A/N: Well, I told you it would arrive… and here it is! Yes, the seven-month awaited chapter six. I hope I still have some readers out there! And if you do decide to forgive me and read this, please leave a review. I cannot give enough thanks and praise to everyone who reviewed and encouraged me to update. I put individual thanks at the end. I'll let you read now, but if you want to know the update status on my fics, please click on my profile. Ok! Go forth and read!
At breakfast on Monday morning, I couldn't manage more than one piece of toast. After consuming approximately twice my weight in chocolate frogs over the course of the weekend, I wasn't feeling that hungry. If fact, I was thinking that fasting for the coming week would still leave me quite full. I watched Lee stuff pancakes into his mouth. Felling slightly nauseated, I pulled out my History of Magic reading as a distraction. I knew that I hadn't prepared well enough for the quiz. Maybe if I reviewed the stuff now, it would stick in my head.
"Alicia, why are you studying that junk again? You were studying for an hour last night. The quiz is only worth a few points." Fred punctuated his points by jabbing a sausage in my face.
"I don't care. After I finished studying last night, I did Charms, Transfiguration, and Potions homework. So all the History of Magic stuff just slipped right out of my brain. Besides, I have to do well on this quiz. I missed three points on the last one." I flicked Fred's sausage away from my book.
Lee gave me a meaningful look. "Well, you missed a terrific game of Exploding Snap last night. That's all I'm saying."
"Yeah, whatever, I'll wipe the floor with you next time," I muttered, trying to memorize a timeline. I heard a noise across the table, which made me glance up. Angelina was climbing on top of the table.
"Attention Gryffindors!" The Gryffindors, along with the rest of the dining hall, were all staring at Angelina, who was looking as dignified as possible considering she had one foot in a platter of eggs.
"I am here to announce that the Gryffindor quidditch team has chosen a new keeper! We were privileged over the weekend to have fifteen impressive candidates vie for the position. The decision was a difficult one. But one candidate reigned supreme above the rest. So, without further ado – " Angelina paused, waiting for the snickers to stop. "Let me introduce you to our new keeper, Ron Weasley!" The entire Gryffindor table immediately burst into applause. I glanced at Ron, who was blushing furiously while Harry, grinning from ear to ear, clapped him on the back. Suddenly, Fred and George tackled Ron from either side.
"Let's hear it for our widdle Ronnikins!" roared Fred, lifting Ron into the air with the assistance of George.
George was yelling, too, starting a house wide chant of "Ronn-i-kins! Ronn-i-kins!" I was laughing so hard that I barely noticed the owls flying in for the morning mail. My owl, Aphrodite, landed by my arm, nudging at me. I took an envelope from her beak, and then replaced it with a piece of toast. She nudged me again, in what I assumed was an affectionate manner before taking off again.
I examined the cream colored envelope in front of me. My name was written in curly script on the front, but there was no return address. I flipped the envelope over and noticed it was sealed with a large lump of forest green wax. I began to open it, hoping I would have time to read it before Potions, when a thought suddenly rushed into my mind. Dammit, I had left my homework back in the dorm room! I tossed the letter and the rest of my things into my bag as I climbed up from the table.
"Where are you going, Alicia?" asked Katie, taking a pause from shouting out the letters to Ron's name in unison with the rest of the table.
"Forgot my bloody homework for Potions. It's sitting on my bed. I've gotta run, or I'll be late." I waved to her as I walked out of the dining hall. I heard a roar of applause over my shoulder, and turned to see Fred and George doing back handsprings in a circle around a very overwhelmed looking Ron. I grinned and shook my head before hurrying off to get my homework.
*****************************************
The day zipped by in a whirlwind of activity. In between classes, practice with our new keeper, and homework, I completely forgot about the letter. By the time I remembered it, it was late at night, and I was lying under my covers, shutting my eyes, and just about to drift off to sleep. However, my subconscious, never one to let me rest, slammed the letter into the forefront of my mind, waking me up with the force of a proverbial freight train. I debated the merits of getting out of my comfy bed for a few minutes before deciding that my eyes simply would not close until I knew the contents of that envelope.
