Spellbound

Author's Note: So after ending up obsessed again with The Devil Wears Prada, I was straight up plagued by ideas to write a Mirandy fic. The AU itself wasn't originally mine, but I got the idea to write the fic from romans-art on Tumblr, who created a fantastic Harry Potter AU of this movie that I couldn't resist asking them if I could use. So I made this fic as sort of a tribute to their AU. Also, make sure that you check their art and fics, you won't be disappointed.

Also inspired by the song "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" by Marianne Faithfull. Because it's not me if music doesn't inspire writing. LOL. Sorry for the very unoriginal title. LOL. I'm horrible at those, as you already know.

"O brothers mine, take care! Take care! The great white witch rides out to-night. Trust not your prowess nor your strength, Your only safety lies in flight;For in her glance there is a snare, And in her smile there is a blight."

- James Weldon Johnson, The White Witch 1871 - 1938

"As if you were on fire from within. The moon lives in the lining of your skin."

- Pablo Neruda

By: VampireQueenAkasha

~O~

I

Andy stared at herself in the mirror and took a deep breath to calm herself.

The Muggle-born witch waved her wand and the necessary items she needed for her interview at Wandmore were conjured into her bag. After a few moments, she turned to study herself in the mirror a few moments more before smiling, proud of the white, clean buttoned shirt and tie and slacks that she wore.

Certainly, this would make a good first impression for her interview. These were her best Muggle clothes that she had; she lived in a Muggle neighborhood, after all. Wearing witch robes would probably raise a few eyebrows in her direction.

Her boyfriend, Nate, was also a Muggle. She wasn't ready to reveal this part of her life to him just yet and she was also sure he wouldn't be quite prepared to receive the news. Luckily, he was busy at work that morning, so she could freely move around the apartment with her magic on full display.

"Okay..." Andy said, taking another deep breath. "I can do this."

She departed quickly, rushing down the streets of London, struggling to squeeze passed several Muggles along the way. A few grunted with irritation, yelled indignant curses back at her when she accidentally bumped into their shoulders in passing.

"Excuse me!" she announced, "Pardon me, please."

She narrowly dodged being bowled over by an early-morning cyclist who yelled out an apology back at her. Andy glanced ruefully back at him, then looked at her watch before staring at the parchment in her hand. It was the name in question she would ask for upon her arrival at the interview as well as the address.

Andy spotted the building across the street; it looked like any ordinary Muggle skyscraper bearing nothing out of the ordinary, and for the moment, she wondered if she'd been given a wrong address. The building itself was still quite elegant, it bore the name Runway.

Puzzled, Andy furrowed her brow and glanced down at the numbers on her parchment, then back up to the building. Well, it was probably just a disguise, of course. That wouldn't be out of the ordinary in the wizarding world, after all.

She reached out and the doors opened automatically, greeting her with warmth and a sweet-smelling aroma. Andy smiled a little and her eyes wandered around the looming lobby, studying the golden and silver fixtures and portraits that hung the walls. People passed by on their own routines, barely paying her any mind.

Andy walked to the reception desk and the woman behind the counter was staring at a computer screen, distracted with a game. She barely looked up as Andy approached - a bored, fleeting gesture.

"Hi," Andy said, with as much calm as she could muster, "Uh, I have an appointment with Emily Charlton?"

The woman's attention was at full focus on her now. She gestured behind her to an empty hallway with one finger pointed. "First door on the left," she said, quietly.

Andy inclined her head. "Thank you."

She wandered down the hall and stepped through the door. It led into a room where a single elevator waited. Andy smiled curiously and walked up to it. The doors roared open and she stepped inside. The doors closed and she was welcomed by the same sweet smell as the lobby. The floor of the elevator was covered in a green pelt.

Andy felt the elevator groan and she waited as it transported her to her destination. Interestingly enough, a song was playing in the elevator as she waited. She began to hum along with it, recognizing it as a song she'd heard performed at Hogwarts in Music.

