Saturday morning turned out to be a pleasant one. The sun was sending bright rays of light down on the mountains just in the distance. Rita stood near the main entrance waiting for her cohorts to arrive. The rain storms from the past few weeks were now few and far between but signs of the approaching autumn were beginning to make themselves known.
Rita tapped her hastily repaired fake nails against the hard brown stone of a grand column near the main entrance. The trees had not begun to turn color yet but Rita was sure winter was likely to come and go before her traveling companions finally showed up.
During the wait Rita watched as a carriage pulled by three white unicorns drew closer. She tired to disappear behind the column as she watched McGonagall step out of the carriage followed by three other well known wizards. She raised an eyebrow in curiosity as the assembly walked by her. At first Rita thought McGonagall would pass without acknowledging her, so she was surprised when the Headmistress let the group go on ahead of her.
"Ms. Skeeter," McGonagall said, "Are you going out today?"
Rita was almost positive there was a look of genuine concern in the professor's eyes.
"Yes," Rita answered, "but Jerimus Brighthall is coming with me."
"Then you will be well protected," McGonagall responded quickly, her voice hinting at a double meaning. Rita tilted her head slightly to one side as she pondered what exactly McGonagall meant. The old woman could not have been implying that Jerimus actually cared, because Rita was sure he was too busy doing 'she-didn't-want-to-think-about-it' with Juliana.
"What are they doing here?" Rita asked, gesturing toward the group that had just past. McGonagall drew in a breath and studied Rita for a moment before answering.
"Just some Hogwarts business." McGonagall's tone was casual but her eyes betrayed to Rita that something more was going on.
"Be careful," McGonagall said and skirted of quickly to catch up to the others. Rita was watching her walk way when Jerimus and Hermione finally arrived.
"Ready to go?" Hermione questioned.
"Yes, and I have been for the last hour. It's about time you showed up," Rita replied. Rita could see Hermione's ruffled expression at the impatient words but as always Jerimus remained collected.
"It's a nice day. We decided to fly," he said with his black Firebolt in hand. His mouth formed into an iceberg melting smile.
"That is, if the old lady can handle it," he said with a wink to Hermione. Rita smirked in response to his teasing and his challenge. Jerimus was a reserved person, but as he grew more relaxed during past interviews Rita discovered he had a wicked sense of humor.
"Cute," Rita smugly replied with crinkled nose. "We should start in Diagon Ally, then work our way back to Hogsmeade."
Jerimus nodded in agreement. Hermione also nodded although Rita could tell the girl was still trying to figure out the exchange between herself and Jerimus. Hermione was a clever girl, but so slow to pick up on some things, Rita observed.
The flight to Diagon Ally was a short and pleasant one. The valley was lovely in the morning sunlight and the air was warm enough to make the ride comfortable. Once they reached Diagon Ally they checked their brooms in at the corner shop and began the journey down the crowded street. Rita was a bit alarmed when Jerimus placed his hand on her elbow until she realized he was having difficulty navigating through the numerous shoppers.
"The first shop is just around the corner," Hermione said, leading the way through the people.
They turned the corner to find the street shooting away from Diagon Ally was practically deserted. The street still had patches of left over puddles from the rainstorms and much of the sunlight was blocked out by the towering buildings. Jerimus released Rita's arm once the crowd thinned out.
"There is dark magic near," Jerimus said as the three walked further away from the busy street.
"Then we must be in the right place," Rita replied. Hermione fell back a little closer to Rita and Jerimus as she searched for the stores.
The first store they came upon was temporarily closed for maintenance. Rita was not sure she believed the hand scribbled old sign that gave the information, but decided there were still three other shops down the street to investigate. Not much came from the next two stops they made. The first shop was owned by a frail looking old woman who, much to Rita's annoyance, spent most of the time flirting with Jerimus instead of answering questions about recent buyers.
The next shop proved just as unlucky, although it held an assortment of rare and unique artifacts that Rita had to pry Hermione away from. As they walked deeper into the dark ally Hermione rambled off questions about each and every tiny trinket she had seen in the shop. The constant prattle was beginning to get on Rita's nerves. On one side she had the ever talking Miss Granger, and on the other the silent contemplating Jerimus.
