[M.Bird] Help Wanted [job offer for 2]

[Prof Grace Marks]

It was a week before Sianna was to make her way over to America and both of the girls were very excited: Sianna about getting what she finally wanted and Grace for being an accessory to her friend's success. It had always been Grace's plan to get more help but with Sian being as efficient as she was it wasn't ever necessary. But now that she was leaving it had become imperative.

Sianna had told Grace that there had been a number of people who had come in asking if there was an opening. Of course, Sigh had always said no, as she had been told to but now ... things were changing. It was with this in mind that Grace made a highly decorative sign that said 'Help Wanted' on a board and put it in the window of the restaurant. Now, all that was left was to wait. This was a good thing as Grace Marks was very good at being patient.

Grace had taken the week off from playing Quidditch, Mathias, her coach, had agreed to let her off for a while, so she had time. It was a late Tuesday afternoon, beginning of November and Grace was sitting in The Majestic Bird drinking a cup of tea with a plate of crumpets on the table to her right. Her right elbow was perched on top of the table as she sat, the sun's rays pouring through the large windows at her back, watching Sianna dance between the tables, bringing and taking plates, trays of food lovingly prepared by Cook, of course.

Grace took another sip of her tea, smiling at Sianna as the tall woman came past her table to the back again.

[Kendal Montgomery]

Kendal wasn't sure what she wanted to do with herself outside of school. People had been on her case about it and she was tired of it because she didn't know how could they expect her to. Yes, she would be graduating soon and she needed direction in life but she had months to figure it out and in time she knew she would. One more owl had arrived this time from her auntie Gwen telling her she would do well working with her in her magical tid bits shop. Kendal rolled her eyes once more and thew the letter promptly into the rubbish bin.

Enough was enough for Merlin's sake she wasn't going to make a decision about the rest of her life based on a few ruddy owls from people who didn't know who she was as a person. Growing annoyed she decided some fresh air was necessary. The grounds as usual were packed with students trying to get away from something or another. This wasn't where she wanted to be so she chose to take a walk.

Following the path to Hogsmeade Kendal tried to figure out what shops she wanted to hit. Of course there was Honeydukes she was way low and licorice wands. Checking her money stash seeing that there was enough she headed that way. Passing by several other shops on the way Kendal looked in each window. This was a custom of hers and on this day it was going to pay off. When she came to the Majestic Bird she saw the sign in the window a Help Wanted Sign.

Who knows what made her decide she wanted to do it, but Kendal stopped turned and went in to see the owner. There was a pretty blonde woman sitting at a table drinking tea. Kendal had no idea why she just knew that this woman owned the place. Taking time to fix herself up just a little Kendal went up to her and tried to be as polite as possible. "Hello there um are you the owner because I saw the help wanted sign in the window and I was hoping to apply." Nerves suddenly sprang out and Kendal couldn't look the woman in the eye....

[Via Thorn]

Being the herbology apprentice didn't bring in any money, and therefore although she got accomodation and food for free, she was not saving any money for the future while she was apprenticing. She needed a job and fast. Especially if she was going to be travelling the world soon, she couldn't exactly go with empty pockets now could she?

Arnie her toad was happily snoring on her pillow and Via smiled and stroked him before she wrapped her scarf around her neck and buttoned up her bright yellow long coat. She may of been graduated but she was a Hufflepuff, and she was extremely happy to be one. Who said you had to stop wearing your house colours once you'd graduated?

As she walked out of the common room she swung her bag onto her shoulder before checking she had her money in it and she continued to talk down to Hogsmeade. The winter had settled in and the ground was frozen solid, even the blades of grass has little mini frosted coats on to toughen them up and as she walked they split off and broke. At least it saved on cutting the grass later on.

Shivering slightly, Via was glad to finally set her feet on the familiar cobbles of Hogsmeade. She wondered back on where her time went at the school and how they used to have to wait until designated weekends to be allowed to go to Hogsmeade. She gave a small moaning sigh and looked back at the castle mournfully as if it was the last time she would ever see it again.

