Selling out the universe – Or not

Disclaimer: I don’t own Buffy, or Charmed, or Harry Potter
A/N: Ok, I am trying to stick this fic to canon as much as possible, but you might find that some things in the future, such as characters ages etc, aren’t quite right: it’s just to make things easier for me! And, as another warning, this fic will become AU at some point in the future, but not quite yet =P. There will be some DH spoilers at some point, maybe not huge, mahoosive ones, but spoilers all the same. You have been warned.

Selling out the universe – Or not

Something unusual and unexpected always happened at Hogwarts on Halloween, so Albus Dumbledore was not particularly surprised at all upon noticing the emerald green phenomenon on the ceiling of the great hall. But then again, it took a lot to get any expression of surprise from this particular headmaster. Gradually, one by one, the students and professors began to notice the phenomenon in the sky. Dumbledore wondered just how many of his students were passing it off as something naturally occurring, but thought far too highly of his staff to think that they’d make the same mistake.
“Goodness!” Dumbledore heard Professor Tarot exclaim from his far right, her usually calm voice tinged with excitement “The Aurora Borealis! If it’s visible this early then it must mean that it’s a good time for evil to gather their number and attack!” A loud, undisguised snort came from his deputy sat at his immediate right: Minerva never did think much of divination. Dumbledore himself just held in a small sigh, the one thing that he possessed absolutely no talent in whatsoever, was choosing Divination professors.

Dumbledore knew exactly what the phenomenon was, it was a portal, a time and space portal created by the power of the key, to be exact. He kept his eye on it as he idly mused whether it was inside the castle, or out. This question was soon answered by the rapidly falling figure who landed on the floor of the great hall before being joined by a second figure. The first figure rolled onto it’s back before giggling and beginning to speak

“Trippin’!” The voice exclaimed, the silence of the great hall making it perfectly audible to every person in the room “Shame we can’t have another go huh?” came the playful voice. The second figure laughed pulling herself upright. Her laugh stopped abruptly as she took in the people in front of her.

“Uh, Pheebs?” came her voice, as she swept her dark red hair out of her eyes. The first figure looked over at her. “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.”



“Shit,” Phoebe breathed, as she raised herself into a sitting position. Paige giggled, almost nervously and stood up before pulling up her sister and linking arms with her.

“Um, hi!” she addressed the hall “Sorry about that, we were just, erm, fixing the lights, you know?” Silence greeted her explanation. “And we, erm, fell from our, you know, ladder. But the, er, lights are all fixed and stuff now, so we’ll just be on our way, won’t we Pheebs?” Paige ended her almost Willow babble with a dazzling smile and the two girls walked in between the house tables towards the door, Paige snagging some chicken off someone’s plate as they walked.



“There’s no ladder.” A calm voice stopped them. Phoebe turned her head to face Dumbledore as Paige pulled them forwards into a slightly quicker pace.

“Huh, that’s strange. You wouldn’t think we’d go up there without a ladder now would ya?” she said quickly.

A loud thud followed by a collective intake of breath stopped them in their tracks. They turned, cautiously.

“Dawn!”

“Dawnie!” came their simultaneous cries as they sprinted the distance back to where they’d originally landed, all caution forgotten.



“Can the prefects please lead their houses back to their common rooms please? The house elves will bring up your food.” A calm, authoritive voice sounded. A collective moan sounded from the students as they bustled around to leave. “Minerva, can you fetch Poppy for me?” Dumbledore asked, much quieter this time.

“Of course, Albus.” Came Minerva’s sharp Scottish accent as she, too, hurried out of the hall. Albus turned to Phoebe and Paige who were knelt by Dawn’s side, attempting to slap and shake her awake.

“Come on D, wake up!”

“No dying on my watch Lune!” Paige lowered her voice and turned to Phoebe “Should we try a little ‘mental shake’?” she asked her sister. Phoebe nodded

“I’ll try it.” She murmured *DAWN JANE SUMMERS GET YOUR ASS UP OFF THAT FLOOR THIS SECOND!* Phoebe yelled through their mind link.

