Skeeter Chronicles Chapter Fifteen

[soleo]

Title: Skeeter Chronicles
Rating: This chapter PG
Author: SoLeo
Word Count: +1200
Warnings: *EWE*
Disclaimer: You know I don't own them. 
Summary: In which Rita Skeeter attempts to get the exclusive of a lifetime.
AN: I got rightly distracted by my anniversary this week, so this is a little later than planned.

Chapter Fifteen

Having gone to bed sticky I feel incredibly dirty as I wake up. Harry is still insensate, draped across my stomach clutching me as if I am his personal teddy bear. I find it very endearing, as I have never been cuddled by someone so much before. I just stare at him for a while, watching as the light from the window finally reaches him and he begins to stir. When he opens his eyes he seeks out my gaze and smiles.

“Good morning.” He gets out and then yawns.

“Morning.” He makes no moves to leave, just burrows into my side and gets comfortable.

“HM. Maybe I’ll get Kreacher to make us breakfast in bed. I would love to stay with you in bed all day.” His head is on my shoulder, one arm lying on my stomach tracing invisible patterns on my skin.

“That does sound very enjoyable,” I tilt his head up to place a kiss on his forehead.

“But…” he is resigned, but not unhappy.

“But, we are filthy. And I need to speak to Narcissa today. She is unaware of my plans for her currently.” I run my fingers through his tousled hair, marveling still at its softness.

A loud sigh is his first response followed by, “Alright let’s get up.”

I stop him from moving away with a kiss, morning breath and all. “I wouldn’t be opposed to you joining me in the shower,” I say with a leer.

His answering smile is warm and gentle. “I’d like that.”

-/-/-/-/-/-

As we enjoy brunch instead of breakfast due to a very long enjoyable shower Harry breaks the comfortable silence. “What are you doing after your visit at the Malfoy’s? Since Skeeter is in holding for at least the weekend I was hoping we could take advantage of the situation and go out.”

“That does sound like a good idea. What did you have in mind? I recommend something low-key. Even if Ms. Skeeter isn’t around there are still other journalists ready for a scoop.”

“Hm. That’s true. How about a movie? I’ve never been to the cinema before.”

I suck in a deep breath as I am again reminded of his upbringing. Even I, who had a terrible childhood, have been to the movies before thanks to Lily. “That sounds like fun, Harry. I haven’t been to the cinema in a very long time.”

He smiles and bites his lip, childishly nervous and excited at the same time. He continues to amaze me, how he’s managed to remain so happy with all life has thrown at him, and if he is to be believed I’m helping him remain so.

“You never did tell me how Skeeter ended up breaking the restraining order.”

“Well, Mr. Malfoy got the restraining order in place on Monday, just like he said he would. Then the article came out on Tuesday. I guess Skeeter was furious that I had gone to somebody else for an interview. Every other in depth one I’ve given in the past I set up with her. That’s because she was the only reporter I knew at the time. Benjie was a great find. He’s a friend of a friend’s older sibling, and he’s just starting out. He was really nice, very mature. We had some lovely tea too.”

I find that jealousy is taking up residency in my chest. I squash it down quickly. Harry has been very devoted since we started our liaisons and I have no reason to believe he has a wandering eye. Even if he did I have no reason to hold him back.

“So, Tuesday, Skeeter storms up to me after I get off work. She’d been waiting for me. She starts yelling all sorts of things right there in the atrium where everyone could hear. Saying how she’s the only one that should be allowed to ‘share’ me with the world. It was all very bizarre. I think she’s finally gone off the deep end. She grabbed at my robes and then tried to pull me somewhere private so she could do her own interview. That’s when Robarts, the Head of the auror department shows up. He’s been put in charge of supervising my restraining orders, something about special VIP status.” He rolls his eyes at this, never wanting to be considered special just because he did what he had to.

“And this is when Skeeter is taken into custody?” I’m just finishing my meal and very relaxed as he is talking so animatedly.

“Oh, not quite yet. Skeeter pulls out her wand and starts hexing Robarts, managed to get a jelly leg hex off and then she ran.” He stops to take sip of juice.

“You just let her run off? Not very like you.” I understands that I’m teasing, as I see him lips quirk in fake annoyance.

“I didn’t need to do anything. One of the guards posted by the floo hallway saw the whole thing and put the place in lockdown, took an hour to find her underneath a sink in the ladies loo in her animagus form.”

“Sounds like quite the ordeal. I’m surprised it wasn’t in the Thursday edition. ‘Shoot out in Ministry! Harry Potter saves the day again!’ It would have sold well.”

He sticks his tongue out at my teasing this time. “One; I did not save the day, and two; it was late enough that it wouldn’t have made it to print in time.”

“Hence the full article on Friday after an inquiry.”

“Exactly. The Editor was there Thursday, with a Prophet solicitor, trying to get Skeeter off. He didn’t know about the restraining order though and Malfoy was brutal. Maybe I should let your watch in a pensieve, it was great.”

I wave off the idea. “I am familiar with Lucius’ methods. I’m glad he’s working out for you so well.”

“Yeah, he wasn’t even upset that I had to pop in after the whole fiasco to let him know about it and the formal inquiry the next day. Seems that he figured something would happen sooner than later.”

“Why were you there so late, don’t your training sessions usually end around the normal quitting time of the other ministry employees?”

“Well,” he rubs his hair in a nervous gesture. “I told you a couple of guys from the vice squad came round for a lecture, well afterwards a few of us got to go on a little stake out. It was pretty slow, but we chatted a lot.” He’s blushing now, and I can hazard a guess as to what the conversation included, those useful spells being the first thing that come to mind.

“I see. It’s good that you’re taking your work so seriously.” He’s completely red now. I can’t help but chuckle at him, and he starts to brood. I relent and change the subject. “If you are done, let us head to the Malfoy’s. I want to go to the movies.”

“You want me to come with you? I thought I was going to wait here until you got back.” I don’t know why he’s surprised. Maybe Narcissa was not as obvious in her conversation with him as Lucius had been with me. As the couple already knew of our relationship I see no reason to leave him behind as we could go directly after talking to the lady.

“Of course. It should only be a few minutes, no reason to leave you here.”

I’ve made him smile again. I think I like him best with a smile on his face.