Own this I do not. Hopefully by increasing the font size, I can reduce the number of typos due to me typing on a phone screen. Thank you to all my readers, even those who admit that this is not their cup of tea. The fact that you read it before deciding that goes far in my books.
Today was the day of the exclusive interview with Rita Skeeter, and Harry was beyond anxious. There had been press releases in the Daily Prophet and in the Quibbler, with the live WWN interview at ten a.m. Sirius had also agreed to break his media silence; his comments after his trial had been succinct: "Glad it's over. Now maybe I can concentrate on being a good husband and father." Thus began "bump-watch" whenever Jade went out in public, as an unnamed source had revealed that she no longer worked around potions known to be dangerous to pregnant women, though she was not far enough along, even with twins, for there to be a bump. Closet betting pools had been set up as to when the babies would be born; Fred and George's pool had a very large number of betters, and their personal bet was the fifteenth of July before noon. Ron had bet the twentieth of July before five p.m., and Harry had bet the twentieth of July between noon and five p.m., while Hermione had refused to bet, though the betting amused her, as did some of the not-entirely-serious name suggestions. She suspected that Sirius and Jade knew what the wanted to call their children, now known to be a boy and a girl. Amy had opted not to know the gender of her baby until Regulus knew of the pregnancy, information that Lucius was under strict orders not to impart due to the threat of Voldemort using the information to his advantage.
Harry was gratified to learn that a Quick-Quotes Quill would not be permitted. Instead, a professional transcriber would transcribe the interview, and Rita wad only to be equipped with voice amplifying devices like all of the interviewees were. So began the interview.
Rita Skeeter: Today, I come before you with confirmation of what you have read in this morning's Daily Prophet; that there is much more to the boy-who-lived than we thought, including his parentage. Apparently, his father was one Severus Snape, Death Eater turned spy, and James Potter was in on the deception. Is this true so far, Harry?
Harry Potter:Yes, it is. Severus Snape is my father.
RS: When did you find out?
HP: On my fifteenth birthday, I received a letter from James Potter as well as several photograph albums revealing the information, later confirmed by Sirius Black, Severus Snape, Remus Lupin, and Albus Dumbledore.
RS: How long did it take for the two of you to build any sort of relationship? From what I understand, the two of you did not get ob during your first four years as a student.
HP: It is true that we did not, but I guess we decided to start over with a clean slate for both of us.
RS: What sort of relationship do you have with your father?
HP: A very close one. We actually enjoy each other's company.
RS: And yet, you were both able to keep up the deception of hating each other in class.
HP: Yes. It was done for both his safety and mine.
RS: Changing topics, how did your godfather, Sirius Black, react to the information.?
HP: It turns out that he knew all along about the late James Potter not being my real father. In fact, he was in on it.
RS: As was Remus Lupin, Albus Dumbledore, Eugene Cummings, and Jade Cummings, am I right?
HP: Yes, that about covers it.
RS: How does it feel to know that so many people you trusted lied to you about who you really are?
HP: At first I was shocked, but as time went on, and things have escalated in the war, I understand why it was done. Also, it doesn't really change who I am.
RS: Very true, Harry. And why was the deception done?
HP: To protect me in case the war started sooner rather than later.
RS: Thank you, Harry, for your time. Moving on, we are going to get the reactions of Harry's two closest friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Ron, what was your reaction?
Ron Weasley: At first, I was in shock, but I saw real fast that they were good for each other. They really care about each other a lot.
RS: And you, Hermione?
Hermione Granger: I was less surprised. Harry's appearance, which I now know to be the gradual fading of the glamour charms, altered just slightly every time I went more than a few days without seeing him, so I figured out by the end of our third year that he had a glamour on him, but I did not know the purpose of it, so I said nothing.
RS: When did the two of you find out the truth of Harry's parentage?
RW: The day after Harry did. Hermione and I found out at the same time.
RS: Ron, what are your views on Harry's relationship with his father?
RW: I never thought I'd say this, but they are good for each other.
RS: And you, Hermione?
HG: The same. Some might think it strange, but they actually get on rather well in private.
RS: Thank you both for your time. I now will be talking with the godfather of Harry Potter, one Sirius Black, recently found not guilty of selling out James Potter,Lily Snape, and Harry Potter to Voldemort and of being a Death Eater. How are you today, Mr. Black?
Sirius Black: Quite well, thank you.
RS: Is it true that you were in on this carefully orchestrated and executed deception?
SB: I was Dumbldore felt that it was the best way to protect a child definitely prophesied to destroy Voldemort. It lasted longer than any of us intended, though.
RS: Wasn't it hard to have one of your best friends suddenly not know you as a friend anymore, and for him to try to have you Kissed by dementors?
SB: I won't lie and say it was easy, but we've talked about the whole dementor thing, and have agreed to consider it in the past. I did not get Kissed, which is a good thing. Harry needs me in his life, and since I escaped Azkaban, I have made every effort to do just that; be part of his life.
RS: Off-topic, but is it true that you are about to be married and become a father?
SB: Yes to both. We are marrying within the next few days and request privacy in doing so. My lovely bride-to-be, Jade Cummings, is expecting twins due towards the end of July.
RS: Is it true that she had no doubts as to your innocence and harbored you as an escapee from Azkaban?
SB: Yes. She knew, as did her father, but both of their hands were tied.
RS: How is Harry taking the news that his godfather is now a free man, and about to marry and become a father?
SB: He is happy for all of us. What meetings he has had with Jade, they have liked each other, and I know that, though he does not remember it, meeting her and being baby-sat by her as an infant, as well as the fact that she would have been named his godmother when she graduated Hogwarts if everything had went as planned, spoke in her favor before they actually met.
RS: Thank you, Mr. Black. This concludes our interviews. For further information and a transcript of the interviews, read the evening special edition of the Daily Prophet. This is Rita Skeeter wishing you all a magical day.
The interviews were considered a general success by all the participants, and Rita actually admitted to herself that honest journalism, when truth was stranger than fiction, was rather fun.
Moments after the interview, a note was dropped into Dumbledore's lap by a nondedescript screech owl. It only read: "The two packages have been sent. The third is in my possession, and is being taken to the Ministry. Have the receiver ready." Dumbledore immediately got up to fire-call Eugene, who indeed did have a dementor in a secure room in the Ministry.
