Title: Muggle-Hating Arthur Weasley?
Author: gluedupsidedown
Rating: PG-13
Character/Pairing: Ron/Hermione, mentions of Rita Skeeter and Mr. Weasley
Genre: Anger
Warnings: Some cursing
Word Count: 169

"Can you believe this rubbish?" Ron yelled at Hermione. "How could anyone believe something so ridiculous? And, why would she even think that my dad would work for VOLDEMORT?!" Hermione looked at Ron. "Well, you know that she writes whatever rumors she hears. Maybe someone thought that your dad loving everything Muggle was just a cover for the true Dark interests, he is a pureblood, afterall." Ron hmphed. He knew that his dad would never help that bastard Voldemort, and it was insulting to the whole family that he would. Rita Skeeter should just go die. Hermione tried talking to Ron again, "Don't worry, Ron. Everyone knows your dad would never help Voldemort. Your dad has always fought for Muggle rights and that's exactly the opposite of what Voldemort wants." Ron sighed, although it was much less angry this time. "That's true. But, she still an awful writer. Don't that care that she just makes all this stuff up?" "Probably not, as long as it sells papers," sighed Hermione.

Carly/Ravenclaw

Title: Harry Potter, Hero or Demon?
Author: malachic
Rating: PG
Character/Pairing: None, Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter
Genre: Gen
Warnings: None
Word Count: 1,057

Who Know What Things Lie in The Hearts of Men…

After the death of Voldemort, the Wizarding World was certain there would be no more trouble from Dark Wizards. In fact, after the last few pockets of them had been cleared out by our excellent Aurors, there weren’t. But you know what they say about snakes… they’ll always bite you, even if they say they won’t. And here’s a snake that we’ve all nursed at our own bosoms come to bite us.

Yes, you heard me. Our own great hero, Harry Potter, has been found doing some rather… questionaable activities. Now, this reporter would be the last to question Potter’s use of the Cruciatus and Imperious curses in the battle against Voldemort, but… well. They say that you have to mean them for the spells to work, don’t they? And what sort of example is that? That you may use bad spells on bad people? Well, in that case, Mr. Potter had better start running, or at least constructing pretty good defenses. What this reporter has found out… well, it chills me to the bone even to write it.

But write it I must. For the world must know of the true life of one Harry Potter. That’s the reporters job, isn’t it? So no matter how cruel, how ugly, how horrifying the truth is… I must bear it, and I must tell you. But this… oh, it pains me. Still. I must do my duty… no matter how horrifying it is.

But, for the sake of our more… shall we say, delicate readers, I will clean it up, at least a little bit. But the things I have seen… I shudder, even now.

Two months ago, I began to watch Potter. He had been acting rather suspicious in this reporter’s opinion… always sneaking about, not spending any time with his lovely fiancée… there was a dark glimmer in his eyes, a glimmer so much like Voldemort’s, I was almost terrified.

Because, as we all know, Potter and Voldemort had a very close bond, as caused by the original Killing Curse against Potter…the one that gave him the lightening bolt scar. But perhaps, I thought to myself, this connection goes in deeper than a mere scar? Perhaps, Voldemort had marked Potter in such a way that he could be a threat, that we must worry about him? Naturally, I didn’t want to think such things. The great Harry Potter? It was simply impossible, unthinkable. But as time went on, even my own cynical mind was forced to accept that perhaps there was more to our great hero than we thought. So I watched, every day. Potter didn’t even seem to spend any time with his wonderful fiancée, Ms. Ginevra Weasley… nor with his dearest friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. So ease your hearts, Wizarding World. This conspiracy involves Potter, and Potter alone. In fact, it would not surprise me if this was the first that his dear friends and true heroes had ever heard about this.

