When Hermione Fights

Rita

Rita

I hurried along the narrow and dirty tunnel, careful to stay in the middle of the passageway. Then it occurred to me that I would have to become Hermione again, because Rita didn't need to know me as Minna. Thought - done. And thanks to my rapid pace, I soon reached the end of the winding path, making the huge boulder float away with a Wingardium Leviosa, as it blocked the tunnel exit.

After I had managed to move it, I stepped out of the tunnel into the dawning Forbidden Forest. Once outside, I diligently closed the secret passage with the boulder again. I turned and stood in the dense forest. Around me were the sounds of the forest, indefinable, from the howling of maybe a wolf, to the humming sound of fairy wings. The surroundings were filled with life. The fragrances were almost beguiling. Was I frightened? Was I scared? No, I wasn't, but I was vigilant in this unreal landscape, because not only the animals were dangerous, but also many plants weren't well-disposed towards human beings, and they regarded them as a snack. And so I memorised everything, to later be able to find my way back to Hogwarts in the darkest of night.

So I focused myself and appeared with a very quiet plop near Trafalgar Square. As it would be half past nine in two minutes, I immediately set myself in motion and wasn't mistaken, Rita was standing at our usual meeting place as planned. She was waiting, wearing an individual, dark blue costume. It looked like Vivienne Westwood, but it wasn't. The people around her were giving her funny looks, but she didn't seem to care.
The hustle and bustle, as always, was very great in this rather mild late summer night. Some of the young men couldn't resist sending me a whistle. I didn't pay attention to it, nor them. She noticed me already, the corners of her mouth twitching in disgust, but then it changed into a fake smile.

"Miss Granger, I'm pleased that you at least always appear punctually," she snapped, her tone unfriendly.

"Miss Skeeter, I know my manners. It would be absolutely rude to let you wait," I smiled amiably with my mockingly spoken words.

"I suppose! Were you satisfied with the lady from last time?" She blinked at me sweetly behind her terribly large spectacles and bared her teeth contemptuously.

"I still have to thank you for it, Alice was perfect!" I said, praising and showing no shame or shyness on this subject. My lack of reaction made her press her red lips together and in order to save herself an answer, she heaved her heavy crocodile handbag in front of her, and began to dig around until she pulled out a long, narrow box and gave me an unwilling smile.

"What you wished for, Miss Granger, I hope you know how rare they are!"

"Oh, thank you for remembering it. I need it so urgently and of course I know how rare the quick quotes quills are, so I'm very happy that it worked out so fast," I said sweetly, taking the box with respect, something that made her snort furiously.

"If that would be all..." She wanted to turn around abruptly and leave.

"Steady, Rita! We still have something important to talk about. Be patient, as one says, patience is a virtue!" I told her arrogantly, and she turned back with a deep sigh. It looked as if she were praying for patience. Sweet.

"What do you know about Bole and Derrick?" I asked directly. I could watch her eyes flashing eagerly behind her spectacles.

"What do I know? These two lay suddenly in the entrance hall of the ministry. On this day I was a member of the jury in court and so a direct witness. Unfortunately, so far no detailed article appeared, since the ministry says nothing and they have acted quickly! So, where was I.. ah yes, suddenly there was a big pile on the ground near the fountain and as one looked more closely, one realised that it was two people. At first, one of them wasn't recognizable as a person, since his body.. yes a corpse it was, it was terribly mutilated... there was blood everywhere! He must have been as good as bloodless, and his throat was slit open, but when he was dragged away, the most terrible thing happened, his head, he was almost... beheaded! It only hung on a few tendons and skin, a terrible picture, and it seemed that he had buried a second man under him, but he lived! I don't know anymore, as I was pushed away, since screams and shrieks started and the Aurors started to clear the square. There was a lot of chaos and a huge mess, because panic ensued. I try to find out as much as possible all the time, but until now I haven't succeeded in doing this myself even as beetle. The only thing they released is that a certain Bole is dead, which was somehow clear and that a certain Derrick is not approachable, due to the shock," Rita talked herself into a rage. Her cheeks became red and she waved her hands around the air excitedly, all in all she seemed to be wound up to a high pitch. I began to giggle, because not only Rita but also her story was a bit amusing.