Disclaimer and Author's Note: I don't own them, wish I did, blah, blah,
blah. Anyway, this is the first chapter of a story I will be writing and I
hope you enjoy this first installment as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Please read and review, it doesn't take much time or effort and it helps me
greatly. NO FLAMES. They don't help me write, they shut me down. Lastly, I
don't know when I'll get chance to update by I'll try to as soon as I can.
A Little Thing Called Ambition
By Gila Draper
Chapter 1: First Impression's Are Everything
"Right then Miss, you'll be next to see the Minister. Going to be his new Personal Assistant are you? I must say, he scared the last five off fairly quickly. I hope you won't be as squeamish, eh?"
Perkins laughed, ignoring the girl glowering at him mutinously. He continued chortling as he ushered a wisp of a girl through the labyrinth of Ministry cubicles to an ominous looking back office.
Vanetta Wood glared at the old warlock. If he knew who she was he'd hush up. The younger sister of the Puddlemere Keeper, Oliver Wood, did not take a brushing over lightly. People just don't think sometimes, she thought with certain disgust. The little sister should be inclined to know that her big brother, world famous Quidditch player that he was, had won the World Cup last year.
The old man with his grizzled beard prodded her to the door and instructed her to knock. Standing motionless, Vanetta stared at the big oak door. It seemed that it didn't want to be opened and normally she would be happy to oblige but she had an interview to go to.
Steeling herself the inevitable knock, she reminded herself that her brother had spoken highly of the Minister, having gone to school with him. Vanetta vaguely recalled her brother's friend, the current Minister of Magic, at school. But then he had usually been hiding out in the library or his Common Room. Vanetta had been a Ravenclaw and had been at least four years younger than him so his last year had been her fourth year.
Also she remembered that the general public DID like the Minister even though they had loathed him at the first for being a former Death Eater.
He had helped with the rebuilding of the wizarding community after the grisly defeat of Lord Voldemort.
But these days the Minister was a very imposing person, she recalled what her brother had said when she told him this. Or what he'd said after he'd stopped laughing.
"Etta sweetie, that man may be a little changed after all he's been through, but Merlin as my witness, I'll be he's still the same little twerp I knew at Hogwarts." Then Oliver had patted her hand, smiling.
While calling the Minister of Magic a twerp had been less than reassuring, Vanetta was comforted that her sibling had such faith in the man.
Giving a resounding knock on the smooth oak Vanetta stepped back and sunk deeper in her thoughts.
Meanwhile, as she was deep in her reverie, a group of curious Ministry witches and wizards had congregated around her, murmuring snide remarks about her young age and assumed inexperience.
One wizard, Matthias Fudge, the son of their former Minister, ambled up to her and gave her his insulting two cents outright.
"Don't know how a scrawny piece like you is going to keep up with the Minister."
Vametta had a choice retort in mind when she saw Fudge with an odd pallor, looking over her shoulder with a fairly horrified expression.
About to turn and see what had caused the abrupt change of mood she heard a cold, concise voice speak above and behind her, and she froze.
"As much as I appreciate your faith in my abilities Mr. Fudge, I believe you have no right to be judging my choice of office help."
The gossipy chatters that the crowd of employees had been emitting died completely in the entrance of their boss. All eyes were fixed on the man behind her and Vanetta felt distinctly uncomfortable and averted her eyes to the carpet, as though it was the most fascinating thing she'd ever seen.
When his coworkers remained in their clustered formation that same voice, laced with arrogance, snapped, " you may all go back to your respective duties," and with that, they scattered, scurrying off to their cubicles.
"Turn around girl. I have a great deal of work to get done and I still have to interview you," the man said in a more aloof voice than used previously.
Slowly, as though about to face the very Fires of Hell, Vanetta turned, and stare. Whatever she had been expecting this certainly wasn't it.
He was a tall, thin man with flaming red hair parted in the middle, a long pointed nose, and icy blue eyes framed with wire rimmed spectacles. He wasn't the man eating tiger some people made him out to be at all!
Arms folded across his chest, which was covered by black robes, he glared at her. It was as though he was silently saying, and you disturbed my work, because? Her father was right, he was an over achiever.
