I Know Your Secret

The Secret of the Frontier

It had been a long week for Harry and Hermione as they set up shop and making sure that everyone in Hogwarts was in the know about the interviews to work at the Hogwarts Frontier Newspaper, and gossip and babble was top priority for most. There were many people holding flyers while they chattered about the new club.

There were plenty of students who had sent in the application forms on the back of the flyers Hermione made up, hoping to get into the Newspaper Club. Though, most of them likely wanted in because it was new and shiny so they had to vet out the troublemakers.

The club offices had been fixed up and cleaned beyond anything either Hermione or Harry could have hoped for. They had gotten in some black framed flat panel PC's hooked into a mainframe server in a secure room with only the essentials in the system needed for the paper, and for keeping records, with scanners. However, they also bought a whole mess of brand-new HD top of the range digital cameras as it would make uploading pictures easier, and with a little magic here and there even digital stills could move.

Though, Hermione realised that using similar methods with a video camera they could in theory give sound and full video and put them in the paper. It was something she felt strongly about working too; the possibilities was astounding.

However, it had been a week so far, and it was now interview day. So Harry was sitting behind his desk with Hermione in a chair one side of him, and McGonagall the other, (the teachers wanted to make sure it was fair, and she volunteered). The main area was full of students that had passed the application form stage being heavily monitored by out of sight House Elves. Though, they had already given Lee Jordon the sports job, and Colin a job as reporter/photographer.

"Okay," Harry said with a notepad at the ready. "Let's see here," he said looking at the first name. "Colin, bring in Cho Chang," he said as his notes said she was interviewing for a gossip column.

It only took Colin a minute to bring in the pretty Chinese girl and lead her to a seat before leaving and closing the office door and waiting. Harry smiled as she looked so nervous, but it was quite cute.

"Miss. Chang..." Harry started the interview all business like, which went off quite swimmingly.

Harry sighed as the last interviewee left his office, and was thankful that he denied that plebe Malfoy's application, as from what he put it was obvious he didn't have a clue. However, they didn't refuse all Slytherins as some had actually been serious, and they were planning on taking four that passed: Daphne Greengrass; her younger sister Astoria, Tracey Davis, and a boy, Blaize Zabini. They did well in their interviews so he saw no reason to penalize because of house. This way also pissed off Snape as he always said the other staff didn't give fairly to Slytherin, but McGonagall couldn't fault their sincerity about joining and would be the first to say they were in.

The first paper was now due out in one week, on Saturday so they had a lot to get on with. McGonagall had agreed to be their club teacher before she left as she knew she can trust them to be responsible, so she wouldn't be needed much.

Rita Skeeter Bugs Us!

Reported today for the first addition of the Hogwarts Frontier Newspaper, sponsored by Fairytale; it has come to the attention of this reporter, Colin Creevy, Hogwarts Frontier that one Rita Skeeter MIGHT be committing a very serious crime of invasion of ones right to a private home, and in the case of students, school life among other crimes of which we shall consider lesser compared with at this moment even if the Ministry might not agree as many of her crimes are prisonable offenses.

I'm afraid to say that I had lost a lot of faith in Rita Skeeter and the Daily Prophet Newspaper when THE Rita Skeeter had come to me, (somehow having found out that I, a muggleborn student am an amateur photographer seeking to enter media once I leave school). She had asked for me to take unsolicited photographs of Mr. Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived for money, and tried promising that the Daily Prophet would have a place on its staff for me in the future. However, I have recently looked into this matter and the Daily Prophet were oblivious to who I am. So I recommend never taking her promises at face value or you may find yourself in trouble while Miss. Skeeter reaps all the reward.

I had beforehand discussed matters with Mr. Potter, and he felt that Miss. Skeeter was going beyond her boundaries, which was shortly before the Hogwarts Frontier came to be, rising from the ashes with new funding. So, we had thought to see how Miss Skeeter was getting around the law, and illegally obtaining information that she was NEVER privy too, and most of our readers would HATE for such horrible and often times things taken out of context articles to be printed as fact.

It has also garnered our interest that Miss. Skeeter uses a quick quote quill while interviewing people. This quill by design writes how the user wishes it too. So if a reporter wanted it to exaggerate the truth, it shall. After all, what does she care about the truth as long as it suits her? She makes money off of misinforming you, the public with made up garbage. She seems to treat the public as if we are fools without the insight to see fact from fiction.

I have witnessed (but unable to prove at this time) that Miss. Skeeter is possibly an insect animagus-a beetle to be exact. So I would be cautious of such bugs for the time being if I were you. And if Miss. Skeeter wishes to dispute this 'accusation' then why not have her prove it by heading over to the Improper Use of Magic office and let them test her. It would after all put our minds to rest. This is all we can hope for from such an unsavoury woman.

Colin Creevy, Hogwarts Frontier... (Continues... page 5...)

Harry and Hermione grinned at each other Saturday morning as the owls had flocked in and delivered copies of the paper to students and teachers. Colin looked very pleased as he looked his copy over and finally seeing his name in print on the front page.

Harry looked at his to see the green writing of the Hogwarts Frontier, and the coloured moving photograph of a shifty looking Rita Skeeter, and the red cartoonish moving sponsor logo for 'Fairytale'. It was better than the Prophet as they were using colour ink in the pictures too as Harry was rich enough just to get more interest. It cost a little more, but the reporting was so much better so it needed to stand out as quality to get people really paying attention rather than thinking they were stupid children out of the loop, whatever loop that might be.

They looked around to see people actually reading their paper, and couldn't help but feel proud that they accomplished this. Sure it wasn't too much, but it was the start of their fight, their rebellion, and it was freaking cool. Harry could barely believe how much power around Hogwarts this would now afford him. It was great as he was allowed to make up official press card ID's for his staff to have slightly more power when working than prefects. The paper even has a proper spread for the tri-wizard tournament with a picture of all the Champions on the front cover, along with the ultimate question, 'who placed Harry Potter's name in the goblet', but more elegantly put with creepy lettering and a black and white noire look and feel.

The day was quite amusing as they heard people talking about the stories their paper published. For now it was keeping clear of saying anything bad about the Ministry, but was fine with making the odd little comment that could be taken in different ways. Harry had even had the pleasure of a sneak hug and kiss on the cheek from Fleur before escaping her beautiful clutches blushing scarlet.