Diagon Alley's southern street, the Defense Guide office. Editor-in-chief Remus Lupin frowned as he stared at the parchment in his hands, carefully reviewing next month's magazine submissions.
"Sirius, are we really going to do this?"
Lupin set down the column explaining the Triwizard Tournament and looked up at Sirius, who was lounging with his feet propped up as he read the Daily Prophet.
"Why not?" Sirius asked. "We're telling the truth."
"Dumbledore certainly won't be pleased. You know this will leave an indelible stain on the Triwizard Tournament." Lupin knew perfectly well what kind of uproar would sweep England once news that Karkaroff was a Death Eater got out.
"A stain? This tournament has been covered in stains for ages." Sirius sneered. "Ever since a fourth champion appeared in the Triwizard Tournament, ever since Karkaroff was driven off the judges' stand by the audience, does the whole tournament still need to worry about what people say?"
Lupin fell silent, because it was true, and sometimes the truth was crueler than lies.
"Dumbledore invited Mad-Eye to teach at the school. I suspect it was to guard against Karkaroff." Sirius made no attempt to hide his disgust for Karkaroff—or rather, his hatred for all Death Eaters. "We all know Karkaroff is especially good at putting on an act. Back then, he successfully convinced the Ministry of Magic to release him, and later somehow became Durmstrang's headmaster. Don't you think that bloke is highly suspicious?"
"So you intend to use this to focus everyone's attention on Karkaroff and prevent him from doing something in private—" Lupin had not finished when Sirius cut him off.
"That's only one reason." Sirius tossed aside the Daily Prophet and said to his old friend, "This is the opportunity for the Defense Guide to soar."
Lupin froze for