Monday, November 2nd, 1994 ("Harry" = Lord Potter; "Hermione" = Lady Potter)
An hour-and-a-half after Kreacher gave them the locket, Harry and Hermione Potter were making their way through Diagon Alley, as they headed toward Gringotts. Half-an-hour ago, they had finished their quest in the Room of Requirement, where they had easily found Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem that Voldemort had turned into a Horcrux, and had placed it in the second lead-lined box that Dobby had retrieved for them. The two lead-lined boxes holding the Horcruxes were now in Hermione's purse that she had found in their Private Quarters. It had turned out that the purse had Undetectable Extension Charms on it, and the boxes had easily fit inside the purse..
"This place feels a lot different without Weasley's Wizard Wheezes," Harry said to his wife, as they passed by the spot where Fred and George Weasley's shop would be in the future.
"Not just Fred and George's shop," Hermione said, "This place looked a lot different after Voldemort was officially discovered to have returned. Ollivander's and Florean Fortescue's shops had both been destroyed, and others shops just didn't look as lively as they used to. As they do now…"
"Yeah," Harry agreed.
Harry smiled as he and Hermione passed by Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. He saw Mr. Fortescue talking to one of his customers at a table outside his shop. Florean had been murdered during the same attack on Diagon Alley in which Ollivander had been kidnapped. One of Harry's fondest memories of Diagon Alley was during the summer before his third year, when he'd sit at one of those tables at Florean's shop, enjoying ice cream as he worked on his homework, and Florean would help him from time to time. He vowed to himself, at that moment, that Florean would not share the same fate he did with his other counterpart.
When Harry and Hermione arrived at Gringotts, they found three Goblins standing outside the large white doors of the bank. Two of the Goblins were the security guards that were standing at attention on either side of the door. The other one was Rocktooth, Keeper Ragnok's assistant, and while Rocktooth did not know them at this time, Harry and Hermione had been familiar with him in the future.
"Lord and Lady Potter, I assume?" Rocktooth asked, as he saw the couple approach.
"I am Lord Harry James Potter," Harry said, "And this is my wife, Lady Hermione Potter."
"Greetings," Rocktooth said, "Keeper Ragnok informed me that you would have a couple dangerous artifacts on your person?"
"They're currently in my purse," Hermione said, indicating the purse.
"Very well," Rocktooth said, "Keeper Ragnok informed me that I was to escort you to him immediately when you arrived, with no delay. None of my colleagues will interfere with you two while we make our way to Keeper Ragnok."
He looked over at his shoulder at one of the security Goblins who was eying Harry and Hermione – and Hermione's purse – suspiciously – and spoke harshly to him in their native tongue. The Goblin blushed – which was odd to see on a Goblin – and straightened as he gazed forward, staring at nothing. Rocktooth turned back to Harry and Hermione.
"My wife and I thank you, Rocktooth," Harry said, "We will let Keeper Ragnok know that you have assisted us honorably today."
Rocktooth nodded once, then motioned them forward. He turned around, opened the doors, and led Harry and Hermione into the Atrium of Gringotts Bank. Soon, they found themselves in a narrow cavern-like corridor, in which the floor, walls and ceiling were made of different types of stone. Several iron doors were seen etched into the walls on either side of the corridor. Rocktooth led Harry and Hermione toward one particular door, and opened it, then led them inside.
The room they entered was made of the same stuff as the corridor on the other side of the door. It was almost empty, aside from a wooden table and three wooden chairs – two chairs on the nearest side, and one on the farther side. A Goblin in formal business attire was sitting in the lone chair on the far side of the table.
"Keeper Ragnok The Sixth," Rocktooth said, "May I introduce Lord Harry James Potter, Head of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter, and his wife, Lady Hermione Potter."
"Lord and Lady Potter," Keeper Ragnok said, "Be welcome! Come sit down! Thank you, Rocktooth, you are excused."
Rocktooth bowed, then left the room and closed the door behind him. Harry and Hermione walked over to Keeper Ragnok and sat down in the chairs.
