AN: I had this one sitting in my documents for awhile, and I figured I would post it!
A fair warning that I like to incorporate muggle technology into the wizarding world, the way I see it eventually some muggleborn would find a way to use it with magic.
Enjoy!
"I'm very sorry Ms. Winters and we wish you the best in your future endeavors."
"I understand, thank you for the opportunity." Sophie Winters responded politely before hanging up the phone.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" Sophie screamed causing a number of people passing by to look at her in concern. One father even pulled his child away from her.
Sophie took a deep breath trying to calm herself down. That was the 5th no she had gotten that week. Sophie hadn't realized that working at the Ministry of Magic would be this hard. She wasn't even picky about which department she just needed a job. Sophie had been a healer for the past 3 years and after a very difficult case she lost her passion. Sophie hoped one day she would gain the courage to go back but until that happened she just needed a job.
Sophie walked aimlessly for an hour before noticing a pub that looked pretty empty. "Brilliant," Sophie said looking at her phone and noticing it was only 3 in the afternoon. "It's five o'clock somewhere."
The bar was dark and exactly what she needed. Sophie quickly made her way to the bar, seeing someone also seated she made sure to leave an empty stool between them.
"Scotch on the rocks; make it a double." Sophie said once she got the bartenders attention.
"Rough day?" Sophie looked at the man beside her, normally she wouldn't engage but she really had given up.
"Understatement of the year." Sophie said downing her drink in one go before signalling for another.
"Want to talk about it?" He asked. Sophie gave him a once over. The guy seemed okay no obvious "I'm a killer" or "I will stalk you" vibes.
Sophie's silence was taken as a no and the man went back to the drink he was nursing.
"I'm currently in the process of looking for a job." Sophie said.
"Not going to well?" He assumed.
Sophie nodded, "You can say that again. I quit my previous job and thought I would have enough to live off my savings until I got a new job. That was 3 months ago and my savings are running out."
"I just got off the phone to another department telling me that I didn't get the position. As if that is not worse I now have to go to my friends flat to watch a bloody quidditch match." Sophie said the two drinks loosening her tongue.
The man's interest perked up at the mention of quidditch. "Quidditch?"
Sophie's eyes widen comically. "Bloody hell I am in a muggle pub, shit I am going to be in so much trouble." Sophie groaned. Sophie was debating just obliviating the man herself when the man started chuckling.
"Don't worry, you are lucky I happen to be a wizard myself who just frequents muggle pubs." Sophie felt her shoulders sag in relief.
"Maybe this means my luck is changing?" Sophie said laughing a little.
"Not a fan of quidditch?" He asked now knowing that she was also magical.
Sophie snorted. "Absolutely not, but I put up with it because my friend is a fan. Apparently, this is a big game and if her team wins they go to some final where they can win some trophy." Sophie muttered waving her hand dismissively. "You a fan?"
"I do enjoy the game," He said with a smirk that made her think he was leaving something out.
"So, you will be watching it too I assume?" Sophie asked.
"You can say that, I will be working for a fair amount of it though, so I won't really get to just sit an enjoy it." Sophie nodded at his explanation.
"I was wondering why you were nursing your drink over there." Sophie said with a smile.
"That and it isn't even 4." Sophie sent him quite the glare. "No judgement!"
"I will have you know that it is 4:01 and therefore completely acceptable to drink." Sophie said firmly. Sophie was expecting a quip back but instead the man looked a little flustered.
"Is it really? I have to be off or else I am going to be late for work. It was nice meeting you"
"Sophie," Sophie filled in for him.
"James," James said giving Sophie a bright smile. James quickly pulled out his wallet and threw a number of bills down on the bar. Now that James was standing it gave Sophie a chance to really take in his appearance. He was very tall over 6'3, dark brown hair, brown eyes that reminded her of chocolate and cheekbones every woman she knew would envy.
"Yeah it was nice meeting you too. I hope you have a good day at work." Sophie said.
"Thanks, and I really hope your luck has changed." James said before he left the bar.
Sophie sat at the bar for another 30 minutes before she decided she should make her way to Ava's. The game started promptly at 6 and Sophie was to be there ahead of time to get all chit chat out of the way so all attention could be paid to the match. Ava was very strict about no chit chat during the game.
