THE LIFE

I walked into the kitchen to witness the fright of my life, Tessa's boyfriend standing by the stove in only his underwear singing one direction that muggle boy band's song at the top of his lungs "Na na na na na na na na….aaagh! Shit Hay-hay can't you give a bloke some warning!?"

I was scarred for life I covered my eyes and yelled "Why do you think you can walk around this house in your underwear? I live here too you know!"

I heard him laugh "Come on I know you secretly want to shag me"

I groaned "Just put on some bloody clothes!"

He replied "Not denying it, interesting"

He walked past me thrusting his spatula into my hand and I finally uncovered my eyes, I moved to the stove and saw three eggs frying on the pan, for all his bullshit he did do some things that made him seem less of a free-loader and even sweet at times. Andrew I thought flipping the eggs, might be an idiot but he still paid the rent when we forgot about it, and made sure our fridge was stocked.

I put the eggs on three plates when Tessa came ready for work, her job at the Leaky Cauldron wasn't great but it paid the bills and that was good enough for her while she studied at night to become an expert in Herbology. "Good morning sister! Heard Marilyn's cry last night, you really should stop landing on my cat"

I sighed giving her a plate "It's not my fault that she is always in the spot where I land, you should put her on a leash"

Tessa rolled her eyes at me picking up a fork with black-painted nails, she was pretty one could say in her own shrewd way, a nose piercing and ripped clothes, a cart full of unpleasant conversations plus shit advice, that's my elder sister for you.

Andrew on the other hand with his pale skin and a permanent grin underneath his sandy blond hair worked as a photographer for the Daily prophet, even with his respectable job and fair earning he was still an idiot, bloody Andrew Creevey.

I for one was the picture of a girl thrown into adulthood without being prepared. I still possessed child-like features, my mum's pink cheeks that irritated me and brown hair that was plain and uninteresting unlike my sister's messy long black hair with electric blue highlights. I quickly ate my breakfast and said to my sister after gulping down my coffee "I'm leaving for Ireland see you tonight!"

She called as I left the kitchen nearly tripping over Marilyn who aimlessly wandered in "Or maybe not, 'drew and I are going out won't be back for the weekend, it's Friday remember?"

I shook my head and went to my room to grab my things before apparating. Every week Andrew and Tessa disappeared for the weekend, partying and all those sort of things I didn't have the first idea about.

I was checking my bag seeing if I had everything when I bumped into Andrew on the way out "Oof, sorry, get out of my way I'm late and I have a portkey to catch"

He smirked down at me and I glared back "Living the life aren't you hay-hay?"

I said rolling my eyes "Stop calling me Hay-hay, now bye"

I walked past him and he said after me "Have a good weekend Hay-hay! Go shag some Quidditch players!"

I turned around aghast "My mother's been talking to you! What the hell?!"

He winked "Jacqueline's a charming woman, she's such a delight"

I stared open-mouthed, Tessa joined him by the door and hit him across the shoulder as he laughed "Stop riling her up, she didn't talk to him, I told him" he shrugged apologetically and I just stomped my foot blushing "Whatever!" The last thing I heard before apparating was "My sister is adorable" and him saying "Wish she'd just loosen up a bit though"

I barely made it in time for the portkey and hardly had a second to adjust before I was thrown into Ireland, no matter what people say about portkeys, one can never get used to them.

When I landed in the grass I knew grace had never been my friend. I saw a hand stretched out to me and took it I heard the voice and recognized the person immediately "Why is it that whenever I'm looking for you the best place to search is the ground?"

I said panting "Shut up Ed, you know about portkeys"

He pulled me to my feet, Ed was my best friend, always, I grew up with him with our fathers in the same department, both of us Quidditch-crazy Hufflepuffs who could only choose careers related to Quidditch. Ed was a lanky, slight bloke who could have been the ambassador for peace judging from his demeanor working in the magical sports department of the ministry.

We walked to the stadium together as fans hurried towards it around us excited. He buried his hands in his pockets making his shoulders rise "So how's Tessa?"

I sighed "The usual"

He smiled "Oh I forgot to tell you there's a party this Saturday, in celebration for the winners, I'm allowed a guest and I wanted to know if you wanted to come"

I stared at him "What?"