"Keeper Ragnok," Harry said, "Greetings, may our time with you bring you great profit and fortune."
"Great profit and fortune indeed," Ragnok said, "Before we get into the more important topics of this meeting, let us discuss the topic you addressed in your letter to me this morning. I trust you have brought those dangerous artifacts you mentioned with you?"
Hermione opened her purse, took out the two lead-lined boxes and placed them on the table. Keeper Ragnok gazed at each of the boxes, but did not touch them.
"Inside these two boxes are Salazar Slytherin's Locket, and Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem," Lord Potter said, "They have been tainted with Dark Magic by Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort. He turned them into Horcruxes."
Keeper Ragnok grimaced as he looked up from the boxes, then toward Harry.
"I thank you, Lord Potter," Ragnok said, "For your ingenuity to place such horrid objects in these protective containers. Even now, I can sense such cursed objects, without having to open the containers that hold them. I now understand your reasons for being so wary about discussing such things in a letter. I trust that you have brought these objects into my bank, and before me, because you know that my people have the capability of removing the Horcruxes from the artifacts, and destroying them without harming their containers?"
"That is one reason, yes," Harry said, "I'm afraid there's another reason, one that might be more important to you, and to Gringotts as a whole. I'm afraid that Voldemort had one of his Marked servants hide one of his Horcruxes inside your bank, inside their vault."
Keeper Ragnok turned up his lips in a snarl. "And who was this Marked servant?"
"Bellatrix Lestrange," Harry said, "She placed Helga Hufflepuff's Cup – which was turned into a Horcrux by Voldemort – inside her Vault before she was imprisoned in Azkaban. It has remained there ever since."
Ragnok swore in his native tongue. "Such a cursed object has been inside our bank for fourteen years without our knowledge."
"At the very least, fourteen years," Harry said, "I have a letter here with me from my godfather, Sirius Black. The letter is for you."
Hermione removed the letter from her purse – which Harry had placed there for easy transport – and handed it to Keeper Ragnok. The Goblin opened the scroll and read through it.
"Tell Sirius Black that I thank him for his precautions," Keeper Ragnok said, after finishing the letter, "But his worries were needless. Gringotts will not allow an item as cursed as a Horcrux to remain unchecked inside one of its Vaults. We will retrieve it and destroy it as soon as possible."
He pressed a rune on the table, and moments later the door opened. His assistant, Rocktooth, once again, walked into the room. Keeper Ragnok barked out orders in his native tongue, and Rocktooth bowed, and left the room in haste.
"Rocktooth will assign a team, under my orders, to enter Bellatrix Lestrange's Vault and retrieve the Horcrux," Ragnok said. "By the time our meeting is done, the task should also be complete. After our meeting, if you wish to remain at Gringotts and witness the destruction of that Horcrux, along with the two inside these containers, I will allow it."
"We would be honored to witness such an event, Keeper Ragnok," Harry said, "We thank you for allowing us to do such a thing."
"Such an event would not take place were it not for the both of you," Ragnok said, "So it is no problem."
He pushed the two boxes toward the side of the table. "Now… let us temporarily put such horrid objects out of our minds, and move onto other topics. I assume that the two of you were familiar with me in your future?"
"Yes, Keeper Ragnok," Harry said, "Unfortunately, due to Albus Dumbledore's machinations, and other interference, I was not able to meet with you until roughly two months prior to my eighteenth birthday, nearly seven years after I was supposed to meet you for the first time."
"I imagine I was rather frustrated with you, even though you were not to blame for our delayed meeting?" Ragnok asked.
Harry squirmed uncomfortably. "Unfortunately, you were frustrated with me for other reasons. There's a reason I know that Bellatrix Lestrange placed a Horcrux inside her vault, you see."
Harry explained the first time he and Hermione had retrieved the Cup from Bellatrix's vault. Keeper Ragnok remained quite calm during Harry's story, merely staring at him as the wizard told his story.
"Yes," Ragnok said, "I can see why I would be most frustrated with you after such events. However, as I am sure my future self already lectured you, and voiced his frustrations toward you, that you don't need to hear it again. I am also sure that my future self would have also thanked you for removing such a cursed item from our bank, even if your methods of doing so were quite extreme."
