Chapter 1 – In the Three Broomsticks
VIKTOR KRUM ENGAGED
By Correspondent Rita Skeeter
World-famous Bulgarian Seeker Viktor Krum is engaged
to Gringotts' own famed curse-breaker Hermione Granger.
"I'm very happy of course. I've always dreamed of this"
The bride-to-be secretly told this during her press
conference. Most unfortunately, Mr. Krum was unavailable
for the moment as he was in Switzerland competing for
the Quidditch World Cup. Rumors are getting around though,
of Mr. Krum's alleged drop out from the Bulgarian team on
the grounds of that "he should be with his fiancée."
Ron Weasley stared glumly at the Celebrity News headline. Hermione and Vicky, he thought. Darn it.
"Weasley! You have customers!"
Ron quickly folded the paper and set it aside. He hurried back to the front counter where a little dwarf was waiting for him impatiently, tapping his little foot.
Madame Rosmerta, his boss, was glaring at him. "You're slacking off again! Pay more attention or I'm firing you!" She turned back to filling the flask she was holding with brandy.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. What'll it be?" droned Ron in a monotonous tone.
The little man glared at him resentfully. "Two bottles of firewhiskey."
Ron reached out from underneath the counter and pulled out two bottles. The dwarf slapped two Galleons on the counter and walked away, but not without another hateful glare at Ron.
Dwarfs, thought Ron. Very impatient as always.
With a sigh, Ron conjured up a clean rag and began scrubbing the counter of the Three Broomsticks. Bitterly, he thought about his life. He now regretted neglecting his studies. Because of his dismal O.W.L. (Acceptable being his highest already) and N.E.W.T. grades, he was unable to get a high-paying job. I could be living in a mansion instead of that dirty old dump of an apartment, he thought furiously, scrubbing the table to a high gloss.