Chapter 4 – Rita Strikes Again
When the morning's owls came in, the hall broke out into whispers, looking at the paper. Hermione had kept her subscription to the Prophet after the war to keep up with things like changes in the Ministry or Death Eaters on the run that had been caught. So, when she noticed people's focus on the popular paper, she opened it herself to find what had everyone worked up.
She didn't have to look for long, for it was on the front of the newspaper, in large letters, complete with picture: Gryffindor Princess, not so innocent? The picture was of her giving Harry one of her patented hugs, probably after she had taken down the ward around them after she had told him and Ron about Draco. Her rage already starting to pick up, she began to read.
Apparent good girl, Hermione Granger has many rumors flying around about her this year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, ones that this humble writer can attest have a base in fact!
With the weight of the war gone, many students have been doing what teenagers do, falling in love. In fact, several students have been heard jokingly calling the castle "Snogwarts" for amount of the act that is going around.
What does this have to do with the female third of the Golden Trio one may ask? Well, she doesn't have a boyfriend but many of her classmates are sure that she is with someone in secret. Issue is, all the boys who she calls friends are with someone else! Many thought that Ronald Weasely and Granger would be dating this year, but sources state that he is dating his ex, Lavender Brown who when questioned denies that Ron is the one with Hermione, stating that, "Ron told me that Hermione and him tried it, but realized that they feel more like siblings than anything else."
The next theory points to someone who really blossomed last year, Neville Longbottom. Neville was the student and friend of the trio who killed You-Know-Who's snake, Nagini during the Battle of Hogwarts last May. He had been friends with Hermione since first year, but he's dating Luna Lovegood, daughter of the editor of the Quibbler and a Ravenclaw. Anyone who sees the two can see that they're very much in love and isn't going anywhere with anyone else. They can be seen feeding each other and other adorable things that young couples do.
A third theory points to the famous Boy-Who-Lived and Savior, Harry Potter. One may remember my article during the disastrously ended Triwizard Tournament, where I mentioned Ms. Granger's fascination with famous wizards, with her being sighted with Harry Potter and ended up going to the Yule Ball with Bulgarian Seeker, Viktor Krum. Once again, Granger has been seen with Harry, without his current girlfriend and sister of his best friend, Ginerva Weasely. They have been seen hugging in public, as shown in the picture above.
Of all the theories, this humble writer has the most faith in this last theory. We'll keep a close eye on Hogwarts to see how this situation develops!
Hermione nearly growled in irritation and glared at all those around her pointing and whispering, stomping out of the Hall after grabbing her best friends and their girlfriends and sending a glance towards a paling Draco that said for him to follow and headed up to the Room of Requirement once Draco joined them outside, asking it to provide a room for them to speak privately and the photos and other proof of Skeeter's illegal animagus form which made itself present in a warm yet purposeful room with a few chairs and sofas surrounding a table that was loaded with the proof needed to out Rita.
Hermione sat first in the sofa where Draco joined her, and Harry and Ron sitting with their respective girlfriends on the other loveseats. She cleared her throat, "Just so we're all clear, I'm with Draco, not Ron nor Harry. Skeeter's never forgiven me for figuring out one of her most well hidden secrets in forth year. She's an illegal animagus, which I told her I would use against her if she published anything more about Harry or us. I should have done something after the war when she had written that horrible book about Dumbledore, and a few articles declaring Harry a coward, but I didn't want to stir the pot with much more important things to do. Now most of the death eaters have been taken to justice or dead, and after these rumors I think our confrontation with Rita has finally come to a head. Everyone on board to destroy her?"
Harry and Ron roared their agreement, Ginny nodded with fire in her eyes, Draco, in resemblance to his hose mascot, nearly hissed his dark revenge for these actions against his girlfriend, and after a moment, Lavender nodded as well, angry at the question of her and Ron's own relationship.
Hermione smirked, dating Draco had rubbed off on her in that way at least, "Then this is what we're going to do." Her voice dropped to a whisper as the others listen eagerly one or another of them interjecting occasionally. Rita was going to be reminded of why you don't mess with the trio, especially Hermione Jean Granger.