Chapter 14: Rita Skeeter negotiation deal
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER. IT BELONGS TO JK ROWLING.
A/N: Read, enjoy, and remember not to take either life or my writing too seriously.
Rita Skeeter blinked at Harry's comment.
"Ron?" she repeated. "Which Ron?"
Harry stared at her in disbelief.
"The champion who took my place in the tournament."
"Oh!" Rita said brightly. "You mean Tom?"
Harry rubbed his forehead.
"No. Ron. Ron Weasley."
She waved a dismissive hand.
"Yes yes, that boy. The one who replaced you. Is the problem that his name was misspelled in the article?"
"That's not the point," Harry said irritably.
"You still wrote the story as if I were the champion. My picture was printed even though I'm not competing."
Rita sniffed indignantly.
"Harry, the article was already finished before your unfortunate accident. Hours of research and writing went into it."
"The editor decided to publish it anyway. We added your friend's name at the end."
Harry frowned.
"But Ron said you interviewed him during the wand weighing."
Rita hesitated.
"I… left my notes behind," she said awkwardly.
In truth, she was still furious about losing one of her expensive Quick Quotes Quills during that encounter.
Harry folded his arms.
"And what about his photo? We heard your photographer took pictures of all the champions."
Rita glanced at the photographer beside her.
The man suddenly found the floor extremely interesting.
In reality, he had used most of his film on Fleur Delacour, then the rest on Viktor Krum. By the time he reached Ron, the film roll was empty.
"That particular photo was… damaged," Rita said smoothly.
"But I'll make you a deal."
Harry raised an eyebrow.
"A deal?"
"Yes. During the first task, we'll take excellent pictures of your friend and give him a front-page story."
She leaned forward.
"If you give me a short interview."
Harry looked at Hermione.
Hermione thought about it carefully, chewing her bottom lip as she considered possible tricks.
After several seconds she nodded slightly.
Harry sighed.
"Fine. One condition."
Rita's eyes sparkled.
"Yes?"
"Ron gets a full article with his name spelled correctly and a large photo."
"And you get ten minutes."
Rita clapped her hands together.
"Perfect! I'll arrange everything."
She swept away with her photographer.
Harry watched her leave.
Then he turned to Hermione.
"Why do I feel like I just made a deal with the devil?"
Hermione watched the reporter disappear through the door.
"Because you probably did."
Harry stretched slightly and leaned back.
"You know… I should write to Sirius Black."
"He doesn't even know Hermione and I are together yet."
Hermione laughed softly.
"If he reads the Daily Prophet, he already knows."
"That photo was pretty large."
Harry winced.
"Still… I should explain things."
Hermione nodded.
"And maybe ask if he has any idea who entered your name in the Goblet."
"That still worries me."
Harry agreed.
"If someone wanted to kill me once, they might try again."
He stood.
"Let's stop by Honeydukes and get Ron something."
Hermione rolled her eyes internally, but she understood.
Ron had been Harry's first real friend.
Harry's loyalty ran deep.
"Alright," she said.
Outside the Three Broomsticks
As they left the pub, they noticed Rubeus Hagrid entering with Alastor Moody.
As Harry walked past, Hagrid grabbed his shoulder and leaned down.
"Harry… come down ter my hut tonight. Midnight."
"Bring that cloak o' yours."
Harry opened his mouth to ask why.
Hagrid immediately placed a finger to his lips.
Then he and Moody walked away.
Harry looked at Hermione.
"Hagrid wants me to meet him tonight."
Hermione frowned.
"At midnight?"
"That's after curfew."
Harry shrugged.
"It's Hagrid."
Hermione sighed.
Images flashed through her mind.
Acromantulas. Dragons. Three-headed dogs. Blast-Ended Skrewts.
"I'm coming with you," she said firmly.
Harry smiled.
"Probably a good idea."
Honeydukes
They left Honeydukes later with a bag of sweets.
Harry slipped the bag into his cloak pocket.