*tired* came the faint reply. Phoebe sighed.

“I think it’s just exhaustion.” She told Paige.

“Quite.” Came the reply of Dumbledore. The girls swivelled to face him.

“And you are?” Paige snapped irritably.

“Dear me.” Interrupted another voice as a figure bustled towards them “Strange girls coming from the ceiling indeed, whatever next? Potter and Black not sending someone to me for a week!” The woman grumbled. Dumbledore chuckled

“My name is Albus Dumbledore. Maybe we should continue this conversation in the privacy of my office?” He said with a twinkling look towards the wall a short distance from them. “We can leave your friend in the capable hands of Madam Pomfrey.” He informed them “This way.” He told them, as they showed signs of protesting. Paige and Phoebe glanced at one another and sighed, resigned that they would just have to follow Dumbledore.

*We’ll be back to you soon. Call if you need us* Paige projected to Dawn. There was no reply and they proceeded to reluctantly follow Dumbledore.


XXX


“Peppermint Creams” Professor Dumbledore stated, upon reaching a pair of stone gargoyles. The two girls shared an amused look before turning to the gargoyles to see that they had moved back and Dumbledore was motioning for them to stand on the staircase that they were previously concealing. They started in amazement when the staircase actually began to move! Stepping off this magically powered escalator, the sisters found themselves in a room filled with all sorts of trinkets. They stared open mouthed at the sights around them. It was even more cluttered than the attic at Halliwell Manor, a thought which made both girls inadvertently laugh. Dumbledore smiled slightly at this before sitting behind his desk and telling the girls to take seats.

“Now, as I told you, I am Professor Albus Dumbledore. This is Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry. Now, I believe that the portal I saw on the ceiling of the great hall was created by the power of the Key, am I right?” He asked them, certain that he was indeed correct. Paige and Phoebe shared a brief worried luck and Phoebe laughed nervously

“No of course not. I mean, heheh I’ve no idea what you’re talking about. Keys are for locks in doors not interdimensional portals. Not that that was what it was. No sirree. We don’t even know what happened. We were just fixing the lights and there were these cats. And they, erm fought. And then they ran away. And we, er, fell I guess.” She babbled. Paige rolled her eyes.

“Pheebs, you are like the worst liar. Besides, we can trust him. I can tell.” Paige turned to Dumbledore “You’re right. It was the key and we don’t know where we are, or even if we’re in the same dimension any more. But I’m not going to tell you what the key is because that would just put you in danger.” Paige said bluntly. Phoebe turned to her with a look of horror in her eyes.

“Paige! Does secret mean anything to you?”

“Oh, right Miss ‘Guess what Prue, we’re planning a surprise party for you! Oh, but look surprised because I’m not supposed to tell!’”

“This is so nothing like this. I mean you just potentially sold out the universe.” Phoebe argued. Paige threw her hands in the air.

“Oh come on, lighten up! We can trust this dude! Besides which, I didn’t tell him anything that he didn’t already know.” Paige half yelled back in exasperation.



Dumbledore held up his hands.

“Ladies! Miss Matthews is quite correct. I do indeed know of the existence of the key. I also do know that it is currently in the form of Miss Summers.” Phoebe fixed him with a suspicious glare.

“I don’t recall telling you our names.” Dumbledore smiled slightly

“And yet, it is so easy to know. Your very essence screams it. You are the descendents of Melinda Warren are you not?” The girls shared an uneasy look and Dumbledore continued “Then you will understand that magic can reveal anything. Although, I admit, I am not blessed with the form of magic that you two are. Alas, I must rely on good, old fashioned wand magic.” Eyes widened at this revelation. And Paige spoke with a suspicion laced voice

“How do you know all this about us and Lune?” Dumbledore chuckled

“My knowledge about Miss Summers comes directly from my uncle, who was one of the very monks who created her. And my knowledge of you ladies comes from one of your ancestors, a Miss Penelope Johnson? She possessed all three types of magic.” At this the sisters shared a confused look

“You mean, grams’ mom?” Phoebe asked

“Indeed,” Professor Dumbledore continued “She possessed the hereditary form of magic, which makes up the power of three; the wiccan form of magic, which is possessed by some muggles; and the ability to perform wand magic, which is practiced here in Hogwarts. She also predicted your coming to Hogwarts, which is part of the reason that I was certain that it was you when I saw you. She predicted the coming of three trinity witches who would use the power of the key – of which one would become proficient in the use of – and they would be vital in assisting in the saving of the magical world as it exists.”



