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Sorry if I haven't been updating in a looooong while. I kind of lost inspiration for a while. :P

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

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QUIDDITCH SCANDAL

By Nina Warren

Dear Quidditch fans of the wizarding world! October 10, Damien Sloth's Chaser Katie Bell has beaten Puddlemere United's Keeper Oliver Wood's record for never missing a Quaffle. After that event, Damien Sloth has been gaining more fame and glory than before.

In October 16, a source told me that Wood and Bell are dating! He mentioned they knew each other since Hogwarts and were teammates of the Gryffindor House. "They were really close friends", Harry Potter, who was also one of their teammates, said "It wouldn't be a surprise if they ended up together."

I had an interview with the coaches of both teams, and didn't seem too happy about it…

"Oh God, I don't want to read it anymore!" Katie said, pushing the newspaper away.

"This is terrible," Alicia said, "How could the media know of the relationship so fast?"

"I know!" Angelina agreed, "The couple hasn't even gone out together yet, so how could they even find out?"

Oliver cleared his throat, which got everyone's attention in the room, "I have to question you all. You lot only know of this…"

"But Oliver, don't you trust us?" Fred asked, feeling hurt. The rest knew he wasn't faking it.

"Did you or did you not tell anyone about this?" Oliver asked, ignoring Fred. Fred, George, Alicia and Angelina shook their heads.

"Are you absolutely sure that you didn't even tell anyone? Or whisper it to each other and someone else could've heard of it?" Oliver asked again. The lot just shook their heads. It seemed like Hogwarts, and the teacher was looking for the troublemaker. It looked like torture, and it was embarrassing to the ones who were being questioned.

"Come on, answer! I don't have all day!" Oliver asked again, losing his patience.

"No, we didn't!" Angelina answered back, in the same tone Oliver asked them. Katie then remembered she told her sister, and knowing Oliver was going to fight back, she spoke.

"Don't, Oliver…" Katie interrupted, "I think it is Danica, I told her…"

"Your sister?" Alicia asked, "Katie, how can you not trust on your sister?"

"I do trust her…" Katie said, "But there could be other reasons why she could've told someone… sensible reasons, of course…"

"Wait, we're getting nowhere from this," George piped in, "I think we should question Nina Warren first…"

"That's the most brilliant idea I've heard for the day!" Oliver exclaimed, "But I can't go, I have practice."

"I can't either, you know, Ministry and all…" Angelina explained.

"I can go," Alicia said.

"What? You have to manage the shop," Fred pointed out. Alicia shook her head, "George can do it by himself, and you still need to deliver some items, Fred."

"Fine," Fred muttered.

"But Lish, you can't go alone!" George said.

"And why not?"

"You know… you're the type who… well…"

"Well?"

"Well, Lish, you seem to be xenophobic," Fred said. Alicia glared at the twins, "Then why would I be managing a shop in the first place?"

"Well you're used to it," George said, "But talking to a person you haven't met yet and you're going to discuss some serious matters? I don't think so…"

"Are you saying I'm weak, Weasley?" Alicia glared.

"No… it's just that-"

"Guys, guys!" Angelina interrupted. The two stopped. "Alicia's you're not weak, but you still need a companion so that George wouldn't worry."

"Wha-?" George asked, quite bewildered, but Katie interrupted him.

"I'll go with you, Lish," Katie said, "It's my day off."

Oliver nodded and clasped his hands together, "That settles it."

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Katie and Alicia decided to go to Katie's flat first before they head to The Prophet's office. Her flat was just a few blocks away from the office, and Alicia and Katie didn't have their lunch yet.

"How are you feeling?" Alicia asked Katie as she served some food on the table. Katie shrugged, "Fine perhaps…"

"You seem bummed," Alicia said. Katie looked at her. Alicia had some sort of "power", that she could sense people's feelings or emotions. Katie knew that she knew how she felt.

"Well… on my way to the Joke Shop… people kept on looking at me… with glares… and they whispered something to each other…" Katie said, "I got too nervous, so I ran to the shop quickly… I didn't even know why!"

"Katie, don't mind them," Alicia said. Katie nodded and tried to put a smile on her face, "I'll try."

Suddenly, a grayish black owl flew in from the window, and dropped an envelope on the table. It stood on a chair, with its pale grey eyes just stared at the two friends. Katie recognized it; it was Herbert, her parents' owl. She gave Herbert an owl treat and got the envelope on the table. She opened it and got out the folded parchment. She unfolded the paper and read the letter.

Katie,

Danica's in St. Mungo's. Meet you there.

Dad & Mom

"Oh my…" was all Katie managed to say. A brief message but gave a loud meaning. It was bad. Only her parents would write a short message when it's a big emergency.

"Alicia, I can't go with you later…"

"Why?" Alicia asked. Katie showed her the letter. Alicia held it and read the words written down by the curvy writing of Mrs. Bell. Alicia's jaw dropped. And she closed it again. She was speechless.

"It is okay, Katie… I know, she's family," Alicia said.

"But, I was suspecting her! And look, something's wrong! Alicia, what if-"

"Katie, you're jumping in to conclusions. You visit Danica; I'll go the office, okay?" Alicia said. Katie looked at her friend. Alicia smiled, "Trust me, I won't freak out or anything…"

Katie nodded and smiled, "Thanks Lish, I know I could depend on you."

