Wayne Media was a company spun off from Wayne Enterprises, but this media company, located in the former headquarters of The Daily Prophet in Diagon Alley, was anything but ordinary.
The former editor-in-chief of The Daily Prophet served as the company president, while former renowned domestic and international reporters worked as directors and planners. Even the inconspicuous photographers were formidable figures who had captured countless classic moments.
Under their management, the Dubidubi Video Platform's performance had flourished. More than 80 percent of television series produced across the Wizarding World chose to advertise on the platform, which even aired the highly anticipated fourth season of The Gryffindor Legend simultaneously.
Thanks to this critically acclaimed hit drama, overseas sales of the Prongs brand reached new highs. Sirius Black became the businessman with "the best eye," while Remus Lupin became an internationally renowned director. Heller Colbert, who played Godric Gryffindor, transformed from an unknown graduate of a magical drama academy into the perfect heartthrob in the eyes of countless witches, with popularity even more terrifying than Gilderoy Lockhart's in his heyday.
Today, the cast of The Gryffindor Legend had come to Wayne Media to promote the upcoming fifth season.
Their high-profile appearance packed Diagon Alley solid with enthusiastic fans. The instant Heller Colbert took off his sunglasses, the fans' screams seemed capable of tearing through the atmosphere.
Fortunately, Wayne Media had been well prepared and hired a large number of wizard guards in advance. Otherwise, the Gryffindor cast would never have made it out unscathed.
"Wayne Media..." Sirius looked up at the black lettering on the white sign with a trace of melancholy.
He shook his head and led the cast through the entrance.
Unlike the old Daily Prophet, which had been steeped in medieval style, Wayne Media continued Wayne Enterprises' signature minimalist design.
The lobby floor was paved with Caesar Black Marble. Its continuous spatial effect was visually striking, while the polished flooring, exposed steel framework, concrete walls, and crystal chandeliers formed an open, airy space that revealed its exceptional character through understated elegance.
"Welcome!" Chief Editor Gufei, president of Wayne Media, personally came to the lobby to greet the cast. "It's only been a few months, yet I never expected us to be working together again."
Sirius clasped his enthusiastic hand. "Mr. Gufei, I never expected the series to make it to a fifth season either."
That was the truth. The Gryffindor Legend had originally been filmed to strengthen the Prongs brand's competitiveness, and no one on the crew had expected it to become such a massive hit.
Gufei smiled and shook his head. "Mr. Black, you're being too modest. If you hadn't decided to spend so much money producing a high-quality wizarding drama, the Wizarding World's film and television industry would never have developed as it has today."
After The Gryffindor Legend, the British Wizarding World saw the emergence of many large-scale productions such as The Merlin Legend and Wizarding Glory, driving rapid growth in film and television industries throughout Wizarding communities around the world.
Gufei's praise brought a hint of melancholy to Sirius's face again. Lupin stepped forward at the right moment and changed the subject. "Please excuse us, Mr. Gufei."
Lupin glanced back at the enthusiastic fans outside. "Time is limited. Shouldn't we finish recording the show as soon as possible?"
Gufei smiled apologetically at the cast. "My mistake. I actually forgot how popular you are now."
He nodded slightly and apologized again. "Rita has already prepared everything upstairs. Please follow me."
Though Wayne Media was not doing particularly well in Britain itself, internationally, it was a complete media giant.
In the 1990s, when the Muggle internet had yet to fully develop, as long as Wayne Media's management did not lose their minds, it could remain firmly seated among the giants through the Dubidubi Video Platform.
The cast of The Gryffindor Legend followed Gufei into the elevator and arrived at the large studio on the sixth floor.
Rita, the director and planner, also hosted several programs. Her personal channel had already surpassed two hundred thousand followers, meaning one out of every ten wizards followed her channel.
Wayne Media had more than one studio, and this warmly decorated one had been specially built for Rita's new program.
Dressed as eye-catchingly as ever, she saw Gufei leading the cast inside and rose from the backstage workroom to greet them.
"Long time no see, Mr. Black, Lupin, Mr. Colbert, and everyone from the The Gryffindor Legend cast."
That was Rita for you: her voice arrived before she did.
Sirius frowned as he watched Rita, dressed in a bright red robe, approach step by step.
Although they had interacted many times, he had never particularly liked her.
Rita had realized that long ago. After a few brief pleasantries, they officially began recording the new show.
Tonight's Uncensored Wizarding World was a talk show modeled after the Hong Kong Muggle variety program Tonight's Uncensored. There was no script, and everything was improvised.
As the first episode's guests, everyone in the The Gryffindor Legend cast remained highly nervous, afraid that Rita might suddenly bring up some sensitive subject.
"Mr. Lupin," Rita unexpectedly looked first at Lupin, the director. "As everyone knows, before becoming a director, you had held quite a few jobs. You even served as a professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. With such a broad range of careers, I'm very curious what exactly you had in mind when you first decided to film The Gryffindor Legend."
Lupin smiled faintly at first, and the scars on his face seemed much softer. "As for what I had in mind... I was actually pushed into it. Around this time last year, Sirius came to me and said he had a way to increase sales of Prongs brand products."
Rita turned her gaze toward Sirius. "The first live-action wizarding drama series, Mr. Black. I never expected you to be so talented."
Her sly gaze gave Sirius a sudden sense of foreboding.
"We all know that Mr. Black was once falsely accused by the Ministry of Magic of being a heinous Death Eater." The light in her eyes shone even more brilliantly than the jewels embedded in her glasses,
"As it happened, the Ministry of Magic 'carefully planned' an operation some time ago, and Rodolphus Lestrange was very unfortunate to still be alive. Mr. Black, could you tell us what kind of person he is?"
Faced with such an explosive topic, Sirius merely answered with one calm word: "Madman."
Naturally, Rita would not let him off so easily. "A madman? What kind of madman was he?"
Sirius took a deep breath, his expression growing somewhat pained, as though he had recalled his time in Azkaban.
"On the surface, Rodolphus Lestrange was a courteous gentleman. In reality, he was a dangerous man of extreme cruelty with severe sadistic tendencies."
"Then—"
"Miss Skeeter," Lupin once again changed the subject at just the right moment. "How about we talk about something lighter? This topic is... too heavy for many people."
Rita gently pushed up the jewel-encrusted glasses resting on her nose. "Mr. Lupin, Tonight's Uncensored Wizarding World goes this far. Of course, you have the right not to answer."
Lupin looked at Sirius with great concern.
Not many people dared discuss Death Eaters in public. Rita Skeeter's courage far exceeded everyone's imagination.