Chapter 586: Rita Skeeter's Refusal
Chapter 586: Rita Skeeter's Refusal
"Yes, Mr. McKell, I did see the resurrected Voldemort, and I'm well aware of the ritual he used."
"Professor Dumbledore wasn't joking; he's truly back, and if needed, I can attend your meetings and answer some questions..."
Diagon Alley, Cauldron Pub.
Kyle sat in a relatively less crowded area, writing a reply to Doug McKell on parchment.
During this holiday break, he often received similar letters inquiring if he had truly seen the resurrected Voldemort.
Most of the senders were magical creature experts he had met at the Fire Dragon Sanctuary in Romania.
For example, Professor Lockhart from Beauxbatons, Mrs. Rozenn from North America, who studied Fire Dragons, and Mr. Limax, Hagrid's favorite, the author of 'The Monster Book of Monsters.'
It was probably Dumbledore who informed Newt, and then Newt found them.
Then there were those who awarded him the Order of Merlin Medal.
Doug McKell was one of them, and this was his second letter this morning inquiring about the authenticity of this matter.
However, from the hastily written words on the parchment, it was evident that even though he already knew the news, his mind was not at ease.
In the letter, he also mentioned that Dumbledore was planning to hold a personal meeting to discuss this matter in detail and formulate subsequent plans.
He wanted to know if Kyle would attend this meeting, and if he did, he wouldn't ask further questions in the letter.
To be honest, Kyle didn't actually get this news from Dumbledore, but he wouldn't mind making an extra trip if needed.
Kyle handed the finished reply to Ratton beside him. The owl grasped the envelope and struggled to squeeze out through the skylight, leaving behind a few feathers.
"Tom, bring two Butterbeers," Kyle said loudly. "Also, have you considered making the window a bit bigger?"
"I don't think it's necessary."
Old Tom inside the bar raised his head and looked at the owl feathers on the floor. If you could get a normal owl, you'd find the window just right."
"Merlin's beard, what did you feed that owl, dragon liver? Or did you cast the Engorgement Charm on it?"
Kyle shrugged indifferently.
However, the person sitting opposite him was amused by Old Tom's words and let out a piercing, somewhat fake laugh.
"The Triwizard Tournament champion casting the Engorgement Charm on his pet owl, what a great topic. Can I write about it?"
"What do you think?" Kyle said without looking up.
Rita Skeeter raised her eyebrows and remained silent, but her hand kept pressing down on the fancy self-feathering quill.
"You know how much torture this is for me," she couldn't help but say.
"Just because I don't let you write about me casting the Engorgement Charm on an owl?" Kyle asked. "It's just a joke from Old Tom."
"You know I'm not talking about that," Rita Skeeter said in a low voice.
"The Minister of Magic in 1858, Doug McKell, the resurrected Dark Lord, Dumbledore's personal meeting.
"Any one of these three pieces of news is enough to shock the entire magical world... But I can't write about any of them. Isn't that torture?"
"Don't talk nonsense. I didn't stop you from announcing the resurrection of the Dark Lord to the magical world, did I?"
At this moment, Old Tom happened to bring two Butterbeers and a plate of Buttered Biscuits.
"No need to pay this time," he showed a few wobbly teeth. "Consider it a congratulations for winning the Triwizard Tournament. Hogwarts hasn't received this honor in a long time."
"If that's the case," Kyle said. "Then bring another bottle of Ogden's Old Firewhisky."
"No problem, but pay ten Galleons first."
"You just said you'd treat me."
"Only for Butterbeer and biscuits," Old Tom said calmly.
"Then forget it... So stingy."
Old Tom turned around without saying a word.
Kyle pushed one of the Butterbeers towards Rita Skeeter and continued, "In fact, if you're truly willing to report on the Dark Lord, I won't just not stop you, but I'll also give you a generous reward.
"How about a hundred Galleons per piece... You just need to write ten consecutively, and you'll have all the prize money I won in the Triwizard Tournament."
"That's tempting," said Rita Skeeter, but instead of directly answering Kyle's question, she took a sip of her butterbeer.
"Seriously, you're better at spinning tales than I am. I almost believed you just now."
"But now, if you have nothing else... I'll go back to writing tomorrow's front-page article."
She stood up and said, "The Daily Prophet has been nagging me... Oh, and thanks for the butterbeer."
"Are you scared?" Kyle laughed, "This is the first time I've known that you can be afraid."
The next second, the butterbeer mug slammed heavily onto the table.
"I, Rita Skeeter, have never been afraid to publish any article!"
The commotion caught the attention of many, but upon seeing Rita Skeeter, they all silently turned away.
No one wanted to associate with this gossip-monger if they valued their reputation...
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Rita Skeeter didn't care about the commotion around her. She took a deep breath and said word for word, "But I also won't, and can't publish articles that people dislike. It will ruin my reputation.
"I don't know what game you're playing, but I know that if I tell everyone that the mysterious person who caused the Wizarding War years ago is back, what do you think will happen? They'll treat me like Xenophilius Lovegood. My career will be over. I won't make such a stupid decision!"
"Even if I use the photo as leverage?" Kyle asked calmly.
This time, Rita Skeeter fell silent. She sat down again and gulped down the butterbeer on the table.
After a long while, she said, "I can buy that photo with all my savings."
"I don't need money," Kyle said.
Rita Skeeter fell silent once more.
What she had written before, although embellished, was based on a small portion of the truth.
She had never written something as fake as the resurrection of the mysterious person.
Rita Skeeter could imagine that if she really wrote about it, not only the readers of the Daily Prophet but even the Ministry of Magic wouldn't let her off... unless the mysterious person actually reappeared.
But that was impossible. Everyone knew that the mysterious person had been killed by the savior, Harry Potter...
Resurrection? Don't be ridiculous.
Although Dumbledore had said so, no one believed it, including her.
The only person in the wizarding world who survived the Killing Curse was the famous Harry Potter, but he didn't die then either.
As for those who died and were resurrected... not a single one, including the most infamous medieval dark wizard, Hepzibah Smith.
They could, at most, become ghosts.
"I don't understand why you're doing this. Are you just trying to scare others? If so, you can change the reason or give it to me. I'll write it for you. There's no need to use the name of the mysterious person; it's a taboo!"
Rita Skeeter's tone carried a hint of pleading, "It's not worth it, and you'll be affected too. You just won the Triwizard Tournament and are a member of the Order of Merlin. There's no need to go crazy with Dumbledore and that Potter! It's not worth it!"
Kyle just looked at her calmly without saying a word.
Rita Skeeter's face kept changing, and her expression gradually became fierce and cruel.
"I'd rather go to the Ministry of Magic right now and admit that I'm an Animagus," Rita Skeeter said in a low voice, her tone firm. "But you won't get away with it, I swear!"
Although doing so would mean she'd lose access to secret information and might face various investigations, even at a significant cost, it was still better than being reported by Kyle.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and her expression grew increasingly fierce.
"I'll reveal every word you said today. I'll tell everyone that you and Dumbledore are both crazy and attention-seeking fools!"
...
(End of Chapter)
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