As expected, as soon as Harry and Gabrielle left, Hermione watched an overgrown beetle fly out of the hedges and follow them. Fleur confirmed the beetle was Rita, and when Harry and Gabrielle stopped next to a small tree, the beetle settled down on a branch very near them. The Daily Prophet reporter was too engrossed in the conversation between her subjects that she didn't notice the clear jar descending over her head until it was too late. Before she could react, a lid closed over the jar.
"Hello Rita," A muffled voice came through the glass. Rita instantly recognized it as Hermione Granger. "I'd not try anything. There is an unbreakable charm on this jar."
"She fell for it, did she?"
"Just like we knew she would."
"What should we do with her?" Harry asked.
"Stun her and put her in a spider's web?" Hermione suggested. "She is a beetle."
"Wonder if Trevor the toad likes beetles?" Harry asked.
"Good question. We can ask Neville at breakfast."
"Non, we are going to do much better zan zat," Fleur said. "We are going to make a deal with 'er."
"A WHAT?" Hermione's shout through the bond gave Harry a headache. "You want to deal with this…this.." Hermione was waving the jar around causing Rita to become ill.
"If she were to disappear, someone else would eventually write ze story," Fleur explained, "but if we can control what she writes in regards to 'Arry and us, it would be much better."
"I'd prefer keeping her in the jar for a couple of months," Hermione said. "Then deal with her."
"If we do zat she will lose 'er job and ze power we want to use," Fleur replied. "Zis is similar to politics 'Ermione, sometimes to further your own goals, you 'ave to do something you don't want to do."
"I don't want to do that," Harry said. "I just want a normal life and have her and everyone else leave me alone."
"Love," Fleur's thoughts were softer toward her bondmate. "I know zat is what you want, but 'as ignoring it made it go away? As much as you don't like it, you will always be 'Arry Potter. Unless you want others to always control what is said about you, you must stand up to ze public. Zis is a perfect opportunity. We not only can influence what is written about Gabrielle, but about you for years to come."
"I still hate the idea of working with Skeeter," Harry insisted. "After the story she wrote on Hermione and Hagrid this year and Remus last year, not to mention the one on me last week."
"As I said, sometimes you 'ave to do what you don't want to do," Fleur explained. "We can neutralize ze influence of ze galleons spent at ze Prophet by 'aving some kind of control over zeir most famous writer."
"Going to bed with the enemy?" Hermione replied.
"More like making 'er go to bed with someone else," Fleur replied. "She's going to 'ave to write some stories she really isn't going to like. We'll 'ave to give 'er something, maybe interviews with you 'arry and ze exclusive for us during the summer with ze agreement zat we approve what she writes."
Harry again admired his older bond mate's astuteness. "Hermione, as much as I hate this bug for the story she wrote about you and me, I have to agree with Fleur. Besides, I think one of the first articles she will need to write is an apology to you."
"Do you really think she'll do it?" Hermione asked. "Apologize, I mean."
"If she doesn't, there is always the jar for two months."
Hermione put the jar into her robe pocket and they started back to the castle.
"Chamber?" Gabrielle asked.
"No. I don't want her down there and if she turns back into a beetle and escapes there are way too many places to hide," Harry replied.
"Where?" Hermione asked. "Almost every room in the castle has a window or a crevice."
"I guess Myrtle's bathroom," Harry replied but then had another thought. "Maybe Dobby or Winky knows a better place."
"I don't think Winky has left the kitchens much, but Dobby might."
"You go ahead so she doesn't hear what I say to Dobby."
When Hermione was safely out of range, Harry called "Dobby."
"What can Dobby do for Harry Potter sir?" The elf replied as he popped into sight next to Harry.
"Good morning Dobby. I wanted to know if you know of a room in the castle where not even a bug could hide or fly away. It would also have to be a place no one would interrupt."
Dobby's ears started waggling in happiness as he clapped his hands together. "Dobby knows the perfect place, sir!" he said cheerfully. "Dobby heard tell of it from the other house‐elves when he came to Hogwarts, sir. It is known by us as the Come and Go Room, sir, or else as the Room of Requirement!"
"Why?" asked Harry curiously.
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