I crept out of bed as silently as possible so as not to wake Katie or Angelina. Grabbing my bag, I tiptoed down the stairs to the common room, which I found abandoned, lit only by the faint light of the dying fire. I pulled a chair close to the fireplace so I could have enough light to read by. I pulled the envelope from my bag, and, for the second time that day, stared at the outside. After a moment of hesitation, I finally opened it up, and shook the contents of it out onto the footstool in front of me. Two pieces of parchment slid out of the envelope. One was smaller, about the size of a certificate. The other seemed to be a letter, as it was folded into thirds. I picked up the letter and opened it.
Dear Ms. Spinnet,
Congratulations! This letter is your official invitation to a world of endless opportunity. We here at Lux Et Veritas Corporation are continuously searching for candidates for various jobs at our company. We have been tracking your academic records and are pleased to say that a person of your caliber and intelligence is exactly what our company desires in an employee. Therefore, we would like to invite you to a preliminary "get to know you" session to be held this Saturday, September 14th at the Prancing Manticore Restaurant, located in Hogsmeade Village. This will be an excellent opportunity not only for a representative from our Hiring Division to interview you, but also for you to receive answers to any questions you might have.
Our company has been in the business of providing security to wizards and witches since the year 1281. Countless citizens of the magical community depend on our services on a daily basis – Ministry of Magic employees, top business executives, and even quidditch players have all been clients of ours over the years. Especially in these uncertain times, more and more people are finding advantages in the feeling of security and stability in their daily lives.
Although we would never want to capitalize on the fear of others, it is indeed true that because of the recent course of events in the magical community, business has been distinctly higher. There has never been a better time to become a member of the Lux Et Veritas family. We can offer you not only a highly competitive salary, but many attractive benefits as well. We hope you will consider becoming a member of our family.
Again, if you are interested, I ask you to please come to the Prancing Manticore promptly at eleven o' clock on the 14th. To further entice you to explore opportunities with our company, you will find enclosed in this envelope a certificate for five galleons, redeemable upon meeting with our representative. This money does not entail any sort of obligation; if after hearing more about our company you find yourself wishing to pursue a different path, the five galleons is still yours. There is no need to owl any sort of reply; if you choose to show up we will be delighted, if not, we will understand. We also request that since this is a highly exclusive selection process, you not inform others of this job opportunity. We prefer to contact potential employees rather than having them inquire with us.
Best Wishes,
Miranda LafayetteHiring Division, Lux Et Veritas Corporation
I read the letter three times before I sat back in the chair and tried to figure out what to do. I searched my mind for anything I had ever heard having to do with Lux Et Veritas. I couldn't think of a single person that I knew that worked for them; then again, they seemed to be a pretty selective, secretive sort of operation. Security? What kind of security? And why would they want me? I had seen ministry bodyguards before, and I certainly didn't fit the physical characteristics for that job. What kind of company would go out of their way to request someone like me?
I glanced at my wristwatch. It was nearly two o' clock in the morning, and I still had to study for my Charms quiz before breakfast tomorrow. I decided to go to bed and sleep on the letter. After all, it was only Monday. Saturday was eons away. I'd think about it, maybe show it to my friends, and then decide what to do. Feeling slightly relieved, I picked up the pieces of paper and went up to my room. I tossed the letter on my bedside table and settled down to fall asleep. A few minutes later, however, I got up and slipped the letter into my trunk. No reason to let Katie or Angelina accidentally see it. After all, they might make a big deal about it. I mean, for all I knew, I might even throw the letter away and not even go to Hogsmeade on Saturday. There was just no need to worry them, I thought as I drifted off to sleep.
*******************************************
"So you're sick then. And you really don't feel well enough to attend practice?" Angelina's glare was currently competing with that of a Hippogriff for intensity.
"Uh, yeah, that's about it," I said, trying to sound ill. "I mean, nothing serious enough that I would have to go see Madame Pomfrey, but, you know, slightly under the weather…"
Angelina frowned. Come on, Angelina, I pleaded silently. Just don't put up a big fuss.
"What are your symptoms like?"
Honestly, what was she, my mum?
