Rita Skeeter arrived at six o'clock sharp.
Her arrival displayed a veteran journalist's precise grasp of timing.
Neither early nor late, she caught the exact window when all the important guests had arrived but the formal proceedings had yet to begin.
She wore a tight emerald-green robe, with a golden Quick-Quotes Quill tucked behind her ear, and four assistants followed her, each carrying a heavy equipment bag.
"Third row on the left. Those seats are mine."
She pointed to the seats with the best view on the viewing stand.
A staff member approached with a seating chart.
"Ms. Skeeter, your seat is in the fourth row on the right-"
"I said the third row on the left."
Rita's voice was quiet, but the Quick-Quotes Quill had already sprung from behind her ear and hovered in midair, its tip aimed at the staff member's face.
The staff member looked at the quill, then at Rita's smile.
"...Third row on the left. Understood."
Rita nodded in satisfaction. After all, she was now part of the Marauders Power Company, so she did have that much authority.
She sat down, her gaze sweeping over the entire valley.
The Quick-Quotes Quill spun twice in the air, landed on an open notebook, and began writing automatically.
Elphias Doge, the Daily Prophet's chief investigative reporter, sat beside her.
"You've taken someone else's seat again."
Elphias Doge spoke calmly.
"I haven't taken anything."
Rita smoothed her hair.
"I merely helped them correct a layout error."
Elphias Doge shook his head and looked down toward the valley entrance.
Another group of international journalists was passing through security.
Six fifteen.
A separate Portkey activated at the entrance to a natural cave five hundred meters north of the valley.
Blue light flashed.
Three people in plain-colored robes appeared before the cave.