All rights to J.K. Rowling for everything Harry Potter.
All thanks to camnz for suggesting I try a sequel to Wrong Life.
All gratitude to readers and reviewers for your encouragement!
Chapter Sixteen: Accolades
Hermione made a floo-call to gather her team together for a meeting at 2:00 p.m. She had to brush aside Anna McGuire's squeals of excitement. Apparently, Magical Parenting Today had sold out in Diagon Alley, and they were beginning a second run. No word yet on the magazine's status in the rest of the British Wizarding world.
After a quick bite of breakfast, Hermione flooed to St. Mungo's with Gemini to see if they could find anything wrong with her baby's digestion. It was 8:30 a.m. This could potentially take all day, but fortunately, the right Healers were free at the right time-just as Gemmie was getting wound up to her screaming fit. The Healers observed Hermione nursing her baby, then witnessed Gemmie vomiting up the milk all over Hermione. She cleaned it up with a quick Scourgify and bounced Gemini on her little tummy until she relaxed.
The Healers used their wands to perform various tests and asked her questions.
"How long does she sleep at night?"
"How long does she nurse?"
"How long between feedings?"
"Have you tried changing your diet at all?"
She answered their questions with a faint, but growing hope that the Healers would help.
The team of Healers consulted together and then met with Hermione. When they entered the room again, she was surprised at the topic of conversation.
"Brilliant new magazine, Mrs. Malfoy," said one.
"Magical Parenting Today is just what our Wizarding families need," said another. "I like how you are integrating the Wizarding world with the Muggle world. I subscribe to Muggle medical journals myself, you know."
"I have an idea for an article," suggested the third Healer, "Top Ten Reasons Children Visit St. Mungo's-it would be an article about prevention of accidents, of course."
"Sounds wonderful," replied Astoria faintly, "Please send me a copy."
It took awhile to get their attention focused back on her infant. Gemini's shriek and arched back reminded them. Their diagnosis was that she was, in fact, thriving, but suffered from gas, possibly resulting from an allergy to something in Hermione's diet. It was believed that Gemmie would soon outgrow her discomfort and pain. Mrs. Weasley's colic potion was approved.
"What this little one needs is a strict schedule," suggested the woman Healer. Hermione looked at her in horror. Schedule? She couldn't imagine fighting Gemmie's ear-piercing screams to put her on a schedule.
"Yes, really," laughed the Healer. "She will be a happier baby, and you will be a healthier mother. The goal is to gradually increase her feeding time, so she can go longer without nursing. She needs a longer sleeping time just as much as you do." She gave Hermione several timetables for nursing and sleeping schedules and assured her that she could adapt them to fit her baby as long as she saw progress.
"I know you don't feel comfortable using the Muffliato spell on your infant, but some babies do need to cry to sleep and she does have a particularly alarming cry. You might consider it when adjusting her to the schedule."
Hermione felt both relief at receiving the good news regarding Gemini's health and tremendous stress at the future battles in store. She thanked the Healers profusely and departed, noting the copies of Magical Parenting Today scattered around the waiting room of St. Mungo's.
The party was in full swing when Hermione arrived. Wait- party? Hermione frowned and panicked slightly. This was an important meeting with her editorial team. What was going on here?
"Astoria Malfoy, Queen of the Day!" sang George Weasley as he ushered her into the small office they used for Magical Parenting Today. "Here she is everyone! Let's toast Astoria Malfoy, the only witch brave enough to say it like it is! Here's to a successful magazine that guides the futures of our smallest witches and tiniest wizards!"
Hermione looked around the room in a daze. Anna McGuire was there, beaming, hand in hand with Roy Thomas, who was talking Quidditch with Harry Potter. Jane Creevey was clicking away with her camera. Angelina Weasley was cutting cake. Molly was there, blushing as she received hugs from her admirers: George and Ginny. Gloria looked uncomfortable. Gloria-Hermione's eyes narrowed-the witch with pureblood ties.
"I came over to pick up more copies of MPT for my store and thought we'd have a party to celebrate! The cake's on me. I want three full pages of advertising for the next six issues, Mrs. Malfoy. Brilliant, simply brilliant!" George Weasley was clearly happy about advertising his joke shop, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.
