FOUR: Job Interview

"Did you send her the letter?"

"Yes…"

"Good, the sooner the better."

"I know this means a lot to you, but why don't you just leave it be? It's not like the fifth horseman or anything…"

"Because I want her to suffer. I won't be satisfied just seeing her go down. I want her to suffer."

…If you don't co-operate with us, we will have to shut the Owl Gazette down.

Sincerely,

Rufus Scrimgeour, Minister of Magic

I crumpled the letter I just received from Scrimgeour and threw it in the bin. Bollocks, the Minister is trying to control the whole media. The Prophet, the radio, and I could be next.

I rested my head on the desk, which was covered with piles of parchment.

I sighed, feeling tired, even though it was the second week on the job.

Sounds of footsteps came nearer to my office, the one making those footsteps then opened the door.

"Hermione, what are you doing here?" Phil, the middle-aged security guard, asked, peaking his head through the door.

"I couldn't sleep, came here at five." I replied lazily.

"Poor you, do you need a cup of coffee?" He said, feeling sorry for me.

"Strong, please." I said. "Thank you."

He nodded and closed the door behind him.

The clock on the wall read six o'clock. I buried my head in the pile of papers once again. But then I had to wake up again as someone opened the door again.

"Hermione? Are you alright?" It was Vivian, peeking her head through the door.

"Yes." I said lazily.

"Oh, good to hear that. When I woke up I couldn't find you anywhere in the flat so I've decided to come here." She said, relieved. She came inside and put a mug of hot coffee on the desk. "Here, Phil said that you needed a cup of coffee. I added some milk and sugar, your favorite."

"Thank you." I said weakly, I grabbed the mug and drank a sip.

"You must have a lot of stress. The second week and you're already like this." Vivian said, sitting on the chair opposite of my desk. "If you feel tired, you can just take a day off. You're your own boss. I don't think you would give yourself a pink slip…"

"Thanks, Viv. But you know me, a workaholic." I interrupted her. "Don't worry. I'll manage." I took another sip.

Vivian looked around my desk and picked up a parchment. "These are letters from the readers?"

I nodded.

She picked another, put it down and widened her eyes. "These are dozens of letters!"

I nodded again.

"Well, I suppose we won't be having any problems with the opinion column." She said, happily. "You wouldn't have to worry if people are reading the Gazette or not."

I nodded yet again.

"But, why are you so stressed out these couple of days?"

I gave her the letter that I had just received from the Minister.

She took it and read it quickly, her face filled with anger.

"This is bollocks! How can he do that? Take some mindless drone to shut us down? What, he can't take a little beating to his ego?" She shouted angrily.

"For Christ sake, Viv. I think a deaf from the Great Wall of China could hear you." I said, covering my ears with my hands. She looked slightly put off and mouthed sorry. "I'm sorry, it's just with this extra burden I…"

"It's alright, I understand." She said, knowingly. "I'll leave you alone, I wouldn't want to be in the middle of your tantrums."

"Thanks." I said as she left my office.

I leaned back on my chair, stretched my arms and yawned. I took a swig of coffee and returned to work.

… The Minister has become a dictator…

… I am appalled at your work….

… Thank you for speaking the truth….

… Why in bloody hell would you insult the leader of our community?...

I just had another head ache from reading the letters of mixed opinions. I couldn't take the stress. I decided to edit some of the reporter's work.

… Two girls between the age of 19 and 14 were found…

… The Romanian Minister of Magic has just created a bill…

… The Chudley Cannons once again lost a game…

… Witch Weekly has just published their annual list of most eligible bachelors…

Didn't give a damn, and it seems as if there was a battering ram pounding my forehead.

Seven o'clock. Two more hours 'till he comes…. And that didn't improve matters either.

I decided to relax so the pounding would stop. I picked up the Daily Prophet that I bought just this morning, to be sure that they haven't been talking bull about us.

… And indeed they did.

…Hermione Granger has been feeding lies to the Wizarding community. If you are a respectful witch or wizard, I advise you to not read the Owl Gazette…

That was in the front page, an interview with Rufus Scrimgeour about the Owl Gazette. I wasn't surprised he would say that. Trying to tell us to obey him and not what our heart pleases, I suppose. How predictable. I crumpled the paper yet again and threw it out.

I heard pounding and I covered my ears, my head ache is getting worse. Until I realized, it wasn't my head.

"Knock, knock." It was Vivian again. "I thought you could use a refill." She came by and replaced by empty mug of coffee with a mug that she had just brought.

I mouthed 'thanks', and went back to burying my head in the pile of parchment.

"Oh God." Vivian came to my side and felt my forehead. "You're burning up!" She panicked. "I think you should go back to the flat and have yourself a nice bowl of soup…" She said, taking my suitcase and coat.

"Viv, you're not my mother." I said, stopping her on her tracks. "I'm fine, I'll manage."

"Oh well, your loss." She said, giving up. Then she suddenly lit up and put on a mischievous smile. "You're going to meet that Blake bloke, aren't you?"

"His name is Blaise." I corrected. "And how did you know?"

"When I was looking for you, I saw his letter taped to your mirror." Vivian said. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. I never knew you could pull it off… Or even try it…"

"Shut your mouth." I said, blushing.

Vivian backed away towards the door and looked around the office. "This won't do… Hermione, you go and clean up your desk, put those parchments in the right files and I'll clean up around here."

