How's this for a quicker update? This is the last chapter of My, How Scandalous.
I hope you guys like it ! (:
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Hogwarts Library- 7:21 am
Harry woke bright and early- much to his unhappiness- and immediately went on his search to find Miss Ginny Weasley. It didn't take much looking, however; he found her in the Library with a study group of hers.
"Gin, can I talk to you?" he asked, walking up to the little circle. "In private?" he added as an afterthought.
"Sure, baby." Ginny cooed, standing up and walking over with him to a remote corner. "What's up?" she asked.
"I know." Harry stated simply.
"Know about what, exactly?" inquired Ginny, a puzzled look on her face.
"You and Malfoy."
Ginny's expression changed little- her eyes only widened a bit. "Are you mad?" was the only thing she asked.
"Not if you're happy with him," he said, smiling. "You see, I've kinda been cheating on you with 'Mione."
Ginny smiled slightly. "I always knew it'd end up being her," she said. "Even when we were together, anyone could tell you were in love with her."
"So you're not mad?" Harry asked timidly.
"Of course not!" Ginny said. "If I can ask…" she added. "How'd you find out about me and Draco?"
"Ron." Harry said.
"Ron knows?" Ginny asked incredulously. "I thought he couldn't stand Draco, I thought he'd totally freak out."
"I think Ron only wants your happiness," said Harry softly. "Plus he's been quite preoccupied with Loony Lovegood."
"He's actually with Luna?" Ginny asked, eyes wide. "I thought those were only rumors!"
Harry put his hands up. "It's the truth, and he's happy," he said. "So I'm not questioning it. I'll let you get back to your study group, Gin." Putting his arms down, he gently kissed her cheek and walked away.
Gryffindor Common Room- 7:43 am
Harry walked into the common room to find Hermione dutifully studying. Smiling, he walked over to her, tenderly tilted her face up, and kissed her deeply. Slowly standing up, Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck, his hugging her waist.
"I love you so much, 'Mione." Harry murmured, pulling back and resting his forehead against hers.
"I love you too, Harry," she replied, catching the attention of the few early bird Gryffindors who were sitting and chatting. "I take it you talked to Ginny?"
"I did," said Harry happily, pulling Hermione into a very tight hug. "Now we can be together, love. And everyone can know."
"Good." Hermione said, smiling. "Because I don't think I could have kept it a secret any longer."
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"Professor Flitwick?"
"Yes, Miss Skeeter?"
"You're the head of the Gobstones club, correct?"
"Why yes. Yes I am."
"I'd like to have a word with you…."
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A WEEK LATER
"All that investigation for nothing!" Rita grumbled as she stomped through the halls on a beautiful Saturday morning. "The Gobstones club wasn't missing any items at all."
She stepped outside, walking amongst the students who were enjoying the day. Passing a large tree on the side of the lake, she noticed a couple in a rather heated lip-lock.
"…Ginny Weasley and Draco Malfoy, showing a public display of affection?" Rita whispered to herself. "Oh, I can see the headline: 'What Has She Been Doing?'"
Continuing her walk, she passed Hagrid's Hut. Looking more closely, she saw another couple kissing in the middle of the pumpkin patch.
"…Hermione Granger and Harry Potter?" Rita cried in disbelief. "One couple cheating on each other behind the others backs? My, how scandalous!"
Tuesday- Great Hall- 12:11 pm
The students of Hogwarts were eating lunch in peace. That is, until someone came barging through the doors, paper in hand and giant grin on her face.
"Extra! Extra! Read all about it!" Rita yelled, practically skipping down the Great Hall, a cart of newspapers in her wake. "The scandal of the decade! Be the first to know!"
There was a small scramble for the stack of newspapers, Ron somewhere in the mess. When everyone had settled, they began reading. After a minute, Ron stood up, annoyed.
"Oi! Miss Skeeter!" he said, marching up to Rita, who was talking to McGonagall. Harry and Hermione were right behind him.
"Yes, young man?" Rita said sweetly. "Is there a problem?"
"Yes," said Ron. "'Scandal of the decade' my ass. Everyone already knew this." He pointed to the headline:
Is Ignorance Truly Bliss?
Harry and Hermione, Ginny and Draco? Say what?
"Ron?" Hermione asked, a smile on her face. "Since when do you care about what Skeeter puts in the Hogwarts Inquirer?"
