to hunt down Snape.

"Good luck." Charlie shouted at her back.

"Yeah." She waved at him without looking back.

Duncan was sitting in an empty classroom. He was carving a wand. He very carefully carved it, with small cuts. He was enjoying this moment of peace while carving his wand. It gave him time to think and contemplated on his life. So far it was a good life.

He was minding his own business, when a toad hopped into the room followed by a worried looking boy, who slipped and fell on the floor.

"Trevor, come back. Why do you always have to run away?" Neville looked distressed about his toad always running away from him.

"Toads hop away, they don't run away."

Neville was startled by the voice. He thought the classroom was empty. He looked at Duncan's grinning smile.

"Mr. Baker."

"Mr. Longbottom." He gave Neville a nod that he acknowledged his present. "Maybe the reason he is always hopping away is because you always chasing him."

Neville looked confused. Duncan saw it.

"Why don't you sit next to me? Do you have a treat for your toad?" Neville nodded. "Sit down and put it in front of you."

Neville followed his suggestion, sat down and looked at the treat. Nothing happened for awhile and he looked disappointed at Duncan, who laughed.

"Patience, little Grasshopper."

"Grasshopper?" The boy looked confused.

"That's what Buffy calls me when I'm impatient. It's a Muggle thing." Duncan explained.

He heard Duncan mention a lot of Muggle stuff. "You know a lot about Muggles. You aren't a Muggle born, are you?"

Duncan smiled. "The best way to protect the world is with knowledge about the world and not only about the Wizardry world."

"That makes sense." Neville had to agree with Duncan.

"Glad that you agree." Duncan smiled at him and he smiled back.

Neville noticed the want in Duncan's hand and the carving tool."Are you making a wand?"

"Yep."

"Why? You already have a wand?" Neville was confused.

"I always carry 6 wands on me. A vampire broke one. So I'm replacing it."

"6 wands?" Neville was shocked. Duncan nodded. "Why do you need 6 wands?"

"I just told you why. A vampire broke my wand. If I didn't have another one. I would have been donating my blood to the undead." Duncan explained.

"Oh, but why 6? Two would be enough." It confused Neville.

"Yeah two would be enough or at least 3 to be sure. But I'm a cowboy and need to be a six-shooter." He told it as if it is the most normal thing in the world.

Neville looked confused.

Duncan shook his head. "You're sharing this planet with 6 billion Muggles, don't you think you should know something about them?" It was more of a statement then a question.

Neville looked ashamed. Duncan saw it and changed the conversation.

"I'm almost finished with this wand. Do you want to watch?"

Neville nodded eagerly. Neville looked while Duncan was carefully carving the wand. And giving some comments about what he was doing. It took him awhile to carve it to his satisfaction. In the meanwhile Trevor came out of his hiding and hopped to his treat. Neville picked him up and put him in his pocket. Duncan made a final cut and a final look to make sure it was perfect.

"Is it finished?" Neville asked.

"The carving is. I only have to put the magical focus element in it."

Duncan carefully Split open the top of the wand and hollowed it a little.

"What are you going to put in it? A phoenix feather, unicorn hair, a dragon heartstring?"

Duncan grinned at the boy. "Slayer blood."

"Wow. I bet nobody has Slayer blood in their wands." Neville was very excited.

"How could they? Slayers don't exist." Duncan was ironic and Neville laughed. Duncan took a small flask from his pocket. He separated the top to put a few drops of the blood into the small carving. He then carefully closed the top as not to spill any blood. He used some waxing to polish the wand and then put it careful on the table.

Neville looked excited at the wand. "It is finished?"

"Yep, ready to use. But if you use blood it is better to let the wood soak it up before using it."

Neville nodded in agreement. "Where did you get the blood?"

"Buffy gave it to me. She once asked me it I could use some Slayer blood for my wand. I said yes and voila. With in a week I got it." Duncan waved with his hands to make his point.

"Professor Summers is great. Have you known her long?" Neville thought that Buffy was the greatest teacher in the world.

"No, I met her here at Hogwart." Duncan looked a little astonished. "Didn't you hear any rumours about how we met?"

Neville shook his head. "Only the rumour that she pushed Professor Snape through the wall."

Duncan laughed aloud. "Yeah that was a beauty. Do you want me to tell you how we met?"

Neville very excited nodded with his head.

