Hello, beauties! The response from last chapter was magnificent, thank you all so much once again for your fantastic reviews. I know I'm a little late here, and I'm so sorry. School is whipping my butt already, and I haven't gotten a chance to update yet. But I'm here now with a new chapter for you all, so hopefully you enjoy it!
TotalCowGirl: Thanks!
Silver-Infinite: As cool as that sounds, I will not have time at all to write that mash-up. School is starting up again, and it's hitting me hard! But you seem to have a good idea of what you want for that, so why don't you write it? ;) And yes, Jenna is a bitch, I agree. All of your questions will be answered, you just need to keep reading!
Sarah: Like I said, your reviews are very distinct ;) and I don't care which of the liars are my favorite (dead tie between Aria and Spencer, though, incase you were wondering), Mona will always and forever be my favorite character on this show. And yes, SPARIA! If you don't love Sparia, there's something wrong with you, haha. And "the pixie". I laughed so hard at that. And true, Toby's life does really suck, doesn't it? IS he a psychopath? Keep reading to find out!
fluorescent incandescence: THANK YOU! I was hoping someone would get that ;) AVPM is my life. I can recite for you the entire "Pigfarts" monologue from Draco.
Titanium Wolf: Youuuu got it! ;) That pesky beetle is actually entering the scene this very chapter, so prepare yourself! And you caught onto that, very good. I simply ask you to wait for it!
WideOpenSpacesGirl045: Aria seems to know what's best for Spencer. I mean, as the other half of Team Sparia, of COURSE she does! And hey now, it was never confirmed that those fangs were Basilisk fangs. Spencer just assumes they are, and 90% of the time Spencer is wrong. Just something to keep in mind ;) and you are correct, I am NOT going to tell you! Seems like you're all catching on, haha. But you'll thank me later. The last thing I want is to ruin the element of surprise!
Sgdp1261: Ugh, so do I. They're brilliant, aren't they. And I see by your favoriting me/my story that you FINALLY got an account! That makes me so happy, we better talk, like, all the time because you're one of my favorite people ever. And haha, no one wants to be under Vanderjesus's wrath, this is correct. Oh Vanderjesus... still so mad that she had only one scene in the finale. GIVE MONA MORE SCREEN TIME SHE IS GOD FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! And as I told a reviewer above, you really don't know that it's a Basilisk. Spencer says it is, but 90% of the time she's wrong, so it really could be anything ;) thanks again for your amazing reviews!
Goldenheart11: Haha, dammit Spencer is correct. That girl... and you will find out later what house Toby would have been put in ;)
PrettyWitchyVamp: Don't worry about it! You're reviewing now, aren't you? And RIGHT, why did they all just forgive him and never bring it up again? Makes me so mad. And I actually think Spencer is the mama bear of the group! She has that overprotective instinct, ya know? And not many boyfriends WOULD do that, but Caleb is legitimately the best boyfriend ever so... ya know. And I FELT LIKE SUCH A PROUD PARENT OKAY I WAS SO PROUD OF ARIA WHEN THAT HAPPENED! Get it gurl. Get it. And please. Sparia has always been my OTP. I mean, love all the canon couples and all, but Sparia is REAL! And wow, so happy this was your favorite! Maybe you'll like this next one even more ;)
Ava B: Team Sparia is the best, aren't they? And you'll find out later what house Toby would've been in ;) and Jenna IS really messed up! But I mean she's Jenna, and she's a freakin' ROBOT, so you know... thanks for the review!
Bagilia: RITA TIME! So true. She is incredibly fun to write for, I'm gonna be honest with you. And I won't kill you for shipping Spezra! They would make a good couple. And yes, you are CRAZY! Look at all of the reviews you have been sending me back to back, they reflect craziness. "Hang on while I load my shotgun." Yeah, not crazy at all... But I mean that in the best way possible of course, because I'm just as spaztastic ;D
ShadowsOnTheMoon: Yay, it worked! I like having all of the characters interact with each other, it's fun. And I like Tomily too! They'd make a cute couple. You know, if she wasn't gay... haha. And I KNOW! Whoever took those books is about to get a slingshot of rage from Spencer once she finds out about it. And no way! Jealous. I love Deathly Hallows! It's my favorite :D
hufflepuffhaleb: Hi! SO happy you like this story, and Haleb is tied with Ezria for my OTP ;D if I had to choose between those two, it would definitely be Caleb staying in Rosewood. As much as I hate Ezria being a lie, it makes for a really good storyline. But Caleb leaving... I can't even comprehend. I'm gonna be so upset :( Thank you so much for reading and enjoying this story!
A lot of you are just awesome (well, I mean, you're actually ALL awesome) and were able to guess the entrance onto the scene of Hogwarts by one very special character that I love with all my Slytherin heart: Rita Skeeter. She is back and better than EVER! So hopefully you enjoy this chapter, where you're first introduced to her, and I'll try to get the next chapter up soon as well. Updates are much slower now since I've actually got stuff going on instead of hibernating in my room with my laptop, so I apologize! But I know you all will be patient, right? Try not to be too mad at me, and don't forget to review/follow/favorite/WHATEVER to let me know if you like it!
"So wait, explain this story to me again?"
Emily giggled lightly as she walked down the corridor with Hanna. Neither of them had any classes left for the day (the schedule was shortened for seventh years because of the Halloween ball), so they were both just leisurely walking down the halls, trying to calm each other's nerves with funny childhood stories. So far, it was working. "I was seven, okay? Don't judge!"
"I'm not judging! I just asked you to tell it again."
Emily sighed. "I can't believe I'm doing this," she muttered. "Okay, so my dad was practicing Quidditch with me in the back yard..."
