Joanna Miller; barmaid

[Joanna Miller]

I am Joanna Miller; barmaid, I thought to myself, imagining being a superhero at the same time.
I grin to myself as I think this and shake my head, returning to wiping down the bar.
Working in the Leaky Cauldron was my summer job.
I enjoyed it.
I had a knack for finding the oddest people that visited the bar and starting conversations with them.
I had fun.
I was Joanna Miller; barmaid.
Of course I did.

[Angela Wood]

Coming up behind her, I laugh silently then sit down. "I'll take three firewhiskey shots and one friend to talk to."

[Joanna Miller]

"Joanna Miller; barmaid, will provide. Now take a seat and get round the other side of the bar." I say, hitting her lightly with the rag I'd been using to clean the bar.
I serve her three fire-whiskey shots and lean on the bar in front of her. "So, what's up friend?"

[Angela Wood]

I shrug. "Just not having a very good week. You know?" I down a shot.

[Joanna Miller]

"No, not really. Tell me about it." I say, pouring her another shot and then pouring me one.

[Angela Wood]

I look around for a little while, thinking. Downing another shot, I look down at the glass. "Just frustrating really. I lost two of my school books already, broke my broomstick, finally admitted that I've got a thing for one of the guys. It's just frustrating."

[Joanna Miller]

"The broomstick thing sucks. But we'll go shopping and get you a knew one. School books are overrated and you can borrow mine anywho. And, which guy and who did you admit it to?" I say curiously.

[Angela Wood]

"I know about the books and the broom. I admitted it to myself and I don't want to tell anyone who. It would just make things too confusing." I down the third shot.

[Joanna Miller]

I nod, "Fair enough," and refill her shots.
"Well, at least no one knows about it so no one's gonna find out, are they?"

[Angela Wood]

I nod. "Lucky me. I was gunna tell him but he needed to talk to someone else and so I went up the stairs and I heard him talking about two other girls liking him. Stopped me real shot." I laugh and down a shot. "Okay, come on, I need you to make me laugh. You're good at that."

[Joanna Miller]

"Only when I don't mean to." I smile. "I can only make you laugh when I'm not trying to, if I try to I can't-...oh, hang on." I say, as someone orders a drink and my boss tells me to get it.
I get the bottle, hand it to the wizard over the counter and when I'm turning back to Ange, I slip and fall flat on the floor.
I wait a moment and then laugh loudly, clambering back up to my feet.
"See, I made myself laugh by not meaning to."

[Angela Wood]

Failing in my attempt to stiffle a laugh, I fall off of my chair laughing.

[Joanna Miller]

I laugh even harder as she falls off her chair.
"See, we make each other laugh without meaning to." I grin, leaning over the bar to see her sitting on the floor, laughing.

[Angela Wood]

I nod my head vigorously as I pull myself up and then back onto the stool. "You're awsome JO."

[Joanna Miller]

"I know I am." I grin. "You too."

[Angela Wood]

I rest my head on the edge of the counter and stare up at her. "Good Lord knows where I would be if you weren't here to keep me sane."

[Joanna Miller]

"You'd be in the loony bin." I say, patting her on the head. "And I probably would be without you too. Or in a morgue, seeing as you keep me from doing really stupid things that would mean I end up dead. So, in short, I'm glad you're around too." I grin.

[Angela Wood]

I laugh. "I can see it now. You and me, both well past our prime, two old cat ladies sitting in a ricketty old house. We'll grow up to be old cronies, the both of us."

[Joanna Miller]

"Oh yeah, that would be so cool!" I exclaim. "We can sit on the porch of some supposedly haunted shack type house and just cackle like loonies. Then we can tell little kids that we see the future and know how they're going to die!"
I pause, a sudden thought had struck me.
"Erm...Ange? A thought's just struck me. That doesn't happen often, so please don't hate me for voicing it." I pause. "I recall you saying that the guy you like was asking for help cos two other girls liked him." I pause again. "I seem to remember Remus Lupin stressing about Izzy and Rin liking him in the common room not so long ago."

[Angela Wood]

I look at her, a look of mild surprise. "Did he now."

[Joanna Miller]

"Yessum." I say, nodding vigorously.

[Angela Wood]

I smile sweetly. "I suppose he did."

[Joanna Miller]

"So...?" I ask, poking my tongue like I did when I was concentrating. I lower my voice. "Is it Remus you like?"

[Angela Wood]

Staying silent, I look up at her, eyes wide.

[Joanna Miller]

"So that's a yes, huh?" I say, pouring her another shot.

[Angela Wood]

I pick up the shot. "I'm not saying yes." I down it. "But I'm also not saying no."

[Joanna Miller]

"So it's a you're bloody confused about the whole thing kind of answer?" I say sympathetically.

[Angela Wood]

"No, I know exactly what's going on. I just don't want to admit to anyone else what I've already admitted to myself but I'm not gunna lie. Did that make any sense?"

[Joanna Miller]

"Yeah." I nod, "Kind of. Don't worry. You know I won't say nothing to no one. Secret's safe with me." I wink, downing another shot and refilling it.

[Angela Wood]

"I knew I could trust you." I smile