Part Six
Though Willow and Tara had arrived at the Alley together they had not stayed as such. Tara had needed only a few potion ingredients and had excused herself after attaining them. Willow could have left then but she did have errands to run. So while Tara headed back to the castle Willow set out first for Ollivander's. Mr.Ollivander was much as she remembered him from when she had gotten her first wand. Her first wand had been six inches of oak tree, unicorn hair at its core. Her second wand was rather different. Twelve inches of cherry wood, with dragon heartstring at its core. She paid for the wand and headed out for Gringotts. Though she had had enough money on her to buy her wand for anything else she hadn't enough money. She ventured down to her vault which-to her relief-was still filled as it was in her memory. She left the bank her pockets relatively heavier. Her second stop of the day was Madam Minch's robe shop. That was where much of the bulk of her money was spent. She bought robes in several different colors, as well as a dark green velvet cloak for the winter. She also bought two different dress robes. One was also dark green and the other was a deep blue. The day seemed to fly by. Willow purchased a new cauldron and all of the potion ingredients needed for simple spells as well as some for spells she kept in her arsenal in case something impromptu happened. She bought two animals as well. The first was a beautiful owl, it was large and a snowy owl, but she was magnificent. She named her Eiko, because it seemed to fit. The other animal was a cat; it was really no more than a kitten. A calico whom she named Caesar. While she could easily carry Eiko in her cage Caesar was a bit more of a challenge, though after a few minutes he decided he liked sitting in her shoulder, claws digging in for grip. Although she had other errands to run Willow spent the most time inside one of her most favorite places. Flourish and Blotts. Because she would be teaching Defense against the Dark arts-a prospect that still filled her with more than a little terror-it was there that she lingered the most, picking out half a dozen titles to look over which she purchased at the front register.
It was nearly twilight when Willow finally returned to the school. Because she had now been officially instated as a teacher she would be residing in the quarters near the dark Arts classroom. Though Willow disliked having only one exit-other than the window-available to her the quarters were quite nice. It was like a small apartment really, well an extraordinarily small apartment but one none the less. There was a medium sized room, it could be made up as a living room, but chances were it would become a study. To the left from that room was a private bath and to the right was the bedroom. The bedroom had a bed, curtains on the windows, two bureaus and a small vanity. The bedspread and curtains were both white. She would have to go out and buy proper curtains and bed sheets; she remembered how cold the castle got in the winter. She took out the robes she had bought that day and put them into the bureaus, her cloak and both of the dress robes were hung up in her closet. Eiko's cage was put in the closet and the owl flew around the room a few times before perching on one of the bureaus. All of the books were piled on the bed, which Willow plopped down on. Gods she was exhausted. She looked over at Eiko and sighed, the owl did need to be brought up to the owlery, she changed from the muggle clothing she had been wearing into a pair of pyjamas and her robe, tied her hair back with a ribbon and got the bird to perch on her arm as the two of them headed up to the owlery.
It was there that she ran into Snape. He was-as always- in black. Willow swore to herself. Of course she had to run into Severus Snape. The one person who could really throw her off stride and make her feel like she was fifteen again. And he was wearing black. Did he even own another color? Not that it didn't look good one him of course-Willow shook her head. She wasn't going to let those thoughts go any further. But really she had all the luck. There were half a dozen other teachers here, and could she run into any of them? No. She had to run into her unrequited love. Great Just peachy. He raised one eyebrow inquiringly and his voice was filled with venom when he asked the question. "And why are you out and about at these hours Willow?" Willow fought not to strangle him, she also fought not to kiss him right there.
"I don't think it really concerns you, now does it Severus? We're both adults here." "Ah yes, but Dumbledore did tell me to be on the look out for anything out of the norm and you are a guest here."
"Well I'm sure bringing an owl to the owlery isn't too strange and I'm not a guest anymore." "And just what is that supposed to mean?"
