propheteering

[marrinikari]

It does not take long for whispers of recent events to start spreading in the Ministry. The request for an Auror couldn't be kept secret from everyone, and the fact that the request is coming from Hogwarts generates a lot of interested concern. First one person finds out, then another, then a couple more.

Soon thereafter, Russell Peasegood makes it his business to be found on the Hogwarts lawn after classes one day. Officially, he's here visiting his niece. She happens to be in Potions class, at the moment. And of course, being a good uncle, he will wait here until she's done.

There appears to be a flying class just finishing up nearby full of students in blue and yellow robes. What a coincidence.

Comments

[chanuphis]

Miranda likes flying! She isn't clumsy in the air. Wheeeee. Okay, okay, time to put the broom away, she'll live.

[marrinikari]

Russell looks at his pocket watch, then stops a nearby student, chosen completely at random. "Excuse me, Miss. Do you know where the Potions classroom is?"

[chanuphis]

"Iiiit's Monday so you can take the shortcut, you go in through there and take your second right and go down all the stairs you see and it'll be on your left."

[marrinikari]

"Thanks very much, Miss!" Then he blinks and takes another look at her. "Why, you're Miranda Swan, aren't you? "

[chanuphis]

"...I don't know you," she says.

[marrinikari]

"I heard about you through the Ministry!" he says cheerfully. (Technically true). "Saved a bunch of your classmates, didn't you?"

[chanuphis]

"Who are you?"

[marrinikari]

"Russell Peasegood, at your service! Might be you'd know m'niece? Vicky Peasegood, third year Gryffindor?"

[chanuphis]

"I don't really have any friends in Gryffindor. Or third year. Um, weren't you going to Potions?"

[marrinikari]

"Indeed, indeed, but now I've met you, and I'm all curious! However did you learn a Patronus? Even I can't manage one!" he says with a self-deprecating smile.

[chanuphis]

"There's... books."

[pleating]

Karen catches up. "That's not a reporter, is it? We aren't supposed to talk to reporters."

[marrinikari]

He chuckles at that. "Quite true, and yet here I am, still Patronus-less." He smiles at Karen as she approaches. "And a g'day to you too, Miss. Name's Russell Peasegood, I'm here visiting m'niece."

[pleating]

"That's nice. We're not your niece."

[marrinikari]

"Never said y'were! Miss Swan here gave me directions to Potions-" he waves in the direction she had indicated earlier, "but I recognized her, y'see. Heard through the Ministry- such a buzz there was!- and couldn't resist asking about the Patronus. I don't even have one, y'know; quite impressive, really."

[chanuphis]

"You never did say if you're a reporter," says Miranda.

[marrinikari]

"I suppose I didn't, did I? No ma'am, not my job," he says promptly.

(His job is journalist.)

"I work in the Ministry, as it happens."

(Well, he does work physically in the Ministry.)

[pleating]

"An Auror was already here. The Ministry could have sent somebody else with them if they wanted Miranda to talk to Ministry people."

[marrinikari]

He blinks at her in confusion. "The Ministry didn't send me, why would they do that? Like I said, I'm here t'see m'niece."

[pleating]

"We still aren't your niece. Come on, Miranda, let's go."

[marrinikari]

"Have a good day now!" Russell tells them, heading off to Potions without complaint. Once out of earshot, he hums thoughtfully.

Well, wasn't that interesting.

---

The following day, there is an article in the paper.

Dementor Mystery at Hogwarts!
by Russell Peasegood

Last Tuesday, a Dementor died at Hogwarts... cause of death still unknown... of all things, a student named Miranda Swan, a first year in Ravenclaw... said she learned her unusual Patronus "from a book"... Professor Fisher was knocked out instantly... rescued Fisher and three other first years... inexplicably exploring the Dark Forest... classmates call her "reserved" with a "small group of friends"... she herself admits she has "no friends in Gryffindor" nor among the older students... is anywhere truly safe?!

[chanuphis]

"Oh, bloody hell."

[parental_guidance]

Emma has a long letter from her parents not long after the papers arrive. Why is she friends with someone who would go into the Dark Forest by herself, did she know Miranda could do that, why didn't she tell them more?

Since she sent them a perfectly descriptive owl before the article ever happened, she decides that the owl is really just to make themselves feel better and treats the questions as rhetorical. (Except for the part about Jenny. That gets a short, snippy response.)

She shows up to lunch with the Prophet in hand. "How did a reporter get quotes from you guys?" she asks confusedly.

[chanuphis]

"He said he wasn't a reporter! We asked! And we barely talked to him!"

[witch_please]

"The stupid author blurb at the end says he's a journalist for the Prophet," Alli says thoughtfully. "Think he's enough of a twit to claim a reporter and a journalist are different?"