Trouble Catches Up
Author: Lucinda
rating: pg/pg 13
Main Characters: Willow and Snape
contains some Ron/Hermione, George/Katie, and Snape/Willow
the QPC site: http://quickie.moonlightpaths.com
sixth in 'Love in a Bottle
Disclaimer: I do not own anyone from BtVS or the Harry Potter books.
Distribution: If I've given permission for my other BtVS/HP fics, yes. Otherwise please ask first.
AU post 'the Gift'./season 5. Tara broke up and left, Buffy is dead. the Weasleys are in their seventh year.
Willow felt oddly content as she walked down the street with Severus. They'd met at Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, but it had been very crowded, so they had started walking, just rambling along the street for a bit. It was as if all the places inside that had been scraped raw by pain and guilt and loneliness had been soothed, as if she was finally starting to heal instead of just masking everything. Maybe there was something to that potion, or maybe ice cream really did make everything better... but she had the feeling that part of it was Severus.
It was actually a bit odd, he wasn't at all like either of her previous loves. Nothing like Tara the sweet and gentle woman that everyone saw as a nurturer, nothing like the calm, relaxed guitarist who happened to become a ravening beast three nights a month... She hoped that Oz was doing well in his travels. No, Severus was entirely unlike them. He didn't look calm, or relaxed, or gentle. He looked like an ominous villain, out to plan his world conquest... on the outside at least. His aura showed that his appearance was merely a mask over someone that cared, someone that wanted to make a difference and had been hurt, had slipped, had made mistakes... but regretted. Someone a lot like her, actually.
"What are you thinking?" His voice just seemed to wrap around her, a near tangible caress.
Willow smiled, glancing at him shyly. "That this feels... nice. That for the first time in a long time, everything is close to good. Nothing aches inside, and I don't have impending doom hanging over me. I think part of that is your good influence."
"That's probably the first time that anyone's considered me to be a good influence." He shook his head a bit, the dark locks falling around his face. "How could things have been so bad that something as simple as walking with someone is such a pleasure?"
"Sunnydale, California. It's... I wouldn't recommend going there. Ever. Makes that Knockturn place look harmless... at least, after dark it does. America's magical schools apparently aren't as good at finding the people who should be students as Hogwarts is, because... They didn't find me, or Amy. Didn't find Tara either... So we all had to muddle through, with only a few hints and clues here and there. It was only after one of my closest friends died that the people that should have offered help years ago got off their butts long enough to offer teaching." Willow sighed, trying not to loose herself in bitter memories.
"The American Ministry of Magic?" He sounded a bit surprised.
Her voice was filled with sorrow as she answered. "No, they never even let us know... anything. The too little too late came from the Council of Watchers, here in England. My friend who died... her name was Buffy, and she was the Slayer. They offered to give me magical instruction... sort of an apology and in hopes that those of us who survived Buffy wouldn't try to hunt them down."
"Why would you be angry at the Council? My understanding... Slayers die due to the dangers they face." He sounded as if he was groping for the right words.
"It's not that simple." Willow frowned, remembering the group that had come to Sunnydale. "We were facing something terrible... something that we didn't know enough about. The Council had the information, and they wouldn't give it to us because she wouldn't jump through their hoops. She was trying to save the world, and because she wouldn't follow their horrible traditions and every little rule, they let her get killed. They let her die... If they'd given us that information, maybe she would still be alive. That's why they were afraid that we'd blame them."
"Oh." He sounded stunned. "That certainly isn't right. The way it's taught to wizards, the Council's role is to teach and guide Slayers, to provide the knowledge that they do not have, to support them as they battle terrible forces. Not to control them."
"Maybe it used to be that way. But under Quentin Travers, they seem to think that the Slayer is the Council's weapon... a tool that should only do what they say using their methods. Expendable and alone. Buffy didn't see things that way." Willow shuddered.
"Travers? What an odd coincidence. There was someone else by that name, a rather disagreeable fellow that... nevermind. Perhaps a drink at the Leaky Cauldron?" Severus looked very thoughtful.
They exited Diagon Alley, moving into a quiet pub, filled with shadows and smoke and the feeling of magic. People were settled throughout, clearly witches and wizards from this strange and delightlful wizarding world. One corner held a trio of teens, possibly students at Hogwarts. There was a girl with a mass of wavy brown hair, a skinny dark haired boy with glasses, and a red haired boy leaning very close to the girl. His hair was the exact same color as the hair of the man who'd given her the bottle, although she couldn't see his face.