"Yes..." Hanna said giddily, waiting patiently for the next part.
"Andddd he scored a goal, and I got mad."
"So..."
Emily huffed, defeated. "So I took the Quaffle in my hand and threw it square at his face."
Hanna clapped her hands excitedly as she jumped on Emily's shoulders. "You rockstar, Emily Fields!" she cheered, ignoring Emily's appalled looks as she continued to make a scene. "I knew you could be a badass!"
"I am not!" Emily argued as she attempted to pry herself out of Hanna's arms. "I felt terrible afterward."
"But you went through with it," Hanna said simply as she came back down to the ground. "Hence: badass."
"Hanna, don't be ridic - "
"Excuse me, ladies!"
Emily and Hanna stopped dead in their tracks as a Hufflepuff, that frankly neither of the girls recognized, walked up to them. As she walked closer, Emily and Hanna collectively noticed the wrinkles around her eyes, and that her thinning white-blonde hair was actually a very light shade of silver.
The woman was well over 60.
"I'm Rita Skeeter," she said as she pulled an acid green quill out of her pocket and bit the tip of it with the skin of her teeth, holding it in her mouth as though she were chewing a cigarette. "Witch journalist and author behind biographies of famous leaders like Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter... I work for The Daily Prophet?"
"Nice to meet you," Emily said uneasily as she held out her hand, but Rita didn't reach out to shake it. Instead, she pulled out from behind her a crocodile-skin bag, of which she produced a pile of blank parchment paper.
"I'd like to ask you ladies some questions, if you don't mind," she said as she straightened the papers while clutching the bag to her side and holding the quill between her teeth.
"About?" Hanna asked skittishly.
"About a friend of yours," Rita said cryptically.
Both girls just kept staring at her blankly. "That doesn't tell us anything," Hanna responded again. "We're social people. We have lots of friends!"
"Ugh, fine," Rita said, rolling her eyes. "Spencer Hastings. Happy?"
Emily and Hanna both felt their bloodstreams run short, turning to ice in merely an instant. Spencer?
"Wh-what about Spencer?" Emily asked shakily.
"Well, it appears a little... incident happened in the Great Hall earlier that had to do with her, and it caught our attention. Do you girls have a minute?"
"No."
"Yes."
The "no" came from Hanna. The "yes" came from Emily. Both came at the same time. Rita smiled - it was not a pretty smile - as she led the girls over to a bench on the side. Both Emily and Hanna stayed a little behind as they whispered frantically to each other.
"Why'd you say yes?"
"I was being honest!"
"This isn't Truth or Dare, Emily!" Hanna snapped. "I don't know what this woman wants, but I don't like it. There's no way I'm telling her anything."
"Who knows?" Emily began optimistically. "Maybe it's a good thing. Maybe Spencer got nominated for some award or something, and they want to ask us questions about her!"
Hanna nodded her head rapidly, trying to keep a consistent, positive mindset like Emily, but it was hard when the woman before them plopped her crocodile skin bag on the bench as she set herself up; she had crossed her legs, held the paper out in front of her, and licked the very tip of the feather on her quill. It was showtime.
Reluctantly, Hanna led Emily over to the bench, where they both sat down. "So, what did you want to ask us?"
"Well let's start with your little friend," Rita said, and both girls were able to pinpoint the patronization in her voice. "How long have you known Miss Hastings?"
"Since we were first years," Emily answered automatically.
"Yeah," Hanna confirmed. "She, us two, and our other friend Aria were in the same Defense Against the Dark Arts class together, and we just hit it off immediately."
"Interesting," Rita said thoughtfully as her quill scribbled down some notes on her parchment paper. Actually, the quill did that by itself; it didn't need assistance from Rita's hand, or any part of her body for that matter.
Rita noticed the girls staring, and immediately jumped at the chance to explain. "Oh, that's just my Quick Quotes Quill," she explained. "It writes for me so I don't get any hand cramps. Just ignore it!"
Emily and Hanna both looked at each other warily, but decided to continue. Rita leaned forward, her face resembling that of a teenager dying to hear the newest, juiciest gossip. "And how close are you with Spencer, and that other girl Aria?"
"We'd do anything for them," Emily said simply. "And they'd do anything for us."
Rita nodded her head as the quill scribbled on, an uncomfortably smug smile on her face.
"Wait," Hanna intervened. "What is this about?"
"Just trying to get the scoop on students at this school," Rita answered innocently.
"All this for The Daily Prophet?" Hanna said unsurely. Emily nudged Hanna, urging her not to be rude.
Rita just sat back against the bench, surveying Hanna carefully. "C'mon, dear," she said persuasively. "Don't you want to be quoted in an article? Don't you want your name to be seen by wizards everywhere?"
Hanna stopped, stunned. "That does sound pretty cool..."
"Alright!" Rita said, as though that settled everything. "Now, let's continue with the interview. What kind of person would you reckon Spencer is?"
Rita continued to spew out questions like these, and the girls continued to spew out reluctant, albeit confused, answers. And the whole time, the acid green Quick Quotes Quill just danced along the page, hardly ever stopping to take a break. By the time the interview was over, Rita stood up from the bench as she gathered all of her things into her crocodile skin bag.
"Thank you, ladies," she chirped. "Have fun at the Halloween ball tonight!"
And with that, she sauntered down the hall as Emily and Hanna stared after her, their jaws grazing the floor.
What just happened?
Side Note: Rita skeeter, you little shit, you. Aren't you just something? Of course she hits Hannily at all of their weak points and gathers some juicy info out of them. Wonder what she's gonna do with it!
