Chapter three
My parents were pleasantly surprised to see me up and ready for work the next morning. My mother, thinking her tough love finally worked, and my father, thinking his heart-to-heart finally worked, were both wrong. I was determined to finish this internship for the sole purpose of destroying Draco Malfoy’s pompous ego. I laid awake for hours that night thinking of all the ways I could make him miserable.
My first tactic was to arrive at work earlier than him, which I accomplished. By the time he sauntered into our office, I had already re-written three pages of our proposal.
“What’s this?” He asked as he approached his desk.
“Grimilda asked for ten copies of each,” I responded without looking up from my work.
“Aren’t there people we can have do that?” He asked as though I had told him to take out the garbage or skin a fish.
“Yeah, I think they’re called interns… oh wait,” I looked up at him in mock surprise. He glared back in response.
“What are you doing?” He finally noticed what I was working on and immediately became suspicious.
“Nothing you should be concerned about. You’re making copies, remember?”
He emitted a low growl, and it took everything within me not to grin. I watched as he waved his wand across the stack of papers, making ten copies.
“Oh, did I forget to tell you? She wanted them all translated in French and English, with the names of each French dignitary on top.”
Draco’s eyebrow twitched. He almost said something in response, but I began writing again before he could open his mouth.
By the time he had finished making the adjusted copies, I was done with my own changes. I dropped the proposal on his desk, making sure to interrupt the notes he seemed to be taking on Bulgarian flying laws.
“Here, so you can make your changes.”
“What changes?” He asked, looking up at me with supreme annoyance.
“There were a few pages here and there that I thought could use some refreshing. For instance, you reference a lot of very outdated French laws that while they may still be in their legislation, doesn’t necessarily mean they’re still enforced.”
Draco stared at me with mild amusement.
“And how would you know that?” He asked, ready to belittle whatever answer I give him.
“My aunt is on the Bureau de la Justice Magique,” I responded before I turned on my heel and left the office.
Walter gladly gave me more work to do, and Grimilda was happy to see me take initiative. I made sure to show her the changes I made to our proposal within Draco’s earshot, so he could overhear the many compliments Grimilda showered upon me. I held back my disgust as she told me how I had a clear track to becoming a true Ministry employee after graduation.
Once lunchtime came around, neither Draco nor I left our desks, as taking a break would only be a sign of weakness.
By the middle of the week, my mother gave me a concerned look over dinner, a look I knew well.
“They’re really working you hard up there, huh?” She asked as casually as she could.
Since I wasn’t eating lunch, I was too busy stuffing my face to respond right away.
“I haven’t seen you in the café the past few days,” she continued.
“Oh, yeah, I haven’t been hungry. Just been too busy,” I said between bites.
“Well, I hope you’re not pushing yourself too hard,” she said.
“This is what you wanted, right?” I asked before taking another bite of food.
“So, what are you working on?” My father interjected before the conversation could turn into a fight.
“Sorry, dad, it’s top secret. Ask mom,” I said with a smirk.
“Top secret, hm? And you’re working on this too?” He asked, turning to mom.
She nodded her head solemnly.
“Yes, it is quite a big project that many departments in the Ministry are working together on. Heather and I are lucky to be part of something this monumental,” she said then looked at me for a response.
To be honest, I couldn’t care less about the Triwizard Tournament. It obviously meant a lot to a lot of people, and I’m sure that there will be plenty of hubbub about it once I return to school, but right now, I only cared about taking down Malfoy.
“Oh yeah, totally,” I said with forced enthusiasm. My mother didn’t seem to catch it, but the lingering stare from my father meant he noticed there was something off about my tone.
By Friday, our proposal was complete just in time for the meeting that afternoon. For the first time, I felt a sense of pride over my work. It dawned on me that I never felt this at school, and yet here I was feeling it over a stupid proposal for an internship I never cared about.
“This is all rubbish, you know,” Malfoy said as we walked to the conference room together. He always kept a three-foot distance between us, as though he didn’t want passersby to know that we were associated.
