2.
"Moring sunshine!" Came a shrill chirp that woke wizard from his slumber. Harry groaned as he had to squint at the bright tuesday sunlight filtering through the ancient window.
The dark shadow of a woman soon blocked the blinding rays, relieving Harry of his distress until his sight focused on the most unpleasant day-wrecker since double potions with Slytherin: Tabloid Journalist Rita Skeeter.
"Bloody Hell! What is that parasite doing in our dorms!?" Ron screamed as he bolted awake. "Ah, language Mr. Weasley. Language." She sounded like a preschool teacher scolding a pupil. "Oi! I say what I want! Now what are you doing here? Harry isn't even dressed yet!" And with that reminder, Harry and Ron turned pink in the face and pulled their blankets to their chins.
"Ron..." Harry groaned. "Sorry Ms. Skeeter, for my friend. He's not much of a morning person. He's right though, so could you perhaps wait in the common room. I'll be down shortly." Harry did his best to sound professional, and the reporter was impressed by the dashing young man. "Very well." and she smiled falsly to the red haired boy as she exited, swaying uneccisarily.
"Thanks mate, and sorry about that. I just don't want her to write something worse in the Prophet. I contacted her because I could use some...good publicity. We're still cool, yeah?" Harry asked his best male mate hesitantly. "Never better man. I was being a bit of a git anyways. No matter how terrible she is, we should always treat a lady with respect." They both smiled, then shouted loud enough to wake the whole castle (if it were not for the sound proof walls, that would have been the case):
"Unless she's a Death Eater!"
The interview went on better than Harry had expected, and Rita's quill wrote mostly truth. It was smooth sailing until the ship hit the rocks: "Is there anyone special, has any girl catch the eye of 'the chosen one' ?"
Rita knew she had him when he refused to look her in her prying eyes. "So, there is a girl. Name? Height? Hair color? Nationality? Is she Slytherin? Spill." The journalist was bubbling with excitement and anticipation.
"She could never know." Harry thought to himself as he thinks of a way to be as vague as possible.
"Err...well, she goes here. And um...she's a girl." Harry started cautiously, torturing the reporter by dragging out the unimportant and self-explanitory details. But she knew she had to be patient this time. He continued.
"She has dark colored hair...long." Hmm? Dark?
"She's also very beautiful, and loves quidditch!" There we go, he's opening up, thought the reporter.
"She's very popular, and smart." Harry stopped, realizing how obvious this was becoming. He hung his head.
Rita picked this up immediately. "Thank you for that. Now, how long have you two been together, since you saved her I assume?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand what you mean by saved her? I've only spoken to her a few times. And we aren't together, she's going with...someone else." Harry was slightly confused. As was Ms. Skeeter. She was sure that Harry Potter was head-over-heels for the bushy-haired-brunette. The gossip-seeker had connections and sources all throughout the castle, and many of them were positive that the two were an item! Well, now the truth may be uncovered as to who has captured the heart of the boy who lived!
"Oh never mind that, dear! Now, I assume you two aren't going to the Christmas Ball together?" She was ready to get all the details of Mr. Potter's lovelife. "No ma'am. In fact, after I found out someone already asked her, I decided against going. But I've changed my mind."
"Due to?" Questioned the journalist.
"Just some encouragment from my friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger." Ooo, interesting! "Please do tell!" The magical quill was going a mile a minute vibrating with anticipation. "Well...Ron said that I was modest enough to get any girl I want. I guess that he meant that it's obvious I won't use my fame to domineer and prey on girls, so they'll trust me more. So in a very indirect and over-analyzed way, I was told that I am trustworthy." Harry said with a fond smile, while Skeeter barely kept it together. All she wanted was what the girl had to say!
"And what of your other friend, Ms. Granger?" The reporter asked with a false reasurring smile, one that Harry failed to see through.
"Ah, Hermione," He smiled, which Rita noted. "She said alot of really nice things, and they all meant more than I can put into words." That's all he said.
Fed up, but not willing to harrass the boy (yet), she thanked him for his time, and left for the Floo. The issue would be printed the next morning after throuroughly rushed editing.