Willow
Goes to Harvard
Parts
1 & 2
By Sam James
SERIES: This is Episode 1 in "Willow, Watcher In Training & Computer Hacker (W.I.T.C.H.)" series.
SPOILERS: This alternate four season spinoff series splinters off from the real Buffy timeline after "Enemies." It follows my stories "Deceptive Decisions" and "Valedictorian"
RATING: PG-13 (some violence but no more than the show)
DISCLAIMER: Willow, Oz, Buffy, Amy, Giles, Xander, Angel, and Spike and the general background of Watchers, Slayers, and Vampires belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and 20th Century Fox. Characters not from the show are mine. Harvard and Boston University are real places, but do not necessary exist in the way they are presented here. Note that death is far more common in the Buffyverse than in our universe so many things have changed. In particular, vampires have eaten those who in our universe decided that Harvard Square's paradise of used bookstores and ice cream shops should be replaced by yuppie clothing chains. (It's my story so I get to dictate who the vampires eat.)
"You know I really shouldn't be doing this," the man sitting at the computer desk said. He had a just visible twitch in his neck.
"What's the harm?" the dark haired woman replied, fully confident. "The roommate assignments have not been sent out yet. You'll rearrange a few names on the list, the computer will send out the letters just like everyone else's, and no one will know that anything special has been done."
"But... The computer carefully matches up interests and backgrounds for geographic, religious, and ethnic diversity. It carefully considers dozens of factors..."
The woman shook her head. "Bob, I've been a freshman. You've been a freshman. Can you honestly tell me that computer does any better at matching roommates than flipping coins would?"
Bob just looked at the woman.
"Look," she continued. "You owe me a favor. This is how I want to be paid back."
"All right, all right," Bob groaned. "I'll do it. What's the name of the girl you want moved?"
The woman unfolded an old fashioned letter that appeared to be written with a fountain pen. "Rosenberg," she replied. "Willow Rosenberg."
Willow, Watcher In Training & Computer Hacker (W.I.T.C.H.)
Story #1: Willow Goes to Harvard
There is hidden magic all around us.
Good and evil, awe-inspiring and terrible.
We coexist with demons and witches, werewolves and spirits,
And vampires.
In my second year of high school I entered the magical secret world
of the Slayer.
I survived the mouth of hell and witnessed the horrors the adults
refuse to see.
I fought from sidelines as Research Girl, Hacker, and Witch.
With my graduation from Hellmouth to Harvard I have not abandoned the war on evil. Instead, I've moved up to a more leading role, destroying the evil myself.
I'm Willow, Watcher In Training & Computer Hacker (W.I.T.C.H.)
This is my story.
"I can do this," Willow thought to herself as she gazed at the iron and brick fence between her and her new college. "I can." She walked through leaving the busy street behind. Of course, with all the freshmen carrying their stuff and parents visiting the campus, Harvard Yard was just as crowded. She unfolded a map, "Pennyton, Pennyton" She looked at the dorm. "Right across the Harvard Bookstore on Mass Ave. That will be convenient. And right near a Chinese restaurant. But who'd want to eat a bowl of scorpions?" She ceased her mental babbling when she caught sight of dyed blond hair.
"Oz!" she cried waving. Her boyfriend not only had chosen to attend Boston University in order to be close to her, but he had driven his van with all their stuff from California to Boston.
"A little bit too collegey with the Ivy and all," Oz looked around.
"Oz, the place is over 350 years old. It invented collegey. It's like going to school in a museum. It's older than just about anything in Sunnydale or most of California. Well except for some of the Vampires."
"Mortgage should just about be paid up then," Oz commented, lugging a heavy bag into Willow's suite.
Willow looked around with joy turning to surprise. The entire suite was at best the size of Willow's parents' living room. The main room had three desks and bookcases, two smaller rooms had dressers and a bunkbed and a single bed. Willow noticed that the room with a single bed was already taken.
"Where to?" Oz gestured confusion.
"I'll take the bottom bunk," Willow said. "The odds are that whoever else they put in will be taller then me."
"Not prettier though," Oz gave her a kiss.
"Mmm," Willow lost herself for a minute in smoochies then came to her senses. "My computer!" she caught the box that Oz was about to drop. She chose a desk and quickly assembled it, plugging it into the net.
"I lose," Oz laughed.
Willow turned, puzzled.
"Xander and I had a bet as to what you would unpack first. He said the computer, but I thought you'd unpack your spell books and witch supplies."
Willow shook her head. "The books stay boxed until I get to know my roommates a little better and see if this little Wiccan comes out of the closet. Amy will take enough explaining. Speaking of Amy..."
The two left to get the rest of Willow's stuff. When they returned two girls were already in the room.
"Hello, I'm Willow Rosenberg," the red-head introduced herself. "Did you both get my letters?"
"Rachel Brunner," said the tall blond who had taken the upper bunkbed. "I got both your letter and email." Willow smiled. She and Rachel had done some emails back and forth in August and Willow had also done some quiet investigation on the Internet. Nothing much, just an Altavista search that showed her winning an engineering design contest, valedictorian of her school with honors in just about everything. Dejanews showed her having an interest in politics, robot design, and education. And a little hacking discovered that she scored higher on her SATs than Willow did.