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Alicia headed to the office. When she entered, she saw a small room. It looked like a lounge. There was a receptionist behind a semicircular wooden desk. Alicia approached the woman, who was busily scribbling something. Her hair was tied up to a bun, and her spectacles twinkled against the light which was hanging in the ceiling. She looked so pale with her make-up, you could tell she placed too much powder, and her lipstick… it was too red.

"Umm… excuse me; may I speak to Miss Warren?" Alicia asked. The lady looked up form her work and saw Alicia.

"There are seven Ms. Warrens who are working for the Prophet office, four writers, one photographer, one layout artist and one custodian. Unless, you wish to speak to all seven Ms. Warrens but I highly doubt that because if you wished to speak all seven of them, you would say, 'may I speak to Miss Warrens?' or 'may I speak to Misses Warren?'" the receptionist said, who giggled after saying that grammar fact.

"Umm… may I speak to Miss Nina Warren then?" Alicia asked.

"I'm sorry, there is no Miss Nina Warren in the office but Mrs. Nina Warren-"

"May I speak to Mrs. Nina Warren then?" Alicia said, losing her patience. The receptionist shot a small glare at Alicia and stacked up the papers on her desk. "She's here. Pass that door in the right. Here's your visitor's pass. Section A, fourth floor, number 2."

"Thanks," Alicia replied, even though she knew the receptionist would just ignore her. Alicia walked to the door and opened the doorknob and walked in the room. And lo and behold, it was a huge, circular room, which had many floors. All around were desks on one floor, desks on the other floor, and so on and so forth. And behind those desks were writers, busily writing their articles for the next day's news.

Alicia looked up and saw there were five sections: A, B, C, D and E. Alicia went to section A and rode an "elevator" powered by magic. It had no machine to lift it up and down, just a charm.

Once Alicia reached the fourth floor, she looked for number 2. She saw a desk which said number 2. Behind that desk was a woman wearing a brown sweater, and her hair was tied up in a messy bun. Alicia approached that woman.

"Um… Mrs. Warner?" Alicia asked, getting nervous. The lady looked up, "Ah. Ms. Stevens just told me I had a visitor. Please, sit."

Alicia nodded and sat down on a chair in front of the desk. She noticed each number had a chair in front of their desk. Everything was so uniformed; the only differences were the writers themselves.

"Um… it's about the article you wrote in the Sports section," Alicia began, getting the better of herself.

"Ahh… yes, that one," Nina said.

"Well, I'm just wondering, who's that source of yours, the source who told you that Bell and Wood are dating?" Alicia asked. Nina gave Alicia a look and answered, "That information is to remain confidential."

"But why-"

"It has to be. If it wasn't, then why didn't I put the name in the article in the first place?" Nina explained.

"Good point…" Alicia muttered. But she couldn't give up.

"But, why can't you just tell me?" Alicia asked, "I need to know, I'm doing this for a friend…"

"I won't tell you, end of discussion," Nina finished and started to write down something on parchment. Alicia glared a bit but sighed. She stood up but froze midway when she noticed reddish blotches on Nina's wrist.

"Where did you get that?" Alicia asked. Nina suddenly covered the mark, "I fell. Now shoo, I have to work on my article."

Alicia ignored her impoliteness, she just thought about the mark. It looked so familiar to Alicia. She remembered having one before, during her Hogwarts years. And then she remembered.

It happened during fifth year, after Quidditch practice, and Alicia was the first to finish taking a shower, so she headed to the Gryffindor dormitories since she needed to do her homework. Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm and pushed her against the wall. She remembered those eyes.

Those eyes, it glinted with evil. And of course, she remembered the distinguishable teeth.

"Flint…" she muttered. Flint grinned wider.

"Hello, Spinnet how was Quidditch practice?"

"Great, in fact, I have a big feeling Gryffindor will beat you tomorrow," Alicia smiled, attempting to taunt Flint.

"Oh really? How are you so sure?" Flint glared.

"Well, the Chasers did an excellent job shooting Quaffles, of course. Potter managed to get hold of the stitch despite the bludgers that were flying about. The beaters have found a great strategy, and our Keeper is doing well, since he's Captain and all…" Alicia answered, with a triumphant grin on her face. Flint glared more. He didn't like the sound of this.

"I can make you lose," Flint muttered. Alicia smiled, "How?"

Flint gripped Alicia's wrist and started to twist it with all his might. Alicia tried to fight back, but her strength wasn't as much as Flint's. Alicia bit her lip, trying to hold her pain. And suddenly, when she felt her bone crack a bit, Flint let go. Alicia noticed her throwing arm was limp, and she knew wouldn't be able to throw as hard as she usually could.

She glared at Flint, who just smiled triumphantly, "What about now?" And then in a flash of a second, his fist swung against her shoulder, leaving a bruise. Suddenly, footsteps were heard, and Flint ran off. Alicia managed to get up, clutching her arm, and headed to the dormitory.

The next day, Gryffindor lost. Nobody knew of the incident, Alicia was too scared after that.

Alicia began to think, what if it Flint was behind it? But she wasn't too sure. She didn't want to make baseless assumptions. So she just sighed and headed to St. Mungo's, to check on Katie's sister.

Of course, her trip to the office wasn't useless. The marks and the secrecy of the source seemed to be useful clues.

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