CHAPTER XXII:
the daily profit incident

( February 1995 )

      "GINGER LUNETTE; FEMME-FATALE, LOLITA, MANEATER." Ginger carefully read out in horror and utter shock. The newest publishing of the Daily Profit had been released and Ginger had made the second page. Not the front page, but close enough. As soon as Alexander had seen the headline, he rushed to get his friends to uncover each and every paragraph in the article.

The boys sat in front of her in the Ravenclaw common room as she created thousands of different facial expressions with every word Rita Skeeter seemed to have published.

"In the midst of the Tri-Wizard tournament, Cedric Diggory seemed to be torn between two ravishing girls; Cho Chang, his Yule Ball date, and Ginger Lunette, the childhood friend. Though, the Lunette girl seems to be a whole other scandal!' A scandal? I am not a scandal, in fact, I'm anything but a scandal," She rambled on furiously. "She too has been torn between worlds. She knocked one Weasley twin off the ladder so now only two remain, though I, Rita Skeeter, believe she's chosen a side; George Weasley! Though we have no denial or confirmation on anything regarding the triangle, but it's safe to say she's most likely chosen her very own carrot-topped Romeo!"

Cedric scoffed a laugh at the entire column.

     "Rita Skeeter is unbelievable," Alexander scoffed leaning back on the couch beneath him.

"Am I allowed to report this? There's got to be someone who could do something about this- George! Oh, what's George going to think? He's probably going to think I told Rita to say something in the profit about us-"

"Merlin, Gin, breathe for a moment before you hyperventilate again," Alex interrupted her word vomit. Ginger was spiraling. She didn't like sudden attention from multiple people at once. It made her nervous to even breathe as in fear someone would point out something wrong with how she did it. The article was one of Ginger's very rational nightmares come to life. Eyes would be on her, charting her every move, every interaction, every breath. It was as though she would be walking on a tightrope of trying to stay away from unwanted attention and if she so happened to fall, her doom awaited her with everlasting embarrassment.

      "I'm doomed. This is when I die. I'm not going to the task tomorrow, I won't show my face to anyone for millions of years, I can't bear the humiliation!" She crumbled the newspaper and threw it in the burning fire, watching as the moving pictures festered to ash. "This is the end of my reputation, education, and my life." She jumped to the couch the boys had been sitting on and sprawled across it slightly pushing them against the edges. "Leave me here to die, I'm already humiliated as I know everyone will have read it by tomorrow."

The boys shared a worried look for their friend's sanity while she wallowed in self-pity.

"Gin, you are going to the task tomorrow, you're not allowed to miss it." Cedric poked at her head. She viciously shook her head at the thought of the enormous crowd knowing her personal life.

Just before she could verbally retaliate, Professor Flitwick made his presence known by a clear of his throat. The three teens all looked over the head of the couch down at the man.

"Em, sorry to interrupt the three of you, but Professor Dumbledore was asking of you." Cedric began getting up but the man shook his head and raised a hand, "Sorry, not you Mister Diggory, Miss Lunette? Please follow me," he beckoned the girl. They all shared an odd look but she got up either way.

"Well I'm off, I'll see you two in the morning, nowhere near the public eye. Until then, good night."

NOTE. OO DOUBLE UPDATE 😮