Rita Skeeter smelled a scoop from a mile away. She called in a few favors and she was on her way to Azkaban for an interview with Harry Potter. He agreed to meet her, quite surprisingly. Rita's journalistic intrigue was heightened. Someone like Harry Potter didn't agree to meet with you, not without a good reason.
Whatever that good reason was, Rita could smell something coming from a mile away. It was big, it was bigger than big.
She was summoned to the Ministry of Magic where she would be escorted to Azkaban. She would be allowed two hours. That should be plenty of time for Harry Potter to tell his side of the story. It was the first interview that he would give since the unfortunately tragic death of Dolores Umbridge.
"Hello, Rita."
Rita turned around. Hermione Granger stood across from her. She looked and smelled like she saw better days.
"Councilor Granger," Rita commented. "I must say, it's good to see an old friend."
"I don't think you should do this, Rita," Hermione commented. She looked at the woman right in the eyes. "Harry Potter isn't what we once knew."
"Well, I did predict that he would crack underneath pressure years before it happened," Rita said. She looked at Hermione with a twinkling expression underneath her glasses. "The poor lad, with the history like his, who could blame him but naturally, I only have public records. I'm sure what was private could shed some interesting light about what Harry Potter is like and what makes a young man like him tick."
Rita smiled.
"I wonder why you were so quick to condemn your so called best friend," Rita said. "Maybe you have an idea?"
"Harry committed murder, I ensured justice was done," Hermione said.
"And what happened to the forty nine people that Dolores Umbridge sent to their doom because they weren't of the right blood?" Rita asked. "Did they get their justice? Or did she just return to the Ministry without a slap on the wrist?"
Hermione looked very stressed out. That wasn't really her call. Not that facts meant to anyone like Rita.
"You've been working for so long," Rita said. She leaned towards Hermione. "If you ask me, honey, this goes far deeper than any kind of justice. You're coming off as a jilted lover that is upset that Harry traded up to something greater than you. And you couldn't stand it. So once he decided to go after Umbridge, you decided to strike back. Oh, your wounded, broken heart."
"What is your point, Rita?" Hermione asked.
"Love can drive people to wicked things," Rita said. She placed her hand on Hermione's shoulder. She swatted it away angrily. "Dumbledore is the perfect example."
"You wrote a bunch of lies about Dumbledore," Hermione said.
"I only report what I'm told," Rita responded acidly. "And he still has you and a bunch of other people underneath his thumb long after he's been buried. Seems impressive, doesn't it?"
"I have to recommend that you don't speak to Harry," Hermione said. "He's not ignorant. He knows what you wrote about him in the past."
"Are you afraid of the truth, Hermione?" Rita asked. "I'm speaking to Mr. Potter. The world deserves to hear what the other side says. You were all about giving his chance to speak out before. Remember that, your fifth year?"
Hermione nodded.
"Remember the blackmail," Rita commented. "I wonder what they would think if their councilor did something like that. The great Muggleborn hope, Hermione Granger, all about justice in the Ministry of Magic. But only when it suits her. Granted, that's just the general gist, but it's a good start to the article."
One of Hermione's aides rushed over her to her. Potentially stopping Hermione from strangling Rita on sheer principle. She whispered something in her ear.
"I'll give you one final warning, Rita," Hermione said. It was obvious that whatever her aide told Hermione, she didn't want to hear. "It's for your own safety that you stay away from Harry."
"We'll be on either side of a barrier, there's nothing for me to fear," Rita said. She decided to twist one final knife in Hermione's heart before she left. "You on the other hand, I wonder. But, I suppose that I'll ask him."
Harry Potter looked up and saw Rita sitting in a chair that was set up across from here.
"Are you ready to write your final and greatest story, Rita?" Harry asked. Rita raised her eyebrow. "After all we've been through, I thought that it would be appropriate for you to get the exclusive."
"Why did you murder Umbridge?" Rita asked.
