According to the letter Luna sent to Hermione, it was the first time she saw her father really so happy. She laughed so hard that her jaw was dislocated and several spells couldn't heal it.
The Quibbler sold five hundred copies that day—only five hundred because Lovegood only printed five hundred copies.
Orders came in like a waterfall.
Lovegood sleeps with the magic printing press in his arms every day.
Rita Skeeter just threw out a short report of less than four hundred words.
"Who is lying? Potter, who is full of lies, or Fudge, who is honest and loyal?"
In this article, Rita objectively described the "fair" treatment she received at the Daily Prophet, and how she eventually had to resign. No magazine in the entire wizarding world dared to accept her except this stupid and crazy magazine.
And the most crucial sentence: "The author has always felt that the Ministry of Magic is hiding something. They condemned Mr. Potter for murder, but they never sent Aurors to arrest Potter. They just made some meaningless condemnations."
"If Mr. Potter is really the murderer, then if the Ministry of Magic allows the murderer to flee, can they really protect ordinary people like us as they promised?"
"Of course, let's put aside the misleading thinking of the Daily Prophet and rethink this matter. Combining the evidence given to me by some friends, I came up with a very scary and frightening idea."
"During the time I was fired, I was always trembling with fear. I once thought that I would give up being a reporter and just find a job, even be a castle manager at Hogwarts, and live my life in peace."
"But my ethics as a journalist kept torturing me as I wanted to give up. In the end, I stood up again with the encouragement of my good friends."
The article ends here.
Rita said nothing about that conjecture or those facts, but just released a few photos.
There is one thing in common in the photos of some mutilated corpses, that is, there is an extremely obvious tattoo on the left arm - an extremely clear and complete Dark Mark.
There are twelve chapters of photos, covering two pages.
Rita said nothing.
But he said everything.
The Daily Prophet had clearly reported that twelve people were murdered on a rainy night in Little Hangleton.
And now there are twelve different arms, with twelve Dark Marks on them.
What does it mean?
The Ministry of Magic knows everything, so why didn't they arrest Harry? It's because they know very well that Mr. Potter is innocent. What will happen if the savior who survived the disaster at the hands of the mysterious man meets a Death Eater with the Dark Mark tattooed on him?
Especially that night, he was forced to be transported there by the door key.
Death Eaters and Mr. Potter.
There is no doubt that Mr. Potter must be the innocent one.
So what does this mean?
The Ministry of Magic wants to hide the identities of those Death Eaters?
At the Black Mansion, Hermione put down the magazine in her hand and glanced at Rita: "Ms. Skeeter is really amazing."
Rita pursed her lips and smiled proudly: "Of course, Miss Granger, I am a professional in this area."
“Readers need information, but they don’t need complete information.”
"They all think they are smart people with sound brains, but not everyone is as smart as you and Mr. Potter. Just give them limited clues and let them 'think' out a result on their own."
"They will firmly believe that the results they come up with must be the truth."
Rita emphasized the word "think".
She picked up the cup demurely and took a sip. "If the facts they come up with happen to be consistent with the real facts, they will become unscrupulous and hate those who have fooled them and led them to another result."
"Those who cheat will always get back at you."
Harry glanced at her.
Rita's expression immediately became sincere: "Just like me, I wanted to cheat, but was caught by Mr. Potter. Fortunately, he and the great Professor Dumbledore influenced me and prevented me from making further mistakes step by step."
Hermione chuckled cruelly.
"What are you going to do with the second report?" Harry asked.
Rita didn't rush to answer, but tentatively asked, "Mr. Potter, when are you planning to go to the Ministry of Magic?"
"Dumbledore said it was the day before term started," Harry answered her.
Rita puffed out her chest proudly: "Then Mr. Potter should look forward to the report that day."
Harry made no comment.
He might ask about other matters, but Rita has the final say in news reporting.
"By the way, how is the pursuit of Ragnak and Fenrir Greyback going?" He put down his fork and asked.
Rita froze.
"Didn't you check?" Harry asked calmly.
"Mr. Potter, I've been busy looking for a new house recently." Rita stammered to explain, "Some of my former readers refused to accept the articles I wrote and often sent some dangerous things to my house."
"Someone broke into my house a while ago. Luckily I turned into an Animagus in advance and was able to escape."
"And writing new reports is tiring..."
"Only three hundred and twenty-eight words," Hermione interrupted.
