Hannah sat at her desk, hot coffee in hand, as she read through the reviews of their latest products. She was new to the job and had to make a good impression so she worked swiftly to get the report into her boss’ hands.
She took notes on the typical reviews of ‘love this scent’ and ‘it's my favorite’ or ‘I use it daily.’ She clicked on the last product, the Mahogany Apple 3-Wick Candle. They had recently changed the appearance and the higher ups wanted to know the customer satisfaction score. That seemed easy enough.
She took a sip of coffee as she opened the reviews and started to scroll. She gasped, inhaling coffee and she started to choke and sputter. Panic rose within her. Her vision was slightly blurred from the burning coffee. She kept reading in between coughs.
“Who was in charge of changing it from green to orange? Change it back, immediately!”
“I would give this zero stars if I could. Such a boring, ugly candle. The green was so much prettier, and had so much more personality. This candle was made for the dogs.”
“Sorry, but why is it ORANGE? My father will hear about this.”
Father? Oh no, was this person's father someone of importance and influence? She chewed her lip as she continued scrolling through the hundreds of comments.
“This is a disgrace to Draco Lucius Malfoys Legacy. Change the notes and colour back right now! Thanks!! I will send a howler."
"Draco can't do wax play in ‘Bring Him To His Knees’ now...he would never use orange.”
“Draco would never smell like a candle that looks like a Weasley. BRING BACK THE GREEN!!!”
“I'm absolutely offended that you would make Draco's candle ORANGE... LIKE A WEASLEY. The audacity... My father will hear about this.
The smell: delightful
Your audacity: insulting”
Wait….Draco? Weasley? Aren't those characters from….
She quickly chugged the rest of her coffee, the bitter taste was strong. It warmed her on its way down, providing comfort to her buzzing nerves. The CEO was not going to like this.
She looked up at the sign on the door that read CEO of Bath and Body Works: Gina Boswell. Nervously clutching her notepad to her chest, she took a deep breath.
Breathe, it's going to be okay. This backlash isn't going to get you fired. It wasn't even your fault. You voted against the change in color scheme, anyway. Who the fuck chooses orange for a scent called Mahogany Apple?
She rolled her eyes, internally cursing those who voted in favor. Because of them, she was going to have to break the news to the Gina Boswell.
Hannah gathered her confidence, smoothing her hair and plastering a bright smile on her face. She gave a firm knock on the door.
“Come in, Hannah."
As she entered the large office, Boswell had her head down, looking at the paperwork in front of her. The workspace was located on the highest floor of the skyscraper. Hannah didn't like getting close to the glass wall. She felt like if she leaned too close, she would fall through them and down below.
"So Hannah, how is the status of the product feedback?" Boswell looked at her over her spectacles.
Hannah tore her gaze from the wall of windows, “Umm.. well... They aren't very happy about it, ma'am. In fact, you seem to have upset a large amount of Harry Potter fans... "
She removed her glasses with one hand, throwing Hannah a look of confusion.
“The fuck do Harry Potter fans have to say about our recent product line? They are all autumn themed.”
Hannah walked closer to the desk, handing out the product info sheet.
"The issue is only with an individual product, not the entire line.”
Boswell took one look at the sheet and scoffed, “They're unhappy with… a candle?”
Hannah nodded, speaking the script she had rehearsed a million times in her head.
“Yes ma'am but they enjoy the scent. In fact, it appears to be a favorite and many buy them yearly-"
“- get to the point, Hannah." Boswell tossed the paper aside, seeming frustrated at the news.
Hannah pulled out her phone and pulled up Tik Tok. She quickly searched for Dracotok and started to show her boss the videos.
Boswell brow furrowed as she watched. Song lyrics blasted from the phone as slow motion clips of an outrageously handsome man with white blonde hair, played on a loop:
“… And God knows, I'm not dying but I bleed now,
And God knows, it's the only way to heal now…”
Hannah swiped to the next video, it was an edited scene from one of the movies.
“This place has gone to the dogs. Wait till my father hears that Dumbledore has this oaf teaching classes.”
Hannah, pressed her lips together to fight back a smile. Laughter threatened to push past her lips and she held her breath to suppress it. She started to put the pieces together. The customers had referenced this dialogue in many comments. It was bloody hilarious but she wasn't about to let Boswell know she thought that.
