116. Something Unholy

Rita Skeeter saved herself by the skin of her teeth, as she asked for time from the goblins. She got a week. So, she contacted Ted to talk about this, and soon Ted came to meet her. He was told by Magnus to hear her out once.

"Miss Skeeter, you chose to break the contract, we did not compel you to do it. It was all done from your side, I do not know and neither care why you did it, now, you must face the consequences of your actions, like a responsible adult." Ted told her clearly.

She started crying, "Please, there must be something we can do. Maybe we can work something out and I can pay you with whatever you want."

She knew she was still young and decently pretty, so she tried to use it.

*Cough*

"Please, do not suggest such nonsense to me. I am a married man with a beautiful wife and a daughter, doing anything to betray them would be unholy. Besides, even if I were to agree, I just don't pose the authority to just terminate this contract, and I doubt your charm will work on His majesty, so don't even try it with him or he might just end your life in anger.

"However, he did ask me to hear your story. Why did you even break the contract?" Ted asked her.

"I... I saw a better opportunity... like any other person who wants to move forward in their life." She said.

"But you don't move forward by spoiling your face with your old employer, who happens to be the future king of Britain. Also, you were already moving up so fast, you had no reason to accept any offer as they are only made to you so they can use you against his majesty. Are you so foolish to even realise that?" Ted scolded her in a rude tone.

"I... they offered me money, a position in the ministry and an office at the daily prophet." She revealed.

"And? Is it worth more than being a respected journalist with millions in salary? Do you know what the Daily Prophet is? It's a propaganda newspaper, partially run by the ministry. Its original owner died, the ministry itself killed his whole bloodline, so that the ministry can have the ownership of the newspaper, to control the mass media." Ted revealed to her.

"IMPOSSIBLE... that's just a conspiracy theory." She argued.

"Believe whatever you want, Miss Skeeter, but, you are in a deep mess now. I have heard enough, I've got other work to do." Ted got up to leave.

She immediately jumped at his feet, "PLEASE... NO! HELP ME... I AM READY TO DO ANYTHING..."

She was this vulnerable right now because when she told about the breach of contract to her backers, all of them rejected to pay up. 2.5 million was an astronomical amount of gold galleons and no family wants to lose so much money just for a mere journalist.

Ted looked at her with the eyes of a businessman. "ANYTHING?"

"YES... I don't have the money you're asking for." She pleaded.

Ted immediately took out a paper from his bag, "Sign it."

Rita read it with hope. It was another contract. But, she wanted to cry even louder after reading it. It was a slave contract, not really with the word slave, but it did give off that vibe. It said that she will now work for Magnus and only Magnus, if she does anything to harm Magnus or his business then the price will be her life, not in the literal sense but figuratively, she will lose ownership from everything she owns, from her property to her last strand of hair.

Also, the 2.5 million she owes for breach of contract will now be paid, but slowly during her entire life. She will get a money bonus for herself whenever she does something that makes Magnus appreciate her or get happy. Other than this, 50% of her salary will always go to Magnus to repay what she owed.

She can only get out of the contract once she has paid all 2.5 million galleons.

"This is the only way out for you, Miss Skeeters," Ted said coldly.

Rita's mind went blank. She weighed all pros and cons and it was obvious that nobody was going to help her. The ministry would also never shell out such money. With tears, she signed the contract. Thinking she can get out of it as long as she can pay. Signing it would give her more time.

Ted smiled and handed her a copy, "Good, trust me, if you do a good job, he will not let you starve. I must take my leave now."

Ted left her to sob alone, for the life choices she made.

...

At Hogwarts,

Soon, Magnus also found out about what had happened and appreciated what Ted had done. But, he threw this back of his mind as the exams were going to come soon. He wanted to ace it and win the House Cup this time.

He was at this time, at the office of Dumbledore, proposing something to him.

"No, Magnus. I will not hear any of your new business offers or investment proposals. I have work to do." Dumbledore immediately tried to send him away.

"PROFESSOR... I'm not that greedy, I came here to give you a suggestion about the school." Magnus quickly made his intentions clear, while acting innocent.