I rolled my eyes, not wanting to give in to his bait, but unable to resist myself. “What is?” I asked.
“This,” he said, holding up a proposal. “My father knows the French Minister very personally, and he will never go for any of this. Grimilda is kidding herself thinking he will be amenable with the Bulgarian Minister.”
“You think your father knows what the French Minister will agree to more than Grimilda, the woman in charge of International Magical Cooperation?” I asked.
Malfoy scoffed and rolled his eyes. “You wouldn’t understand,” he said before entering the conference room.
It was our job to prepare the room for the meeting that afternoon. Grimilda wanted a proposal at each chair, strategically placed to ensure that no French and British Ministry workers who were more prone to arguing were sat near one another. I knew from my own aunt’s stories that there was plenty of bad blood between the two governments.
“Tell me why I wouldn’t understand,” I asked, unable to let Malfoy’s statement go unchallenged.
He gave an exasperated sigh.
“I think it’s quite obvious why you wouldn’t understand,” he said with a look that said poor.
“Oh, because my daddy isn’t connected to every magical political power through dark means, I can’t understand the intricacies of politics?” I asked, clutching a proposal in my hand so tight I heard it crinkle.
Malfoy let out a laugh that I recall hearing many times before as he taunted younger students in the castle halls.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“It’s really sad, you know, relying on your father’s connections for everything you have,” I said with as much venom I could muster.
Malfoy stopped walking around the table and turned to me. His expression was so cold I felt a chill on the back of my neck.
“That’s bold coming from someone who would have never gotten this internship if her mother hadn’t begged like a filthy muggle for it.”
He dropped the last proposal on the table and exited the room. I looked down at the paper I had been clutching so hard and realized I had crushed the Minister of French Education and Sport’s proposal so badly it was now a paper ball. I tried to get out as many wrinkles as I could by hand, then attempted a repairing spell. It was still badly creased, but my mind was so muddled, I feared if I tried the spell again, I would set the paper on fire instead.
When I returned to the office, Malfoy was nowhere in sight. Good, I thought, as I sat down at my desk. His comment had been completely unfounded. Except, he was right… I couldn’t imagine my mother begging, like he said, but she did admit to pulling many strings to get me where I was. I never asked for this, I thought angrily. And how did Malfoy know about how I got this internship in the first place?
By the time the meeting started, my shock at Malfoy’s statement had turned into pure anger. I spent most of the meeting glaring at him across the table, hoping that he could feel my gaze burning through his skull. I barely heard what was discussed, but once the meeting ended, Grimilda looked to be in good spirits. I was ready to go home already, but she asked for us to stick around for a while longer.
Once back in the office, Grimilda came by to talk to us.
“That was fantastic! Splendid work from both of you, truly. I’m so glad we can finally tick this off our list. Next up, the Bulgarians,” she said with a shiver.
“So, the French Minister didn’t have any qualms with our demands?” I asked, looking at Malfoy pointedly.
Grimilda chuckled and waved her hand at me. “Of course, he was! It’s all about the presentation, dear. You’ll learn soon,” she said with a wink.
“Now, you’re all done for today. I think you both deserve to get off a bit early this Friday. And I believe Walter mentioned there’s something going on later tonight for all Ministry interns! That should be fun!”
Grimilda smiled at us both, but Malfoy wasn’t listening, and I was in no mood to be cheery.
She eventually got the hint and excused herself.
Malfoy began to pack his things, but I wasn’t ready to let him leave just yet.
“Have you ever heard the saying ‘people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones?’” I asked.
Malfoy only stopped for a second before he continued. “If that’s some cheap muggle saying, then no,” he replied.
“It is a muggle saying, but it’s still relevant. Or maybe you’d understand it better if I said, ‘gits in glass mansions shouldn’t cast spells.’”
He groaned and gave me an annoyed look. “Are you trying to be clever right now? Is that what’s happening?”