Once the elevator stopped and the doors roared open, Andy stepped into a grand white lobby; it boasted an appearance as impressive as the Ministry of Magic itself. There were images of dragons in the finest stone, tapestry with probably more threat count than her entire wardrobe put together. She could see fireplaces filled with green flames where every so often, a few witches and wizards stepped through.

"Wow." Andy murmured, to herself.

Some of them passed her with racks of robes, various colorful outfits, boxes and papers in hand. All of them were immaculately dressed and she suddenly felt so very out of place. Swallowing the nervous feeling down her throat, she continued walking.

Several enchanted papers fluttered by her in the form of paper airplanes. Andy watched them go before she strolled up to another counter where a red-headed witch was standing, taking notes on parchment and a quill. She was just as well-dressed as the rest of them, if not better. Something about her gave off a feeling of authority.

Something about her gave Andy the impression of anxiety, but she didn't think much more on it as she approached the witch. Immediately, their eyes met before Andy felt herself scrutinized down to her very core. Those eyes lingered at her state of dress with a very displeased grimace.

"Andrea Sachs?" the witch queried, as if she really wasn't too sure of the person she was looking at was very real.

Andy nodded, extending a hand to shake it. "Yes."

The witch reluctantly took her offered hand, giving her another once-over before gesturing for Andy to follow her.

Well, this must have been Emily. So far so good.

O

"Okay, so I was Miranda's second assistant but her first assistant recently got promoted, and so now I'm the first."

Andy was having a difficult time listening to Emily's hurried words as they walked down the pristine hallways. Only a few witches and wizards paused to stare at Andy as if she were a curious specimen before they continued their duties.

"We are interviewing the second. Junior assistant." Emily continued, giving Andy a brief, pointed look. "Miranda sacked the last two girls after only a few weeks. We need to find someone who can survive here. Do you understand?"

She didn't look back at Andy, who simply nodded her head in response. The idea of having to SURVIVE did make her a little bit uneasy, but she put on an air of confidence. She was sure that whatever they were going to ask her to do, she'd be capable of doing it. She'd spent enough time proving herself as a Muggle-Born Slytherin witch at Hogwarts.

"Yeah. Of course." Andy assured her.

Then, she looked confused and hesitantly asked, "Who's Miranda?"

Emily gave a long-suffering groan and shook her head. "Oh, my God. I will pretend you did not just ask me that." she snapped.

When Andy looked dead serious, if not a little helpless, Emily gave another annoyed sigh and continued to explain. "Miranda is an amazing woman - a legend in the wizarding world! She's responsible for the robes on your - well, perhaps not YOUR robes seeing as you're here wearing Muggle clothing..."

Andy made a face and gave her clothes a rather rueful look. What was wrong with what she was wearing? She thought these looked fine.

Emily continued to talk, chattering about Miranda as if she were the greatest celebrity on Earth. Andy could have been wrong on the assumption. Maybe Miranda was and she just hadn't heard of her until this point in time. It was entirely possible.

"She is responsible for robes...magical artifacts...even wands!" Emily said, her voice a delighted drawl, "All top of the line made here at the heart of Wandmore! I know witches who would KILL to even be standing here! You work a year for her, and you can get any job you want!"

Andy managed a small smile, overwhelmed by Emily's excitement. Well, that was good to hear, actually. "It sounds like a great opportunity. I'd love to be considered."

Emily giggled, like Andy has said the most ridiculous thing in the world.

Andy made a face, shaking her head. Well, she wasn't sure what she'd said that was so funny to her, but she didn't ask.

She glanced down at her wand, thinking of what Emily had said about Miranda making them; nine and a half inches of cedar and dragon heart string. She couldn't really imagine owning something that Miranda herself had made. Whoever she was, must have been very important if Emily was boasting about her, even if it was through a thin veil of anxiety.

Andy couldn't help but think of her time when she'd first arrived at Hogwarts, introduced to the wizarding world after learning of her magic when she'd accidentally set fire to her birthday cake. THAT had been a shock to her and her parents. And even more, when someone from the Ministry of Magic had arrived at their doorstep.

