Marauder's Daughter (Eventual Tom Riddle X OC)

Chapter 47: New Allies

It wasn't until the next morning that I remembered my little kidnapped hostage in a jar. I went to the roof of the Astronomy tower to talk with her, just in order to have some privacy while I threaten her.

"Rita Skeeter." I sing song out to the beetle, who is shaking as I give her a predatory grin. "Now, this conversation will be understandably a little one sided while you're trapped in my cage, but we still need to have a little chat. I've been less than satisfied with the articles you're putting out, trying to drag down Harry, Hermione, and now Hagrid with your gossip rag. You've already been banned from being here on Hogwarts grounds, which seems little more than an idle threat to an unregistered Animagus such as yourself." I say dangerously with an edge. "And I just bet all the juicy gossip during yesterday's task would launch you into a spiral of misinformation, and we just wouldn't want that getting out, now would we?" I ask sweetly, and the beetle shakes its body back and forth in a clear 'no' response. "No, you're right, we wouldn't. You and I have that in common there, not wanting certain information becoming public. So how's about we work out a little deal?" I offer up, and she nods up and down slowly. "I release you back out into the world, and you stop writing your gossip filled bogus crap that has no point, facts, or merit. You stick only to facts from here on. And no more Quick Quotes quills, those seem to be a bit of a poison to you. And in return, I'll keep your little secret. Especially from my father, the esteemed and well respected Auror who just hates it ever so much when people lie or post anything about his daughter or godson." I threaten out delicately. "Do we have a deal?" She nods vigorously in response. "Almost good enough, I'll need an actual response in writing. I'm going to release you, and you will sign this contract I have written up. And don't worry, the details of the contract will remain for only you and me to know." I open the lid after she nods and watch as she crawls out and turns back into a human, nervously looking around.

"My my, you are every bit as brilliant as described by your peers. Though no one mentioned how... persuasive you can be." Rita tries to calmly say as she smooths out her outfit and hair while I watch her with calculating eyes.

"Part of my charm, I'm sure." I say sweetly, and hand her the contract and a quill. "Take a moment to read it over, please."

"This says I can't interview anyone without a witness!" She reads off, and I smirk at her.

"An impartial witness, to be precise. Not someone under your own payroll, but a third party. And I have my ways of knowing if you don't." I grin at her dangerously. "Shouldn't be too hard to find a third person to witness. You just need to conduct your interviews in locations larger than a broom cupboard." She blanches at me for that one. Harry told me she tried to manhandle him into one earlier in the year, and he slipped out of the hold and went to join the other champions. "Now sign, and you can have your freedom back."

"And if I don't sign?" She asks tentatively, reading more of the contract.

"Then I have a messenger waiting for me currently with all the details of you being an Animagus, and he's ready to head straight to the Minister for Magic. He'll be leaving in 20 minutes if I'm not there to stop him, so I suggest you make your decision quickly." I threaten out seriously. I do have a letter drafted and ready for Bruce, but it's just an update on the second task results and it's only going to Dad and Remy. All the best lies are based on pieces of the truth.

"Alright! Fine, I agree. Just don't say anything." She calls out hurriedly, and signs her name on the contract. "This is ruining my entire career."

"Now now, don't think like that." I say cheerily as I take the contract back from her. "You can just be an honest, esteemed writer now with integrity. You do have a loyal fan base, use your popularity for something useful. You can still report news, you just have to ethically get the news now." I turn to leave, and look over my shoulder one last time before opening the door. "Oh and Rita? I would be extremely careful about the... dire consequences of backing out of an agreement with me. You'll find I'm not as sweet as everyone says." She grows pale at my threat as I leave.