Walking down the cobbles she saw the bench where her and Jack had once sat and she made a mental note to go and see him once she had visited Hogsmeade, and to make up for neglecting him and for his reassurance during her exams that she would pick him up a present. As she began to wonder what she could get him, she walked past the Majestic Bird and took a double take at the window before reading a sign of help wanted. Via's prayers were answered and she grinned as she pulled off her gloves and opened up the door to hear the little bell above tinkle pleasantly.

Seeing Kendal stood over a blonde woman, Via guessed she was just in time and walked up to them, towering over Kendal. How she cursed her abnormal height. Smiling politely, she gave a small nod.
"Miss Marks? I would like to apply too please"

[Prof Grace Marks]

Sianna had disappeared to the back, carrying a tray full of dishes and several menus under her arm. The three tables that were occupied by people were free from clutter, just the way Grace liked it. The way Grace had taught Sianna to do thing was how she liked being treated when going to a restaurant and in all honesty Grace had been spoilt with Sigh, who was eager to please. She learnt quickly and as Grace stared at the back of the board she had set in the window she knew that she couldn't expect the same from the new people she hired.

The bell above the door tinkled gleefully as the door opened and a girl that Grace recognised as being in her old house came in. Grace wasn't sure what her name was; even though she had been head girl three years before and had tried to learn as many names and faces as she could she knew she'd not gotten to everyone. Grace slowly lifted her tea cup to her lips as took as sip as she watcehd the girl approach. Perhaps that was what Jac had been talking about? Her being an over achiever. Perhaps.

The dark haired girl stood in front of the blond and the door opened again, the bell heralding another arrival. The red-head seemed to have the same determined expression on her face and headed for her as well. The dark haired girl began speaking and Grace uncrossed her legs and sitting up straight, setting her cup and saucer on the table at her elbow. Grace's blue-gray eyes went to the girl's and she listened closely to what she had to say and when she was done the other girl spoke, expressing the same desire.

Grace grinned broadly at both of them. "I was told this was hard," Grace chirped happily, "I truly am spoilt. Yes, I am the owner-" she looked to the dark haired girl and smiled, nodding her head, before looking to the other girl "- and you can both call me Grace. Please, have a seat." Grace indicated the other two chairs that were at her table. Just then Sianna appeared, in all her slender splender, carrying two trays full of plates and attended to the other tables but not before giving them all a warm smile.

"That's Sianna," Grace informed the two, "she's the current waitress here but she'll be leaving soon, hence the sign. And Cook's at the back." Grace inclined her head towards the sign in the window. "Tea?" she asked, picking up the tea pot that appeared on the table along with two more sets of cups and saucers. "And you're welcome to help yourselves to some crumpets. They're Cook's new receipts and he wanted me to try them. I'm a little biased as I think everything he makes is delicious so please, be honest."

Smiling back and forth, Grace cleared her throat before sitting forward. "So ..." Grace began, pouring the teas, "tell me about yourselves." She could remember how she and Sianna had met, how unconventional that had been. She topped up her own cup and set down the pot, taking her own cup.

[Kendal Montgomery]

Kendal somehow felt confident in her ability to get this job. Mainly since she was so far the only applicant. Turns our the blonde woman was the proprietor, score one for her uncanny ability to get things right the first time. She should have been a Ravenclaw, too bad they don't take students who enjoy seeing the acceptable near their names. No matter she was almost out of there anyway having Hufflepuff after her name wasn't a bad thing she wore it as a badge of honor despite what others said.

Then someone else came in Kendal recognized Via immediately. Seeing the other girl there Kendal's face fell just a little. She hoped really hoped she wasn't looking for a job too. Be careful what you ask for because it just might back fire. Via was asking about the job as well. Kendal's good mood started to go south. Not that she disliked Via, quite the opposite really. It's just she really wanted this.

Nothing she could do but hope the right girl won out. They were both told to have a seat. The whole thing was frustrating but Kendal tried her best to maintain her happy demeanor. She took the seat offered and smiled as Grace showed them the woman whose place one of them might be taking. Kendal wondered why the woman was leaving such a great place but figured she had her reasons.