*** Flashback Buffy and Duncan meet ***

Duncan was amused by the scene that was playing out in front of him. The little girl had pushed the greasy Professor against the wall and took away his wand like he was a four year old.

"I would watch out with that mouth of yours. It might get you into more trouble than you can handle." The blonde girl gave him a menacing look.

The Professor snarled back at her. The girl just let him go and he plumbed down on the floor. She turned her back to him and threw his wand over her should into his lap. Duncan liked her style.

"Albus you can't be serious about hiring this brat." Snape was snarling it out.

"Why not, Severus? She seems to know how to defend herself. And I'm sure she could teach this to the children." Dumbledore was amused about how Buffy handled Snape.

Before Snape could answer back. Duncan uttered his concern about the matter.

"I only agree half with the Greasy Professor." Snape snarled at him."You could hire her as an assistant instead of a Professor. I still don't see why she has to be the Professor and me the assistant."

"Don't like to be a mere assistant?" Buffy teased.

"Don't like to work for a girl who doesn't know what she's doing." Duncan retorted back. "So tell me one reason why I should be the assistant." Duncan had a challenging tone.

"I have a problem with authority figures." Buffy said with a mater of fact tone.

Albus chuckled, Snape snarled and Duncan just smiled at her. "Then the Little Lady needs somebody to teach her how to deal with authority figures."

Buffy glared at him. "And you think you can teach me?"

"I have broken a lot of Pegasus'."Duncan grinned at her. "I think I can handle a little girl."

Duncan was baiting her. Buffy saw it and grinned back.

"How about a deal?" Buffy thought that his could be fun and educational for this arrogant cowboy.

"What deal?" Duncan was getting suspicious.

"A duel. The winner takes the Professor position. The loser will be the humble assistant." Buffy put out her hand for Duncan to shake.

Duncan grinned and took the offered hand. "Deal. Didn't know that you could be humble?"

Buffy's eyes were sparkling. "I don't have to be."

"Just so you know it, I've never lost a duel." Duncan tried to impress her, but didn't work on Buffy.

"Neither have I." Buffy saw the surprise in Duncan's face. "But I've never held a duel before."

Duncan laughed. "You've never had a duel before. This is going to be easy."

"I didn't have time for duels. I was busy fighting for my life and my friend's life." There was an unmistakable edge of danger in her voice.

Duncan was taken back by it. This might not have been the best deal he ever agreed to.

Buffy turned to Dumbledore. "Albus, do you accept our arrangement?"

"But offcourse, this way we get the best person for the job." Dumbledore bent over to her and whispered into her ear. "Please don't hurt him to much. You need an assistant."

Buffy just smiled and winked at him.

"Where are we going to have this duel?" Dumbledore was thinking aloud and looking in Snape's direction. Snape was in conflict with himself. He thought it was a stupid way to assign teacher's positions, but on the other hand he would like to see her get some punishment she deserved.

"The Great Hall or the Quidditch field."

Buffy looked at Duncan. "Great Hall?" Duncan nodded. "It seems like it is door numero uno. So let's go."

Duncan looked confuse. "You want to shoot it out now?"

"Yeah why not. You need any preparation?" She was teasing him.

Duncan ignored her. "We need seconds and a referee."

"Albus here is the referee. And you can have Sev there as your second and I take my sister or any warm body we can find." Buffy liked it simple and wanted to get it over quick.

Snape snarled, but kept his mouth shut.

Buffy turned to Dumbledore. "So where is my sister?"

Dumbledore was taking back by this question. "What?" It wasn't often that he was taken by surprise.

"I thought you were the man who knows everything that goes around in this place." Buffy winked at him.

Dumbledore laughed. "Yes, I'm known for that. Severus, why don't you escort our future colleges to the Great Hall. While I find Buffy's sister."

"Yes, Albus." He turned to Buffy and Duncan, and waved them to follow him. "Follow me."

They walked behind Snape a few feet.

"I know now, he is going to be a pleasant college to work with." There was no doubt about the sarcasm in Buffy's voice.

Snape ignored her and walked silently on. Duncan looked at Buffy who walked next to him. She looked a little sad and lost.

"I hope that after this duel we could be friends nevertheless. It would be awkward working with each other while hating each other."

Buffy looked up at Duncan and smiled at him. "It wouldn't be the first time. So you think you're gonna win?"