I furrowed my brows and glared back at him. “You talk as though me getting this internship from my mother is some terrible thing, and yet I would bet a thousand Galleons that you wouldn’t have gotten it either if it wasn’t for your last name.”
Malfoy smirked. “So that’s what this is about. Hurt your feelings, did I? It’s not my fault my family’s last name means something. But don’t ever assume that that is the only reason why I get anything in my life,” he said seriously.
“You’re such a hypocrite.”
I turned my back on him and packed up my bag. When I turned back around, I expected him to be gone already, but he was still standing in the same spot watching me.
“Don’t pretend you know me. You know nothing about me or my family,” he said, his cold gray eyes staring into my own. I couldn’t respond. It felt like my mouth had been sewn shut. He didn’t wait for me to find my voice and left the office a second later. Once he was gone, I let out a breath I didn’t know I had been holding.
I shook my head and gathered the rest of my things to get the hell out of this office. I was exhausted and ready to spend my weekend doing absolutely nothing.
“Oh, Heather, I didn’t know you were still here,” Walter said as we almost bumped into each other in the hallway.
“Yeah, I was just leaving.”
“You’re not going to the dinner?” He asked.
“What dinner?”
“Every Friday the Ministry interns are provided dinner on the first floor. No one told you?”
“Um, I think Grimilda mentioned something like that,” I said. I wondered if that’s where Malfoy rushed off to. I highly doubted it.
“I’m heading that way for a meeting; I can walk you if you’d like?” Walter asked, his face full of warmth and genuine kindness, the exact opposite of what I saw when I looked at Malfoy just a moment ago.
I shrugged my shoulders and followed him, unable to find a reason why I shouldn’t go. Of course, I would much rather be home, but my curiosity got the better of me.
There were less people here this late in the day, especially on a Friday, but as we approached the banquet hall, I could hear many voices coming from inside. Walter left me at the door and bid me a good night.
The banquet hall was a grandiose room that could easily fit hundreds of people. For now, it only had about two dozen teenagers standing around socializing. Drapes hung from the ceiling with a soft glow emitting from lamps hidden inside the folds. There were a dozen round tables around the room with modest tablecloths draped on top. On the other side of the room, long tables stood empty, presumably waiting for food to soon occupy them.
I glanced around at the people in the room, quickly taking a head count and seeing if I recognized anyone. There were no stark blonde heads, I noted.
“Heather? Is that you?” A familiar voice called from nearby. I turned to see Lavender; her bright eyes excited to see me.
“Hey, yeah it’s me,” I said awkwardly.
Lavender bounded over and gave me a quick hug. She stepped back and smiled at me.
“I didn’t know you also got an internship here; I haven’t seen you around. Where are you stationed?”
I should have known this moment would come. Do I tell her the truth, or lie and say I got this internship fair and square like everyone else? Well, maybe not everyone, I thought.
“Hey!” Another girl approached, saving me from having to respond. I vaguely recognized her, but I couldn’t place where.
“Heather, this is Lillian. She goes to Beauxbatons Academy in France,” Lavender explained.
“I didn’t know there were students from other schools here,” I said, still unable to place the girl in front of me.
“This is the first year they’ve done it for… reasons,” Lillian said vaguely.
“You were in that meeting today, weren’t you?” I asked as the lightbulb finally went off in my head. She had been in the meeting with the French Ministry, sitting in the corner of the room taking notes. I had been so distracted in that meeting, I almost missed her.
“I was! It was quite boring, wasn’t it?” She asked with a smirk.
“Which department did you say you were in?” Lavender asked as she looked back and forth between me and Lillian. She could tell there was more we weren’t saying, and she didn’t like not being involved.
“International Magical Cooperation,” I replied.
“Oh,” Lavender said, her face going white.
“What?”
“Isn’t… Malfoy there too?” She asked, her voice low.
“Oh, yeah, he is,” I said grimly.
