So nobody knows French eh? Maybe I should change the rating to pg-13
instead of R. I don't know what do you think? I don't think I have anything
that warrants an R rating. I just put it at R just in case. Well heres
chapter 5. I figured I'm on a roll, as usual I own nothing!!! J.K.Rowling,
Warner Brothers, and the publishing company owns it.
Twas a Monday morning when Hermione went to her office at Infinity magazine. The sun was out, the birds were chirping and the gossip was a plenty around the water cooler. Hermione was successful in getting the water cooler moved, though not by Pansy's office but by the mail room instead. So once again, Hermione was ignorant in the going-ons around her. But today was different. Instead of lots of juicy gossip going around there was only one piece that trumped all.
Hermione was unlocking her door when she heard a noise to her right. She turned around swiftly but saw nothing. Shaking her head she was about to turn the knob when she heard a noise to her left. She took a look in that direction and saw nothing.
"I need a vacation." She mumbled to herself.
As she was about to step into her darkened office a noise from behind caught her attention. Though she may be working as art director from Infinity, slow she wasn't. She knew enough spells, potions, charms and whatever else she could get her hands on to do some damage. She pulled her wand out quickly and turned around ready to show her would be attackers not to mess with one Hermione Jane Granger. But just as she was about to say a very damaging spell she stopped dead in her tracks. Right in front of her eyes was the 3 gossiping coworkers from the other week. Margo, the squealer, whose name she found out to be Debra, and Felix.
"Hello ladies." Hermione started off uncertainly.
"Hello Hermione!" all three said in unison.
Shooting them a look she turned around back to her door and stepped into her office. She muttered a spell to turn the lights on and another one to set her coat on her coat rack.
"Oooooooo!" Debra squealed. "She's so smart!"
"And she's modest too!" added Margo.
"And she's sooooooooo natural!" Felix said.
Hermione turned around to look at them again. "Whom are you referring to?"
"Why you silly!" Debra squealed again.
"You're English is just so proper!" Margo said.
"You were right Margo, completely modest!" Felix agreeing with Margo's earlier statement.
"What are you, the triplets from Belville?" Hermione asked angrily.
"No need to get angry Hermione." Debra remarked.
"Yeah were just trying to information...I mean just trying to see how you're doing." Margo said.
"So testy, how does he put up with it?" Felix wondered.
"Ok this is getting really annoying. What the hell are three talking about?" Hermione demanded from all of them.
"You mean you don't know?" Debra squealed...again.
"Oh no not this again!!!" Hermione cut Debra off before they had another repeat of what happened by the water cooler.
"Hermione, you really don't know?" Margo asked.
"Did you hit your head over the weekend?" Felix questioned.
"OUT!" Hermione yelled pointing her finger at the door. "I don't care what you three are talking about! Get OUT!"
And with that declaration the three women scurried out and went to their respective offices far far away from Hermione. She made her way over to her desk and flicked on the overhead light. Half the wall was covered with her artwork for the magazine and other pieces she did in her free time. She sat back in her chair looking at her work from the past years. There was no denying it, she was very good at what she did but looking at one piece she did in college her heart fell a little. Top of her class in both colleges, and she worked at a magazine drawing pictures that would go with the columns. She closed her eyes running a hand against her forehead. Somebody rapping on her door quickly knocked Hermione out of her contemplation.
"Go away." She yelled at the door.
The person behind her door chuckled a bit before answering with, "Is that anyway to talk to the person who signs your paychecks Granger?"
"Pansy! Oh my god I'm so sorry! I thought you were those three witches from the water cooler." Hermione apologized hurriedly as she ran to open the door.
"No need to apologize, Debra, Margo, and Felix have that affect on people." Pansy said as she walked into Hermione's office. Hermione cleared some debris that was on her chair and offered Pansy a seat. Pansy took it as Hermione took a seat right next to Pansy..
"So what do I owe this honor with?" Hermione started first.
"Don't get your knickers in a twist Hermione. I'm not here to fire you. In fact, I'm here to congratulate you."
"What for?" Hermione asked bewildered.
"For putting Infinity's name in every newspaper, magazine, talk show and radio in the wizarding world! Thank-you SO MUCH!" Pansy squealed herself then launched herself at Hermione giving her a bear hug.
"PANSY! I need to breath!!" Hermione gasped for air when Pansy let her go.
"Sorry love." Pansy apologized.
"How...Ok what is going on here? I didn't do anything!" Hermione started but was interrupted by Pansy who put her hand up to halt her.
