In Magazines Chapter 1: Wit and Wiz Magazine

(A/N) Ok, I've had a lot of ideas for stories lately, and this is obviously one of them. Please review and tell me what you think.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, its characters, or the Duncan Sheik song "magazines" rofl...which gave me the idea for the title. (I love Duncan Sheik) anyways...um yea...

"No, no, no!! That's not right at all!" Jack screamed as a crew of lighting and prop people scurried around, trying to set up for the picture. They were shooting on location in Diagon Alley and only had a half an hour to get the perfect shot. The beautiful Oriental model shifted irritably.

"Well what exactly is your vision on this?" she asked, sounding slightly annoyed.

"I–I don't know," Jack said squinting. "Nothing's speaking to me, though. Perhaps I should get some kind of prop from one of these stores..." He searched the surrounding buildings quickly and his site settled on Weasley Wizard Wheezes. "A joke shop..." he muttered. "Perfect!"

Everyone on the set rolled their eyes as Jack ran down the street towards the shop.

***

Ginny Weasley was having a terrible day. It was bad enough that she still had to work in one her brother's many locations at age 20. She was trying to save up enough money to go to school to make something more of her life, but it seemed like she'd never get enough with her current job. To make it all worse, she had had five angry customers that day returning defective goods, taking away from her commission.

When a man with a black ponytail burst into the shop, she felt dread spread through her whole body. What now? She smiled her perkiest smile, however, and said in a too cheerful voice, "Welcome to Weasley Wizard Wheezes. How may I help you?"

The man wasn't paying much attention, though. His eyes scanned quickly over the merchandise. "I need..." he started and then kept scanning the shelves. "This!" he finally exclaimed, grabbing a bottle off of one shelf.

Ginny stepped back in alarm as the man almost threw the bottle at her. She examined the bottle for a moment. "Ok, sir, that'll be one knut."

"Ok," he said, digging around in his pocket and finally producing one. "How long does this stuff las..." he broke off as he finally took his first good look at Ginny.

Ginny, slightly unnerved by this, blushed a little and replied, "It's fast acting and disappearing, so it only lasts about 15 minutes..."

When he didn't reply and kept staring at her, she kept talking. "So, um...would you like a rec..."

"Is that your natural hair color?" he asked suddenly.

"Um, yea," she said, feeling even more apprehensive.

"Fascinating," he said. "You just can't bottle a color like that..."

Ginny gave a little nervous laugh. "Um, I guess not."

"Have you ever considered modeling?" he asked suddenly.

Ginny stepped back a little in alarm. Who was this strange man? She laughed a little as she looked down at her tattered robes. Was he making fun of her? "Um, no," she said. "Why?"

"Because I'm sure I could get you a job," he said extending his hand. "Hi, I'm Jack Anderson from the new magazine, Wit and Wiz." Ginny shook his hand a little apprehensively.

"Um, I'm Ginny Weasley. Are you...are you sure you could get me a job as a model?" she asked dubiously.

"Of course," Jack said smiling. "I am head photographer...which reminds me...I really have to get back to the shoot. Tell you what...why don't you come with me and watch. Afterwards we can go by the corporate office, introduce you to the boss, and you can decide if you want the job."

Ginny looked around at the shop uncertainly. "Well," she said, "I don't know if I can just leave the shop like this..."

"I'm sure you can take an hour break," he said convincingly. "Besides, if you take the job, you'll be making so much money that you certainly won't need this job."

That settled it for Ginny. She desperately needed money to move out of her parents' house and get a better education.

"All right, you've convinced me," she said, grinning. She got out the store's closed sign from a drawer and posted it on the door. She then walked out with Jack.

"Excellent," Jack said, leading her toward the photo shoot. "You know, it's been a long time since I've discovered anyone with your kind of natural beauty."

Ginny missed a step at hearing this. She hadn't really ever been called a beauty before. Growing up with all brothers, beauty wasn't often discussed. Even her boyfriends at school had complemented her on her sense of humor rather than her looks.

Jack laughed at her surprise. "Never been noticed for your beauty before?" he asked, grinning.

"Um, not really, no," Ginny said, smiling sheepishly.

"Well, darling, they will when I'm done with you," he said winking at her, teasingly. "I look for potential, rather than the obvious. And you've got a lot of potential."

Just then they reached the set. The model was now sitting down and fanning herself with the last month's issue of Wit and Wiz. Jack threw the bottle to her and she caught it just in time.