"My name is Nicole Allende. I am from Argentina," said the darker girl in a Hispanic accent. "I was not the recipient of your letters. You know how international mail goes." She shrugged. "My letter to you may catch up someday. It should make us all laugh when it comes shortly before we graduate." Willow had done a search on her but found nothing. Probably Argentina just put less up on the Internet. "I pray no one minds my taking the single. Perhaps we rotate rooms later."
Oz cleared his throat. "You girls must like to get acquainted."
Willow squealed. "Oz, I'm sorry. This is my boyfriend Oz. He's going to Boston University so you may be seeing a lot of him but..." she looked again at the tiny dorm rooms.
"We'll figure something out," Oz said. "We have to anyway for you know the other thing." He left and Willow saw him out.
When Willow entered, both of her new roommates were looking at Amy's cage. "Ah, that's Amy the rat... I'm um conducting psychological experiments on rats running through mazes to see if they can use their brain to umm operate computers because computers seem like a very useful way for rats to order cheese through Amazon dot com and, have I mentioned I tend to babble sometimes..."
After an hour of unpacking while chatting that led Willow to understand that neither of her roommates read fantasy or horror, believed in vampires and ghosts (although Nicole looked at her funny at that question), or had strong opinions on religion (Nicole was Catholic, Rachel generic New England Christian), Willow unpacked her mezuzah.
"Would it be okay if I put this next to our door?" she said, holding up the thin piece of wood with a tiny scroll in it.
"What is it?" Nicole asked.
"It's a Mezuzah, sort of a Jewish good luck charm. It's part of what the Bible tells Jews to do, 'thou shalt bind these words on the doorpost of your homes' or something like that."
Rachel laughed. "We're competing with some of the best brains in the world. We can use all the help we can get. Go for it."
Willow took some glue and glued it in, reciting the Hebrew prayer. Then, for good measure, she did the vampire disinvite spell.
"Wasn't some of that Latin?" Nicole asked.
Willow smiled. "I added a bit, Rachel said we needed luck." Willow decided not to mention that her mezuzah had a few extra Kabalistic enchantments to keep evil spirits at bay.
Then the three went for Dean Able's speech to freshmen. Much of it washed over Willow in the excitement of being at Harvard, but some of it drew her attention.
"Being here at Harvard is a very heady experience," the Dean continued. "There is so many new things for you to do and learn. Many of you will feel compelled to study all the time in an effort to keep up. All of you have been chosen because you are the nation's top students. But I ask you every once and a while put the books aside. An important part of your education will be learned from the other people here, all of whom have done some unusual, extraordinary things."
Willow smiled. She wondered if there was anyone else here who had helped saved the world on multiple occasions.
"Participate in community action activities. Volunteer your time. Join one of the hundreds of clubs and publications or help start your own. The possibilities are unlimited. You will remember these four years for the rest of your life. Don't force yourself to remember them as a time of lost opportunities."
After the Dean finished speaking he went to a back room. He ignored the speaker still telling freshmen how to register for courses and choose a concentration. Instead he flipped through a book with photos of the various freshmen. "That one," he pointed showing it to his assistant. "He was talking throughout my speech. He'll be perfect for dinner." Dean Able smiled, showing his fangs.
* * * * * * * * *
Later that day, Oz was listening to speeches too. "And now, class of 2004, I'd like to present the president of Boston University, Dr. Hyho Silver."
Oz sat up in his chair. Something smelled wrong to his werewolf senses. It was not the band's playing of the William Tell Overture; he had heard stories about college bands and was amused to find that they were true. No, it was something darker, something evil? Not for the first time, he wished Willow could be here.
Across town, on the campus of Harvard University, Willow too was wishing that Oz was with her. Oz or maybe Buffy. Or Giles. She'd even settle for Xander. But Willow stood alone in front of the office of Professor Barbara Kerr, head of Harvard's Folklore and Mythology Department, and, according to Giles, well-respected member of the Council of Watchers.
The door opened and a dark haired woman in her mid-forties looked out. Her glasses were propped above her eyes, topping an attractive yet hardened face. Willow checked the clothes. No, the woman was not wearing tweed although her stern grey dress and sweeter seemed a suitable substitute. Willow was glad that she had decided that this meeting called for a formal skirt and shirt.
"Well now, don't just stand there. The door is open." Willow noticed the lack of invitation in the careful phrasing.
"Dr. Kerr? I am Willow Rosenberg," she curtsied. "Rupert Giles referred me to you."
"He most assuredly did," the older lady responded. "Please shut the door after you." Still no invitation. Clearly the lady took no chances. "So how is my old friend?"
"He's feeling a little unemployed since our school mysteriously blew up," Willow replied cautiously. "And he's trying to adjust his relationship with Buffy and our other friends now that he's no longer um, you know."
"Watcher," Kerr finished for her. "It is good to know you are discreet. Rupert told me how you have assisted him in the past." She looked down at Willow, frowning unconsciously. "That sort of thing is not supposed to happen. He also told me you have been experimenting in the arcane arts. That is dangerous for anyone and especially for one who would be custodian to a Slayer."
