A/N: Yeah! I finally got round to writing the next bit! Sorry this is soo short I've been really busy...I promise next chapter will be longer and wayyy better than this, I hope anyway! Review, review, review I need your comments!
Disclaimer: I am me and I being me am not J K Rowling.
Chapter 2- Of Lateness, Coffee and Disapproval
Lily pounded threw the doors of the Daily Prophet Headquarters, her hair was drawn back but curls fought to be free, a stack of papers almost slipping out of her hand. She flew across the room just managing to stop herself hitting the reception desk.
"Morning Lily, on time as usual" smiled Kate the receptionist coolly as she motioned to the clock. The hands stood at twenty past nine.
Lily cursed, late again and she wanted them to take her seriously?
"I'm so sorry I….my she stuttered helplessly. How could she say what had happened? She couldn't let anyone know she'd lost all the information on new reports on cursed objects, it was the biggest story their section of the paper had had in ages!
"Finding it tough already hey?" nodded Kate sympathetically.
Great, they already think I'm incompetent groaned Lily inwardly. She just couldn't understand! Known by all her friends as always the neat, organised one Lily was sure she was capable. However, since working at the Prophet everything seemed to be in disarray.
"I'll manage" she grimaced eventually fumbling to find her identification card.
Kate watched the new, flustered reporter in front of her; she'd seen it all before, not being able to keep deadlines, always late. Some people just weren't the right type for this hectic job. Poor girl she thought sadly she'd be out before the month was through.
"Don't worry, I'll sign you in this once if you can't find your card just make sure you have it from now on"
Lily nodded face burning, ducking her head down she continued to the lift. Why, why did she feel like such a fool here all the time?
Three floors up the doors of the lift slid open to reveal a busy office, fluttering memos flew back and forth, cracks reverberated as witches and wizards disapperated and the scratching of quills was barely audible above the racket.
Lily drew a deep breath, held her head high and walked….right into a beautiful young, blonde witch who stalked past with hot, steaming coffees. The mugs tipped and scalding liquid poured down Lily's robes soaking through to her white shirt beneath, every sheaf of paper she held fluttered to the floor as her skin seared from the heat.
"Oh no! How awful!" said the blonde witch with not a hint of remorse in her voice. Her bright, blue eyes were open wide with innocence and although she tried to look upset a small smirk played on her bright, red painted lips. "How silly of you to walk right into me, you really should try to be more careful Lily!"
Lily seething bent down to retrieve the stained papers as the witch stood over not even attempting to help.
Presuming herself completely innocent she continued "Oh and you better get yourself cleared up before the meeting at half past"
"What meeting Melissa?" asked Lily with gritted teeth pushing down the urge to jinx the girl that stood before her.
"Oh! Didn't I tell you yesterday? How silly of me to forget!" said Melissa with a sickly sweet smile " Well with all these new attacks involving You Know Who we need to be more on the ball! People want information and we can give it to them, meaning a possible pay rise for certain helpful individuals" she finished pointedly, studying her nails.
"That's sick!" spat Lily "It's almost like you want the attacks to happen! I mean why not? You'd get the pay rise right? Ooh maybe I should hire someone to knock a few people off myself and then report on it. Do you think I get a pay rise then?" Lily continued her voice raised, thick with sarcasm.
"Someone's got to gain!" smiled Melissa as she looked down her nose at Lily knelt on the floor "I'm just not sure you're cut out for this game"
Flicking her hair she gave one last disapproving look at Lily and stalked straight over the parchment that littered the floor, disappearing into the swarming office.
Lily felt the tears well up in her eyes, biting her lip she scraped the last of the sodden paper into a pile.
She almost swore she'd seen Melissa tip the mugs in her direction, what had she done to deserve this?
Maybe Melissa's right she thought miserably if everyone in this newspaper is in to gain from these attacks then I'm not the kind of person that should be here.
A solitary tear slid down her pale face as she knelt on the floor, around her office life continued apparently oblivious to her existence.
"Lily, Lily are you ok?" a calm voice murmured.
Lily peered up through bleary eyes to see a young wizard with wavy, blonde hair standing hand outstretched.
She gripped it gratefully and pulled herself up, he grabbed her shoulder to steady her and smiled. Regaining her composure her green eyes locked with his deep blue ones. Quickly she shook herself free of his grip.
"Thanks Zack, I'm fine really just a major coffee accident!" said Lily forcing a laugh "Better get myself cleared up before my meeting" and with that she hurried away.
Zack watched her go wistfully and sighed deeply, he could never work out what was going on with her!
A/N: Hmmm Zack ay? Thanks to Gra for finally coming up with a good name!