Paige and Phoebe shared an exasperated look.

“You mean to say” Phoebe began “That we, the three of us, have all three funky kinds of magic and that we were prophesied.” Dumbledore nodded “Man is Dawn going to be pissed.” Phoebe exclaimed


XXX


Paige and Phoebe had spent the rest of the night in Dumbledore’s office, discussing the kinds of magic that they possessed and the practicalities of them staying and training at Hogwarts. The revelation that they were 17 years in the past had not gone over well.



“Dawn! You’re awake!” Paige exclaimed at seeing her friend sat upright in her bed in the hospital wing. Dawn half scowled,

“I have been for a half hour, but some prats left me alone UNCONSCIOUS in a strange place with a bunch of people who COULD BE AXE MURDERORS FOR ALL YOU KNOW!!” She burst out “No offence” She said turning slightly to Dumbledore. Paige had the grace to blush slightly, but Phoebe just rolled her eyes and plonked herself on the end of Dawn’s bed,

“You’ve been hanging with Spike too much.” she pointed out before setting into a long ramble, “But you will never believe what Professor Dumbledore – that’s him by the way – told us. Penelope Johnson, who was like our great grama, came to this very school and she could do the you know power-of-three-kind-of-magic…”

“Hereditary” Paige butted in

“Right, hereditary and wicca and this wand-stuff that these dudes can do at this school…”

“Wand-stuff?” Dawn butted in “Dude, that sounds wrong.” Phoebe rolled her eyes and shook her head quickly in exasperation.

“Whatever. Anyway, that’s like mega, mega rare and they call it trinity magic, cause there’s, you know, three. Anyway, she prophesied…”

“There’s a prophesy?” Dawn exclaimed angrily “Please, tell me it doesn’t involve us!” She demanded. Phoebe gave a weak, apologetic smile and shrugged her shoulders slightly.

“Sorry. She prophesied that we’d come here and that the three of us are trinity witches.”

“Wait, I’m a witch?” Dawn butted in again “Cool!” She grinned, before frowning in confusion “How can I have hereditary magic?” She asked. Phoebe sighed in exasperation,

“Well if you’d stop butting in! You, my dear friend, are related to us. See, great grama Penelope had a brother, Charles Johnson II, and his descendents weren’t put on our family tree because the Halliwells are a maternal line, but Charles had a daughter called Elizabeth and she married a Jonathan Summers and then they had a son called Hank – who married your mom and had you and Buffy. But somehow, the Halliwell magic got passed down to you and Buff and Voila! Magicified Dawn!” Dawn gaped at Phoebe who smirked “Anyway Grama Penelope prophesied that the three of us would be part of the saving of the magical world” Dawn groaned and put her head in her hands “So the portal that you created…” Dawn’s head shot up in alarm “Don’t worry he already knew. The portal brought us to England! Well Scotland, but you know. And it’s the year 1990.” Dawn stared gobsmacked at her friend

“You mean, we aren’t even born yet?” Dawn asked in shock

“Nope.” Phoebe grinned “So we are going to go to school here, at Hogwarts.” Dawn stared at her friend before the information finally proved too much for her only recently conscious brain, and she passed out.


XXX


Paige sighed, thoroughly bored. Dawn had been out for ten minutes and showed no signs of waking up.

“Shall we just do it?” She asked an equally bored Phoebe who nodded. They both shut their eyes and made their mental voices as loud as they could before screaming

*DAWN* at full blast through their mental connection. Dawn bolted upright and Dumbledore looked at her with slight surprise showing on her face.

“If I may ask, how did you two do that?” He asked the two sisters, curiosity in his voice.

