I yawned, drained my cup of coffee and levitated it into the sink. I ran a finger through my hair, half listening to the wireless in the background.
"...and the day most of wizarding Britain has been waiting for has finally arrived! Today is the final day for applications to the inaugural Blishwick Competition, supported by the Blishwick family in conjuction with Magiscreen.
For any of you who may have been living under a rock recently, the Blishwick family, at the request of the late Banjo Blishwick, have sponsered the very first wizarding reality program on Magiscreen, the wizarding world's answer to Muggle televi-"
Finally finding my wand, I flicked it at the wireless, groaning to myself. The 'competition' was everywhere; front page of the Prophet, in every update on the wireless, in the nightly programs on Magiscreen, they even had a small article in the Quibbler.
I, unlike most of wizarding Britain, thought the entire idea was completely ridiculous and barbaric. Honestly, what kind of person had nothing better to do than watch other people live their lives on Magiscreen? So what if the 'contestants' will be put through 'trials' and the whole thing would be held in a jungle on some island that was supposed to be 'oh so romantic'? Furthermore, who the hell entered the competition? Sure, you won some money, but it was so GOD DAMN STUPID!
Grumbling to myself, I grabbed my bag and apparated to work. I was currently in my second year as a Mediwizard, working primarily at St Mungo's. I did get to work at the Quidditch game last week, Dad almost turned purple when I told him I fixed the Cannon's Keeper's wrist.
"Hey Rose." Beverly waved to me from the receptionist's desk as I appeared in the foyer.
"Morning Bev." I replied, heading towards the corridor leading to the Mediwizard quarters.
"Ben said he wanted to see you." She added, smiling slightly at me.
"Thanks." I muttered, heading on my way.
Ben MacDougal was my boss and a senior Mediwizard, three years above me. We'd also been dating for a couple months.
"Hey Ben." I said, smiling as I stepped into his office, making to kiss his cheek.
"Rose." He said, stepping back, leaving me standing their awkwardly, wondering why he wouldn't let me touch him.
"What's wrong?" I asked warily, my eyes narrowing.
"Uh, Rose, look...this isn't coming from me, it was higher up..." He trailed off, a hand running nervously through his hair.
"What?" I hissed at him; he had his 'bad news' face on.
"You're fired." He said, not looking at me, instead choosing to shuffle the papers on his desk.
I stared blankly at him, in shock. After a moment or two, I exploded.
"I'm fired? What the hell for? I didn't do anything! How could-"
He cut me off, casting a non-verbal silencing charm on me.
"Rose, stop it. There's nothing I can do." He said, turning away from me.
I glared daggers at his back, crossing my arms. He must have removed the spell, because the ability to make sound came back to me suddenly.
Instead of yelling at him, I picked up the nearest object, his glasses' case, and chucked it at his back to vent my frustation.
"You silencioed me!" I said indignantly.
"Well, you weren't taking it well." He said, turning to face me.
"What did you expect? That I'd just waltz out of here smiling? What the hell did I do to deserve getting fired?" I said, glaring at him, my arms crossed.
He sighed, again choosing not to look at me.
"Look, Rose, you're performance hasn't been up to scratch lately. They gave you a few weeks, but we haven't seen anything remarkable from you. With the budget cuts...we just can't afford mediocrity." He said, sitting down in his chair.
I gaped at him.
"Well, fine." I huffed. "I guess I can't afford mediocrity in my relationships then either." I marched to the door, my hand on the doorknob.
"We're over, Ben." I said, walking out of his office, my former workplace, and my former life before he could respond.
I sat on the ground, the pile of bills yet to be paid strewn around me. This morning, I thought I'd be able to pay them. Now, I was unemployed, single and pathetic.
Great.
I wandered around my house in a zombie-like state, not really sure what to do. I didn't want to face any of my family, they wouldn't take my new unemployed state lightly, and I wasn't sure I could deal with that now.
In need of a distraction, I flicked the wireless on again, plopping myself down on the couch.
"Only a few hours left, folks! MagiScreen's reporting a thousand applicants so far for the competition, so we can be sure that tonight, the official opening of the competition and announcement of the successful applicants, will be exhilirating and emotional for most of Britain!"
Hearing yet another bulletin about the stupid competition set me over the edge. I flicked my wand at the wireless, causing it to implode in a cloud of smoke. I then levitated it out the window.
