Hi Everyone! I'm finally back and I'm all done with my exams. I'm a little rusty but I hope you like this chapter! x

Chapter 6: Servitude

"Well I suppose the set up is alright," the other lady says with a slight edge to her voice. "But I hate lilies." She ends off with a sharp look to Hermione. Hermione's smile falters for a second and bounces back on track.
"I am terribly sorry to have chosen something of displeasure for you, I will remember it well." She apologized with a small bow. She knew these kinds of people. They were never satisfied with anything.

"So what do you have for us?" The man with brown curly hair asked with a raised eyebrow. "I hope it's good."
Hermione turns back to the trolley and picks up the wine from the bucket of ice. She opens it with a slight flick of her wand and pours it for each of them.

"So you have decided on Elderflower Wine?" The other man with a thick beard questioned. He clucked his tongue and rolled his eyes. Hermione already guessed they wouldn't be rather happy with the choice since it was a cheap wine that was normally drunk by the poorer families.

"Yes. I am sure it will suit your tastes as you drink it with your appetizer." Hermione said as politely as she could, reminding herself what was on the line with these people. On queue, she served the appetizer that she had chosen. Their eyes gazed at the dish with surprise and they all looked at Hermione.

Hermione's POV:

"I have to admit, the wine really does compliment the taste of the meat." The picky woman said while eating elegantly.

They continued asking questions, scrutinizing on every single detail of the food, demanding to know everything from where I came from to whether I knew how to cook to whether or not I was a spy. I could tell they were all trying to find as many wrong things about me as they could but I tried not to be brought down and continued to answer as well as I could.

I comforted myself by glancing at the other tables. I could tell I was not the only one in the same predicament and others were even worse. I saw the train-wreck lady crying as she served her guests. The key of all of this was to remain calm and composed.

"Well, I think we're finished here. You've done pretty well, Rion." The man with curly hair said with a small grin. I was a little surprised at the fact that someone like him would even spare a comment to a "Trainee servant" in the Malfoy estate. I gave a grateful smile and bowed again as they left.

I gave a huge sigh of relief and headed back into the back room to find Harry.

"Rion!" Harry shouted from the back corner of the room. I looked over and he was waving and standing with a group of candidates.
"Harry, hello." I greeted as I approached him, giving acknowledging nods to the rest of the group standing with him.
"Rion, these are some other friends I have made," Harry explained and introduced each of them in order. "This is Seamus, Lavender, Cho, Padma and Neville."

"Nice to meet you all, my name is Rion." I introduced myself with a small smile. I only signed up to be friends with Harry, not the rest of the gang.. But I guess it couldn't be helped. Harry opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by a loud bell.

"Participants, you have all completed the first of the three tasks we have planned. On this projection, if you see your number please exit on the left. If your number is not on this list please head on to the right for your next task." The same voice from before boomed. A projection was set up at the front of the room and everyone raced to the front to take a look. There were many different reactions, from shrieking and jumping up and down to dejectedly walking out from the door on the left.

When I finally made it close enough to the front of the room to see I could not find my number anywhere and my heart raced. They actually passed me! Thank goodness. I quickly looked over to Harry to see him smiling from ear to ear.
"Well then, Rion. Let's go!" He said and put his arm around my shoulders, leading me through the door on the right. It was the first time anyone had been this familiar to me and although it felt strange and foreign, it also felt nice. I guess I never really knew this thing called friendship. Although I had friends, we were always so formal and even when we did bond, we never did such acts of familiarity.

I found myself laughing without even realizing and Harry raised his eyebrow. Before I could explain, the same loud voice announced,

"Welcome to your second task. You will be tested on your knowledge here by taking a simulation of a situation and we will judge you based on your reactions to each situation."

"Crap, I hope it won't be too difficult.. Good luck, Rion." Harry muttered to me. I gave him a smile and patted him reassuringly. I really do hope it won't be too difficult...

End of Chapter 6.

Sorry it's so short! I hope you liked it though, till the next chapter! Please RnR! x