He grinned "I knew you'd look like you'd just been hit by 'obliviate'"

I could barely breathe "But….I….uh….."
Ed cut me off "I know you have nothing to do except watch those sappy romance movies which is quite unhealthy might I add, so I'll pick you up by seven tomorrow, try to look good"

I said "hey!" Completely offended, he rolled his eyes "yes, you will have to try this time Hayley, socializing is indeed the way to prevent dying alone"

I huffed "You think you know me Eddie boy"

He laughed throwing his head back garnering many looks of confusion and I blushed "I'm the only one who knows you have got your hair stuck in the toaster, that you apparated into the sewage drain in Hogsmeade on the first try after you got your license and that you harboured a crush for Louis Weasley since the beginning of time"

I hit him "That's more than enough you prat"

We found our seats in the top box and I took my Quill and parchment out. I shook hands with the Minister of Magic and the various dignitaries before the match finally began waiting expectantly, quill at the ready.

The match between the Ballycastle bats and the Tutshill Tornadoes was an intense one, along with a long one. The snitch was nowhere to be found, I wrote busily my quill splurting blots thanks to my pressure. I heard gasps all around me and my head snapped up, cursing myself for missing a move and I looked at Ed "What? What did I miss?!" I noticed him staring at a spot near my ear intently and I was confused before I heard the furious fluttering of wings, I didn't want to believe it was the snitch. Something as interesting as this could hardly happen to me.

But I turned to look and felt my breath catch in my throat, this couldn't have happened before in a match and before I knew it I heard Ed say "Look out Hay!" But it was too late, a massive blue blur came flying out of nowhere knocking me backwards toppling me and my chair as it flew away. People let out a united breath of fascination and then began cheering loudly. Ed helped me up and I quickly groaned "My notes! No!" I scrambled for the sheets of parchment in a hurry.

But then I was drawn away when I saw that the Tutshill Tornadoes had won, the seeker pumping his fist into the air, the snitch still fighting for its freedom.

I knew it was Albus Potter, the seeker of the Tutshill Tornadoes and the England team. He grinned looking proud of himself as the team enveloped him in a hug and the stadium arose in celebration of the victory. The Ballycastle bats slumped away, disheartened and disappointed.

My quill couldn't stop as it zipped across the parchment my hands covered in much ink.

Ed looked at me grinning "Some match huh?"

I looked up disoriented "Huh? What? Oh sorry…..yeah yeah it was"

I looked at the pitch once more and saw something I had never seen before and I thought up till then that I had seen everything that there was to see about Quidditch but this was alarmingly different. I saw Albus Potter staring right at me apologetically, smiling his sorry and I was short of words. The tilt of his smile and the courtesy in his eyes making me falter in my breath intake. I didn't realize I had been holding my quill hard until it snapped and ink splattered onto my lips and I cringed "Ugh" I wiped the ink on my lips with blackened hands and looked embarrassed at Albus whose apologetic smile had turned into a grin, before he turned away gripping his broom one-handed and began talking to his Team mates waving to the fans. Ed told me "Look at you, god"

I was sure I looked mighty fetching at that moment, my hair was all over the place from falling down, my clothes and face splattered with ink.

Ed said sighing "You take your job way too seriously" I rolled up the parchment and said still flustered "It was an important match that's all"

Ed shook his head at me.

With my article completed at the office I felt accomplished, I submitted it to Frank who looked over it with his usual air of condescension "Hmm, another one is it Durell? Are you going to ask me for a promotion again? Whenever I see you these days I am taken over by an overwhelming desire to hide"

I gritted my teeth and smiled sweetly without saying anything.

Frank read through it, pursing his lips and his eyebrows twitching in his usual fashion, I waited for his criticism and when he was done he let out a long breath. The ticking of the clock was loud in my ears as I stared into his soulless black eyes and he began looking more and more like a hungry vampire.

He finally said "Durell, this writing…..it's very…..very profound"

I blurted in a moment "Are you seriously kidding me?"
He leaned back in his chair taken aback "No I'm not, as you put it so casually 'kidding' you"

He always went off on a different tangent while critiquing my articles, nobody would use the word 'profound' to describe a quidditch article. He stroked his chin "This particular match it struck a chord with you didn't it?"

