Written for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments) Term 14
HSWW: Celtic Studies - Task #6 - Write about someone succeeding in life
Additional challenges listed below
Warning:
Word Count – 2864
Ten minutes before Astoria's shift was over, the lights of the office flickered. The sky was way too dark for 5 o'clock in the afternoon, only being lit up by the occasional streak of lightning as big drops of rain splattered against the glass. It was just her luck that the biggest storm of the year would hit right on her birthday, and possibly make her sick.
"Tori," Hannah called from the desk beside hers. "Do you want to grab a bite at the cafeteria downstairs before we head home?"
"Sure," she replied. "We need to wait for this rain to subside anyway."
"I'm paying, of course," she promised.
Astoria laughed. Hannah had paid for everything Astoria ate and drank on her birthday ever since they met. Astoria, of course, did the same for her. It was their little understanding that the birthday girl wouldn't spend a single cent on the day of their birthday.
Astoria turned her attention back at her report, saving it at the very last second before the whole building ran out of power.
"Just our luck." Hannah said in the dark.
"Any chance you have a cereal bar or something in the drawers?"
"I wish. I have half a bottle of water. We're going to die here."
"Why are you both treating this like it's a zombie apocalypse? It's just a power outage," poked Theo.
Theodore Nott was a pain in the ass, but he was their pain in the ass. Astoria and Hannah would have never thought that he would ever become their friend, let alone be as close to them as he was.
"I guess you forgot what went down last time this happened," Hannah said, turning on her phone's flashlight.
"He wasn't here, Han." Astoria said, holding back her laughter and anticipating Theo's reaction.
"Wait, what happened?" he asked.
"Nothing much. We just got stuck in the building for about 7 hours, until the power came back," Hannah said nonchalantly.
"HOW LONG?" Theo's eyes went big. "Are there no stairs in this place?"
"There are," said a male voice that Astoria found incredibly annoying. "But the person that has the key to them left half an hour ago, and our dear boss still hasn't made a copy to leave here."
Draco Malfoy was a pain in the ass. Nothing else, he was just a pain in the ass. Astoria had to fight the urge to roll her eyes every time he opened his entitled mouth. She couldn't accept the fact that he got offered the promotion that was rightfully hers, because of his family's connections.
"How was this building's construction even approved?" Theo banged his head against the table. To be honest, that was a question that Astoria and Hannah had asked themselves countless times. "You two were right. We are going to die here."
Astoria and Hannah laughed. For Theo to agree with something they had said, things had to be dire.
Draco pulled up a chair and joined them. "What are we going to do in the meantime?"
Why was Draco Malfoy including himself in their group? Granted, they were the only people in the office, and Draco had been a part of their team before but he only truly got along with Theo. Hannah liked him a little, but Astoria hardly tolerated him. She didn't want to be near him for however long that would be.
"Alright, alright." said Theo, raising his head. "I have an idea to make this fun and exciting. Let's play a game."
"A game, Theo? In the middle of the office?" asked Hannah.
"I think there's nothing wrong with playing a game once in a while." Draco gave his two cents.
"Of course you do," Astoria mumbled.
"What?" Draco asked.
"Nothing," she said when Hannah pinched her thigh. "Go on, Theo. Let's see about this game of yours."
"Well, it's a scavenger hunt. We'll decide on a list of six objects we'll need to find around the office. Whichever pair collects all six first wins."
Hannah and Astoria looked at each other knowing exactly what the other was thinking, but Hannah was the one who spoke up.
"This is neither fun, not exciting, but we have nothing else to do anyway."
Draco merely shrugged, agreeing to the whole thing.
"Okay, let's separate the pairs, then. And no, you two cannot be together," he added, pointing an accusatory finger at Hannah and Astoria.
He ripped a piece of paper in four pieces, writing their names on each of them. He then folded them too neatly for Astoria's liking and mixed them together. There was no way she knew which name was in which paper. Theo picked two, and so did Hannah. Astoria didn't miss Hannah's face when she opened them.
"Looks like Tori is partnering up with Draco," she said, knowing full well her best friend's feelings towards the man.