"The trio. No doubt plotting mischeif." Severus sighed, his gaze on the same table.
Looking, Willow frowned. "Actually, it looks more like the redhaired boy is... well, fascinated byt he girl. And that's the exact same red as the guy who gave me that little bottle... Is the color very common among wizards?"
"That particular color is very common to the Weasley family. No doubt the bottle man was one of the twins... Not bad at potions, but their attention left something to be desired." Severus drummed his fingers on the table, frowning as he pondered soemthing. "Undoubtedly, those two are up to something with that bottle. And perhaps yours was not the only one. But what exactly should be done about it?"
"Well, it seemed to be quite carefully thought out, and it even tasted good, which is a bit unusual for most potions. Hmm... Do you think they actually hurt anyone with this?" Willow wondered if Severus was really angry at them.
"But there are rules about students dispensing potions, especially for their own amusement. They can not do this with impudence." He scowled, looking frustrated by the whole thing. "Even if it does seem to be a rather effective and non harmful potion."
Willow looked at him, wondering if she dared make a suggestion. "Severus? Didn't you sort of mention that your job took a lot of time? What if… what if you had a couple student assistants? People who have enough knowledge to keep the from accidentally turning themselves into puddles of slime, and plenty of time to help with the ickier things, like cleaning up after labs… classes. Wouldn't that keep the too busy to do this all the time?"
Blinking, Severus looked at her. "That's… quite the idea. Not only practical, but it will minimize their time for trouble. And over there is one of them now… That does look like the young man in question?"
A young man with red hair had just walked in, accompanied by an athletic looking girl with short hair and a radiant smile. Their hands were entwined, and there was this sort of glazed look about them that was common in a couple that had just realized their partner was wonderful, amazing… They looked smitten.
"Well, apart from the look of blissful smittenness, that looks like him. Or you did say they were twins… but yeah, that's the look." Willow found herself smiling. New love was so cute.
With a decidedly evil looking smirk, Severus stood up. "Allow me to go over and congratulate one of my new assistants."
Willow snickered. "Tell him that she seems like a nice girl, while you're at it."
Severus only chuckled. "I have plenty of things to tell them."
End Trouble Catches Up.
Author: Lucinda
rating: pg/pg 13
Main Characters: Willow and Snape
contains some Ron/Hermione, George/Katie, and Snape/Willow
the QPC site: http://quickie.moonlightpaths.com
sixth in 'Love in a Bottle
Disclaimer: I do not own anyone from BtVS or the Harry Potter books.
Distribution: If I've given permission for my other BtVS/HP fics, yes. Otherwise please ask first.
AU post 'the Gift'./season 5. Tara broke up and left, Buffy is dead. the Weasleys are in their seventh year.
Willow felt oddly content as she walked down the street with Severus. They'd met at Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, but it had been very crowded, so they had started walking, just rambling along the street for a bit. It was as if all the places inside that had been scraped raw by pain and guilt and loneliness had been soothed, as if she was finally starting to heal instead of just masking everything. Maybe there was something to that potion, or maybe ice cream really did make everything better... but she had the feeling that part of it was Severus.
It was actually a bit odd, he wasn't at all like either of her previous loves. Nothing like Tara the sweet and gentle woman that everyone saw as a nurturer, nothing like the calm, relaxed guitarist who happened to become a ravening beast three nights a month... She hoped that Oz was doing well in his travels. No, Severus was entirely unlike them. He didn't look calm, or relaxed, or gentle. He looked like an ominous villain, out to plan his world conquest... on the outside at least. His aura showed that his appearance was merely a mask over someone that cared, someone that wanted to make a difference and had been hurt, had slipped, had made mistakes... but regretted. Someone a lot like her, actually.
"What are you thinking?" His voice just seemed to wrap around her, a near tangible caress.
Willow smiled, glancing at him shyly. "That this feels... nice. That for the first time in a long time, everything is close to good. Nothing aches inside, and I don't have impending doom hanging over me. I think part of that is your good influence."
"That's probably the first time that anyone's considered me to be a good influence." He shook his head a bit, the dark locks falling around his face. "How could things have been so bad that something as simple as walking with someone is such a pleasure?"