Whilst it was temporarily satisfying, it took me just over a minute to realise I had no money to buy a new wireless.
Wordlessly fixing the window, I grabbed my bag, determined to get out of my house just for something to do. Moping was not helping.
"Ow!" I exclaimed, clutching at my now bleeding knee. I'd apparated to my cousin Al's apartment, but I'd obviously misjudged, since my knee was now bleeding.
Just what I need.
I knocked on my cousin's door, trying to stem the blood flow at the same time.
"Al! It's Rose! Let me in." I said, banging on the door with one hand.
"Rose?" Al said, pulling the door open. "Why aren't you at work?" He said, letting me in.
"I could ask you the same question." I snapped, sitting down at the table and waving my wand over my knee.
"What'd you do?" Al asked, sitting opposite me.
"Misjudged the location of your doorstep." I said bluntly, causing Al to laugh.
I narrowed my eyes at him, not really in the mood to be laughed at.
Once he shut up, he quickly turned to what I labelled the 'serious interrogation mode'. Everyone in our family has one when it comes to the welfare of other family members.
"So, why are you here? Shouldn't you be at work?" Al said, scrutinizing my face for some emotional reaction.
I sighed.
"I got fired. Something about budget cuts and mediocrity." I grumbled, letting my head fall forward to rest on Al's table.
Even though I couldn't see him, I swear I could feel his eyes boring into my head.
"Oh, Rose..." He said, trying to be sympathetic.
He awkwardly patted my back, and then left me to wallow in my pity. I could hear him flooing someone from the living room, but I didn't really pay much attention till I heard another knock on the door.
"Rose? You in there?"
"Millie?" I said, lifting my head slightly.
I heard Al get the door, and ushered my best friend into the room.
"Rose? What happened? Al said you got fired." Milie said, sitting down next to me.
Millie and I have been best friends for nearly ten years, ever since the train ride at the start of first year.
"Come on." Millie said when I didn't reply, taking my hand and pulling me up. I barely had time to grunt before she side-along Apparated me away.
"No, I swear it was Dom! I distinctly remember getting treacle tart all over me, so it can't have been me who tipped the table over." I said to Millie, sitting down next to her on my couch.
"Nah, I swear it was you. I can picture you walking straight up to that table, tripping over, and then, somehow, almost every Gryffindor was covered in food." Millie said, smirking at me.
I narrowed my eyes, about to retort, but she flicked her wand at my MagiScreen, diverting my attention.
"Ugh, it's another competition update. Turn it off." I said, getting up to get myself a butterbeer from my very nearly empty fridge.
"Oh, come on, Rose. You have to admit it'll be funny watching those idiots running around on an island." Millie called to me.
I paused in the doorway, glaring at my friend.
"I think it's completely and utterly stupid, personally." I said in a huff, sitting down next to her, sipping my drink.
We both turned our attention to the screen, Millie still smirking, and a frown still evident on my face.
"The moment is upon us, folks! Any minute now, the contestants will be announced! Now, there will be 20 in total, 10 females and 10 males, from age 20 to 25.
The age limit has been largely debated in the last few weeks, with many 17, 18 and 19 year olds feeling they should be allowed to compete. It was just today that the Blishwick family chimed in, saying that the decision on the age limit was theirs, in conjuction with MagiScreen, and they felt it was suitable.
I guess that's the final say on that issue.
Oh, look, it's time!" The presenter shouted, and in living rooms across Britain, everyone focused on the screen, where names began flashing.
"Alicia Pristal!"
"Matt Boot!"
"Mia Treck!"
The names flashed in red across the bottom of the screen, before lining up higher up, so viewers had a list of the competition.
The successful applicants were appearing, one by one, on stage, all clutching something that looked like a piece of parchment. The first, a short brown haired girl by the name of Alicia Pristal, looked bewildered, whilst Mia Treck was waving and smiling to the audience.
"Callie Trescott!"
A girl with blonde curls appeared on stage, gaping at the crowd.
Another few minutes passed, and eleven contestants stood on stage, some looking in their element, others like Trescott and Pristal clearly uncomfortable.
"Rob Micheals!"
"Rose Weasley!"
My eyes widened, my mouth opening and closing like a fish whilst I stared at the screen in shock.
Beside me, Millie gasped.
"WHAT?" She exclaimed, turning to look at me.
I stared back at her, shock on both our faces. It wasn't until I heard the sounds of my family apparating in that I began to regain the ability to function.