"Why wouldn't I murder Umbridge?" Harry asked. "For years, I heard people who said that they should do something about Umbridge. I was the only person who was willing to do anything about it. And I'm in Azkaban. Everyone got their justice. Umbridge is dead and the person that murdered her is in Azkaban."
Harry paused and added something.
"If we lived in a perfect world," Harry said. "Rita, we don't live in a perfect world, now do we?"
Rita shook her head.
"Exactly," Harry replied. "You've always struck me as a moderately intelligent person, Rita. You created scandal wherever you go. But you stopped short of uncovering anything that would get you killed. You know how to play the game."
Rita nodded, wondering where he was going. And she almost felt like he was interviewing her.
"They thought that they could control their weapon forever," Harry commented. He chuckled. "Albus Dumbledore's powers spread far and wide. The funny thing is, he never has to do anything overt. He has people willing to carry out his bidding. He even has people willing to do anything for him and his grand vision beyond the grave. All you have to do is tell people that you're following what Dumbledore wanted. They fall into line so fast that it's pathetic."
"Why didn't you?" Rita asked. "I assumed that you were Dumbledore's man through and through."
"You know what they say about people who assume, Rita," Harry responded. "Hermione assumed that she was doing the right thing. She always assumed that she is doing the right thing. She follows the book pretty carefully."
Things got eerily quiet.
"When you do things by the book, it becomes useless when the book keeps changing," Harry said. He dropped his voice into a light whisper. "Your enemies don't play by the same set of rules that is considered lawful. You can't defeat a person who has nothing left to lose."
"There's a new Dark Lord out there," Rita said. "He's…..like nothing that they've ever seen."
"It falls outside their preconceived notions of what is considered possible," Harry said. He put his hand on his chin thoughtfully. "They're all out of heroes to throw at them. Everyone is either put away, dead, or left."
"Some people think that you're the one who are behind these attacks," Rita said.
"Depends on what angle you look at it," Harry said. "It was my incarnation that set off the chain of events that lead to this. But, it was not done by my hand. I'm in Azkaban. The fact I can somehow be out there slaughtering the sheep is amusing."
"Who do you think is behind the attacks?" Rita asked.
"It could be anyone or it could be no one," Harry said. He smiled. "The Ministry made a lot of enemies during the last war. And there sad attempts to rectify the crimes of the Riddle control Ministry pissed off the other side as well. It pissed off both sides, because the Muggleborn didn't think it was a fair deal. Hermione became the first Muggleborn to be considered a blood traitor. I'm proud of her. She's certainly accomplished something."
"What do they want?" Rita asked.
"They want the Ministry torn down and the veil of secrecy removed," Harry replied. "Knockturn Alley just isn't a haven for the dark arts. Deep in the depths is a slum where the outcasts of society have forced to fight for survival. Expelled Hogwarts students, squibs, werewolves, and disgraced Muggleborns have been sent there. They live every waking moment of their life in fear."
"How do you know this?" Rita asked.
"Step into Knockturn Alley and find out for yourself," Harry said. "The reason why it's so taboo to be in there is because the Ministry doesn't want people to know what true horrors lie in there. The so called Dark Arts is nothing."
Rita caught her bearings.
"The Ministry's solution is to level Knockturn alley to the ground with everyone in it," Harry answered. "They think that this action is going to cover up the consequences of their actions. They want to put a band-aide on an amputation."
"You were there and you know all of their skeletons," Rita said.
"I know enough to be concerned," Harry answered. "I knew this war was coming sooner rather than later."
"You got yourself purposely sent to Azkaban," Rita whispered.
"There were even odds that I was going to get away with the crime," Harry admitted. "I got sent here because they would have lost face. But in sending me here, the Ministry destroyed whatever strands of credibility they had. They are already guilty in the court of public opinion for many crimes."
"Do you think the Ministry can be fixed?" Rita asked.
