A/N: Hey guys! This was a challenge by Ancient Werewolf on Kindred Spirits. I must warn you before you read this: This is only the beginning! You must stick with me to really get to the point of the story! In this chapter I want to introduce the business and the relationships…then we'll see how it goes from there!!
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Hermione woke up to her blaring alarm and hit the `OFF' button. Monday morning. She groaned and stumbled out of bed to take a shower and get ready for work.
When she walked into the kitchen, she saw roses on her table and a note beside them.
Hermione,
Thanks for a wonderful evening last night. I'll call you.
Viktor
She smiled; At least someone didn't think she was just a plain, boring secretary. Her happiness was short lived, however, whenever she realized she was late for work.
They're going to kill me…She thought. She had never been late in the past year that she had begun to work at International Magical Corporation, a business dealing with the Magical worlds stocks and important matters, for none other than the famous Harry Potter and his best mate, Ronald Weasley owned. They were fine bosses, respectable and nice. She had a lot of friends that worked there, just as plain and boring as she was. In the office, she had connections and ties, friendships and…well…work. All in all, she truly enjoyed being a secretary.
Jumping in her car, she forced the key in the ignition and sped down the highway to work.
"Hey Gin…" Hermione greeted Ginny Weasley as she glided into the large office building where she worked, only to stop by Ginny's office door.
"Hey Hermione, you're late…you're never late." Ginny eyed her suspiciously. "Where were you?"
"I was out with Viktor last night and…" Hermione started.
"Say no more." Ginny held up a hand smirking.
"That is so NOT what I meant." Hermione said defensively. "I just got back late from a midnight movie…"
"Sure…" Ginny said, waving her hand. She spun her office chair around to face Hermione. "So…what's new?"
Hermione leaned up against the doorway to her friend's office. "Oh…nothing. Just another week…"
Ginny raised her eyebrows and continued typing. "Yep."
Luna Lovegood breezed by, "Harry wants you in his office, Hermione…"
Hermione groaned, "Great. I bet I'm busted for being late."
"Good Luck!" Ginny winked as Hermione turned to walk down the hall.
"You'll need it!" Neville Longbottom shouted jokingly from his office.
"Shut it, Nev…or I'll tell Harry what you were doing in the conference room last Friday…" She said as she walked by.
"My lips…are sealed!" Neville shouted back.
Hermione hesitated as she stood outside the large office doors. Reluctantly, she knocked on the door.
"Come in." Came Harry's firm voice.
She took a deep breath and opened the door. "You…you wanted to see me?"
"Yes, Hermione, please…come in and take a seat." He said, taking his glasses off and rubbing his eyes before placing them back on.
Hermione nervously sat down and waited. He turned to his computer and saved an important file before turning to face
her.
"I noticed you were late this morning." He said simply.
"Yes sir, I'm sorry, I just-" She started to explain.
"Relax, Granger." He said smiling. "I just wanted to be sure everything was alright. You're never late."
Hermione felt relief wash over her. "Oh, yes, everything's fine. Just got back home a little late, that's all."
"Okay." He said. "Today we've got some big clients coming over in the afternoon from Germany. I'll need the conference room prepared and ready. Lovegood can assist you in that. Also, the International Floo system is down again so they'll be flying, check the flight status from time to time, call the car service and confirm that they will be there to pick them up. Information's on your desk. And if you wouldn't mind…I'll need the number for `Wands and Such' in America. They've got some business with us to clear up. Other than that...just the norm."
She nodded and jotted down the basics on her notepad. "Got it."
Just then, Luna peeped her head in the door. "I'm sorry…Harry, Cho is here to see you…Should I-"
Cho Chang pushed her way past Luna. "You don't have to ask. Of course he'll want to see me." She glared at Luna.
Luna looked at Hermione and rolled her eyes. Hermione smirked at Luna and looked at Cho.
"Hey Cho." Harry greeted smiling. "It's only common procedure that they announce you are here."
"I know, it's just so tiring." Cho sighed, walking behind Harry's chair and putting her hands on his shoulders.
Luna closed the door and Hermione turned her attention back to Harry.
"So…that's it, Hermione. Just…try not to be late again. Unless of course it's an emergency." Harry told her smiling.
"You're just going to let her off! She was late! It's a very important day for you with those clients coming in from Germany and she didn't even have the courteous to-" Cho started rambling on.
Harry interrupted her. "Cho, dear, she's never been late before. She just over slept. No big deal. Honestly, relax. If it was that big of a deal I would have addressed it differently." He said sternly.
Cho pouted and glared at Hermione.
Hermione raised her eyebrows, "Well, I'm going to go get started. See ya later, Harry." She smiled at him and walked out the door.
"I don't like that she calls you Harry, why can't she call you Mr. Potter or sir or something…it's a place of work. And did you see the way she looks at you? Honestly, like that boring-" Cho started again.
"Cho. You're giving me a headache. Please, stop criticizing my employees and just get to whatever you wanted to talk about." Harry said anxiously.
Back in the main part of the office, Hermione sat down at her desk, which was right across from Luna's.
"Merlin, I hate that woman." Luna grumbled. "Coming in here acting like she's better than everyone else just because she's dating Harry Potter."
Hermione shrugged and picked up the phone when it rang. "International Magical Corporation, Harry Potter's office." She continued to listen to the person talk and jotted down a few things and hung up.
"Perfect." Hermione hugged.