“We have a mental connection between the three of us” Paige informed him “Last summer, we decided to bind ourselves together after Dawn’s thirty seventh kidnapping, so we could find her more easily. That way Dawn spends a lot less time chained up and we can cheat in exams.” She went bright red as she realised who she was talking to, “Not that we would do that, because it’s wrong.” She hurriedly rectified. Dumbledore chuckled.

“Well, I shall leave you alone to discuss today’s events and someone will be up in about half an hour to lead you to they quarters that you will be staying in until your sorting. As it is now Friday, I believe that we can allow you to Diagon alley over the weekend to attain supplies.” He informed them before swiftly exiting the room. Phoebe frowned

“How are we supposed to survive without money?” She asked the other girls once they were alone. Dawn smirked,

“Just get me alone with a computer and we’ll be set. The council don’t need all that money, I’m no Willow, but I can guarantee us plenty of money to get us through school at least.”


XXX


The Marauders were intrigued, to say the least, about the new arrivals. So when James was asked to lead them to their rooms, it was no surprise that he had the company of three other males. Sirius because he was excited at the prospect of fresh blood; Remus because he didn’t want Sirius to make too much of a fool of himself – and the rest of them; and Peter because, well, James was going! The girls were deep in conversation about the houses that they could be put in when the boys entered the hospital wing. James grinned and ruffled his hair

“Well,” He interrupted them “You should, of course, be in Gryffindor, because well,” He smirked and shrugged “We’re the best.” Phoebe tossed her hair and stared at him incredulously

“Ego much!” She exclaimed. Sirius grinned and elbowed James, stepping forwards

“Yeah Prongs. I think that these lovely ladies” He winked “Need more than just an ego” Dawn snorted

“Prongs!” Phoebe exclaimed “What, is that some kind of player nickname?” The girls giggled and James looked slightly insulted

“No! I have eyes for one, and one only! My lovely Lily-flower.” His eyes glazed over slightly as he tilted his head in a daydream.” Remus sighed and closed his eyes briefly before stepping towards the girls and putting out his hand

“I’m Remus.” He said shaking their hands “Those idiots are James and Sirius”

“Hey!” Sirius exclaimed, Remus ignored him

“And the one who hasn’t spoken yet would be Peter”

“Hi” Peter squeaked

“So, what year are you three going into to?” Remus asked politely

“Sixth.” Paige spoke up “We were home-schooled in the states until our Grams died, that’s why we’re transferring – and so late in the year.” She used the cover story they had come up with.

“So, you’re all related?” He asked

“Yep” Paige continued. Pheebs is my sister and Dawn is our cousin. Her parents died in a house fire last year, so she’s been living with us since”

“I’m so sorry” Remus offered “What about your parents”

“Ah, dad left when mum was pregnant with me – he didn’t want another child – and mum died when I was two.”

“What was that weird light show thing when you arrived?” Sirius spoke up. Remus glared at him for his insensitivity

“Portal.” Dawn stated “American way of travelling. It was supposed to drop us in Hogsmeade, hence the confusion when we landed.”

“But you were unconscious!” James exclaimed, breaking out of his Lily-induced trance. Dawn smiled slightly

“I hit my head on the way in” She explained.

“So, where is this room of ours?” Phoebe broke in

“Oh! Oh, yeah!” James remembered “It’s this way.” He pointed to the door

“Wow, out the door! I’d thought it must be out the window!” Phoebe said sarcastically, pulling up Dawn and Paige and making towards the door. James scowled slightly.


XXX


“So, this is your room” James announced, stopping in front of a portrait of a little girl in a meadow.

“It’s a picture” Phoebe deadpanned “Wow, cause I’m sure it’s great fun to live in a painted meadow.”

“It’s not that bad.” The girl in the painting piped up “There’s grass everywhere. The sun never stops shining. And if you get bored of it, you can always go visit another portrait.”

“Of course.” Phoebe sighed. “It’s a talking picture. How silly of me.”