Kendal took the tea offered simply to give her something to do with her hands because she was starting to get a little nervous. This was something she thought she'd be doing one on one not in the presence of someone she went to school with. Then the proverbial question was asked, talk about yourself. Kendal hated to do this but if she wanted that job she would have to. "I'm still in school but I'm in my last year. I'm a Hufflepuff and am looking for a job, a way to save up some money, and way to find out what kinds of things I'm good at. Waiting tables isn't something I've ever done before but I think I'd be good at it if I just had a chance." Hoping she didn't sound like a total dweeb she grabbed up her tea cup and waited.

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace noted the look on the first girl’s face, who’s name she thought to be Kendal. Grace thought she recognised her from when she was at school, she’d have been a fourth year at that stage but still, Grace never forgot a face and really a person’s face didn’t change that much in three years. Still, Grace gave the girl a charmed smile as she accepted her offer for a seat and for tea. She’d made the tea herself, as she always did no matter how much Cook or Sigh objected.

As soon as Kendal said Hufflepuff, Grace’s face brightened but she waited for her to finish talking. “Hufflepuff?” Grace urged, “I was in Hufflepuff too. I don’t suppose Professor Hubbles is still the Head of Hufflepuff, is he?” Grace knew full well that he wasn’t but she wanted to get the girl talking some, informing her of this and that and the other. Test how good her memory was because with Grace away most of the week, off playing Quidditch and all that, she needed to be informed of everything that went on in her restaurant. She was slightly pedantic that way.

Still, Grace wasn’t smothering, as she constantly worried but that Sianna always told her she should because she wasn’t. Grace, apparently, gave just the right amount of freedom for her taste. Grace took a sip of her tea and wondered how she’d have to treat these two, should she hire them. “I do miss my dorm room, though,” Grace admitted, cupping the china in both hands, “one of my dorm mates always had this wonderful smelling perfume and the one day she and another girl were having a pillow fight … well, the bottle upended itself on the carpet and for the rest of the year the room smelt of jasmine.”

Grace smiled fondly at the thought of Mildred and Zinni mucking about as they always did. Zinni had gotten married the previous month and Grace still couldn’t get over the fact that one of her friends was married! Their school years didn’t seem that far behind. Still, Grace had a job to do now and she was going to do it well. “Well, we need to get ride of these preliminaries first I should think, before we continue. I’m Grace Marks, you’re … Kendal, right?” Grace asked the Hufflepuff. “I’m sorry Kendal, I’ve forgotten your surname. And Via Thorn, I remember catching you trying to sneak out once.” Grace raised an eye brow at Via but then smiled. “Didn’t I let you out anyway?”

[Kendal Montgomery]

The longer she sat there with the pretty blonde owner person the more Kendal thought she looked familiar. For some strange reason she just couldn't seem to place her. Normally she wasn't like this at all her memory was so often pretty good she was only a seventh year for Pete's sake she couldn't be loosing it all now. The longer she sat there the more annoyed she got because it was like having the name of something right on the tip of your tongue and then having a brain fart that wouldn't allow you to remember it. It was like she could recall seeing that face but for the life of her she could not remember where.

Soon all the answers came to her after she mentioned being a Hufflepuff. Her interviewer just so happened to be one too. That's when it all came back she had been a few years ahead of Kendal, probably the whole idea of interviewing for her first real job made her so nervous she was blocking things out or having trouble focusing. No matter she did remember now and it was great they were both from the same house so maybe this would be a good thing for Kendal. She asked about the school mostly about Professor Hubbles who used to be head of their house before he got promoted. "No he's not actually he is now Headmaster of the school believe it or not. He's still great though but Professor Vaid is head of the Puffs now." Kendal liked Professor Vaid very much. But a lot had changed in the last few years hence Kendal wanting a sort of escape from the place.

The woman whose name Kendal still hadn't remembered yet told them a funny little anecdote about her time spent at school when someone up ended a bottle of perfume. It smelled like Jasmine and Kendal loved that smell. "Now I would have liked that room since mine smells like dirty gym socks. One of my roomies has a foot oder problem maybe I should dump some perfume on the carpet night get rid of the stench." She mused figuring she would try that at some later date.