"Indeed," Harry said, "Also, once I agreed to donate ten percent of my fortune at the time to Gringotts for the damages and the loss of the dragon during the event, he decided that the issue no longer needed to be discussed or ever brought up again."
Ragnok hummed and nodded. "I, too, will forgive your misdeeds – however there is a catch. I require a copy of the memory of this event, so that I may use it to prevent such things from happening again in the future. After all, even we Goblins know that knowledge is more valuable than gold, and the knowledge we gain from your experiences of the heist will help Gringotts far more than any… monetary donations you may give us."
"Of course I will comply with such a reasonable request, Keeper Ragnok," Harry said.
Ragnok presented a large sapphire jewel, which was actually the Goblin's version of a vial to store memories in. Harry produced another copy of his memory of the Gringotts heist and placed it on the jewel. The memory vanished inside the jewel, which lit up with visible magic. Keeper Ragnok stored the jewel back inside one of his pockets.
"Thank you, Lord Potter," Ragnok said, "Now we may continue. When we met in the future, I trust I gave you a full report when it came to your Family Vaults?"
"Yes," Harry said, "Not just House Potter's Vault, but also the Vaults of Houses Peverell, Gryffindor and Black. I had inherited the Black Lordship from my Godfather, after he had tragically passed away a couple years prior."
"That is quite understandable," Ragnok said, "You – well, your counterpart – is second in line in the House of Black, after all."
"Something that Draco Malfoy, nor his parents, have no knowledge of," Harry said, "They believe Draco is next in line."
"Indeed," Ragnok said, with a smirk. "I trust that I also presented you with James and Lily Potter's Final Will and Testament when we first met?"
"Yes, you did," Harry said, then sighed sadly, "Unfortunately, most of the Inheritors in the Will had passed away by the time the Will was opened. If you're wondering whether or not I wish to open the Will at this moment in time, that would be a 'no'. We can wait until my counterpart meets with you to do that. I plan to bring him here to meet you around Christmas Break. Sometime between Christmas and New Year's Day."
"I look forward to the meeting!" Ragnok said, "And I understand. It would be more proper for your counterpart to open the Will first, since you were able to experience such a thing in your future. Should we plan for a Will Reading sometime next year then?"
"Yes," Harry said, "But I would prefer that we don't go into any details until my counterpart is here to be part of the discussion."
"Of course," Ragnok agreed. "Now, am I to understand that you and Lady Potter, here, are connected by a Soul-Bond?"
"We are," Harry said, and Hermione nodded.
"And your counterparts?" Ragnok asked, "Have they formed their Bond?"
"Not yet," Harry said, "But there is a fair chance that they might begin the first stages of their Bond before my counterpart meets with you for the first time."
"If your two counterparts form their Bond before we meet," Ragnok said, "Please bring Lady Potter's counterpart, along with yours, to the planned meeting. And Lady Potter's parents, as well, if it is entirely possible."
"Oh God!" Hermione exclaimed, "That means I'm going to have to introduce myself to my parents! I really didn't want that to happen! I suppose I should have realized it would be inevitable."
"At least you have a month-and-a-half to prepare for that," Harry said.
"True," Hermione said.
"I will do my best to make that happen, Keeper Ragnok," Hermione said, "There is something else you should know. I – and also, my counterpart – am the last surviving Heiress of the House of Dagworth-Granger."
Keeper Ragnok raised an eyebrow, and smiled. "I assume you already know that I am also the Vault Keeper and Account Manager for the House of Dagworth-Granger?"
"Yes, I do," Hermione said, "You – your future counterpart – thought it was a nice little irony."
"An irony, but not a coincidence," Ragnok said, "Because we Goblins don't believe in coincidences."
"Yes, that is exactly what your counterpart said too," Hermione said, smiling.
"Of course," Ragnok said.
"Is there anything that needs to be done today, concerning my counterpart," Harry said, "I mean, anything that needs to be done before he meets with you at the end of next month?"
