Lord and Ladies

Journalism

Monday turned out to be a very nice and sunny day. Almost forcing the teens out. Hermione showed them the park where she had used to play as a small girl, the school she had attended and the mall, where she had visited mainly the bookshops. After spending most of the morning in the sun, the mall proved a kind of respite, and they had lunch there. They paid a short visit to some of the clothing shops, buying only a few items. They spent about the same amount of time shopping for books, with Daphne and Susan showing almost as much interest in reading as Hermione.

When they returned to the Granger house, Hedwig was waiting with Madam Bones' reply about measuring one's magic.

"Magical children are checked for their potential a few times. They are first checked soon after birth, if born to magical families. Next official measurement is when starting Hogwarts, and the last time is just before graduating. There are several spells useful for such measurement. One only shows the results to the caster – very useful when the results are not to be made public. Another, as expected, makes the result visible to everybody around. A different spell makes the measurement come out of the caster's wand on a small parchment. I've attached all three forms below. None uses any special wand movements. Just point the wand and say the spell clearly. Using any of these forms on a child or an adult is completely legal, with or without the subject's consent. As for interpreting the results, adult wizards and witches have indexes ranging from thirty upwards, averaging about forty. Very few get over fifty. This should give you enough for now."

The girls checked the spells and Hermione tried to cast the last on all of them. She put the results on the table, labeling each parchment with a name.

Daphne repeated the process and so did Susan and Harry.

Hermione checked the results. "The four sets are almost identical, which means that it probably doesn't depend on the caster – only on the subject." She then rearranged one set, moving aside the others. "Harry is clearly the most powerful of us, with sixty-one. I'm second, with fifty-six, while Daphne and Susan are about the same with fifty-one or fifty-two – varying between the measurements. It puts us all well above average and gives us some clue to why Harry managed to escape at the graveyard. We still have to find what the numbers mean in practical terms."

"And we don't really know what the measurements were before we came together," Daphne noted, "so we can't really verify that this changed much for Harry."

"Well, if just shagging us once was so helpful, let's do it again!" Susan was becoming impatient. They all smiled and moved to the bedroom.

When the Grangers returned from work, they first had dinner with the teens. They returned to the main topic only after dinner. "We've been thinking quite a bit, as we weren't too busy at the clinic today – many are already on vacation, you know. We couldn't form a war-plan for you, but we have some additional advices.

"First – you need to get as much information as possible from Dumbledore. He has a lot of knowledge, but he seems not to share most of it. Try to learn from him everything that may be relevant to you, even if only remotely. Don't hesitate to pester and harass him until he relents. Some of that information may prove crucial along the way.

"Gaining control of the newspaper if a wise step. Once you have it, you may expose everybody who supports the dark lord by deeds or by inaction, as well as expose corruption, which may be even more dangerous than a powerful terrorist, in the long term. If handled correctly, by the time you enter politics proper, you'll have your job almost done.

"As for fighting the dark wizards, you may be able to use some mundane weapons for great effect. A bullet may reach its target even before a person can think of a magical shield, much less act on it, and sniper rifles may be effective at ranges much greater than battle spells. Just keep that in mind, if ever you need to do battle."

It was then that a large gray owl came through the open window and landed in front of Harry. After taking the letter and reading it quickly, Harry smiled. "The shareholders meeting will be held tomorrow afternoon at the Prophet office building on Diagon Alley. Andromeda will come to take us there at about three PM. She's got all the names we mentioned to back her, as well as a few more."

With that good news, they all retired for the night.

There were very few people present in the conference room. Most chose to sit close to the door, far away from Mrs. Tonks, whom all knew as somebody they didn't want to attract her attention. There were additional seats positioned along the walls, all seemingly empty. Nobody could see the four teens who were sitting on some of these chairs at the back of the room, covered by an invisibility cloak. One of them was also holding a glass jar with a beetle inside.

Mr. Malfoy, the unofficial speaker of the assembly, spoke first. "Mrs. Tonks, I believe we would all like to know why you called for this meeting. We are all very busy people and don't like to waste our time. We know you represent the Potter share, but it's merely twenty percent, while we, who came here, hold almost twice as much."

Mrs. Tonks smiled at him, the way a cat would have smiled at the mouse she was going to devour. "It's true that I traditionally represent the Potter interests, yet I've recently been asked to represent the Black, Longbottom, Greengrass and some more. If my math is correct, I now represent more than sixty percent of the shareholders, so that it is within my powers to set a meeting whenever I see fit."

"You can't possibly represent Black. You're no longer part of the family and the current lord of that house is a fugitive!" Malfoy felt the ground shaking under his control of the paper. He didn't like that feeling.

"He's a fugitive, for now, but he still sent me an official letter, signed with his Lord ring, asking me to represent him and giving the right of decision to his godson, in his absence."

"And who that might be?" Malfoy hoped he could bully that person to join with him.

"You've already met him. His name is Harry Potter."

Malfoy sat silently for a while, trying to understand what this meant for him. "So, what do you want?" he finally asked.

"Not much, really. I only want the paper to stick to the truth and only present verifiable facts as such, refraining from un-based rumors. That's the way most respectable newspapers act, you know. Do you have any objections?"

There was only one right answer to that. "Not at all. We all want a respectable paper."

"Good. All I need now is for all of you to sign this acknowledgment, declaring me as the majority representative with rights to hire and fire and to set policy. It's just a formality, you know." Andy handed a document to be signed by all present. It was evident that Malfoy and his group didn't like it, but she considered it as part of "driving it home," making him understand that the rules were changing.

A few minutes later, the meeting was closing. Just before Malfoy left the room, Andy stopped him. "How is my dear sister?"

