I'm back! I hope everyone's doing great and what not. This is a new story, a bit longer than Hogwart's Newsletter, which I finished in two days, but this one took a bit longer. I hope you enjoy this new fic!
Jade woke up to the sounds of sobbing. She tried to sleep the sounds of sobbing away but when the sobs persisted, Jade opened her eyes and looked up from her pillow. Jade looked from the slightly ajar door and peered down to the living room where her mother and father spoke with the fire on.
"What should we do Arthur? Percy left us, Bill and Charlie are on two different continents. Fred and George need to support their business. Ron is still without a job, Jade is making minimum pay and Ginny is still in school! Oh Arthur, I never knew it would be this horrible! We have no money for food and with this new Wizarding Law; we'll be evicted from our own home because of these taxes! I can't go on Arthur! I love my children, I do, but we can't support them!" Molly sobbed quietly.
Jade frowned hearing her mother about this. Ever since the new Minister, taxes had risen rapidly. Jade had seen that ever since taxes had increased, her mother and father were constantly worried. None of them could pay for their expenses, nor their own home.
"Molly, if we won't be able to go on, how can our children? We need to stand for our children and possibly try to do something to pay for our taxes. I should probably go back to work." Arthur said sighing wistfully. Molly turned to her husband and shook her head.
"But you have a heart condition Arthur. You can't go back to work again." Molly said.
Arthur shrugged and tried to smile at his wife. "I have no choice as of now and don't worry too much Molly. Ron will soon have a job and Ginny; well she's studying to be a Healer isn't she? My smallest daughter, a Healer." Arthur said proudly.
Hearing this stung Jade. She tried all she could do to help. She knew her father never meant to hurt her in any way, but it was clear. Jade really was no use to her parents and neither was Ron.
"If there is a miracle out there...that's all we need." Molly said bursting into tears again.
"There, there Molly. Remember what you always told me? Money is nothing. As long as we build our foundations with love, we won't need anything else." Arthur said wrapping an arm around Molly's shoulder. Molly shook from her tears and pulled a fresh tissue.
"The way this world is going now, money is everything Arthur and without it, our foundation will crumble to the feet of money. Nowadays, love is obsolete." Molly said. Arthur was silent. Jade weaved her fingers in and out and tried not to cry. She twisted and bent her fingers from the anxiety and turned around to see Ron sitting up, mirroring the same look on her face.
"So we'll get this job then?" Jade asked helping Ron with his tie. Ron shrugged and lifted his chin for Jade to loop the tie.
"This is my 5th attempt...hopefully the 5th time's the charm." Ron said as Jade tightened his tie.
"Good luck to you too. I hope your interview goes well." Ron wished. Jade smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. The door opened and Molly walked in carrying two bowls.
"Oh! Good morning, where are you two going?" Molly asked placing the bowls on a table.
"I'm going for an interview!" Ron said. Jade saw the glint of happiness in her mother's eye. Molly was delighted. She threw her arms around her son's neck and hugged him tightly.
"I do hope you become successful!" Molly wished kissing his cheek. Ron reddened and made a face as Molly turned to Jade. "Have a good day at work today darling." Molly said placing a hand on Jade's cheek.
"Actually Mum." Jade said placing a hand on her mother's hand. "I'm going for an interview. I'm going to get another job. A better one with more pay and-"
"Why are you doing this for money dear? Money isn't important. We're the Weasley's remember? We're based on love and respect." Molly said.
Ron rolled his eyes and muttered "That's what we're known for...no money." Jade smiled softly at her mother and held her hand tightly.
"The way this world is going on now, money is everything. I don't like my current job anyways. I hate catering!" Jade announced. With that, Jade and Ron set off for work. "Remember; meet me at exactly 4 o clock near the fountain." Jade told him. Ron nodded, kissed her cheek and apparated.
Jade walked into Gringott's and already felt defeated walking into it. She couldn't get a job as an accountant. These goblins were never going to trust her. Thinking about her parents and current financial status, Jade walked in hoping for the best. "When you've got nothing, you have nothing to lose." Jade said to herself. She walked up to a counter and flashed the goblin her most dazzling smile.
Jade sat on the edge of the huge fountain in Diagon Alley, waiting for Ron. Checking her watch, it was ten minutes before 4. She waited a whole hour on the fountain after getting the boot from Gringott's.