"But, but without Giles' knowledge of magic and his spells, Buffy wouldn't have survived her first month on the hellmouth." Willow remembered how Amy's mother had used a bloodstone vengeance spell on Buffy and only a casting by Giles and Amy had saved her.
"Yes, magic has its uses, but there is good magic and bad. Speaking of which, hold this crystal." Kerr handed Willow a violet-red elongated crystal. The witch took it and looked at it curiously. "Now tell me why do you want to be a watcher?"
Willow thought for a moment. She had never actually articulated her reasons, but knew in her heart this was the right for thing for her to do. "The first day I met Buffy, she saved my life." Willow remembered the scary days of sophomore year, when the world as she had know it turned completely topsey-turvy. She suddenly had to learn that vampires, demons, and creatures of every nightmare and fairy-tale that her parents had assured her were safely imaginary really did exist and really did want to eat her or worse, turn her into one of them. "She seemed so brave, so powerful. And me, I couldn't even talk to my best friend about my feelings for him, even though I was more comfortable around him than with anyone else." She smiled at the thought of how far she had come from her life as Mousy-Willow.
"I wanted to help but was not much use in a fight. Then I learned that there were some things I could do for her. I could research on the net; I learned to do some spells; and I could help Giles figure out what she needed to slay and how she could do it. I even helped Buffy out a couple of times when Giles couldn't for various reasons. Now, I want to take the next step and learn how to do more to help."
"You do realize that watcher training takes time," Kerr said. "It is most likely that Buffy will no longer be the slayer by the time you finish."
Willow fumed silently at this remark. It was such an impersonal way to mean dead. But then an idea occurred to her. "I think Buffy might surprise you. She's been dead before and that didn't stop her."
"Perhaps," the watcher continued. "But even so, after Buffy is no longer the slayer would you still want to help? Would you risk your life for a perfect stranger?"
Willow thought for a moment. "Yes I would," she said firmly. "I know what's really in the world now. I know about demons and vampires, evil spirits and entities from beyond. I can't pretend I'm blind or oblivious. I can't know what I know and not try to stop the evil any way I can."
Kerr smiled solidly. Her gaze bore into Willow, as if shattering her shields and penetrating her psyche. "I see. And you would use your knowledge and authority as watcher to fight this evil?"
"Yes," Willow said. "Whoever the slayer is, she will need help. Even Buffy does."
"As you have used what magic and knowledge you have mastered only to fight evil?"
"Yes," Willow replied again. "Well, mostly yes. I did do some magic to hide a zit, but that was more in the way of practice. And I'm trying to turn Amy back into a human again."
"Then we shall see. Give me the crystal."
Willow looked down at the crystal, startled to see how it had turned to a light rose shade. She handed it to the professor who cupped it in her hands.
"I see, I see... I see that you have lied to me Miss Rosenberg. I see not one but two summonings of demons from beyond the walls of this Earth. And I see a deep dark curse that touches a man's soul."
"What?" Willow was shocked. "I am, ah, wait, that would be..." Willow began babbling under stress, feeling broken into a thousand pieces.
"It is clear you have neither the strength to resist the temptation of black magic nor the honesty to tell the truth. Please leave immediately, Miss Rosenberg."
"But, but... Giles said... I never..." Willow did not know how to react. Anger warred with bitter disappointment and confusion with shock.
Kerr pushed the crying small redhead out of her office and stood by the door. She waited until the sounds of crying had died down outside. She opened the door a crack. Willow was gone. Barbara Kerr carefully closed the door, went over to her desk and dialed a number.
"Barbara Kerr here, are you able to speak freely?"
"At present yes, although lately they've been coming in and out without knocking."
"I met your friend, and she was quite impressive."
"Indeed, yes. Did it go as planned?"
"The crystal actually turned rose. How can anyone have seen as much as she had and still be so innocent?"
"She's always had that special way about her," the male voice said, "Are you sure you're doing the right thing?"
"More than ever now that I've met her. She needs some toughening up, some character. This is a deceitful business we're in and frankly, I just can't see her like that."
"I think you'll learn as I have that her innocence is itself a form of strength."
"Perhaps, perhaps as a researcher or assistant but to be a watcher takes more, more.."
"Dishonesty, cruelty, concealment?" the English sounding voice continued.
"I prefer to think of it as character. Yes, I believe this test is necessary."
"Are you sure you're interpreting that stanza correctly?"
"Yes, positive although I don't have the research team that you do." Kerr smiled and adopted a teasing tone, "and your friend made it clear that you've been violating the council rules about involving outsides from your onset."
"I had suspicions about the council from the start of my assignment. I was reluctant to trust them even before I was relieved of duty. You're one of the few I trust and I didn't dare draw suspicion on you before your position was settled," came the voice of Rupert Giles.
Kerr picked up a photo of a young girl approximately age ten. "Yes, I'm convinced that Donna is to be Slayer. And Willow will be her Watcher."
Halfway across Boston, Oz's ears twitched. He sensed that something had happened. Something about Willow.
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