Potter spent a surprising amount of time in Diagon Alley… or so I thought. No, when you look closer, you find he is actually in Knockturn Alley, the prime place to find Dark Wizards, and to get supplies of questionable use… but even that, I could forgive. For perhaps Potter had an informant on the Dark Wizards, or perhaps he was, in fact, arresting Dark Wizards there, or gathering information. All possible. But… when you enter Borgin and Burkes, and not only come back with some purchased items (which this reporter was not able to see, although she did think she saw the glimmer of light off of a skull…), and not only that, when you stay there for three hours daily, obviously waiting for someone… well. Then this reporter gets suspicious.

Because no GOOD wizard would step foot into Borgin and Burkes without shivering, nevertheless buying something from them! And waiting? What sort of people will you find there, this reporter asks herself. Well, it’s obvious! Dark Wizards. Ex-Death Eaters. Questionable men, all told. And not the sort that you’d let have a single Sickle, nevertheless the type Harry Potter should be associating with.

But every day he goes in there, and waits for three hours, occassional speaking with the owner (Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin, who also, it is reported, suggested giving Potter up to Voldemort at the battle of Hogwarts), and waiting.

And do you know for who? Well, hold on to your hats, wizards, and make sure you’re not too near to your wands. Ex-Death Eater, Slytherin, and traitor, Draco Malfoy. It was eight days before Malfoy returned to the shop, and soon enough, he began to converse with Potter, even calling him Harry! They left soon after, and, from what I could overhear, they were going to Malfoy Manor, to look at something in the dungeons.

Malfoy Manor. The veritable hotbed of Dark Magic. Who knows what books Draco Malfoy has in his shelves, what sorts of spells he knows? I, being concerned over Potter’s safety (after all, Malfoy is wily. He could have convinced Potter to come, planning to kill him later), followed them there.

What I saw next chilled me to the bone. Potter and Malfoy both went straight down to the dungeons, where a potion was brewing. Potter opened up his bag, pulling out some potion ingredinents the likes of which I have never seen… a dried plant with wickedly glowing red eyes, a dead bird with leathery wings… and began to talk animatedly to Malfoy about the potion, and how good it would be for Shacklebolt, and how difficult it was, and how difficult it was to brew… all the while chopping and stirring and dicing.

After this, the reporter was forced to flee, for fear that Malfoy had spotted her… although she has no doubt who tipped him off.

But I fear the meaning of this must be obvious. Malfoy and Potter are obviously plotting to take down Kingsley Shacklebolt, and therefore throw the Wizarding World into chaos. And I have no doubt whose plan it was. Potter, the shunned hero, begging for attention and rejected, Potter, furious that we hadn’t elected him Minister of Magic… ah, yes. This reeks of him.

Be warned, wizards. Watch out.

- Rita Skeeter

Alex//Slytherin

You forgot to sign with name/house! (And I'm guessing Slytherin by your icon, so get us some points. Go snakes!)

Alex//Slytherin

Title: Krum and Granger Expecting
Author: mollywobblez
Rating: PG-13
Character/Pairing: Hermione Granger/Viktor Krum
Genre: Angst
Warnings: This is pure rubbish from the quick-quotes quill of Rita Skeeter. Seriously, there is some sexual content but nothing too explicit.
Word Count: 314

This fabulous writer has found some fantastic information that is being kept very secret. Seeing as how some of our favorite Hogwarts students are just shy of graduation, a scandal of this proportion could only be discovered by someone as talented as I.

It is safe to say that a certain seventh year student at Hogwarts had a very busy Christmas holiday. It is my duty to report this new to the rest of the world. I am sure many of you will read this news and believe it to be pure rubbish, but I beg of you not to let your previous impressions of this individual confuse you from believing what I now know to be true.

As it is, I have every reason to believe that Hermione Granger is indeed expecting a young Quidditch star to be born around September of this year. How could this be, you may ask. I know that Miss Granger did indeed visit Mr. Krum over in Bulgaria while away for the Christmas holiday. The two were seen always together and much of the time was spent together, in private. When the two did emerge from their love nest, the kisses, hand holding and snogging were something anybody could witness.

