The next day after classes, Charlie came to the Great Hall for lunch.
Dumbledore had told him the day before that the application for the Order of Merlin had been submitted, and that the approval process would take about a month.
With Dumbledore submitting the application, its approval was all but certain.
Charlie found a seat and began to enjoy the sumptuous lunch.
But the atmosphere in the Great Hall felt a little strange today.
The students around him kept glancing his way and whispering about something.
Some looked sympathetic, while others seemed eager to watch the drama unfold.
Charlie furrowed his brow but didn't pay it much mind.
If he got hung up every time someone looked at him twice, he wouldn't get anything else done at school.
After all, he was so handsome that it was hard not to attract attention.
"Charlie!"
Ernie hurried over, holding a copy of the Daily Prophet.
"Have you seen today's paper?" Ernie looked conflicted, both angry and helpless.
"No. What's up?" Charlie took the paper and asked casually.
Then he saw the headline on the front page:
<Shocking Scoop: The Love-Hate Saga of the Savior and the Potions Prodigy!>
<Exclusive Exposé: Hogwarts' Teenage Love Triangle—Who Did Miss Granger Choose?>
Charlie's expression froze.
He skimmed the article, his face darkening with every line.
What the hell was this supposed to be?
She should go work for UC Shock Department tomorrow.
"Rita Skeeter has gone way too far!" Ernie fumed.
"How could she make all this stuff up?"
As Charlie's roommate, Ernie spent time with him every day, so he knew there was nothing going on between Charlie and Hermione.
The article was complete rubbish.
Just then, Harry, Ron, and Hermione came over too.
All three looked grim. They had clearly already read the