"Nothing that needs to immediately happen," Ragnok said, shaking his head, "Of course, if last night's events went differently, my answer would, also, have been different. Yes, I already know what happened last night, concerning the Goblet of Fire. If your counterpart would have been chosen by the Goblet of Fire – I assume you know what I am implying here?"
"By the time the First Task was over," Harry said, "My counterpart would become an Emancipated Minor. Yes, the same thing happened to me. Only, I didn't know about it at the time. Dumbledore didn't tell me, and neither did anyone else. Even though I was technically Emancipated, I was brought in front of the Wizengamot on charges of the use of Underage Wizardry, even though I technically wasn't Underage anymore!"
"Yes, I am sure that was quite an annoyance when you discovered your Emancipation in the future," Ragnok said.
"Indeed," Harry said.
"Very well then," Ragnok said, "Well then, I suppose most of what I intended to happen today will have to wait until your counterpart arrives. However, there are two things that will concern the two of you, and not young Mr. Potter, and one that will concern Mr. Potter, but I'm sure you can take care of it without his presence."
"Alright," Harry said. "Let's start with the latter one."
"Since I assume it happened to you as well in your old timeline," Ragnok said, "I'm going to wager that you know Harry gave his Vault Key to a Mrs. Molly Weasley?"
Harry nodded. "Yes, and I know how stupid that was now. I didn't at the time. Did Molly take more from my Vault than she was supposed to?"
"She did not," Ragnok said, "I reclaimed the key after she left Gringotts that day. I assume she never wrote to you, and therefore not to your younger self, about a missing key?"
"I recall that Hedwig brought me the key in an envelope sometime this year, but there was no letter attached to it," Harry said.
"Hmm," Ragnok frowned, "Well, I'm not sure how that is possible, if I had it in my possession in your old timeline. I would have surely written you a letter while returning your key. I will look into it. Anyway, I have the key in my possession. I'm going to let you give it back to young Harry. Please tell him not to give it to just anyone else. Whether or not he attempts to do so, he won't be able to. I have enchanted the key to be… shall we say… keyed into him. Once he touches it, if he loses it, it will always go back to him."
"What if I touch it first?" Harry asked.
Ragnok smirked. "I see you've gauged the problem. I am going to give you the key in an envelope, to give it back to young Harry."
"So he'll touch the key, and the enchantments will sink into his magical core," Harry said, nodding.
"Indeed," Ragnok said.
Ragnok snapped his fingers, and an envelope with the key appeared in front of Harry. He took it, and pocketed it, then thanked the Goblin.
"Let's continue then," Ragnok said. "Are you aware that House Potter currently has thirty-five percent ownership of the Daily Prophet?"
Harry grimaced. Yes, he was well aware of that. He hadn't learned of such a thing until he had first met Keeper Ragnok. It would have been nice to know about such a thing back during the summer before his fifth year, when the Daily Prophet was slandering him so much!
"I am," Harry confirmed.
"Barnabus Cuffe also knows this," Ragnok said, "He sent me a message earlier this morning, and asked me to get in contact with you, Lord Potter. He wants to speak to you about your so-called 'mysterious arrival' at Hogwarts on Halloween evening."
"Is this why there hasn't been any articles over the past couple of days concerning the Triwizard Tournament, and the arrival of my wife and I?" Harry asked, "Because Barnabus Cuffe was waiting to talk to us, before he released the news to the public?"
"That is, indeed, what Cuffe said to me in his message," Ragnok said.
"To be honest, I'm pretty shocked about this, Ragnok," Harry said, "My experience with the Daily Prophet tells me that they would usually never wait to release such big news. Why would they wait for a meeting with me?"
"Because you are Lord Potter, Head of the House Potter, who owns the largest amount of stock in their company," Ragnok said, "I'm sure much of your experience with the Daily Prophet had to do with when you were just 'Mr. Harry Potter'. Because you weren't even officially 'Heir Potter' back then, the Daily Prophet probably decided that you weren't… important enough to be bothered about your part of the partnership in their business."
