"Please have a seat Harry, may I call you Harry?"
"No."
Rita hid her wince, before nodding with a slight, uncomfortable, laugh and setting up her parchment and Quick-Quill. "I understand you wanted to speak with me?"
"Yes, you will be posting a retraction about what you wrote concerning the Yule Ball. I do not appreciate my personal life being thrown around on the front pages and I will not allow you to make up facts concerning the Delacours or myself."
"Come now Har… Mr. Potter, this is how the press works. Since you would not give me an interview I had to make do with what I had available. Surely you understand that as a Slytherin."
"I also understand that you should consider who you are writing about before publishing."
"Making threats Mr. Potter? You really should know better, never start a verbal war with a journalist, we have a habit of finding out exactly what you don't want revealed."
The teen merely stared at her, no expression on his face, allowing her to continue, her confidence building as she 'smelled blood in the water'. "Perhaps a story about all of your little escapades hm? Or all the 'relationships' you are having. It would be quite the story to reveal that not only an Auror, but also at least one teacher was sleeping with a student. And how do you think the Weasley's will feel about their daughter spending so much quality time with you? Then there is that lovely little blonde… what was her name again? Oh yes, Luna. I hear her father runs the Quibbler, I am sure that…"
Something moved in her peripheral vision, odd considering they were alone in an interview room. Rita turned slightly, before she was thrown back against the table, falling to the floor as pain shot through her body. The discomfort was forgotten an instance later as she beheld exactly what had attacked her.
There were no words for the monstrosity now pinning her to the floor. It was a demon from the darkest pits of the worst nightmares. Spider-like legs, a twisting, disgusting body, and dozens of mouths and eyes covering nearly every inch. It was large, and pitch black, the eyes glowing red like fire in the shadows.
She tried to scream, but found pincers wrapped around her throat, preventing her from doing so as her limbs were held down by the monster's own. It began to lower itself towards her torso, a gaping maw sliding open as razor sharp teeth prepared to tear into her body.
Skeeter looked around in horror, desperate to find anything to save her… but found only a single boy, watching with expressionless, and pitiless, eyes as the creature bit down and…
A scream echoed through the office of the Daily Prophet, sending several reporters and staff barging into the room to see Harry Potter rising out of his chair in concern, while Rita Skeeter flailed about on the floor nearby.
"Skeeter! The hell is wrong with you!?" Before her colleague could reach out to shake her, the woman seemed to wake up, and screamed even louder, scooting back against the wall as terror filled her eyes.
"What did you…"
Before the editor could finish his accusation towards the only other person who had been present in the room the boy's eyes lit up in anger themselves, "I don't know what kind of paper you are running that would have me interview with someone who is clearly out of their mind, but I assure you that you will be hearing from my godfathers, and their lawyers. If this is who you have printing lies and falsities about me I will have you shut down in a week!" The teen rose and stormed off, muttering to himself about inept and incompetent adults.
...
A soft knocking interrupted the Delacour's, rather late, lunch. The matron rose to answer the door, answering loudly enough that the others would be aware of their guest.
"Greetings Lord Potter."
"Please, just Harry, Madame I was hoping to speak with…"
"HARRY!" Gabrielle squealed happily as she bolted into the living area.
Her father and sister followed afterwards, with Fleur chuckling as the young girl had practically tackled the teenage boy. "Harry, what are you doing here? Is everything okay?"
"Not quite, but I figured it would be better for me to stop in now rather than later after you read the article."
"What article?" The other male inquired, before being handed the Daily Prophet. Moments later his eyes gleamed with something, although whether it was approval or annoyance his family didn't quite know.
"Dear, what is…"
Jean Delacour frowned slightly, before tossing the paper onto the table, not even bothering to allow his wife to read the article, "It appears as though some of the English reporters have taken to voicing their opinions on the relationship between our daughters and Lord Potter."
"I have already taken care of it sir."
The family turned to the boy, who grinned back. "Seems they did not understand the implications they were making, a casual reminder or two of who could very easily own their paper and they were more than happy to agree about printing an apology later today."
"I appreciate the courtesy."
He nodded, before turning to leave.
"Oh, don't go Lord Potter, we were just sitting down for lunch. Please join us." the older woman spoke, gently steering him back into the carriage.
"Well…"
"Not only that but I am sure we can continue our discussion on business a bit later hm?" the oldest man noted, earning a, seemingly hesitant, nod from the other male.
....
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