He shot me a creepy smile that I barely returned "I can always tell when a writer is inspired and this dear Durell is indeed inspired…."

So long as he found it decent I didn't give a rat's ass about anything else "….I am going to discuss with the board tomorrow and will see to it that you get a position of editor"

I squealed with joy "Oh my god! Thank you so much Frank!"

He sighed and put his hand up "Not so fast Durell, this promotion comes at a price, your first assignment before you start editing articles will be to get me an interview"

This would be easy, the bloke didn't know who he was talking to, I had a very big in on Quidditch society in Ed, this made my job considerably easier. "Albus Potter's interview"

And there we have it the ultimate bombshell. I knew my promotion would have a catch and maybe I had gotten too ahead of myself in thinking that it would finally happen. Albus Potter didn't do interviews, in fact he stayed as far from the limelight as he could without being a shadow. Ever since he got into the Quidditch world he was hardly like the other players, taking photos willingly and always having a word to share on the match. The only time a reporter caught him was when he was on the pitch playing.

I looked at Durell shakily "But, Sir….."

He raised an eyebrow "I only asked you because I only thought you'd be able to do it"

The conniving bastard "But Sir, he has refused some of the biggest reporters"

He nodded smirking "I know, that only makes him more of a treasure, I won't put you to any other task till this is done and I need it in a month, take your time make some connections and get us an interview and then I will promote you no questions asked"

I said "Sir I've been working here for a year harder than anybody else, this is exploitation. I can't force a man who doesn't want to speak into giving me an interview against his will. You're only doing this to play with me"
He chuckled "I wonder Durell, are you even a reporter, anyone can write an article on a match but it's real talent that can dig out the impossible, then I suppose you want to remain a reporter then do you? Very well…..if that's your choice"

My fists shook "I will do the interview"

He sighed and then smiled "So much hot air for nothing Durell, now run along I haven't got all day to spend dealing with you"

I slammed the door as hard as I could on my way out and was satisfied to hear the crash followed by the cry of "My portrait!" as I walked away.

I apparated straight into my Mom's kitchen while she was cooking dinner and was treated to a cry of "Good Heaven's you scared me Hayley!"

I smiled tiredly "Hello Mum"

She replaced the cover over the dish after checking it and wiped her hands on her apron "Frank's at it again, isn't he that nasty scoundrel?"

It was safe to say that my Mum hated Frank as much as I did "He is"

She said "There's some ice cream in the fridge if you'd like some"

She always knew, that woman, she always knew how to make me feel better although she had plenty of screws missing. I sat on the counter swinging my legs as she cooked "Frank told me to get an interview of Albus Potter as an assignment for my promotion"

There was moment of silence and my mother put down the knife and turned to look at me "And you are sad about this because…?"

I waved the spoon "Because he never does interviews, ever"

She looked at me shaking her head "For once in his life Frank's given you an assignment that might just let me die easy knowing that you have a future and you come in here looking all disappointed"

I groaned "Mum I'm not going to date him, I'm supposed to get an interview, God!"

She pointed at me "If you do this assignment well enough you'll not only have a promotion you'll have a boyfriend as well and you know what that means….."

I rolled my eyes putting away the ice cream because my appetite had just died "Grand kids, God this is so lovely I can't wait, when do you start?"

I said cocking my head "If you're going to just keep annoying me I am going to go because I feel like shit right now"
Mum smiled comfortingly "You know you can do anything when you put your mind to it, I know you and nobody, especially not Frank can ever get the better of you"

I sighed "Yes, except I just feel like he purposely tortures me because he enjoys it"
She smiled at me "So you just prove to him that he can't ever get to you understand?"

I nodded "Okay Mum, I should get going, I have a few movies I need to watch"

She rolled her eyes at me "Muggles create the weirdest things, anyway, come for dinner some time dear and bring Tessa and Andrew too yeah?'

I nodded as always "Of course"

Marilyn peered at me suspiciously when I got to my room and I told her "Yeah that's not creepy at all Marilyn, just keep staring at me like that"

She trotted away with her bum in the air, how I wish I could just accidentally make her choke on her milk.

