Falling Star

The Article

"Rita Skeeter is a vile, hateful, conniving little weasel!" Hermione shouts, slamming a paper down on the table where Ron, Harry, Fred, and George and I are sitting.

"Good morning to you too, 'Mione," I laugh.

She whips her head around to glare in my direction. "You won't be laughing after you read this. Here," she shoved the paper in my direction. I grab it and hold it out in front of me to read it. Fred and George move to read over my shoulder.

"Oh bloody hell," I curse, skimming the front page.

Moving pictures stare back at me from the page. The first is of Hermione being guided back to shore by Krum during the first task. The second picture is Harry looking exhausted and sad-I'm not even sure when this one was taken. Finally, the last picture is of me, being pulled back by Professor McGonagall when I tried to run to Harry when I thought he was going to drown in the lake.

The headline reads "Famous Love and Heartbreak."

I skim through the first part of the article, which paints Hermione in an awful light. Skeeter explains that after Hermione figured out that Harry had lost interest in her, she moved on to another famous wizard: Viktor Krum. The article also adds that Hermione is a gifted love potion brewer. My lips curl in disgust.

Harry Potter seems to have caught the attention of another young witch after leading Hermione Granger on for several months. The new lucky lady: Miss Dahlia Malfoy-the same witch who shocked everyone with her sorting. Miss Malfoy was spotted trying to jump in the water after Harry during the harrowing second trial of the Triwizard Tournament. She was so torn up with worry that she had to be physically restrained by a professor. Miss Malfoy declined to comment on her blossoming romance with Harry Potter, blushing and ducking away when approached.

I can't read anymore. "I hate her," I say, pushing the newspaper away from me. Harry picks it up to read next, sharing the paper with Ron

"Ay, when were you gonna tell me that you had it bad for Harry?" Fred jokes and George jumps in making kissing noises.

I smack him on the arm. "Stop it. Both of you! There is absolutely nothing romantic between me and Harry."

Harry nods in agreement, still reading. "Rita Skeeter needs to stop meddling in my life and spreading lies about my friends. I'm so tired of it!" He crumples the newspaper into a ball and tosses it into the fireplace.

As I watch the fire swallow the awful paper, my mind wanders. This article is all over the wizarding world by now.

"My parents are going to lose their minds over this stupid article," I groan.

"Don't tell me they actually believe anything Rita Skeeter writes," Hermione gasps.

I shake my head. "No, just-it's not that they are going to believe it but 'we have an image to uphold,'" I mimic my father's words in a ridiculous impression. "Ugh."

Fred and George look at each other mischievously. Fred grabs a piece of parchment out of his bag and pretends to read over it very seriously. George looks over his shoulder nodding sadly and clutching at imaginary pearls. Once they finish "reading" the article, George sniffles loudly and Fred crumples the paper dramatically.

I catch Hermione's eye across the table and give her a what-in-the-world-are-they-doing look. She mirrors the look back to me and shrugs, but she has a tiny smirk on her face, so this is clearly amusing her at least a little bit. I crack a smile, too, and go back to watching the twins.

Fred grabs my hands and pulls me to my feet, then leads me to stand right in front of him and George.

"What is this? How could you ruin our family image like this?" Fred imitates my father, wildly waving his hands around. I appreciate their attempt to lighten the mood with their antics. "Look, your mother is crying!"

At this point, George lets out a loud wail that causes the whole table, including myself, to burst into a fit of giggles.

None of my friends truly know what it is like to live in my home, but they have all met my family. They can assume a few things.

Fred grips my shoulders playfully. "Have you no shame? Being in love with Potter!" He turns to Harry and curls his lip in disgust.

"Hey!" Harry laughs in mock offense.

Fred turns back to me. "Disgraceful. I can't even look at you." With that, both twins dramatically turn away, their robes swooping out behind them. When they turn back, they both grasp hands and bow.

I'm laughing and applauding them, and I know this was supposed to be all in good fun. But those last lines...I've heard them more times than I can count, and I can't help the way they still sting, even as a joke.

***

When we make it to the Great Hall for lunch, everyone is holding a copy of the paper. Students are whispering and giggling, pointing to Hermione and my pictures that are front and center.

I link arms with Hermione, who is holding her head high, even though I can tell how hurt and annoyed she is.

As we walk through the doors, it feels like all eyes are on us, although I know that is probably not accurate. I copy Hermione's posture, and we make our way to the Gryffindor table without acknowledging any of the whispers or stares.

Most of the Gryffindors near us hurriedly shove the newspapers away once we sit down, probably in part because of the glares the boys are giving them.

"Your brother keeps looking over here," Ron tells me.

I sigh. I know I need to go talk to him about all of this-maybe he can advise me on how to deal with our parents-but I really don't want to move. I turn my head and, indeed, Draco is staring at me. Groaning internally, I resign myself to the task and tell the others I will be right back.

"Look who it is, the star of this week's news," Pansy sneers. "How is it being one-third of the famous Potter love triangle?"

"Pansy," Draco warns.

"I'm just asking a question," she smiles innocently.

I should take the bait, but- "You're dumber than i thought you were if you believe that toad Rita Skeeter."

Pansy's mouth drops open, and she looks like she's about to say something else, but stops with one look from Draco. Draco then turns his glare on me.

"Obviously nothing in that article is true, Draco," I say.

"I know. But it doesn't matter what's true or not, it's-"
"Just how it looks. I know."

He and I just look at each other for a beat, and I'm sure he sees the question in my eyes.

"I'm sure our parents will fix it," Draco tells me calmly.

"Mummy and Daddy to the rescue," Pansy mocks, then laughs at her own joke.

"Shut up, Pansy," Draco and I yell simultaneously.

"Get a sense of humor," she retorts and slides out of her seat. "Come on Blaise. Let's get out of here." Pansy grabs Blaise by the arm, and they both leave.

I roll my eyes, then look back at Draco. "They're going to be furious."

"It's not your fault, Li."

"When has that ever mattered?"

Draco doesn't reply because he knows I'm right. I stare him down.

Finally, he says, "The Final Task is coming up soon. Soon everyone will be focused on that and forget all about your little crush."

Begrudgingly, I nod because he has a point there. "I suppose you're right. And, by the way, Harry and I are very much just friends."

"Good. Now just try to stay out of the spotlight."

I give him a mock salute. "I'll try my best."

A/N How do you think the Malfoys will react to the article? Also, prepare yourselves. The next chapter will be the Final Task, and we all know what that means 😅