Chapter Sixty-Nine: An Interview with Rita
Harry Potter – Present Day
April 2, 2001
Harry sat quietly on the edge of the cave's opening, peering out into the early morning sky. He was at a loss for words; he was unsure how he even felt at this point.
"You should eat," Hermione told him, reaching into her bag to pull out some bread.
"I'm not hungry," Harry responded.
"Well, we should talk… Make a plan…"
"I'm listening," Harry told her, as he continued to stare out into the horizon.
"We need to contact the Order and see what they've been able to figure out."
"Probably nothing."
"Harry, I know you're upset, am I too, but-"
"But what, Hermione? You realize that Ron is probably dead, right?" He saw how much the words hurt her, but it caused him much more pain to say them. "We need to stay focused. Grindelwald is close to finding the Hallows."
"Ginny is working on ensuring their safety; what we need to do is find Ron!"
"And how would you like to do that? Do you know who took him? Where he is?"
"I know you're upset, so I am not going to react to you," she responded quietly.
Harry sighed. He wasn't sure what to do, but he knew arguing with Hermione wasn't going to get him anywhere. "What would you like to do? Honestly," he asked her calmly.
"I feel like we have so many open leads with no endings."
"What do you mean?"
"Horcruxes, murder, Hallows, Ron, Crabbe…"
"Crabbe?"
"Yeah, we never did figure out how he's alive and how nobody knows about it."
Harry thought for a moment. "What if Crabbe is our answer?"
"What do you mean?"
"We know the Death Eater's still exist, right? And we know Crabbe was one before so he probably still is."
'Okay…" said Hermione, not catching on.
"Look, Hermione, you've said it yourself. We have a mountain of problems with no solutions so why not take on what we do have and see what it can lead us to?"
"You want to interrogate Crabbe," stated Hermione, understanding.
"Do you think he will talk?"
"No," she answered truthfully. "But what if we followed him?"
"That could work," Harry agreed, unsure of any other option they had at the present time.
"And what about the Hallows, and Ron?" She asked him.
Harry reached out and put his arm around her, knowing that she was about to cry again. "For now, we trust that the Order will handle it." He had to convince himself much more than he had to convince her, but as he echoed Ginny's words to Hermione, he knew that he had to at least trust her.
Ginny Weasley – Present Day
April 6, 2001
Ginny walked towards the Forbidden Forest with McGonnagall, along with Angelina, Neville, Luna, Dennis, Lee, and Seamus in tow.
"Now remember, if any student sees you, it's because you are here as special guests to the school to provide insight to those students who are preparing to graduate. To make it believable, there are a group of seventh years scheduled to come down shortly for this lecture carefully created by Miss Weasley."
"Hagrid will take the rest of you into the Forbidden Forest to start looking," Ginny explained. "Remember to tag what ground you've covered so that we know what's already been done as this is going to take several search parties."
"Remain inconspicuous; although it is nearly impossible to enter Hogwarts grounds, years of experience has shown us that it is still possible, and if someone is watching you, they cannot know what it is that we are looking for."
Ginny nodded her agreement to McGonnagall. "You'll work in pairs to cover more ground. Angelina, you'll be with Lee, Dennis, you're with Neville, and Seamus you're with Luna."
Ginny watched as her friends headed into the Forbidden Forest, where Hagrid stood waiting for them. "Do you think this is a good idea?" she asked McGonnagall.
"It is the best idea that we have, Miss Weasley. Having recent graduates on Hogwarts grounds is the least suspicious option to curious eyes."
"I'm not sure what to do with it once we find it."
"Until Potter returns, we must keep it safe, then he will decide what to do with it."
The seventh years were starting to arrive and so Ginny put on a smile and waited for them to settle near her. She watched as McGonnagall introduced her and explained her presence and advised that there were seven graduates total on the premises, each speaking to other groups of students about opportunities outside of Hogwarts.
Ginny stepped forward and smiled. "Thank you, Professor," she said, nodding towards McGonnagall. "As you've just heard, my name is Ginny and I am currently the head of the Dobwig Association."
"Isn't that Potter's Department?" someone asked.
"It used to be," she responded.
"Why isn't it anymore?"
"You would have to ask the Ministry that. Now, working in the Ministry involves plenty of focus and dedication - "
"Aren't you the Weasley girl that was supposed to have married Potter?" the same student asked her.
"Fortescue, that is enough," said McGonnagall.
Fortescue, Ginny thought to herself. That's interesting. "What is your name?" she asked him.
"Tobias."
