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

[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?"

[pleating]

"Probably. Ugh, Professor McGonagall's probably going to be mad."

[witch_please]

"She's the one who let him on the grounds in the first place!" Alli says indignantly. "And you barely said anything, lots of these quotes are from random students or whatever. You couldn't exactly have stopped him."

[pleating]

"He said he was visiting his niece, who's some other year from us, Gryffindor, that's where the quote about not having Gryffindor friends or older ones came from, we were saying we didn't know his niece."

[parental_guidance]

"That's kind of a stretch..." Emma says dubiously.

[metamorphmaga]

"Right?! As though his niece is all of Gryffindor. Arrogant twit!" Jenny declares loyally.

[chanuphis]

"Well, I mean, I did actually say I don't have friends in Gryffindor or other years, just... I mean, I have friends in all three other houses, it's not like I'm that reserved!"

[witch_please]

"So he's a lying, exaggerating twit. Still not your fault."

[pleating]

"Do you think we'd better tell McGonagall ourselves or wait?"

[parental_guidance]

"About the article or the reporter...?"

[pleating]

"Either, both."

[parental_guidance]

"No way does she not already know about the article." She pauses as she thinks about the other half of the question, 'must tell authority figures relevant things' warring with 'authority is scary and should only be necessary when Something Bad occurs.' She decides that something bad has already occurred, authority is relevant, and goes with, "And might as well, she'll want to talk about the article anyway I bet."

[chanuphis]

"I'll go up to her after we're done eating I guess..."

[parental_guidance]

"Want company? Protection? Something like that?"

[chanuphis]

"Yes please."

And in due course she has finished her lunch.

[marrinikari]

Headmistress McGonagall is waiting for her at the entrance of the hall as they exit. "A minute of your time please, Miss Swan?"

[witch_please]

"It wasn't her fault! He lied to her about being a reporter!" Alli says immediately, defensive.

[marrinikari]

"Putting aside the question of blame, I believe a conversation is in order regardless," McGonagall tells her dryly.

[chanuphis]

"He did lie, though," says Miranda. "All I did was give him directions to Potions - he said he was here to visit his niece, we said we don't know her."