Pheobe's voice startled them both.
"I did agree to an interview with this-" Pheobe paused, her cold little face positively frosty. She seemed to be searching for an adjective, but her poor English ultimately left her unable to find a suitable one.
"Reporter. She asked about my first impressions of you, and I only said a few things out of politeness."
Pheobe looked at Su Er and Hermione and explained earnestly,
"Then this reporter came to chat with me before the First Task began. All her questions were about Mr. Bones, and of course, Mr. Potter. I felt she had some ill intentions..."
"I was going to find a chance to tell you, right after the First Task ended, when Mr. Bagman announced what the Second Task would involve..."
Pheobe's explanation was extremely blunt. She all but said outright, "I'm not interested in Su Er Bones."
Su Er blinked blankly, unsure how to respond.
"I didn't know she would write such complete nonsense," she said. "I'm very sorry for causing you trouble."
"It's all right, Pheobe." Hermione stood up. "This reporter's reputation in our country-she's always been like this... you might not know... a little while ago, she even wrote in the paper..."
Utterly bewildered, Su Er watched Hermione pull Pheobe into a seat beside her and begin whispering.
Huh? Huh? What happened? How had I suddenly been shut out?
While Su Er was sampling the French breakfast, Harry also arrived in the Great Hall. He, too, drew the attention of most of the busybodies. After learning what had happened, he stammered an explanation to Su Er that he absolutely did not feel about Hermione the way that woman Rita had claimed...
"Everyone knows about my relationship with Hermione." Su Er glanced at Hermione, who was deep in an