“That must be awful. I heard they had other interns paired up with him too, but they’ve all quit. I can’t imagine giving up on such a prestigious internship just like that,” Lavender said with a shudder.
“You seemed to be doing just fine,” Lillian commented.
Lavender looked at me in surprise. Whether she was shocked I was succeeding in this internship, or in surviving Malfoy, I wasn’t sure.
“Yeah, well, I just do what I’m told, that’s all. I guess I just got lucky. What departments are you guys in?” I asked, rounding the conversation back to them.
There wasn’t much time to socialize before the long tables across the room were suddenly laden with food. Everyone made their way over to them, grabbing a plate, and serving themselves from the many options. I could suddenly feel just how starving I was as soon as I saw the food in front of me. I filled my plate with various vegetables, mashed potatoes, a veggie loaf slathered in warm sauce, and various other dishes that smelled and looked delicious.
Lavender insisted I sit with her, so I joined her at a table with a few other people I recognized from school. One of them was a fellow Hufflepuff, although our paths rarely ever crossed, so we didn’t have much to talk about. Cho Chang, a Ravenclaw girl who sat next to me in Charms a few years ago, was interning with the Department of Magical Artefacts and was keen to share what rare items she had come across around the office.
I sat silently for most of the dinner, unable to make conversation as easily as the others seemed to be able to. I was ready to leave within the hour but felt obligated to stay as the tables were cleared and dessert was served.
“So, what is it like working with Malfoy?” Lavender asked in a low voice.
I chewed my tiramisu slowly, unsure of how to answer.
“I can’t even imagine being alone in the same room with him, or having to work alongside him,” Lavender continued with an exaggerated shiver.
“Yeah, it’s the worst,” I agreed. I pushed the rest of my dessert around my plate and hoped Lavender would drop the subject. Of course, she didn’t.
“You know, he’s never come to any of the internship program events. There are more than just dinners, we get together after work some days, and there are volunteer opportunities on the weekends. You should totally join us sometime!” Lavender was back to her cheery self as she tried to get me into the participatory spirit.
“Oh, yeah, definitely,” I said as I inched out of my seat.
I successfully avoided making any solid plans to hang out with Lavender outside of work, and finally left the dinner.
As I walked through the empty atrium towards the fireplaces, I rummaged through my bag to make sure I hadn’t left anything behind at the party. The sound of a deep, familiar voice up ahead drew my attention.
“It’s embarrassing, is what it is, having a son who can’t even do one thing right,” the voice said. I knew it from somewhere, but my mind was drawing a blank. I tried not to make a sound as I crept forward, my view blocked by the large fountain in the center of the atrium.
“Yes, father,” another voice responded. That one, I knew.
I peeked around the fountain and saw Draco and his father standing by the fireplaces. Lucius wore long black robes with his hair pulled back into a low ponytail. Lucius stared down at Malfoy, except they were so similar in height, he didn’t have to look too far down. I was too far away to see clearly, but Malfoy looked strange and not like himself. He didn’t have the same self-satisfied expression on his face that he usually did.
“You realize how important this is, don’t you? One wrong move and this could all fall apart,” Lucius continued, his voice seething with anger. He gripped the snake head walking stick in his hands even tighter.
Malfoy didn’t respond, but merely nodded his head, his eyes downcast.
I couldn’t watch this any longer, but if I moved now, they would think I had been here all along.
Thankfully, just as I decided to risk it and make my move and reveal myself, one of the fireplaces lit up and distracted Malfoy and Lucius.
“Good evening,” the man said as he stepped out of the fireplace. He seemed to know Lucius and the two men began a conversation about something related to work.
I quickly walked towards the fireplaces, keeping my eyes on the ground and trying not to draw attention to myself.
Just as I thought I was all clear, the handle of my bag slipped off my shoulders. A few items from my bag fell out, clattering on the stone floors, and drawing everyone’s attention straight to me. I hid the bright red blush on my face by quickly looking down and grabbing my quill, ink pot, and notebook.