"Well, Tobias, let's discuss working at the Ministry, shall we?" Ginny continued with her rehearsed speech but kept this student's name tucked safely into her memory. Once Ron was located, they needed to solve the Fortescue murder, and Tobias may just be a lead that she would want to follow.
Molly Weasley – Present Day
April 6, 2001
Molly blew her nose again as she fought back her tears. Trembling, she smoothed out her black robes as she prepared for Rita's visit.
"Are you alright, Molly?" Remus asked her delicately.
"Oh, I suppose so, Remus, Dear," she responded.
She glanced upstairs towards the room where she knew her motionless son was laying. It was just two nights ago that Ron's body was delivered to her by a few ministry officials.
"Thank heavens it is just the Abracadabra curse he is under," she continued. "But having to pretend that he's actually gone is just so hard!"
"I know, but if the Ministry knows that we know..."
"I know, I know." She blew her nose into her handkerchief.
"Are you ready for the interview?" he asked her.
"As ready as I'll ever be," she answered. "I just don't understand why I need to do this."
"Well, that's exactly it," said Tonks, as she entered the room. "We need to understand why they want this interview, and going through with it will be the only way we somehow figure it out."
"I'm sure it's just in follow up from the article anyway," Remus offered.
"Oh no, Remus, I haven't read the article!"
"You haven't?"
"I couldn't bear it! I know it isn't true but nevertheless I just couldn't bring myself to read it."
Remus sighed sympathetically but pulled a rolled-up copy of the Daily Prophet from the other day out of his robes. "I'm sorry, Molly, but I don't think you could go into this interview without first knowing what it says otherwise you won't play your part properly."
"Shall I read it to you?" Tonks offered.
"I suppose, thank you, Dear."
Tonks grabbed the newspaper and began reading out loud:
Notorious Wizard Harry James Potter has struck again, and this time, it was in a way nobody in the wizarding world would ever have imagined. Even as I, Rita Skeeter, prized journalist and award-winning author report this to you, the shock and heartache is just pouring out of me.
On the eve of the First of April, the tragic death of yet another Weasley took place, but this time, it was at the hand of Harry Potter. Two eyewitnesses place Harry at the scene of the crime, and the victim? Well, it is none other than his supposed best friend, Ronald Billius Weasley.
"He just took his wand out and aimed it right at Ron and used the Killing Curse, as if it was no big deal," said Rosa, a witch that had been shopping in Diagon Alley at the time of the murder. "Never have I seen such a cruel and heartless act."
Cruel and heartless indeed, as we think about Potter's past and how the Killing Curse has had a large impact on his family and that of the Weasleys. As we know, Harry Potter is currently on the run with Weasley and muggle-born Hermione Granger, and so this incident is quite shocking to all.
"Of course this does not excuse Mr. Weasley's criminal actions," states Dolores Umbridge, Ministry Official. "But it just brings light to Potter's true character; he has no concerns with whom he betrays – even his closest ally." It appears that the Ministry has been right all along about who Potter really is, and it goes without question that all the other murders of the people around him may just be more victims on Potter's very long list.
"That's the gist of it," said Remus. "I don't think we need to continue."
"It just goes on to remind everyone to stay vigilant and report any sightings of Harry or Hermione," added Tonks.
"And I am to act like I believe this rubbish of Harry?" she asked.
"Not exactly, but don't deny it either," said Remus. "Just be in shock and present yourself as a grieving mother, we will handle the rest."
Before more could be discussed, there was a knock at the door. Molly took a deep breath and walked over and opened it up.
"Molly, Dear, my very deepest condolences," came the annoying voice of Rita Skeeter.
"Thank you," said a saddened Molly, as she stepped aside and let Rita through.
Rita walked over to the nearby table and made herself at home, grabbed some parchment and her quick quotes quill and smiled up at the three of them. "I suppose we should begin?"
The three of them joined her at the table. When nobody spoke, Rita stated, "well go on, how are you?"
"I don't know what to say," Molly said, as the quick quotes quill paced rapidly as if she had just spoken 700 words.
"How have you come to terms with the fact that Harry Potter, a child that you took into your own home, killed your youngest son?"
Molly said nothing but looked up at Remus instead.
"She is in shock, Miss Skeeter, I am sure that you can understand."
"Oh, of course! And what about you, Remus? How are you coping with the news that Harry Potter is a cold-blooded killer?"
"Right now we are just focusing on Ron and doing what needs to be done to honour his memory."
"But surely honouring his memory would be to get justice against his killer?"
"Vengeance may be for some people, but not this family," said Tonks.