McGonagall unraveled a piece of parchment and removed her wand, levitating the hat off of the stool. "When I call your name you will step forward. I will then place the Sorting Hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your house." she told them. She looked at the parchment briefly before calling out the first name. "Andrea Sachs!"

A young, eleven year old Andy walked passed rows of students to take a seat where McGonagall indicated. The witch smiled warmly at her and she managed a nervous smile back. It comforted her a little. She seemed quite nice.

When Andy sat down onto the stool, McGonagall placed the hat on her head. As soon as it contacted her, it seemed to move and spring to life, becoming animated with a human-like face. When it spoke, it spoke in a gravely voice.

"Hmmm... We've got a difficult apple here..." the Sorting Hat mused, as if he were a Muggle doctor fascinated with the most bizarre of study, "You have a heart of courage, there's no doubt there. Oh, and quite a sharp little mind. There's talent in there as well, and the desire to prove yourself worthy. Hm...where to put you..."

Andy looked around the chamber filled with students waiting for the Sorting Hat to choose where to place her. She made a face, getting nervous by the second. Was something wrong? Why was it taking so long?

"Hm. I know...Slytherin!"

It felt so long ago now. Even then, she had never been too sure if the hat had made the right choice in placing her in Slytherin. Still, she'd done quite well in her studies, exceeding all expectations and proving herself to her fellow Slytherins, who had looked down their noses at her quite often. It seemed that things weren't too different here.

Emily had gotten into a conversation with someone before she had eventually begun to panic, her voice rising high. Before Andy knew it, she was being herded away toward a leather couch and forced into a sitting position. Emily glared sternly down at her.

"Don't move from this spot!" she ordered.

Andy looked confused as witches and wizards began to hurry passed her, anxiously gathering papers, cleaning up messes at their desks and pushing racks of robes away down the halls. Andy raised an eyebrow, a bit overwhelmed by the chaos.

Emily quickly rushed around the corner, carrying spare parchments in her hands. She was holding a quill and almost missed knocking a wizard over in her scuffle.

"I don't understand why it's so difficult to confirm an appointment."

"I know. I'm so sorry, Miranda. I actually did confirm last night."

Andy straightened where she sat when Emily returned, tailing beside a witch that was no doubt Miranda Priestly.

Everything about her spoke volumes of her authority; elegant high-heeled strut, high-collared black robes probably worth more than everything Andy owned, and an air of superiority in every gesture as Emily spoke to her. She also wore a pair of silver-rimmed thin glasses.

Her voice was never raised once, but Andy could immediately tell that she never had to; Emily quivered nervously regardless as she scribbled down everything Miranda was telling her.

"Tell Glinda I'm not going to approve that cedar. I asked for clean cut and she sent me frayed. And R.S.V.P. Evanora to the party for tomorrow. I want the carriage to drop me off at 9:30 and pick me up at 9:45 sharp."

Andy watched as they walked passed her without so much as a single glance in her direction. Emily looked quite harried as she scribbled down Miranda's demands.

"Also, contact Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, tell them no for the 40th time. Then contact my ex-husband and remind him that the twins have their competition at Hogwarts at 6:00. Then call my husband, ask him to meet me for dinner at The Ritz."

Miranda unbuttoned her cloak and tossed it onto Emily's desk nearby. She straightened her cuffs and glanced halfway toward Andy with disinterest. Andy immediately felt herself standing stock-still as if she'd been hit by a Full Body-Bind Curse.

"Who's that?" Miranda asked.

Emily moved in front of Andy, trying to keep her out of view. "Nobody." she stammered.

Miranda hardly seemed impressed, given the arch of a single eyebrow.

Emily withered a little and sighed. "She's here about the new assistant job, and I was preinterviewing her," she said, "But she's hopeless and totally wrong for it."

Miranda sighed quietly, giving her a little frown of disapproval. "Clearly I'm going to have to do that myself because the last two you sent me were completely inadequate." she said.

She walked into her office and Emily had the good graces to look abashed by her statement. She glanced at Andy, her gaze hardening a little.

"Send her in," Miranda called.