After returning to Hogwarts to complete her seventh year, one Slytherin student who asked to remain anonymous, has informed me that Hermione divulged to her that she had given her virginity to Viktor while away for the holiday. It has also been observed by other students that Miss Granger appears to be adding some weight specifically in her abdominal area.

I feel safe in reporting to the public these things you deserve to know. Miss Granger is misleading you all in making you think she is a fine, upstanding young lady. When the young Krum comes into life in September please remember you heard this here first.

You forgot to sign with name/house!

Mandy//Gryffindor :)

Title: That Blast-Ended SKANK!
Author: dorasolo
Rating: PG
Character/Pairing: Teddy Lupin, Victoire Weasley, other misc new gen
Genre: Comedy
Warnings: Wizard Swears
Word Count: 406

Teddy Lupin, age 15, swallowed thickly. He felt a hot blush creep up over his face and as usual, into his hair. Blue was his default color, he could hold the blue for hours even if he was taking a nap, but anytime he was embarrassed? Bubblegum pink. Anger? Fire red. Sad? Brown, but that was his regular color.

Right now, his hair was definitely a blinding flamingo pink, clashing horribly with his maroon "T" sweater from Molly Weasley. The Daily Prophet was clutched in his shaking left hand, his right over his churning stomach. He moaned weakly, causing his friend Victoire to frown and start walking towards him from the other end of the Gryffindor table. As usual, Vic tripped over her own gangly legs. Distracted momentarily, he threw down the paper to help her back onto her own feet.

The paper flew open to the horrid article that caused Teddy's consternation. "METAWOLFMAGUS TERRORIZES HOGWARTS STUDENTS!" The Daily Prophet proclaimed this horrible event, and next to it a picture of Teddy on a broom juxtaposed with a picture of his father, Remus Lupin, on the fateful night many years ago where he had forgotten his Wolfsbane potion and come after Uncle Harry, Uncle Ron, and Aunt Hermione.

"That's ridiculous, Teddy," Victoire said, pursing her lips. "Everybody knows that werewolves can't make werewolf babies. Bites cause werewolves, not birth," she finished calmly, rationally. Victoire was always calm and rational. She looked at him from behind her horn rimmed glasses and cleared her throat.

"I know that you know that," Teddy moaned miserably. "But not everybody even knew that my father was a ... well, you know. And how did she even get that picture?"

Victoire's blue eyes were kind as she looked at him. "We couldn't keep her in the jar forever, you know. And everybody knows she's full of rubbish, Teddy. What was it that Uncle Ron called her?"

"A tosspot?," Teddy asked, chuckling as the garish pink began to fade from his head.

"I don't know," Vic said, pretending to think about it, "I think he said 'swish and flicker,' actually."

"Hagrid's buttcrack," Molly Weasley II said, helpfully.

"Careful," warned Teddy, "Not to loud or we'll lose 500,000 points from Gryffindor." His hair was officially back to blue, and not just any blue, royal blue.

Victoire giggled and handed him the paper again. "One last one," she pushed.

"Rita Skeeter is a blast-ended SKANK!"



Lisa//Gryffindor

Title: Ear, Ear: An Ode to a Facial Feature
Author: be_realized
Rating:PGish
Character(s): F&G Weasley
Genre:Comedy
Warnings: Light Swearings.
Word Count:530
(A/N: YES I DO HAVE WRITER'S BLOCK ACTUALLY, SO DON'T BLAME ME FOR THE CRAP. SORRY! Also, I ran out of time, so the ending is also crap. But heeey, at least I am honest...)

“You’d think she would have something better to do nowadays,” mused Fred, leaning back in his chair. He tapped the end of the quill which was working its way steadily down a portion of parchment on its own accord.
“The war and all. Doesn’t she have more people to defame? Can’t think why she’d choose you…”
“It’s the bloody scandal of the century, that’s why.” his twin grinned, flicking the end of the quill so that it would be forced to magically erase its error and go back. It was very amusing, really.
“Don’t be daft. Your ear went missing. It’s not a scandal, if anything she should be sending out a search ad enticement for it.”

“What? In case it came crawling back and reattached itself?”