"Any luck?" a voice asked behind her. Jade turned around and saw Ron walking up to her. Jade twisted her mouth and shook her head.
"They told me to get lost or they'd send dragons after me for trying to act clever." Jade said noting there was a packet of sweets in his hand. He held them out to her and Jade took a powdery white ball and bit it. Ron snorted and grinned.
"Clever? What did you tell them?" he asked popping a ball in his mouth.
"That's the thing. I said I was there for a job and he thought I was lying! He thought I wanted the job so I can decode the vaults and take their money." Jade said bitterly. Ron chuckled and Jade nodded. "And what about you?" she asked.
Ron shook his head looking at his sister. "No luck either. It's sad you know? I really wished I would have done better in school, so I wouldn't have to see this day." Ron said quietly. Jade patted his back.
"I actually earned decent grades but I have the crappiest job in the universe. Ron, I'm so worried about Mum and Dad. Ginny's going to be a Healer but there's a separate school for that and they want money for that. How are we going to pay for her studies?" Jade asked. They felt they were at a stop. There was really no way to go. They really had to give up their home and property.
Suddenly a boy in a cycle whizzed by them and a newspaper came flying right at them. It hit Jade and Ron and scattered everywhere. "You bloody arse! Come back here!" Ron yelled standing up. Jade pulled on Ron's arm and pointed to an article from the paper.
"Look Ron! A company is hiring!" Jade said excitedly. Ron sighed, frustrated and walked away from Jade.
"You go, I've given up." Ron said.
Jade frowned looking back at the newspaper. It was a secretary's job at a Wizarding Magazine agency.
"M-A-L-L-E Magazine! It's a perfect job for me Hermione! Not really a career, but I can be promoted to writing articles or whatever, and you know that I love giving advice to people! Maybe I can be the love guru." Jade said seeing Hermione laugh.
"It does sound fun. Whatever makes you happy, but please don't get your hopes up. Not to sound so cynical, but it's better than taking it hard when you don't. Do you understand?" Hermione asked and Jade nodded.
"I appreciate you for grounding me." Jade said. Hermione gave her a nod and the two heard Krum.
"Her-my-knee." He grunted. Hermione turned around to see Krum walk into their living room.
"Krum! One minute, Jade I have to leave, I'll speak to you later? Good luck with your interview!" Hermione wished. Jade gave her a wave and closed the floo. She touched the black folder containing all her certificates and diplomas. A small gruff was heard behind her. Turning around, Jade saw Ron leaning on the wall, glowering.
"Hey." Jade said. Ron shifted himself from the wall and walked over to Jade.
"Did you see the way he was standing behind her?" he asked flopping on to the couch. Jade raised an eyebrow and went back to her folder.
Ever since Krum came back to Hermione's life at the end of second year, Ron had been extremely livid and sullen. Hermione wasn't to blame. Ron had always kept things to himself and expected Hermione to figure everything out like they had always done during Hogwarts. He was too shy and awkward to tell Hermione about his feelings. Getting tired of it all, Hermione transferred all her focus on a man more willing to show his affections for her. After a year, Krum and Hermione moved in together and Jade had the worst end of the deal to live with; Ron Weasley.
Every night, before going to sleep it became a ritual for Jade to hear as to why Hermione never deserved Krum. Jade silently let him rant, knowing all too well that Ron's fragile heart needed attention and a pair of ears. "She'd never want someone like me anyways. What am I good for? I have no job, I'm not established. Look at Krum; one of the best Quidditch players in our generation!" Ron said sinking into his seat. Jade flipped through her certificates quietly and listened to Ron rant. "Are you listening to me? Of course you're not; you wouldn't know what I'm going through." Ron muttered resting his head.
"Thankfully, I've never had the experience of unrequited love but you can really spare me the pain Ron. In fact, you can spare yourself too. If you just forget about Hermione and look for a new purpose, you can have a different perspective on life." Jade said, her back still turned to him.
Ron turned his head to look at his sister and reveled on her words. "New purpose…do you mean a new…girl?" he asked.
"Woman Ron…woman. You're not a boy anymore. That's why you're so mentally underdeveloped." Jade said. She felt a pillow hit the back of her head and she shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Like I said…mentally underdeveloped."