“Ehem.”
I looked up and saw Malfoy holding out another quill that had rolled towards his feet.
“Er, thanks,” I mumbled as I took it from him.
“Draco,” Lucius said, his eyes on me, “who might this be?” He asked.
I felt my heart thud in my chest. Having the full attention of Lucius Malfoy had that effect on you.
“Er, this is Heather Winters, the other intern in my department,” Malfoy responded. He had stepped back away from me and was standing beside his father again. On second look, he seemed much smaller than I thought, although there was something more to him that seemed off.
“Winters, you say. Hm. You aren’t the daughter of Amanda Winters, are you?” Lucius asked, his sharp eyes studying me.
I nodded my head in response, unable to speak.
“How interesting,” Lucius said in a tone that made me feel as though there were many things, he found interesting about my parentage.
“I need to head home. it was nice meeting you,” I said quickly and turned back around towards the fireplaces. I didn’t look back as I stepped inside, squeezed my eyes shut, and muttered my address.
That weekend, I tried to relax and do nothing like I planned, but my mind wouldn’t stop. I found myself unable to sit still and after a few walks around the neighborhood, I decided the only solution was to go out and do something else.
In the past, if I had asked my mom for the car, she would have been suspicious and asked me a million questions before saying yes, or more commonly, no. But this time, she handed over the keys without a second thought.
“Really? Just like that?” I asked, unable to stop myself. This was so out of her character, it almost made me want to get her checked for the Imperius curse.
“You’ve worked hard this week, Heather. You’ve made me proud, and I don’t mind letting you use the car. I trust you will do the right thing.”
Despite seeing her lips move and hearing the words come out of her mouth, I couldn’t believe it was mymother saying these things. She was letting me use the car without a single question all because I was compliant with her forcing me into an internship I never wanted?
“Thanks, mom. That’s, uh, nice of you,” I replied.
“Please be home before midnight,” was all she said before she went back to reading her book in bed.
I drove into the city, not entirely sure where I was headed, but knowing that I needed something to take my mind off of work and other things. Other, blonde, annoying, frustrating, things.
Before going to Hogwarts, I had many muggle friends that I would hang out with every weekend. We would all rotate on who hosted the sleepovers, with a silent rule that we would never host it at my house. My mother didn’t mind me being friends with muggles, but she wasn’t comfortable with the risk of having them in our home.
As we got older and as I started leaving each summer to go to “boarding school,” the less and less we stayed in touch. I knew it would be hard and I knew it was inevitable, but it hurt all the same.
The last time I had seen my friends, there were only two girls who were still willing to stay in touch with me. We all went to a club in the city while our parents thought we were sleeping over at someone’s house. It was a teen club that was severely tame compared to the clubs we imagined in our heads, but it was the most fun I had had in years. We danced for hours and snuck back home, high off of the adrenaline from the entire night. Remembering this, I parked my car at the nearest club and got in line before I could talk myself out of it.
The dark club was packed with muggles, all jumping and dancing to music that rattled my bones. There were flashing lights coming off the stage and blacklights highlighting the whites of everyone’s teeth. It was hard to see the details of the large room, but I could see a staircase leading to higher levels with more people dancing, a stage with a DJ, and a bar on the other side of the room.
I stumbled into the crowd, feeling completely out of place, but eager to lose myself all the same. Before I knew it, I was in the middle of the dance floor,
I closed my eyes and let the rhythm of the music move me. All thoughts left my mind and was replaced with the thumping music, flashing lights, and the freedom of not knowing anyone and no one knowing me.
An undetermined number of hours later, I stumbled out of the club and back to the car. It was past midnight, but I didn’t care. I drove home in a daze, feeling a million times better than I did before I left. When I got home, both my parents were asleep, and if they noticed I broke curfew, I would deal with it in the morning. All I wanted to do was lay in bed and forget that Monday is right around the corner and with it, more a blonde headed git who was taking up more room in my head than I was happy with.