“It’s a possibility…” Fred grinned and flicked the quill as well, swearing he saw the thing stop and glare at him. “ At least she had some interesting theories.”
“Which interesting theories?” George fumed slightly, absent-mindedly rubbing the spot above his jaw line where an earlobe had once proudly hung. “The one where the scorned lover sliced it off with a charmed muggle knife, or the one where you bit it off in a mad rage after consuming too many of our products?”

“I rather liked that one. Good publicity, anyway. We’ll have requests from angry siblings all over the country, now…” Fred took a moment away from flicking the quill to move the action to his brother’s ear. The reaction was of course much more amusing, but with slightly greater consequences. George yelled in pain and retaliated by kicking his brother’s kneecap in. His twin simply grinned that ridiculous smile they shared. It was infectious, and soon on both the brothers’ faces, although George did cover his ear-stub with a hand, scooting back a few inches from the table to avoid further injury.

“But really, LISTEN to this.” he sighed as he pulled out a copy of the paper.
“The boy’s freckles glistened like dirty snowdrops on a pallid backdrop…’ The hell’s a dirty snowdrop, anyway?”
“Your tears when you’re remembering your ear, obviously.” Fred smirked, voice deadpan. He shoved his brother’s shoulder. “Part of this was your fault, anyway. You were the one who interviewed her.”

“It was for Potterwatch, entertainment segment! I want them to at least have a laugh, right? Once a month or so. I thought I’d be the one interviewing her, anyway, not the other way around!”

“Sacrificing the sanctity of your ear for the amusement of Ickle Ronniekins. You’re a saint alright.”

A glimmer of light sparkled in both sets of eyes at the joke for a moment before fading, both rather hoping their brother had a chance to hear it after all. You never knew now. To make himself feel better, Fred flicked the quill even harder.
“What’s it saying, now?” His brother leaned over, eager to be distracted. Fred shrugged.

“This thing’s a genius, really. Pure Shakespeare.”
He grinned maliciously, pulling the paper away to let George read. The earless twin pulled away the parchment, also smirking.
“Let’s send it…”

“…to her editor, of course. Taste of her own medicine.”

And they did.

Lyss//Gryffindor

Title: Extra! Extra!
Author: Reina
Rating: G
Character/Pairing: Hermione, Ron
Genre: Humor?
Warnings: Nothing worse than you'd see in the book itself.
Word Count: 594

“Greetings dear readers! Greetings and my apologies, for leaving you all hanging! This reporter was, shall we say… in a bit of a jam – but fear not! I have returned with the biggest scoop to hit Hogsmeade since I revealed that Dumbledore actually coveted the dark arts in his youth! Are you sitting down dear readers?

Mrs. Hermione Weasley (neé: Granger), best known as the object of Harry Potter’s childhood affections and one of his comrades during the war… is an unregistered animagus! She, who is charged with heading the Department of Improper Use of Magic flouts the very decrees she is bound to uphold!”

“I’ve heard about enough, Ronald,” Hermione snapped.

“Sorry, but bloody hell, you thought she’d have learned her lesson when you sealed her back in the jar!”

“This is just her idea of revenge for forcing her to register as an animagus. I suspect she’s spoken to mostly Slytherins – Rita never learns new tricks.”

Ron scanned the article. “Well, actually…” he began, “it seems she’s spoken to a few Ravenclaws too – one in particular.”

“You can’t be serious. What on earth could Cho say that would make Rita think I was an animagus?”

“No, not Cho…” Ron’s nose crinkled, as he opened the paper to the third page and noticed the picture of Rita’s star interview.

Hermione’s interest piqued. She moved behind Ron to stare at the picture, and blanched. There, in all her transparent, simpering glory… was Moaning Myrtle. She seemed to alter between batting her eyes bashfully at the camera, and looking like a child who had just been caught taking cookies from the cookie jar. The background of the photograph showed a very familiar, now closed bathroom.

“How did Rita… what did Myrtle SAY?” Hermione gaped.

