a/n1: Look who is back! Yay! I'm sorry that I left you hanging like that. Christmas, real life and preparations for two presentations in one week made it hard to write :( But now I'm back, then next four chapters are planned and I have semester break till the end of March! This chapter was betaed by the lovely reynardinepttr. Enjoy!
27th May 1998, 18:03
William Crisplock was in dire straits. On the one hand he wouldn't dare anger Melinda Abbott, owner of the biggest magical florist shop and best friend to his wife Saracissa. On the other hand he had no good reason to actually allow this letter in his paper. Rita Skeeter may have some very questionable methods, but her articles sold the paper better than anyone else's! If she left now with the situation at hand they'd be ruined! Which hedgewitches would still buy the paper if their beloved Rita wasn't in it?
Sighing, William read the letter again. Maybe he could convince Saracissa to talk to Mrs Abbott.
Dear Sir or Madam,
I agree to wish Miss Skeeter a happy birthday. But I can't condone praising her like you did in your note from the 27th May 1998. Her latest piece on Miss Hermione Granger, our beloved war heroine, should be enough reason to question Miss Skeeter's skills and most certainly her integrity. Sensational and amateurish, she slanders a teenage witch, who just saved us all, because Miss Skeeter can't accept that Miss Granger is trying to build bridges.
If one takes a closer look at the history between Miss Skeeter and Miss Granger one will find the 'articles' Miss Skeeter wrote during the Triwizard Tournament. She painted Miss Granger as an airheaded gold-digger who plays with men's hearts as she likes. The girl was fifteen at that time! Miss Skeeter could have easily ruined Miss Granger's future with those awful pieces of writing. As it was, Miss Granger got immense amounts of hate mail from all over the world, some even aiming to seriously injure her!
I could go on and on about Miss Skeeter's tendency to slander people that we love and admire. I could speculate that she is jealous of their fame and seeks to destroy it, but my words would probably fall on deaf ears. I could tell people that Miss Skeeter's manners during each interview I witnessed are severely lacking, even more so if the interview partner is young or inexperienced in dealing with the press. I know that one can never be sure that the quotes from the interview will be presented in context. I wasn't surprised to read that Miss Skeeter used Veritaserum to gain information from the well-respected Bathilda Bagshot, but I was surprised that nobody called for an investigation.
Miss Skeeter should not be praised for slandering our heroes and using illegal methods to obtain her knowledge. I call for an investigation of Miss Skeeter's methods. She should not be allowed to tell her lies and half-truths without being questioned anymore!
Yours sincerely,
Melinda Abbott
William sighed deeply. He had to admit that he had never felt good publishing those articles about Miss Granger and Mr Potter during the Triwizard Tournament. Once he had learned the truth about You-Know-Who's return, he had felt stupid to allow his journalists to stray so far from the professional objectivity they should have retained.
But this letter would ruin his already tainted reputation. Still, he had to wonder what Melinda would do if he didn't publish the letter. She could go to other newspapers. The 'Irish Times' had never been very fond of Miss Skeeter and they were read in Great Britain even though their articles focus on Ireland. Even the 'Courrier du Magicien' might agree to publish it in their international section, not to talk about the 'Die AnderWELT', and the 'Волшебные Известия' would have a field day.
Grumbling to himself William finally set the letter on the small pile that would be published and looked at the next one in the 'letter to the editor' pile. It looked like somebody had decided to let their child play with crayons.
30th May 1998, 14:18
Hermione walked through Diagon Alley for what felt like the first time in ages. After the war she hadn't had much time to just take a free afternoon and browse the shops in peace. Everywhere the reconstruction was visible, as well as the scars the war had left behind. The candles in front of nearly every shop in Diagon Alley reminded the wizards and witches passing them of the dead. Some stopped and conjured flowers or candles to put next to those already there.
Of course photographers were following Hermione, but for now she had no problem with that. She understood their need to document the lives of their chosen heroes. They didn't really intrude and kept their distance but if anyone came too close Hermione had a Confundus ready to be cast.
She stopped at Wizarding Wheezes, conjuring a wreath with acacia, zinnia and pheasant's eye. Maybe Hermione had read one too many books from the Black library but the thought of telling Fred that she remembered him sorrowfully as an absent friend had been nice.
An older witch standing next to her smiled at Hermione. "It's nice to see young people honouring the old traditions. Were you close friends?"
Hermione looked up in surprise. "Not as close as we could have been. I was a prefect during his last year at Hogwarts and not very amused that he sold his products at school," Hermione admitted with a small smile.
The old witch laughed. "He seems to have taken after his uncle Gideon then, may their souls rest peacefully."