“Zonko’s” James spoke. The little girls smiled and the picture swung forwards. “That’s your password and if you follow me, I’ll take you through into your room.” He said with a smirk as he climbed into the tunnel to the room. The girls shared a bemused look as they went through the tunnel, Phoebe landing gracefully on the other side and Paige and Dawn landing in a tangled heap.

“Oh! What grace and poise” James exclaimed with a half sneer. Dawn looked at him with disdain as the two climbed to their feet.

“This is your common room.” Remus informed them as he climbed through behind Sirius, Peter not far behind, “And up those stairs in the corner is your bedroom. There should be some clothes in there for you to wear tomorrow before you buy some” Paige smiled gratefully at him as they looked around the homely common room. It was decorated in a warm orange and there was a comfy looking mauve sofa in the centre next to a matching recliner. A bookcase stood in the far left corner, crammed full of books on various kinds of magic and a dark wood table and chairs were at the near right corner. The stairs were in the far right corner and were half the size of a normal staircase. They lead to a small wooden door that even Peter would have to duck to go through.

“Lily and I are taking you to Diagon Alley tomorrow, so we’ll probably be joined by those three.” Remus pointed his thumb towards the boys and James half spluttered

“What do you mean probably? I can’t let my Lily-flower go to such a dangerous place on her own! There’s a war going on if you haven’t noticed!” Remus rolled his eyes

“Is this Lily your girlfriend then?” Phoebe asked. Sirius snorted

“He wishes!”

“Hey!” James exclaimed

“Aw, maybe it’s because she can’t stand your self-righteous, protective, chauvinistic attitude.” Phoebe cooed sarcastically.

“So, we’ll be here at nine to take you down to breakfast before we go.” Remus informed them, pushing the other boys out of the room before James could recover.

“Thanks Remus!” Paige called before he left.


XXX


Dawn and Phoebe spun to Paige the second they’d left.

“Oh my God. You totally like Remus don’t you!” Dawn exclaimed to her.

“What?” Paige asked flummoxed

“Oh come on!” Phoebe exclaimed “You were giving him the googlies the whole way here!”

“I was not!” She retorted

“Aw, I think it’s cute!” Dawn cooed “Paigey’s in love with a werewolf” Paige gave her a funny look

“How do you know he’s a werewolf?” She asked with a laugh.

“Oh purlease! I had a werewolf as a babysitter. All the signs are there!” Dawn exclaimed with a roll of her eyes. “Anyways, shall we see this bedroom of our cuz?”

“Cuzes please!” Phoebe laughed linking her arm with Dawn’s and Paige’s and manhandling them to the stairs, before letting go and bounding up them.



The bedroom had three single, four poster beds in a baby blue and the walls were painted to match. There was a dresser at the far side, conspicuously empty, and a uniform was laid out on each bed. A door stood open opposite them, leading into a simple, but nice, bathroom. The girls took one look at the uniforms on the beds and matching horrified expressions appeared on their faces. Uniforms. It really said it all. Knee length black skirts, pleated the whole way round; long white shirts; black ties with the Hogwarts logo printed a way up, so that they had to be tied long; plain black clompy shoes; and plain black robes.



“I think I’m gonna pass out again.” Dawn murmured

“Same here.” Phoebe muttered. Paige just stared helplessly, before getting a thoughtful look in her eyes and picking up the clothes from one of the beds. She quietly walked into the bathroom and shut the door. Phoebe and Dawn shared a look before sweeping the clothes off the other two beds and plonking down on them.

“Think you can spell me up a computer?” Dawn asked “With internet access? I’m guessing that cyber cafes aren’t quite as common in the past.” Phoebe snorted.

“I’ll see what I can do.” She replied, picking up a pad of paper and a pencil from the top of the dresser. “What rhymes with computer?” Phoebe asked. Dawn frowned.

“I dunno, nothing I don’t think.” Phoebe sighed,

“I’ll have to go in a different direction then. Ooh! Maybe a Haiku, it’s worked for Paige before. Wait. How d’ya write a Haiku again?” Dawn giggled “Maybe not.” Phoebe scribbled frantically for a few more minutes, crossing out and rewriting several times. “I got it!” She exclaimed suddenly.