“Apparently, that you’d taken over her bathroom in your second year and learned to transfigure yourself into a raging tiger who is a danger to society,” Ron smirked. “Tiger, maybe, but…”

Hermione’s look silenced him immediately. When your wife could transfigure you into a pillow before you could blink, you… well, you learned when not to push her.

“Good grief!” Hermione had obviously been continuing to read the article, “she’s… she’s pulled my transcripts!”

Ron glanced at the section in question. “Hey! You never told me you took the transfiguration W.O.M.B.A.T.!”

“It was Professor McGonagall’s idea,” Hermione dismissed his surprise. “Merlin, Rita makes it look like she was IN on it.”

Ron let out a low whistle. Rita was really playing dirty now. It was one thing to go after Hermione, and he knew she’d exact her revenge. But to go after a respected professor, supposed to be enjoying her retirement? That was low, even for Rita.

“I dunno, everyone knows you were always great in school. Top marks in transfiguration doesn’t exactly PROVE anything, you know?”

“It supports what she wants it to support though, Ron – just as always. People will believe it and then twist facts to reflect reality… that’s exactly what Rita wants them to do. It’s what she’s always done – concocted wild stories based on grains of truth – and left it up to word of mouth.”

“…grains of truth…” Ron muttered to himself. “…We DID take over her bathroom in our second year, Hermione. All of us, while you were brewing the polyjuice potion.”

“I had forgotten about that! Yes, I suppose we… oh, Ron. I know where it’s come from.”

“You do? I just figured that between Myrtle and Rita they blew enough hot air for a Muggle balloon festival, like the one we went to last summer.”


Reina//Ravenclaw

Edited 2008-02-17 11:45 pm (UTC)

Title: Head Boy and Girl: Role Models or Hypocrites?
Author: alohachary1851
Rating: er, PG, I guess
Character/Pairing: James Potter/Lily Evans, Sirius Black
Genre: Humour
Warnings: none?
Word Count: 376

“Oi, Prongs, this’ll liven you up. One suggestion though, maybe be a bit more discreet.” Sirius laughed, tossing the Daily Prophet at his best mate’s head.

“Are you about to give me pointers, mate?” James rolled his eyes and opened the newspaper. “What the-”

“Read on, friend, read on.” Sirius patted his friend on the back.

James sat back into his chair and read to himself:

Standards have really fallen at Hogwarts lately, case in point: James Potter and Lily Evans, Head Boy and Girl at school setting horrible example for the students. It was hard to tell which one needed more air. A few things can be said about this couple, Potter should really work on his form, and Evans should try not to be seen in public until she can convince Potter to flatten that horrid hair of his.

Potter, while Head Boy, has the most detentions than anyone in his house, another example of lower standards.

One student claims they were brought to their Head of House when the Head Boy and Girl caught her with her boyfriend in a hallway. A decision that’s a bit rich. Other students even insinuate that their ‘innocent’ snogging is just the tip of the iceberg, hinting that these supposed student leaders and role models are engaging in some unsavory activities with each other behind castle walls.

“Oi, is this Snivellus? ‘“It’s appalling.” A greasy haired seventh year said to me in confidence.’ That’s got to be Snivellus. ‘Course he’d think that.”

“Yeah, well..”

“I can’t read this anymore.” James groaned and crumpled the paper up into a ball. “And besides, is it so wrong that I snogged my girlfriend at a Hogsmeade weekend?”

“No, mate, it isn’t.” Sirius said, trying to contain his laughter. “I don’t usually agree with Rita Skeeter, but ah, the photograph she managed to snag makes me feel a bit sorry for your Lily-flower. She must really like you to let you kiss her like that.”

James furrowed his brow and reached for the newspaper. He smoothed it out and stared at the photograph. “Oi, that’s not my fault I look like that there.” He stammered. “We were on an incline, who kisses properly on an incline? And don’t answer that.”