"Yep." Duncan smirked at her.

"Dream on, Cowboy."

"Well, any dream with you in can't be a bad dream." Duncan gave her a mischievous smile.

Buffy gave him a glare that told him he just make a mistake.

"Sorry." Oh yeah he knew when to apologies.

Buffy ignored him, but was still angry. They entered the Great Hall and waited in silence. Buffy looked around and took in her surroundings. She stood in the aisle with two long tables parallel to the aisle at both side and one perpendicular at the end.

Duncan was observing her. The way she moved told him she was a warrior maybe even a predator. The way she took her surrounding in. She might not have fought any duels but it was plain visible, that she knew how to fight. He saw her manhandle Snape.

It took awhile for Dumbledore to find Dawn and while he was searching for her he seemed to have gathered a few more Professors, who were curious about the little duel. Most of them looked surprised about how petite and fragile Buffy looked. Dawn saw it.

"I take any bet against my sister."

The Professors looked strange at her. But professor McGonagall looked stern at her.

"Students are not allowed to bet at Hogwarts."

"I not a student yet." Dawn gave her a challenging look. "Scared to lose?"

This girl was challenging her authority. "I'm concern that you can not pay your debts 'when' your sister loses."

Buffy heard that and recognized the tone. "I'll cover any bet my sister makes." She turned to McGonagall. "So you think I'm gonna lose?"

McGonagall still looked stern at her as if it was a stupid question Buffy just asked. "Yes."

"Are you willing to put you money where your mouth is?" Buffy was asking her very sweetly.

McGonagall looked at the girl before turning to Dawn. "But me down for 5 Galleons."

Dawn made a mental note of it and wrote it down on an imaginary notepad with an imaginary pen. A small person who was introduced to her as Professor Flitwick told her that he put one Galleon on Duncan. Snape went for 10 Galleon. The last one to put money on Duncan was a scrimpy woman called Professor Trelawney.

"It isn't proper to use my divination power to predict the outcome of a duel."

Dawn could faintly hear Snape mumble. "What divination power?" Trelawney didn't hear him so she continued.

"It is clear that Duncan will win." People who betted on Duncan groaned a little. "I'll put 5 Galleon on him."

Dawn turned and addressed Dumbledore. "And you Oh old, but wise man."

"Dawn." Buffy was reprimanding her.

Dumbledore simply laughed with his twinkles in his eyes. "As I am a wise man, I think I'll decline to bet against Buffy."

Buffy saw that Dumbledore wasn't angry at Dawn. So she let it slide and turned with a friendlier face toward her. "Do you already know what you are going to buy from your winnings?"

Before this went into a full shopping story, Dumbledore interrupted the sisters. "Why don't I explain to you the rules of the duel?"

Buffy looked sympathetic to Dumbledore. "Do we have to? They will just get in the way of the fun. Why don't we have one simple rule? We don't kill each other."

"How about a second rule, Little Lady. We don't do any permanent damage." Duncan added to it.

Buffy was grinning. "You mean, 'I' don't do any permanent damage."

Dawn talked to Professor Flitwick. "First round goes to Buffy."

"You trying to psych me out." Duncan retorted back.

"Did it work?" Buffy asked innocently.

"No."

"To bad for you. This means it's going to be more painful." Buffy made a pained expression.

"Doesn't work, Little Lady." Duncan was smiling confident.

"I warned you." Buffy turned away from him as to show him that this was everything left to say.

Dumbledore intervened again. "The rules are simple. You stand at 20 paces apart. Salute each other and start the Duel on my mark. The winner is decided when the other is unconscious, immobile or says 'uncle'."

Dumbledore smile at Buffy who smiled back. He didn't say anything about using a wand for he knew she didn't use one.

"Are the seconds ready?" Dumbledore looked to Dawn and Snape.

"Yes." Snape smirked.

"Where is the glove to smash into his face?" Dawn was excited about it.

"Dawn?" Buffy gave her the look.

"Okay, ready."

Dumbledore smiled. "Wait for me to remove the tables." He put his wand out to remove the tables with a charm.

"You can leave them. They don't bother me." She turned to Duncan. "If it is alright with you."

Duncan smiled because he thought she thought the tables in their present positions were advantages for her. He didn't see how, so he gave it to her anyway and nodded to Dumbledore. Dumbledore told the spectators to go to one side and the combatants to salute.

