Chapter 218: Rita's Interview, Lucius's Gift
What Leonardo remembered most about Rita Skeeter was her mastery of journalism's darker arts.
Her articles never failed to grab attention. She wrote exactly what readers wanted to read, and whether any of it was true hardly mattered.
If he agreed to an interview, there was no telling what she might fabricate.
However…
Rita Skeeter was an Animagus. She could transform into a beetle and access places most people couldn't, which was how she landed so many exclusive stories.
However, she had never registered with the Ministry. She was an illegal Animagus. If the Ministry found out, she would be taking a holiday in Azkaban.
So Leonardo had no fear of her writing whatever she pleased about him.
As long as he could guarantee Rita didn't fabricate anything, she was actually a very effective publicist.
Leonardo didn't mind becoming a bit more famous. It would let people buy his alchemical devices and potions in greater quantities, increase the sales figures, and speed up the repayment progress on the Emerald Tablet Fragment.
Promoting his own products himself. What a life.
With that thought, Leonardo offered a polite smile.
"We can find somewhere more suitable to talk."
…
A quiet, tastefully furnished private room.
"Mr Grafton, you managed to find a place for this interview remarkably quickly. Are you very familiar with Muggle society?"
Rita sat upright on a sofa, discreetly surveying the decor as she reached into her crocodile-skin handbag and produced a vividly green, long quill and a roll of parchment.
"Reasonably. This place belongs to my family. It's close by, which is convenient."
Leonardo's offhand remark made Rita freeze with the quill halfway to her mouth. She hadn't expected a display of wealth.
Steadying herself, Rita placed the quill tip between her lips and gave it a quick suck to wet the tip, then stood it upright on the parchment.
"Well, I'm certainly benefiting from your hospitality today. One moment, let me test it. Rita Skeeter, reporter for the Daily Prophet."
The instant she finished speaking, the green quill slipped free of her grip and began writing on its own:
"The beautiful Rita Skeeter, whose defiant quill has exposed many a hollow reputation…"
Leonardo's eyes caught the quill's extravagant scrawl across the parchment.
So this was the Quick-Quotes Quill. It automatically transformed ordinary interview statements into wildly embellished statements.
Noticing Leonardo's gaze, Rita hurriedly tore the parchment off, crumpled it into a ball, and stuffed it back into her crocodile-skin bag.
"Slaying a basilisk is a feat almost unheard of in the wizarding world. But I understand Mr Grafton is only a second-year student at Hogwarts?"
Leonardo nodded.
"Mm."
His exceptional eyesight let him read what the quill was now writing on a fresh sheet of parchment:
"Leonardo Grafton possesses not only staggering talent but also devastatingly handsome features. His every gesture exudes a composure and charm far beyond his years. Small wonder that Hogwarts Castle already overflows with whispered rumours of admirers…"
Leonardo raised a hand and pointed at the green quill scribbling frantically.
"What that quill is writing is greatly exaggerated."
Rita shifted the parchment closer to herself.
"Please don't mind it."
Leonardo shook his head and regarded Rita with a look that was half a smile, half a warning.
"The information-capture array at the base of the feather shaft uses auditory runes and emotional runes as its core, employing a…"
Leonardo's methodical explanation of the quill's mechanics sent a faint chill through Rita, but she pushed her spectacles up and maintained her composure.
"Speaking of which, you recently published two Transfiguration papers that apparently caused quite a stir among scholars. It seems that beyond Transfiguration, you're quite confident in alchemy as well."
"But you needn't worry. This quill is only for shorthand."
Seeing that the woman's attitude remained stubbornly unchanged, Leonardo spoke again.
"Actually, regarding Transfiguration, I've recently had some new insights in the area of Animagi…"
Rita's quill danced wildly, as if sensing a major scoop. A new discovery from Leonardo Grafton.
"For instance, identifying an Animagus in animal form." Leonardo placed deliberate emphasis on "Animagus" before continuing. "If an Animagus hasn't registered with the Ministry and someone reports them, the penalty is Azkaban, if I recall correctly. And the dementors in there…"
Rita's hand went stiff. The quill faltered, then stopped. She was forced to sit and listen as Leonardo continued, in a perfectly conversational tone.