“In this time of need I ask

For your help in this task

Make our transition trouble-free

A computer conjure us – hear our plea”



A shimmer appeared in the air before Phoebe and a small laptop appeared. Dawn grinned widely and grabbed the laptop, taking it back to her bed. The door to the bathroom was suddenly flung open and Paige appeared, wearing the shirt instead of her tank top. The top two buttons were undone, as were the bottom three. She had forgone the skirt in favour for the jeans that she was already wearing and the tie was loosely knotted around her waist. She had ignored the robes and shoes too, instead wearing her trainers and worn zip up hoody that she had already been wearing.

“Swish!” Phoebe called to her sister as she gave them a quick twirl.

“Well, it’s not like they’ll be in uniform at the weekend is it? I mean come on!” Paige looked over at Dawn, who had yet to say anything. Her fingers were flying over the keys of the laptop that they had acquired. “Ooh! Computer!” Paige half squealed “Where’d you get that from?” She hopped over to Dawn’s bed and sat on the end of it.

“We conjured it.” Phoebe informed her at seeing that Dawn wasn’t about to reply any time soon.

“Tut, tut!” Paige grinned “Personal gain remember!”

“And three more people now exist!” Dawn called triumphantly from her bed

“That was quick!” Phoebe said, surprised. Dawn shrugged,

“It’s 1990” She pointed out “Their firewalls are crap. But the next bit, we have to do in person. Paaiige” She smiled sweetly at Paige.

“What?” Paige asked suspiciously

“How do you feel about some long distance orbing?” Dawn asked. Paige wrinkled her nose

“How far?” She asked guardedly

“Oh, you know, America.” Paige stared at her.

“Why?” Dawn shifted

“Well, we kind of need passports. And visas. Otherwise, well, we’re kind of illegal immigrants.” Paiges eyes bulged

“Oh, because it would have been far too simple to just make us British!” She half yelled. Dawn wobbled her lip and bit it, widening her eyes until they began to water. “That’s not going to work on me Dawn. I’m NOT Spike, nor am I Angel or Xander.” Dawn sniffed a little and a tear rolled out of the corner of her eye. Paige sighed “Oh fine. Just let me change back into my clothes.” She gave up. Dawn grinned and turned of the laptop.

“Field trip to the US of A.” She announced to Phoebe, who sighed

“You do realise that we were just there this morning, or yesterday, I hate jet lag.” Dawn pouted

“Technically, we were there 17 years from now. Besides, it’ll be at least Christmas before we go back to America.” Phoebe rolled her eyes,

“Fine, so what’s on the agenda?”

“Well, first is the passport office – we’re going to need to spellify them to give us our passports within, like an hour of something. Then we go get our visa – again spellage to speed stuff up – after all, we need this stuff for tomorrow. Then the bank, where we open an account, obviously. Then we can come home and I’ll make with the money transferage. I’m thinking we should buy a house. What d’ya reckon?” Dawn asked. Phoebe fixed her with a look.

“You do realise you’re helping out with the spells from now on, right?” Dawn sighed and nodded reluctantly. “Right, we’ve got to get a-writing then don’t we!”


XXX


“I cannot believe that that worked!” Paige exclaimed. The three had been to get both passports and visas and it had all gone without a hitch. The spell had worked perfectly and they had just picked them up. They still had to go to the bank, but that wouldn’t be a problem at all. Suddenly, a thought occurred to Paige. “Crap!” she burst out. The other two looked at her questioningly. “They’re going to think that something’s up when we’re in the US and then suddenly in England without even taking a flight, aren’t they!” Phoebe’s eyes widened and Dawn’s posture visibly drooped,

“Shit” she muttered. “I suppose we could book tickets and not take the flight. Although, they’ll notice when we aren’t on it. Oh bloody hell!” Phoebe’s eyes lit up

“So we go on the flight.” She suggested. Dawn shook her head.

“No, someone would notice if we were missing for that long.” Phoebe smirked

“We don’t have to stay on it.” She announced. Paige looked at her in confusion “We take a fast jet and orb off when the seatbelt signs go off, then on again about an hour before it lands.” Dawn grinned and hugged her cousin,

“You are the best!” she exclaimed.