"Drink that," he yelled at her before walking over to his camera.

Ginny looked apprehensively at Jack. He wanted his model to drink that? After looking curiously at the liquid, the model downed it in one swig before walking up to the platform. It was then that her skin began to change color.

"What...what's happening to me?" the girl yelled as her skin turned from her silky smooth tan to a leopard print.

Jack smiled and said soothingly, "It's ok, Jenny, it'll wear off in a few minutes. Now I want you to show anger...absolute rage!"

"How dare you give something like this to me without telling me what it is?" she shrieked at him.

"Perfect!" he exclaimed in delight, snapping shots. "A little more...that's it!"

Ginny doubled over in laughter as the model kept screaming while Jack took pictures excitedly.

She hadn't seen much of the modeling world, but Ginny had already decided it was insane.

***

Draco sat at his huge oak desk, fiddling a little with his business robes. He had just bought new ones, and he wasn't quite sure if they fit right. As the owner of a relatively new fashion magazine, he found that good looks were essential.

He had started the business a year ago, fresh out of business school. He had purchased a huge sky scraper in the middle of London for headquarters. Nothing was too good for a Malfoy.

True, his two friends Jack and Alexis had had the creative inspiration for the company, but he was the one with the business knowledge and financial backing. He was the boss.

His magazine, Wit and Wiz, had been an instant success. They hid from muggles by pretending that their magazine was private and only available to people who had been invited to subscribe. In reality, the magazine was sold to magic users the world over.

There was a knock at the door and Draco quickly took a glance in the mirror. He looked perfect. He then hunched over his paperwork and started scribbling furiously, pretending to be busy. "Come in!"

In came his secretary, Nicole, followed closely by a tall blonde.

"Um, Tina Sarran is here, Mr. Malfoy. I'm sorry I didn't announce her before, she kind of...just..."

"Walked right in?" the blonde helped out, grinning. She had an obvious Western American accent.

Nicole half smiled, but looked at Draco cautiously.

"That's' all right, Nicole," Draco said, pretending to finish up his work. "You can go."

Nicole looked relieved and exited quickly, shutting the door behind her.

Tina Sarran walked right up to the desk and held out her hand. "It's lovely to meet you, Mr. Malfoy. I am here about the modeling contract you said you were interested in..."

Malfoy snorted. He had thought the agency was going to send a Scottish brunette, but apparently not. "I see. What qualifications exactly do you have?" he asked, reaching for more paperwork, making a point not to shake her hand.

"Um," Tina said, trying not to be offended, "I've been modeling in all of the major American, French, and Italian magazines for the past five years, since I was 18, that is, and..."

"I see," Draco said, cutting her off. "Well, I knew the other magazines weren't as good as ours, but I didn't know they were far enough behind us to have such inferior models..."

"What?" she asked, sounding genuinely surprised.

"To be able to get a contract for this magazine," Draco said, looking her up and down, "you need to lose five pounds, get your teeth whitened, get a tan, get breast implants, and you might want to think about a nose job."

"Excuse me?" Tina said, this time with slight laughter in her voice. "Your magazine is brand new, and from what I've seen, your models aren't even close to the ones in your competitors'. You have creativity and style; that's why you're doing so well, but I honestly thought you were bringing me in to help bring your magazine to the next level..."

Draco laughed. "You thought wrong. Besides, you have fat thighs," he added with a smirk.

"Fat thighs!? FAT THIGHS!? That's IT, Draco Malfoy! You will regret that you said that!" Tina said, turning around and stalking out of the office.

Draco threw back his head and laughed after the door slammed. She had been perfect looking, but he hadn't liked her personality. She was too...nice...

Just then, Jack burst through the door looking excited.

"Draco! I've found the perfect new model," he said after closing the door behind him. "And...was that Tina Sarran storming out of your office looking like she was going to kill someone?"

Draco smirked. "Good, because we need a new model, and yes that was Tina Sarran."

"Tina Sarran the famous American model...the one I've been trying to get a contract with for the past three months?" Jack asked, anger rising in his voice.

"Sorry, Jack, but I didn't like her. She was too...personable," he said grinning. "Anyways, who is this new model?

Jack had to visibly make an effort to not get angry, but his anger was soon replaced with excitement. "I met her in some shop...she's a real natural beauty! I'll bring her in."

He disappeared for a minute before reappearing with Ginny Weasley. Before he could stop himself, his jaw dropped open. Ginny looked equally surprised to see him. There was a Weasley in his office.