"Look, if you really must know… Well, it's, uh, feminine problems. You know, that time of the month and all…" I shifted my position slightly on the couch and tried to convey an expression of pain.
Angelina sighed. "Alright, we'll practice without you. Rest up and feel better, because I'll be expecting you there tomorrow at ten o' clock sharp for a full day practice. So get some homework done because I'm not going to accept any excuses. And that goes for the rest of you as well," she snarled, turning her attention towards the rest of the team before stomping out of the common room with a flourish.
"Hey, Fred, is it her time of the month too?" whispered Ron, as the portrait swung closed behind Angelina.
"Not unless I did something wrong last night, no," responded Fred. His comment solicited a chorus of "ews" from not only me but also from the rest of the team, minus George, who were positioned around the couch I was stretched out on.
"Well, we'd better head out to the pitch," said Katie, standing up and grabbing her broom. "No sense in getting Angelina any more upset than she is now. Feel better, Alicia."
"Thanks!" I called, watching everyone file out of the portrait hole. I waited a moment until I was sure they weren't coming back, and then removed my bathrobe, revealing my khakis and blouse underneath. I grabbed my cloak from where I had stuffed it under a couch cushion, and quickly put it on. I had already drawn the curtains closed around my bed, so hopefully if anyone came back to check on me, they would think that I was asleep. I patted my pocket to check that the letter and certificate were still there, and then took a deep breath to steady myself.
"Come on Spinnet," I muttered. "You can do this." With one last furtive glance around the deserted common room, I descended through the portrait hall and began to head towards the castle doors.
I was on my second to last staircase when I heard my name being shouted loud enough to alert the entire quidditch pitch to my presence.
"Alicia! Hold up!" I turned around to see George jogging down the stairs to catch me. Dammit, dammit, dammit. The one time I actually didn't want to see him, he shows up.
"You heading to practice, too? I swear, I thought Umbridge was never going to let me out of detention… I had to polish every one of those stupid kitten plates, although she told me next time it would be worse, whatever that means. Good thing I slipped a pack of dungbombs into her drawer. Those things will give her a shock soon enough."
"George –"
"I mean, there's detention, and then there's just being a bitch! I mean detention! On a Saturday morning! I'm glad I put a canary cream in her candy box. And Angelina's not much better, you know, making us practice on a Hogsmeade weekend."
"George – "
"But, as long as we're going to practice, might as well be a nice day for it. Hey, if you want to wait for me, I just have to change into my practice clothes; I can't believe Umbridge made me wear my uniform to this stupid thing. Wait a second. What are you wearing? And why aren't you at practice? Where's everyone else?"
"Well, maybe if you let me get a word in edgewise, I could answer some of those questions, Weasley," I said, pointedly. George rolled his eyes but remained silent.
"Look, George…" I bit my lip, trying to think how to best handle this situation. "I need to ask you a favor."
George regarded me suspiciously. "What kind of a favor?"
"Well… I kind of lied to Angelina and told her I was sick. But wait!" George opened his mouth to speak, and I hurried to continue. "Look, ordinarily I wouldn't. But I got offered a job interview. I'm supposed to meet this lady at the Prancing Manticore today at eleven, and they sent me a letter saying how they want me to work for them, and well, I just really want to go." I looked up hopefully at George.
He frowned. "Did you tell Katie?"
"No."
"Lee?"
"Well – no."
George sighed. "And I suppose I can assume that Fred, Ron, and Harry weren't let in on the secret either. Alicia, I really don't want to lie to them… why didn't you tell anyone? I mean, you wouldn't have even told me if we hadn't run into each other."
"But you don't even have to lie! No one is going to ask you if you ran into me on your way from detention to the quidditch pitch. As far as the team is concerned, I'm sleeping in my bed right now. So you don't have to say anything, period. And I know I should have told someone, but I just didn't want to get anyone else's hopes up, let alone my own. I probably won't even get the job, so what's the point of making a big deal over it?"
George shook his head. "I still don't know. Isn't it a little unusual for companies to recruit like this? I know that Hogwarts hosts a big job fair near the end of the year for the seventh years and all of the companies send representatives. This sounds kind of funny."
