The Bar

Ryan

Rating: 12 (I'm using the British system.)
E mail: willow.codex@virgin.net
Violence: None
Language: None
Feedback: Please send it to me.
Disclaimers:
1. Willow and co. are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, WB fox and UPN.
2. All characters and places from the Harry Potter books are owned by J. K. Rowling, Bloomsbury paperbacks and WB.
3. No copyright infringements intended.
Spoilers: Set just after two years after my story 'The Hearing.'

Summary: Willow's completed her supervision order and is a free woman now. Or is she?

Willow sat in the darkest corner of the bar. Half a bottle of Scot whisky in front of her. She took another shot of the liquid it burned her throat.

Two years, washing pots and cleaning floors that what she had done. Her fine was paid in full too.

Now she was drinking herself into an early death.

"Ms Rosenberg." An old man spoke sitting opposite her. 

"She ain't home." She frown. "I'm not going to back to Hogwarts, served my supervision order, Dumbledore."

"Why not?" He asked.

"I'm not getting involved with the Dark Arts again." She took a mouthful from her bottle. "I don't care what that man, Voldemort wants, like I'm not interested in taking sides. I've had enough. I've quit magic all together."

"No one can quit magic." The old man sighed.

"I did." She grinned. "Found away to give up magic. It's called Scottish whisky. Alcohol scrambles magic remember, one can't use magic when drunk." Willow studied her bottle.

"Its a shame you feel that way." Dumbledore studied her

Was that pity in his voice. "Why would that be?" Willow poured herself another glass. "Want some?"

"No thank you, I'm flying." He declined.

"Willow," he spoke. "I need your help. There are forces gathering out there I'm not familiar with."

"I won't do magic." Willow yawned. "Not after last time. After my little friends got fired."

"I'm sorry that happened." Dumbledore touched her hand. 

"Jack phone a taxi." She yelled.

"I'm not asking for magical help. I'm asking for your skills as a what do you call it a hacker." He spoke softly.

"Cost ya'" Willow grinned. "If it's a big bad. I'm going to need state of the art hardware . . . puter' stuff. They advanced a bit from what my old one can handle. Bar work, doesn't pay that well. Why did my ticket home get cancelled? Bet it was the Minister, three time promised ticket home to states. Three times not came." She sobbed. "Just wanta go home."

"We'll speak on this again." Dumbledore patted her arm. "I believe the taxi's here."

"Come on Willow" A bar man helped her to her feet.

"Thanks Jack." She smiled. "Hi Tom." She greeted the Taxi driver.

"Let's get you back to your flat." Tom, an old man spoke.

Dumbledore watched her go.

"Well?" The Minister of Magic appeared. "She won't do magic. Then what use is she?" A question.

"She can find out things we cannot." The older wizard answered.

"Like what?" Another question

"What forces from outside the realm of magic are being brought into the battle." He hung his head. "The rest we'll have to see. Though promising her ticket home was not fair."

"That was the Watcher's Council idea. They had wanted to employ the woman." He paused. "Now she's barely any good to anyone."

"Well, doubt she'll never work for the Ministry or the Council again. After what happen to that group of House Elves that befriended her." Dumbledore spoke sadly.

"They were expandable." The Minister grinned.

"Not to her." Dumbledore lent forward. "She pined for them. Cried for them. They were family to her. Pomfrey was helpless to help her. Sometimes, I wonder how close to Voldemort you're becoming."

The End