"And that leaves you and me, Abbott, darling." Theo had a grin on his face when he threw his arm around her shoulders.
Astoria kept her annoyance all to herself as Theo explained how it would all work and they decided on the objects they would have to look for. She was doodling on a piece of paper, absentmindedly, when Draco's hand touched her shoulder.
"Hm, shall we?" he said, tentatively.
"What?" she raised her head. "Oh, right. Sure. What do we have to look for again?"
"A deck of cards, a set of keys, a bottle of booze, a paper clip, any medicine and a nail file."
Astoria grunted. This was going to take a while.
"The medicine is easy," she said, deciding to be helpful and get this over with. "Millicent is a hypochondriac. I'm pretty sure she has something at her desk."
Draco smiled at her. It was clear that he liked to win. They walked towards Millicent's desk in an uncomfortable silence, while listening to Hannah and Theo laughing all the way on the other side of the office.
"There you go," she broke the silence as she threw a bottle of pills for him to catch. "One down, five to go."
Draco nodded. "I know where we can find a nail file, but it's going to be a little trickier."
"Trickier?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You'll see."
Halfway to the desk, Astoria realized where they were going. Pansy Parkinson's desk. Also known as Draco Malfoy's ex-girlfriend.
"She always has a whole beauty kit with her," he said. "The problem is that she keeps it all in her safe."
He gestured to the battery powered safe under her desk. Astoria shook her head vehemently. She was not about to break into someone's safe just to get a nail file. She really didn't understand why Pansy didn't carry those things in her own bag, like Astoria did.
"Nope. I'm not doing that. I'm not a criminal."
"You literally just committed a crime."
"I did what? When?" she asked, defensively.
"Right now, you just stole a bottle of Millicent's pills. Plus, there are no cameras working, nobody's going to know."
"I didn't steal anything. I borrowed it. I plan on returning it."
"Fine, we'll also return the nail file. Your logic still applies."
Astoria sighed and rolled her eyes as an annoying smile spread across his face. Apparently, his liking for winning didn't apply only to games.
"We don't have the password."
"It's my birthday," he said in a low voice.
Was Draco Malfoy embarrassed? He couldn't be. He looked and sounded like the type who would love to have a girl wrapped around his little finger.
"Well, you type it, then."
Astoria pointed her phone's flashlight to the keypad as he typed 0506 and the green light appeared, showing them their prize. Astoria shoved it in her pocket and shut the door quickly, as if she were afraid the whole thing would explode.
They hurried along the office to find the other items in complete silence, which made Astoria hyperly aware of the thunders and Theo and Hannah's celebration every time they found something.
"What are we missing?" asked Astoria, putting the keys in her pockets, along with the deck of cards, the nail file, the paper clip and the pill bottle.
"The bottle of alcohol. And I know exactly where to find one."
Astoria allowed Draco to direct her to his glass office all the way across the floor. Draco was almost never in his office, constantly having meetings or sharing a desk with Theo as they discussed the next steps in whatever campaign they were working at, but she knew what it looked like, because she had wanted it for herself.
"Just don't let the door-" The glass door clicked behind Astoria, "close."
"Why?" she asked, feeling her breath getting heavier.
Being stuck in a building with Draco Malfoy was bad enough. Being stuck in a room with him was a whole nightmare.
"It only opens from the outside."
"WHY THE FUCK WOULD A DOOR ONLY OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE? WHO WAS THE MORON WHO DESIGNED THIS?"
"I don't know," he said quietly.
There it was again. The embarrassment in his voice, and the pink tinging his cheeks. He knew it was ridiculous a door only being able to be open from the outside, but he still felt guilty about it somehow.
"I think it was installed backwards," he continued. "I asked Slughorn to fix it, but he hasn't gotten around to it yet, so I usually just leave it open with the door weight."
He gestured to the sack of sand Astoria had kicked on her way in.
"That's just brilliant," she complained, sliding her back down the glass. "We're stuck in the office and in an office."
Draco didn't reply. Instead, he threw himself in his chair and opened the bottom drawer. Astoria stared blankly as he put the bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey on the table, along with a pair of glasses. Great, Draco Malfoy was also an alcoholic.