Emily took Andy's arm and ushered her a bit harshly into the office. Miranda gave a dismissing wave to Emily.

"That's all."

Andy took a moment to let her eyes wander around the office; clean and as pristine as she imagined it to be with animated portraits lining a few corners of the walls. Her eyes caught sight of one in particular of Miranda sitting with two young girls under her arms and a large, Saint Bernard dog resting at their feet. They looked quite happy in the shot.

There were a few trinkets on Miranda's desk; such as crystals, a preserved dragon skull and several scraps of parchment. A copy of The Daily Prophet laid open and a goblet filled with liquid was just within reach for her to take a drink.

An article caught Andy's eye, distracting her for a moment: NEW POTION GIVES HOPE FOR HAGS.

"Who are you?" Miranda eventually asked, without looking up.

Andy smiled and offered her resume. When Miranda didn't take it, she gingerly rested it on her desk and gave it a small tap, like an added incentive. "Uh, my name is Andy Sachs." she said, "I graduated from Hogwarts. Slytherin."

Miranda glanced up briefly, a flicker of curious surprise lighting her face, for a fraction of a second. It made those dark green eyes look suddenly lighter. "Slytherin? You?"

Andy gave a sheepish laugh. "Yes."

Miranda made a humorless murmur and glanced down at the resume. Her eyes roved over it only for a moment before she placed it aside and began to open the newspaper.

"And what are you doing here?" she asked.

"Well, I think I could do a good job as your assistant," Andy offered, attempting not to notice how Miranda seemed to pay little attention to her. "And, um, I originally applied to The Daily Prophet, but I got a call here about - "

"So before today, you had never heard of me," Miranda interrupted, still not looking up at her.

Andy withered a little. "No."

Miranda folded the newspaper and looked down at Andy's resume again. "Hm. Editor in chief of the Daily Northwestern. A Muggle newspaper."

Andy brightened a little, proud of that particular fact. "Yes. I also won a nationwide award for my articles on - "

Miranda waved two hands in the air, as if shooing away a particular nuisance.

"That's all." she said, interrupting her.

Andy was a bit taken by the abrupt answer. She gave a humorless laugh and started to leave the office before pausing and frowning. She turned, walked back up to Miranda's desk.

"You're right. I don't fit in here," she said, "I am not skinny or a glamorous witch and I don't know anything about this place or what you do, but I'm smart, learn fast and I will work very hard."

Miranda lifted her eyes only for the moment, raising her eyebrows curiously at the change in Andy's tone. Hm. Interesting for her. Andy's faint edge in her voice seemed a bit promising. No one had dared speak to her in such a way. Most of those around her knew better.

Behind Andy, a wizard pushed his way into the office, carrying a parchment decorated with designs as well as animated photographs. He started talking before Andy could get another word in.

"I got the dragon-hide they shipped out from Scotland," he said, carrying the parchment to Miranda's desk, "But the problem is, she needs to lose more weight and she's been complaining to me for an hour. Also, those phoenix feathers dried up in travel. I swear, I'm working with amateurs."

Andy made a face. "Yeah, okay..." she muttered, "Thank you for your time."

She turned and departed the office without another word.

O

She could never cast a Patronus Charm effectively.

Andy was laying on the couch that night, waiting for Nate to come home from work. She had her wand pointed at the ceiling and tried several times to produce it, but the only thing that burst from the tip of her wand were softly-glowing white sparks.

She sighed, scoffing in disbelief at what had happened that morning at Wandmore. She had tried everything and thought she was a pretty good candidate, in spite of her lack of knowledge of the place.

A quiet meow and she looked down at the long-haired grey and white cat sitting on the floor near her. Nate's cat. Sighing, Andy beckoned to the cat and the animal hopped onto her lap.

"You are so lucky you don't have to get a job, Oscar," she muttered, running her hands through the animal's fur.

Oscar stretched his paws and rubbed his head against her cheek with a soft purr. Andy laughed quietly and studied her wand for a moment. She tried to cast the charm again before sighing.

"Come on, can't you just work with me?" she grumbled at it.