"Before you say one word Hermione let me finish. You made such a big splash at the benefit showing up with the Malfoy's. You a muggleborn witch showing up with two of the most prominent pure-blooded wizards ever. Hell, their blood line goes further back then mine!"
"Wait a minute Pansy...Its not what you think!" Hermione tried to interrupt again but Pansy again stopped her.
"Let me finish! I haven't even begun to mention you and Draco. You sly dog. I never knew that you two were together. In fact I thought you had hated each other through Hogwarts? But showing up wrapped in his arms, Genius Hermione. I knew there was a reason why I hired you."
Hermiones face went white." Draco and I aren't an item Pansy." Hermione started off weakly.
"Oh no? You two certainly looked chummy together. Before and on the red carpet. Sources say you two were getting on rather well before you two went out."
"Pansy we were arguing!!!" Hermione tried to defend herself.
"I haven't even gotten to the best part yet. Since Infinity Magazine is the only magazine in the world show-casing the new lines from Slip de grand-mere, and since Draco's company is personally handling the ad we are the talk of the town, the belle of the ball, the cat's meow, the!" Hermione interrupted pansy this time.
"I get the point Pansy."
"Oh well, but thank-you Hermione! I truly mean it. From the bottom of my heart. I cant thank you enough!"
"Pansy...Its really not what you think. The fact of the matter is, they showed up AFTER me. Draco and I were quarreling before his father showed up and practically demanded me to join them on the blue carpet. I was about to walk out then Malfoy grabbed my by the waist and drug me out onto that blasted carpet. I haven't even told you what went on in the circus. Oh my god it was hysterical!" Hermione said, trying to change the subject. But Pansy was having none of that.
"No matter Hermione, you have done me a favor and I am in your debt."
"Pansy..."
"No Hermione, you've worked your tail off for the past 10 years. Oh I know all about the blacklisting. Believe me I got a lot of crap from everybody for hiring you. You've been such a recluse, refusing job offers from some of the top wizarding companies. For a while I thought I had made a mistake. But then you proved yourself and everything was right in the world again." Pansy confessed.
"I'm so sorry you suffered at my expense Ms. Parkinson." Hermione said coldly as she stood up and started to gather her things.
"Hermione...what has gotten into you?" Pansy asked standing up herself.
"Oh its nothing Pansy, nothing at all. I've just been blacklisted for well, most of my life and now that I've caused YOU so much trouble I might as well leave." Hermione responded testily.
Pansy looked at her with a mix of shock and horror. "Hermione that came out wrong! You've misunderstood me!"
"Oh no I think I understand perfectly. Poor, stupid, mud-blood Granger. Blacklisted from everything and everybody well you wont have to worry about that anymore Pansy, I quit. So sorry for making you lose business!"
Pansy just stood there, mouth open wide as Hermione threw everything that belonged to her in a box. She grabbed her coat and her box and stormed out the office bumping into something hard. She was about to apologize to the poor person when she looked up and saw who it was, Malfoy.
"If you wanted to get close to me Granger, all you had to do was ask." Draco said leaning against the doorway.
Hermione glared at him fiercely then turned back to Pansy. "I will not be turned into some spectacle Ms. Parkinson. Not for you, and certainly NOT for him!"
"Hermione please!!!" Pansy pleaded with her. "You didn't let me finish!"
Draco looked at both of them strangely. "Is it about this weekend?"
"GO SCREW YOURSELF MALFOY!" Hermione yelled then dashed for the elevator.
Draco looked at Pansy horrified. "What the hell did you say to her Pansy?"
Pansy wrung her hands in front of her before taking a seat in Hermione's vacated chair. "I just told her that I appreciated all the publicity she gave the magazine and that I know its been hard for her because of the blacklisting and..."
"Oh Pansy you didn't." Draco said.
"I knew I should have waited until lunch to talk to her." Pansy said to herself. "Maybe I can still catch her."
"Why would you want to do that Pansy? Good riddance to bad rubbish." Draco responded.
Pansy looked at him horrified." Oh no! We need her Draco. I was going to promote her for the ad campaign."
It was Draco's turn to look horrified." Why would you do something like that Parkinson?"
"You don't understand Malfoy, just last week Monsieur D'if sent over some lingerie from his new line. Well since Hermione did go to the benefit and they found out she worked at Infinity word got back to D'if."
"So." He said lazily.
"SO! SO! You dolt!!! I take it you haven't read the newspaper have you?" Pansy asked.
Draco responded while looking at his nails. "Why would I do a mundane thing like that?"