"Well Dumbledore offered me the Dark Arts position, and I accepted." She could see his face tighten and his eyes cool. It gave her a perverse kind of pleasure while making her heart ache. He sneered at her. "Then I suppose you'll be staying here for while." As he made his retreat Willow started grumbling to herself. Why couldn't she fall for a normal guy? One who wasn't so damn infuriating? It had been a beautiful day, the summer air a little humid but not too bad. It had been sunny and she had been able to go shopping and now it was ruined. Well not exactly ruined but Severus just put a damper on everything. And just what the hell did she see him? He was mean, obnoxious, smug, self-centered, rude, acidic, argumentative and she still liked him! Willow reached the owlery and let Eiko go find herself a perch and headed back down to her room still thinking about him. Okay he was obnoxious, there was helping that one. Smug, well she would throw him off his high horse. Self-centered, that could easily be dealt with. Rude, and acidic well they could be taken care of later. Argumentative.well Willow really couldn't yell at him for that one. She was argumentative as well; she was just better at being subtle about it and then better at arguing. Oh the rows she and her uncle had gotten in once she hit puberty. It was amusing though, her uncle had shown her the art of arguing, and he was a wizarding lawyer.
Willow sighed. She had never really understood men. They were so damn complicated, and you had to be so careful with their egos. It was pathetic. And Severus.well she just had to fall for the complicated ones now didn't she?
Some people can never really find happiness. Not on their own. They are the people who have never truly known happiness. They are brought up cruel viscous people, and take it out on others. And have it taken out on them. Alone they could never become anything more than the bitter individuals that they have grown to be but given a chance they can become more. They can grow past the bleakness that has taken root in their hearts. Bleakness they must fight with every breath. They aren't chosen. But they need love. Need a simple kindness to survive, without it they become nothing more than the dark bitter, people filled with hatred that they once hated.
Tara looked at Dumbledore. "We're leaving tomorrow then?" His usually twinkling eyes were serious. "Yes. You know of course that Willow has been a member of the order since the day she could have been. She will be a given a serious mission."
"You think that she is ready then?" "Yes I do. In the past, Willow has shown great tenacity under fire. She is known throughout the ministry as one of their best aurors. She will be a key element of this plan." Tara nodded.
"Allright, I trust your judgment, do you want me to tell her tonight, or do you want to see her." "It would be best if you told her tonight."
Though Willow and Tara had arrived at the Alley together they had not stayed as such. Tara had needed only a few potion ingredients and had excused herself after attaining them. Willow could have left then but she did have errands to run. So while Tara headed back to the castle Willow set out first for Ollivander's. Mr.Ollivander was much as she remembered him from when she had gotten her first wand. Her first wand had been six inches of oak tree, unicorn hair at its core. Her second wand was rather different. Twelve inches of cherry wood, with dragon heartstring at its core. She paid for the wand and headed out for Gringotts. Though she had had enough money on her to buy her wand for anything else she hadn't enough money. She ventured down to her vault which-to her relief-was still filled as it was in her memory. She left the bank her pockets relatively heavier. Her second stop of the day was Madam Minch's robe shop. That was where much of the bulk of her money was spent. She bought robes in several different colors, as well as a dark green velvet cloak for the winter. She also bought two different dress robes. One was also dark green and the other was a deep blue. The day seemed to fly by. Willow purchased a new cauldron and all of the potion ingredients needed for simple spells as well as some for spells she kept in her arsenal in case something impromptu happened. She bought two animals as well. The first was a beautiful owl, it was large and a snowy owl, but she was magnificent. She named her Eiko, because it seemed to fit. The other animal was a cat; it was really no more than a kitten. A calico whom she named Caesar. While she could easily carry Eiko in her cage Caesar was a bit more of a challenge, though after a few minutes he decided he liked sitting in her shoulder, claws digging in for grip. Although she had other errands to run Willow spent the most time inside one of her most favorite places. Flourish and Blotts. Because she would be teaching Defense against the Dark arts-a prospect that still filled her with more than a little terror-it was there that she lingered the most, picking out half a dozen titles to look over which she purchased at the front register.
