Chapter 81: Payback is a...Wizard

Diagon Alley, Wizarding World...

Rita Skeeter had been on her way home from some relatively light shopping as the day began to wind down. She had been so preoccupied with juggling her numerous bags that she had not once paid any attention to the dark figure following her toward her home. The shoddy journalist had not even given it a moment's thought before her key went into her door and her vision faded to black. The dark clad figure spelled not only the numerous bags but the witch in question to float gently into the house. It had been close to an hour before Rita Skeeter opened her dark eyes and focused on the very grim expression on the pale Potions Master's face as he glared down at her from his towering height.

"W-What are...you doing here?" asked Rita trying to summon an ounce of courage in her given situation.

Snape said nothing. His eyes cold and unrelenting as he glared down at the securely tied witch.

"I-I know who you are Severus Snape." said Rita in her best reporter tone. "You can bet the wizarding world is going to hear about this."

Snape still said nothing as he continued his ruthless glare at the "so-called" journalist.

"Then you should know that I am not one to be trifled with." said Snape in an icy tone that would have made the students of Hogwarts as well as the adults cringe in fear.

Rita Skeeter was no exception to this despite her false sense of bravery.

"I-I know that you are a murderer who barely escaped a sentence in Azkaban due to the word of Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter." she said defiantly.

Snape said nothing as his obsidian eyes remained fixed on her.

This fearful inch worm was the reason behind so much of Hermione's misery.

"As you well know...Miss Skeeter, I do not appreciate being the subject of your weekly "gossip column." he said still in an icy tone.

"I write the news as I see it." said Rita. "It's why my readers are so numerous."

"You mean you embellish tales to make them seem interesting and blackmail those who do not wish their stories told." said Snape well aware of how she got her "stories" into print so easily.

Rita glared murderously at him.

"So your little girlfriend sent you to get me to change my facts?" she said. "Speaking of which, how is it that a Potions Professor and Death Eater can get away with shagging students right under the administrations noses?"

"You know nothing of what you speak." said Snape annoyed.

"Oh really?" asked Rita boldly. "Because I have it from a very reliable source that you were in fact involved with "Little Miss Priss" long before she became a Professor at Hogwarts."

Snape had been slightly amused by her demeanor but continued to play the cold calculating death eater role.

"And what is the name of this so called source?" he asked in the same cold manner.

Rita Skeeter considered keeping her source a secret but she wanted the chance to take the wind out of his sails.

"Jarvis Fredrick Hamershal." she replied hoping to catch him off guard and prove her facts had been right. "Imagine my surprise to learn that the great Severus Snape had indeed had a young and better looking might I add, half-brother."

Snape remained in control despite hearing his younger brother's name and that Rita had known of the connection between them.

"Are you done?" he asked coldly.

Rita seemed to become unnerved that he was so calm about everything. She had heard that Severus Snape had a temper even at the best of times but she had never been privy to the icy coldness that seemed to radiate off him like a cloud

Snape placed his wand at the now terrified witch's cheek.

"Fascinating." he said slightly amused. "It seems I have finally found a way to shut you up."

Rita had no idea how long they had been like this but she feared her time had been growing short.

"Now." said Severus with a dark gleam in is obsidian eyes. "What would be an appropriate punishment for a meddlesome troublemaker like you?"

Rita's eyes widened at the implication in Snape's tone.

Snape chucked a bit at this.

"I believe I know just the thing." he said coldly.

The witch didn't know what hit her as Snape waved his wand canting an incantation she had not heard before.

"Verum de te ipso." he said with a smug grin.

She jolted in the chair as Severus continued to cast more than his fair share of hexes. When he was done he touched his wand to her temple and whispered that she now had something eventful to right about for a change.

Against her will Rita nodded in agreement.

Her enchanted quill immediately set to work. Once it was finished Snape had been stunned to see how fast the story went into print.

"Good." he said still in a cold tone.

Rita had been wailing about how her life and reputation were ruined.

Given his reputation Rita should have known how vindictive Snape could be. It was too late for her to try and negotiate now. Snape quickly left the witch's apartment and made his way toward Hamershal Estate. He had some other pressing business to attend to before he made his return to Hogwarts. Business that included a certain wizard by the name of Jarvis Hamershal.