Albert's furious bellow practically blew the roof off the office, causing Rita to nearly drop her teacup in fright.
She blinked in confusion, utterly baffled.
"Who could I possibly have offended? I just wrote a little article, that's all."
"That little article of yours just landed us in deep trouble!" Albert sneered, storming up to her.
"The Ministry of Magic sent us an official warning this morning, accusing us of fabricating stories, malicious slander, and causing serious reputational damage!"
"Do you even realize how long it's been since the Ministry last cared about what we publish?!"
A chill crept up Rita's spine, though she still tried to maintain her composure.
"The Ministry wouldn't concern itself with such petty matters. Someone must be pulling strings behind the scenes."
She stood up and smoothed her lavish curls.
"Besides, everything I wrote had a basis."
"If your article was so well-founded…" Albert slammed a thick envelope onto the table, his voice rising, "then why did we receive a joint complaint from both students and their families, demanding a public apology and financial compensation?!"
That gave Rita some relief.
Complaints from students and parents weren't uncommon. They usually caused a stir but fizzled out without consequence.
"Oh, Albert, don't get so worked up."
Rita waved her hand dismissively, completely unfazed.
"This isn't our first time dealing with angry families. Give it a few days, the fuss will die down."
"At most, we pull the article. In a week, no one will even remember it."
"The public has no memory."
"You think it's just students and parents?" Albert said coldly, pulling a second envelope from his robes.
"Take a good look at this."
He slapped the letter onto the table. The wax seal shimmered with an ancient luster.
Rita leaned in to inspect it, and her pupils shrank instantly.
The envelope bore the crest of the Longbottom family, flanked by six other emblems she recognized all too well.
Her voice trembled.
"A joint letter of inquiry… from the Longbottoms and six other Sacred Twenty-Eight families?!"
Albert spoke each word with the gravity of a judge passing sentence.
"They're demanding to know why we published false statements and are calling for an immediate cessation of all slander toward Charlie White."
"If the Ministry fails to act, they'll retaliate with every means at their disposal."
Rita's legs gave out, and she collapsed into her chair.
She knew the Longbottoms well, one of the twenty-eight Sacred Pure-Blood Houses.
Though the family had waned after Frank and Alice's tragedy, even a weakened lion still had teeth.
Let alone when it was backed by six other ancient houses.
Even the Ministry would think twice before ignoring this kind of pressure.
"Why would the Longbottoms go this far… for someone like Charlie White?" she asked, voice trembling.
Albert looked like he wanted to slap her.
"Charlie White's potion cured Frank and Alice Longbottom!"
"They see him as a lifesaver. You think they'd sit back while you slander him?"
"I knew about that, but… but pure-blood families never go this far for anyone!"
Rita had dealt with plenty of pure-bloods before, most were prideful, bigoted, and would never lift a finger for a half-blood or Muggle-born, let alone an orphan.
She hadn't expected the Longbottoms to be the exception.
Only now did Rita realize she'd kicked a hornet's nest.
She scrambled to her feet and rushed to Albert.
"Albert, you've got to help me! You approved this article too, we're in this together!"
Albert recoiled, panic flashing in his eyes.
He'd always known Rita embellished her stories, but as long as it boosted circulation, he'd turned a blind eye.
Now that it had blown up, he had no intention of sinking with her.
"How was I supposed to know you were making it all up? I thought you had credible sources."
"You deceived me, betrayed my trust!"
As the two bickered and shifted blame, a loud crash shattered the office window.
Glass exploded in all directions.
Five masked figures in black cloaks stormed in, silver masks gleaming ominously.
"Who are you?!" Albert shrieked, stumbling backward.
The intruders formed a tight circle around the office.
The tallest among them held a sleek black wand and stepped forward.
"Rita Skeeter, I presume?" he said, voice low and cold.
Rita's face turned deathly pale. She began trembling uncontrollably.
More people, why were there more people coming after her?!
"Who… who are you?! What do you want?!"
"Who we are doesn't matter," the leader sneered.
"What matters is what you've done."
He raised his wand and pointed it straight at her.
"Cruciatus."
"AAAAAAGH!!!"
Rita collapsed, writhing on the floor, screaming in agony.
The pain seared her from the inside out, every nerve, every bone felt like it was on fire.
Albert stared blankly, pretending he didn't know her.
Eventually, the curse was lifted.
Rita lay drenched in sweat, hair in disarray, her face twisted in sheer terror.
"Please… please have mercy…"
"Oh? Begging already?" the leader crouched beside her.
"Didn't see this coming when you were busy writing that article, did you?"
Rita broke down in tears, completely shattered.
"I was wrong… I really was… I'll apologize, publicly! I'll clear everything up!"
"Glad we understand each other." The leader stood.
"Tomorrow's front page, your retraction. Full confession. Admit it was all fabricated and apologize to the parties involved."
"I'll do it… I'll do it…"
"And," another masked figure added coldly, "if you ever write this kind of garbage again, we'll make sure you suffer worse than the Cruciatus."
Rita flinched violently and nodded like mad.
"Never again… I swear, never again…"
The lead intruder gave a satisfied nod and turned to Albert.
"What about you? As editor-in-chief, don't you share responsibility?"
Albert's legs gave way.
"It was all Rita! I had no idea! I swear, I'll be more careful in the future. I'll never publish anything like that again!"
"Good." The man chuckled darkly.
"Learn your lesson."
With that, the five figures vanished, just as suddenly as they had arrived.
Leaving only Rita, still sobbing on the floor, and Albert, pale as a ghost.
And for the first time, Rita truly understood something:
Good men might never draw their wands.
But bad men always will.
<><>---------------------------------------
200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters
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🚨 TL/N 💥
Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
💥> Naruto: Mind Control (Highly Recommended)
💥> Bleach: Sephiroth Template
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
It's Peak.
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