She ran around, straightening every thing that she could see and putting everything in their places. When she was done, she came to me and tried to brush out my hair.

"Hermione, have you ever thought of using a Hair Straightening spell?" Vivian asked, as she struggled with my hair.

"Even if I did, it would still be a complete mess." I said. "I've done it before and it didn't really work. Besides, I've had this hair style since God knows when, it's grown on me."

"Well, in life you do have to make sacrifices." She said, raising her wand.

"Viv, what are you doing?" I turned around, asking her nervously.

"You can thank me later. Rectus Saeta."

It seems as if each strand of my hair was tied to a buffalo and there was a stampede. I closed my eyes and tried not to cry in pain.

"There you go." Vivian said, handing me a mirror that she had just conjured.

I looked into the mirror and was amazed. My hair was completely straight.

"Viv, you're a life saver." I said absentmindedly.

"You're welcome. I'm not sure how long your hair would stay straight, so if you need to straighten it again, you know the spell." She said, taking the mirror that I had just put down on my desk. "Looks like you're all set, good luck with Drake." She walked towards the door to leave the room.

"Blaise." I corrected her.

"Whatever." She closed the door.

Vivian could be a housekeeper, the place was so clean that I could find places that I never noticed before. With my desk and office clean, organized and everything put in the right places, I decided I could relax a bit.

That is, until, Jenny, my secretary peeked her head into my office through the door.

"Uh, Hermione. There's a Mister Blaise Zabini here for you." She said anxiously, then whispered. "If you're not interested in him, can I have him?"

I tried not to laugh.

"Hi Blaise," I said, walking towards the door to greet him. "Why didn't you just Apparate to my flat? You could see me anytime…" Then I saw what he was wearing. "Oh. OH..."

He wore a white shirt, a black tie and a black suit. He carried a suitcase and had his hair styled and cleaned.

I backed away so he could enter. "I'm here to apply for a job." Blaise said.

"Erm, do come in." It was awkward, and I thought that it was a joke, but when I saw the expression on his face, I knew that he was dead serious.

I sat on my chair and he sat on the one opposite mine.

"So, hello. Thank you for wanting to be part of the Gazette." I started. "As you know, I'm the chief editor and I do think that you have seen our advertisement. The one for more reporters."

"Yes, yes I did." He nodded. "Hey, did you do something to your hair?"

"Long story…" I said nervously then got back to business. "May I see your resume?" He nodded again and handed me a piece of parchment that he had just pulled out of his bag.

I was impressed. "You speak three languages?"

"Two and a half, actually. English, Italian and a little bit of Merpeople." He said.

… Graduate of Oxford University, England in Literature and Osiris Graduate School, Egypt for Social Studies (including Politics, World Cultures etc.).

"Very impressive…" I said as I skimmed through his resume.

I put it down and looked up at him. I had to resist blushing. I had to act professional.

"What are your previous jobs?" I asked him.

"Oh, I, er," He started. "I was helping my uncle to resolve his financial crisis." I nodded. "Which I succeeded in, of course, if you're wondering." He quickly added.

I felt that this was a new side of him, he was slightly—if not—just plain old nervous.

I skimmed through his resume once again. "You have quite a lot of connections…"

"My mother was quite a socialite in her day…" Blaise said, slightly embarrassedly.

"Well, I think you've had all of the qualifications needed. And more, even." I said. "You've got the job."

"Really?" He said, slightly surprised and excitedly. "Thank you. When do I start?"

"Well, it's still in the morning. You can start right now, if you want to." I said calmly with a smile. "Go ask Jenny, the secretary that just let you in here. She'll find a cubicle for you."

"Really? Thank you, you do not know how grateful I am." He picked up his suitcase and headed out the door. "You won't regret this!"

He got up and headed for the door and I followed, showing him the way to the door. As he opened the door, most of the female workers were leaning towards the once closed door. As they saw him, they each stood up straight, slightly blushing.

"Ladies." He said, pretending to tip off his hat.

He walked down the hallway and turned left, trying to find Jenny.

When he was out of sight, all the girls started talking animatedly.

"Oh, did you see him?"

"He is so HOT!"

"I hope he's not as gay as a picnic basket!"

"I might hit on him later…"

"Ladies, ladies." Vivian said, raising her voice. "Now, no one will be hitting on him as Hermione has loved him at first sight."

The others just sighed and said 'aww' then went back to their cubicles.

I felt blank then went back to my desk. Vivian followed me and closed the door behind her.

"So Hermione, aren't you excited? Blaise is going to work with us!" Vivian said excitedly. Then her face dropped as she saw the look on my face. "What's the matter?"

"Viv," I said, panicking. "If he is here, he will build up the pressure. What with work, the threatening letters from the Minister, the letters and…" I continued to babble.

"Hermione, calm down. What do you mean?"

"What have I done?" I cried, then buried my head in my arms on the desk.

"If you keep doing that, you might as well become an ostrich!" I heard Vivian mutter.

"I heard that!"

A/N: It's longer than usual (both in length and time to update), I hope you've enjoyed it. Thank you every single one of you who has reviewed. I really appreciate it. Cookies to everyone! Um, I can't reply to everyone's review right now, since I am a bit busy, but don't worry, I haven't neglected you guys.

If you have the time, please review. It encourages me to update. And it makes me feel special. XP