The three girls were sat, filling in forms in the bank. One bank account clearly must equal a whole lot of forms, after all. Since Dawn was the one who had created their identities, they were glad of their mental connections so that she could fill them in on the details of their lives. Paige was surprised to discover that Dawn had actually put her down as having a different father to Phoebe. Especially seeing as it means more work. Dawn had tried to keep their lives as similar as possible to their actual lives, in order to help them to remember their new details. But they now looked like the most unlucky teenagers in the world – they now had no living relatives other than each other.



A loud crash startled them all from their forms. A large demon came hurtling through the window it had just broken

“Can’t they ever use doors?” Dawn complained, standing up along with her cousins. Phoebe snorted

“Hey ugly!” She yelled stalking towards it, her accomplices close behind. She tossed her hair, “You know, bank robbing is so passé. Why dontcha just go drink some blood or beat people to death with their own bones, use em for bread or whatever?” She asked.

“Or. Well, you could die. I think that that’s the best option, don’t you girls?” Dawn quipped, pulling a dagger from an ankle strap. “You know, I always wondered why my sister carried weapons everywhere. Know I know, it’s not just because she’s the slayer.” Paige rolled her eyes at Dawns ‘subtle’ namedropping The demon turned to face them, orange pus dripping from goodness knows where. Phoebe wrinkled her nose.

“You’re not the slayer’s sister.” The demon growled obtusely “The slayer’s Japanese” Paige put on a look of faux surprise as she unearthed a small battleaxe.

“Wow. It speaks!” She exclaimed “She didn’t say current slayer though, did she dimwit?” The demon growled at the insult and rushed forward, swiping an enormous arm at Paige. She jumped but it caught her foot and she went crashing to the ground with a loud crack. Phoebe went quickly to check if her sister was ok whilst Dawn took a leap at the demon, lashing out with her dagger and cutting deep into it’s stomach. It’s skin was thick and tough and her dagger got stuck coming out, giving it time to swipe at her with it’s claws, making four, much deeper, gashes in her arm that revealed bone underneath. She cried out and managed to pull her dagger from it’s skin, sending pools of green blood gushing to the floor. She smirked in triumph as it doubled over and she got the opportunity to ram her elbow into it’s eye socket. The creature cried out in pain and latched it’s foot around Dawn’s sending her to the floor. Rearing forwards to strike at Dawn again, the Demon was caught by surprise as it was pulled back by Phoebe, who’d leapt from a cabinet onto it’s back. She took advantage of it’s surprise, flicking her wrist downwards quickly. This sprung her knife from her wrist and into the Demon’s heart from behind (Wesley clearly was useful for something after all). The effect was instantaneous. The demon didn’t dust like a vampire does, but rather vanished in a puff of smoke. Phoebe plummeted downwards and landed in an ungraceful heap on the floor. She winced as she pulled herself up. Naturally, the smoke that the demon vanquished in set off the sprinklers. Dawn sighed as she pulled her now sodden self up with her good left arm. The two managed to make it over to Paige who was sat clutching her swollen ankle. Between them, Phoebe and Dawn managed to hoike Paige up and support her over to the desk, behind which sat a gobsmacked woman. They signed their forms quickly and were handed their cards (thanks to their handy speed-it-up spell).


XXX


The girls groaned almost simultaneously as they landed in their bedroom. Dawn and Phoebe supported Paige to her bed and Dawn frowned as she tore a strip off her tank top to wrap up the gashes in her arm.

“I really liked this top, dammit!” She exclaimed

“I think I’ve broken a rib…or five” Phoebe groaned lying down on her bed.

“I feel you.” Paige murmured “This ankle is broken for sure.”

“How the hell are we supposed to explain this away?” Phoebe asked

“Well, Paige was bound to fall down those stairs walking backwards. She really should have concentrated on the stairs rather than speaking to me. It’s a shame that you happened to be at the bottom when she fell on you isn’t it.” Dawn sympathised. Phoebe smiled briefly.