I began watching the movies, laughing and feeling tensed every time it was almost time before the boy was going to tell her the three big words. Honestly why couldn't I be one of those girls? With a steadily growing pile of chocolate wrappers collecting beside me I hit pause wondering whether I should get up and bother doing some exercise, that evening jog that I had planned few weeks ago never really happened. I was torn between staying fit and staying holed up in my room with nothing to do the latter won with not contest.

There was a knock on the bedroom door and a second later Ed entered, I asked him "What if I had been naked?"

He laughed "You'd like that wouldn't you? Most action you'd be getting in, years, wow it even sounds awful to say it"

I chucked the pillow at him and he plonked down on the bed "Not these movies again, ugh, come on let's go do something, it's Friday and all you're doing is growing fat"

I moved about to make myself comfortable and said "Frank told me to get an interview of Albus Potter in order to get my promotion, I don't feel like going anywhere and let me remind me you I am not growing fat, thinking makes you lose calories"

Ed's eyebrows rose "Ok then whatever you say to help you sleep at night anyway Albus really? But he runs when he hears the word media, and even if it's not media he doesn't really enjoy conversation much"

I cried out "Not helping, just avada me now"
Ed patted my shoulder "Don't worry we'll figure something out"

I looked at him distressed "We?"

He rolled his blue eyes at me "How else are you going to meet Albus Potter, as far as I know you were never in his circle?"

I asked "You socialize with the Potters?"

Edmund Walder laughed "No but I am dating Lucy Weasley remember?"

I slapped my forehead "Shit, I'm such a blockhead, how is she by the way?"

Ed looked at me "Good, but working hard like the rest of us, now listen tomorrow's party is the ideal place to start a conversation with Albus Potter and see how it goes"

I nodded feeling excited "Mission Potter is underway"

He shook his head "Don't say that again" Ed took a chocolate from the bedside table and then exclaimed "Damn I can understand why they call these things a guilty pleasure"
My eyes lit up "Can you blame me?"

He shook his head "The one day you actually don't depend on your metabolism to make sure you don't have clogged arteries I'll cry tears of joy"

The idiot thought he was so hilarious and I said "The one day you stop being a prick I'll finally tell Frank what I really feel about him"

Ed looked at me torn "Oooh that is tempting, I might just consider it"
We laughed and I asked out of the blue "Is he single?"

He looked at me confused "Frank? I think not"

I shook my head aghast "No not him you fool I meant Albus"

Ed shot me a sly smile, which made him look so much like a thief "Hayley Durell, are you finally considering giving up your virginity?"

I blushed and hit him "All of you right from my mother to frikking Andrew Creevey are up my case about my virginity and my life! I just asked because he seems like he might have a girlfriend"

Ed stopped laughing and said "He hasn't had a girlfriend since Hogwarts"

I nodded nonchalantly but some little part of my heart fluttered for an unknown reason and then he added "Just like you"

I whacked him in the face with my pillow and he said "Okay okay, but honestly don't scare him away, he's like a rabbit. If you try too hard or get personal too quick his defenses will shoot straight up"

I nodded taking down mental notes.

Ed let out a breath "Now get up, now that I have promised to help you will you please get off this bed, put away this laptop and come out to dinner with Felix and me?"

I did as I was told and got ready to go out. Felix was another friend of ours from Hogwarts, another Hufflepuff who worked in Magical Law enforcement. He could play Quidditch unlike the two of us who were talent less on a broom.

Felix for a very long time harbored a crush on Lucy until Ed went ahead and dated her. Our last year was awkward to say the least, but after a long conversation and a few punches were thrown everything was sorted out.

Even though Ed managed to get me out of my slump, it was only a temporary fix and I knew it because once this Albus Potter's interview task actually began there would be no saving me. Frank had set me a sail on stormy seas, I didn't think I could rise to the challenge.

AN: I am back, so what do you think so far?

Hope the plot's getting clearer, opinions are welcome, bad or good.

I'll try to update as soon as I can.

Thanks for reading!

Sahitya Poonacha :)