"Did you know the Prewett twins? Molly, Mrs Weasley, doesn't really talk about them," Hermione said, turning to the witch and taking a closer look at the woman. She seemed to be in her seventies with long silver hair, but appearance was a fickle thing with magical folks. She wore a dated ruby robe and a matching hat.
"Oh yes, I knew them," the witch chuckled. "I was their nanny, you know. My name is Agnes Gently."
"I'm Hermione Granger," the younger witch said, offering her hand.
"I know who you are, who wouldn't nowadays?" Miss Gently said taking Hermione's hand in both of hers. "I have to thank you for putting yourself out there like this. Not many would be brave enough to fight a Dark Lord out in the open. I know I didn't when I heard of You-Know-Who or of Grindelwald."
"Why don't we sit down and maybe you could tell me a bit about the twins?" Hermione proposed with an eye on the growing crowd. Now she'd like a bit of privacy.
"Oh, sure, lead the way, Miss," Miss Gently said with a wink and put her hand in the crook of Hermione's arm.
oOo
When Hermione returned to Grimmauld Place two hours later she was positively vibrating with nervous energy. She called for Harry and Ron, hoping that they would hear her and come downstairs actually not just shout a yes back.
Soon enough two sets of steps came down the stairs to the kitchen. Hermione was busying herself with arranging food on a platter, Tinna having given up trying to dissuade her from playing with the food.
"'Mione, what's up?" Ron asked when the two boys entered the basement room.
"I met Agnes Gently today!" Hermione said with a big smile, turning to the boys. "She is an amazing woman!"
"Mum's nanny?" Ron frowned and reached for a biscuit. "What'd she say?"
"She told me about your uncles when they were young," Hermione said pacing in front of the hearth. "The similarities to Fred and George were astounding!"
Harry chuckled. "Calm down 'Mione. Take a seat and start from the beginning."
Hermione patted her hair and sat down. "You're right, I'm sorry. It has just been so wonderful to talk to her."
"Guess it would, Mum really loves to talk 'bout her," Ron said with a fond smile. "I don't think they have any contact though."
"Yes, Agnes said Molly didn't write her much after her brothers were killed," Hermione said quietly. "We think it's because she had her hands full with you and your siblings. But that's why I will set up a meeting for the two of them!"
"Mum's barely left the Burrow since the Battle," Ron said thoughtfully. "I doubt she would be up for meeting someone she hadn't had contact with for decades."
"Maybe Agnes could come over?" Harry asked looking at them. "We could tell everyone to vacate the premises so they'd have their privacy."
Hermione chuckled. "Have you read any thrillers recently?"
"What?" Harry asked dumb-founded.
"Vacate the premises?" Hermione asked laughing, and Ron snorted.
"She's right mate, not your typical word choice," he said, gently nudging Harry.
"Pansy's recommended me a few books she liked," Harry mumbled, toying with a biscuit before popping it into his mouth. "Magical, American thrillers. It's actually rather fascinating."
Ron raised his eyebrows. "Is there something going on you aren't telling us?"
"Definitely, I'm mean he is reading, and did you notice?" Hermione asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes and a big grin. "Books. Plural."
"Oh my gosh, what did she do to you, mate?" Ron cried with fake worry.
"Nothing! Just recommended books!" Harry exclaimed, rolling his eyes.
"Yes, we got that part," Hermione said patiently, leaning forward. "But you actually read and liked them!"
Harry scoffed, leaned back and crossed his arms. "So what? It's not like friends can't recommend books."
"You read Quidditch books, if any," Ron said, laughing at Harry's grimace. "Thrillers from America? That's a whole new level!"
Now Harry was blushing and Hermione decided that they had pried enough. She reached over to him and put her hand on his arm. "It's alright, we're just teasing you. I'm glad that you liked them, maybe you could loan them to me?"
Harry shrugged, "If you want to."
"Now, you wanted to tell us about Mum's nanny," Ron said with a last look to Harry. "Spill!"
16:43
"Theo?"
The young man in question looked up from his book and tried to locate the caller.
"Who's there?" he asked when he couldn't see anyone. The floo would have chimed if anyone came that way- If it wasn't for the spell he had found and used yesterday. It projected the words spoken in front of the fireplace directly into his ear.
Sighing Theo got up and left his private study. The perks of being richer than Croesus. The downside was that it would actually be faster if he took the floo to the entrance hall instead of walking through the whole western wing and down three flights of stairs.
When he arrived in the intimidating room he saw a familiar redhead studying the frowning family portraits. Theo slowed down and took a moment to really look at George.
He was thin, not as obviously as Percy with his more lanky build, but it was there. His collarbones protruded sharply from his skin and his robes sat a bit loosely around his shoulders. George had dark shadows under his eyes and the frown on his forehead seemed to have taken up permanent residence. While his stance was relaxed Theo knew that he could have his wand out in seconds.