Finally the girl stopped mumbling and looked up in front of a run down pawn shop with a slanted shake shingle roof. Almost all sunlight had now been blocked out and the deep shadow on the front windows made the displays inside hard to see.
"Wolf's Haven," Hermione said and stepped up the stairs to the door, "This is the last one. Let's go."
Rita lifted her chin a little to indicate to Hermione to be cautious. Rita also took out her quill which began instantly writing and the two followed Hermione inside.
"She likes to ask questions," Jerimus whispered to Rita not unkindly. Rita sighed and pursed her lips together.
"Yes she does," Rita said through clenched teeth.
She took Jerimus by the hand to lead him inside. The simple action made it difficult for Rita to focus on the task in front of her. She could only remember how much she liked being in Jerimus' company, silent or otherwise.
The shop was much larger than it appeared from the outside. The two small front windows opened up inside to reveal machine parts and relics piled on large shelves all the way down the wide room to the cashier's desk at the back of the store. A large man with a dirty white shirt appeared from out of a side door and approached the three of them.
"Can I help you," he grunted and took a bit of some kind of meat in his pudgy hand. Rita was unnerved by his stare as he looked her up and down. There was something strange and familiar lurking behind the thick layers of skin that encompassed his face. A chill ran down Rita's back and she tried to shrug it off as paranoia.
"Yes," Hermione boldly said, "We are looking for—"
"Some trinkets," Rita interrupted, not wanting to give away what they were really doing. "For a mini replica of a Quidditch's arena. Jerry here is just about finished with his. Why don't you ask the nice man if he has the parts, dear, we'll just look around."
Jerimus gave Rita a darkly amused stare before he began questioning the man about intricate parts for the tiny model brooms. Rita motioned for Hermione to follow her to the back of the shop. Rita turned to look back over her shoulder. Jerimus had the shop owner completely occupied so Rita decided it was safe to step behind the desk and begin sorting through things.
"What are you doing?" Hermione whispered. The girl must have only been alarmed for a moment because she started going through the notebooks and papers on the desk as well.
"Look at this," Hermione said, pointing to an open page in the purchase log book. It was an order for items similar to the ones needed to make an exploding mechanical owl. The shipping address flashed underneath the items with the shipment completed box checked. Quickly, Rita's quill flew into action as it began to copy down the address, which happened to be in Hogsmeade.
Hermione tugged on Rita's arm causing her to look up just as the store owner turned around and began walking toward them. The two jumped out from behind the desk and did their best to make it appear they were interested in the rusted items on the shelves. The owner stopped for a moment, gave them a blank stare which caused Rita too narrow her eyes at him. Her blood ran cold as she looked into his face but she could not figure out why. He took another bite of the meat and disappeared behind the door. Rita had been holding her breath under his gaze and released it when he was out of sight.
"I think we have a lead," she told Jerimus.
"An address in Hogsmeade where the items were shipped," Hermione added.
"But, I just got ride of him," Jerimus said his hands were open and gesturing toward the door where the man had disappeared.
"Let's go. This place is making me uneasy," Rita said to Hermione ignoring Jerimus. The two walked by Jerimus but not before Rita saw him shrug his large shoulders in defeat. She smiled at the sense of humor she saw coming out again.
The journey back to their brooms was slow going as more people flooded Diagon Ally bartering and window shopping all down the street. They stopped for an early dinner, as they had skipped lunch that afternoon, before they finally started back. A group of three girls in front of Hermione stop abruptly to look in a window causing Hermione to skid to a halt. Rita practically knocked Hermione over before she was able to stop. Jerimus stumbled over Rita and reached out to catch himself on the edge of a lamp post before he fell completely.
"Holy Bertties Bots! It's Jerimus Brighthall," one of the girls said drawing her attention away from the window. The other two turned around and giggled. One girl, the tallest, with dishwater blond hair stepped forward and shook Jerimus hand.
"Congratulations on your engagement," she said. Rita's mouth and heart dropped at about the same time.
"Engagement?" Jerimus asked, his tone indicating bewilderment.
"Yes," the shorter pimple faced brunette began while holding up a newspaper. "It is all over the Daily Prophet. In Juliana Allured's column today she says it's only a matter of time before you two tie the knot."
