Siriusly Hooked Up
By
Mae Silverpaws
Chapter 21
Pranks and Rockstars
"Harry! Oh Merlin Harry! Have you seen the Prophet today?"
"Umm, no; why?"
"It's terrible! That woman needs to be pickled."
"Who? What happened? Did someone get hurt?"
"What? Oh no. Rita Skeeter is at it again Harry, go ask Dobby to bring you a paper. I'm surprised Sirius and Remus haven't hung her with a display pin somewhere in #12."
Harry smiled and said to the room in general. "Dobby may I have a copy of today's Prophet please."
Dobby appeared just a moment later but would not hand over the paper. "Master Harry will not like what is written there. Maybe he would like a muggle paper instead."
"No Dobby I want the prophet and I would like it now please."
Dobby seemed to be fighting with himself but could not go against such a direct order. The little elf reluctantly handed over the paper and then quickly popped out of the room.
Harry glanced at the headlines and sighed, grabbing his blackberry he said, "Mione are you still there?"
"Yup"
"I'll ring you back after I read this OK?"
"Sure Harry."
Harry disconnected the call and put down his phone.
THE BOY WHO LIVED FORCED TO WORK IN A MUGGLE JOB
Is Harry Potter broke? If not then why is he being forced to work as a receptionist? For those who do not know what that it that's a muggle greeter at an office.
It has been brought to this reporter's attention that Harry Potter is working for a living this summer. Mr Potter is the last of a long line of once very wealthy wizards and witches. The Potters are a Ancient and Noble family with 3 known vaults where has all his money gone?
This reporter has found out that when Obsidian Industries other ward was taken into the family a large amount of teenage female furnishing was purchased and sent to Obsidian. Where is the furnishing for Harry? The other ward has received a cell-e-fone , a muggle portable communication device, a new post owl and designer and tailored clothes both for everyday and for school in both muggle and wizarding stylings. Where is this for The-Boy-Who-Lived? Why doesn't Harry have a cell-e-fone? Why does Harry have to work? What happened to all of Harry's money?
The article went on for another page and a half wondering what happened where Harry's money went why the other ward was receiving new gifts while Harry hadn't. Rita was demanding a complete accounting of all of Harry's investments. Harry just sat and laughed. Where was Rita when something horrible was actually happening Harry's life? What would that little bug have done if little Harry had found her in his cupboard and befriended her with the rest of the spiders and beetles in his cupboard. He decided he was going to have to write a rebuttal to all of Rita's foolishness.
Harry was very glad that #12 had the fidelious charm on it. Not long after the initial phone call Hermione rang again.
"Harry my yard is full of owls. Can I please come over? I have to get away and if I'm not here maybe the owls will go away before the neighbors' notice." said a frazzled sounding Hermione. Harry could hear the distant hoot of quite a few owls and sighed, poor Hermione
"Hermione, you don't have to ask to come here it's your house too ya know." said Harry "and you can help me write a rebuttal. Where was that bug when stuff was actually happening, geesh, she wouldn't have had to fabricate one blasted thing back then."
Hermione laughed and told Harry she would be there in a minute to help him.
Harry and Hermione had the rebuttal finished by the time Remus and Sirius came home for dinner.
Remus was furious at The Prophet what they were hinting at and for the stress that Hermione was put through. He had already spoken to the legal department at Obsidian to see what legal channels could be used to quiet Rita and The Prophet.
Harry and Hermione said they would submit the rebuttal to the legal department.
After dinner Sirius and Remus went into the library and closed the door but before hand they suggested to Hermione that she call her parents and let them know where she was and to ask if she could stay here a few days until the owl posts calm down. Her parents understood completely and said she could stay at least until the end of the week. But that they did want to spend time with her this summer just the three of them in their house.
Hermione told Remus and Sirius what her parents had said Sirius and Remus were giggling uncontrollably and told her that would be fine and to go enjoy the library or have Neville over for a research party.
The next morning both Remus and Sirius were up and out earlier then usual their destination The Daily Prophet. Sirius was dressed in a ball cap pulled down to his brows and a dark blue jump suit and a slightly evil grin on his face. It was a definite Marauders moment. Remus nodded to Sirius and headed up the sidewalk toward the business district of Diagon Alley. "Find me when you are done, Paddy." he said
"Sure thing old man, see you in a bit." Sirius smiled and entered the building.
"May I help you?" asked the young witch at the front desk.
"Exterminator I was told you all have a beetle infestation." said Sirius with a slightly gruffer voice then he usually used.
"Oh sure, just yell if you have any problems. We did have something that was nibbling on the paper. But no pone told me about a beetle infestation"
"I'll be extra diligent in that area. Thanks for the tip. Hey when do the reporters get in? I don't want to get in their way."
"Oh in a couple hours, you have lots of time, Mr."