"Um, Jack...do you realize that that is Virginia Weasley?" Draco said quietly.

Jack grinned. "Oh good, you know each other!" he exclaimed. "So you think she's great, right Draco?"

Draco looked down and pretended to consult a paper on his desk. When he looked back up at her his eyes were filled with scrutiny. "To be able to get a job at this magazine," he said in the same tone he had used with Tina, "you need to definitely get breast implants, a major tan, teeth whitening, lose 10-15 pounds, a possible nose job, and you might want to think about some hair highlights."

He then looked down again at his papers.

Jack turned to Ginny, smiling. "Don't worry, Ginny, that's actually much better than usual when we bring in new models. He's...harsh at first."

"Oh and did I mention," Draco said looking up at her again, "to get a job at this magazine, you need to be born into a different family. Get out of my office, Weasley."

Jack's eyes widened in surprise, and he let out a surprised exclamation. "First time he's ever said that, though," he said quietly. "Wait outside in the lobby for a minute, Ginny. Don't worry, I'll work things out."

Once Ginny had left the office, Jack rounded on Draco. "What is your freaking problem today, Draco!? You get rid of the model that could make this fashion magazine the biggest one in the world, and now you yell at that sweet girl who I invited for a job."

"Ha!" Draco said, turning on Jack. "You brought in a Weasley...a Weasley! They are the poorest, worst family in the world and I hate them all! What were you thinking, Jack?"

Jack rolled his eyes. "Oh, I forgot...you're stuck in the Dark Ages. She's a beautiful young woman. It doesn't matter what kind of family she comes from. Honestly Draco! So help me...if you turn this girl away without even seeing her after she's been to our stylist, I'm going to quit!"

Draco sighed. "Don't quit, Jack. I'm sorry I got rid of Tina. I was just in a bad mood. But I hate Virginia Weasley. We can't use her...we...what are you doing?" he burst out in surprise as Jack pushed his intercom button.

"Nicole?" he said, "Will you tell Jean in styling to make over that girl in the lobby? Thank you."

"What'd you do that for?" Draco said, annoyed. "She's not working here...I'm sorry. It'll be a waste of time for her to be made up!"

"Well since you told me not to quit," Jack said reasonably, "I assumed that you had at least agreed to my condition of seeing her made up."

Draco sighed again. "Fine!" he said. "But it won't do any good!"

Jack rolled his eyes. "Fine," he said. "By the way, have you decided who you're taking to the Quidditch Game tonight? You're meeting with a possible investor, so she has to be...well almost perfect. I had thought you'd take Tina, but I suppose that's not an option anymore..."

Draco shuffled his papers. "I don't know...maybe I'll take Pansy," he said slowly.

"Psh! You can't do that!" Jack almost screamed. "She might be from one of the best pureblooded families, mate, but she isn't all that attractive."

"I thought you said she was pretty," Draco said, sounding slightly hurt.

Jack laughed. "That was when I was being a friend, not a businessman. I'd say take Lexie, but she's busy tonight. She's got to get all of the articles together; the deadline's creeping up on us."

Draco nodded. "Yea, Alexis definitely needs to finish that first. Who else is there to take? Everyone else is out of town or busy..."

Snapping his fingers, Jack got the look on his face that came when he had envisioned the perfect picture. "I know! You can take Ginny!"

"I will never be seen in public with that muggle lover," Draco snapped.

"Think about it, Draco...she's beautiful and smart. She knows a lot about Quidditch...we were discussing it on the way over here," he explained at Draco's look. "And...she needs money, which is always a good way to get people to do things...like pretend that she could like a rude prat like you," he said with a glint in his eye.

Draco just glared at him.

"You got to admit it Draco, it's perfect!" he said, grinning.

Draco turned away in disgust. "Oh, I suppose, but I'll only take her as a very last resort! And that includes taking Pansy!"

Jack shook his head. "Draco, you're an idiot."

"Then why are you friends with me?" Draco asked, annoyed.

"Because you're a rich idiot," Jack said, teasingly.

Draco picked up his wand.

"I'm just kidding Draco!" Jack said, running for the door. "I'll be back when Ginny is ready."

Draco groaned. Virginia Weasley might start working for his company. Could life get any worse?

(A/N) Ok, like I said, I've had a lot of ideas for stories lately, so I'm not sure which ones to continue and which ones to drop. Please review so I know whether to continue this!!! :)

Thanks for reading :)