Rita Skeeter
Harry pov
I sat on the couch with my girlfriend. We all have been quiet the past week. They all were feeling guilty for the way they acted about not being a part of the plan. They didn't know of Hermione's new injury when they yelled at her. I had to explain it to them. They knew Hermione was in the right as always. She just wanted to protect them.
Me, Ginny, and Ron got are letters for Hogwarts yesterday. We all said yes.
I had my interview with Rita in a two hours. I need to talk to Hermione. She had a right to know. Her family has stop all letters to get to her. They sent us a letter saying not to bother her and that she was just doing what she thought was the best to keep us safe.
I stood up. I needed to see her.
“Harry, honey. Where are you going. You don’t have your interview for another two hours.” Ginny said.
“I need to speak to Hermione.”
“Harry, her family wouldn’t let us speak to her.”
“By owl.”
“Harry, what are you going to do?” She stood up.
“I’m going to her house.” I grabbed my coat.
“Harry, that's a terrible idea.”
“Ginny, it's something I have to do.”
“Okay, be careful.” She kissed me. I nodded. I apparited to the Zabini manor.
~~~~~~
I landed in front of Hermione's home. I have no idea how she is going to react. I don’t believe she's mad at me. At least I hope not. I knocked on the door. I waited.
The door opened. It was Malfoy. He looked surprised.
“What do you want Potter?” He had a nasty voice. He obviously didn’t want me here.
“I need to speak to Hermione.”
He laughed. I wanted to punch him. “No.” He was stern.
“It’s urgent.” I was getting impatient.
“Why should I let you speak to her? Are you going to yell at her again. You and your Wealse gang truly don’t deserve her. I hope you know that.”
“I do. But Malfoy I have to talk to her. It’s urgent.” He looked unimpressed. “It’s about the night in your manor.” I whisper that. His face instantly changed. His eyes grew big and his mouth opened.
“Granger! Someone is here for you.” He turned back. “This better be important.” I nodded. Hermione came to the door. She looked surprised to see me.
“Harry, what are you doing here?” She was confused.
“Hermione I’m sorry about everything but I need to talk to you. It’s urgent.”
She looked at Draco and he nodded. “Let’s go in the back to talk. Where no one can hear.”
I nodded. I walked inside. This manor was a lot more colorful and inviting than the Malfoy manor. We walked to the back of the house outside. Malfoy was following us. We walked to the pool. There were pool chairs that Mione sat on. I sat diagonally to her. She nodded to Malfoy and he left.
“Hermione, I first am here because I need to apologize.”
“Harry, you have nothing to apologize for. You didn’t do anything wrong.” She said calmly. How could she be so calm?
“But you have sent back all of my owls, I thought you were mad at me also.”
“Harry, you literally did nothing wrong. I’m not mad at anyone. I’m just frustrated because I thought I did the right thing. They are the ones mad at me. I’m just letting them have a break of me.”
“Hermione have you even read any of the letters we have been sending you?” She shook her head. “They are all apologizing. They feel terrible. They know you did the right thing. They didn’t even know of your injury till it was part of the profit. Then I had to explain it to them.”
“Oh Merlin I had no idea. I feel terrible.” She put her hands on her head.
“Don’t hermione. Just send them a letter saying you want to have dinner and talk about it.”
She nodded. “Your right.”
I laughed “How are you feeling? With your newest injury.”
She looked to the side and back at me. “I’m fully healed and mostly recovered. It still hurts but I have just told my family that I feel amazing. They don’t need to worry about me. I do have a scar which I’m still getting used to.”
I nodded. “Hermione, I need to talk to you about something else.” She looked confused. “It’s about Ron’s interview.” She immediately took full interest. “After his interview he told me that he that he did one. I went to Rita to see what he talked about.” I signed. “Hermione, he talked about what happened at the manor, my nightmares and visions, the actual horcruxes. It was bad how much information he told her.” She looked like someone just broke her heart. I continued. “I made a deal with Rita that if I did an interview with her she wouldn’t write about those things.”
“Harry you can’t! Why didn’t you tell me while I was staying with you!?!” She stood up.
“I was going to but then you found out you were a Zabini and I didn’t want to add to your stress.” I looked at her. My best friend. I don’t know where I would be without her. “I have to do this interview. I already made a deal. Unless you have a better story to tell her than I’m forced to do this.” She started walking back and forth. Then she stopped. “Hermione, what are you thinking?”
“Harry, you just said that “unless you have a better story to her”. I do have a better story! One she would go crazy for!”
“What story?”
“The story of me being a Zabini! Almost nobody knows, Harry! It’s eventually going to come out so may as well be now when we can use it for good!”
I stood up. “Hermione, this is my fight. I don’t want you to be involved. I just thought you had the right to know.”
“Harry fucking Potter! This isn’t just your fight! We are in this together! You always seem to forget that. We are going down to her little office in the ministry and going to give her a story. And make sure that she will never speak about our secrets.” She grabbed my hand. “Come on. Let’s go!”
“Fine Hermione. Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. Just hex Ron later for me.” We chucked on our way inside. “Let me just get my purse.” With that it flew into her hand.
“Since when do you know wandless magic?”
“Since Australia. And remember I started to practice on the run.” I nodded in response. We walked into the living room I believe and saw Mrs. Zabini and Narcissa. “Isabel, I believe you remember my friend Harry?” I put my hand out for her to shake. She shook it. I guess Hermione didn’t call her Mum yet.
“Harry, how nice it is to see you.”
“You to Ms. Zabini.” I let go for her hand.
“Please call me Isabel.”
I nodded and shook Narcissa's hand. “It’s great to see you again Mrs. Malfoy.”
“You too Mr. Potter.” She let go of my hand.
“Harry and I are going to the Ministry, we have a to do something.”
“It’s not dangerous is it?” Her mother asked I chuckled.
“Absolutely not.”
“Good, we don't want you breaking into the ministry again and stealing, do we?”
I nodded at Narcissa.
~~~~~
They sat in seat’s diagonal from Rita.
“Is it my lucky day and get to interview two heroes?” She said excitedly
Hermione gave me a look and took the lead. “No only one.”
Skeeter was confused. “Why are you here then Ms. Granger? This interview is for Mr. Potter.”
She chuckled. “Not anymore, I’m here to offer you a better story.”
“What is better than a interview with Harry Potter? This boy stopped a war.”
“I won’t have even survived my first year of Hogwarts if not for Hermione so you may want to listen.” I was fierce. Hermione was strong. She really didn’t want this interview. Rita was too scared of Hermione not to listen.
“What’s the story?”
Hermione looked at me. I nodded. She proceeded. “After the attack last week you saw that I was talking to the slytherins right?” She nodded. “And I was especially close to Blaise Zabini. Do you want to know why? I also guarantee that this story will be talked about for years.”
“More than Harry Potter?”
“With Harry’s interview you will just be learning the meaning of things. I’m offering you a whole new story that nobody knows.”
Rita Skeeter sat there for a second. “What are your conditions? I know you have some Ms. granger.”
“You're right. My conditions are that all of what Harry talked to you before will never be heard about. And that his interview with you is being changed for an interview with me and my new secrets.” Rita looked at her to continue. “I want a vow.”
Rita stared at her and signed. “Fine.”