Boswell waved her hand dismissively, “That's enough."
Boswell leaned back in her large leather office chair, lost in thought. Hannah straightened, standing off to the side. She watched her boss look out to the city in contemplation.
After a moment she spoke slowly, trying to wrap her head around what she just saw.
"So, let me get this straight. There's a large group of people who like this…” She gestured into the air with her hand, “Draco Malfoy character and he likes the color green-”
" - And apples!” Hannah interrupted eagerly. Those Draco Malfoy edits got her excited. She would need to do more research later, but for more personal reasons.
Boswell paused as her eyes narrowed, clearly irritated at being cut off.
"Yes. And apples.”
Hannah internally chastised herself. She grabbed the handful of print outs of the one star reviews. Reaching over, she placed them before Boswell.
As she watched her grab the pile and begin to inspect them, she cleared her throat.
“There are over two hundred one star reviews all requesting that the candle be returned to its former glory. They want green and they want silver."
Boswell nodded in acknowledgment as she continued to read, pursing her lips in dissatisfaction.
“But why do they like him so much? It seems all he does is irritate people and wave a stick around. He's always brooding, it seems.”
Hannah couldn't tell if she was serious about the stick comment. She hesitated but decided to ask, anyway.
“A stick? You mean his wand?"
Boswell turned to her and blinked once, “A wand? What is he, a fairy godmother? Gonna take this Potter boy to the ball?"
Hannah couldn't suppress her laughter anymore, it came out quick and unexpected. She threw her hand over her mouth in horror, trying to collect herself back into a professional stance. She relaxed when she saw the slight twitch of a smile on the corner of Boswell’s mouth. She hid it under her hand as she continued to ask questions.
“I see here there are multiple comments referencing a Weasley? What is that? Is that some sort of disgusting creature?”
Hannah looked up at the ceiling, begging God to give her the strength to get through this meeting without collapsing into hysterical laughter. She opened her mouth to explain, but was silenced by the loud sound of shattering glass.
She fell to her knees, covering her head with her arms as she screamed. Sharp splinters covered the floor. There were pieces in her hair, they fell as she lifted her head to observe the chaos.
Boswell was hidden under her desk, eyes wide and full of fear and confusion. Hannah looked at the large hole in the window. The wind howled and swirled around them, shifting the glass that covered the floor and making it sparkle like glitter.
She jerked her head to a loud flapping noise coming from above the desk. There, peacefully perched, was a large great gray owl.
Her eyes grew so large she felt they would pop from her skull. She looked to her boss and spoke loudly in disbelief.
“There's a mother fucking owl in here. It crashed through the window. WE ARE ON THE 15TH FLOOR?!"
With shaking hands, Boswell started to climb out from under her desk, hissing at the glass eating into her palms. The owl dropped a letter from its beak and it fell in front of her, stopping her movements.
Hannah swallowed, unsure about the events unfolding around her. She watched as Boswell took the large letter in hand. Fingers gently touching the wax seal.
“It's engraved with an M?" Boswell looked to Hannah but she was just as confused as her employer. Her fingers broke the seal and she began to read.
Hannah was dying with anxiety. What the ever living fuck is going on?
Boswell read the letter out loud.
I have regretfully been informed of your most appalling decision. To say the least, I am unhappy. Mahogany Apple is a scent I have thoroughly enjoyed for years. Upon hearing that you have made its appearance a dreadful orange, I knew I must send an owl, at once.
How dare you replace such a lovely color with one that resembles the most unappealing of animals. A Weasley.
I expect this to be remedied immediately. Upon correction, I expect dozens sent to my Manor, free of cost, of course.
Consider it your apology.
Draco Lucius Malfoy
They both looked at each other and then back to the owl.
Hannah muttered under her breathe, “He's fucking real?"
They remained still, dumbfounded. After a moment, Boswell started to pick glass from her hair as she stood up
“Hannah, gather everyone in conference room A. “
Hannah realized her mouth had been hanging open in shock, she quickly closed it. "O-Of course. May I ask what for?”
Boswell looked at Hannah as if she had just blasted through the window, herself.
"To make this stupid candle green, obviously.”