Wade took the parchment, and before he could examine it closely, Rita Skeeter enthusiastically leaned closer, asking eagerly,
"Oh, by the way, do you know who Harry Potter is close to? Girls would be best... though his rivals would work too!"
Wade slowly raised his head, looking at her with a strange expression. "What are you trying to do?"
"I've temporarily given up interviewing you, but I can't just put the Champions' photos in the newspaper, can I? What kind of news is that?"
Rita Skeeter tapped her arm with fingers adorned with bright red nail polish, her eyes gleaming. "The 'Star of Salvation' topic is what will attract massive attention!"
Wade frowned, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Rita, you know Harry is my friend, right?"
"Is he? Well, okay, let's say he is."
Rita Skeeter glanced around, then said in a conciliatory tone,
"For your sake, I'll write him up a bit more charmingly... How about portraying him as a young Savior who cries at night missing his parents, but gambles his life for the honor of the British Wizarding World by participating in the competition?"
She waved her arms, her golden curls bouncing with her movements, and said alluringly, "Just imagine, once my article is published, he'll become every mother's darling in the Wizarding World. People will absolutely adore him!"
"Not everyone likes to be in the spotlight, Rita."
Wade said seriously, "Using your Quill and your status as a journalist to dig up old wounds of a minor who made great sacrifices for the world—that's completely unethical."
"Ethics? Ethics are shackles; I don't have those."
Rita's eyes darted around, and she said stubbornly, "Listen, Wade, I'm very grateful you saved me, so for you, I can make concessions. I can help you with any information you want, but you cannot interfere with my work!"
The female journalist's facial muscles tensed, and she said unhappily, "I'm a journalist. I need explosive news!"
"And the public has a right to know! Do you know how much people look forward to seeing Harry Potter's name in the newspaper? The public has the right to know how their hero grew up, they care about The Boy Who Lived!"
"I'm helping him, do you understand, Wade? Moderate exposure won't harm him! I'll shape him into the most beloved figure in the Wizarding World, which will also help him in the competition..."
Wade reached out, cutting off her incessant talk—
"Our names are on the Champion list, and that's enough! People don't need your fabricated stories to guess if a child is crying at night, or if they're dating a beautiful girl, or hear one-sided judgments from his rivals."
His voice remained calm, but the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees:
"I know Harry; he's not that interested in fame and doesn't want people prying into his privacy. What you're doing will make him uncomfortable."
"What's more, is excessive exposure a good thing? His every move will be scrutinized and criticized. Some will resent him for no reason, some will harass him, and others will presumptuously claim to care while trying to manipulate him—yes, just like you're planning to do now."
"So don't try to justify how beneficial your reporting is, Rita. You know perfectly well your articles will only mess up other people's lives!"
A silence fell in the room. Rita Skeeter pressed her lips together, her face slightly pale. She looked at Wade, her expression somewhat hurt.
"This is me... this is how I live... Wade Grey." Rita gritted her teeth, her voice sharp. "Even Dumbledore wouldn't... wouldn't..."
Wade's tone softened a little.
"Not everyone has the grace of Professor Dumbledore. If you continue to trample on others' dignity so recklessly, sooner or later, it will backfire on you."
After a pause, he added, "The reason I'm telling you this is because I still consider you a friend, and I don't want to see you ruin yourself with such foolish behavior."
"Think about it, Rita."
Wade patted the parchment beside him and said, "Isn't the information you gave me the best proof?"
"This world is much more dangerous than we see. If you're so unscrupulous with your Quill, by the time trouble comes knocking, it'll be too late to regret it."
Wade emphasized the word "trouble."
Rita looked at Wade, and Wade calmly met her gaze. After a moment of eye contact, Rita Skeeter was ultimately the first to look away.
"Hmph, you make it sound so good, but aren't you just trying to get me to leave Harry Potter alone?"
She took a deep breath and said, "Fine, the interview is off. But if I write about others, you shouldn't have any objections, right?"
"Is it really that hard to respect the facts and not defame others?"
Wade said helplessly, "Your profession is called the Uncrowned King because it can easily sway public opinion on a matter or a person, but distorting facts undermines that honor and power. Isn't that being penny wise and pound foolish?"
"Thanks for your concern, but I have my way of doing things."
Rita Skeeter snatched up her handbag with a whoosh, sneered, and turned to walk out of the classroom, saying as she went,
"Now I believe you and Harry Potter truly are friends!"
"But even if I give up, won't other journalists target him? Once others control the narrative, you'll realize I was the most friendly journalist!"
She clacked out of the room on her high heels, and just before leaving, she turned and pointed at Wade, shouting, "Don't forget you still owe me an exclusive interview!"
*BANG!*
The classroom door slammed shut, as if venting intense dissatisfaction, but only Rita Skeeter herself knew how jealous she felt at that moment.
She envied the light around Wade; when protecting his friends, he shone as brightly as a burning torch.
She also envied Harry, who was protected without even realizing it. Friendship, for Rita, was an almost non-existent luxury.
Rita took a deep breath, swallowing the sourness in her throat. When she turned around, her surge of emotions was instantly scared away.
Dumbledore and Flitwick were standing at the door, watching her calmly.
"Oh, Dumbledore." Rita Skeeter quickly forced a smile. "So good to see you again... Can I have a word with you?"
"Ah... given that you always describe me as a stiff, old lunatic, I think perhaps not." Dumbledore said with a smile, "Dinner is ready. Why don't you go and have some?"
"Alright... Of course, I was just about to."
Rita Skeeter clutched her small handbag and hurried away, as if fleeing.
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