The Weekly Word: Hogwarts Hubbies?
By Rita Skeeter
They say that distance makes the heart grow fonder. And how far apart are the Slytherin and Gryffindor houses? To most, they are like polar opposites.
For centuries on end, the two rivaling houses of Hogwarts have been competing in more ways than the yearly-awarded House Cup and Quiditch Cup. The Gryffindor house is a courageous bunch who relay heavily on friendship and honor. The Slytherin house believes in pureblooded students and power. It's hard to think that these two founders of the school could have once been friends. But, as they say, opposites attract.
There has always been a sense of fighting for honor between these students, and this generation of wizards is not to be excluded.
Meet Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived. He is one of the pride and joy of the Gryffindor house; the most famous Gryffindor since Albus Dumbledore. For years the youth and his countless brushes with He Who Must Not Be Named have fascinated the world. Though each time he seems to come out on top, what is left is a boy filled with pain and dark secrets.
I had the opportunity to meet Harry in his 4th year at Hogwarts during the Triwizard Tournament. I can honestly say that he opened up to me more than anyone he'd met previously. At only 14 this boy was already emotionally scarred by the dark wizarding world. Three years later, we can only imagine the devastation after the death of Albus Dumbledore and countless deaths during the Final Duel of he and You-Know-Who.
On the opposite end, meet Draco Malfoy, son of one of the Ministry's most respected contributors, Lucius Malfoy. The highly regarded pureblood family is still shrouded in mystery with the dealings of the Dark Lord. It still has not been confirmed if Lucius was in fact a Death Eater, his son a counterpart. Draco is the last remaining Malfoy to carry on the family name and the pureblood bloodline.
These two boys of seventeen were enemies from the get-go, but time does change things. It would seem that these two attractive opposites would each be a ladies' man in their reputable houses. Most are aware of Potter's interest in the daughter of Ministry of Magic's Arthur Weasley. But inside sources at Hogwarts have reported that the popular couple has, since Christmas, broken up. It is also known that Malfoy has stopped his slightly promiscuous reputation in the Slytherin house.
Perhaps a bit of competition between these long-term enemies resulted in something more? It is unsure, but we can say that there has been some suspicion rising among the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Weekly Word can only report that, there are some strange things happening at Hogwarts. Could it be a story like that of the Muggle's Romeo and Juliet?
Only time, and the next issue of the Weekly Word can tell!
Hermione threw the magazine upon the hall table with a growl. Her face was purple as one of the turnips dangling from Luna's ears. She sat at the Gryffindor house table alongside Ron, Neville, and Luna. Harry had not come down from the dormitory yet that day, and Hermione was thankful for it. If he'd seen the article, he'd probably be cursing Malfoy into oblivion within seconds. Ron eyed Hermione through a mouthful of toast. "Whry do yer read dat stuff?" he mumbled before swallowing with a loud gulp. "It only makes you look like Harry's uncle and then go on a rant about how Rita Skeeter should be in Azkaban for her violations and, well, I can't remember everything you go on about."
Hermione glared. "Read this one." She pushed the glossy cover over to Ron. He flipped through Witch's Weekly till he got to the column Rita Skeeter had picked up after her failing book on Albus Dumbledore. Ron wrinkled his nose at the little picture that went with the article. It was a picture of a snake wrapped around the Gryffindor lion. His eyes continued to get wider and wider as he scanned over the short editorial. By the time he was done, he was the color of Hermione.
"That's disgusting," he muttered, still shocked from the article.
"Don't believe any of that rubbish Skeeter writes," Neville said angrily. "She's just trying to get attention and reviews."
"Yes, and she had the nerve to ask my father if she could write for him!" Luna declared, her large doe eyes looking only as outraged as the strange girl could. Ron elbowed Hermione before she could go on about what she thought of the Quibiler.
"Be nice," he muttered under his breath. Hermione huffed.
"What's this one going on about anyways?" Neville asked, eyeing the magazine with distaste.
"It's suggesting Harry and Malfoy are having a secret love affair," Hermione said, a blush creeping up around her face. "Which not only is disturbing but completely improbable! They hate each other!"
"Moving on," Ron said loudly, making all of them give him a strange look. He nodded his head towards the Slytherin table. Quickly, the three other pairs of eyes focused on the house table. Draco Malfoy was holding a copy of Witch's Weekly in his hands that appeared to have been supplied by Pansy Parkinson. She was looking like she could wrestle with a hippogriff and win. Malfoy's eyes were staring straight at the small group. Neville gulped, but Ron, Hermione and Luna caught the glint in his eye that said he was considering the idea of dueling Malfoy. Since the Final Battle, as it had been dubbed, Neville had grown to be far more daring.
Ron cleared his throat and asked casually, "So, why do you even bother paying to read that git's writing?"
"Well, Ginny sort of got me hooked on the monthly "Hexes for Exes"," Hermione admitted, the blush back on her face. Her eyes widened at the look of horror on Ron's face. "Not that I'd use them on… I mean… I'd love to try them out on someone like the likes of Malfoy." Ron smirked, Luna giggled and Neville gave a grim smile.
Ginny had stopped spending time with all of them lately. Since she and Harry had gotten into a fight during the winter holidays, the whole thing felt very awkward. Both had not spoken about the reason behind the fight. No one pressed the issue. Ginny was torn up about it, and Harry was living in his own cloud of moodiness. Whenever conversation turned to the youngest Weasley, things tended to become awkward.
Just as the silence was lasting a little too long, a voice from behind them said, "Morning." All eyes turned to Harry, who was looking groggy and a little disgruntled. The awkwardness was even worse at this unexpected entrance. Hermione grabbed the magazine too quickly to keep it rolled up in her lap. Harry raised a dark eyebrow. "Hermione, what are you trying to hide?" he mumbled as he sat down to pour himself a cup of pumpkin juice.
"Rita Skeeter wrote and article about you and Malfoy having a cloak-and-dagger love life," Luna replied easily, taking a casual sip of milk.
Harry began to gag in mid swing of his pumpkin juice. Ron gave him a heavy smack on the back, making the juice fly over the table. Harry didn't seem to care, however. "What?!?"
"Skeeter's got nothing better to do, mate," Ron sighed. "So she decides to write about gossip in Hogwarts. I hate to think what my mum thinks of it…"
Everyone at the table cringed.
Harry was looking very green. Hermione patted him on the shoulder sympathetically. "Oh, don't worry Harry," she insisted. "Malfoy's just as mortified. It's not like he can hold it against you." Harry eyed the Slytherin table where Malfoy was staring back at him with anger. Harry glared back and stood up suddenly.
"I've got to go ask Hagrid about… something," he mumbled and left the hall. Hermione wasn't the only one who noticed the uncomfortable flush around his neck. Ron scratched his shoulder thoughtfully. Luna's eyes were tracking Malfoy, who had left the hall too.
"'Ello kids," came a booming voice from behind them. Neville, Ron, Luna and Hermione, turned around with a jump. Hagrid loomed over them, smiling happily through his ragged beard.
The four friends exchanged glances, before Luna said cheerfully, "Hello Hagrid!"