Primrose Hill woke early that morning. That was the day that she was going to meet her mother at the Ministry in order to interview for a job.
"Natalia!" Prim said, when her roommate and best friend came out of her room, looking worn-out. Prim herself had already been up for an hour and was in the middle of making french toast in the girl's small kitchen.
"Gah. Too early for loud noises, Prim," Natalia said, flopping down on the couch.
Prim rolled her eyes. "Oh, honestly. It's eight in the morning, Natalia. Just because you're hungover doesn't mean the rest of us are, love," Prim said. The previous night, Natalia and Prim had gone out with their friend, Joseph, whom they had not seen since they graduated Hogwarts together the Spring before. Prim had left early, knowing she had the interview the following day, but Natalia had gotten in at about one that morning.
"You should have stayed, love," Natalia said. "Alexandra Stamos came in with her new boyfriend and she got so drunk that she ended up vomiting on his shirt and he broke up with her right there. Joey and I had a good laugh."
Although Prim thought that sounded hilarious, she still would not have stayed. Even to see the most horrible girl in her Year be broken up with while drunk.
"Yeah sure," Prim said, putting two pieces of french toast on a plate. "Here. I made you food. And be sure to drink a lot."
Natalia stood up slowly, clearly dizzy. "Thanks, love," she said. "Now go on. You'll be late. Isn't your meeting at nine?"
"Yeah, thanks," Prim said. She walked over to the fireplace and took out a handful of Floo powder from a vase next to the fireplace. "Ministry of Magic!" she said clearly. She threw in the Floo powder and the flames turned an emerald green. She waved goodbye to Natalia, who was very enveloped in her french toast.
Once she stepped into the fire, she remembered just why she hated Floo-ing. Her limbs felt like they were being torn apart and she couldn't see straight. The french toast she had that morning was threatening a return visit, so she squeezed her eyes shut very tightly and prayed to Merlin for it to end.
And, just like that, it was over and she was landing with a loud thud in a Ministry fireplace. She stumbled out, still dizzy, and merged with the crowd heading toward the main entrance.
At the security desk, she was stopped. "Identification, please," said a burly wizard in a light blue security uniform. Prim handed over her wand, which the man inspected. "Oak. Veela hair. 9 inches." He took her wand and waved it in a small circle, making the wand produce a picture of Prim and all of her information beside it. It reminded Prim of her father's Muggle driver's license. Although Prim thought this was much simpler and easier.
"Checks out," the security man - A. Becker, according to his nametag - said, handing Prim her wand back. "You may proceed. NEXT."
Prim started ahead, to the large Atrium, where her mother agreed to meet her. She pushed her way through the hordes of people, all wearing freshly-ironed robes and haughty expressions.
She spotted her mother standing to one side of the Fountain of Magical Brethren, wearing a dark blue blouse and a long black skirt. Her short black hair was the exact shade of Prim's own hair, and almost the same style.
"Mom," Prim said, hugging her mother.
"Oh, Prim dear!" her mother exclaimed, hugging her back. "I haven't seen you since the beginning of July, dearest. How is the apartment life?"
Prim loved her relationship with her parents - casual and loving. Not like Natalia with her parents. When the Rubins had come to visit the girl's apartment two weeks ago, Natalia had been a wreck trying to make everything look presentable so her parents wouldn't call her lazy and slacker (although they did anyway).
"Everything is great, Mom," Prim said.
"That's wonderful to hear," her mother said, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Well, we had better go. It's already 8:30. Always best to get there fifteen to twenty minutes before." Her mother grabbed her hand and led her to the elevators.
"I haven't even been here ten minutes and I've already learned something," Prim said, jokingly. The mother and daughter laughed as they shuffled into an already crowded elevator.
"Good morning, Emma," said a short, balding man with a khaki-colored suit on. He stood about two inches shorter than Prim, who was only 5'2" herself.
"Good morning, Parker," Prim's mother replied. "Primrose, this is Parker Monroe. He works in the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad. Parker, this is my daughter, Primrose."
Prim shook Parker's hand. "Very nice to meet you, Primrose. You look just like your mother. Both of you are very beautiful," Parker said.
Prim blushed. "Why thank you, Mr. Monroe," Prim replied.
"This is my stop," Parker said. "Very pleased to meet you, dear. And Emma, I do hope to see you at Friday's social."
"Wouldn't miss it, Parker," Prim's mother said to Parker as he exited the elevator. The doors shut again and the lift sped down to Level 2, Prim and her mother's stop.
The pair got off and Prim's mother immediately began to walk forward. Prim followed behind her, feeling uneasy. She never was comfortable with interviews and such. She didn't like the idea that she was being judged on everything she was doing. She thought it was completely stupid. But, as it was her first day and she didn't technically have the job yet, there was nothing she could do about it.
Her mother led her to the end of the hall, and stopped Prim just outside of a large, intricate mahogany door. There was a gold name plate on the door. R. Katskin, it said. Prim, who was usually very, very brave (even though she was not a Gryffindor), was practically shaking. She lifted her hand to show her mother and Mrs. Hill grabbed the shaking hand with her own two very still hands.
"Prim, dearest, you have nothing to worry about," her mother said, kissing her hand just as she did when Prim was young and had hurt herself. "I promise that Ruby will love you. Just remember to address her as 'Miss Katskin,' and don't just answer questions, ask some questions back too. She really likes to see when people are genuinely interested in their jobs."
"My prospective job," Prim corrected, "if everything goes all right."
Her mother gave her a hug. "Good luck," she said. "Now knock twice before you go in. I'll be waiting here in half an hour, okay?"
"Okay," Prim said. Mrs. Hill turned back to the elevator after one last kiss, but Prim called after her, "Mom! Thanks."
Mrs. Hill smiled. "Now go on, Prim. Standing here won't increase your chances of that job." Prim smiled and rolled her eyes, then turned and knocked twice on the door.
"Come in."
Well here you are!
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