She tilted her head curiously, noticing an odd scratch on the handle of her wand. Andy furrowed her brow, sat up and nudged Oscar onto the floor. The cat gave an offended meow and trotted off to the kitchen.

The mark looked like a snake symbol and one she never really noticed up until this point; it was a strange thing, of course since she'd had the wand since she was eleven, but Andy didn't have time to really study it further when she heard the sound of a car pulling up. She tucked her wand into her pocket and brightened when Nate stepped through the front door.

"Hey!" he greeted, carrying a brown bag of groceries in his hands.

"Hey." Andy acknowledged.

Nate made a face. "I guess it didn't go well, huh?"

Andy nodded and moved to help him unload the groceries. "Well, I basically had no idea she was one of the most important people in the world. Oh! And I rambled like an idiot. So, yeah, it didn't go very well, I think."

Nate grimaced. "Sorry, babe." he told her.

"Maybe it wasn't right for me," Andy attempted to convince herself of this, "I mean, you should have seen some of those people working there. You know what? It's fine. I turned down Law School to be a journalist. It'll be fine."

"I don't know. Everyone has to start somewhere," Nate said. "I make port wine reductions all day. But it all leads to something."

Andy managed to smile a little. Well, maybe he was right.

"Okay, yeah, you know what? I think I need to get a shower," she eventually said, turning. "I'm sweaty from running to the interview."

Nate was starting to wolf down a strawberry from one of the containers. "Hey, hold up! I'll join you!" he called.

Andy gave a delighted squeal as he chased her down the hallways.

O

Her phone was ringing.

Andy grumbled, feeling around the nightstand as she struggled to wake up. Nate stirred beside her, mumbling sleepily and sitting up onto his elbow before rubbing his eyes with one hand.

"What time is it?" he asked.

Andy groaned and looked at her phone, reading the time of 6:45 AM. Who could possibly be calling her this early? She rubbed her eyes and stared at the caller ID. Startled, she realized it read Runway; which, of course was a cover. They kept the use of Muggle phones for some of the employees who worked there.

She answered and brought the phone to her ear. "Mm, hello?"

Her eyes widened in shock and, fully awake, she sat straight up.

"Wha... Really?" Andy exclaimed.

Nate looked at her, taken by her surprise. "What is it?" he mouthed.

Andy slapped a hand over the receiver and looked at Nate, still quite shocked. "I got the job!" she hissed out, barely above a whisper.

"Wh - Are you sure?" Nate exclaimed, hushed.

Andy returned her attention to the phone and grinned, happy. "Yes! Yes, I'll be there right away! Okay! Thank you so - "

She stopped at the click of a line, followed by the dial tone and stared at the phone before grinning excitedly at Nate. Stumbling out from under the bed-sheets, quite undressed, she quickly rushed to get herself ready. Nate watched her, amused at the sight of her dancing into a pair of jeans and shoes in the nearby bathroom.

"Oh my God, I can't believe I got the job!" Andy exclaimed, from the bathroom.

Nate smiled. "That's great. See? Told you you had nothing to worry about!"

Andy poked her head out from the bathroom. She raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure we were having the same conversation last night?"

"I remember a lot of that conversation involving hands..." Nate pretended to think, smirking at her and pointing one finger in her direction, "MY hands on YOUR - "

Andy flushed bright red and huffed out her answer. "Yeah, okay!"

She found her wand stashed in the bathroom, beneath the sink and deposited it quickly into her jeans before scrambling out down the hallway. Nate had slipped on a pair of jeans and moved to give her a quick kiss before she practically flew out the front door.

When Andy arrived, Emily was waiting for her right by the elevator, holding a collection of papers in her hands.

"I hope you know that this is a very difficult job. For which you are totally wrong." she said, frowning at her, "And if you mess up, my head is on the chopping block."

Andy gave her a nod of acknowledgement. "I understand."

Emily's eyes roved over Andy's attire and she scoffed. "Don't you have any other more...presentable robes? I'll have you know that Miranda hates Muggle clothes."

Andy sighed. "I have a Muggle boyfriend and - "

"Oh! I don't care. Just...come on." Emily said, impatiently.

