"There's plenty here for everyone." Molly announced as they walked in. They all sat at the table with Ron, who had finally noticed them and waved hello before going back to his meal, to begin their lunch. They ate quietly for the most part, which made it even odder when Ron finally spoke up.
"Hey, uhh, Greengrass?" Ron said uncertainly.
"Yes?" Daphne answered curiously. Harry too looked at his old friend, wondering what he was doing.
"I just wanted to say… thanks. For what you did in Diagon Alley." Ron continued. The whole time he talked he stared down at his empty bowl. "That guy would have killed me if you hadn't been there, so thanks."
"Oh." Daphne answered, a litte surprised by Ron's behavior. "You're welcome then." Ron nodded, got up from the table and left the room without saying anything else.
"Did you tell him to do that?" Sirius asked Molly after a few moments of silence.
"No. That must have been his idea." she answered with a proud look on her face. "The Weasley family owes you a debt of gratitude, Daphne. If you ever need our help, we'll be there the best we can."
"I'll remember that, Mrs Weasley. Thanks." Daphne replied. As she finished saying that a loud gonging noise was heard from the direction of the living room. When Harry first heard the noise it had confused him but he had learned it was the wizarding equivalent of a telephone ringing and meant that someone was floo-calling them.
"I'll see who it is." Harry announced as he got up and headed towards the living room. Once there he saw the face of Daniel Greengrass staring up at him.
"Ah, Harry! Just who I wanted to talk to." Daniel said. "Are you and Daphne having fun?"
"Hi Mr Greengrass. Yeah, we are. Is something wrong?" Harry asked.
"No, nothing like that. I have a surprise for you and Daphne lined up, why don't you both come back here. It shouldn't take more than an hour or so."
"Alright." Harry answered uncertainly. "I'll go get Daphne."
"Excellent!" Daniel replied. "Hurry though; there is no time to waste." Harry left and explained to Daphne and Sirius what he had been told. Neither of them had any idea what he could have been talking about, but Daphne assured them that this kind of behavior was not out of the ordinary for her dad. The best thing for them to do would be to go along with it because they would probably enjoy whatever it was he had planned.
And so, a few minutes later Harry and Daphne stepped out of the floo and into the Greengrass home. Grasping Harry's hand, Daphne led him to another part of the house in an attempt to locate her father. Eventually they found him in the sitting room looking over a piece of parchment.
"So what's the surprise?" Daphne asked as they entered the room.
"We have a guest coming." Daniel explained. "Whatever happens, I need you both to follow my lead, ok? In fact, in may be best if you tried to say as little as possible and just let me handle this."
"What are you talking about?" Daphne said in an obviously confused tone. But a moment later one of their house elves appeared to announce that their guest had arrived and was being shown in. Daniel motioned for Harry and Daphne to sit down and stood up to meet their guest. When the door opened Harry was only barely able to stifle his gasp of surprise when he saw who it was.
"Ah, Ms Skeeter. Please come in, sit down." Daniel said as he welcomed the annoying reporter in. Rita Skeeter's eyes lit up when she saw that Harry and Daphne were both in the room and she began to imagine how much attention a joint interview with them would bring her.
"Thank you, Mr Greengrass." she said as she sat down at a table that had been prepared for them. A tray of drinks was brought in for them to enjoy as they talked. "I am curious about why you called me here though…"
"Yes, I suppose you would be." Daniel replied as he took a sip of his drink. "You have done your best to drag my family's name through the mud during the past year, not to mention the abuse you have heaped onto Harry here."
"Don't be so sensitive." Rita said dismissively. "It's just a story in the newspaper. What harm could it actually do?"
"I thought you might see it that way." Daniel said with a shake of his head. "We're here because I want to offer you a deal, Ms Skeeter. I offer you my assistance and protection, and in exchange you never write another word about my family or Harry Potter ever again."
"You must be joking!" Rita laughed. "I don't need your help or protection, and I will not be told what to write about."
"Are you sure?" Daniel asked. "This is my last offer, turn me down now and you will never get it again."
"No." Rita answered confidently.
"Well then, I suppose I should explain why you might need my help and protection." Daniel answered with a smile. "I know everything, Ms Skeeter. All of your secrets."
"I highly doubt that!" Rita snorted.
"Let's start with the fact that you are an unlicensed Animagus. A beetle to be precise." Daniel began. "You do know that is illegal, don't you?" Rita looked a bit unnerved by the revelation, but was able to keep a smile plastered on her face.
"So you know about that, huh?" Rita said. "No matter, I will simply pay the fine and continue my work. That is not enough to keep me from writing about you or anyone I want."
"Oh but there's more. I've had an associate following you for the past few months." Daniel explained. "He, like you, is an unregistered Animagus. His form is a common pigeon. Something you could see a dozen times a day and not be suspicious of. He has been watching and compiling a list of your various crimes. I have a copy here, if you'd like." He handed her the piece of parchment he had been looking at earlier and as soon as she began to read it the color drained out of her face.
"Lies!" Rita shrieked once she had finished reading. "All lies!"
"Could you say that under Veritaserum? I highly doubt it." Daniel replied with a laugh. "An interesting read though, wasn't it? Stealing documents from the Ministry is a serious offense, Rita. And using an illegal animagus form to do so only makes it worse. And isn't it odd that you, a reporter supposedly dedicated to exposing corruption; is an integral piece of the corrupt infrastructure that has overtaken our government? Fudge was bribing you to write nice things about him, although you clearly turned on him when the bribes stopped coming. And what will the Aurors do when they discover your interest in dark artifacts?"
"Those are for research purposes! Nothing more." Rita insisted.
....
Join my P*atreon to enjoy 60+ advanced chapters.
Link: p*atreon.com/ScarletRosee (Remove the *)
Free members can get 2+ advanced chapters FOR FREE.