"Ah!" Rita Skeeter shrieked. Looking at Murphy holding his wand, she seemed to realize only now that he really might be a dark wizard.
She ran toward the door in terror, only to discover that it had been firmly sealed shut by an Imperturbable Charm.
"Y-you... what are you going to do?!" Skeeter was in such a panic that she barely remembered to draw her own wand.
Murphy paid no attention to the little wooden stick in her hand.
He remained seated at the table and even picked up the tea beside him for a sip.
"Why don't you turn yourself into a beetle and slip out through the crack under the door?" Murphy set down his cup and looked at Skeeter expressionlessly. "You can do that, can't you?"
Rita Skeeter was utterly stunned. "Y-you... what do you mean?"
"Take a guess. If I expose that secret of yours, will you still be able to get so many exclusive scoops in the future?"
"Your reports have offended quite a few people. If they find out you got your information this way, do you think they'll send you to Azkaban?"
"Y-you... how did you know?"
Murphy did not answer. Instead, he said, "From today onward, if I see even one more word slandering me in your articles, that Quick-Quotes Quill will be your example."
"Y-you're threatening me?!"
Murphy shook his head. "What are you talking about, Reporter Skeeter? I'm a good person. How could I threaten anyone?"
Rita Skeeter was still in shock. After a long while, she weighed the credibility of Murphy's threat and finally realized with dismay that he might be serious—and that he might truly be capable of carrying it out.
A dark wizard!
This guy was unquestionably a dark wizard through and through!
The way he had