"No Hermione. We stick together," Harry reiterated. "We know there are Death Eaters out there with children in here. We saw those mirrors Sirius and Remus have. What if one of the Death Eaters has something similar and gets word to someone in the Castle? Tonight we stick together."
"I...I didn't think of that Harry," She admitted.
"I agree with 'Arry," Fleur said. "We'll all go. Eet won't take long."
They met Remus and Padfoot shortly before they arrived at the medical wing.
"Dumbledore thought it might be best if Padfoot and I go visit some old friends while the investigation is ongoing," Remus explained. "If Peter happens to mention things about a large black dog...well we want to wait for a clear path before making your godfather's presence known."
"We were coming to warn you about something similar," Harry replied. "We think Rita Skeeter knows about your form Padfoot."
A low growl emerged from the black dog before Remus spoke up again. "Why do you think that?"
"Remember what I took off your shoulder in Dumbledore's office?"
"A Bee.. Skeeter? She was with us?"
"Looks that way," Hermione replied.
Remus turned to Sirius. "She can't break the story until morning so we should be fine for the next several hours. Let's go do what Dumbledore needed us to do. Then I have to return for my questioning in a couple of hours."
"Madam Bones is letting you leave?" Harry asked. "She told all of us we couldn't leave Hogwarts."
"She said something similar to me as well," Remus replied grinning. "And I'm sure there are Aurors at the gates that might have a problem with me leaving, but then again who needs gates when you know every secret tunnel out of the Castle," He pulled the Marauder's map out of his pocket and gave them a wink.
Harry and his bondmates all laughed a tired laugh.
"I'll see you tomorrow Harry," Remus said finally. "Go get some sleep. It looks like you desperately need it."
"We will as soon as we have a word with Rita," Hermione said. "I told her to meet us shortly."
When they left Remus and Sirius they quickly made their way to the tree and found Rita standing next to it.
"Mr Potter," Rita said when she saw them. "Oh this is going to be wonderful. What is your secret? How did you survive that killing curse? Did you feel any strange magic when it happened? Are you in pain? Did it leave another scar?"
"We're not here to talk about that right now Rita," Hermione replied sharply. "Let's talk about what you're going to write tomorrow."
"Everything of course. You-Know-Who is back," she replied. "That will, of course, be the headline, then there's Sirius Black story. No wonder you thought of animagus when it came to me. You already knew one. Then there's the Barty Crouch Junior thing. Was he really here all year under Dumbledore's nose?" Skeeter was almost giddy. "That is going to be a fun story. Then of course there's you Harry. Surviving another killing curse from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and actually injuring him."
"Look, can we get you to lay off the Harry and Sirius for a day if not longer?"
"But you said I could publish anything that was the truth and all of what happened tonight is the truth. Oh that reminds me, how did you ladies know what was happening with Harry this evening?"
Fleur sighed tiredly. "As you can imagine we are all tired," she started as she ignored the reporter's last question. "You 'ave plenty with just Voldemort returning and ze battle in ze graveyard for tomorrow's stories," She mentally chatted with Harry for a few seconds before continuing. "Go ahead and write what you saw about 'Arry. And you can start laying ze story on Sirius by mentioning ze capture of Pettigrew. Ze story about 'im is, 'e faked 'is own death and framed Sirius by blowing up zat street with all ze muggles. 'E lived as a rat, 'e is also an animagus, until last year. If you don't write about seeing Sirius earlier, we'll get zat interview for you in ze next two days."
"I want the exclusive interview with you Harry as well," Rita replied. "Your side of everything."
"It's for Sirius Harry. Besides, better her writing what you tell her, than for her to make things up," Hermione said quickly to Harry.
Harry sighed as he looked at the reporter. "Okay, you include that apology to Hermione within the next two days and publish the facts concerning Sirius Black's trial and I'll answer your questions. Though I will have people with me to help," Harry replied.
It did not take Rita long to determine an exclusive interview with Harry Potter following his surviving a second killing curse was worth a million apologies. Her eyes looked over at Hermione. "I'll even let you write the apology yourself for that interview."
"I appreciate that offer, but I think it needs to be in your words," Hermione replied.
Rita sniffed. "Very well. I'll work on that after the stories tonight."
"Now if there's..."
"Tell 'er about ze man who 'ad ze cup," Gabrielle said. "She might 'ave missed it."
....
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