It was nearly twilight when Willow finally returned to the school. Because she had now been officially instated as a teacher she would be residing in the quarters near the dark Arts classroom. Though Willow disliked having only one exit-other than the window-available to her the quarters were quite nice. It was like a small apartment really, well an extraordinarily small apartment but one none the less. There was a medium sized room, it could be made up as a living room, but chances were it would become a study. To the left from that room was a private bath and to the right was the bedroom. The bedroom had a bed, curtains on the windows, two bureaus and a small vanity. The bedspread and curtains were both white. She would have to go out and buy proper curtains and bed sheets; she remembered how cold the castle got in the winter. She took out the robes she had bought that day and put them into the bureaus, her cloak and both of the dress robes were hung up in her closet. Eiko's cage was put in the closet and the owl flew around the room a few times before perching on one of the bureaus. All of the books were piled on the bed, which Willow plopped down on. Gods she was exhausted. She looked over at Eiko and sighed, the owl did need to be brought up to the owlery, she changed from the muggle clothing she had been wearing into a pair of pyjamas and her robe, tied her hair back with a ribbon and got the bird to perch on her arm as the two of them headed up to the owlery.
It was there that she ran into Snape. He was-as always- in black. Willow swore to herself. Of course she had to run into Severus Snape. The one person who could really throw her off stride and make her feel like she was fifteen again. And he was wearing black. Did he even own another color? Not that it didn't look good one him of course-Willow shook her head. She wasn't going to let those thoughts go any further. But really she had all the luck. There were half a dozen other teachers here, and could she run into any of them? No. She had to run into her unrequited love. Great Just peachy. He raised one eyebrow inquiringly and his voice was filled with venom when he asked the question. "And why are you out and about at these hours Willow?" Willow fought not to strangle him, she also fought not to kiss him right there.
"I don't think it really concerns you, now does it Severus? We're both adults here." "Ah yes, but Dumbledore did tell me to be on the look out for anything out of the norm and you are a guest here."
"Well I'm sure bringing an owl to the owlery isn't too strange and I'm not a guest anymore." "And just what is that supposed to mean?"
"Well Dumbledore offered me the Dark Arts position, and I accepted." She could see his face tighten and his eyes cool. It gave her a perverse kind of pleasure while making her heart ache. He sneered at her. "Then I suppose you'll be staying here for while." As he made his retreat Willow started grumbling to herself. Why couldn't she fall for a normal guy? One who wasn't so damn infuriating? It had been a beautiful day, the summer air a little humid but not too bad. It had been sunny and she had been able to go shopping and now it was ruined. Well not exactly ruined but Severus just put a damper on everything. And just what the hell did she see him? He was mean, obnoxious, smug, self-centered, rude, acidic, argumentative and she still liked him! Willow reached the owlery and let Eiko go find herself a perch and headed back down to her room still thinking about him. Okay he was obnoxious, there was helping that one. Smug, well she would throw him off his high horse. Self-centered, that could easily be dealt with. Rude, and acidic well they could be taken care of later. Argumentative.well Willow really couldn't yell at him for that one. She was argumentative as well; she was just better at being subtle about it and then better at arguing. Oh the rows she and her uncle had gotten in once she hit puberty. It was amusing though, her uncle had shown her the art of arguing, and he was a wizarding lawyer.
Willow sighed. She had never really understood men. They were so damn complicated, and you had to be so careful with their egos. It was pathetic. And Severus.well she just had to fall for the complicated ones now didn't she?
Some people can never really find happiness. Not on their own. They are the people who have never truly known happiness. They are brought up cruel viscous people, and take it out on others. And have it taken out on them. Alone they could never become anything more than the bitter individuals that they have grown to be but given a chance they can become more. They can grow past the bleakness that has taken root in their hearts. Bleakness they must fight with every breath. They aren't chosen. But they need love. Need a simple kindness to survive, without it they become nothing more than the dark bitter, people filled with hatred that they once hated.
Tara looked at Dumbledore. "We're leaving tomorrow then?" His usually twinkling eyes were serious. "Yes. You know of course that Willow has been a member of the order since the day she could have been. She will be a given a serious mission."
"You think that she is ready then?" "Yes I do. In the past, Willow has shown great tenacity under fire. She is known throughout the ministry as one of their best aurors. She will be a key element of this plan." Tara nodded.
"Allright, I trust your judgment, do you want me to tell her tonight, or do you want to see her." "It would be best if you told her tonight."