Summary: Harry was a kind being, truly, but there are some lines you do not cross. Like, making his friends cry.
Chapter 1
Harry stared at the article shining as the cover news of The Daily Prophet.
"Hermione Granger: A fraud?" The headline flashed mockingly.
It had been a long time since anyone of them got in the first page of the newspaper in a negative light. Harry was suddenly reminded of those years of dealing with Skeeter, the lies, the gossips, the war-
He took a deep breath as he scanned the article. Everyone around him had gone deathly quiet, he noticed absent-mindedly. The Burrow and quiet was never something that went together in the same sentence (unless there was a "not" present in between). The calm before the storm.
The article described how a Hermione was a fraudulent witch who had misused a variety of potions and obscure magic to enhance her intelligence (Harry snorted at that. It takes intelligence to learn obscure magic, fools.) and how she hatched hare-brained schemes for protecting creatures, and of course, how can someone of such a low birth could possibly be a leader of the Wonderful Wizarding World. It also mentioned repeatedly how she was riding the coattails of the fame of Boy-Who-Lived-
"I'll- I'll- what the bloody hell are they saying?" Ron was pissed. Harry watched, fascinated once again, as his best friend's face changed colour to match his hair. "We came out alive of the whole thing because of her!"
"You're telling me," said Harry, still scanning the paper.
Similar noises of protests rose all across the room. Shouts and threats flew around, accompanied by rattling of plates and cutlery. Even Percy made an affronted noise at the accusations.
But Harry shifted his focus to the person seated next to him. Hermione had gone completely white, her lips pressed in a thin line, her fists shaking. He was a bit alarmed at the slightly misty and burning intensity in her eyes. His hands closed around her fist.
"Hey, hey it's alright." Harry murmured. "We know those are all false, we-"
"Harry, you know it, they know it," Hermione gestured at the table. All the eyes were on her as she continued. "But, people? They don't. You know how it was during Hogwarts. Even Molly believed it that time!"
Molly's face fell.
"It's a smear campaign," said Percy. "We can sue them on account of defamation-"
"It will take too long." Arthur said, his voice grim. "The elections are nearing."
"I'm going to punch that reporter," snarled Ron.
"Not helping," came Ginny's snide answer.
As the table roared with arguments again, Harry took one look at the angry, lost expression on his friend's face and took a decision.
He cleared his throat. Loudly.
"I'll do it."
Cassius Zograf was delighted to find out that the great Harry Potter had agreed to give him an interview. A personal, never before interview regarding his whole fighting of Voldemort. To him. He knew he was destined for greatness. The fact that he was contacted because of his previous article made the whole thing even better.
He knew it.
The Boy-Who-Lived would become his stepping stone. He smirked at the mirror as he fixed his tie. Well, if he spiced things up a little bit in his writings, no one could fault him. He was a reporter.
He was so delighted, he didn't even shout at the person who had accidentally bumped into him at the stairs. Just a few chosen words, and he was off.
Cassius looked at the lone figure in the cafe and his smile faltered. The person was dressed neatly, with the only exception being a mass of un-tamable hair. It was nothing really, he looked like any other person, just waiting for his caffeine fix before they were off to work. But one thing stood out.
His eyes.
He had to stop himself from shivering, especially when those brilliant green eyes focused on him. They sent a chill straight down his spine.
Leave, his instincts screamed at him.
He pushed then aside. It was the hard headed, stupidly brave, Gryffindor Boy-Who-Lived. He couldn't be dangerous.
So he smiled and sat himself down opposite him.
That interview would definitely change his life.
As soon as Harry saw the man, he knew he will win. He had arrogance oozing out of him, clearly not giving a damn about how his words affected the life of others. All he had was ambition and a disregard of the means to achieve it. He could see the moment the man had labelled Harry as nothing too dangerous. He hadn't realized the trap.
Too bad people didn't know that the Sorting Hat's first choice for Harry was Slytherin.
Well, as long as it worked out for him. Harry smiled, as he put less than appropriate pressure on the handshake.
Harry started with pleasantries, slowly moving on to the reporter's latest article.
"How did you come to know about Granger?" He asked casually.
That was all the other man needed.
"Oh that?" He began excitedly, too excitedly Harry would say. "Did you like it?"
"Well, I'm here, aren't I?"
"You see, I knew someone like her couldn't be a part of your, you know, close circle. A mud- ah, pardon me, muggleborn girl , being the Minister of Magic? Star student of Hogwarts? Part of the Golden Trio? I knew it was impossible!"
Harry's face was calm. "Impossible how?"
"I wrote all about it in the article! A lowborn like her ruling Magical World? Do you know the outrageous ideas she have? She wants to free the elf! And equal rights for werewolves?" He laughed derisively. "As if. Women should know their place. Makes you wonder what she did to get all those O's in her OWLs and NEWTs, eh?"
"Indeed." Harry said, pleasantly. "Now let's get to business."
"I'm glad you see it my way."
By the end of the day, Daily Prophet had issued a special evening newspaper apologizing to one Hermione Granger and all the masses for publishing embellished news. There was an open letter from the reporter as well. They also went out of business that month.
No other article was ever published in the name of Cassius Zograf. Some reported him to be working in a bar at the periphery of Scotland and any mention of Harry Potter was enough to make him shut down for a couple of hours.
"Why don't we take a walk?" Potter said, riding from his chair. "And about the interview, " he continued, as he offered his hand. "We can talk while we walk."
As soon as they were out of the cafe, the grip on his hand suddenly tightened.
"What-"
"Just follow my lead." Said Harry as he dragged him into an alley and apparated.
Right to his home.
Cassius was bound, gagged and tied to his chair before he could say Merlin.
He could only stare in horror as Potter took his wand and-
"Priori Incantatem."
"So," Potter began conversationally, "Lots of tracking spells, a few Imperius, and is that a mirror linking charm? What do you have to say for yourself, Zograf?"
Quite ironical, since he was gagged.
"Let's see what else we can dig out."
He watched in horrifying fascination as Potter turned and walked to the seemingly empty wall and gave a few experimental taps. A few spells later, secret locker became visible. He undid the curses on them in one fluid motion and took out the contents.
"Do you think these subjects will be happy if they come to know that you were spying on them? And you really don't want Malfoys and Longbottoms on your case, trust me."
His cold, emerald eyes fixed on him. "And I'm pretty sure that Argus Keddle was the one who told you to write that article on Hermione. Weeding out the competition?"
This time Potter undid the bindings on his mouth.
"No, no- why-"
"Also, what would the press say about these love letters? Wizarding world still disapproves same sex marriage, you know?" His voice turned frostier. "Hermione could have helped you with that, you know? She has plans, lots of them, which called, ah, what was the term? Foolish and outrageous ideas?"
He could only whimper. "I'm sorry, please don't-"
"Of course, I can give you an out." Potter continued pleasantly. "That is, if you are interested."
He could only nod frantically.
Potter released him and procured a paper, a letter, and a quill.
"Sign that apology letter, will you? And stay from writing or-," he waved the documents in his hands. "I don't think I need to explain?"
"But-"
"I'm sorry, I didn't make myself clear - I'm not asking."
That interview definitely changed his life.
And he would pretend he did not hear Potter's muttering of dealing with The Daily Prophet.
House: Slytherin
Year: 4
Category: Standard.
Prompt:"I'm sorry, I didn't make myself clear - I'm not asking.",
Additional : cunning.
Word count: 1500.
Beta: DaronwyK