"Monsieur D'if was thrilled to see somebody from MY magazine wearing his line!"
"Granger wouldn't wear that racy stuff." Draco assured Pansy.
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!" she yelled back at him.
"Then GET to the point."
"The point is that he thought it was brilliant that we were already marketing his line. He wanted her to work exclusively on the ad. I was going to promote her just now before I opened my big mouth."
"You're kidding me!! I'm not working with Granger!!!" Draco declared.
"You wont have too because she just quit." She replied back.
"Good one less mud-blood around here messing things up."
"Draco Malfoy! I will not have you insulting one of MY friends like that. She's really important to this magazine and I cant just let her go like that."
"Correction Pansy, she WAS important to this magazine."
Pansy glared at him before storming out in the same manner Hermione did moments ago.
"Where are you going?" Draco yelled at Pansy's retreating form.
"To get Hermione back! If we lose her then we may very well lose the campaign. And if we lose that then YOU lose on it as well. It's a double- edged sword Malfoy." Pansy replied back heading to the elevator.
Draco stopped dead in his tracks and Pansy's word settled in. If he lost that campaign his father would murder him. A shudder went through his spine as he thought of all the different ways Lucius would torture him.
"PANSY! Wait for me!
Not a lot of action between our two heroes at the moment but next chapter shall prove much interaction. I know I didn't include the circus bit but that might show up in next chapter too. Remember, I'm going for the Quentin Tarantino style of writing. You have to pay attention to understand where I'm going with this. I had a bit of difficulty in writing this chapter. They weren't originally going to fight but it just happened this way. If anybody thinks Hermione is acting too rash well she is. I wont deny that but just think about it. She was made fun of constantly because she was a 'mud-blood.' After she got out of college she was pretty much blacklisted. Nobody wanted to have anything to do with her. I think she was acting how any of us would act. Well almost all of us.
Danihell: Thank you for the spelling correction. I was too lazy to get out my books. Hopefully this chapter will feed your addiction.
Yourluckycharm: She's not really a cartoonist. If you've ever read through a women's magazine and those pictures that go with Q&A and love and all that other stuff. That's what she does. I hope this chapter isn't crap because it came out too soon. And jem rocks!!
Sarah: Somewhat of a plot has been established. I really cant see myself continuing this story past 10 chapters or so. We shall see. Aerion: I like to leave clues in my chapters and some jokes. I hate it when people don't get it though! Come on!!! I try not to make it too hard!
Twas a Monday morning when Hermione went to her office at Infinity magazine. The sun was out, the birds were chirping and the gossip was a plenty around the water cooler. Hermione was successful in getting the water cooler moved, though not by Pansy's office but by the mail room instead. So once again, Hermione was ignorant in the going-ons around her. But today was different. Instead of lots of juicy gossip going around there was only one piece that trumped all.
Hermione was unlocking her door when she heard a noise to her right. She turned around swiftly but saw nothing. Shaking her head she was about to turn the knob when she heard a noise to her left. She took a look in that direction and saw nothing.
"I need a vacation." She mumbled to herself.
As she was about to step into her darkened office a noise from behind caught her attention. Though she may be working as art director from Infinity, slow she wasn't. She knew enough spells, potions, charms and whatever else she could get her hands on to do some damage. She pulled her wand out quickly and turned around ready to show her would be attackers not to mess with one Hermione Jane Granger. But just as she was about to say a very damaging spell she stopped dead in her tracks. Right in front of her eyes was the 3 gossiping coworkers from the other week. Margo, the squealer, whose name she found out to be Debra, and Felix.
"Hello ladies." Hermione started off uncertainly.
"Hello Hermione!" all three said in unison.
Shooting them a look she turned around back to her door and stepped into her office. She muttered a spell to turn the lights on and another one to set her coat on her coat rack.
"Oooooooo!" Debra squealed. "She's so smart!"
"And she's modest too!" added Margo.
"And she's sooooooooo natural!" Felix said.
Hermione turned around to look at them again. "Whom are you referring to?"
"Why you silly!" Debra squealed again.
"You're English is just so proper!" Margo said.
"You were right Margo, completely modest!" Felix agreeing with Margo's earlier statement.
"What are you, the triplets from Belville?" Hermione asked angrily.
"No need to get angry Hermione." Debra remarked.
"Yeah were just trying to information...I mean just trying to see how you're doing." Margo said.
"So testy, how does he put up with it?" Felix wondered.
"Ok this is getting really annoying. What the hell are three talking about?" Hermione demanded from all of them.
