Hermione stormed down Diagon Alley first thing in the morning. The sun was just rising and she still had several hours until she had to be at the Vratsa grounds to apparate to the semi finals of the European Cup. She held a copy of the Daily Prophet in her hand as she marched towards the head office. The articles gossiping about her relationship status had annoyed her, but she had never thought to take any action. But, the latest article made Hermione realise that this had to stop. The headline read: Potter Weasley showdown - will Granger be the end of the relationship. Hermione had apparated to Ginny's flat when the owl had left the paper at the crack of dawn. She had asked Ginny if she and Harry had broken up and Ginny had said that no, they had not. They had only argued because she had taken the letters. Hermione could not have the paper scandalise her friends in this way. So she was doing something to make a change.
Barnabas Cuffe sat in his office as the sun rose, as he did every day. However, unlike every day, he had been greeted by a seething young witch, whom he had been waiting to meet for a long time.
"Miss Granger, please come in." He invited her in and watched as she placed herself in the chair opposite his desk. She slid the paper across the mahogany and looked up into his eyes.
"These lies are unacceptable." She stated. Her voice was firm and he felt his face turn red at being called out in such a manner.
"Miss Granger, I can assure you that my employees do the utmost amount of research." He tried to reassure her.
"Well that simply isn't true. As I have not seen a single morsel of truth reported concerning myself over the past week." She raised her voice, obviously angry about the situation.
"You insult me, fine. You insult my friends and I have a problem. So what I suggest we do is that you fetch a quill and do the first piece of honest reporting that your paper has ever seen." He stared at her with wide eyes before retrieving a quill and parchment, hanging on her every word.
"Now, I want this to be copied word for word, do you understand me?" She questioned him, he nodded, feeling himself begin to submit to her confidence.
"I have never had romantic relations with Harry Potter, nor shall I. He loves Ginny Weasley and despite their spats, their relationship is strong and loving." She paused, glaring down at him as he scribbled onto his parchment.
"Where Ronald is concerned, whatever relationship we had is over and shall remain as such." He nodded, quickly writing down her sentiments.
"And finally, I do have a man in my life and his name is Viktor Krum. I am his and he is mine. And I want the public to no longer think I juggle men like a clown. Viktor Krum is the only man in my life and I want the world to know." She stated. Hermione knew the risk in telling Mr Cuffe all of these things. But she knew it was the only way to silence them.
Before she left, Hermione demanded one thing from Barnabas Cuffe.
"I want the front page article changed, today. I do not want my friends' names polluted thus further by your establishment. Use what I have given you, I am sure it shall be enough." Barnabas' mouth fell agape, he had never met such a tenacious young witch in his life and if he was honest with himself, her story would sell faster than the spat between Harry and his girlfriend.
"I shall fulfill your request, Miss Granger and may I apologise for any harm that my paper has inflicted upon your life." She nodded before letting him take an image of her.
"I want you to think of Krum as you look into my lens." Cuffe asked and sighed as he saw the girl's austere mask fall, leaving a giggling, lovestruck witch sat before him. He smiled softly, knowing that his readers were going to love this, the lost lovers finding each other once again. They shook hands and any bad blood that had existed disappeared. She smiled softly and thanked him for his time and before he could reply, she was sashaying out of his office. He watched her leave, understanding why his readers loved her so much.
Hermione breathed deeply once she had left the Daily Prophet headquarters. She had fought off death eaters and stared into the face of Voldemort, but she had never been so scared as she had been in that moment, sat in front of the man that could ruin her life. She was sure that she had presented her case well and she was sure she would find herself to be front page news. She didn't mind so much, finally putting all of the whispers about her and Ron and even Harry to rest.
Ivan was early for work and found Viktor sat with his head in his hands.
"Have you read the paper this morning, Viktor?" He asked him, holding his copy of the Daily Prophet in his hand.
"Yes." He replied curtly. Ivan wondered why he was so solemn. Had Hermione confessed her relationship with him to the world, Ivan was sure he would be ecstatic.
"Are you not happy?" He asked Viktor, baffled by his reaction.
"Why would I be? Harry Potter is nothing to me." Ivan looked at his friend with a quizzical stare.
"I think you are reading the wrong paper, Viktor." He handed his friend the Daily Prophet and watched as his eyes widened and he clapped a hand over his mouth.
Viktor had read the headline of the Daily Prophet quickly before leaving the house. He had rolled his eyes at the image of Potter and the Weasley girl rowing and had moved on, deciding to read the paper later. However, the front page headline of the new edition that Ivan had given him was entirely different. It read: I do have a man in my life and his name is Viktor Krum. He wasn't sure how to contain his happiness as he stared down at the image of Hermione, giggling and seemingly lovestruck. He hadn't been sure the previous night if she had wanted their relationship to become public. But now, he hadn't a single morsel of doubt and he longed to see her and travel to Ireland as a couple for the first time.