"Luna got me hooked on it." Ron mumbled, but he was drowned out by the sudden mini-riot.
See, the newspaper-dependant Fifth Years had finished the article. They, of course, already knew every little detail about what had happened between the two couples. Naturally they were outraged due to lack of new information, so they began chanting, banging their hands on the tables as they did so.
"Rip off! Rip off! Rip off! Rip off!"
Harry caught a glance over at the Slytherin table. He saw amused Slytherins, smirking at the sight before them, and one redhead who didn't exactly fit the Slytherin persona. She smiled warmly at him, as if they had a secret. He grinned back just as affectionately. Their eye contact was broken by a white blonde boy who was wrapped up in the redhead.
Glancing at the direction she was looking at, he noticed Harry. Nodding to him, the blonde pulled the redhead's attention to him; pulling her into a fiery kiss. A Second Year sitting across the table from them made a face.
"Ewww!" he said. "You didn't even brush your teeth yet! Germs!"
Smiling, Harry pulled Hermione to him. They just stood there for a minute, watching the chaos that was ensuing in the Great Hall. But McGonagall, being the controller that she is, couldn't take much more of it.
"Everyone… quiet down…." She said, making her way in between tables. "Boys and girls, you really need to calm down…" Sighing, she pointed her wand to her neck. "QUIET DOWN!" she yelled.
The Great Hall quieted immediately, except for the poor little Second Year.
"Germs!" he yelled loudly, causing those in the vicinity to laugh.
"That's better." McGonagall said, glaring slightly at the boy. "Now, what in Merlin's name was all that for?"
"Rita lies!" a rather pretty blonde Fifth Year said. "She got us all excited for the scandal of the decade just to show us something that we all learned about a week ago."
"A week ago?" Rita muttered questioningly. "But that was the week I was running around like an idiot trying to find out information on the Gobstones Club Scandal…."
She turned on her heel to glare at Hermione. "You!" She practically screamed. "You sent me on a wild goose chase!"
"A good reporter should always be able to tell when someone is lying through their teeth." Hermione said, smiling innocently.
A strange look overcame Rita's eyes as she started towards Hermione. McGonagall stepped between them.
"Alright, alright, that's enough." She said sternly. "Now, let's talk about this in a calm and rational manner." McGonagall turned to Rita. "Now, Rita, you posted something in your newspaper that had happened nearly a week ago, is that correct?"
"Apparently so," Rita huffed. "Unless all the children are trying to make me look bad."
"No, no." Harry stepped in. "It happened about a week ago. Trust me."
"Okay," McGonagall said. "So Rita Skeeter posted a bit of information that was about a week old…. Hmmm…"
"Hmmmm?" Rita asked. "What hmmmm?"
"Well it's just a bit amusing." McGonagall chuckled. "You violated one of the most important rules in your guide to being a good journalist."
"What?" Rita said incredulously. "I did no such thing!"
"Really, Rita?" Hermione said, pulling a book out of her book bag. "Because this says otherwise."
She opened "Rita Skeeter's Guide to Being a Good Journalist." Flipping through a few pages, Hermione pointed to the section and began reading.
"Rule Number 7, Section 3, Sub-Section B states that to be a good journalist, one must produce fresh news. Information that has been out for at least five days in unacceptable."
"You carry around Skeeter's book?" Harry asked.
"It's a book. Need I say more?" Hermione looked up at him, smiling slightly.
"Well that doesn't prove anything." Rita said defiantly.
"As a matter of fact," McGonagall said. "It does. You see, by not following one of the rules in an instruction book you wrote, you've just demonstrated hypocrisy."
"But-I-Abut-" Rita stuttered.
"And I will not tolerate hypocrisy at this school." McGonagall finished. "So, Miss Skeeter, consider this as my statement of-"
"You're fired!" Harry, Ron, and Hermione said together.
McGonagall chuckled again. "Precisely that."
Rita looked very confused for a moment, then her face changed to one of complete anger.
"I'm much too good for this school, anyway." She said, folding her arms over her chest. "I can find another job and it will be so much better." With that, she stomped out of the Great Hall, slamming the doors as much as she could as she left.
"Rita Skeeter?" Hermione asked.
"Sacked from the job she created?" Harry asked.
"My, how scandalous!"
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Tell me what you guys think ! I'm working on my new fic, which has yet to be named. Byee for now !
lil_irish_girl