"Hmm?" Luna asked, not pulling her eyes away from the computer as she typed.
"That Asian company that's supposed to come in later this week just called and cancelled. Harry's gonna be mad…" Hermione trailed off, logging into her computer.
"Are you serious?" Luna asked frustrated. "Ron's been counting on that deal, says it's big!"
"Said what's big?" Ron asked as he walked by, a donut shoved halfway in his mouth.
"Oh, nothing…Ron…" Luna said as she batted her eyelashes at him. "Everything's fine."
He looked at her quizzically, "Uhh huh."
Hermione put her hand over her mouth to avoid from laughing. Ginny appeared next to Hermione's desk with a file folder in her hands.
"Anyways…Lovegood, gonna need you in my office in a few seconds for today's briefing. Need to go talk to Harry first." He said walking away.
"He's in there with Cho, Ron!" Hermione shouted after him.
Ron had just reached the door when he heard this and turned to walk to his own office.
"My brother is such prat! He treats everything like its some big mission!" Ginny said laughing. "Did you hear him? `Today's briefing.'" She said mockingly.
Hermione laughed and took the folder from Ginny's hands.
"I think it's cute." Luna said, closing her program and standing up.
"Well of course you would, Luna." Hermione laughed and returned to her work.
Luna just grinned and walked off to Ron's office for `today's briefing', as he put it.
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The day passed by rather quickly, as Hermione was in frantic mood trying to make sure everything went perfect for the meeting today.
"Uh huh, No…it's flight number 450…British Airways…yes…Oh…Mm hmm…Thank you. Good bye." Hermione said holding down the `hang up' button and released it.
"Hello this is Hermione Granger from Harry Potter's office…yes, we have a car scheduled to be at the airport in an hour…yes, that's it! Uh huh, you see…yes, the flights coming a bit early…we need it in a half hour…Mr. Potter would be most pleased if…yes…yes…that's quite alright…uh huh. Thank you. Goodbye." She threw the receiver down and breezed past Melanie Stanford.
"In a hurry there, Hermione?" Melanie asked as Hermione flew by.
"Just a bit." Hermione exclaimed, walking past.
She knocked frantically on Harry's door. "Come in!"
She poked her head through the door. "Hey Harry, sorry…I just checked the flight status and it seems that the flight'll be coming in a bit early."
"How early?" Harry asked looking at her helplessly.
"A half an hour…" Hermione said giving him a nervous smile. Harry looked annoyed and he groaned.
"Did you-"
"Yes. And I-"
"Good. But are-"
"Already on it!" She exclaimed as he walked past her and she closed the door behind her.
She walked towards the conference room, with tons of folders in her arms, only to collide with none other than Cho Chang doing her make up.
"Oh, it's you." Cho glared at her as Hermione bent down to pick up her papers. Cho snapped her mirror closed.
Harry walked up behind them. "Everything okay?" He asked.
Cho smiled at him seductively. "Oh, yes, it's just dear old Hermione here seems to be bit clumsy today."
Harry smiled and bent down to help her. "Well that's quite all right, even I have my clumsy moments."
Hermione looked up and met his gaze. "Thank you." She chuckled as he helped her up, all her folders in tow.
"No problem." He said.
"So…Harry…are you going to have lunch with me?" Cho asked.
"Sorry, luv, can't. Remember? Big meeting?" Harry asked her.
Cho pouted as Hermione walked in the conference room. "Fine." She stomped away.
Harry walked in after her and found that she had basically set up everything, and now was laying out the folders.
"Good job, Granger." He said.
"Always." She teased walking out once more.
He turned to go back to his office and wait there for a few minutes.
"Almost forgot!" Hermione exclaimed appearing right beside him, handing him a cup of coffee.
"Err…" He glanced down at his watch to check the time.
She rolled her eyes. "Honestly, it's decaf. You're acting like I don't know you."
"Of course." He took the cup. "Thanks!"
She nodded and returned to her work.
Ron ran in and stuck his head in the conference room. "And Harry went…"
"That way!" Hermione exclaimed not looking up from her work as she pointed to the left.
Ron ran from the conference room and to where she pointed.
It was then he collided with Luna.
"Oh!" She exclaimed. "Ronald!"
"Err…hey Luna, just on my way to see Harry…" Ron said.
"Right, right. Big day." She batted her eyelashes again.
"Sorry for running into you." He apologized.
"Always a pleasure." She winked and walked the other direction.
Ron shook his head and ran to find Harry once more.
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That evening at about 6:00, everyone was shutting down, ready to leave and go home.
Harry found himself walking absent mindedly to Hermione's desk. "So…the meeting went well…"
"That's great." Hermione smiled, picking up her purse. "Really. Was there something you needed?"
He shook his head. "Nah…its fine. Go home. Enjoy your life."
"Fat chance." She retorted. "Bye!" She called as she headed for the elevator.
"Bye." He called after her.
He found himself standing there staring as the elevator doors closed. Ron interrupted his zone out by clapping him on the back.
"You ok, mate?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a spot tired that's all." Harry shook his head.
"Good." Ron smiled. "Cause we're going to celebrate like crazy tonight!"
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A/N: K, be brutal. Was it bad? Good? Remember what I said this is just the first chapter, just to warm you up the idea of the office and the relationships!! Keep reading as time goes on and this story will develop!
Sorry if parts of it were a bit rushed! I'll do better next time! Thanks!
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