Rita argued: "Ms. Granger, the effort you put into writing an article cannot be measured by the number of words. Although it is short, it is very effective. Some reporters write thousands of words, but the effect is far worse than my hundreds of words and dozens of photos."
Harry nodded, "You've worked hard, Miss Skeeter."
"But Ragnak is just as important as Fenrir Greyback."
Rita shrank her head: "Yes, I understand, Mr. Potter, I will try my best."
Werewolves are always easy to find.
Especially Fenrir Greyback.
Normally he didn't have much of a brain, and when the moon was full, he would throw everything aside and try his best to find a way to kill the wizard cub - although people had become more and more wary of him over the years, he still didn't give up and tried his best.
Half a year ago, Rita could still hear rumors every month that Greyback had reappeared somewhere in Great Britain, causing a bloody storm.
But now...
She could find almost no trace of the werewolf, and Greyback had not caused any trouble for months, and he had disappeared so suddenly that he was as dead as a wretch.
Not in Knockturn Alley.
Neither are the most notorious werewolf gathering places.
This made the people in the Order of the Phoenix feel a little uneasy. The disappearance of dark magic creatures and rebellious goblins always made them feel that something bloody was brewing beneath this peaceful and tranquil state.
The last day of August.
Dumbledore suddenly appeared in the Order of the Phoenix.
"Harry, let's go." Dumbledore stood in the hallway with a magazine in his hand and greeted Harry.
Harry walked over and took the magazine. "Rita's new report?"
Dumbledore smiled and nodded: "I used to hate her, but now I like her a little bit."
"Miss Skeeter will be very surprised to hear that," Harry deadpanned, and walked out the door with him.
Dumbledore shook his head. "I am glad she is back on track."
Harry flipped open the magazine.
The homepage is Rita's new article: "An Interview with Walton McNeill - The Life of an Executioner"
This article is very long.
But the first sentence caught the hearts of almost all the audience: "Walton MacNeill, an executioner working in the Dangerous Animals Committee of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures of the Ministry of Magic. He was an ordinary person, but he was also one of the victims on that rainy night in Little Hangleton."
The following long article was all about his life in the Ministry of Magic - when he entered the Ministry, what role he played when the You-Know-Who first wreaked havoc, why he escaped trial, and why he was able to continue working in the Ministry of Magic...
Rita said nothing.
She did not accuse the Ministry of Magic or Walton McNeill, she just reported what happened to Walton McNeill objectively.
But that’s the best indictment.
After reading this report, the wizards' minds were filled with several questions.
Why would someone like this stay in the Ministry of Magic?
The Ministry of Magic is hiding the identities of these people. Is it because there are more Death Eaters in the Ministry?
even……
Is Cornelius Fudge, the current Minister of Magic and the manipulator of everything, also their accomplice?
The news had just been published and had not yet spread, but Rita had told me that this issue of the magazine had already sold more than 600 copies, with orders still coming in.
It is foreseeable.
The "approval rate" that Fudge cares most about is about to experience a cliff-like decline.
Wait until Harry finishes reading the report.
Dumbledore grabbed his wrist, waved his wand, and Apparated. With a snap, they appeared on a desolate path with dilapidated buildings all around them - they could see Big Ben in the distance. It was hard to imagine that there was such an abandoned place in the city.
"You can't Apparate in the Ministry of Magic?" asked Harry.
Dumbledore shook his head: "Of course, but as this is your first visit, I think it is necessary to walk you through the process, and it will also appear more formal."
"Show respect to those people?" Harry scoffed.
Dumbledore shook his head again. "It is to show respect to yourself, Harry."
He led Harry to a shabby, paint-chipped red telephone booth and opened the door.
Harry went in and Dumbledore followed him in, closing the door behind him.
Dumbledore picked up the phone and frowned, thinking: "Let me see, what number should I dial?"
"62442?"
Harry raised his eyebrows. Three letters in a group, this string of numbers could just spell out the word "magic".
The dial whirred back.
A disembodied female voice rang out from all directions in the telephone booth. It was very similar to Luna's voice, but more indifferent: "Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and what you are here for."
Dumbledore spoke softly into the microphone, "Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, leads Harry Potter, a student of Hogwarts Gryffindor House, to come in regards to the events of the evening of June 24th."
Harry added, "And, Harry Potter, come and collect your debt."