Then he paused.
Something else was inside.
He slowly pulled out a folded piece of parchment.
"Someone slipped me a note," he whispered.
Hermione leaned closer.
They read it together.
Potter, Granger.
Meet tonight at 8PM.
Transfiguration classroom.
Important discussion.
The handwriting was blocky and clearly disguised.
Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Last names?"
"Malfoy," Harry said immediately.
"Probably."
"Think it's a trap?" he asked.
Hermione smiled slowly.
"Probably."
Then she added:
"But traps work both ways."
Harry grinned.
"Got a plan?"
Hermione nodded.
"Let's go prepare."
"Nothing says romance like sweeping up Ferret."
Later That Evening
At 7:50 PM, Harry sat alone inside the Transfiguration classroom.
His back faced the door.
His wand lay on the table.
In his hands was the Marauder's Map.
Two names approached the door.
Daphne Greengrass.
Tracey Davis.
Harry smiled slightly.
"Showtime."
The door creaked open.
Daphne stepped inside cautiously while Tracey remained outside.
Harry didn't turn around.
"Hello Daphne," he said calmly.
"You might as well invite Tracey in too."
Silence filled the room.
Then Harry turned slowly.
Both Slytherin girls looked stunned.
"How did you know?" Daphne asked.
Harry simply shrugged.
"I have my ways."
Tracey stepped inside.
Both girls drew their wands.
Harry didn't reach for his own.
"So," he said calmly.
"The note said you wanted to talk."
Tracey glanced around.
"Where's Granger?"
"Studying," Harry said.
"She'll be here soon."
Daphne smirked.
"So you're alone."
"And you don't even have your wand ready."
"Trusting, aren't you?"
Harry shrugged again.
"I've been told that."
"So what's this about?"
Daphne raised her wand.
"It has to stop!"
Harry blinked.
"What has to stop?"
"You know exactly what!"
Harry raised one eyebrow.
"Threatening me over something you haven't explained?"
Daphne's wand lifted higher.
"Or what?" Harry asked calmly.
His eyes flashed.
"EXPELLIARMUS!"
Daphne's wand flew out of her hand.
Both Slytherins froze.
Behind them, hidden beneath the Invisibility Cloak, Hermione struggled not to laugh.
Tracey stared at Harry.
"You can do wandless magic?"
Harry pointed his finger at her.
"Put your wand away," he said calmly.
"Or I'll remove it for you too."
Tracey shoved it into her pocket immediately.
At that moment Hermione entered the room normally.
"Hi Harry," she said cheerfully.
"Did I miss anything?"
Harry nodded toward the Slytherins.
"Just meeting our dungeon snake friends."
Hermione blinked in mock surprise.
"You sent the note?"
Daphne suddenly looked desperate.
"It's the smell!"
Tracey burst out.
"The horrible smell in our common room!"
Harry looked at Hermione.
"Hermione… any idea what they're talking about?"
Hermione sniffed theatrically.
"Well… they do smell a little strong."
Daphne suddenly broke.
"We surrender!" she cried.
She held out a parchment.
"Everyone in Slytherin signed this. Everyone except Malfoy."
"If he's the one you want punished… we'll deliver him."
"Just make the smell stop."
Harry looked at Hermione.
Hermione struggled to keep a straight face.
Then she said thoughtfully:
"You know… I did hear the twins talking about a prank."
"Something about jinxing the Slytherin hourglass."
"And something about Malfoy."
"Maybe a proximity curse."
Harry nodded slowly.
"Sounds like something Fred Weasley and George Weasley would do."
The Slytherins looked hopeful.
"Will you talk to them?" Daphne pleaded.
Hermione nodded.
"We'll try."
"But if Snape hears about it… the jinx might never be removed."
Both girls nodded quickly.
They left the room.
The moment the door closed—
Harry and Hermione collapsed into laughter.
"What did you just do?" Harry asked.
Hermione grinned.
"I think we just started a civil war in Slytherin."
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