Mildly irritated and unaware of the girl's revelations, the Minister of Magic, Percy Weasly beckoned her over to a small blue chair opposite his desk, with a sharp and faintly pompous wave of his hand.
Vanetta braced herself and stepped into the "lion's den".
A Little Thing Called Ambition
By Gila Draper
Chapter 1: First Impression's Are Everything
"Right then Miss, you'll be next to see the Minister. Going to be his new Personal Assistant are you? I must say, he scared the last five off fairly quickly. I hope you won't be as squeamish, eh?"
Perkins laughed, ignoring the girl glowering at him mutinously. He continued chortling as he ushered a wisp of a girl through the labyrinth of Ministry cubicles to an ominous looking back office.
Vanetta Wood glared at the old warlock. If he knew who she was he'd hush up. The younger sister of the Puddlemere Keeper, Oliver Wood, did not take a brushing over lightly. People just don't think sometimes, she thought with certain disgust. The little sister should be inclined to know that her big brother, world famous Quidditch player that he was, had won the World Cup last year.
The old man with his grizzled beard prodded her to the door and instructed her to knock. Standing motionless, Vanetta stared at the big oak door. It seemed that it didn't want to be opened and normally she would be happy to oblige but she had an interview to go to.
Steeling herself the inevitable knock, she reminded herself that her brother had spoken highly of the Minister, having gone to school with him. Vanetta vaguely recalled her brother's friend, the current Minister of Magic, at school. But then he had usually been hiding out in the library or his Common Room. Vanetta had been a Ravenclaw and had been at least four years younger than him so his last year had been her fourth year.
Also she remembered that the general public DID like the Minister even though they had loathed him at the first for being a former Death Eater.
He had helped with the rebuilding of the wizarding community after the grisly defeat of Lord Voldemort.
But these days the Minister was a very imposing person, she recalled what her brother had said when she told him this. Or what he'd said after he'd stopped laughing.
"Etta sweetie, that man may be a little changed after all he's been through, but Merlin as my witness, I'll be he's still the same little twerp I knew at Hogwarts." Then Oliver had patted her hand, smiling.
While calling the Minister of Magic a twerp had been less than reassuring, Vanetta was comforted that her sibling had such faith in the man.
Giving a resounding knock on the smooth oak Vanetta stepped back and sunk deeper in her thoughts.
Meanwhile, as she was deep in her reverie, a group of curious Ministry witches and wizards had congregated around her, murmuring snide remarks about her young age and assumed inexperience.
One wizard, Matthias Fudge, the son of their former Minister, ambled up to her and gave her his insulting two cents outright.
"Don't know how a scrawny piece like you is going to keep up with the Minister."
Vametta had a choice retort in mind when she saw Fudge with an odd pallor, looking over her shoulder with a fairly horrified expression.
About to turn and see what had caused the abrupt change of mood she heard a cold, concise voice speak above and behind her, and she froze.
"As much as I appreciate your faith in my abilities Mr. Fudge, I believe you have no right to be judging my choice of office help."
The gossipy chatters that the crowd of employees had been emitting died completely in the entrance of their boss. All eyes were fixed on the man behind her and Vanetta felt distinctly uncomfortable and averted her eyes to the carpet, as though it was the most fascinating thing she'd ever seen.
When his coworkers remained in their clustered formation that same voice, laced with arrogance, snapped, " you may all go back to your respective duties," and with that, they scattered, scurrying off to their cubicles.
"Turn around girl. I have a great deal of work to get done and I still have to interview you," the man said in a more aloof voice than used previously.
Slowly, as though about to face the very Fires of Hell, Vanetta turned, and stare. Whatever she had been expecting this certainly wasn't it.
He was a tall, thin man with flaming red hair parted in the middle, a long pointed nose, and icy blue eyes framed with wire rimmed spectacles. He wasn't the man eating tiger some people made him out to be at all!
Arms folded across his chest, which was covered by black robes, he glared at her. It was as though he was silently saying, and you disturbed my work, because? Her father was right, he was an over achiever.
Mildly irritated and unaware of the girl's revelations, the Minister of Magic, Percy Weasly beckoned her over to a small blue chair opposite his desk, with a sharp and faintly pompous wave of his hand.
Vanetta braced herself and stepped into the "lion's den".