"And now that I am here, as Lord Potter, I'm suddenly important to them," Harry said.
"Indeed – especially since you are the Fourth Champion in the Triwizard Tournament," Ragnok said, "I'm sure Cuffe will explain more of his reasoning behind not releasing such news of the Tournament, and your arrival before now, so I will let you and Lady Potter discuss such things with him, instead of myself."
"I suppose we should head to the Daily Prophet Headquarters after we leave Gringotts," Harry said to his wife, "As much as I want to avoid such a thing."
"Yeah, sounds good to me," Hermione agreed.
"I understand," Harry said to Ragnok, "Thank you for letting me know."
"You're most welcome," Ragnok said, "I also know that you are here for another reason, other to meet with me, and also bring the subject of Horcruxes to me. I assume you also want access to the Potter Family Vaults?"
"Yes, Keeper Ragnok," Harry said, "You see, when we fell through the Portal, we had nothing with us, aside from our wands, our signet rings, and bathrobes. So we have to use some of my Family Fortunes to buy us a whole new set of belongings, especially clothes!"
"Yes," Ragnok said, "I completely understand. It is a good thing your signet rings came with you. Because – even though they are technically copies of the rings that are currently inside your Vault – they will work just like their own counterparts. You will be able to use them to open your Family Vaults."
Harry sighed in relief. "Thank goodness!"
"Indeed," Hermione and Ragnok said.
"Well, then," Ragnok said, "How about I take you to your Family Vaults? By the time you're finished there, Rocktooth and his comrades should have retrieved the Horcrux inside Bellatrix Lestrange's Vault. So we can all witness the destruction of that Horcrux, and these two, after your visit to the Vaults."
"I look forward to it," Harry said, and Hermione nodded in agreement.
Keeper Ragnok summoned forth a bag, and placed both of the lead-lined boxes inside it. Then he stood up.
"Then let's head to your Family Vaults," Ragnok said, "Come along, Potters – time is money, and we cannot afford to waste either!"
Harry and Hermione agreed, and stood up, then followed the Goblin out of the room.
Monday, November 2nd, 1994 ("Harry" = Lord Potter; "Hermione" = Lady Potter) – Half-an-hour later
Harry and Hermione, along with a large group of Goblins, cheered as the third cursed swine was beheaded, and did their best not to wince as they heard an inhuman shriek pierce the air for the third time in the last few minutes. They were currently sitting in a small arena-like chamber deep under Gringotts.
Over the past ten minutes, a group of six Goblin warriors of Gringotts had battled against three cursed swine, which the three Horcruxes had been transferred into from Salazar Slytherin's Locket, Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem, and Helga Hufflepuff's Cup, after a fascinating ritual that had been performed by Goblins. The three cursed, possessed swines had put up a great fight, one of them actually knocking over a couple of the Goblin warriors, before one of the other Goblins had killed said swine.
For Lord and Lady Potter, it was amazing to watch, as well as very satisfying, since the entertaining battle had also destroyed three of the last remaining six Horcruxes.
Keeper Ragnok walked into the center of the battlefield, and checked on each of the swines to make sure they were dead. He nodded in satisfaction, then looked over at Lord and Lady Potter and gave them a resolute nod. They nodded back, and Keeper Ragnok looked at the warriors, all of whom were standing at attention.
"Noble warriors of Gringotts!" Keeper Ragnok said, "You have done me and my father – the venerable King Ragnok – a great honor today. You have destroyed three pieces of extremely dark and cursed magic that the fiend Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Voldemort, created! You have all earned your pay today, as well as a hearty bonus! Be proud of yourselves today, for you can rest assured that my father and I are both very proud of you! Thank you, and may the remainder of your lives remain as noble and honorable as you have shown us today!"
Keeper Ragnok then gave another speech in his native language, and the Goblin audience cheered and applauded and roared in their native tongue. Harry and Hermione applauded along respectfully. Ragnok excused the group of Goblins who quickly made their way out of the chamber. Ranok then headed over to Harry and Hermione
"That was amazing to witness, Keeper Ragnok!" Harry said, "Whatever bonuses you are giving the warriors today, please, double it – with half of the bonus paid from my own vault!"