"Wizards ought to value their privacy, after all. No one wants their life spied on by what appears to be an ordinary animal but is actually an Animagus, do they?"
"So I've been trying to explore that area. Progress hadn't been ideal so far, though…"
Hearing that progress hadn't been ideal, Rita quietly exhaled, deciding she had been overthinking it. Leonardo wasn't hinting at anything. He was simply discussing his Transfiguration research.
"However, I did develop an unexpected spell along the way. It can identify which people in human form are Animagi. It should be quite useful for the Ministry in tracking down and apprehending unregistered Animagi. Oh, Ms Skeeter, would you like to see this spell?"
As Leonardo reached for his wand, Rita panicked. In her alarm, she momentarily forgot that underage wizards weren't permitted to use magic outside school.
Rita was an Animagus. She could transform into a beetle, a small, flying form that had allowed her to unearth countless secrets.
But she was unregistered. Illegal.
"Ah, I forgot. I'm a student. Outside certain designated places, I'm not supposed to cast spells with a wand."
Leonardo's remark was also a reminder to Rita, and it sent her emotions on a violent ride.
"So I already used this spell earlier, while I was at the Ministry. Ms Skeeter, your animal form is quite interesting. A beetle?"
"A beetle…"
Those words struck like a blade through her composure, driving straight into Rita's chest. Her jewel-encrusted spectacles slid down her nose on a film of sweat, making her look both ridiculous and pitiful.
If Leonardo had only claimed she was an Animagus, Rita might have suspected he was bluffing. But he had named the exact form.
Her breathing turned shallow and ragged. Only now did Rita grasp how serious her error had been. She had overlooked the critical point: Leonardo was young, yes, but his magical ability defied all ordinary measure.
The thought of prison, of dementors, nearly made her vision go black. She was on the verge of fainting.
"I'd like one honest, fair article. Do you think that's possible?"
Leonardo's casual tone carried a crushing weight in Rita's ears. She seized on them like a lifeline.
Rita shoved her spectacles back up her nose.
"Understood. Absolutely understood."
The green quill skated frantically across the parchment, clearly striking through every embellishment it had written before.
…
With the interview concluded, Leonardo stretched briefly and took a letter from his pocket.
The envelope bore a crest: black, green, and silver, with a serpent motif. A ribbon beneath it was inscribed with the Latin motto "Sanctimonia Vincet Semper."
The Malfoy family crest.
This letter from Lucius had reached Leonardo before the holidays, inviting him to visit Malfoy Manor.
The wording was impeccable, but Leonardo could feel the urgency evident beneath the wording.
He had a fair idea what it was about. The diary. Lucius was still worried the matter could be traced back to him.
The crisis of the Chamber and the basilisk had been resolved, true, but it had endangered a great many students. A pure-blood student had even been attacked. If the public learned the diary had come from Lucius, the backlash against him and the Malfoy family would be severe.
He had already arranged to visit Malfoy Manor that afternoon, planning to go straight after finishing at the Ministry. Meeting Rita Skeeter had been unexpected, but the interview had been quick and hadn't set him behind.
…
Malfoy Manor, in Wiltshire, rose into view.
The estate was extravagant. White marble gleamed in the sunlight. The house-elf Dobby appeared at the entrance and led Leonardo through the meticulously maintained gardens.
In the drawing room, Lucius Malfoy stood before the fireplace, his platinum-blond hair immaculate, snake-headed cane in hand.
"Grafton. Welcome." Lucius inclined his head, a practised smile in place. "So glad you could come."
"Thank you for the invitation, Mr Malfoy."
Pleasantries drifted from the weather to the Ministry. The atmosphere seemed cordial enough, but the occasional tap of Lucius's cane against the floor betrayed his unease.
Eventually, the conversation turned to Hogwarts.
"Your performance at school has been most impressive." Lucius took a sip of tea. "How do you suppose such a Dark object found its way into the school?"