"Sunnydale, California. It's... I wouldn't recommend going there. Ever. Makes that Knockturn place look harmless... at least, after dark it does. America's magical schools apparently aren't as good at finding the people who should be students as Hogwarts is, because... They didn't find me, or Amy. Didn't find Tara either... So we all had to muddle through, with only a few hints and clues here and there. It was only after one of my closest friends died that the people that should have offered help years ago got off their butts long enough to offer teaching." Willow sighed, trying not to loose herself in bitter memories.
"The American Ministry of Magic?" He sounded a bit surprised.
Her voice was filled with sorrow as she answered. "No, they never even let us know... anything. The too little too late came from the Council of Watchers, here in England. My friend who died... her name was Buffy, and she was the Slayer. They offered to give me magical instruction... sort of an apology and in hopes that those of us who survived Buffy wouldn't try to hunt them down."
"Why would you be angry at the Council? My understanding... Slayers die due to the dangers they face." He sounded as if he was groping for the right words.
"It's not that simple." Willow frowned, remembering the group that had come to Sunnydale. "We were facing something terrible... something that we didn't know enough about. The Council had the information, and they wouldn't give it to us because she wouldn't jump through their hoops. She was trying to save the world, and because she wouldn't follow their horrible traditions and every little rule, they let her get killed. They let her die... If they'd given us that information, maybe she would still be alive. That's why they were afraid that we'd blame them."
"Oh." He sounded stunned. "That certainly isn't right. The way it's taught to wizards, the Council's role is to teach and guide Slayers, to provide the knowledge that they do not have, to support them as they battle terrible forces. Not to control them."
"Maybe it used to be that way. But under Quentin Travers, they seem to think that the Slayer is the Council's weapon... a tool that should only do what they say using their methods. Expendable and alone. Buffy didn't see things that way." Willow shuddered.
"Travers? What an odd coincidence. There was someone else by that name, a rather disagreeable fellow that... nevermind. Perhaps a drink at the Leaky Cauldron?" Severus looked very thoughtful.
They exited Diagon Alley, moving into a quiet pub, filled with shadows and smoke and the feeling of magic. People were settled throughout, clearly witches and wizards from this strange and delightlful wizarding world. One corner held a trio of teens, possibly students at Hogwarts. There was a girl with a mass of wavy brown hair, a skinny dark haired boy with glasses, and a red haired boy leaning very close to the girl. His hair was the exact same color as the hair of the man who'd given her the bottle, although she couldn't see his face.
"The trio. No doubt plotting mischeif." Severus sighed, his gaze on the same table.
Looking, Willow frowned. "Actually, it looks more like the redhaired boy is... well, fascinated byt he girl. And that's the exact same red as the guy who gave me that little bottle... Is the color very common among wizards?"
"That particular color is very common to the Weasley family. No doubt the bottle man was one of the twins... Not bad at potions, but their attention left something to be desired." Severus drummed his fingers on the table, frowning as he pondered soemthing. "Undoubtedly, those two are up to something with that bottle. And perhaps yours was not the only one. But what exactly should be done about it?"
"Well, it seemed to be quite carefully thought out, and it even tasted good, which is a bit unusual for most potions. Hmm... Do you think they actually hurt anyone with this?" Willow wondered if Severus was really angry at them.
"But there are rules about students dispensing potions, especially for their own amusement. They can not do this with impudence." He scowled, looking frustrated by the whole thing. "Even if it does seem to be a rather effective and non harmful potion."
Willow looked at him, wondering if she dared make a suggestion. "Severus? Didn't you sort of mention that your job took a lot of time? What if… what if you had a couple student assistants? People who have enough knowledge to keep the from accidentally turning themselves into puddles of slime, and plenty of time to help with the ickier things, like cleaning up after labs… classes. Wouldn't that keep the too busy to do this all the time?"
Blinking, Severus looked at her. "That's… quite the idea. Not only practical, but it will minimize their time for trouble. And over there is one of them now… That does look like the young man in question?"
A young man with red hair had just walked in, accompanied by an athletic looking girl with short hair and a radiant smile. Their hands were entwined, and there was this sort of glazed look about them that was common in a couple that had just realized their partner was wonderful, amazing… They looked smitten.
"Well, apart from the look of blissful smittenness, that looks like him. Or you did say they were twins… but yeah, that's the look." Willow found herself smiling. New love was so cute.
With a decidedly evil looking smirk, Severus stood up. "Allow me to go over and congratulate one of my new assistants."
Willow snickered. "Tell him that she seems like a nice girl, while you're at it."
Severus only chuckled. "I have plenty of things to tell them."
End Trouble Catches Up.