“Well,theonlyreasonshegetstowritetheartilesonHarryisbeausesheusesheranimagusformtosnooparoundforinformation.Shethenhassomethingthatnootherreporterhas,insideinformationonHarryPotter.Butwhatifwetookthataway?”Hermione’seyesglitteredwithtriumph.“WhatifwegavetheProphetanotherreporter,losertoHarryPotterthanRitaSkeeterouldeverbe?Someonelikethosewhoreallyknowhim?”
“Peoplelikeus!”
“Exatly.Andsineyou’rewillingtohelp,andifweangetGinnytohelptoo,weanhaveonereporterforallthemajorjournalismoutposts.”
“ButwillHarrygowithitthough?”Ronlookedskeptial.“Imean,itwouldkindabelikespyingonourownfriend.”
“Buthe’llgettodeidewhatgetsprinted.Heknowswewouldn’tprintanythingbadoruntrueandheknowsthatifhewantedsomethingkeptseretweouldkeepit.Sowhywouldn’the?”
“Goodpoint.We’llaskhimfirstbeforewegothroughwithitthough.”
“Ofourse.Butgoingontheideathathewill.You,Ginny,andIwillwritetotheProphet,theQuibbler,andWithWeekly.We’lloffertowriteartilesaboutanyofthenewsworthyationsofHarryPotter.Whattheywon’tknowisthatwe’llshufflealltheinformationbetweenthethree,soeahpubliationwillhavesomedetailsthattheotherswon’t.Therefore,they’llseeourinputasprieless.Otherthanastipendforourartiles,we’lldemandthatinreturnnootherwriteranbeallowedtowriteanartileexlusivelyaboutHarryPotterorthoseoedtohim.”
Ron’sgrinwasakintothatofthegrinsnormallyseenonthefaesofhistwobrothers,FredandGee.“Let’sgoaskGinnyifshewantstohelp.”
Alltheday,Draorefusedtolethimselfthinkaboutthetrial,orHarry,orHarry’s…ideaofhowtowinthetrial.Thefuneraltheday,hereasoned,tookpreedene.TheveryfatthathewasputtingoffthinkingofwhatHarryhadsaiddidnotenterhismind,althoughonsomelevelheknewhewasdoingit.
HarryseemedtohaverealizedthatDraodidnotwishtodisusswhathehadbroughtupandkepthisdistane.ButDraoouldfeeltheweightofhisstarewhenevertheywereinthesameroomtogether,eventhoughheignoredit.
Hewouldn’tallowhimselftothinkaboutanythingregardingthetrialuntilhisfather’sfuneralwasover.
Thedayofthefuneraldawnedbrightandsunny,andaswarmastheweatheranbeinthethirdweekofFebruary.DumbledorehimselfhadgivenhisoforHarryandDraotomissbothFridayandSaturday,ontheonditionthattheyhadtoometohisoffieimmediatelyaftertheyarrivedbakatHogwartsSundaynight.HepresentedthemwithfourtiketsfortheHogwartsExpress,twotogobaktoLondonthatm,andtwotoomebakSaturdayafternoon.HarrywasseretlyrelievedthatDumbledoredidnotaskifthey’drathertravelbyfloopowder.Hedidn’tthinkeitherheorDraowouldhavebeenabletodothatyet.
Theideaofahaperonewasnotbroahedbyanyone,andHarrythoughtthattherehadtobesomerulethattheywerebreaking.AsthetrainwaspullingawayfromHogsmeadHarryaskedDraoifthatwastrue.
Draothoughtforamoment.“ThatsortofthingisdonewhenstudentsareleavingtheHogwartsgroundsandHogwartsisstillresponsibleforthem.Soifanythinghappensthenitistheshoolthatisbmed.Weareatuallyleavingtheshoolandgoinghome,likeonChristmasvaation,soifwegethurtit’sourfaultandnottheshool’s.That’swhywehavetoreportbakonSaturday.We’renotpartofthestudentbodyatthemoment.”