Chapter 3: An interview
September the first. The scheduled date of Draco Malfoy's job interview.
It's five minutes to nine, and everyone is there, safe him. Professor Jenkins from the Potions Section, his assistant Sam Kendricks, Susan Bones from the Equal Opportunities Office, and me.
We are sitting in Professor Jenkins' office. It's located in the basement, next to the main potions lab, and it's gloomy and dank, thanks to the stinking oil lamps and naked stone walls. I don't get why potions guys don't seem to be willing to let go of the dungeon atmosphere of yore. It wouldn't take more than a couple of charms to give this office modern day heating and to replace the pathetic oil lamps with eye-friendly lighting. Those lamps are a safety hazard, too, judging from Jenkins' burnt beak of a nose and singed eyebrows. He's lucky his hair didn't suffer. It's a mane that's incredibly red, contradicting his wrinkly face and watering eyes.
As we wait for Malfoy, Jenkins continually puts his wand to his eyelids to soak up the tears. It's rather disgusting.
Why's Malfoy not showing up. It's six minutes past.
At ten minutes past nine, Sam Kendricks pulls a tiny bottle from his robes, squirts a gel-like substance from it and starts styling his hair. Essentially, the gel turns it from black and straight and glossy to black and super straight and super glossy. Catching my gaze, Kendricks winks at me.
Okay, not going to happen. He's got great hair, and he's really well-built, but I don't flirt at work. And he's a potions guy.
Ignoring him, I check my watch. It's nine fifteen. Turning to Jenkins and Susan, I suggest to newly advertise the position.
Susan agrees emphatically. Malfoy was the only applicant, so obviously the Ministry's pro-active approach to equality hasn't been sufficiently communicated, and under-represented groups like half-bloods or witches haven't been sufficiently encouraged to apply, or so she says. And surely Professor Jenkins as Head of Potions is interested in following today's rules of good employment practice.
Professor Jenkins, who keeps calling Susan Miss Jones, says all he's interested in as Head of Potions is results, and Mr. Malfoy has got the perfect credentials, and why not simply set a new date for the interview. Susan won't have that, and they embark on a lengthy discussion that ends with Susan shouting, "It's B! B! Bones!", and Jenkins echoing, sounding thoroughly confused, "Bibi Jones?"
And Draco still hasn't come. At nine twenty-five. I'm mad, really mad he pulled this. It's just so typical. He's just a true Malfoy. Arrogant, self-involved, zero consideration for other people. Sends an application, then forgets all about it. He probably never intended to become an intern with the Department of Magical Development. And here we are, four people with loads to do who made time for this, for fucking Draco Lucius Malfoy, waiting for him to grace us with his presence.
And he doesn't show up.
I'm so mad.
So mad.
