Rita Skeeter felt her heart nearly leap into her throat.
How had these three... appeared in her living room without a sound?
Had they come to settle the score with her?
A second later, she dismissed the thought.
No, no... I'm a public figure, after all. That Lockhart works for the Ministry of Magic. He has his reputation to consider, so he wouldn't dare cross the line. If the "Witch" came with them, she probably isn't here to settle scores either.
Before she could recover from her fright, Hermione spoke again.
"Ms. Skeeter, what I told you yesterday... you actually..."
Rita swallowed.
"Left parts out of your report?!"
"...Huh?"
The corner of Rita's mouth twitched. Her mind was a jumble.
So that was what this was about?!
Seriously, how was I supposed to publish that nonsense?
This is the Daily Prophet, not Tales from the Madhouse!
She forced a smile.
"Er... Miss Granger, we have limited space..."
"Such important material naturally deserves to be saved for the next issue, for an in-depth report..."
Inside, she had already cursed Hermione countless times. This was no girl genius-she was a complete and utter lunatic!
As though she had failed to notice the brush-off, Hermione nodded.
"Oh? Really?"
She picked up the newspaper on the table and pointed to a passage-the part about Lockhart playing along with her act.
"Didn't you say space was limited? Then why did you add things I never said?"
Rita's heart lurched, and she hurried to defend herself.
"That was a reasonable inference based on what you said yesterday..."
Watching her struggle to appear calm, Hermione smiled faintly.
"Ms. Skeeter, don't be nervous. I have some good news and some bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"
Sensing the increasingly unsettling atmosphere, and aware that Lockhart