�Ah, this is the life, huh, Harry?�
�Too right, Ron. At the end of this week, we�ll all be gainfully employed.�
�I love that word: employed. It makes me think of independence and fame.�
�It makes me think of the money I�m going to get paid.�
Hermione shot Ron a look across the table, and then decided against her �Money isn�t everything� speech. She wanted to enjoy this night, out with her best friend and her boyfriend.
They headed back for the Burrow shortly after 11. The next morning was their first day on the job, and they didn�t want to be late.
* * *
Hermione awoke the next morning with a spring in her step. She had a job, a mission, something special to do that day. The Daily Prophet was waiting for her!
She dressed quickly in her nice business robes. She waved her wand about her head, and her hair magically twisted up in an elegant bun. Satisfied with her appearance, she stuck her wand in her inside pocket and went down to breakfast.
�Eat up! You have to have your strength up if you want to make a good impression on your first day!�
�Mum! Must you be so chipper at this time of the morning?�
�Honey! Shape up! You can�t go to work half asleep!�
�Right, let me go splash some water on my face.�
Hermione took the empty chair that was previously occupied by Ron and helped herself to some eggs and kippers.
�Ah, it�s nice to see someone is awake this morning! Are you ready for your first day at the Prophet?
�More than ready. I�m so excited!�
�I�m sure you are. Now, have a cup of this delicious cappuccino!�
Hermione took a sip and savored the French Vanilla taste. �Mrs. Weasley, how did you learn how to make cappuccino like that?�
�Well, I was walking down the street headed for the Leaky Cauldron when I saw one of those app-er-lie-ce stores.�
�Appliance stores?�
�Maybe that was it. Anyway, they had a veletision in the window.�
�A television?�
�Yeah, one of those Muggle things. Anyways, there was a cooking show on. . .it was from America. What was the name of that programme? Oh, yes. Al Roker�s Cooking Segment.�
�Ah, that man is glorified in the Muggle world. Especially in America.�
�Well, that morning he was making �Mocha Cappuccinos� and it looked so good that I decided to try it for myself!�
�They are very good. I don�t think I�ve had anything this good in a Muggle coffee-shop.�
Hermione looked down at her watch. �I�m going to be late. Good-bye, Mrs. Weasley!� She raced up the stairs to give Ron a good-bye kiss and wished him luck on the job.
Then she Apparated and began her first day of work.