"The Ministry's time is at an end," Harry replied. "People left this country when Voldemort started taking over. They were smart. Other people left after. They were smart. Some people are running now. Hopefully their window of opportunity hasn't shut."
Harry left Rita to decide that.
"If the magical people were exposed, it's over," Harry whispered to her. "The Ministry is redoubling their efforts to keep their existence quiet."
"They're failing, people are asking more questions," Rita commented suddenly. "Do you think that they should know?"
"I think many already expect," Harry said. "This ends in one of two ways. The Ministry is reformed and fresh blood is allowed to make the changes and bring this world into the 21st century."
Harry paused.
"Or extinction, they die, slowly, one by one," Harry said. "Until there's no one left that wants anything to do with running this country. Then the Prime Minister will have to step up. Those who will remain will have to answer to him and his government."
Rita blinked suddenly and she wondered how much Harry wasn't telling her. She wondered if she wanted to know.
"The great enemy isn't some mystical dark lord that the Ministry is trying to fabricate to justify why they're failing," Harry replied.
"Wait, are you trying to tell me that there's no new dark lord?" Rita asked.
"People cope better when they simplify," Harry answered her. "But in the end, those who control the wealth will rule the world."
Harry remained silent. He waited for Rita to take the notes.
"Rita, I honestly hope that you're not twisting my words in a way that will get you killed," Harry whispered.
Rita felt a chill go through her body.
She was safe. Maybe.
"You're going to write the story exactly how I want you to write it, down to the last period," Harry said. "And if I find one word out of place, insects can get crushed extremely easily and it can be assumed to be an accident."
"Are you threatening me?" Rita asked.
Harry gave her a slasher smile.
"I'll speak slowly and clearly so you get the message," Harry commented.
Rita felt fear beyond anything. It now hit her that the Dementors fled the moment Harry gave them a look. That scared her shitless.
"Yes, Harry," Rita said.
"Glad we understand each other," Harry commented lightly.
Hermione didn't get any sleep in what seemed like days straight. If she wasn't getting any sleep, she could only imagine what the Minister and his staff was going through.
"I couldn't make a withdrawal from Gringotts this morning, the goblins refused to let me in," someone said from outside the door.
"They refused to let me in as well, I need that money," another Ministry official said. "How can they deny me a basic right of getting my hard earned gold?"
'Yes, because you earned that money on the level,' she thought.
Hermione rose to her feet. She had a very foreboding feeling about this.
She saw the latest issue of the Daily Prophet on her desk. She scanned the headlines briefly and her foreboding feeling increased.
Hermione got to her feet and nearly ran into someone standing outside of her office. She didn't really care. She had to verify it firsthand.
She knocked on Minister Shacklebolt's door until her knuckles were raw. The door opened and Shacklebolt did in fact look worse than she did.
"The goblins have closed off all access to Gringotts and our gold," Kingsley told her without any preamble.
"You better read this as well," Hermione said. "This has Harry's fingerprints all over it."
"I know," Kingsley said. "The Wizengamot wants me to sign the order to give him the Kiss."
"Are you?" Hermione asked.
Kingsley paused for a second. "If I don't, I'll lose all support as Minister and I need the backing of the Wizengamot if we want to get Gringotts back open."
"What if he agrees to the Plea?" Hermione asked.
"Then all can be swept beneath the rug," Kingsley commented slowly. "But there's one problem."
"It needs his consent," Hermione replied. She knew that Ron was hacked off for some reason but as always, he refused to say what. So Hermione obviously wasn't counting on his help. "I'll see what I can do."
"You have until Midnight to do it," Kingsley said. "If not, I have no choice. That order has to be signed before Midnight or the Wizengamot can grind the Ministry to a halt."
"Will they?" Hermione asked.
"Anything's possible," Kingsley commented. "Get him to sign the Plea, I don't care how. We need him to defeat that Dark Lord. No one else can."
Hermione wondered what the hell Harry was thinking. She needed answers. He owed her answers.