Overall George looked like all of those who had fought the war and then a bit. But Theo would have been surprised if he hadn't. Losing a family member was never easy and his own twin? Theo shuddered to think of the pain.
"You called?" he said approaching George from the side so he would see him.
"So you're here after all," the redhead said turning to Theo. "The house is awfully big, isn't it?"
"Especially on foot," Theo said lightly. Of course he was wondering want George was doing in his home, but he wouldn't be so blunt to actually ask.
George looked down to the floor and started playing with something he had pulled out of his pocket. "I wondered whether your offer still stands."
"Which one?" Theo asked, cocking his head.
"About having too much space, me moving in," George trailed off, looking very insecure.
Theo takes a moment to consider him. "Of course, if you'd like to. But we'll have to go into the flat eventually to get your stuff."
"I know," George whispered and Theo nodded.
"Alright then, it's settled. You're going to get rooms in the western wing," he said briskly, trying to take control of the situation. "Would you like to have a laboratory for product development?"
George looked at him with big eyes. "I- I don't know, I haven't been that inspired lately."
"Maybe the quiet and having a laboratory will help," Theo said with a lopsided smile. "I will tell the house-elves to prepare everything. When do you want to move in?"
"How about tomorrow? If that's alright for you?" George asked meekly. Theo very nearly went over and hugged the man. Again. He had to stop doing stuff like that.
"Sounds great," he said instead. "Grank!"
George raised an eyebrow but Theo only shrugged and before he could elaborate any further the wizened head of the Nott house elves appeared in front of him.
"Master Nott was calling?" Grank asked with a small bow to Theo and a nod to George.
"Grank, would you please tell the staff to prepare the rooms next to mine? And fireproof the study, it will be used as laboratory," Theo said, turning to George. "Anything else?"
"If you have any potions equipment you don't need anymore, or old clothes that I can try a few spells on, I'd take them," George said shyly and Theo smiled encouragingly.
"Former Master Nott won't need his laboratory in the basement anymore, shall Grank clean the tools and send them up to Mister…?"
"Weasley, George Weasley," he answered with a small smile.
"Welcome to Nott Manor, Mister Weasley," Grank said with a small bow. "The family wing is directly connected to the basement, if Mister Weasley wanted he could probably use the old laboratory."
"I wouldn't if I were you," Theo said quietly. "It's awfully dreary down there."
"Could we take a look first?" George asked contemplatively.
Theo swallowed. He hated the basement for reasons he didn't even want to think about. Just flashes of memories. The stink of death, screams in the night and the pain of Crucio whenever he came too close.
"Of course, why not," Theo said with a smile instead, and motioned to the door behind the stairs. The basement was originally only a place for prisoners and storage so there were few proper entries. One from the kitchen and one from the far end of the western wing. Theo thought they should take the short way, which would normally be used by servants.
Grank followed them down the stairs and when they reached the bottom he snapped his fingers to light the torches. Theo flinched when the fire shot up and he felt his left eyelid starting to twitch. But a short look to George showed him that he wouldn't get away with taking a Calming Draught without facing questions.
They walked down the narrow corridor until it met a bigger one where they turned left. This was the storage part of the basement but Theo felt his hands starting to shake anyway. When they turned to the right to enter the western wing basement Theo started to shake in earnest. He basically felt the Crucio scorching his nerves and thought he heard screams. But it wasn't possible. His father was in Azkaban and the aurors had cleaned out the basement after he turned himself in.
Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. Before his brain could catch up, Theo had pushed George against the wall and put his wand against the redhead's neck. Their faces were inches from each other and for some reason Theo didn't see an ounce of fear in George's. Only resignation.
"Oh shit," Theo said quietly, removing his wand and taking a step back. "I'm so sorry!"
"It's- It's alright," George said calmly. "You didn't react when I called your name, you stood there shaking and I was a bit worried. You don't have to go to the laboratory with me."
Theo shook his head and pushed his hands through his hair. "No, it's alright, just…" he pulled out the Calming Draught and took a healthy dose.
George raised an eyebrow. "That was more than the recommended dose."
Theo scowled. "I do realise that."
"I'm sorry, of course you do," George said, slumping his shoulders and Theo felt bad almost immediately.
"Come on, let's get this over with and we can see if Mika makes her special muffins for us," Theo said nudging George gently with his shoulder.
"Sounds good," the redhead answered with a smile, his eyes searching Theo's face, probably checking whether he was truly better.
The Calming Draught did what it was supposed to do, but Theo knew that he'd have to take a bigger dose next time. His body had gotten too used to the stuff during the last school year. On the other hand, nothing else except alcohol helped Theo to calm down.
a/n2: So, what did you think? What was you favourite part? What would you like to see in future chapters? Tell me! I'm curious ;) Have a nice week and see you soon!