Charlie saw the latest issue of the Daily Prophet.
The headline on the front page made him pause.
<Shocking! First-Year Wizard Makes an Adult Witch Do This!>
It was hard not to open the paper and take a look at a headline like that.
Which first-year wizard had done something so outrageous?
Charlie raised an eyebrow, picked up the paper, and began reading carefully.
Only then did he realize it was an apology from Rita.
The entire statement was written with utmost sincerity. Rita admitted that her previous reports had been completely fabricated.
She publicly apologized to Harry, Hermione, and Charlie, and promised never to publish such false claims again.
The protagonist was me?
I hadn't even made a move yet. Why had she already chickened out?
"Charlie."
Senior Jenny came running over excitedly, a newspaper in her hand as well.
"Have you seen it? That reporter finally apologized."
Charlie put down the paper and looked at Jenny.
"Senior, was this your doing?"
"Of course." Jenny proudly patted her chest.
"We teamed up with lots of students and parents to write letters of complaint. We practically stuffed the Ministry of Magic's mailbox full."
"But..." Jenny lowered her voice and spoke mysteriously.
"The main reason it worked wasn't us. The Longbottom family joined forces with six Pure-blood families to put pressure on them."
Charlie understood.
No wonder Rita had apologized so quickly. The Pure-blood families had joined forces to pressure her.
The influence of these old families really couldn't be underestimated.
Madam Augusta had acted so decisively that Charlie felt a warm glow inside.
"And there's more," Jenny continued.
"I heard Rita was attacked by a few mysterious wizards, too."
"A bunch of masked men barged into her office and hit her with the Cruciatus Curse!" Jenny said gleefully.
"Serves her