Soon though things turned a bit more interview related as Grace she finally said her name asked Kendal for her surname. The brunette felt terrible since she hadn't remembered Grace's this whole time. Not saying anything about it she just continued on with the conversation "Oh its Montgomery, a lot to say I know" she tried to joke. Her nerves were starting to get the best of her since she was trying so hard to make a good impression. Especially when she had a fond memory of Via to recall and nothing really of Kendal.

[Emmalynn Barkley]

Emmalynn woke up one morning in a rush. Her thoughts all in a jumble, but one thing that startled her was that she didn't have a job and had no plans on what she wanted to do after her Hogwarts years. She would graduate after this term and she wasn't sure what was meant for her. Being a Ravenclaw she had to think fast and know what was to come, not just wait. Emma didn't want to disgrace the House of Ravenclaw and become some bum on a log after all of her hard work on learning and supporting her house.

Taking one quick glance out of the window, Emma knew at once that she was not dressed for a day out "life" hunting, so she switched into a pair of jeans, a long sleeve black shirt, shoved on her navy blue leg warmers, and grabbed her Ravenclaw jacket. On her way out Emmalynn tied her blue and black striped scarf around her neck, pulled on some white gloves, and prepared herself for the weather that was to hit her as soon as she left the castle.

It was a relief that Emmalynn didn't have classes today and had stayed up the night before doing the last bits and pieces of her homework. It felt good to know that when she was finished she was free. Emma opened the great oak doors and a gust of frosty wind burst toward her. Coughing a little, Emmalynn set out. She didn't want to be an apprentice... Em was sure as Hell that she didn't want to be a professor and put up with all those students, but it was strange of a Ravenclaw to have that attitude, but it was true, not exactly her cup of tea. So Hogsmede it was.

Emma was so happy to have the tips of her toes and the bottoms of her heels on the familiar cobble stones of Hogsmede. Lots of memories flooded her head of old times she spent all day here, but that was the past and this was the future! Emmalynn walked up and down the streets of Hogsmede, but wasn't having much luck. She loved sweets, but felt that if she spent too much time there she would get sick of it, so Em crossed Honeydukes off her list, definetely couldn't work with animals, that took Kyleson's off, and definetely couldn't work in a bar, so there goes Club Motion. All she wanted was something normal.

That's when Emmalynn saw it. A huge, colorful, decorated sign that said jobs were open. Maybe being a waitress was what Em needed. She skipped inside and noticed Grace Marks sitting in the window, but already accompanied by two girls that probably wanted the same thing she did, so Emmalynn dwadled by the door debating whether to walk up or not. It wasn't in her nature to be bold, or blunt, so she walked up quietly and tried to get a bit of what they were talking about and sure enough it was a job. The red-head hadn't said much, but the brunette was very enthralled. Maybe Em had a chance. She walked up, not directly, but said softly next to Grace's ear,"Are you still interviewing for help? Because i'd really like the job!" She backed down and then stood there very still and quiet.

[Prof Grace Marks]

While she was at Hogwarts Grace had been very involved with the schools affairs, helping teachers with students, showing people around the castle when that was called for, disciplining as any good prefect had to do at times. She grew to know the school inside and out, on the most part, but hearing Kendal speak about how things had changed boggled Grace’s mind completely. She smiled, dumbfounded by the confirmation that Professor Hubbles was headmaster. Of course it had been in all the papers but it seemed far too strange for the Daniel Hubbles she knew to be running anything.

Chuckling lightly to herself, Grace took a sip of her tea, her head moving slowly from side to side as she contemplated how different things would be now. “It seems too strange,” Grace said softly, almost dreamily. Knowing she shouldn’t dawdle on the boring catching-up stuff, Grace chuckled when Kendal spoke of her roomie’s smelly feet problem. “You’d to well to do it,” Grace said, smiling at the brunette. “I’m pretty sure I know someone in the village who could organise a bottle for about half the price, if you’d like of course?”

