Summer Writing Series Challenge (July 13)
Challenge: Single Story Week: Harry/Hermione deal with the media discussing their relationship.
Challenge Conditions: Each day we'll post a challenge topic as usual, but each consecutive day you
will continue your story from the day before...and on Friday you'll have a 6000+ word story that flows from
beginning to end and includes each of the daily challenges as given.
Title: The Return of Rita Skeeter
Word Count: 1,000
Hermione leaned in for another kiss before they went back. Just as they were about to pull apart, a bright flash went off.
"Colin! Get away from us!" Harry yelled angrily as they sprang apart. He looked around for the sixth-year Gryffindor, but Colin was nowhere in sight.
"Never mind, Harry," Hermione laid a claming hand on Harry, but her frown showed that she was uneasy.
As they walked back toward the castle, they saw Ron and Ginny waiting for them outside. Ginny looked close to tears.
"I'm really, really sorry, Hermione. Please believe me, we didn't think it would turn out this way. And I know you're mad at us, but we really hope you can forgive us. I'm just so sorry," Ginny babbled out in one breath.
"You know what, Ginny? I forgive you. Actually, I- we want to thank you two," Hermione said. When Ron and Ginny looked at her confusedly, Harry added, "After all, without that silly letter of yours, Hermione and I would've never gotten together."
"And that date idea? We thought that was brilliant. Thanks!" Hermione then took Harry's hand and they walked toward the castle trying, and failing miserably, to hide their mirth at Ron and Ginny's bewilderment, leaving the two staring slack-jawed at their retreating backs.
"D-did you hear what I heard? They're together?" Ron asked dumbly.
Ginny just nodded and then suddenly she broke out in a wide grin. "I am so brilliant! I knew all along our plan would work."
Ron snapped out of his daze at that comment and scoffed, "Who are you kidding? Knew all long that our plan would work? As if! Who was the one practically on her knees begging for their forgiveness?"
Ginny just glared at her older brother before sticking her nose in the air and stalking away.
~ * ~ * ~
Friday morning was glorious. The sun shined throughout the castle illuminating the "ceiling-less" dining hall. For Hermione, there's no better way to start a day that will end with a romantic date with Harry.
As she entered the Great Hall, she couldn't help but notice the disgusted looks people gave her. After her dramatic confession the other day, people regarded her with pity and mockery. But when Harry and she became an "official" couple, the looks of pity became looks of envy and, in some, even respect. Now however, there was no envy in people's eyes, only reproach. Hermione suddenly felt very disturbed.
Quickly she made her way over to the Gryffindor table. Ron and Harry had yet to arrive. Ginny was engrossed in an article in the Daily Prophet, with a deep frown on her face.
"Good morning, Ginny," Hermione greeted her female friend brightly. "Anything interesting?" she gestured at the newspaper.
Ginny looked up sharply at the sound of Hermione's voice. "What? Oh, n-no, nothing much, just the usual, you know," Ginny said, while attempting to shove the Prophet under the seat.
Hermione frowned, and her suspicion deepened. "There's an article in there about me, isn't there?"
"No!" Ginny replied too quickly. "I-I mean, of course not. Why would there be?"
"Ginny," Hermione said with a warning tone. "I want to see it. If that Skeeter woman wrote anythi-, just give it here." Hermione extended her hand out.
Having no other choice, Ginny handed her friend the paper. Hermione took the paper and scanned through the front page. And there, in the middle of the page, was a picture of her and Harry kissing. The picture that was taken the other day, when they were under the tree. Her eyes moved to the text.
Hermione Granger at Work Again
Hermione Granger, Head Girl of Hogwarts, might be at work with the Love Potions once again, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondence. As readers might remember, only three years back, Hermione, a Muggle-born witch, was uncovered playing with the heart of famous Quidditch star Victor Krum and young Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived and Defeater of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Witnesses confirm that on Tuesday, Hermione Granger publicly confessed her love for our young hero, which he denied. But only hours later, the two mysteriously became the couple of Hogwarts. Readers might wonder how this happened.
"You didn't see the look on Harry's face when she confessed her love for him, he clearly did not return the feeling," says Pansy Parkinson, a classmate of Hermione and Harry.
So then, how indeed was it that our young witch snatched the heart of Harry Potter once again? Love Potion, of course,
is the answer. Love Potion causes the drinker to fall in love with the first person he or she sees.
Love Potion is also banned on Hogwarts grounds. So, if Hermione Granger is indeed brewing forbidden potions, can she be
trusted with responsibility as great as that of Head Girl?
Hermione stared at the paper, while Ginny looked at her nervously. Her suspicions were confirmed. It was Rita Skeeter who took the picture of Harry and her kissing, the other day on the grounds.
"How dare she!" came Ron's voice from behind her. Hermione had been so absorbed in the article that she hadn't noticed Ron and Harry who had came to breakfast and read the article over her shoulder.
"Honestly Ron, it's just a pile of rubbish. I can't believe are so gullible to believe such things." Hermione huffed and glared at one of the girls who were staring at her.
"I thought you had her under control?" Ginny asked.
"I did. Until a few weeks ago," muttered Hermione. "She's a registered Animagus now."
"But I thought she was banned from Hogwarts ground?" Ron asked.
"No. Technically, she was only banned during the Tri-Wizard Tournament," answered Hermione darkly.
"So, she's back to doing what she was doing before, except now, she has permission," Harry said quietly, speaking the first time since he read the article. "She can write whatever she wants, but nothing will separate me from my girl. Ready for the date tonight, 'Mione?"