"Since we're here, we might as well."
"They never said the bottle couldn't be empty." Astoria shrugged. "Do you think they'll hear us if we yell?"
"The room is soundproof. You can yell all you want, and no one will hear you. Try to see if you can hear them on the outside."
Astoria glued her ear to the glass walls. He was right. All she could hear was Draco Malfoy's breath and the clinks of the bottle on the glasses as he poured the whiskey.
"I don't hear anything," she finally said, defeated.
Draco crossed the room, extending a drink to her. Astoria took it, analyzing her situation. She was trapped in a glass room with none other than Draco Malfoy, the bastard that took her promotion from her. Hannah and Theo were God knew where, and Astoria tried texting them, but the message wasn't even delivered. There was nothing she could do other than drink the whiskey she knew to average around £600, which was way too much money to get drunk if you asked her.
"Why do you hate me?" Draco asked suddenly, three drinks in.
The question startled Astoria, both because they had remained silent up until now and because of the question itself. Granted, Astoria wasn't the best at hiding things, but she didn't think she had been that obvious.
"You took something that was mine," the drink answered for her.
Draco looked confused. Of course, he did. Someone like him would never think that he didn't deserve something. He probably thought the world owed him everything. That was the thing with those rich people.
"I don't get it."
He sat down next to her, facing the big window. Astoria had to admit that the bastard looked good in the low light. The moon that peeked through the clouds lit up his sharp features and his short blond hair seemed to be a source of light itself.
Unconsciously, she smoothed her copper brown hair, and threw it over her shoulder. He had sat down a bit too close for comfort.
"Your promotion," she said bluntly. "We were both considered for it. Then, your father shows up in the office and an hour later we all receive the email with the name of our new Head of Department."
Draco twirled the whiskey inside his glass, having the decency to look ashamed as he stared intently at his feet.
"I understand," he said at last.
"Sure you do," she said, indicating in her tone that she was done with that conversation.
There was nothing he could say that would make her forget what happened. She was counting on that promotion, and it was suddenly taken away from her. The silence got uncomfortable in a way that it hadn't been before. Maybe it was the three glasses of whiskey she had drank, or how close he was to her, but she felt like running away.
"Listen, this is going to sound really suspicious, but I was meaning to talk to you about that."
Astoria raised an eyebrow at him. She knew that if she opened her mouth, she was going to say things she might regret.
"The thing is," he said, fidgeting with the button on his shirt, "The workload is bigger than we anticipated, and I suggested that I got someone to help me with it. I thought it might be you."
Astoria took a deep breath. "If you think I'm going to be your secretary, you are sorely mistaken. I'm not here to help you with anything. I'm here to do my job, which I happen to be very good at, thank you very much."
"That's not what I meant," he added quickly. "Slughorn agreed to make you Co-Head of the Marketing Department if you agreed to it."
Astoria knew she should say yes, she knew it would be a great opportunity, but the drink was faster than her logic.
"I don't want a pity offering."
Draco let out a humourless laugh. "You're never going to trust anything that comes from me, are you?"
Astoria shrugged. "I don't have any reason to."
"Very well." Draco got up and grabbed his laptop from his desk. "I don't remember closing the tab, so it must be still here."
Astoria couldn't help but notice how much closer he had sat this time. His arm brushed against hers with every movement he made, and she wasn't sure she hated that fact. It was hard to hate the smell of his perfume, and the softness of his skin.
"Here."
He turned the laptop towards her, the brightness of the screen being a stark contrast to the soft light her eyes were used to, but the email was there. The whole chain was there for her to see that Draco Malfoy was a lot of things, but not a liar. The talk about the workload being too much, the suggestion of a Co-Head, their boss' acceptance, and her name mentioned by Draco Malfoy himself and greenlit by Slughorn.
"So, what do you say?" he asked, unsure.
"It'd be stupid of me to say no." Astoria failed miserably at playing it off as something trivial.
She had gotten the promotion. All on her own merits. They had realized that they needed her, and that she was a good asset to the company. She had been recognized, albeit a bit late, for her work.
Draco Malfoy extended his hand at her. "Partners, then?"
Astoria shook his hand. "Yeah, partners."
