Hello! As promised, a new chapter the very next day!

Before we get started, a shout out to euphythedino for the sweet review; to hrhowling and Acadia Arneson for faving; and BlackArcana33, Long Lost Dream37, dancerengland, dragongirl69, 2, euphythedino, hrhowling, and Acadia Arneson for following. Thanks, guys!

Another big shout out to Arrowkid21 who inspired me (and thanks for the review and follow!) and one HUGE shout out to all of you who're dropping by to read. Thank you!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

- Chapter Two: A New Look

When Vernon traipsed up the stairs of his drill company, he was expecting a celebratory welcome. He had, after all, worked hard to turn the company into what he believed an efficient, stable company should be. It was the way it was thanks to him. He should be revered, at least, for doing that much.

All he got were a few waves from some nobodies and a nod from a young office manager.

"Typical," he grumbled loudly as he stomped to the lift. "As soon as they get to the top, they forget who put them there. Ungrateful, rotten prats."

Who were those blokes anyway? Vernon wondered. He didn't remember seeing them in the company a year ago. Newbies, probably. Hired when he wasn't around. He'll have to talk to his Human Resources about that.

Ding!

"Ninth floor," came the mechanical voice of the lift.

Vernon lumbered out, thinking of the best way to announce he was back. He would probably have to do with firing a couple of nobodies, first off. Then round on a couple of old nobodies and wring out information about how the company was doing for the past year. Then he was going to have to sift through mounds of paperwork to understand what really happen. The company, he assumed, probably plummeted in the time he was gone.

He inserted the key to his office door, but found it wouldn't turn. He frowned and tried it again, only to find the same result. He rattled the doorknob – still nothing.

"Bloody thing," he growled, then roared, "All right, who's the wise crack who broke this door?!"

"I suppose that would be me. And the door isn't broken – the lock has been replaced."

The large man whirled around.

Standing a few paces away was an older, short woman with graying brown hair and dark brown eyes. She was dressed in a formal skirt suit painted in red and had a small amused smile playing her lips.

"The lock has been replaced?" Vernon echoed, a familiar vein throbbing on his head. "Who the bloody hell – hang on, you said you were the wise crack?! You replaced the lock?!"

"That is correct," she responded calmly.

He advanced on her, hoping his wide girth and towering height would intimidate her. "What makes you think you have the authority to do that to my office door?!"

"I would hope I would have the authority to do so," she began, still calm. "As it is now my office."

"Your office," he echoed in disbelief. "Oh, I see. You must be the temporary director." He held out a beefy hand. "Keys. You're relieved of your duty."

But the woman didn't hand him the keys.

"You're Vernon Dursley," she remarked quietly.

It wasn't a question, but he replied anyway, "Yes, I am."

Her smile was a little unnerving now. "Let's talk inside, Mr. Dursley."

He watched, dumbfounded, as she easily brushed him aside and bent over to insert the key on her lanyard into the lock. There was a click and she strode inside. He followed.

The office wasn't what he remembered. Everything he owned was gone. The pictures he had of his wife and son had been taken over by pictures of a larger family – an older couple, two gangly teenage boys, and a little girl. The plaque that once bore his name was replaced by one of the same type and structure, but with a different name – Joanne Morris. On the wall behind the desk hung a couple of awards that Vernon noticed to be from different companies. Previous jobs.

"Please sit," Joanne implored, indicating to the two squashy seats in front of the desk.

Vernon made a face, but complied, crossing his arms and legs defiantly. It wasn't right, sitting on this side of the desk. He was the director, for God's sake! He was the one who was supposed to be sitting behind the desk, not this… this mockery of a director.

Joanne seated herself behind the desk and folded her hands on the surface. "We have been extremely worried, Mr. Dursley. You disappeared without a trace and stayed that way for an entire year."

"Family emergency," he grunted. He couldn't use the lie he told Mrs. Davies – it wouldn't work here.

"I see… although… I fail to see how it would keep you away for an entire year and cause it so you couldn't return our calls," she responded.

He pursed his lips and barked, "All right, fine! We were under witness protection until the bloke who put us there was put away! Happy?!"

The corners of Joanne's mouth twitched. "Mr. Dursley, the company has tried to contact you over the past year regarding a specific matter."

"What is it?" he snapped.

"There has been… slight a change," she answered simply. "It has been decided that Grunnings should go for a new… look."

"New look? A new logo?"

"No, Mr. Dursley. You misunderstand me. The executives want someone new, someone fresh. Someone who has different ideas and could bring the company new business."

"What are you going on about?"

"Simply put, Mr. Dursley – the company is letting you go."

He sat in stunned silence for a long moment.

"L… letting… me go?"

"Yes."

"As in… firing me?"

"In a sense, that is correct."

Another moment of stunned silence. Then –

"Are you out of your ruddy mind?!" he roared. Joanne jumped, alarmed. "Me?! Vernon Dursley?! Fired?! From the very company I made?! I took all of you ungrateful bastards to the top and this is how you repay me?!"

"Mr. Dursley, I understand your anger, but please, we tried to contact you – " she tried.

"Contact me?!" he exploded. "Contact me?! To tell me I'm being fired just for a ruddy new look?! How do you expect me to face my wife and child?! We just came back from ruddy imprisonment, for God's sake!"

Vernon didn't know when he leapt to his feet, but he was towering over Joanne's desk, his face screwed up with anger. It was probably a good shade of purple too and he knew the usual vein was throbbing on his forehead. Specks of spit flew from his mouth.

Joanne had gone pure white and wide-eyed, clutching the arms of her chair as if it would spring to her defense. "P-p-p-please, Mr. Dursley…! W-we do still have a job for you, if you would like it!"

He stopped and stared at her. The purple faded just a little. "What kind of job?"

She relaxed, but didn't unclench her hands. "Co-director."

Something twitched in his face as the suggestion sank in. His face then changed into a deeper, uglier shade of purple and newfound fear flooded Joanne's. She scrambled out of her seat and backed to the wall as Vernon's rage exploded.

In his fit of rage, he began yelling worse things, insults, at poor Joanne and even started throwing her items around the room, wrecking it. She somehow managed to ring for security as he began nursing the idea of physically harming her. Luckily, security arrived and Joanne wasn't hurt.

No one said a word as Vernon was escorted out of the building several minutes later, but each of them had their eyes trained on him. Even though he was a big man, the two security guards escorting him were bigger and stronger. They each had a firm hand underneath Vernon's armpits and was literally carrying him out, his toes barely touching the ground.

"Do not come by again," one of them growled as they dropped him outside on the steps. "Do and you will be thrown into the slammer."

Vernon could only turn, slightly trembling, to watch their retreating backs, to stare at what was now no longer his. In his humiliating situation, the tall building seemed to tower over him more than usual.

Yay! Another chapter down. Vernon is rather an unscrupulous character, isn't he?

Thanks for reading!

Reviews and Favorites are very welcome. Please do not hesitate to point out any grammatical mistakes I have made. I do my best to proofread them twice before I post, but sometimes I miss little things.

Next issue coming tomorrow! See you then!