“And your arm?” she asked

“It’s just a normal arm. I’ll get us vast quantities of advil when we’re at the airport, that should last you two until we go to the hospital wing tomorrow and then me until my arm’s fixed.”

“Dawn, they are serious cuts, you can’t just leave them.” Paige exclaimed, Dawn shrugged.

“I’ll get some alcohol wipes too. And bandages. Besides, how are we supposed to explain away claw marks?” She asked collapsing onto her bed to switch on the laptop. The other two didn’t respond and within minutes Dawn was finished on the laptop. “Hello, money goodness!” She exclaimed turning off the laptop again. She looked up to see that the other two were laid on their beds half asleep. “Guys!” she called “It’s only, like three and we have a plane to catch remember?” Phoebe groaned and Paige sat up reluctantly.

“How did you get the money anyway Dawn?” Paige asked

“I siphoned off a couple o hundred thousand from the Watcher’s council and then set up a fund for miscellaneous demon hunters. It’ll send about a thousand into our account at the end of each month. I thought about siphoning money from Wolfram and Hart too, but I decided it was too risky.” These revelations were enough to fully awaken Phoebe and Dawn was able to use her surprise to pull her up.

“ A couple of HUNDRED THOUSAND!” Paige exclaimed “Why do we need that much? Don’t you think they’ll notice?” Dawn wrinkled her nose

“They’re a multibillion firm. Two hundred thousand pounds is like pennies to them. Anyway, I said, I think we should buy a house. As far as the bank are concerned, and as far as anyone can dig, it just looks like it’s compensation for the tragic loss of my sister, Elizabeth, in an electrical fire.”

“You, my dear cousin, are clever. And remarkably well prepared.” Phoebe stated.

“Well, it’s the kind of thing you plan for when you have a slayer as a sister.” Dawn explained “Now, airport!” Her cousins smiled and linked arms with her to orb to the airport.


XXX


“Hi, erm, can we have three tickets to Heathrow airport please?” Dawn asked presenting a debit card and passport to the woman behind the desk who promptly swiped the card and handed their things back, together with their tickets.

“Can I have your luggage please?” The woman asked

“Oh, erm,” Dawn floundered

“We haven’t got any.” Paige butted in, saving her from answering, “House fire, nothing was salvaged so we figured we’d make a completely new start in England.” The woman looked at them sympathetically.



“Well, that was awkward.” Stated Phoebe when they got through. Dawn snorted.

“To say the least.” They walked towards the drugstore quickly to pick up the supplies. Well, Paige rolled, they had managed to acquire her a wheelchair to ease the pressure on her injured leg.

“Oh, right, cause you were a lot of help Lune!” Phoebe exclaimed

“More help than you Leafy!” Dawn responded. Paige rolled her eyes

“Guys, do you have to? I’m tired and my leg hurts. I just want to get this stuff and get out.”

“Sorry Halfy.” The two chorused. Paige groaned,

“I hate those stupid nicknames!” The two gasped in mock horror

“Lune, I do believe that Halfy just offended us in our nicknaming!” Phoebe exclaimed

“I do believe you’re right Leafy!” Dawn exclaimed “What shall her punishment be?”

“Hmm” Phoebe tapped her chin “I think that we should refuse to call her anything but Halfy for the entire weekend!” She continued. Paige gasped

“You wouldn’t!”

“Oh, think again Halfy!” Dawn smirked.


XXX


It was now eight o’clock GMT and the trinity witches had been on the plane for half an hour. Surprise, surprise, they were bored.

“Are we gonna be able to move soon?” Dawn whined

“I’m bored. Why aren’t there any cute guys on this plane?” Phoebe moaned

“No idea.” Paige responded “Why don’t you ask them?” she snarked.

“Maybe I will.” Phoebe responded.

“No you won’t” Dawn exclaimed happily. “We can move!” Phoebe breathed a sigh of relief

“Thank God!” She murmured as they all got up to make their way to the bathroom. Fortunately, they managed to make it unnoticed into the bathroom together. Anybody wondering where they were would just be relieved that they were entertaining themselves away from them.