Infinite Magic (Male Reader x Harry Potter)

Rita Skeeter Gets Called Out

The pub was as crowded as ever, but one quick look around at all the tables told us that Hagrid wasn't there.  Hearts sinking, we went up to the bar and ordered butterbeers from Madam Rosmerta.

Hermione: Doesn't he ever go into the office?  Look!

She pointed into the mirror behind the bar, and we saw Ludo Bagman reflected there, sitting in a shadowy corner with a bunch of goblins.  Bagman was talking very fast in a low voice to the goblins, all of whom had their arms crossed and were looking rather menacing.  It was indeed odd, I thought, that Bagman was here at the Three Broomsticks on a weekend when there was no Triwizard event, and therefore no judging to be done.  We watched Bagman in the mirror.  He was looking strained again, quite as strained as he had that night in the forest before the Dark Mark had appeared.  But just then Bagman glanced over at the bar, saw us, and stood up.

Bagman: In a moment, in a moment!

Bagman hurried through the pub toward us , his boyish grin back in place.

Bagman: Harry!  How are you?  Been hoping to run into you!  Everything going all right?

Harry: Fine, thanks.

Bagman: Wonder if I could have a quick, private word, Harry?  You couldn't give us a moment, you five, could you?

Ron: Er... okay.

The others went off to find a table.  I stayed put.

Bagman: Er-

YN: Whatever advantages you're offering Harry, surely you're not above offering them to me too?

Bagman looked nervous.

Bagman: O-of course Mr Gojo.

Bagman led us along the bar to the end furthest from Madam Rosmerta.

Bagman: Well, I just thought I'd congratulate you... both of you, on your splendid performance against those dragons.  Really superb.

YN / Harry: Thanks.

I knew this couldn't be all that Bagman wanted to say, because he could have congratulated us in front of our friends.  Bagman didn't seem in any particular rush to spill the beans, though.  I saw him glance into the mirror over the bar at the goblins, who were all watching us in silence through their dark, slanting eyes.

Bagman: Absolute nightmare.  Their English isn't too good... it's like being back with all the Bulgarians at the Quidditch World Cup.  But at least they used sign language another human could recognize.  This lot keep gabbling in Gobbledegook, and I only know one word of Gobbledegook.  Bladvak. It means pickaxe.  I don't like to use it in case they think I'm threatening them.

He gave a short, booming laugh.

YN: What do they want?

Bagman: Er... well... they're looking for Barty Crouch.

Harry: Why are they looking for him here?  He's at the Ministry in London, isn't he?

Bagman: As a matter of fact, I've no idea where he is.  He's sort of... stopped coming to work.  Been absent for a couple of weeks now.  Young Percy, his assistant, says he's ill.  Apparently he's just been sending instructions in by owl.  But would you mind not mentioning that to anyone, Harry?  Because Rita Skeeter's still poking around everywhere she can, and I'm willing to bet she'd work up Barty's illness into something sinister.  Probably say he's gone missing like Bertha Jorkins.

Harry groaned at the mention of Rita Skeeter.

YN: Have you heard anything about Bertha Jorkins?

Bagman: No.  I've got people looking, of course, and it's all very strange.  She definitely arrived in Albania, because she met her second cousin there.  And then she left the cousin's house to go south and see an aunt, and she seems to have vanished without trace en route.  I can't see where she's got to though... she doesn't seem the type to elope, for instance, but still... what are we doing, talking about goblins and Bertha Jorkins?  I really wanted to ask you... how are you getting on with your golden egg?