burning hearts - Harry James Potter

chapter 28: midnight memories

"Don't you dare walk away from me, Potter!" - Davina Aquila Lily Black, year 4

FLASH

Harry blinked his eyes rapidly after the picture that was supposed to be the last was taken. After what felt like a hundred of pictures he still wasn't used to the bright flashes.

Out of the photographers, the journalist of the Daily Prophet came forward to inspect the four champions in front of her. Harry, Cedric, Viktor and Fleur were all waiting patiently for what the woman was going to do or say.

Harry thought about what Hermione had told him earlier that morning. She told him about Davina's brothers and mom. He was told that Davina was going to meet up with Elijah today. Harry felt extremely sorry for Davina. He didn't want her to go through the pain of her mom dying in a couple of years. He was happy for her that she had two brothers to get to know though. He imagined it would be good for Davina to had two people who were in the same boat as her to talk to.

"What a charismatic quartet." The reporter said after she took a good look at thee 'charismatic quartet'. Nobody of the four moved or even said anything and the woman extended her hand.

"Hello, I'm Rita Skeeter, I write for the Daily Prophet." She paused for a little and then continued: "But of course you knew that already."

Harry didn't know that, but he just decided to leave it.

"It's you we don't know. You're the juicy news."

Rita lowered herself so she was face to face with Fleur. "What quirks lurk beneath those rosy cheeks?" She got back up again after delivering a sudden slap to Fleur's cheek. Fleur looked very surprised by that.

Rita walked up to Cedric. "What mysteries do the muscles mask?" She grabbed a handful of Cedric's hair and messed it all up by ruffling it. "Does courage lie beneath those curls?"

She moved on quickly and she stood between Harry and Cedric with her arms draped around their shoulders. "In short, what makes a champion tick?"

"Me myself and I want to know. Not to mention my rabid readers. So, who's feeling up to sharing? Hm?"

Rita looked around the group but nobody felt like sharing so she grabbed Harry. "Shall we start with the youngest?" Before Harry even got to answer or resist, she said: "Lovely." And she dragged him with her.

She opened a door and after pulling Harry in with her she hurried to close it. Harry was not very excited for being questioned in this small closet. He expected her to take him somewhere else, but a notebook and a quill appeared floating in the air next to her so Harry knew he was wrong.

Harry noticed how close they were standing to each other and nervously sent her a smile.

She got even closer to him. "Mmm, this is cozy."

Harry felt his cheeks heat up. "Uh, it's a broom cupboard." He answered the woman who was wearing a smirk on her face. She didn't say anything for a while until she grabbed him and she pushed him further into the small room. "You should feel right at home then."

Harry didn't have time to reply as Rita sat down on a bucket and Harry mimicked her action.

"Don't mind if I use a Quick-Quotes Quill, do you?" She asked, but Harry had no idea what that was supposed to be.

"Oh, uhm- no." He answered but it sounded more like a question than an answer.

"So tell me Harry. Here you sit, a mere boy of twelve." Rita started but Harry interrupted her by saying: "Fourteen, sorry."

Rita just ignored his correction and continued her question: "About to compete against three students, not only vastly more emotionally mature than yourself, but who have mastered spells that you wouldn't attempt in your wildest daydreams. Concerned?"