"Oh sorry, names Paddy, just Paddy no Mr, nice to meet you, miss. Well I'm off."
Sirius headed up to the reporter's area first and set to work. Forty five minutes later every desk had a complimentary gift on it from the new exterminator. Sirius headed down to the paper room to take care of things there.
The young witch at the front desk heard a scream, a scream that could only have come from one person on staff. A scream from Rita Skeeter.
Rushing off to her office the young witch found Rita standing before her desk a look of horror on her face. The young witch couldn't see anything wrong. Paddy had been very thorough every desk had a complimentary bug swatter shaped like a cute lady bug on their desks and above a few were fly strips. As a matter a fact the one above Rita's desk had already caught three beetles. The young witch just couldn't see what was upsetting Rita.
"Is everything OK Ms Skeeter?" asked the young witch.
"Does everything look alright? Get that thing away from my desk. Right Now!" Rita pointed at the fly strip with a shaky finger.
The young witch pointed her wand at the offending item and it disappeared from Rita's sight. But not five minutes later not one but two fly strips appeared over Rita's desk and all the beetle swatters were back on her co worker's desk. Rita's temper started to rise who had the gal to do this to her.
"Who did this?" demanded Rita
"The exterminator was here. He was just doing his job, Ma'am." said the confused young girl.
"Now get me a tea and a glass of water then go mind your own business," said the still shaking Rita.
The young girl scurried off to do the reporter's bidding.
Sirius walked out of The Daily Prophet reconfiguring his jumpsuit back into his everyday clothes and went off to meet Remus at the tea shop to report in. Both men had a good laugh at the report's reaction and they both knew that Rita knew why the exterminator had decided to visit that day.
Obsidian's legal department felt that Harry's rebuttal to Rita's "column" was appropriate instead they set up an interview with the other paper of the Wizarding World, The Quibbler. The owner Mr Lovegood would come to Remus' office before the end of the week. He wished to speak with both Harry and Hermione since they were both mentioned in the article.
Mr Lovegood stepped out of the large closet type area that was set aside for apperation into the office area of Obsidian Industries, his daughter Luna at his side with the notebook and interview quill tucked behind her ear she was the best assistant he had ever had. It was too bad she was going back to Hogwarts in the fall. He always really missed her while she was gone.
Luna smiled in her dreamy way as she looked around. "This place feels nice, Father." She said in a slightly wispy voice. "This will be a good interview for us. A good time is about to start for the Lovegoods, Father." She said with much conviction in her voice. Mr Lovegood smiled all of Luna's predictions came true and it was about time things became positive for the Lovegoods.
Harry, Hermione, Remus and Sirius were all waiting in the meeting area and were very surprised when Mayghan escorted a middle aged wizard in robes that made Albus Dumbledore's robes look subdued and a young girl approximately the same age as Harry and Hermione into the room.
Remus stood and introduced everyone
"Good afternoon Mr Lovegood may I please introduce Ms Hermione Granger, Mr Harry Potter-Black and"
"Oh I know who you are sir," interrupted Mr Lovegood, "It's such an honor to meet you Mr. Barbary I am a big fan. The Weird Sisters are our favorite band at our house."
Sirius just looked at Remus and shrugged his shoulders, "As I was saying" continued Remus "this is Sirius Black, my assistant Mayghan and I am Remus Lupin."
"Sirius Black, right," Mr Lovegood winked at Sirius, "your secret is safe with me. I am
Xenophilius Lovegood and this is my daughter and assistant Luna. Please call me Xeno. Now is this a good place or are we sitting someplace else?"
"No this is fine. Luna can set up over here at the conference table." said Mayghan indicating the area for the interview.
Mr Lovegood and Luna spent the better part of two hours interviewing Harry, Hermione, Remus and Sirius. They explained the Boy-Who-Lived story and who actually was the hero or in actuality heroine. They explained how Harry had come to live with his magic hating aunt and uncle and also hinted at how uncomfortable Harry's life was there. They explained how Sirius was innocent and how his name was cleared, how Harry was adopted by Sirius, why Hermione and Remus were wards of The Ancient and Noble House of Black and Obsidian Industries and finally they explained why Harry was working at Obsidian for the summer that his family's wealth and investments were fine.
Xeno stood after the interview was over and smiled. This was going to be a real boon for The Quibbler. This interview he decided would be published in multiple editions a different part of the story for each issue. He even thought briefly that before heading home they should go and take pictures of Godric's Hollow and maybe even Harry's relative's house.
"Hey Luna?" said Harry just before Luna and her father entered the apperation room "It's going to be my birthday soon, can I send you an invitation to the party?"
Luna smiled a bright true smile. "Thank you Harry that would be very nice. I'll be looking forward to it."
Yes things were going to be improving for the Lovegoods. Xeno smiled and waved just as the door closed.