Ah-ha! There it is, the fulfillment of a promise. What a wonderful post meeting meeting that was. And then to throw in Rita Skeeter, pure evil. I can just imagine how that would go when it hit the fan.

Wouldn't it be interesting to find out that Rita had scampered across a pesticide left behind by the Orkin man ... and suddenly finds herself feeling dizzy, right before all of her organs shut down? Or if she is so thrilled with her scoop she neglects to notice the toad ... that quickly eats her?Or (in the case she is the type of winged beetle that can fly) her distraction causes her to lose track of her surroundings ... leaving her suddenly splattered on the windshield of a speeding taxi?But much more likely ... on the way to the same lift where this story started, she is trod upon by the cleaning man, scooped into a dust pan, deposited in a toilet, and given a burial at sea!  (all with appropriate sound effects)

haha, an empowered rita! =Dlove it

Bloody beetle.  Someone squish it! :)

*growls in anger, squeels in delight*  I have to do both because Rita is such a nuisance, but maybe her appearance means there is more to this story.Hermione is so powerless to Lucius' advances, and I don't believe for a moment that if she had denied him this time, he would just give up.  They would never rest until it came to this.I really liked this line:He slipped the ring into her satchel and said, “Let’s place your weapon in here with mine, shall we?” Very steamy stuff.  I hope they continue their liaison and that you are there to report back to us (not that slimy beetle!)