Rita charged forward and ripped the Prophet out of the girl's hand so brutally the top corner tore. Looking down at the picture, to the side of the headline All the Day's News and Some Special Inside Information on Yours Truly, Rita could almost believe that Juliana's self-satisfied smile was meant for Rita alone.
"What does it say?" Jerimus asked, approaching Rita from behind. She clenched her fists tighter around the newspaper.
"You tell me," Rita growled, "It's your engagement."
Rita shoved the paper into the hands of the closest bystander, which happened to be Hermione, and stormed off down the crowded street.
Rita was not sure where she was going, she just had to get away from Jerimus before she said or did something that might reveal her true feelings. All of the sudden Rita stopped dead in the middle of the street. The people passing by her all faded into the grays and browns of Diagon Ally. Her true feelings. Never before had three words hit Rita was such all encompassing force. She loved Jerimus. The fact he might get married to someone else was the trigger that exposed to Rita just how deeply her feelings went. Rita being who she was found it easier to burry the information in her anger than to face it head on.
Coming out of her daze she peered up to find she was standing right in front of the Daily Prophet office building. The building was grand, with intricately designed archways and nine towering floors. Rita did not have to think twice about what this meant. If Juliana wanted to play hardball, then Rita would give her the game of her life.
Rita threw open the doors of the building with impressive force and gained the attention of the helpless onlookers in the lobby. She marched up to the front desk, slammed her hands down on top of the receptionist counter and sent Darlene an angry stare.
"Where is she?" Rita demanded.
"Ri…Rita? I thought you were...not working here…anymore," Darlene squeaked.
Rita took out her wand and sent the receptionist directory floating over poor, confused Darlene's head and into Rita's view. Glance through the directly Rita find the named she wanted. Juliana had taken over the largest office on the ninth floor, an office Rita had been ready to move into once her promotion was official. Through her anger Rita did not remember leaving the front desk and hoping the elevator up to the ninth floor. No, the next thing she remembered after seeing the fearful look in Darlene's eyes was standing in the doorway of Juliana's office. Rita recalled that she told Hermione she never planned on killing anyone. She was willing to make an exception for Juliana.
"Rita," Juliana said, not showing any wonder at seeing her, "What a pleasant surprise." Juliana rose from her desk and with a swish of her hair stood and flaunted her white teeth.
"How do you like my new office?" she asked her arms spread. "I take it you heard about Jerimus and I."
Juliana walked over to Rita, although she must have been a little intimidated by the fury Rita was channeling because she kept her distance.
"Well," Juliana began, "Aren't you going to congratulate me?" Juliana gave Rita an innocently expectant look.
The next action to occur Rita had no control over. She just kept looking at the shinny perfect hair that extended from the top of Juliana's head in flowing waves down to her waist. Maybe if Juliana's hair wasn't so beautiful Jerimus would finally notice Rita. It was a foolish thought, Rita knew that, especially considering Jerimus could not even see Juliana's hair, but it could not be helped.
"Inflamori," Rita said and waved her wand. No sooner done than Juliana's perfect hair burst into orange and yellow flames. Juliana screamed hysterically and ran around the room in a panic.
"Who's playing with fire now?" Rita asked, smirking at her own cleverness. After a few more seconds, when Juliana's hair was almost completely gone, Rita decided she better put out the fire before the woman got seriously hurt. There was a large golden vase containing a green plant sitting on the window ledge. Rita tore the plant from its home and picked up the vase full of water.
"Hold still you idiot," Rita demanded to Juliana whose panic was soaring to new levels. Juliana, instead of using her wand to counter act the simple spell as any well trained witch would do, grabbed some old newspaper and slapped herself on the head trying to put out the flames. She only succeeded in catching the newspaper on fire as well and let out another obnoxious scream.
One toss from Rita and the water drenched Juliana, quickly extinguishing her burning hair. Rita admired her handiwork with satisfaction. Juliana collapsed into her desk chair, her hands shaking with the trauma of Rita's attack. Her head was little more than bald now and her mascara ran down her face in tear streaks.
"You might be the Prophet's number one reporter now," Rita said leaning over Juliana, "but you don't want to trifle with me. Remember that before you publish your next story."
