Chapter 21

Since this was her final try, Penelope wore her best robe and arrived much too early for the job interview.

It was actually not even eight o'clock yet, and the interviews wouldn't begin before ten.

But that didn't bother her.

The great Black Malfoy Tower offered much to admire.

And it didn't even take long for the next applicants to arrive.

Penelope observed every single person, that lined up behind her.

Most of those who arrived early were like her, having cleaned up nicely, and wearing their best robes.

Those were the people that were really hoping to land a job.

Then there were also people who looked dirty and sloppy, these were the people that really needed a job.

One of them even growled like a dog, making her suspect that he was a werewolf.

Penelope actually felt uncomfortable and scared for a second, before she reminded herself of Professor Lupin.

Thinking of Professor Lupin helped her calm down, since he was a werewolf too, and he hadn't hurt a single Hogwarts student during his tenure last school year.

There had been rumors that Lupin had hurt Snape, and that's why he had had to leave when the school year was over, but personally she thought that wasn't something you could fault a person for...

Hurting Snape that is...

Snape most definitely had it coming.

Now Penelope had officially thought too much of Professor Lupin, since she was now seeing someone, who looked exactly like him, join the end of the line.

After forcefully blinking a few times, what she was seeing didn't change.

Maybe, Professor Lupin was actually here to apply for a job too.

She wanted to go and greet the friendly werewolf, and confirm what he was doing here, but she didn't want to lose her first place in the line.

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Shortly before nine o'clock, one hour before the interviews were scheduled to start, a reporter from the Daily Prophet appeared with her camera man.

Penelope actually recognized that reporter.

Not only from the picture on the front page of the Prophet last week, but also because she had been her senior in Ravenclaw during Penelope's first four years in Hogwarts.

It was Rebecca Abbot.

Rebecca strolled the line up and down, and interviewed the waiting applicants.

It was inevitable that she strolled by Penelope at one point.

To Penelope's surprise, Rebecca actually remembered her name.

„Oh, it's you. Hello Penelope, how are you?" Rebecca asked with a friendly smile.

„I'm fine, thank you. How are you? You look great." Penelope replied hesitantly, truthfully she was a little embarrassed to be caught here.

„And I'm feeling great too, thank you. If you don't mind, can I ask you some questions?" Of course Rebecca didn't forget her work, even when meeting a Hogwarts junior.

„I can't think of any reason why not..." And Penelope had really tried to think of one.

„What kind of job do you want to apply for today?" Rebecca inquired.

„I would like to work as an enchantress. I had O's in both Charms and Ancient Runes in my N.E.W.T.s."

„I don't want to insult you, but aren't you worried that they would prefer people with some working experience for such an important job?"

„I'm actually more worried that I will be declined because I'm a muggleborn. I would also be happy being an assistant enchantress, or anything halfway acceptable really, the main thing is that I even get a job." Penelope actually aired her concerns to her Ravenclaw senior, who was interviewing her for the Daily Prophet.

Why couldn't she just keep her mouth shut?

„Really? When I talked to Lord Black, I actually got the impression that he was very non-discriminatory, even inviting squibs to apply." Rebecca argued.

„That's not the impression one got seeing him strutting through Hogwarts with his little Slytherin posse, insulting everyone with a lower pedigree than him, which is everyone."

„Really?" Rebecca asked again, this time she was much more intrigued, but also a little skeptic.

Stupid Penelope, with her stupid big mouth, that always started running before she finished thinking.

She already saw it coming, she would actually be hired for the job today and tomorrow when Rebecca's next article was published, Penelope would be fired again.

„Please don't publish what I just said. I really need this job, I don't want to go back to the muggle world." Penelope's eyes even became a little tearful.

„It's okay. Don't worry I'm not publishing it. I promise." Rebecca wasn't heartless, especially when she saw Penelope teary eyed.

Another reason was that even without Penelope's moderately scandalous statement, Rebecca had already gathered enough material to write at least two articles.

„Thank you. If I don't get the job, you can actually quote me there, since it won't matter anymore. Because I will have to leave the wizarding world then... But please don't mention it if I really get the job, please."

„If this doesn't work out, why don't you just get another job in the magical world?" Rebecca wondered.

So Penelope started telling her about her difficulties.

Rebecca listened attentively, considering the idea of writing an article about muggleborn discrimination in the future, the only condition was that the Daily Prophet would publish such an article.