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Chapter 32: Rita Skeeter
Harry was glad to be going on shift on a Friday night before Christmas rather than staying at home with the current chill factor between himself and Mia. The Junior Auror knew things were underway but he could not say anything as it might blow the op not even to his best friend.
He had left Hermione and Tonks to run dinner, as he had to report at 7pm. Joy oh Joy patrolling Diagon Alley district on Friday night. To make it even worse it was the last Friday before Xmas so we were now talking about the staff Xmas parties, drinks and all sorts of get togethers all being held at the various bars and clubs in the London magical district. The cells were going to be busy tonight and he hoped he had enough portkeys for prisoner transfers as he was certainly going to earn his stripes with hard work. No one would be able to say that Harry Potter was an honorary Auror especially after he had done all the dirty jobs.
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It had not gone unnoticed that the Daily Prophet had returned to sensationalism as it primary literary style. Attacking one of the Golden Trio and then suggesting that the brightest witch of her age was an attention seeking fan girl was something from outer space and what ever they were on Kingsley Shacklebolt wanted some cause it was some sort of delusion.
Earlier in the week Kingsley had sent young Harry Potter and his senior partner for the day into the ministry archives to identify overegged stories where Ms Skeeter had been the responsible author. There had been a number of articles identified and copied from the ministerial archives so that there was a case file for Ms Skeeter.
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At the meal break Harry got the news he wanted. Ms Skeeter was wanted by the MLE to provide assistance in an on going investigation. Reading between the lines the wording indicated that either there was not quite enough evidence yet or the MLE didn't want to tip their hand and announce there was a warrant out for the witch. With a smile Harry returned to the routine of dealing with the drunk and disorderly on a busy Friday night. Most were taken in custody for their own safety but there were a couple of brawls. There was a catfight in Knockturn Alley where his Senior just stood to the side as the two hags went at each other with their handbags after throwing up some protective shields. When they got to the point where they were falling off their heels with their handbag swings it was only then Senior Auror McKenzie threw a couple of stunners and cuffed the two witches before sending them with the charge sheet to this evening's Booking Sargent in the watch house with a portkey. They could not go into the watch house just yet as there was another Auror pair already in with their last batch of prisoners for the official processing.
Returning down Diagon Alley towards the Leaky Cauldron Harry could not believe his luck when he recognised the peroxide blond locks in the fluorescent lime designer suit along with the red glasses that had the obligatory bling on the wing arms. That and the scarlet talons and matching trout pout on her face. In attendance with her was Bozo the photographer who just liked to stick that camera in the most inappropriate places at all times. McKenzie whispered to Harry to go with the flow and play cool.
"So Aurors has it been a busy night for you tonight?" she enquired with that voice of dripping sarcasm. Oh how the mighty had fallen here is Harry Potter doing lowly drunk duty the beetle animagus thought warming the cockles of her heart.
"Why don't you two tag along with us we have a bunch of prisoners to process so you can talk to the Watch house Sargent and get the scoop on those who have been disorderly. You know it is Christmas party night so there has been some really good gossip for you there," said McKenzie with a wink and a rub of his nose.
"Oh anyone juicy?" was the purr from Rita as she played with McKenzie's robes.
Leaning down to her he whispered in her ear, "Senior ministry officials, Magical Creatures, prominent pureblood families". Harry was watching her not hearing what McKenzie was saying but he could see it visibly excited the witch. Harry tried not to loose his cookies over her response to his senior partner it was just a little too perverse for him to easily accept.
When the other team reappeared back in the district they sent a message down to Harry and McKenzie saying the Sarge wanted them back for processing.
"Are you coming Ms Skeeter?" inquired McKenzie holding out his arm for her like a pure blood gentleman.
"How can I refuse an offer like that?" she replied fluttering her fake eyelashes at the Auror.
"Potter bring Ms Skeeter's photographer. Now hurry! I just love bossing the boy wonder around. It is just so much fun!" advised McKenzie with a smirk before breaking in to a laugh which was joined by Rita.
Using a Watch house Portkey they all appeared in front of the Watch house Sargent's desk.
"Ah Ms Skeeter can you pass your wand in for a minute so I can log you into the watch house area. Routine you understand" advised the Sargent after seeing the wink from McKenzie. The witch handed over her wand and he promptly bagged it as evidence. It was only then that Rita realised that this was not going to be a friendly visit. "I believe the head of the MLE would like a word. Senior Auror McKenzie please take her to interview room 4. Potter give me Bozo's gear and wand and he can go in room 5". It really sunk in that it wasn't a friendly chat when the Sargent handed over a couple pairs of magical suppression cuffs for both members of the press.
"You can do this!" exclaimed Bozo.
"You are both wanted for questioning in relation to an serious urgent investigation. We are just following procedures. Don't worry I make sure we look after your equipment properly but since you are in a watch house we have to log your gear. Don't you want to sort this out before the Christmas break nothing worse than doing paperwork over the holidays" advised the Sargent in that bored voice of a jobs worthy.
After placing them both in their interview rooms Harry was standing guard outside when the Watch House Sargent sent McKenzie back to him asking to send his corporeal patronus with a message for Kingsley Shacklebolt.
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At the breakfast buffet the next morning in Grimmauld Place, Harry had a smile on his face that he could not keep off. There was nothing yet from the Ministry so he had to keep quite but it was hard to hide his excitement.
Kreacher came into the open plan dining room area and brought a stack of Daily Prophet into the room and placing them on the coffee table. It appeared that the post owls had been making their deliveries. "Master needs to see the paper" advised the elf.
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Ms Granger making fools out of the kind hearted
By Rita Skeeter.
It was with interest as a professional journalist for me to read the recent Quibbler article about Ms Granger. This article paints a completely different picture to Miss Granger to what we here at the Daily Prophet have observed over the years.
A number of sources have confirmed that Ms Granger did not make friends with Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley until after the infamous troll attack on Halloween of their first year. This is where the girl started to deceive others that we can confirm. Apparently she lied to Professor McGonagall about the incident and since then she has been using people for her own advantage. The callous ruthlessness was most certainly demonstrated when she oblivated her own parents and sent them to Australia. For someone who supposedly champions the protection of Muggles were was the protections for her own parents when this witch turned her magic onto them.
Even before the remove of her parents from the UK she was not a loving daughter as she certainly did not like spending time with them and apparently had been welcomed into the Weasley family home. Yes after wrecking her own family Ms Granger tried to ingratiate herself into a pureblood wizarding family presumably thinking it would give her more of advantage in her later life as her Muggle parents were no longer useful.
Ms Granger has repeatedly used people to further her own goals and ensure that she receives the attention she desires. Now it appears she has broken up Miss Ginevra Weasley and Harry Potter's long term relationship of over three years. Merlin only knows what happened in the almost 12 months that Harry Potter and Ms Granger were on the run only staying in a tent. It is well know that Muggle born magicals have loser morals than traditional families.
Has the Editor of the Quibbler become enamoured with the young witch herself? It is known that Luna Lovegood the Quibbler owner's daughter also fought closely with the forces of the light so could the recent article in this pranksters journal just be over enthusiastic idolisation.
Could this latest press coverage just be the renown that this glory hound of a witch wants to receive? We here at the Daily Prophet had no complaints from her about the recent articles so if we were wrong she has had ample opportunity to address any issues. I Rita Skeeter can attest that all the facts have been double checked with more than one primary source unlike the Quibbler article which appears to be bites from Miss Lovegood or some other similar positioned individual within the Order of Phoenix.