Wade took the parchment, but before he could look at it, Rita Skeeter leaned in eagerly and asked in a warm, almost conspiratorial tone:
"By the way, do you know who Harry Potter is close to? Preferably girls… of course, rivals work too!"
Wade slowly lifted his head, and looked at her with a strange expression. "What are you trying to do?"
"I'm putting your interview on hold for now, but I can't just put the champions' photos in the paper, can I? What kind of news is that?"
Rita tapped her arm with fingers painted in bright red nail polish and said with a fiery look in her eyes. "It's the 'Savior' that can really grab massive attention!"
Wade's expression darkened, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "Rita, you do know Harry is my friend, right?"
"Is he? Fine, let's say he is."
Rita glanced around, then spoke in a tone of compromise:
"For your sake, I'll make him sound cute… how about this—'A young savior who cries in the dead of night because he misses his parents, yet stakes his life in the Tournament for the honor of the British wizarding world'?"
She swept her arm theatrically as her golden curls bounced with the motion, and she said in an almost hypnotic tone: "Think about it—once my article comes out, he'll become the darling of every mother in the wizarding world. People will adore him!"
"Not everyone enjoys being put under the spotlight, Rita."
Wade said seriously, "Using your quill and your title as a journalist to dig into the old wounds of a minor who's already made enormous sacrifices for the world—that's completely unethical."
"Ethics? Ethics are chains. I don't have those."
Rita's eyes darted shrewdly, but her voice stayed firm.
"Listen, Wade, I'm grateful you once saved me, so for you, I can compromise. Whatever information you want, I can help you get it. But you cannot interfere with my work!"
The muscles in the journalist's face tightened as she spoke with a hint of irritation. "I'm a reporter. I need explosive news!"
"And the public has the right to know! Do you realize how eagerly people look for Harry Potter's name in the paper? The public has a right to know how their hero grew up—they care about the 'Boy Who Lived'!"
"I'm helping him, you understand? Wade! A bit of exposure won't hurt him! I'll make him the most beloved figure in the wizarding world—this will even help him in the Tournament…"
Wade raised a hand to cut her off mid-flow.
"Our names are already on the champions' list—that's enough! People don't need your fabrications to speculate on whether a child cries at night, is dating a pretty girl, or to hear a one-sided opinion from his rivals."
His voice remained calm, but the room seemed to drop a few degrees in temperature.
"I know Harry. He has little interest in fame and doesn't want people prying into his privacy. What you're doing will only make him feel trapped."
"And tell me—has overexposure ever truly been a good thing? Every move he makes will be scrutinized and criticized. Some will resent him for no reason, some will harass him, and others will try to manipulate him under the guise of concern—yes, exactly like what you're attempting right now."
"So don't try to argue about how beneficial your reporting is, Rita. You know perfectly well your articles only throw other people's lives into chaos."
The room fell silent. Rita Skeeter pressed her lips tightly together, and her face turned slightly pale. She looked at Wade, her expression seemingly hurt.
"This is… this is my way of living… Wade Grey." Rita gritted her teeth and said in a high and thin voice. "Not even Dumbledore would… would…"
Wade's tone softened a little.
"Not everyone has Professor Dumbledore's grace. If you keep trampling on other people's dignity like this, one day it will come back to bite you."
After a brief 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 actions."
"Think about it, Rita."
Wade patted the parchment beside him. "This information you've given me is the best proof of what I'm saying, isn't it?"
"This world is far more dangerous than it looks. If you keep writing without restraint, when trouble comes knocking, it'll be too late for regrets."
He put particular emphasis on the word "trouble."
Rita looked at Wade, and Wade met her gaze calmly. After a moment of silent staring, it was Rita Skeeter who finally looked away.
"Hmph, making it sound so noble—this is really just about wanting me to leave Harry Potter alone, isn't it?"
She took a deep breath. "Fine, the interview's cancelled. But if I write about someone else, you don't have any objections, do you?"
"Is it really so hard to respect the facts and not slander others?"
Wade said helplessly, "Your profession is called the 'Uncrowned King' because you can so easily shape the public's view of an event or a person. But twisting the truth destroys that honor and power. Isn't that just throwing away something priceless for a petty gain?"
"Thanks for the concern, but I have my own way of doing things."
Rita Skeeter snatched up her handbag with a sharp motion, let out a cold laugh, and turned toward the door. As she walked out, she said over her shoulder:
"I'm now convinced—you really are friends with Harry Potter!"
"But even if I back off, won't other reporters target him? When someone else controls the narrative, you'll realize I was the most friendly journalist you could have had!"
Her high heels clicked loudly as she strode to the doorway. Just before leaving, she turned back, pointed at Wade, and said loudly, "Don't forget—you still owe me an exclusive interview!"
Bang!
The classroom door slammed shut, as if venting all her frustration. But only Rita Skeeter herself knew how much jealousy she felt in that moment.
She envied the light that seemed to shine from Wade—bright as a burning torch when he protected his friends.
And she envied Harry, who was protected without even realizing it. Friendship, to Rita, was an almost nonexistent luxury.
Rita took a deep breath and swallowed the sourness in her throat. But when she turned around, all her pent-up emotion instantly scattered to the winds.
Dumbledore and Flitwick were standing at the doorway, looking at her with calm eyes.
"Oh—Dumbledore." Rita Skeeter quickly forced a smile. "So good to see you again… May I have a word with you?"
"Ah… considering you've always portrayed me as a rigid old madman, I think perhaps not," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "Dinner is ready—why not go and have some?"
"Alright… of course, I was just heading there."
Rita Skeeter clutched her little handbag and hurried away, almost as if fleeing.
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