"I am sure the warriors will thank you, Lord Potter," Ragnok said, "Now you said something about wanting to keep Salazar Slytherin's locket?"
"Yes," Harry said, "For several years, it was guarded by a friend of ours – a house-elf – while he tried to do everything he could to destroy it, to keep a promise to his Master. Unfortunately he failed to keep his promise. However, we promised him we would destroy the darkness within the locket, and – if we could – return the locket to him."
"A noble gesture, one I can agree with," Ragnok said, "And what about the Diadem and Cup?"
"May we keep them in my Family Vault?" Harry asked, "At least until Tom Riddle has been destroyed. After he has been defeated, we will return the Diadem and Cup to Hogwarts."
"I believe I can agree with that," Ragnok agreed, "Very well, I will bring the Diadem and Cup to your Vault myself. I will do that now. This is where we say goodbye, until we meet again. Rocktooth will bring you back to the Atrium."
"Thank you for everything you've done for us today, and for my family, Keeper Ragnok," Harry said, "May your fortunes grow ever greater with every passing moment."
"And may your enemies fall at your feet, Lord Potter," Ragnok said, "Rocktooth!"
Rocktooth, who had been waiting nearby, walked over to them.
"Bring Lord and Lady Potter back to the Atrium," Keeper Ragnok said, "and make sure they get a couple of Muggle-worthy credit cards."
The 'credit cards' Gringotts provided acted just like actual credit cards in the Muggle world, and were accepted by any and every shop and restaurant in the Muggle world. The payment used from the credit cards would be transferred from the Vault owned by the card user.
"Yes, Keeper Ragnok," Rocktooth said.
Harry and Hermione said farewell to Keeper Ragnok, then followed Rocktooth out of the chamber. Ten minutes later, with their new credit cards, and the items they collected from the Vaults, they left Gringotts, then made their way through Diagon Alley toward the headquarters of the Daily Prophet, and into the building.
The Entrance/Reception Room of the Daily Prophet Headquarters was rather small and simple, and resembled a waiting room at a doctor's office. There were several chairs sitting against walls nearest the front door. Vendors were selling editions of the Daily Prophet, Witch Weekly, and Teen Witch Weekly.
Near the opposite side of the room, there was a reception desk, with a witch – obviously the receptionist – sitting there, reading the newest edition of Witch Weekly, and smacking her lips, as she chewed on some Drooble's Best Blowing Gum. Behind the desk, there was a door with the words "Barnabus J. Cuffe – Editor-In-Chief, The Daily Prophet" etched onto a golden plaque. There were also two other doors on the left and right side of the room.
"We wish to speak to Barnabus Cuffe," Harry said, as he and Hermione approached the reception desk.
The receptionist, young enough that she couldn't have been out of Hogwarts for very long, blew a bubble and popped it.
"Do you have an appointment?" she asked, in a bored monotone voice – she turned a page of the magazine, not even bothering to look up at Harry.
"We were informed that Mr. Cuffe is expecting to meet with us sometime today," Harry said, "I am Lord Harry James Potter, Head of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter, and this is my wife, Lady Hermione Potter."
The receptionist choked on her gum and looked up from her magazine. She looked back and forth between Harry and Hermione, then back at Harry, her cheeks pink with blush.
"You're the – the time-travelers?" she asked.
"We are," Harry confirmed.
Harry hid a snicker as he watched the receptionist stumble as she stood up from her chair. She bustled over to the door, knocked on it, waited for a moment, then peered inside. After a few moments, she backed away and turned around.
"Mr. Cuffe will see you now," the receptionist said.
"Thank you, ma'am," Harry said, with a wink.
This time Harry couldn't hide a snicker, as the receptionist blushed visibly. Harry led his wife through the door behind the desk, and stepped into an extravagantly-looking office. Near the back of the room, a magnificent mahogany desk stood, with a man in his mid-forties, dressed in business-attire robes, standing behind it beaming at them all. The walls were adorned with what appeared to be articles of past Daily Prophets, as well as moving pictures all of which had the same man with several people who were obviously celebrities and VIPs in Wizarding Great Britain. Behind the man's desk, there were shelves filled with trophies, medals and awards.
