disclaimer: yeah, yeah, I wish I was JKR.
Chapter 22
Thursday October 27, 2011
Weasley's Mystery Woman's Identity Revealed, was the headline in the society section of the morning's Daily Prophet, again. They'd used that headline three times, and three times, they'd gotten it wrong. The first time they'd discovered me, I was the keeper for the Holyhead Harpies. The second time I was the latest "witch pop" sensation Shelyla Eronson. Now, I don't sing, at all, and I've seen pictures of Shelyla, she's twenty-two, six-feet tall, and black. The third time identified me as a muggle super model???
Although, Charlie and I never made a secret of our relationship, we were not particularly interested in being Rita Skeeter's latest scoop. As persistent as the muggle press can be with their celebrities, the wizarding paparazzi is unrelenting, especially in the United Kingdom. Anything or anyone associated with the name Potter or Weasley was fair game as far as the press was concerned.
Theresa had cheekily informed me that it didn't hurt that Weasley men tended to be quite "dishy". Terry and I had gotten a good laugh out of their guessing game. I opened the paper to the gossip section, and almost choked on my morning coffee. "Oh crap," I muttered as I read the article.
"What's wrong, Glinda?" Neville asked me, he and Terry were having breakfast with me in my office. I just passed the paper to Neville. "Oh," he said, mildly, "you knew that it was bound to happen eventually.
"The wankers were going to get it right eventually,"Terry commented.
"I know," I said.
Neville's smile quickly faded as he read the article. "Oh bullocks," he muttered. "This is not good."
"What?" Terry and I asked, in unison.
"Read this," he said, handing me the paper. Terry and I read it together.
Who is the mystery woman who's claimed Charlie Weasley's heart? by Rita Skeeter.
Well ladies, Charlie Weasley,(the last single Weasley boy, as younger brother Percy recently announced his engagement to fellow Ministry of Magic employee, Audry Allen.) has apparently fallen under the spell of the mysterious American? Auror, and newest member of Hogwart's faculty: Glinda Goode, also known as in the auror community as "the Dragon Witch". Who is this mysterious woman?
Well, this reporter has received information from excellent sources saying that the woman isn't human at all, but a rare Antipodean Opaleye dragon transfigured into a semi-human form. Sources have revealed that the transfiguration spells were performed by none other than Weasley himself. with help from his sister-in-law, and deputy head of the department of Magical Law Enforcement, Hermione Granger-Weasley.
It has long been known to those in the magizoological community that Mr Weasley has exhibited some unusual predilections. In order to appease his unnatural urges, Mr Weasley has with help, created his perfect woman, from a transfigured dragon. But is "she" really a woman at all? or a creature designed to appease a dracophile's unnatural desires? And why is she currently employed at Hogwarts, is the Potter Weasley dynasty exposing our children to a dangerous animal? One source at
the school itself informs this reporter that ...
I threw the paper across the room, I couldn't read anymore of that garbage. "If I ever get a hold of that woman. She's toast," Theresa said, protectively.
"Thanks, Terry," I replied.
Neville picked up the paper, and finished the article. "This is absolute shit," he stated simply, "That Skeeter woman has gone too far this time. I can't believe that the editors at the Prophet allowed this codswollop to be printed."
I heard the ringer go off on my two-way mirror. I grabbed the mirror and opened it.
"Morning love," Charlie greeted me, I could hear the tension in his voice.
"Hey handsome," I replied. "I guess you've seen the morning paper?"
"We've already contacted the editors of the Prophet. Apparently, the story got sent to press with out editor approval."
"Have you been getting any grief from it?" I asked, concerned.
"None, everyone here knows that Skeeter is full of shit. Are you ok?"
"Just pissed off."I hadn't faced my students yet.
"Harry and I are going to be at Hogwarts this afternoon, we've gotten some clues from the bear traps, we need to speak to you and Mcgonagall about them."
"All right," I said, "what time?"
"We'll be there at 5:45."
"Good, see you then."
"I love you." I could hear retching noises coming from Terry and Neville.
"Same here, see you tonight."
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I was pleasantly surprised and relieved at how supportive most of my coworkers and students were. My students had read the article, and for the most part found it absolutely hysterical.
"Everyone knows that Skeeter woman's gone round the twist ages ago," Claudia Darrow, one of my seventh year Ravenclaws assured me. I thought that Claudia would have quite a career as an Auror, if that was the path she eventually chose.
"Yeah, she's Linda's aunt," Vera Malone, my single Slytherin in the class, explained. Vera already planned to enter Auror training after NEWTS, I'd told her that I'd be proud to write a letter of recommendation for her. "Linda blames you and Mr Weasley for nearly getting her expelled."
"Really?" Well, that was interesting.
"Pretty much all of us have told her that it's her own bloody fault, that boy could've died."
"As far as any DADA student is concerned, you two are heros," Daniel Royden, of Gryffindor, another future auror, decided to put his two cents in. I didn't know how to reply to it. Neville and Terry were right, my kids love me.
******************************
Charlie and Harry were already in McGonagall's office when I arrived at 5:45. I sat down in the chair next to Charlie, and waited for Harry to speak.
"We've done some investigating into the bear traps," Harry said. "As far as we can tell they were constructed by muggles then cursed. We discovered that the curse itself is quite diabolic. The traps will only close on victims with non-human blood, and there was a festering curse, in addition. Teddy Lupin still has his foot because his friends found aid, very quickly. Had you and Charlie not been there, Glinda, the wound would've gone septic."
I just grimaced, and said, "somebody is a really sick bastard."
Harry nodded. "We also found this inscribed on the blades of the traps. 'Sang Pur Surtout'." He added, reading off a scrap of parchment. "I know that the French translates to 'pure blood above all'.
Does that mean anything to you?"
My blood ran cold as Harry said the words. "I'm afraid that is very familiar to me," I answered.
"It's the motto of a group of wizards who work towards purifying the wizarding race, Muggleborns are just a minor annoyance to them, their biggest gripe is with anyone with 'tainted blood' meaning anyone who's has non human ancestry, or blood. About fifteen years ago their founder was responsible for the death of eight students at Beauxbatons. Five of them had veela blood, one goblin, and two had warewolf ancestors. Their leader Didier Vachel was captured, but his followers organized. They call themselves, 'Champions of the Race'. They're brutal and unrelenting. Needless to say, with my unique genetics, I'm not their favorite person. We need to tighten security, and we need to be extra vigillant.
How many students or staff members do we have that might be targeted."
"I can think of five,"Minerva stated, cautiously. "Hagrid, Filius, Teddy Lupin, Victoire Weasley, and Daniel Royden."
""They need to be protected," I stated.
"What about you?" Charlie asked, taking my hand.
"I can take care of myself," I assured him.
"I'm going to station an auror team in the school, with your permission, of course, Headmistress," Harry said.
"Certainly, Harry," Minerva agreed.
"I have to return to headquarters," Harry said, "I'll send some guards, tonight."
"Excellent. Thank you."
Charlie then turned to me, "Glin," he said, smiling. "I have a way for us to combat the rubbish that the Prophet published. Would you mind telling your story to another reporter? I think you'll like him, he's a friend of Harry and Ron."
"We've already received a few concerned letters from parents," Minerva added. "I think it's a good idea."
"All right," I agreed reluctantly.
"His name is Dean Thomas," Charlie explained. "He'll be here tomorrow afternoon. After the interview, I'm taking you into London for the weekend."