Dumbledore, in his everyday white robes, wondered in surprise, "This is new, what is it?"

"Well, I was thinking about the year-end house cup. It is obvious that Slytherin is going to win, and if we don't then I will sue you for rigging the competition. Anyway, I was thinking, that the house cup does not really help recognise the best student in the school. You know, this year, it was I who scored the most points and I will also ace the exams. But how will I be recognised?

"So, I recommend you start a Student of the Year award. It recognises the student of his talents and his contribution to his house in gaining the most points. The Student of the year doesn't always have to be a student from the winner house of the house cup." Magnus suggested.

But Dumbledore argued, "We already have the Special Award for Services to the School."

"But it's not the same thing. You give it for the best service to the school and not for talent. Hell, anybody could do a service to the school, even Lucius might one day create a potion and say I dedicate it to the school." Magnus countered.

"Just say it, that you want the award," Dumbledore replied with a sigh. There was a reason why he was so frank with him as he was not like this with most other students. The reason was blood.

Magnus too, although called him Headmaster, talked to him like they were old pals.

Magnus smiled embarrassingly, "Ah, you know me so well, Professor. If you already know then do I have to convince you?"

Dumbledore shook his head tiredly, "You do know that I am not the king, I have to report to the board of governors. I am just a mere executor of the rules they make. At best, I can suggest it."

Magnus quickly thought of a way to deal with this problem. What do pure-blood people in a position of power like the most? FREE STUFF!

"Then, maybe you can add a monetary award for the winner? For the school too? A thousand Galleons?" Magnus asked.

He was going to pay up until he's in school and winning, once he graduates he will just stop and publicly shame the Board of Governors to keep the award going.

"I can suggest it, but with your additional reward, chances of them accepting it are higher," Dumbledore said.

Magnus smiled, "I trust you, professor. You can do it."

After cheering him on, Magnus left, but Dumbledore kept on rubbing his temples.

*Sigh*

"Should I take early retirement?" He asked himself.

"You should, you're pretty old by human standard, you know." A voice came from the wall.

Dumbledore looked and just sighed, as another headache had arrived to annoy him.

It was none other than Arthur, along with Sir Cadogan.

"Why are you here, Mr Pendragon?" Dumbledore asked.

Arthur loudly spoke, "You are speaking to the king of the English realm, mortal. I... am KING ARTHUR PENDRAGON."

Dumbledore sighed, "You're dead, you are the king of nothing except your portrait... Maybe all portraits, seeing your ability to cross into them all the time."

"Hmm... So you grew a backbone and decided to talk back? Good... I taught you well. Now, just sit and watch me beat Sir Cadogan in a spar. COME HERE, SIR!" Arthur loudly spoke and started making noise, disturbing Dumbledore.

Old Dumbledore could only sigh and tolerate it as all his work to stop Arthur had gone in vain. He wondered how Arthur was doing this but remembered that his portrait was made by Merlin and it was bound to be different.

...

At the same time, Magnus had returned to his dorm room and was mastering Legilimency. The only reason was because this would allow him to speak to people in their minds while not entering deep into their heads.

But for it to be a two-way communication, all parties needed to know it.

"Okay, are you all ready? Keep your shields up, I will try to project an image in your mind." Ragnar said as he decided to try his prowess.

Magnus nodded, "Okay, I've already mastered it nearly, you can try all you want but my shields are godly."

"Same," Snape added.

Ragnar took a long breath and focused. Magnus did feel a little ting in his mind. But, it couldn't cross at all.

Ragnar started sweating and started projecting his own thoughts.

Magnus let the small thought cross into his mind to try to communicate. He focused on it and received it. But...

"WHAT THE HELL... RAGNAAAR!" Magnus shouted suddenly.

"Bwahahaha... GOT YOU!" Ragnar laughed and ran away funnily.

"What did he show you?" Snape asked in wonder.

Magnus angrily cried, "SOMETHING... UNHOLY... RAGNAAAR COME HERE YOU TWAT!"

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