"You mean you don't know?" Debra squealed...again.
"Oh no not this again!!!" Hermione cut Debra off before they had another repeat of what happened by the water cooler.
"Hermione, you really don't know?" Margo asked.
"Did you hit your head over the weekend?" Felix questioned.
"OUT!" Hermione yelled pointing her finger at the door. "I don't care what you three are talking about! Get OUT!"
And with that declaration the three women scurried out and went to their respective offices far far away from Hermione. She made her way over to her desk and flicked on the overhead light. Half the wall was covered with her artwork for the magazine and other pieces she did in her free time. She sat back in her chair looking at her work from the past years. There was no denying it, she was very good at what she did but looking at one piece she did in college her heart fell a little. Top of her class in both colleges, and she worked at a magazine drawing pictures that would go with the columns. She closed her eyes running a hand against her forehead. Somebody rapping on her door quickly knocked Hermione out of her contemplation.
"Go away." She yelled at the door.
The person behind her door chuckled a bit before answering with, "Is that anyway to talk to the person who signs your paychecks Granger?"
"Pansy! Oh my god I'm so sorry! I thought you were those three witches from the water cooler." Hermione apologized hurriedly as she ran to open the door.
"No need to apologize, Debra, Margo, and Felix have that affect on people." Pansy said as she walked into Hermione's office. Hermione cleared some debris that was on her chair and offered Pansy a seat. Pansy took it as Hermione took a seat right next to Pansy..
"So what do I owe this honor with?" Hermione started first.
"Don't get your knickers in a twist Hermione. I'm not here to fire you. In fact, I'm here to congratulate you."
"What for?" Hermione asked bewildered.
"For putting Infinity's name in every newspaper, magazine, talk show and radio in the wizarding world! Thank-you SO MUCH!" Pansy squealed herself then launched herself at Hermione giving her a bear hug.
"PANSY! I need to breath!!" Hermione gasped for air when Pansy let her go.
"Sorry love." Pansy apologized.
"How...Ok what is going on here? I didn't do anything!" Hermione started but was interrupted by Pansy who put her hand up to halt her.
"Before you say one word Hermione let me finish. You made such a big splash at the benefit showing up with the Malfoy's. You a muggleborn witch showing up with two of the most prominent pure-blooded wizards ever. Hell, their blood line goes further back then mine!"
"Wait a minute Pansy...Its not what you think!" Hermione tried to interrupt again but Pansy again stopped her.
"Let me finish! I haven't even begun to mention you and Draco. You sly dog. I never knew that you two were together. In fact I thought you had hated each other through Hogwarts? But showing up wrapped in his arms, Genius Hermione. I knew there was a reason why I hired you."
Hermiones face went white." Draco and I aren't an item Pansy." Hermione started off weakly.
"Oh no? You two certainly looked chummy together. Before and on the red carpet. Sources say you two were getting on rather well before you two went out."
"Pansy we were arguing!!!" Hermione tried to defend herself.
"I haven't even gotten to the best part yet. Since Infinity Magazine is the only magazine in the world show-casing the new lines from Slip de grand-mere, and since Draco's company is personally handling the ad we are the talk of the town, the belle of the ball, the cat's meow, the!" Hermione interrupted pansy this time.
"I get the point Pansy."
"Oh well, but thank-you Hermione! I truly mean it. From the bottom of my heart. I cant thank you enough!"
"Pansy...Its really not what you think. The fact of the matter is, they showed up AFTER me. Draco and I were quarreling before his father showed up and practically demanded me to join them on the blue carpet. I was about to walk out then Malfoy grabbed my by the waist and drug me out onto that blasted carpet. I haven't even told you what went on in the circus. Oh my god it was hysterical!" Hermione said, trying to change the subject. But Pansy was having none of that.
"No matter Hermione, you have done me a favor and I am in your debt."
"Pansy..."
"No Hermione, you've worked your tail off for the past 10 years. Oh I know all about the blacklisting. Believe me I got a lot of crap from everybody for hiring you. You've been such a recluse, refusing job offers from some of the top wizarding companies. For a while I thought I had made a mistake. But then you proved yourself and everything was right in the world again." Pansy confessed.
"I'm so sorry you suffered at my expense Ms. Parkinson." Hermione said coldly as she stood up and started to gather her things.
"Hermione...what has gotten into you?" Pansy asked standing up herself.
"Oh its nothing Pansy, nothing at all. I've just been blacklisted for well, most of my life and now that I've caused YOU so much trouble I might as well leave." Hermione responded testily.