Hermione nodded and made the rounds, shaking everyone's hands, and graciously accepting their congratulations. Such a difference from last night, she thought with a wry smile. After visiting for a time, she glanced at the clock and began to panic. There was so much to do and discuss before she needed to leave. George Weasley rescued her, crying out,
"Speech! Speech from Lady Astoria Malfoy, Visionary and Creator of Magical Parenting Today!"
The room grew quiet. Astoria cleared her throat.
"Thank you so much for your encouragement and kind words. My part was small. The team you see here: Anna, Gloria, Roy, Molly, and Jane produced this incredible magazine. I am proud of their work. It is tremendously meaningful to hear your accolades because not everyone feels as you do. Because Astoria Malfoy's beliefs about Muggles were revealed earlier than I anticipated," here Hermione's eyes rested upon Gloria, "we are now at war. War in the publishing world, I mean. It is rumored that the Ministry of Magic plans to freeze all Malfoy assets and take over the magazine. Right now, I must meet with my team to strategize the next steps or they will be without a job and MPT will die an early death. Thanks to everyone for the celebration. If you'd like to stay and help plan, you are welcome. If you need to distance yourself from a renegade publication, so be it." Astoria spoke wearily.
The room was silenced with shock. Horror dawned on the faces of the magazine team. Molly Weasley began clearing up the mess of the party. They gathered around the table. No one left the room. Harry polished his glasses. Ginny rested her hand on his arm.
"First item on the agenda," began Hermione, "is our team. Do any of you wish to leave your position? We will be operating two different fronts, this office, which I assume the Ministry will close down, and another front, location to be determined. Draco will be transferring funds to a Muggle bank as soon as possible so our team will continue to be paid. The question is: are you worried for your safety or your career? Do you wish to leave the magazine? Now is the time."
Anna McGuire, a Muggleborn, was firmly on board. Roy Thomas stood by his friend Anna. Jane Creevey saw this magazine as a huge career move; she wasn't about to give up when her name was beginning to be recognized. Gloria hesitated.
"I already have pressure from my family and friends to leave the magazine," she admitted. "I apologize, Astoria, for my part in pushing the magazine out early and for writing the article about your core beliefs without your consent. I...I...knew it would cause you trouble, but I didn't think it would be this serious."
Hermione stared at her curiously. Why would she admit her role of wrongdoing in front of everyone else?
"We'll talk later, Gloria. I suppose I should take this moment to say, Never ever publish a magazine without first running it by your editor-in-chief. I never want to be surprised by my own magazine again. Each one of you deserves to be fired."
Weasley and Potter eyebrows rose at the biting strength of her voice. The MPT team lowered their eyes.
"George, do you still want to advertise in the magazine, knowing it will be going underground shortly?"
"Absolutely, Mrs. Malfoy," George gave an excited smile, "This will be like old times, kind of a Potterwatch type of journalism."
"Well, not quite," Hermione said with another twisted smile. "We hope the news won't be as dire. Our magazine will continue to be about parenting, but now we have no need to hide our pro-Muggle agenda since it's already out in the open."
"But Magical Parenting Today will be in hiding. Cool!" grinned George.
"I would recommend that everyone strengthen the wards on your homes for protection. If anyone gets a visit or letter from the Ministry of Magic, owl me right away," Harry stood up to say. "Not everyone in the Ministry will be opposed to your work here. We can get you auror protection if you need it."
"Thank you, Harry. It's likely that we won't have any trouble, but I need everyone to be on the alert in case we do. Any suggestions for our new location? Malfoy Manor is out."
"Why don't you contact Luna Lovegood? She used to have ways of publishing the Quibbler on the run. Maybe she can help out or give suggestions."
"Brilliant. Thank you, Harry. Anna, I want you to follow through on this."
"Hello? Is anyone here?" A voice broke in as Cho Zabini entered the room. "Oh. Hi. Sorry to interrupt, but I'm here to see if I can help with the production of the magazine in any way. I really liked it, everyone. You did a great job with the articles and photography. I'm serious about helping out with a column on etiquette."
Unexpectedly, Anna's voice cut through. "How would your family like to be featured in the next issue of Magical Parenting Today?"
Cho gasped, "Are you serious? That would be amazing! We'd love it!"
"Does Blaise know you're here?" Astoria asked quietly.
"Oh, yes, he's outside waiting for me."
"Tell him to come inside and join the party! We're celebrating!" George chimed.