Hunter at Hogwarts

Chapter 17: Ami

"Oh boy..."

My interview. Hooray. I couldn't wait.

Notice my sarcasm?

I was shuffled off into the broom cupboard, doing nothing but staring at Rita Skeeter's sickening grin as she pondered on a question.

"Well Ms..."

"Ami" I snapped back. I didn't really know my sir name. It had been too long since I'd heard it.

Brushing off my sharp tone, the reporter asked, "How do your parents feel about your name coming out of the goblet on its own, unexpectedly? Are they excited that their daughter is competing against many older students in one of the biggest competitions known? Or are they worried about your wellbeing?" The floating quill hesitated for my answer.

Why was the first question about my family? Surely, they had nothing to do with this. I had to remind myself that they reporters were just idiots who liked to dig for information so I didn't leap forward and decapitate her.

Shrugging, I replied. "Dunno, they are both dead." I decided not to mention that one of them was a Greek goddess who I had believed to be dead until very recently.

Frowning, Rita's brow furrowed. She turned misty eyed, and peered at me with anxious delight. "Is it weird that all of the American champions have family problems; they are either dead, or away on business?" She must have noticed the quick lash of panic that surged through me because her breath pace grew quicker and she began to vibrate excitement.

Sharply, I spat. "There was a big war, and it killed a lot of wizards." I shot her a huge death stare, as though daring her to continue.

She didn't receive the message.
Or she didn't care.

Misty eyed, Skeeter leaned forwards. With every second I spent trapped in that cupboard with the woman, more hatred pounded along with my heartbeat. "Oooo!" She squealed like a teenage fangirl. "This is brilliant! What a way to start the tournament; we can pay tribute to the champions' dead parents! It'll get the readers heartbroken." My hatred for Skeeter doubled. 

The reporter didn't appear taken back by hundreds of deaths. Her instant thought was publishing articles. "Well, I think that's it. I'm done." I told her. I turned around, and left without a second thought. "Wait!" Rita cried behind me. "We haven't finished the interview yet!"
I called back simply. "Oh, I think we have." To prove a point, I left the room entirely, and made my way back through the castle for training.

That night, I couldn't sleep. It was just days until the first tournament took place, and all I could think about was my Dad. Skeeter had shook me hard, and even if I didn't want to admit it, all I could think of was about the day my Dad died.

Tired of tossing and turning in a hopeless and dreary slumber, I got out of bed. The rest of my friends on the Argo II were fast asleep, and I listened quietly to their snoring. Deciding I needed a desperate change of scenery, I left the ship and sneaked into the castle.

For a while, I was just walking along the stone corridors. My head spun around in agony.
You killed him.
One if your friends is a spy.
Somebody is trying very hard to kill you.

Only when the sound of an awake student ring through the walls, was it that the voices stopped.

Intrigued, I encountered the Fat Lady. The Fat Lady was a portrait who guarded the Gryfindor common room. It made no sense, but Hogwarts security was rubbish.

The Fat Lady eyed me up and down. "What are you doing awake?" She asked suspiciously. "Burying a body." I told her sarcastically. Portraits obviously don't understand sarcasm though because her eyes widened in alert. "Pig snout." I recited. Cautiously, the Fat Lady said. "You don't look like a Hogwarts student." I took that as a compliment. Raising an eyebrow, I asked her. "Then how do I know the password?"

That was an easy answer. Hogwarts students were as laid back as Hogwarts security. They practically scream it at each other.

"Hmmm..." The portrait thought. "Ok, in you go, and off to bed." The door creaked open and I crept into the Gryfindor common room. Shadows swam miserably around the room. A face had moulded through the flames of a fire place. Harry Potter was crouched by the grate. I stayed in my place.

Harry whispered. "But Sirius..."

A/N: New chapter for the New Year! Sorry I haven't been updating recently, I've been busy. I promise to publish more soon.