Rita Skeeter was in her animagus form looking for secrets to write about for all her devoted fans. While some don't understand the work, she puts into writing everything she sees, she never lets it stop her from reveling in her passions. Even though her methods are unethical, illegal by certain standpoints, the truth is what her readers need.
On this day, however, she never expected to find herself trapped in an glass jar by one of the students at Hogwarts. She scuttled and flew around, trying to break free, transform herself back into her human form, but the jar was enchanted, making it impossible for her to break out. She was held up to the large face of a young witch, her brown eyes filled with fascination and glee at her new find.
As she marveled at the shimmering green bug, someone called out to her. "What did you find Violet?" Her captor turned around and spotted her friends.
Violet cradled the jar against her chest, her smile mysterious as she addressed her fellow classmates, "Oh, just a new...specimen to add to my collection." Her voice was soft, but Rita felt a shiver down her spine. Somehow, that child's voice frightened her.
"You and your bugs." Her classmate shook their head.
Violet shrugged, "I was raised by an Entomologist. Speaking of, I'm about to go visit my father now. He'll be fascinated by this new find." She said before she happily skipped away with her new captive.
Violet arrived at her father's home, still holding the jar protectively in her hands, making sure Rita could see where she was. Rita's stomach dropped when she saw all around her, hanging from the walls and displayed on shelves a variety of insects, arachnids and arthropods encased in epoxy resin. She began to buzz frantically, fighting like hell to escape whatever fate awaited her within these walls.
"Papa, I found something pretty at Hogwarts." Violet called out as she knocked on her father's study door.
It opened and a scholarly man in his mid-thirties appeared, he adjusted his glasses as his daughter presented him with a beautiful beetle. He carefully took the jar from his thirteen-year-old child's hands and turned it this way and that. "My, aren't you a beauty."
Normally, Rita would be flattered by that compliment, but right now, she is worried for her life.
"I thought so too. She kept buzzing around my school. Quite an annoyance honestly." Violet shrugged as they ventured into her father's study. Despite being a Muggle, the man makes studying bugs quite fascinating. "I thought about squashing her, but that would be a cruel waste. So, I thought bringing her to you would be perfect." She mused as she stared at a freshly dead arachnid from the Eastern continent on her father's desk.
"You did the right thing love." He said as he gently set the beetle on his desk. He has seen plenty of these species in his profession, they are indeed beautiful despite being gross to some. He turned to his wall of insects, trapped within these walls where people can't appreciate their alien splendor. Then an idea came to him. Since his darling Violet brought him this specimen, it's only right he makes a lovely gift for her.
"ViVi, how about you get dinner started? I'll be down in a bit." Her father requested as he turned his attention away from the bug.
Violet shrugged, not minding the task as it helps her relax. "Don't be long now."
Her father watched her leave, a fond look on his face before turning to the pretty insect. He tapped his fingers on his desk as he stared at the unfortunate Rita. "You know, I normally let things take its course and let insects live their natural lives. But my daughter's birthday is coming up, and I don't have magic unlike her or my brilliant wife." He said as he went to a cupboard and took out some items.
Rita scuttled against the glass, watching the man's back as he rummaged through his cupboard. When he returned, Rita felt her soul leave her body when he set down a cotton ball, tweezers and a bottle of pesticide. Rita began buzzing around frantically, screaming at the man to let her go, but human speech is impossible in her current form. She fought like hell to escape, but the enchantment placed on the jar made it impossible.
The Entomologist carefully soaked the cotton ball in the chemicals before using his tweezers to pick it up before carefully opening the jar just a crack to not let the bug escape.
The stench of poison filled the jar as the cotton ball landed beside her. Even as she tried to fly through the opening, Violet's father sealed it shut, sealing her fate. Rita couldn't breathe, the lack of oxygen and the stench filling the small space made it difficult for the journalist no matter how hard she tried to use her magic to get out.
The Entomologist left his study, shutting off the lights and the door, leaving Rita alone to suffer in darkness. Rita felt herself weaken, weakly pleading for the man to come back. But no one heard her, no one can see her dying.
A week later, an article circulated all around.
"Rita Skeeter is missing." Hermione Granger read the newspaper during breakfast with her two friends, Harry and Ronald.
This caught them by surprise as Harry exclaimed, "That journalist?" He remembered her during the Tri Wizard Tournament. How he and many have loathed that woman for spreading falsehoods and ruining reputations and business because it suited her.
Hermione let out a disbelieving laugh, "Yes. No one has seen or heard from her at all."
"You think someone finally did her in?" Ron asked as he took the newspaper from Hermione and read the article.
"Wouldn't be surprised. Could be anyone. She has angered many witches and wizards with her work." Harry said as someone from Ravenclaw came over with a book.
"Hermione," Violet called as she presented a book to the genius, "Thanks for letting me borrow this. It's been a huge help."
"You're welcome." Hermione smiled as she took the book from the young third year student. The Muggleborn froze when she saw a familiar beetle dangling from Violet's neck. "Where did you get that necklace?"
Violet picked up the resin pendant encasing the bug, "My father made it for me as a birthday present. I found it buzzing around the greenhouse and decided to bring it to Papa." She sat down as she let Hermione get a closer look at the gift, "Even though he's a Muggle, he always has a talent for preserving these things."
Hermione kept her face straight as she and her friends got a better look at the now dead insect. "Indeed he does." She said, now knowing what happened to Rita.
Violet breathed out a laugh as she stood back up, "I gotta go, thanks again Hermione." She skipped away from their table.
Ron caught the look on her face, "What's the matter?"
Hermione slowly turned to her friends and shook her head, "Nothing." She quickly responded, unsure if she should tell them.
'Rita Skeeter was turned into a beetle pendent.' That thought alone nearly made Hermione burst out in laughter.