Disclaimer: Still the same as the previous 35 (!) chapters.

Note: Gah! I'm sorry! The delay in posting was totally my fault as the author was on spring break with plenty of free time. I blame work and a series of really boring adult things. Now, the next chapter!

Chapter 36: Fiction or Fact?

Harry and Ron sat in the common room trying figure out their Divination homework, when a student popped through the portrait hole and told Harry there was a woman asking about him in the corridor. Confused, Harry exited the tower, immediately catching sight of the bizarre woman.

"Ah!" she exclaimed once she caught sight of Harry. "You must be Harry! I'm Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet reporter. Let's find a place to talk, shall we?" She smiled widely and waited impatiently for him to follow her. She led him to an empty classroom.

"Oh, yes," said Harry. "I've seen some of your articles."

"Fantastic!" said Skeeter cheerfully. "Now Harry, all I ask is for you to answer some questions for me then you'll be good to go."

"Ok," said Harry.

"Firstly," she said, getting out a roll of parchment and a quill. "Why did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire?"

"I didn't," Harry said.

But the quill was writing as Harry talked.

"Oh but how else could you have gotten in?" she asked. "Surely you didn't ask another student to do it for you, did you?"

"No," Harry said quickly.

"Oh Harry," she said. "It's obvious. There's no other possible way that you could have gotten into the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Would your parents be angry if they found out you entered the tournament?"

"I told you that I didn't," Harry snapped. This woman was beginning to irritate him.

The quill continued writing.

"And last question," she said. "Do you think your guardian is angry with you?"

"No," Harry snapped. "He believes me."

Skeeter just smiled serenely at him.

Harry was angry. How dare this woman accuse him of lying? Suddenly, Professor McGonagall burst into the room, and glared at the reporter.

"Ms. Skeeter," she said in a cold voice. "What are you doing with Mr. Potter?"

"Professor McGonagall!" said Skeeter with a grin. "I was merely chatting with Mr. Potter and getting to know him a bit."

"I shall be reporting this to the headmaster. Off with you! Mr. Potter, please return to your common room, no detours."

Skeeter opened her mouth to speak, but the death glare she was given by Professor McGonagall stopped her. She got up and left, but not before saying, "The news must be reported, tomorrow everyone will know the truth!"

After a restless night, Harry sat at the breakfast table, fuzzily stirring his bowl of porridge and contemplating whether he should try ordering coffee. Hearing a thump, Harry looked up at the owl delivering his copy of the Daily Prophet. After putting a few Knuts in the owl's leg pouch and offering the bird some bacon, Harry unfurled the paper and nearly dropped it into his bowl.

HARRY JAMES POTTER: CHEAT OR CHOSEN?

By Rita Skeeter

Mr. Harry J. Potter is a 12-year-old boy who put his name into the Goblet of Fire, and now is going to compete in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. His guardian is most likely furious with him for doing such a foolish thing, and his parents would be quite disappointed. Stay tuned for the next installment on the 'mysterious' circumstances surrounding Mr. Potter and the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

In a fit of temper, he set to the paper on fire, catching the attention of Professor McGonagall. In an instant, she was standing next to him, scolding him.

"Did you see what she wrote about me? That quill must record the exact opposite of the spoken words!"

Professor McGonagall sighed. "Rita Skeeter is known for her half-truths and embellishment of interviews. Unfortunately, many people read her stories and take them as true representations of the subjects. It will be hard but try your best to ignore the reactions of your classmates. Please inform me if you have any problems. And five points from Gryffindor for using a dangerous spell at breakfast."

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