It didn’t matter to Grace that she was interviewing these people. It was important for her to know who these people were and the only way she knew about getting to that was by making conversation. Besides, who didn’t like a bit of a chat now and then? Grace did and if anyone didn’t she was quite content to tell them to leave if they so wished. Grace smiled at the two younger people at her table, glad she hadn’t needed to wait awfully long for people to start coming.

Just then the door bell rang the arrival of a new customer. Grace gave the Ravenclaw – she could tell from all the Blue and Silver bits of uniform she was wearing – a quick smile before looking back to Kendal who had just given her her surname. “Yes! That’s right, Montgomery,” Grace clicked her fingers and smiled. “I was certain it was something like that but you know when your mind just doesn’t let you remember something … yeah, it was one of those moments.” Grace gave the girl an apologetic smile before she noticed the Ravenclaw had made her way over.

Grace looked up at the second brunette and smiled. Well, this should be fun, she thought. “Of course,” Grace waved her hand and the chair to her other side pulled itself out, “have a seat.” Grace gave Kendal a wink before turning to he new comer. “Alright, so you’re not a Hufflepuff so I don’t know your name. I’m Grace Marks, I was at Hogwarts but a few years back now, going on four actually. Anyway, tell us all your name and why you want this job. Oh and please, help yourself to crumpets and tea.” Grace pushed the plate of crumpets towards the Ravenclaw and summoned another tea cup for her.

[Emmalynn Barkley]

Today had been all planned out. Emmalynn was to go to Hogsmede find a job, apply, and get accepted. She was definetely not prepared for conversation, but so far this was the only shop she had found that was accepting applications, so why not have a quick small talk and then be on her way. She had nothing else to do today or anything else on her mind, so Em sat in the seat offered to her and smiled.

"Thank you," Em murmured as she took the seat and scooted up to the table. Grace seemed nice, sweet, and would be quite easy to take orders from, so this could be a piece of cake. She timidly picked of the tea and poured herself a cup and sipped it smoothly and in spread out motions. Occasionally she would give a nod to Kendal for something she had said, but mainly just sat back. That was until the subject changed to her.

She listened to Grace's questions and thought of replies in her head. Emma cleared her throat softly and gently and answered,"Hello, I'm Emmalynn Barkley, but I also respond to Emma or Em, they are all fine! I'm a seventh year Ravenclaw... it's good to meet you Miss. Marks." Em hesitated a second before going on with why she wanted the job."Well it's quite a story, but I woke up this morning and realized I was graduating this term and had nothing planned for my life. I knew I didn't want to be any sort of Professor, so apprentice was out of the question, but helping at a tea shop or running one later on in life, so I noticed you were accepting and came in! I think it would be a fine job to help me with my conversation skills, friendliness, and a bit softer on the taking orders. I am very excited and want to try it out!"

Emmalynn stopped short. She had been talking for awhile. It was time for her to shut her mouth and let someone else speak. She took a sip of her tea and a plucked a few crumplets from their position and put them on her plate.

[Kendal Montgomery]

Kendal had been doing well, or at least she thought. For once she didn't feel shy or out of place. No she was being her normal cheerful self. Talking like she normally did and happier than she had been in days. A job was just the thing she needed to keep her morale up. School had just started back up but soon it would be over just like it was every year and soon she would be left with nothing to do and she didn't want that. Kendal was the kind of girl who had to keep busy and this just seemed the perfect fit.

Grace seemed to like her or at least not dislike her. It was a good thing they were both in the same house, they sort of knew each other, not that she assumed Grace would give her a job just because they came from the same house even though Puffs were all about pride and loyalty. No she didn't want special treatment she just wanted an opportunity.

Just when she thought things were going her way, since Via hadn't really said much in quite some time the door opened and closed again. Kendal thought nothing of it at first until the new comer walked over to where they were sitting. To her surprise this new girl whom Kendal thought might have been a Ravenclaw was also asking for the job. Kendal's heart sank. There were only two spots and now three of them vying for it. Weren't there other places in the village hiring they could apply for?

There was no way she could control this so all she could do was smile as the girl took a seat and started to introduce herself to Grace. Kendal listened showed the proper respect to the girl while she spoke. Lord she hoped no one else was about to walk in there and ask for a job.