"Sophie! About time!" Ava said happily as she swung open the door.
"Sorry I had to walk," Sophie mumbled still a little tipsy, which is why she wasn't allowed to apparate.
"Well the match starts in 15! I am so glad they have adopted muggle technology. I hated listening to it on a wireless." Ava said. Sophie rolled her eyes, Ava said that every time they watched a game. Ava was very thankful to be able to watch from her flat on a telly.
"Are you drunk?" Ava asked as Sophie stumbled in.
"Got another no so I went to a pub, chatted with a lovely bloke though." Sophie said with a laugh.
"And you didn't want to bring said bloke with you?" Ava asked.
"He said he had work." Sophie said with a shrug.
"Poor bloke," Ava said. "Anyone who has to work and miss the match deserves a raise."
"You care too much about this game." Sophie said with a laugh. "Now come on I promise I'll only ask questions during a break."
Ava had invited a number of people over allowing Sophie to find one ally who also was not very interested in the game. The two spent most of the match in the corner chatting about things unrelated to the game.
"That would be wonderful," Sophie said after Melissa had mentioned there was an opening in her department and would be happy to put in a good word for her.
"Do you have a copy of your CV? I would be happy to bring it in tomorrow with me." Melissa said happily.
"Yes, of course one minute." Sophie did not go anywhere nowadays without one in her bag. Sophie was half way back the paper in hand when something caught her eye.
"Bloody Hell," Sophie said staring intently at the screen. "Who is that?" Sophie asked. Currently the game was paused for a timeout and the network was displaying the profile of the star chaser.
Ava looked at Sophie like she was crazy. "You are joking right? That is James Potter. He is the number one chaser in the league, if not the world. He will be the reason we win the World Cup in the summer."
Sophie had to sit down because looking back at her was the guy she met at the pub "That's the bloke." Sophie said shell-shocked.
"Who's the what?" Ava asked confused.
"That's the bloke from the pub!" Sophie said gesturing wildly at the telly.
"Who?" Ava said not believing this.
"James!" Sophie reiterated. "James is the guy I met at the pub. Now it makes sense why he said he wouldn't really be watching much of the game, he is playing in it."
Ava looked at Sophie dumbfounded. "You mean to tell me you spent an hour talking to James Bloody Potter and didn't even know."
Sophie nodded in shock. "These things only happen to you." Ava said. After that little discovery Sophie became a little more interested in the match. It was no surprise to anyone in the room when an hour later Puddlemere United won the match securing themselves a spot in the finals.
"Oi! Sophie! Your lover boy is being interviewed!" Ava yelled to Sophie who was in the kitchen.
"He is not my lover boy; I doubt he even remembers my name." Sophie said coming to listen nonetheless.
"Still a great story," Ava said with a laugh.
"James Potter, you played a smashing game tonight is there anything you want to say?" The interviewer asked.
"Actually yeah, I met this wonderful woman just before this match and I had to cut our conversation short. So, Sophie, if you are watching this I would love to make it up to you and buy you a drink. Meet you in an hour, same place?" James said causing the reporters to go wild and yelling over each other to ask follow up questions.
Ava's flat was silent as everyone registered what James had just said.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Ava screamed jumping up and down like a crazy person. "SOPHIE DID YOU HEAR WHAT HE SAID?"
"Bloody hell," Sophie muttered.
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Exactly one hour later Sophie entered the pub she had been in just this afternoon. It did not take long for her eyes to find the person she was looking for. James was sitting in a corner booth looking adorable.
"You could have mentioned that you were a super famous quidditch star." Sophie said with a smile as she approached the booth.
James's face broke out into a wide grin. "I enjoyed the anonymity. It is not often I get to talk with someone who doesn't know who I am."
"Once I saw you on the telly I recognized you. My friends gave me a lot of shit for not know it was you." Sophie said sitting down.
"I can imagine," James said with a laugh. "Can I buy you that drink now?"
"I'll have a Scotch on the rocks but"
"Make it a double," They both said at the same time.
Sophie wasn't sure where this thing was headed but suddenly she felt like her luck had shifted and regardless of what happens next, she'd be fine.
AN: Short and sweet! I hope you liked this and please don't forget to review.
Love
lovely42