Charyse//Gryffindor

Title: Squib Leads Anti-Muggle Campaign at Local Death Eater Rally
Author: 2_4_joy
Rating: G
Character: Rita Skeeter
Genre: newsflash
Word Count: 148

Squib Leads Anti-Muggle Campaign at Local Death Eater Rally

LOWER CHESTERLAKETON, UK. Mr. William Darrow of South Canshirewicking led an anti-Muggle parade at the local Death Eater rally on Friday. The parade was "going swimmingly" according to bystanders until other rally goers discovered Mr. Darrow was not, in fact, a wizard. "That daft bugger tried to do a Scourgify—they were walking behind some horses see, them ‘Bring Back the Medeival Magician’s Guild’ folks had ‘em pulling some carriages. An’ o’course he couldn’t do one, bein’ he’s a squib an’ all," said Mr. Darrow’s neighbor, Mr. James Suttcliff. Mr. Darrow is said to have survived the ordeal with minor injuries and a continued belief in the ideals of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. According to Mr. Darrow, "The Dark Lord’s got it right. Magic is Might!" When asked about his inability to cast simple spells, Mr. Darrow appeared to become hard of hearing. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was not available for comment.—Rita Skeeter

K.C.//Slytherin

Title: A Summer Wedding?
Author: violettefemme
Rating: Pg-13??
Character/Pairing: Lucius & Harry/Draco
Genre: uh... i don't know
Warnings: none
Word Count: 1022

Lucius Malfoy folded his paper calmly and placed if face down next to his morning tea. He twisted his neck a bit to loosen the knots that seem to have gathered there in the last three minutes and relished the pop and click of the bones sliding back into place. He snapped his fingers and his personal house elf was at his side immediately and began clearing away his breakfast dishes. "Wimpy, when you are finished with those please have Draco come and join me at his earliest convenience.

The teacup shook and clattered against the saucer in Wimpy's hands. Master Lucius only said things like please and thank you when he was furiously angry. Wimpy hoped that it was not something she had done to displease him. She looked at the silken tie the master kept tacked to his wall as a warning to Wimpy. He had promised to put that tie around her neck if she failed to make him happy. The terrified elf squeaked out a sharp, "Yes, Master Lucius," and blinked out of sight to go fulfill his wishes.

Lucius had just begun reading some correspondence from an associate of his when his young heir, Draco, rapped once lightly on the door and then stepped into his study. Draco did not speak, he walked up to Lucius' desk and sat in one of the chairs across from it, waiting until his father's attention was turned to him. Lucius, not truly reading, but collecting his thoughts and his temper let his son sit for more than 20 minutes in silence. As well trained in obedience and patience as he was, Draco could not help but fidget just a bit towards the end of the wait. Lucius grabbed onto the moment with glee.

"Do stop squirming, child." The disdain was evident in his voice and Draco was automatically on edge. He knew that somehow his father was displeased with him. He searched his recent memory but could find nothing that he had done to anger or displease his father. Well, except for... He only hoped that it wasn't about that. He could handle Lucius' displeasure on any subject but that. He father stood up from his chair and picked up what Draco assumed was this morning's edition of the Daily Prophet. Lucius walked around his desk stopping next to his son and fixing him with a menacing glare before beginning a slow and frightening pacing back and forth from Draco's chair to the large mantle over the fireplace.

"Is there something you'd like to share with me Draco?" Lucius spat out. "Can you imagine my surprise, no, my shock, this morning when I opened the paper up to find my heir on the front page?"

"What?" Draco was truly shocked and a horrifying suspicion began to boil and gurgle in his stomach. "I have no idea what you're talking about, father."

Lucius ended his pacing directly in front of his son and opened the paper up, grimacing at the front page once again, before shoving under his son's nose. "See for yourself."