I let out an exasperated sigh. "George, I'm not exactly asking for your permission. Just don't tell anyone you saw me and we'll all be good. I'm sure this company just likes to be a little different in the way they hire. I'll be back in a few hours, and they probably won't hire me anyway. And even if they want to hire me, or invite me back, or whatever, it won't be for a while! I've still got nine months until I graduate! I'm just trying to check out a career!"
George looked at me for a long moment, and then nodded. "Okay. Just be careful. And tell me what happens when you get back."
"You're the best, George," I said, giving him an impromptu hug.
"And damn sexy, to boot," he replied, patting my head. I rolled my eyes, and he sent me the trademark Weasley grin. I gave him a final squeeze before turning and jogging down the rest of the stairs towards the castle doors. I stepped outside and began to walk briskly towards Hogsmeade. I could feel the butterflies pounding in my stomach with almost the same amount of intensity that the wind was whipping at my face. I glanced at my watch, and then began to walk at a faster pace. The last thing I wanted was to be late.
As I arrived on the main street of Hogsmeade, I slowed down to try to locate the Prancing Manticore. I had asked a Ravenclaw girl in my Charms class if she had ever heard of it, and she had told me that it was a little past the Post Office on the left hand side of the street.
Sure enough, before long I was standing in front of a building that was – well, the word that kept popping into my head was dignified. It was a very dignified building. A wooden sign hung above the door depicting a Manticore that was most definitely prancing. I took a slow, and hopefully steadying breath, and pushed open the door.
*******************************************
You're all going to kill me; I can just feel it coming. First, I don't update in forever. Then, just as my story begins to show some semblance of having a plot, I leave you in the middle with a cliffhanger! Please don't hunt me down! I already have about half of the next chapter written, so soon enough you'll know what Alicia sees as she enters the Prancing Manticore. In the mean time, I'm trying something a little new (and perhaps a little dumb…). I'm going to try to include, from now on, at the end of each of my chapters, a fic that I feel should be highly recommended – actually, two fics; one Harry Potter and one "other." Any fic that I plug here (or anything on my favorites list) is good enough to make me go WOW. So while you're waiting for me to get my lazy butt in gear, here is some stuff to try out:
Old Faces, New Tricks by Jagged Epiphany.
First of all, I doubt that there is anyone out there reading G/A who hasn't read this fic. In this story, my favorite G/A author follows Alicia, the twins, Lee, Katie, and Angelina through all seven years at Hogwarts. It's a massive story (and it's still not done! Yay! More to look forward to!) but once you start reading it you can easily read the whole thing and not realize you have been staring at your screen for hours. She is the master of all that is George and Alicia; she blends the perfect amount of wit and story into an amazing epic. She inspired me to write this ship, and you won't find a better Alicia voice anywhere on ff.net. Oh, and if you're like me, and you've read every chapter of it a billion times already, check out her Alicia/Harry and Alicia/Draco stories. I know they sound like odd ships, but believe me; they are well worth the read.
Official Buffy and Angel Fanfic University (OBAFU) by Honor H.
This is a Buffy fic, if you couldn't guess by the title, and is one of my top ten Buffy fics ever. The concept: What if there was a place where Buffy fic writers were required to attend school, and learn how to write good stories (and if you've spent as much time reading Buffy fic as I have, you know that good stories can be few and far between)? And what if the teachers were characters from the Buffy/Angel fandom? That's right, students attend fight classes with Buffy and Giles, do character studies with Willow and Xander, and if they get into trouble, attend Kennedy's Boot Camp for Maggots. Plus there are hordes of mini trolls roaming the campus (Buffie, Xandre, Spyke, and my personal favorites, Anger and Damn), the risk of becoming a vampire, and tours of Sunnydale run by the Buffybot herself. An amazing, humorous, and highly enjoyable story. Don't be put off by the main character, Carrie, being an OC – not only is she the farthest thing from being a Mary Sue, but the author actually hints at a romance between her and a canon character that is both believable and easy to read. In other words, I could ramble for hours about how good this is, but hey, what are you doing still reading this? Go read her story! But first…
REVIEW!!
Please?
Love,
Betsy