Later that evening Harry sat in the Room of Requirement and read the article with a huge grin on his face. When he had impulsively decided to use Rita Skeeter to try and help Sirius he had never hoped that it would turn out this well. And as a bonus he might even get to bring down Fudge without his name being associated with it. He had gotten extremely lucky and he knew it.
"This is fantastic, Harry!" Hermione said from where she was seated and also reading the paper. Daphne meanwhile was snuggled up next to him so that they could both use the same paper. He felt her hug him a little tighter in agreement with Hermione's statement.
"What do you think will happen now?" Harry asked. He had a few guessed but was always eager to hear opinions from his friend and girlfriend. Although they came from very different backgrounds they were both very intelligent and wanted to help him, a fact he knew he could depend on if he needed to.
"If this is true then Fudge will be out of office by the start of summer." Daphne answered. "It might even be worth delaying our revenge on Skeeter if she is going to keep focusing on this story, which she will since it's good for her ego."
"What do you have planned for Skeeter anyway?" Hermione asked. Harry looked over at Daphne and wondered if she would answer. Even he didn't know what she had been thinking of doing.
"Nothing too bad, she might even come out of it alive and in one piece. Maybe." Daphne said with an evil grin. "It doesn't matter if we delay a bit, father still isn't finished with the potion he's been brewing for her. Don't ask Hermione, you really don't want to know." Hermione looked a little disappointed but wisely decided not to push for more information.
"Fudge is obviously going to fight this." Harry said, "But will the Daily Prophet stick by their reporter even if it means going against the Minister?"
"Yes." Daphne answered with a nod. "This is the best thing that could have happened for them. Their sales are going to see a huge increase because of the controversy, and that is what they are the most concerned with. They act like the ministry's spokesperson when it is a good business decision. It isn't anymore."
"Wherever he is, Sirius needs to be careful." Hermione added. "As long as he is in power Fudge is dangerous and still wants him to get the Dementor's Kiss. Especially since he will be blaming all of his troubles on Sirius now." Harry thought about it and decided she was probably right. He just hoped that Sirius realized that as well.
"How do you two feel about inviting Neville to join our practices?" Harry asked after a few moments of silence.
"Longbottom?" Daphne asked skeptically. "I don't know Harry, I'm still not convinced he can be much help."
"He still deserves the right to learn how to defend himself." Harry responded. Daphne sighed, knowing that Harry had already made up his mind on the subject.
"Fine. Bring him along." Daphne finally said. Harry smiled and kissed her in thanks. "But if he can't keep up he's your responsibility."
"That's ok with me." Harry said, happy that Daphne wasn't going to fight him on this. "I'll need you help too, Hermione. We'll need to figure out what Neville is good at beside Herbology and help him from there."
"I don't know why you think I could help with that, Harry." Hermione said sadly. "I still can't find anything I'm good at, at least Neville has Herbology."
"Don't say that Hermione. You have a lot of potential; I can sense it in you." Harry replied, hoping he could make his friend see reason. "You're good in everything to start with. It doesn't matter that you aren't a prodigy in all branches of magic. We've already figured out you are better with healing charms than me and Daphne. That's a good place to start isn't it?"
"I suppose so." Hermione said, still clearly disappointed with herself.
Harry and Daphne continued talking for a while, but Hermione barely listened. Soon after the couple said their goodbyes and left Hermione alone in the Room of Requirement. She felt weak and worried that when Neville came even he would surpass her. Her whole life she had always tried to be her best and that trait had lived on after discovering she was a witch. She had dedicated herself to learning all there was to know about magic, but now she was coming to the realization that it wasn't enough. In many ways she felt that she was still not good enough and she had no idea how to fix it. Their practicing would help but she did not believe she would ever be as powerful as Daphne, and knowing what she did now she knew there was no hope of ever catching Harry. The only answer she could think of to her problem lay in a few of the rituals that she had heard references to, but they were very dark and had awful consequences.
"I am not willing to go down that path!" she said out loud, even though she was alone. But inside, a quieter voice was asking 'Am I?'
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