Prophecies- a Dramione Fanfiction

Chapter Seventeen: Skeeter and The Press

I won't take off my hood and there's NOTHING you can do about it!
Arrest of a death eater and some of his followers has been kept from the public, to the shame of the Minister, Kingsley Shacklebolt. An MoM employee in the Auror department let slip that "he has enchanted his hood so well we can not get it off. Hopefully he we will reveal himself soon" This mysterious figure is under charges of planning and carrying out the death eater attacks, trespassing on lands belonging to Draco Malfoy and holding hostage the esteemed Professor McGonagall, with plans to force her into marriage.

As your loyal informants, we shall investigate further into this event. Turn to page three for more details on the six saviours of Professor McGonagall: Blaise Zabini, Draco Malfoy, Luna Lovegood and two thirds of the Golden Trio, again Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.

Draco groaned and banged his head on the table. Reporters were everywhere. Professor McGonagall had put the castle on lockdown as reporters buzzed around the walls like flies. And yes they were trying to fly in on brooms.

"Draco stop. You're disturbing me." Hermione frowned half concernedly. Madam Pomfrey had insisted she remain hospitalised until she stopped having tremors as an after effect of the Cruciatus Curse. Hermione now spent hours gazing at the parchment window trying to pick up what was happening in the Great Hall.

"Hello! I'm here for an interview. This is juicy stuff!" A voice all too familiar to Hermione called. The face of Rita Skeeter appeared round the curtains, scrunched up with distaste.

Draco rose, bringing Hermione's right arm with him. "Please leave. I will be holding a press conference at Malfoy Manor as soon as my fiancée has recovered." Hermione felt Rita's eyes travelling to her left hand.

"And no, I haven't got her a ring yet." Rita smiled all too sweetly, which meant that she didn't plan on her leaving anytime soon.
"The Daily Prophet wants an exclusive interview with the Wonder Couple, Destiny Creators... Whatever you want to call it. I'm not leaving until I get an interview. "
Hermione's face hardened slightly and Draco looked at her. "Three questions, we can edit it before publication and we have the right to deny an answer ."

"Oh, of course. Question number one: Where has the Destiny Couple been since the prophecy? We have had reports that the first time you were seen in public was yesterday, for an entire month."

Draco considered but noticed Hermione thinking. He wanted Skeeter out, she wanted Skeeter out. "We wanted time alone to get to know each other and settle our differences. Professor McGonagall kindly granted us the space." After all, it was better making it sound like they went willingly rather than they got held hostage in a broom cupboard by the order of the Wizengamot and the Ministry.

Hermione leaned back into Draco, who had sat down again, but was still very tense. He relaxed immediately. Rita noticed and smiled brightly. "Can I have a photo? After all, it's been awhile since there was a good photo of you." Hermione tidied herself up a bit and smiled weakly at the camera, her back leaning against Draco's chest. She had pulled a jumper over the hospital nightgown. Draco wrapped an arm around Hermione and smiled adoringly down at her, with the picture turning out very sweet.

Finally, Skeeter left after asking another two very difficult and annoying questions. But she hadn't left the castle. "Look!"
"Who's the strange blonde?"
"That's Rita Skeeter!"
"What's she doing here?"
The word flew around the castle and within minutes, a patronus was sent by Professor McGonagall ordering her to leave it else. Unfortunately, Skeeter had invested to get in and she was going to make the most of it. "We didn't sneak in just to get ONE measly interview!" The reporter told the headmistress crossly.

"I insist you leave. You have disrupted the students enough. Speaking to someone who can legally give you their permission is one thing but speaking to a whole lot of children who you haven't been given permission to talk to is another. You can talk all you like, I insist you leave at once! I shall escort you to the gate." McGonagall replied firmly, before dragging Rita by the arm down from her office equally as firmly.

As soon as Rita was outside, she was engulfed in a sea of reporters, all fighting to get inside but McGonagall had already shut and barred the door.

This was going to be a long long week.

***
Narcissa Malfoy stared at the big book. It was a telephone directory and the shopkeeper claimed it had most of the numbers in England. He was a dodgy man, Narcissa had thought, with his grubby skin, unshaven face and dirty apron.

Lottie looked up from where she was searching in her own book. Diya and Hanna had left, promising more help if they needed it. "Jimmy, Gerald. Gerald Ginger. Grace, Green, Polly Gray. Oh this is useless! It's completely out of sequence! And Cissa, staring at the front cover won't do anything!" Narcissa gingerly poked the front cover. "I told you, Lottie. I don't trust him. He had one of those terrible smiles."

"Maybe we could just write to Draco? Ask him to find out? "
"NO Cissa. We can't. Besides, I want to do this the muggle way. It's part of our adventure."
"Lottie-"
"No, Cissa."
"I mean this. And this. " Narcissa cried in frustration. She saved the Daily Prophet in the air and pointed a manicured finger at her friend's telephone directory. "Trouble for the Malfoys? We look into the arrests of other hooded Death Eater at the home and the heart of the most prestigious Pureblooded family in England.
Draco Malfoy in denial. Claims he did not authorise the use of his parents property. Where is Narcissa? Oh, Cissa. It will blow past. Jacques will cover for you."

"The other thing is that I have noticed it is not an official book. There are a few pages torn out but only a few have been taped back in. Either someone knows we are looking for Hermione's parents or this is just coincidence. And whoever is trying to stop us is trying hard."

Lottie thought quietly. She was certain her friend was right. "We need to get the better of them then.
"But how?"
"I have an idea. Come here." And the two women witnessing the heads as close as a pin's width for the rest of the day.

I just want to say THANK you to everyone again. Your support means so much to me. Special thanks to @VampetteIsNotOnFire for creating the new cover, which is so much more awesome than my one. Keep reading (and not just this story!)!
Thank you again!
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