Draco took the paper from his father and upon looking down, felt the blood drain from his face.

~~~

Savior of the Wizarding World, Harry Potter, set to marry Draco Malfoy, suspected dark wizard and heir to the Malfoy fortune! by Rita Skeeter.

That's right, this diligent reporter has first hand knowledge of the likely fast approaching nuptials of two of the most eligible but unlikely of wizards. Monday afternoon, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, pictured below, spent more than two hours within the walls of Armando's Fine Jewelry Shop. Later Armando himself reported to me that they had spend quite a large amount of galleons with him that afternoon, though he refused to comment on their particular purchase when pressed. After their shopping spree they were seen leaving through the back exit of Armando's shop hand in hand. Knowing that news was to be found with them, this reporter hastened to get as close a possible without their notice, and let me tell you my dear witches and wizards, that is pretty close in my case. They exchanged smiles and a very interesting looking conversation, whispered between them, ( I couldn't get quite that close), before they appearated side by side to a location I suspect was a distant sector of the sprawling Malfoy Estates. I have many tricks up my sleeve that I use to help get the truth out to the people who deserve to hear it and so I was able to follow them without their noticing. Try as I might, I could not get a clear view of either of the young men's hands to check for a ring, but from the looks of their encounter there is no doubt in this witch's mind what was going on. I believe they were surveying the area as a possible spot for a summer wedding...


~~~

Draco threw the paper down with disgust. "That's a bloody lie! That irritating woman needs to get her head examined! Marrying Harry? How utterly absurd..."

"Harry, is it?" Lucius asked, one eyebrow arched high. "And tell me Draco, how is it, if this is all an untruth, that they managed to include a rather large picture of yourself and Potter holding hands and making doe eyes at one another? Is this also a fabrication, my son?"

Draco jumped up from his seat and began to pace. This was the one thing he had feared. He looked at his father's stormy face and wondered just how in the hell he was going to get out of this situation with all of his limbs attached. "Well... you see, father... the thing is, um."

"Yes, Draco?" Lucius leaned in close enough for Draco to feel his breath against his face, "What is the thing?"

"Well, it's absurd really. Harry, er...Potter... oh, Harry and I aren't getting married! She doesn't know what she is talking about." Draco wringed his hands and bit his lip. In for a sickle in for a galleon. "We've only been... seeing each other for a month..."

AND I'M OUT OF TIME.

Title: untitled
Author: Anie
Rating: PG
Character/Pairing: McGonagall, Remus Lupin, implied Dumbledore/Grindelwald
Genre: general
Warnings: none
Word Count: 349

A little beetle perched on a windowsill in the Leaky Cauldron, the most famous bar in the wizarding world. Even though that pesky Hermione Granger threatened to reveal Rita’s status as an unregistered animagus, Rita Skeeter wasn’t scared. She just knew that she couldn’t get caught this time.

Rita listened and watched intently as the bar started to fill up. There was always gossip to be overheard at the Leaky Cauldron. It was the busiest location in Diagon Alley and many wizards and witches met there to exchange gossip and conduct sometimes illicit business, even if the owner did not know about it.

Rita eagerly perked her antenna (?) as a witch and wizard made their way to the table located nearest to the windowsill that Rita was perched upon. After the witch and the wizard ordered their drinks, they settled into conversation. As the witch removed her hat, Rita realized that it was Professor Minerva McGonagall.

“Now Remus, “ Minerva began. “You really do need to tell me why we had to meet here. What is with all of this secrecy?”

“Well, what I have to tell you is difficult to say, and I really didn’t want it to be overheard by any of the members of the Order of the Phoenix,” Remus Lupin replied. “If they heard this, they would be so disheartened and distracted from our mission.”

McGonagall learned in toward Lupin intently , wondering what could be so horrible. “Well? What is it?” she asked shortly.

“After Dumbledore’s funeral, I was going through some of his personal belongings and discovered that when he was younger, he was very close friends with Grindelwald.”

McGonagall gasped in shock. “I don’t believe it!”

“It’s true,” Lupin said slowly. “I found the letters between them. The tone of them makes me believe that they were more than friends.”

At this statement, McGonagall was rendered speechless. Rita rubbed her front legs together. This was exactly the type of juicy story that she was looking for but never dreamed of discovering. She flew off, determined to dig up some more details.

Anie//Ravenclaw