Duncan put hands down to his side like he was a cowboy in the Wild West ready to draw two pistols. He slid the wand out of his right sleeve. He saluted her with it like it was a foil. Buffy simply nodded.

"Where is your wand?" Duncan looked confused.

"Don't need one to defeat you?" She gave him a wink.

"Ready." Both nodded. "Go."

Duncan pointed his wand at Buffy and cast a curse at her, which she avoided by ducking to the right making a roll and ending up at the end of one of the benches with her back to Duncan. Duncan saw an easy prey and didn't notice Buffy pushing one end down while the other end went up. She rotated the bench so that the other end went toward Duncan. Duncan turned toward the bench and was hit square in the chest, which took his breath away.

While Duncan was recovering, Buffy just sat on the table with one foot on the bench and looking at her nails as if she was waiting for them to start.

"You ready to give up?"

Duncan looked up to look at her and stood up. He smiled. "Nice trick. But it won't work twice."

"I'm not planning to repeat the same trick twice that would be so uncreative." She smiled back.

Duncan quickly pointed his wand toward Buffy, but before he could say any curse. Buffy stamped hard on the end of the bench which made the other end go up and hit Duncan's wand hand hard. Hard enough that you could hear something crack. His wand flew away to the other side of the Hall.

Buffy had a pained expression and a fake sympathy in her voice. "That must hurt. Giving up?" She was really teasing him.

Duncan ignored the pain as good as he could. He kept his left arm to his side. He made a quick move with his left wrist and another wand appeared in his hand. He pointed it at Buffy, who smiled. While he spoke out his curse, Buffy made a flip somersault handstand backwards. The curse missed her and she landed on the other bench. She put one foot on the stable and leant on that leg.

"Who knew that those western would come in handy one day, Cowboy. So you thinking about quitting anytime soon. I've been going easy on you so far."

Duncan could see it. Buffy wasn't even breathing hard. If he was hoping for a chance to win, he had to be as creative as her. He pointed the wand on the table.

" 'Quicksand'."

Buffy saw that the curse was meant for the table and not her. She made a backflip before the curse hit the table. It midair she took a stake out of her waistband and threw it at Duncan before she hit the floor. It hit him just beneath the plexus.

Dawn yelled. "No." Dawn thought that Buffy had killed Duncan. Dumbledore put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Some of the other Professors had the same reaction and thoughts as Dawn.

Buffy somersaulted over the quicksand and walked over to the still hard breathing man who was still lying on the ground. He tried to get up, but she tipped him over on his back. She stood on his left wrist were the wand was in, so that he couldn't use it anymore.

She bent over him. "I think I won. Don't you think so?" She gave him her innocent smile.

He let go of the wand and put his other hand up in surrender. "Tough Hombres for a little girl."

Buffy stepped off his hand and helped him up. "Tough Hombres for a big woman."

Duncan laughed and uttered a yelp out of pain. Buffy was feeling guilty about hurting him.

"Does it hurt a lot?"

"Now you're asking?" Duncan was a little sarcastic because of the pain.

Buffy didn't take his attitude. "Hey, it's your own fault. I have given you plenty times to surrender. But no, Big Macho Cowboy doesn't like to lose from a 'woman'." Buffy was over her guilt quickly.

Duncan grinned at her. "I don't like losing, but I can deal with it."

Dumbledore interrupted them. "I think we can presume Professor Summers has won the duel. Do you agree Mr. Baker?"

"I back down from the Professor position and humbly accept the assistant position. I should have known that the Great Dumbledore knows what he is doing." He looked a little embarrassed. "I have learnt my lesson."

Dumbledore just smiled and turned to McGonagall. "Minerva, why don't you escort Mr. Baker to Poppy to look at his hand and other injuries."

McGonagall nodded. "Please, follow me."

But Dawn blocked her way to leave. She stood in front of her with her hand stretched out. McGonagall looked confused.

"What do you want child?"

Dawn just smiled, raised her eyebrows in mischief and snipped while still having her hand stretched out waiting for something.

McGonagall finally got the message and took her purse to pay Dawn the debt. She paid in Galleons, Sickles and Knuts. Dawn looked strange at the coins

"Are you sure this is 5 Galleons?"

