Disclaimer: I own Lex, Julie, Gavin, and Mr. Stanton. Everyone
else belongs to JK Rowling (as well as the Daily Prophet, Hogwarts, etc)
You get the point
character I'm going to use (don't worry you'll see by the end of this
chapter and there are plenty of hints.) Also just to warn you I've kind of
made things a bit more "muggley" than JK Rowling does in her wonderful
books i.e. They have electronics and such in the flat for example. Anyway
I hope you enjoy it! LynnChapter 1- First days are Full of SurprisesIt was the first day off summer. Sixth year was over but unlike her
Hogwarts friends, Lex Brandish wouldn't be wasting away the summer. She
received the opportunity of a lifetime. She was spending the summer
interning for The Daily Prophet. She knew that meant she would spend a
large portion of the summer making photocopies and getting coffee for the
staff writers, but she also had the chance to get her first article
published. That was part of the internship. She and one other student had
been selected amongst hundreds of hopefuls. Maybe even thousands. She and
the other intern would spend the summer in a flat provided by the Prophet's
intern program, and one of them would have their work published in the
final week of August.Even if she did not get her article published that summer, it was still a
great experience. Plus it would look quite nice on her résumé.
She entered the lobby of the The Daily Prophet and headed to the reception
desk.
"Hi, I'm Le..."
"Lex Brandish, the new intern." The dark haired man finished. "Here is
you're ID card in case you run into problems anywhere. Most people
shouldn't question you but it's just a formality." He smiled.
"Thank you..."
"Max."
"You're quite good at finishing sentences for me. Thank you again, and
where..."
Once again he cut her off. "Floor 5, Mr. Stanton's office."
"Thanks." She smiled walking over to the lift.
She stepped in and pressed 5. As the mirrored doors closed she
straightened out her light blue skirt, and the blouse beneath her blue
sweater vest. She tucked a piece of her straight red hair behind her ear
as the doors began to open.
Immediately she felt a rush walking into the buzzing newsroom. She noticed
a large corner office. On the glass door was written: Cliff Stanton
Editor and Chief.
She gently rapped on the door.
"Come in dear!" A burly voice called.
She entered the room to find a round man in an expensive suit with his tie
loose around his neck. He quickly fixed that with a charm, hoping the
young intern didn't notice. He was balding and the roots of his hair
showed early signs of graying.
"Please Ms Brandish, have a seat." He said using his wand to pull out the
chair for her.
"Thank you sir." The words left her mouth in the most courteous tone she
could convey. She worried it came out more saccharine than polite but Mr.
Stanton seemed to enjoy it.
"I'm glad to see you arriving promptly. I hope you don't mind if I wait to
address you until the other intern gets here. I would much rather talk to
you both in one sitting than giving my speech twice."
"That's quite alright Mr. Stanton."
"Would you care for anything? Tea? Coffee? Biscuits?"
"No thank you." She politely declined. Why did I do that? I could have
used a cup of coffee! I can't ask for one now! Her mind wandered for a
moment until she was snapped back into reality by the sound of the in
office intercom.
"Mr. Standish. You're other intern just called. He's running a bit late."
"Alright Clarissa thank you."
He? She thought. I'll be living with a guy then? That could be
distracting. I can't let anything happen! What am I worrying for! He's
her for the same reason as I am. Everything will be fine!
"Well I'm glad one of my interns values punctuality. That's very important
in the news world. I mean if you're late getting to a story you're
scooped! And not to mention the deadlines! Do you work well under
pressure Ms. Brandish?"
"I like to think so."
"Well I guess there's no sense in waiting for you colleague if he's going
to be tardy. So here it goes. Ms. Brandish welcome to The Daily Prophet.
This summer you will have the duties of most interns, coffee runs, copying,
but you will also have opportunities to work with our top reporters. In
August you will both be put on assignment with one of our staff writers to
cover a story. With the help of those writers we will chose one of your
articles to publish. Oh! But you know all this! Enough of the
formalities! Welcome to the team!" He pushed a button on his intercom.
"Clarissa dear, please send in Julie."
"Right away Mr. Stanton."
Moments later a young woman with short brown hair entered the office.
"Listen Cliff I can explain... Those really were business expenses."
"Jules shut up before you get yourself into trouble. This is Lex Brandish,
one of the new interns. Show her the ropes today will you?"
"Oh of course Cliff."