Whether from public rumours or from what he had learned through his son Draco, Lucius was well aware that the boy before him had played a pivotal role in the basilisk affair. There was a strong chance Leonardo had also learned the diary's origin from Lockhart.
While responding to the conversation, Leonardo was also thinking. Lucius almost certainly did not know the diary was a Horcrux.
Given Voldemort's twisted, paranoid nature, he would never have revealed the secret of his Horcruxes to a subordinate. A fair-weather follower like Lucius, least of all.
At most, Voldemort would have told Lucius the diary was precious, a Dark magical object that could be used to make trouble for Dumbledore.
Lucius probably didn't even know the diary was indestructible. If he had, he would never have risked sending it into Hogwarts. An accident that destroyed the Horcrux would have been tantamount to betraying Voldemort.
Lucius's motive had likely been to use the diary to engineer an incident, force Dumbledore from his post, and reassert the authority of the pure-blood families. He simply hadn't expected it to spiral beyond his control.
"Since Lockhart is dead, it would be difficult to trace the diary's origin at this point."
Hearing that, Lucius's expression eased slightly.
Some things didn't need to be said aloud.
"Dobby."
At Lucius's command, Dobby Apparated to his side at once.
The elf's thin arms cradled a stack of books.
Lucius smiled at Leonardo.
"Draco tells me you're a student who loves to read. What do you think of these?"
Leonardo made no move to examine the books.
"The Malfoy family's collection would naturally be of the highest quality."
Seeing that Leonardo hadn't immediately accepted the gesture, Lucius showed no sign of concern. Instead, he pointed at Dobby and asked, "Grafton, what is your opinion of house-elves?"
Leonardo wasn't sure why Lucius had suddenly raised the topic, so he answered plainly.
"Excellent at running a household. Proficient in all manner of domestic magic. And they carry an innate loyalty towards their masters."
At the word "loyalty", Lucius's temple twitched. He glanced sideways at Dobby, who stood with his head bowed.
When Leonardo finished, Lucius gave a smooth, controlled laugh.
"A very thorough summary. Only one small correction. A house-elf's loyalty is to the family itself. The family's heir automatically becomes their master."
"I intend to transfer Dobby to you. What do you say?"
Transfer?
Leonardo expressed his confusion. "House-elves are passed down through wizarding families across generations, and only some of the old, established families possess them. 'Transfer' meaning…?"
Hearing "old, established", Lucius lifted his chin slightly and explained.
"What is truly valuable is the master-servant contract between the family and the house-elf. It carries a form of magical binding force."
"As long as the elf isn't given complete freedom, the contract remains, and the family can still obtain house-elves."
This was the first time Leonardo had heard it explained in this way.
So giving a house-elf freedom dissolved the contract entirely, and the family would lose the ability to possess house-elves for good.
No wonder. In the original story, when Harry had tricked Lucius into freeing Dobby by hiding a sock in the diary, Lucius's fury had gone beyond mere humiliation. He had been enraged at losing the master-servant contract itself.
Lucius added, "With this method of transfer, the elf will serve only you. Your family descendants would not inherit the enslavement contract over the elf."
"Of course, this particular method of transfer is a technique exclusive to the Malfoy family."
In truth, Lucius had once offered a house-elf to Voldemort in the same way, trading wealth for safety. It was something he was well practised at. This was the Malfoy family's way of surviving.
During Voldemort's reign, and even more so after his fall.
Leonardo's gaze shifted to Dobby. He found the elf watching him with those enormous, tennis-ball-sized eyes, which darted downward the moment they were noticed.
Having a house-elf to help manage the Trunk World would be convenient. Looking after the magical creatures, for instance.
Lucius was willing to give up Dobby partly because this type of transfer didn't affect the master-servant contract. For a family with the Malfoys' connections, finding a replacement elf wouldn't be difficult.
The real value was the transfer technique itself, apparently unique to the Malfoy family. Quite the tool for currying favour indeed.
The other reason, surely, was that Lucius had noticed Dobby's "disloyalty". This was a convenient opportunity to push the elf out.
From Lucius's perspective, Leonardo already knew the truth about the diary. Handing over a house-elf who also knew would change nothing.