Chapter - 36 : Matters Part - 4

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His solicitor passed him a piece of parchment, a quill, and black ink. While she fished out a large mailing envelope, Harry quickly scratched out a letter. There was no way in Hell that he was letting these people see him agonize over his letter to Sirius. And he already knew Sirius. He didn't have to try to impress his godfather. And he had nothing to be nervous about. Really.

Harry prayed for a little divine intervention.

Dear Sirius,

The pictures are from my first day at Hogwarts and the first big prank of the school year. The professors haven't pinned down the guilty parties so that's all I'm going to write about that.

Love,

Your godson – Harry Potter

P.S. I know you didn't kill my mum and dad!

There. Nothing that the Aurors or Professor Dumbledore would find helpful. (Shacklebolt was a good auror. He would definitely read Harry's letter and look at the pictures before passing Sirius his mail. And Professor Dumbledore was so nosey that he would probably find a way to get a copy of the letter at least.) Hopefully Sirius would like it. Harry stuffed his letter and the envelope of pictures into the mailer that his solicitor had already addressed. As he sealed the mailer, Harry glanced at the clock on his solicitor's wall as he passed the mailer back to Shacklebolt.

"I'll get these to him tonight" the man promised.

"Thanks!" Harry said cheerfully as he hopped out of his seat. "Oh look at the time! I have to get going if I'm going to get to the Prophet before they run the evening edition!"

"The Prophet!" Oliver Stoat squawked.

Harry grinned at the outraged adults. "Of course. If I don't get this on the front page, the Minister of Magic might be tempted just to shove everything under the carpet again. Or Sirius might have an unfortunate accident in Azkaban. I'm going to make sure that it's in everyone's best interests to do the right thing."

With that Harry headed for the door. As he left, he heard Kingsley murmur "Slytherin, right?"

"Gryffindor, actually" Mrs. Bones said.

"That's the most Slytherin Gryffindor that I've ever met" Madam Bones sniffed. There was an edge of approval lacing her tone though.

Harry grinned.

Twenty minutes later, Harry was sitting across the table from Rita Skeeter in a private room in the Leaky Cauldron. She was eyeing him like a piece of meat, her Quick Quotes Quill ready and hovering over a piece of parchment.

"You surprised me by asking for this interview, Mr. Potter. Let's get down to business shall we? The Wizarding World wants to know where you've been for the last ten years. Where have you been Mr. Potter?"

'His eyes filled with tears' Harry read upside down as the quill scratched at the parchment 'and his voice cracked as he whispered, "It's just been so hard since my parents died. I couldn't bear to be around any reminders of them or what happened so I ran away to the mug –"

Harry snatched the parchment out from under the quill. He tossed it into the nearby bin. With a quick word he set the contents of the bin on fire.

"Let's cut to the chase" Harry said as a glaring Rita Skeeter fished out another piece of parchment. "I know that you're an illegal animagus. A beetle to be exact."

Skeeter paused. "I don't know what you're talking about."

So Harry described her animagus form in intimate detail. By the time he was done, Rita Skeeter's hands were trembling.

"What do you want?" she hissed.

"I picked you for this story because I thought we could help each other. You're not a bad writer when you decide to write something other than a pack of lies. I want you to write the truth and nothing but the truth for me. I want the Wizarding World on my side but I won't lie to it. And in return, I'll make sure to offer you first crack at my stories. If you do a good job, I'll make sure that they're exclusives. If you try to take advantage of me or try to screw me over, I'll make sure that DMLE knows all about your other form. If I remember correctly, a good friend once told me that the punishment for being an illegal animagus is a mandatory two year imprisonment in Azkaban. Exceptions are made only for truly extenuating circumstances – which I assure you that you won't have."

Rita Skeeter grudgingly nodded. She snatched her Quick Quotes Quill out of the air and fished a regular quill and ink out of her purse.

"Fine" she snarled, with ill concealed resentment. "What's your story?"

"It's two in one really. Sirius Black was never my parents' Secret Keeper but that never came out because the Ministry has deliberately avoided giving him the trial that he is required to receive by law. Secondly, Peter Pettigrew was my parents' Secret Keeper and I captured him and turned him in to the Aurors about half an hour ago."

Skeeter's eyes were huge. As Harry watched her shock gave way to excitement.

"Start at the beginning with Sirius Black!" she ordered. "I want you to tell me everything!"

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Want to know what happens next? 100+ advanced chapters await you on Patreon! Be the first to read what others will have to wait for. Join the community and read ahead today!

(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)

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