They both should have let go of the other's hand. Astoria knew she shouldn't have been distracted by how soft his hand was. She knew that she should have stood up that very moment and tried to find a way out. She knew that she shouldn't have kissed him. Or let him kiss her. She didn't know, really, since it all happened so fast, but she definitely should not have let that kiss happen. And she sure as hell should not have liked it and kept it going.
Astoria would blame the alcohol for the fact that she only broke away from him when the lights came back on, and Hannah and Theo opened the damned glass door that had trapped her inside with Draco. She would credit herself, though, for remembering to return all the fucking objects that started this whole thing. She would also definitely blame the alcohol for the smile and the hug she gave Draco Malfoy when they finally left the building.
"See you tomorrow, then, partner," he said in her ear, in a tone she had never heard before.
"I'll see you tomorrow, partner."
It had been the alcohol that didn't want to let go of his hug, but Astoria's rational side did. The alcohol also watched him go the other way until Hannah's voice cut through the haze.
"Well, it doesn't matter who collected the objects the fastest, Astoria definitely won tonight."
Astoria flipped her off. "Oh, bugger off."
Astoria wanted to make a face at Hannah, but the alcohol definitely made her smile.
"Hurry along," she said, turning around and crossing her arms. "I'm hungry and you promised to feed me."
"Sure, birthday girl. Let's get you a cake."
Spring Funfair
Cocktail Bar: Salt: (Plot point) Someone is salty
Leap Frog: C4 - (dialogue) "There's nothing wrong with playing a game once in a while"
Milkshake Bar: 10. Mars - Trope: Stuck Together
Spring Fling: 8. I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany
Guess the Number: 25. Office!AU
Cherry Blossoms: 9. Fugenzo - (color) Copper brown
Urban Safari Checklist: 23. Secretary Bird - (trope) coworkers
Wingardium Levi-Kart Racing: Howler Goblet - 3. Distracted
Paint a Rainbow: Red - 10. "I don't hear anything."
Tree Planting: Dogwood - 5. "This is neither fun, nor exciting."
Teddy Bears Picnic: 13. Watermelon - (plot point) A promotion or a career change
Birdhouse Building: Step 3 - 4. (dialogue) "I'm not a criminal!" / "You literally just committed a crime."
Spring Petting Zoo: Ponies - (word) short
Bunny Races: Astoria Greengrass
Egg and Spoon Race: Astoria Greengrass (side: Theo Nott)
Spring Parade: How to Train Your Dragon - Astrid - (Trope) Enemies to Lovers
Writing Club April
Record Collection - 5. What Is Love, Empire Cast Ft V Bozeman: Write about someone doubting someone else.
Written in the Stars - 10. (action) competing
Showtime - 3. Maria - (action) Kissing
Elizabeth's Empire - 4. True Love - P!nk (ft. Lily Allen) / (trope) enemies to lovers
Angel's Archive - 6. Having some friendly competition and playing a game together
Sophie's Serial Killers - 1. Prompt: (word) Alcoholic
Scamander's Case - 6. (number) six (characters, scenes—use it how you like)
Film Festival - 13. (object) Jack Daniel's bottle
Marvel Appreciation - 12. Stormbreaker - Write about lightning
Lyric Alley - 2. I'ma say all the words inside my head / 7. I'm the one at the sail, I'm the master of my sea, oh-ooh
TV Spree - 14. (Trait) Determined
EnTitled - 20. The Originals - (theme) trapped
Gen's World Tour - 4. Rusalka - Write about a woman who hates a man for any reason
Leaving on a Jetplane
48. Porto: (Trope) Locked In/Trapped Together
Spring Seasonal Challenges
Days of the Year: April 11th - Barbershop Quartet Day: Write about a group of four.
World Theater Day: 22. Rock of Ages - Rock of Ages!AU - alt: 'Hit me with your best shot'
Zoo Lover's Day: 9. Lion: Write about a powerful female.
Hufflepuff Character: 7. Hannah Abbott
Hufflepuff Challenge by Lyrrie: 11. Thunder Island – J. Ferguson – Prompt: (scenario) getting caught in a storm with your crush