In Juliana's face Rita was pleased to see a look of sheer horror. Rita turned to leave, guessing by now she should probably make a hasty exit or risk the wrath of Sam Snoreright, the Daily Prophet's editor and chief.
"It doesn't matter what you do to me Skeeter," Juliana sneered as Rita reached the door, "You can threaten me and catch my hair on fire with you la-tea-da magic but in the end, I still have your job, I still have your office and I still have your man. He will never love you the way he loves me. And that means I win."
Rita would have preferred a physical attack from Juliana instead of the stinging words. At least the Death Eaters couldn't get to Rita in the way Juliana did. With her head held high, Rita refused to acknowledge she had heard anything. She found her way out of the building she once used to know very well, gaining questioning looks from some of her old colleagues as she exited.
She stepped out into the street and made her way back to the broom check in point. Jerimus and Hermione were waiting for her on the cobblestone sidewalk in front of the building. The warm sun of the afternoon had disappeared behind the tall building of Diagon Ally as it began to set.
"Where have you been?" Hermione asked her voice not as irritating to Rita as it usually was. Before Rita had a chance to answer Jerimus took a step toward her.
"It is not true," he said. His voiced seemed heavy, like it was weighed down with all the cares and trouble of the world. Rita knew exactly what he was talking about.
"What's not true?" She questioned, not daring to look at him. He handed Rita her broom and stepped into the street.
"We should go to Hogsmeade before it gets too late," he said. Hermione's brow squeezed together with what Rita recognized as attempt at understanding what had happened.
The flight back to Hogsmeade was not as enjoyable as the one to Diagon Ally. The warm day had turned into a windy evening with a cold bite in the air. At least, Rita thought the cold bite was from the air but it could have been Juliana's lingering words. Still, Jerimus had said the article was not true. Why would he say that? If he said that much why didn't he elaborate? Rita was good with words, but she was not good when saying the words meant putting heart on the line.
"This is the address," Rita said as she gracefully landed in front of a seedy looking hotel. Jerimus landed near by, but Hermione had some trouble dealing with the wind and flew right into the hotel's dumpster. With a splat Hermione landed in the garbage and the heavy metal lid of the dumpster slammed down with the sudden jolt. Rita exchanged a worried look with Jerimus before the two hurried over to check on the girl.
Jerimus lifted the lid with ease and Rita saw Hermione, uninjured, glaring up at them her lower lip poking out. Rita reached in and plucked a rotten banana peel from Hermione's hair. Holding the banana peal next to her face Rita laughed.
"Is this your new fashion statement? Really, Hermione, I knew you were bold but rotten banana peels?" She asked, as she flung the peel aside. Hermione's eyes didn't leave Rita as Jerimus helped her out.
"You think you're funny but you're not," she said and once on the ground brushed her robes off. Rita was almost certain the cough that suddenly over came Jerimus was a means of hiding his own laughter. Oh, how she loved his laugh. Rita resisted the urge to physically slap herself out of having such a sappy thought.
The three entered the building and approached the check-in desk to find it empty. Rita was about to say how odd it seemed that no one was in the bar or the lobby when she noticed Jerimus tense up.
"We have to get out of here. Now!" He said and quickly turned toward the door. He was too late. The door slammed shut and the candles in the above chandelier dimmed. Rita saw Hermione gasp in horror as she looked up at the staircase.
Three Death Eaters, most likely the same three Rita had run into earlier, descended the stairs with menacing grace. In her hast to escape her apartment Rita had not been able to study the figures as she did now. The tallest man, the one who had spoken to Rita before, now flanked the womanly figure in the middle. On the other side was a pudgy fellow with a dirty white shirt peaking out from behind his robes.
"Well, well, well," the woman in the middle cooed, stepping down to face the three of them, "What have we hear?"
"Bellatrix Lestrange," Jerimus said. Rita could hear the dark need for revenge in his voice. The woman laughed and took off her mask, revealing a face with heavy lidded eyes and red lips.
"Why, if it isn't Jerimus Brighthall," she taunted, "Still looking as handsome as ever I see…how unfortunate that you can't." Bellatrix circled them like a large cat about to pounce on an injured animal.