She began to lead Andy down the hallways, introducing witches and wizards as she passed, though entirely too quick and Andy struggled to keep up. She produced a quill and notepad that scribbled everything down as Emily spoke.

"This is Jocelyn from Enchanted Accessories...Jocelyn, this is Andy..." Emily said, indicating a tall, thin witch with wavy brown hair, "Stephanie from Wands Department..." She indicated the man who Andy had seen talking with Miranda the other morning. "Nigel Kipling, Director of Fashion."

Nigel smiled at Andy and seemed far more benevolent in his assessment of Andy's figure than most of them there. He scrutinized Andy behind his spectacles for a few moments before raising his eyebrows down at her shoes.

"What are those?" he asked.

Andy followed his gaze to her shoes and smiled. "Well, my mom bought me these from Nordstrom's for my second year at Hogwarts."

Nigel feigned shock. "No!" he said, resting a hand on his chest. "So, they're practically vintage!"

Andy shrugged with a confused smile now. "I guess?"

Nigel took her hand and spun her around. "Honestly, I love this look you have going for you," he said, "If a banshee and a goblin had a baby, it would be you, darling."

A few enchanted memos drifted passed them; Emily plucked one delicately from the air, look at it only for a second and sighed impatiently before ushering Andy to follow her.

"I have three minutes to explain to you your job before she gets here," she told her, leading Andy toward two adjacent desks sitting across from Miranda's office.

"First of all, memos come through there," Emily said, indicating a small window, "We both collect them and under no circumstances do they find their way to Miranda's office. If even one gets through, she gets very upset."

Andy peered into the tiny window curiously. She remembered seeing many of the enchanted memos flying through the air. Though she couldn't imagine why Miranda wouldn't want to take any of them.

"If I'm not here you are chained to that desk." Emily warned, pointing a long, stern finger at the end of Andy's desk. "You will not leave, even if I have to use a Stickfast Hex on your god-awful shoes."

Andy made a face, unconsciously hugging her feet beneath the desk.

"What if I have to..." she began, hesitantly.

Emily's eyes widened and she shook her head, annoyed. "No. Once, we had an assistant who decided to leave her desk and Miranda missed an important meeting with the Canadian Wizengamot. Now the poor girl works with the Quibbler."

Andy smiled a little. "I like the Quibbler."

Emily rolled her eyes. "Of course YOU do..."

She brought out her wand and levitated several papers before noticing a memo drift toward her. She sighed, cast the papers onto her desk before taking the memo. Rolling her eyes, she set the memo down and Andy looked at her curiously.

"What is it?" she asked.

Emily didn't answer. Instead, she scribbled something down onto an enchanted piece of paper that folded itself into a paper swan, fluttering out of the room. She shook her head, bored with the matter before returning her attention to Andy.

"Right. Remember, you and I have totally different jobs," she told her, "You run her errands, get her coffee and food."

She gestured for Andy to follow and the other witch let herself be led into the kitchens. Emily continued to list off directions.

"For lunch, she likes steak so rare, it could walk right off the plate," Emily continued, "A slice of Treacle tart - fresh - her coffee hotter than dragon's fire and - Well? What are you waiting for? Get a quill, write this down and hurry!"

Andy quickly departed to get the coffee in question.

O

Miranda had already arrived while Andy was quickly gathering the coffee for her. Emily painfully watched as she glanced around for signs of Andy before casting a small frown of disapproval in her direction.

"Is there some reason that my coffee isn't here?" she asked, "Has she been run over by a carriage, or something?"

Emily bit back a groan, but turned and noticed that Andy was quickly hurrying down the hallway with all the items in hand. She didn't dare ask how the young witch took so long, but Andy quickly hurried to do what she was supposed to.

The two witches could be heard arguing between each other while Miranda made her way toward her office. Nigel passed by her, holding out a few designs on parchment. When they were finished talking, Andy narrowly missed bumping into Nigel. He gave her a small, sympathetic smile when he saw how frayed she was already looking.

"Welcome to the family." he told her.