McGonagall looked stern at her. Dawn just stared back and then she looked back at the money, but still not convinced that it was 5 Galleons. She nevertheless let her pass.

When they almost left the Hall, Dawn yelled after them. "If I find out you welched on the bet I send my sister to collect."

McGonagall's back stiffed and she huffed. She left the Hall without saying a word. There was a few laughter and snickers. Dawn turned to the others and gave them the look that it was their turn. They paid their debt and left. Snape paid reluctant with a snarl. Professor Flitwick paid with a smile.

"I think the show was worth the Galleon."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it." Buffy smiled at the little man, who smiled back and left.

Dumbledore and Buffy with Dawn were the only one left in the Great Hall. Dumbledore turned to Dawn. "I knew better than to bet against the Slayer."

"And I know never to bet against my sister." Dawn grinned very proudly.

*** End Flashback ***

Duncan picked up the wand and examined it. He was satisfied that the blood was enough absorbed by the wood. He turned his attention back to Neville.

"You want to try the first swing?" He stretched out his hand to hand it over to Neville.

Neville looked as a deer caught in the headlights. He was slowly shaking no. But Duncan pushed it already in his hand.

"Wave in that corner. So that we'll minimise the chance for damage." Duncan was encouraging Neville to try.

Neville took his stance and Duncan stood behind him. Neville waved and there came a lightshow out of the wand and the school desks were blown away and Neville was rocket right into Duncan's arms, who had to take a step back.

Duncan looked concern at Neville. "You alright boy."

"Wow." He looked down at the wand. "This wand has an awesome kick."

Dawn and Victoria were helping each other with their home work. It wasn't strange that they were studying together, but the place was. They were in the Gryffindor Common Room. She was in the den of the lion.

The Gryffindors gave her strange looks, but left her alone. Especially when Dawn gave them a glare to leave her alone. At first Victoria fell a little uncomfortable, but it passed quickly. Most of the Gryffindor's ignored her.

Their homework was looking at magazines. Dawn was enjoying it. This was the kind of homework she would want back home sitting on the couch, reading a magazine and gossiping about it with a friend.

Victoria was reading about MTV Awards and looking at the pictures. Her face went red from shock.

"Merlin, she isn't wearing anything."

Victoria showed the picture to Dawn, who looked curious at it and smiled.

"I see purple and I don't think it is her skin colour or paint."

"But how can she wear something like that. She looks like a harlot."

Dawn sighed. How is she going to explain it to her if she didn't understand it herself completely? She would never wear something like that. It wouldn't go with her red face.

"She wants people to notice her. Look." Dawn waved two boys around 16 to come closer. "Would you boys please look at this picture?"

Dawn got the reaction she predicted to herself. The boys were staring with open mouth wide and almost drooled.

"Thank you boys. You were very helpful." She waved them away and closed the magazine. The boys didn't move quickly away, so Dawn shushed them away. This made Victoria snicker.

"I see what you mean."

"Plus feeling sexy has it own rewards." Dawn gave her a twinkle. They burst into laughter.

After the laughter dimmed down, Dawn took two catalogues. One was from a clothing chain store and the other was for wedding dresses.

"These two are less shocking."

Victoria took one look at the cover from one of the catalogues and almost squealed. She grabbed it. And flipped a few pages.

"These are beautiful. Why are they all in white?" Her expression changed from excitement to confusion.

"That because they're wedding dresses." Dawn explained.

"These are wedding dresses? Oh my God. It is almost worth marring a Muggle to wear one of these."

Dawn snickered and put her hand before her mouth.

"What?"

"Oh a few weeks ago you were calling Muggles Mudbloods and now you are making plans to marry one." Dawn's eyes were twinkling from mischief.

Victoria took the catalogue and mock hit her on the upper arm. "Just that you know I never called a Muggle a Mudblood. It is bad manners and uncouth to call those beneath you names. It isn't their fault that they are born beneath me."

"Hey, I'm not beneath you." Dawn was pouting.

"Present company excluded, offcourse."

"You betcha." Dawn gave her a last pout. Something popped into Dawn's mind. "Why are you in Buffy's class? Not that you can use it." Victoria twitched her nose and upper lip. "There are worse Slytherins, she let off the hook."

"Have no Idea, but nothing surprise me what your sister does." Victoria looked down at her catalogue and squealed. "Ekk, look how pretty this one is?"