Rita continued her questioning and tried her hardest to pry, but Molly, Remus, and Tonks kept their answers ambiguous.
"What will you do if Harry shows up to the funeral?" she asked Molly, but Remus was the one who answered.
"There will be a private funeral just for family and so that will not be possible."
"Surely you will let us in? The wizarding world is grieving with you, you cannot turn us away from this tragedy!"
"It is a private matter," said Tonks sternly.
"Very well, can you at least let our readers know when it will take place?"
"The tenth," Remus supplied.
"I see, well, you will all be in our thoughts on that day."
"Thank you," Molly finally spoke.
"And I assume Ron will be buried with your late husband?"
Molly took a deep breath – she knew what she had to do now. "No, we, uh, well we have other plans for Ron."
"Other plans?" she questioned, as she leaned forward and her quill began to zoom much faster across the page.
"It's a private matter, Rita, we are sorry," stated Tonks. "We will hold a vigil here at the house on the tenth, and then privately say goodbye to Ron the following day."
Rita paused for a moment but then smiled. "Of course," she said, grinning sheepishly. "It is only natural that you wouldn't want your son lying next to your husband anyway. After all, despite his death, Ron is still a criminal. I think we are done here."
Rita got up to leave but Molly stopped her. "This article will be printed in the Prophet?"
"Of course, Dear, tomorrow morning. Our readers just want to know that you're doing alright after this tragedy. Sadly, I must report the opposite."
Molly nodded. "I do have one more thing to say."
"Oh?"
"I assume that Harry will read this article and so I am speaking directly to him."
Rita ensured her quick quotes quill was prepared and encouraged Molly to continue speaking. "Go on then, Dear."
Molly cleared her throat, then spoke: "You did to Ron exactly what was done to another of my sons, and nobody, especially George, would ever forgive you."
Molly glanced down and saw the quill writing rapidly, reminding the future readers that her son Fred, George's twin, was murdered during the battle of Hogwarts. A few moments later, Rita left, and the three of them watched Rita disapparate out of sight.
"Well, the trap is set," said Remus. "They will be here on the tenth to spy."
"Molly, what was with that message to Harry?" asked Tonks.
Molly smiled. "Harry and Hermione need to know that Ron is alive and is simply under the Abracadabra curse."
"And mentioning George will lead him to that conclusion, that's brilliant!"
Molly smiled and headed towards the kitchen to make a cup of tea. She was concerned about the tenth and what would take place, but she took a deep breath and reminded herself that the Order was ahead the enemy, and they will come up on top.
Severus Snape – The Past
October 2, 1981
Severus got dressed and tried to depart as quietly as he could, but Rita had caught him.
"Leaving already?" she asked him, as she lay naked in bed, not bothering to cover herself.
"This was a mistake."
"Oh Severus, you say that all the time, yet you keep coming back. When will you just admit that you enjoy it?"
"You know that my heart belongs to another."
"I'm not after your heart, Severus!"
He turned around and stared at her. "I've given you what you want, time and time again, yet you fail to give me what I want!"
"Relax, I am meeting with Dumbledore tomorrow; I will have your answer in a fortnight."
"I do not believe you are able to do it."
"Then why do you keep coming back if you think that?"
"We had a deal."
"And according to you, I am not able to keep up my end of it, so why are you here?"
Severus didn't answer her. The truth was that he felt guilty every time he would lay with her, but he could not pretend that he did not enjoy it either. "I am leaving," was all he said. "I will return tomorrow night and I expect you to be –"
"Naked?" she interjected, with a malicious smile on her face.
"– in the possession of the information that I require. Good night, Rita."
Severus left and headed home and went straight to his back cabinet. Here he pulled out a shoebox of letters that he had stored for years, and picked up the most recent one, which he read for the millionth time.
I fear that it isn't looking good, and it is for my son's sake that I am asking for your help.
"I'm coming, Lily," Severus whispered out loud. "I promise."
Author's Note: Hello everyone..
Long time right?!
I'm sorry for stopping - life got hard. Many things happened in my life that took me away from my love for writing and recently my Dad died and so things that made me happy no longer made me happy..
But I am back! A lot of my frustration with this particular fic stemmed from the fact that I had a Beta who didn't know what she was doing and made horrible grammar errors etc that there was so much work ahead of me to go back and fix each chapter that I lost interest. But I have not lost interest in this story.
I have decided to come back - I am going to keep writing and sharing with you all and THEN head back and fix the grammar.
Thank you all for understanding and I hope you enjoy this chapter!