Pansy looked at her with a mix of shock and horror. "Hermione that came out wrong! You've misunderstood me!"
"Oh no I think I understand perfectly. Poor, stupid, mud-blood Granger. Blacklisted from everything and everybody well you wont have to worry about that anymore Pansy, I quit. So sorry for making you lose business!"
Pansy just stood there, mouth open wide as Hermione threw everything that belonged to her in a box. She grabbed her coat and her box and stormed out the office bumping into something hard. She was about to apologize to the poor person when she looked up and saw who it was, Malfoy.
"If you wanted to get close to me Granger, all you had to do was ask." Draco said leaning against the doorway.
Hermione glared at him fiercely then turned back to Pansy. "I will not be turned into some spectacle Ms. Parkinson. Not for you, and certainly NOT for him!"
"Hermione please!!!" Pansy pleaded with her. "You didn't let me finish!"
Draco looked at both of them strangely. "Is it about this weekend?"
"GO SCREW YOURSELF MALFOY!" Hermione yelled then dashed for the elevator.
Draco looked at Pansy horrified. "What the hell did you say to her Pansy?"
Pansy wrung her hands in front of her before taking a seat in Hermione's vacated chair. "I just told her that I appreciated all the publicity she gave the magazine and that I know its been hard for her because of the blacklisting and..."
"Oh Pansy you didn't." Draco said.
"I knew I should have waited until lunch to talk to her." Pansy said to herself. "Maybe I can still catch her."
"Why would you want to do that Pansy? Good riddance to bad rubbish." Draco responded.
Pansy looked at him horrified." Oh no! We need her Draco. I was going to promote her for the ad campaign."
It was Draco's turn to look horrified." Why would you do something like that Parkinson?"
"You don't understand Malfoy, just last week Monsieur D'if sent over some lingerie from his new line. Well since Hermione did go to the benefit and they found out she worked at Infinity word got back to D'if."
"So." He said lazily.
"SO! SO! You dolt!!! I take it you haven't read the newspaper have you?" Pansy asked.
Draco responded while looking at his nails. "Why would I do a mundane thing like that?"
"Monsieur D'if was thrilled to see somebody from MY magazine wearing his line!"
"Granger wouldn't wear that racy stuff." Draco assured Pansy.
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!" she yelled back at him.
"Then GET to the point."
"The point is that he thought it was brilliant that we were already marketing his line. He wanted her to work exclusively on the ad. I was going to promote her just now before I opened my big mouth."
"You're kidding me!! I'm not working with Granger!!!" Draco declared.
"You wont have too because she just quit." She replied back.
"Good one less mud-blood around here messing things up."
"Draco Malfoy! I will not have you insulting one of MY friends like that. She's really important to this magazine and I cant just let her go like that."
"Correction Pansy, she WAS important to this magazine."
Pansy glared at him before storming out in the same manner Hermione did moments ago.
"Where are you going?" Draco yelled at Pansy's retreating form.
"To get Hermione back! If we lose her then we may very well lose the campaign. And if we lose that then YOU lose on it as well. It's a double- edged sword Malfoy." Pansy replied back heading to the elevator.
Draco stopped dead in his tracks and Pansy's word settled in. If he lost that campaign his father would murder him. A shudder went through his spine as he thought of all the different ways Lucius would torture him.
"PANSY! Wait for me!
Not a lot of action between our two heroes at the moment but next chapter shall prove much interaction. I know I didn't include the circus bit but that might show up in next chapter too. Remember, I'm going for the Quentin Tarantino style of writing. You have to pay attention to understand where I'm going with this. I had a bit of difficulty in writing this chapter. They weren't originally going to fight but it just happened this way. If anybody thinks Hermione is acting too rash well she is. I wont deny that but just think about it. She was made fun of constantly because she was a 'mud-blood.' After she got out of college she was pretty much blacklisted. Nobody wanted to have anything to do with her. I think she was acting how any of us would act. Well almost all of us.
Danihell: Thank you for the spelling correction. I was too lazy to get out my books. Hopefully this chapter will feed your addiction.
Yourluckycharm: She's not really a cartoonist. If you've ever read through a women's magazine and those pictures that go with Q&A and love and all that other stuff. That's what she does. I hope this chapter isn't crap because it came out too soon. And jem rocks!!
Sarah: Somewhat of a plot has been established. I really cant see myself continuing this story past 10 chapters or so. We shall see. Aerion: I like to leave clues in my chapters and some jokes. I hate it when people don't get it though! Come on!!! I try not to make it too hard!