Victoria was so distracted by the dresses and Dawn by her enthusiasm that they forgot about the why-was-Victoria-in-Buffy's class topic. Dawn told her about Xander's andAnya's upcoming wedding.

They were still discussing the wedding dresses, when the Twins and the Trio entered the Common Room. Their first expression was off shock when they saw Victoria. The twins couldn't do anything but react on her present.

"Code Red! Code Red!" "Enemy in camp!" "Seek cover!" Both twins sought cover behind different pieces of furniture and pointed their wands at Victoria.

"Halt, state your name and purpose, Spy!" "And where is the traitor, who let you in." The boys grinned at the girls, who stared menacing back. The other Gryffindor laughed at their antics.

Dawn and Victoria looked at each other and then to the pillows. They had the same idea and went for the pillows, that they threw accurate to their nearest twin. They would hit their targets if the twins didn't use a spell to repel the pillows.

The twins sat laughing down with the girls between them and the girls synchronised elbowed them. The boys just grinned back. The girls couldn't be long mad at the boys.

The Trio sat opposite of the them. Harry and Ron were relaxed with Victoria being here. Hermione wasn't that relaxed not before she knew something first and turned to Dawn.

"Dawn, did you give Victoria our password?"

Dawn looked offended. "Yeah and I also gave it to Draco." The sarcasm was dripping of her. "I know what secret passwords mean. It means don't tell." Dawn was looking angry at Hermione. Who was shocked and leant back.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."

"You did." Dawn crossed her arms in anger.

"Good going, 'Mione." Ron said annoyed.

Hermione stared at Ron. "I said I was sorry."

They started arguing and Dawn couldn't be anymore angry at Hermione and it was way to amusing to watch.

Victoria turned to the twin next to her. "George. Where is the rose you guys promised me?"

"I'm Fred, that is George."

Victoria didn't react and kept looking at the twin next to her.

George was looking surprised at her. "How did you know, Vicky?"

Victoria poked a finger in George chest. "Because you annoy me more than Fred." The twins laughed. "And now get me my rose you promised or I might forget about our deal."

George grinned. "You have to love a girl, who knows how to blackmail."

Victoria blushed a little, but it was barely noticed. George stood up and ran into the Boy's dormitory. It took him awhile to get the rose and in the meanwhile Ron and Hermione stopped arguing. Victoria showed her the dress she like good enough to get married in. George came just in time to see the dress.

"Pretty dress."

"It is a muggle wedding dress. This is the kind of dress I wand to get married in." Her expression turned from excitement into stern. "Where is my rose?"

George removed a rod from his pocket and gave it to her. She was very excited when it turned into a purple rose.

She looked up from it straight into George eyes. "Cool colour. What kind of colour does it turn into?"

"You'll see. We 'improved' the smell."

While Victoria moved forward to smell, Dawn moved away from Victoria leaning into Fred who also leant back. Victoria smelled the rose and it turned yellow. She smiled, but not for long. The rose exploded in a yellow smoke, that hit her right in the face.

Everybody laughed at her. Victoria growled at George, who was rolling on the floor. "You, you.... I should break the deal we had for this."

"You can't, we kept our end of the bargain." George pointed at the rose still in her hand.

Victoria looked at her rose. It was now a beautiful yellow rose. "So this is the Buffy rose?" Victoria said it in a very calm voice.

Dawn gave her a handkerchief to wipe of the paint. She took it, but the paint wasn't going off. She stared with panic at the twins.

"Don't worry." "It will disappear within an hour."

"Are you sure?" Victoria was looking concerned.

"Fred tested it last night on himself." Fred demonstrated by pointing to his clean face. "We wouldn't have used it on you, if we didn't think it was safe." Their faces showed that they meant what they said.

"So how many times can it explode?" Victoria was curious now about the inner working of the Buffy rose.

"Every time you reset it."

Victoria smiled and put the rose in her left breast pocket with the rose sticking out.

Ron was curious. "What is the deal you made with Fred and George?"

Before Victoria could think something up, George came up with something."She is going to help us with the making of our Weasley Roses."

Victoria looked at George and told with her eyes, that it was a nice safe and he nodded back a thanks. Victoria looked at her watch. "It is late. Time for me to go back."

Dawn and the twins help her gathering her thing. They said their goodbyes and she left the Gryffindor Tower.

End Chapter 14.

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