Chapter 1

Hermione the "How To" Girl

I longed for more. But here I was, sitting behind my desk writing articles like: "How to get a Better Body in 5 days" or "How to Feng Shui your Flat, the Non-Magical way".

"And only then, could the House Elves live a long and prosperous life knowing that they would be forever free." I read aloud to my best friend, Lavender Brown.

"Hermione, that's brilliant. It's really moving," Lavender said. "But it's never going to appear in Ms. London."

I sighed. I knew she was right. "God, I busted my but at Beaubatons and for what? To be Hermione Granger, "How To" Girl. I want to write about things that matter. Like, politics, house elves and foreign affairs—things that I am interested in."

Lavender, my best friend for the past 5 years. I had met her right after I started working here. She is aspiring to be an Editor. She was from America and before you ask, yes she was a witch too. She went to the Salem Witch Academy in Salem, Massachusetts. She was smart and beautiful. A deadly combination in this industry. Me, I am just a plain Jane.

I had been unable to decide what I wanted to do with my life, now that I was out of school. So, when I moved back to London, I rented a flat and went looking for a job.

Lavender smiled at her, "Keep busting your butt. You're gonna get there." Getting up, she smiled again at me, "Hey, I've got something to cheer you up!" Walking back over to her desk, looking at me from over her shoulder, "You know that editor over at the Daily Profit that you have," she said as she giggled, "shamelessly flirting with on the phone for---whoo, a month?"

I tried my best to look innocent. "I was not flirting."

Lavender rolled her eyes at me and continued on. "Well, he made a little delivery this morning," she said in a playful tone as she held up an envelope.

Hardly able to contain myself, I ran over to Lavender's desk.

"Ah, let me see it," I said. I was trying to take the envelope out of Lavender's hands.

She was in a playful mood took the envelope and tried to play keep away by waving the envelope out of my reach. Finally she gave in, as I triumphantly managed to snag it from her hands.

"Hey!" Lavender said as I tried to put on my best 'put out' face. I laughed because she knew better.

Excitedly I opened the envelope to pull out 2 prime tickets for the Quiddich World Cup play-offs. Puddlemere United vs. the Chudley Cannons.

With a loud squeal that earned several looks from my co-workers, I started jumping up and down and with each jump came another squeal.

"Tomorrow night!" I finally managed to say.

"What happens tomorrow night?" asked Lavender.

"Only the most exhilarating and artistic display of athletic competition known to mankind!" I said as I tried not to yell.

Lavender sat forward in her chair and exclaimed, "The Ice Capades are in town?" looking at me with mild indignation. "What? What's wrong with the Ice Capades?"

"Nothing," I said trying to stifle a laugh. "No. No, the Quiddich World Cup Play-Offs are in town," she said as she jumped around. "And I got tickets!" There was more chatter coming from her co-workers but I ignored them.

Looking at Lavender, I said, "Come with me?" in a pleading tone.

"Alright, I'll go." Then with a serious look said, "But I am not putting out," trying to stifle a laugh.

"Two stale jumbo dogs and a couple of beers and you'll be whistling a different tune," I said in my best May West accent, which for me was difficult, considering I was from London.

"You know what I like," laughed Lavender.