"Ms. Brandish this is Julie Wiessmen."
"Nice to meet you Ms. Wiessmen."
"Please love! Call me Julie."
"Alright."
"Now come along deary. There's a lot to do and little time!" She took Lex
by the wrist and pulled her through the office. As they passed desks Julie
would blurt out names to go with the faces along with quirks about each
one. However they all seemed to be a blur to Lex.
"That's Lecherous Larry keep an eye on his hands whenever he's in a mile
radius of you."
They reached the copy room. "Now this is where you'll be spending a lot of
time for the first week or two. It's really not that bad. Plus I hear the
other intern is pretty cute!" She winked. "Well I guess this is where I
leave you for now. All you have to do is make a copy of the papers in this
pile. Send the copied one to Cliff's office and send the original back to
the writer's desk. Got it?"
"I think so. Thank you Julie!"
"I'll come check on you at lunchtime. If you want you can tag along with
me. I know this great Italian place down the block."
"Sounds great!" She began to get to work. She took out her wand and
followed the instructions for copying charms. This is a breeze. She
thought.
Around noon Julie return. "How's it going love?"
"Pretty well." She replied with a good deal of pride.
"Glad to hear it. Are you ready for some lunch?"
"I suppose."
"Let's go then!"
The two left the building and headed down to La Parma, a small Italian caf
style restaurant.
The waiter came over. "Would you ladies like beverages?"
"Yes, I will have a Diet Pepsi, twist of lemon."
"And you?"
"Just a Pepsi."
"I will be back with your drinks soon."
Lex picked up the menu carefully eyeing the prices.
"Order whatever you want. It's on me love."
"Are you sure?"
"Well when I say on me, I mean on my tab... which actually goes to Cliff, but
if we talk about the paper, then this is a business lunch."
Lex eyed her suspiciously.
"Don't worry it won't get you in trouble. Cliff is a big softy! He's been
letting me do this for years."
"Alright then."
"But we do have to talk about work." She smiled slyly. "I saw the other
intern."
"Oh?"
"He's gorgeous! Blonde hair, these deep gray eyes, and he really pulls of
the brooding look."
"That sounds very enticing."
"It is! I mean if I were te... a few years younger!" She laughed as the
waiter brought them drinks and proceeded to take their orders.
After lunch Lex returned to the copy room. She carefully surveyed the
newsroom for the other intern. But she was unsuccessful. Well I'll see
him at the flat tonight. She thought.
At five o'clock Julie once again popped into the copy room.
"You've survived your first day famously! I'll show you to your flat. All
your stuff is already there for you." She explained as they headed to the
lift.
"What about the other intern?"
"Well I think Cliff is having a little talk about the importance of
punctuality. Gavin will probably swing Blondie by in a little while."
"Blondie?"
"Well I still haven't found out his name. I can't just go on calling him
the intern."
"Because Blondie is much better!" She mocked.
They went down to the first floor. Lex had never seen anything like it.
There were rows and rows of fireplaces. Each with a line of "commuters"
standing behind them.
"I hate bloody rush hour!" Julie grunted pulling Lex onto the shortest
line she could find.
When they got to the front of the line, Julie picked up a bit of Floo
Powder and they stepped in. "Intern's Flat"
Before she knew it Lex was in her very own flat.
"Wow!" She gasped. It was a lot better than she had expected. There was
a large living room equipped with a great (probably expensive)
entertainment system. There was a great view, and a balcony! She had
always wanted a balcony. She was completely contented.
She looked around and quickly laid claim to the large pink bedroom. "I'm
sure Blondie wouldn't want the pink room any way!"
"Well I guess you'll be alright here now!" Julie hinted, suggesting she
wanted to leave.
"Oh yes! Thanks for everything Julie!" No problem love! I'll see you
tomorrow!"
"G'night!" As Julie Floo Powdered out Lex returned to her room. She
discovered the large mirrored bathroom. Complete with an incredible tub...
and are those jets? She let out an excited giggle. She began unpacking her
things. She slipped into a pair of black pajamas. Just as she tugged the
tank top over her head she heard voices.
"That must me the other intern!" She spoke to herself. "Great! He's
meeting me in my pjs! What was I thinking! Oh well."
She walked out of her room to see a familiar face looking back at her.
"Lex Brandish?"
She dropped her jaw. "Draco Malfoy?"