"Lord and Lady Potter," the man said, "Greetings! My name is Barnabus J. Cuffe, and I am the Editor-In-Chief of The Daily Prophet. But perhaps you know that already. Perhaps you have already met me in your… future, shall we say? You can call me Barney – most people do! Please be seated."
There were already two chairs on the nearest side of the desk.
"We never had the honor of meeting you, Barney," Harry said, as he and Hermione sat down in the chairs, "However, we did have many run-ins with Rita Skeeter – most of them quite unwelcoming."
Cuffe frowned. "I see. I do understand that Miss Skeeter can be… uncomfortable to be around sometimes. Especially if she has you in her target for her articles."
"Rita wasn't the only problem I had with this newspaper, Barney," Harry said, "The Daily Prophet wasn't very… nice to us in our future, Mr. Cuffe. My good name was slandered by your newspaper one day, and worshiped the next. In our timeline, next summer, your newspaper insulted me in various articles, though most of those were well-hidden, where my friends – including my wife here – and I would have to look hard to find them. Though find them, we did. Little insults, here and there."
"We can't pin the entire blame on you and your paper, Mr. Cuffe," Hermione said, "The Ministry of Magic – especially Minister Fudge himself, and his toadie, Dolores Umbridge. They made you write such things about my husband – though he wasn't my husband at the time, of course."
"I didn't know about my legacy, my family's legacy, at the time, you see," Harry said, "So I didn't know, at the time, that I owned thirty-five percent of this company. However, Mr. Cuffe, you do seem to know that fact already."
Cuffe's cheeks went red. "I do know that, yes. I would like to apologize for my… my counterpart, I suppose – from your future. I would like to make up for his mistakes, if I can."
"You actually can make up for it, Barney," Harry said, "I would like you – not Rita Skeeter – to be the representative for the Daily Prophet for the Triwizard Tournament."
"Lord Potter, I'm quite honored," Cuffe said, "However, I – I'm the Editor-in-Chief here at the Daily Prophet, not a journalist!"
"Ah, but you've written many articles for the Daily Prophet in the past, haven't you?" Hermione asked, "Certainly much better articles than Rita Skeeter could ever hope to write."
Cuffe puffed out his chest. "I'm honored you think so, Lady Potter!"
"You never embellish in your articles, Mr. Cuffe," Hermione continued, "You never put words in people's mouths, words that the targets of your articles never said. I don't think I actually saw your counterpart's name in any articles during that period of slander next summer in our old timeline. Only your name and title, as Editor-in-Chief, was in the newspapers. Of course, as Editor-in-Chief, you had to approve of all the articles. But you, yourself, never wrote any of those articles that slandered my husband."
"I completely agree with my wife," Harry said, "So, Mr. Cuffe, I think you've earned the right to be the media representative for the Daily Prophet in the Triwizard Tournament."
Cuffe sighed. "Rita will be quite disappointed –"
"Probably not the first time she'll have suffered such disappointment while working here at the Daily Prophet," Hermione cut in, "And if it is, then it is a fine learning experience for her. Oh, and Mr. Cuffe? We know Rita Skeeter's deepest, darkest secret. Please warn Miss Skeeter the next time you see her, that my husband and I will be carrying bug spray and fly-swatters on our person at Hogwarts. If we were to see any… unwelcome bugs cross our path in the future, we will not hesitate to exterminate them."
Cuffe swallowed. "I'll be sure to let her know, Lady Potter!"
"Excellent!" Harry said, "Shall we get on with the interview now?"
Cuffe cleared his throat, and nodded frantically. He collected writing material from a drawer in his desk, and placed it in front of him. Thankfully, the quills he had chosen to use were Dictation Quills, not Quick-Quotes Quills. Had it been the latter, Harry and Hermione would have left the office and the building immediately.
"So," Cuffe said, "Where shall we begin this interview?"