Chapter 756 Rita's Hardcore Fan
3 month 27 day,
The trial, 12 years late, finally came.
It was still daybreak when the wizards who were attending the lecture had already arrived at the Ministry of Magic and came to the magnificent lobby reception hall.
This was an open trial, and the Ministry of Magic even invited relatives of the 12 Muggle victims.
With such a grand ceremony, it is natural that Rita Skeeter, the queen of news, would not be absent.
She simply changed into an ordinary pair of black-framed glasses and blended in.
At least it was disguised. It can't be said to be ostentatious, but it can be said to be open and aboveboard.
"name."
"Rita Skeeter."
The young lady in charge of the inspection was so scared that her face turned green.
Notify the superiors. There are a large group of wizards around. Can we just watch and do nothing?
Rita leaned over to her. "What's the problem?"
"No...no."
After passing the security check smoothly, we came to the rows of golden doors at the end of the hall.
There are twenty doors in total, leading to twenty elevators.
"Sorry to bother you."
Rita looked back behind her.
This is a handsome guy in his early twenties, a little immature and green, probably he just graduated a few years ago.
"Ma'am, are you really Rita Skeeter?"
"It's me, the real thing." Rita tapped the frame of her black-rimmed glasses, turning them back into the original gold-rimmed glasses inlaid with jewels.
Feeling her strong scent coming towards him, the handsome guy shuddered subconsciously.
His voice was very low. "Ms. Skeeter, the Ministry of Magic has long regarded you as a thorn in its side. I know a ventilation pipe that leads directly to the street outside."
Rita looked a little surprised.
It turns out that this handsome guy was not here to flirt with her, but was her die-hard fan.
"Thank you, but I believe that today is the day of justice, and no one can take me away from you."
As expected of the news queen, she explained the situation clearly in just one sentence.
Today's trial was also a complete political show, not to mention that the Ministry of Magic has not yet officially issued a warrant for her arrest.
Although many wizards around spit on her words, the handsome guy, as a die-hard fan, was obviously encouraged.
In the face of power, they choose to stand with the people and even risk their own safety to do everything they can to expose the dark side of the Ministry of Magic. Such media talents are true media people.
Rita really enjoyed all the looks around her.
So what if she is disdainful or despised, her current image is very positive.
According to her partner, people only see what they want to see, and the truth of the matter doesn't matter at all.
As long as it can be maintained, all wizards will be convinced sooner or later.
While waiting for the elevator, Rita chatted a lot with the handsome guy.
His name is John Hollingworth, a Hogwarts student who graduated in 90, in the same class as Tonks, and a reporter for the information column of Witch Weekly, which is popular among witches.
"Hollingworth? John, Claire Hollingworth is your ..."
"She's my great-aunt."
Claire Hollingworth, the first famous British war correspondent to cover the German invasion of Poland.
Although she is a Muggle, her presence on the battlefield many times to write reports has won the respect of many wizarding journalists.
I didn't expect that the descendant of such a legendary journalist would work as a reporter for a gossip magazine like "Wizard Weekly". It seems that the competition for jobs this year is very fierce.
"John, would you be interested in jumping over and helping me?"
Faced with the olive branch thrown by Rita, John answered without thinking, "I am interested, very interested."
He seemed particularly excited, and I'm afraid he was very dissatisfied with his current job.
That's right, no aspiring journalist would choose a gossip magazine.
Rita held out her hand to him. "You're welcome, John."
"I...I can really..."
"Of course, my partner plans to start a new newspaper. There is no problem with funding. The only thing he lacks is capable people."
John knew very well that it was his great aunt's legendary deeds that moved Rita, not his own abilities.
He took Rita's hand and said, "Ms. Skeeter, I will prove that you have good judgment."
Since they have already decided to change jobs, it is natural for the two to attend the trial together.
Take the elevator to the Department of Mysteries on the ninth underground floor, and walk down a corridor made of rough stone walls. Soon you will see heavy wooden doors one after another.
Each door leads to a courtroom, and today's trial will be held in the innermost one.
Walking into the Tenth Courtroom, Rita and John had to admire the efficiency of the Ministry of Magic in infrastructure.
It only took one night to build the sentry posts and temporary command posts surrounding Hogwarts Castle. It was unknown how many nights it took to expand the courtroom in front of us to the size of a football field, change the original black stones to white, and change the light from dim to bright.
Rita sat down in a corner and pointed at the very conspicuous iron chair at the bottom.
"John, do you know why the Ministry of Magic has made such a big fuss about this trial?"
John, who was sitting next to her, lowered his head and thought for a moment. "Is it because they want to incite the people's emotions? Let everyone stand with them?"
"That's right." Rita smiled.
The analysis is sharp and hits the point.
A shameful traitor like Peter Pettigrew is bound to be condemned by everyone, and the Ministry of Magic will surely win the hearts of the people if it shows an attitude of severe punishment.
Rita opened the notebook she carried with her and wrote a line of small words on it after a moment's hesitation.
"John, what do you think the outcome of the trial will be?"
"Well... the only punishment is the death penalty, but it can't be too easy on Peter Pettigrew."
Rita wrote the word "parade" but quickly crossed it out.
"What do you think of asking him to kneel down and confess?"
John was slightly stunned. "Kneeling in front of the Potter Memorial in Godric's Hollow? Or the Potter House?"
Rita's face was full of mockery. "Maybe we should also add a Black family house, if the Ministry of Magic doesn't mind that there are two Death Eaters in this family."
Even if they don't mind, the public will mind too.
Sirius' cousin Bellatrix is still serving her sentence in Azkaban, and although the specific cause of her brother's death is unknown, he was one of Voldemort's earliest followers.
He can only represent himself, and cannot represent the entire Black family, which prioritizes pure blood.
Even though this family has declined.
As time went by, more and more wizards sat in the football field-sized courtroom.
When the 12 Muggle victims entered the venue, it caused quite a stir, and everyone was whispering about something.
Rita and John are no exception.
“If you were asked to write an article, what would you emphasize?”
"I will probably focus on the suffering that my Muggle relatives have endured over the past 12 years, so that everyone will begin to reflect on the harm of abusing magic."
"60 points, barely passing."
Rita stopped writing rapidly in her notebook and held it open in front of John.
"Tragedy keeps repeating itself. How can we stop it completely?"
With just a few words, she escalated the conflict between wizards and Muggles, leaving room for endless imagination.
John nodded, not quite understanding.
The key point is the degree of discussion. Where there is discussion, there is attention. The more attention, the easier it is to become a hot topic.
As for conscience and bottom line, of course they are necessary, but as a journalist you must first be famous, otherwise without influence everything you say will be in vain.
Rita, the news queen, is indeed worthy of being his idol. The newly established newspaper will probably completely subvert the news industry in the wizarding world.
……
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