"And the famous Rita Skeeter," Bellatrix continued, "With all the stories you've uncovered I'm surprised you fell for our little trap, but then, the Skeeters aren't known for their…how shall I put it, intelligence in the face of danger."
Rita was not as affected by Bellatrix's words as the dark witch might have liked. Years had passed since the death of her brother, but there was never any doubt in Rita's mind that Evan had died a hero.
"And the boy-who-lived's little girlfriend…isn't that what Rita called you," Bellatrix questioned as she placed a long figured hand under Hermione's chin.
"Get away from her," Rita commanded, throwing Bellatrix's hand off of Hermione.
"Oh, how sweet. I'm touched," Bellatrix said through a phony smile. The tall man stepped down a little further on the stair case.
"You should have accepted our offer Ms. Skeeter. You could have been a benefit to us with the names and faces you know. Now you will have to die a terrible death with your unfortunate friends," he said.
"Lucius Malfoy," Hermione spat, to the surprise of all. The tall man chuckled.
"Perhaps," he said, "but you'll never be able to prove it."
"You are the store owner from this afternoon," Jerimus said in the direction of the pudgy man. The man took off his hood to reveal that Jerimus was correct.
"Not only that," the man said, "But I'm the one who designed the bird that took out Skeeter's brother. I would have gotten her too, if that stupid bird hadn't of malfunctioned. And if I might brag further—"
"That's enough, Thomas," Bellatrix said, holding up a hand to silence him.
After so many years Rita finally had a face to put to the long elusive murder behind Evan's death. More than anything she wanted to forsake all reason and attack the man with every fiber of her being. Jerimus must have sensed her anger because he lightly put his hand on her shoulder.
"This talk is getting boring," Bellatrix said, and with a devilish smile added, "We will take the girl alive as she might be useful is capturing Harry Potter. For the rest of you I'm afraid it's time to die, Ava--"
Before Bellatrix could finish the killing cure Jerimus picked up a chair and pitched it at her. She reacted by hunching over as the chair hit her back and broke apart. Rita turned her gaze from Bellatrix to the man, Thomas, who had killed her brother. The tall man, possibly Malfoy, was about to attack Rita with his wand until Hermione stepped in.
"Stupefy," she said, much to the man's surprise. He dodged the spell by jumping over the stairs and landing hard on the ground. Thomas saw this action and aimed his wand at Hermione. Rita instinctively stepped in front of Hermione, to shield her from the blow at whatever cost to herself. To her credit, Rita was able to block the attack and together she and Hermione managed to subdue Thomas into some magic induced chains. By the time Rita turned about around she saw Jerimus locking wands with Bellatrix in a fierce duel. His magic ability was truly impressive. Fiery purple and white sparks danced wildly where the force from his wand met Bellatrix's.
"I should have finished you long ago," Bellatrix yelled, her voice showing hints of fatigue. The other Death Eater stepped forward to join in the duel and his wand also sent a stream of light meant to subdue Jerimus'.
"You were never strong enough," Jerimus retorted to Bellatrix, "and you still aren't."
From the tip of his wand a large white ball rumbled forth and raced toward Bellatrix. Once it hit the woman yelled in surprise as the blast sent her soaring backward into the wall. Jerimus then sent another blast at Malfoy. He broke off in surrender before the blast hit him and ran to Bellatrix who was injured on the floor.
"We must retreat," he said, nodding in the direction of Jerimus. Rita looked on with awe as Jerimus stood facing them like an impassable brick fortress.
"Coward," Bellatrix barked. She made no further objection, however, and the two disappeared with a flash of magic.
"Wow," Hermione began, "That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen."
Jerimus walked, or rather limped, over to them and sent his gaze down to the captured Death Eater.
"Thank you," he said, "But mine got away."
"You can't be expected to capture Bellatrix Lestrange," Hermione said, frowning, "Not even Azkaban Prison could keep her locked up."
"I caught her once before," Jerimus replied, his green eyes cast down at the floor. Rita ignored the exchange between the two in order to bend down and look deep into the face of her brother's killer.
"I'll make sure you go to Azkaban," she told him darkly, "and you will never, never come out alive."