Lucius needed to use all his willpower not to sneer at her. "She's fine," he said through gritted teeth.

"Give her my regards. Will you?"

"Sure, Mrs. Tonks," he said and hurried out. Andy just smirked.

Once Andy was left alone, the teens removed the cloak and the disillusionment charms that kept them invisible. Harry seemed disappointed. "He didn't give any fight."

Andy smiled. "He's not stupid. He had to act that way to save his dignity. Besides, he never acts overtly. He prefers to act behind the scenes, undetected by most. We'll need to be more cautious about him. What is that jar for?"

Hermione smiled. "I think Rita Skeeter is anxious to get back to work. Don't you?" her last two words were directed at the beetle that buzzed angrily in the jar.

"I think that needs some explanations," Andy said sternly.

"You'll get it soon enough. Just come to our apartment after dealing with the staff, will you?"

Andy nodded as the teens turned invisible again.

Half an hour later, she was sitting in their living room, enjoying their hospitality. "It went quite well. The chief editor seemed actually relieved when I gave him our instructions. 'If it wasn't for Malfoy and the Ministry, we would have kept a much more neutral line for years. I'll make sure all the reporters adhere to the truth. I may have a problem with Skeeter, though, whenever she seems fit to come back.'

"I told him I'll handle Skeeter whenever that occurs. Now, care to tell me about her?"

Hermione smiled as she put the jar on the table. "We were really angry at all that Rita published during the tournament, making Harry seem to be a fame-seeker or worse. Then after the last task, Harry used the word 'bugging' that is normally used to describe listening in to others, in the Muggle world. That reminded me of the bug I've seen several times during the year, and I then saw it on the window sill of the hospital wing. She was quite easy to catch, as soon as I knew who the bug was. Once captured, I told her she could only get free after promising to change her ways. This seems like a good time to put her to test, if you agree."

Soon enough there were four wands trained on the jar, as Hermione removed the cover and stood back, grabbing her wand as well. The beetle flew out and landed on the floor at their side, with the wands still pointed at it. It then transformed, turning back into the infamous Rita Skeeter, who looked quite rumpled. "What do you want?" she spat venomously.

Andy started talking for them all. "Good day, Ms. Skeeter. Why don't you take a seat and we shall discuss the situation pleasantly. Care for some tea?"

Rita sat reluctantly down. Thimble brought her tea and biscuits, which she seemed quite glad to accept. "That's a welcome change after eating only leaves for more than a week," she grumbled.

Andy waited for her to drink a bit before she continued. "I'm not sure how much you comprehend in your animal form, so let me give you some facts, yet I first need your oath to never publish them in any form unless allowed by Lord Potter or his representatives."

Rita didn't seem to like the idea, yet Harry's wand was still pointing at her. She lifted her wand slowly, not to cause any alarm and recited after Andy, "I, Rita Skeeter, swear on my magic to never divulge any information passed to me about Lord Harry James Potter and his family, unless specifically allowed by him or his appointed representative. So mote it be."

A bright flash confirmed the acceptance of the vow.

Rita lowered her wand, looking deflated. Andy smiled reassuringly at her. "I'll go chronologically over the events since the third task, if you don't mind. After spending the night at the hospital wing, Harry was released. He condoled the Diggorys and spent some time with his friends. Then, on his way to dinner, he was transferred to Potter Manor, along with his friend, Hermione, and later, Daphne and Susan joined them. The next morning they found out they got all married and emancipated. This makes Harry – Lord Potter, Hermione is now Lady Potter, Daphne is Lady Slytherin and Susan is Lady Hufflepuff."

Rita seemed confused at the titles. "I'll explain the titles later," Andy said. "Now, as Lord Potter, he took control of his possessions, including his share at The Prophet. Joined by family and friends, he now has the majority and controls it."

Rita paled at the implications.

"Still, you do have some qualifications which can come out handy."

She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts, while Rita nibbled at another biscuit. "There's another story I need to tell you, and you'll soon see that it connects to the main one. Almost thirteen years ago, my cousin, Sirius Black, was arrested and sent to Azkaban without trial, presumably for betraying the Potters and for killing several people. Two years ago, he found out that the real betrayer was alive and staying at Hogwarts in animal form, thus endangering his godson – Harry Potter. Sirius escaped Azkaban and came to Hogwarts, eventually facing the betrayer, Peter Petigrew, who was supposed to be dead. Unfortunately, things didn't go too well, Peter transformed back to a rat and vanished, while Sirius was caught and our esteemed Minister didn't think that Harry's testimony was worth hearing. He decided to give Sirius the dementor kiss. Luckily, Sirius managed to escape before the dementors arrived. Now, he wants to get the trial he was denied, prove his innocence and regain his position in the magical world. We need you to bring to light each and every questionable decision or action made by the minister and also find out who bribes him and what agenda he serves. I have a hunch that this is the kind of investigation you may excel at. Still, every fact published should be true and verifiable, all quotes should be exact and opinions should be clearly marked as such. Can you handle this?"

Rita bristled. "Of course I can handle this. It would actually feel quite refreshing to do real journalism, for a change."

"Well, let's discuss the details, and it would be very helpful if you let us know everything that you already know about the subject."

Rita's smile turned predatory. "Oh, I have collected a few bits and pieces about our esteemed leadership..."

Rita stayed for dinner, after her house-elf brought her a change of clothing. She had a lot of information not only about the minister, but also about some of his backers and his staff. Still, what they needed most urgently was information that would make the ministry agree to give Sirius the trial he deserved and not have him executed before he had a chance. They decided to concentrate the investigation on questionable decisions of the minister and his top advisers, leaving the subjects of integrity and bribery for the next step. When Rita finally left them, she was looking forward to her new assignment.