Rita Skeeter was frightened out of her wits, hurriedly dodged aside, and then quickly reverted to her original state.
When transforming into a small insect, eavesdropping is convenient, but there's no ability for self-preservation whatsoever.
Once, after transforming, Rita Skeeter was swallowed unexpectedly, without even having the chance to see what had eaten her.
Of course, she quickly dispelled the magic, avoiding becoming digested waste, but the experience of bursting out of the predator was so terrible that to this day, Rita Skeeter refuses to recall it.
After returning to her humanoid form, she was no longer afraid of that bizarre bird. Skeeter quickly tidied her golden curls, picked up her small handbag, and was about to leave the alley.
— It's better to transform once inside the building.
Skeeter thought to herself.
But after taking just two steps, she heard a voice behind her: "Rita Skeeter? I heard you're the best reporter at the Prophet Daily, and also the one who loves to talk nonsense the most."
Skeeter raised an eyebrow, spun around quickly, and saw that behind her there was suddenly a young wizard, and the bird that had landed on the ground a few seconds ago was nowhere to be seen.
She panicked for a moment, realizing that someone had seen her transformation — once the identity of an illegal Animagus is exposed, Skeeter would face not only a hefty fine but also imprisonment.
But then, thinking of that vanishing bird, her eyes suddenly brightened, a smile unrestrainedly spread across her face, filled with excitement.
"Yes, I am certainly the best," Skeeter said proudly, "but my news reports are not nonsense, they simply expose some people's empty fame, boy."
"Hmm, digging into others' secrets, then exaggerating facts and fabricating content to be sensational..."
Under Rita Skeeter's unfriendly gaze, Vid smiled, "But your writing is indeed the best; it can instantly capture the reader's attention. That's why I've come to find you — are you interested in a real big news story?"
"What big news? An exclusive interview with Vid Gray? Don't tell me you aren't — I recognized you at a glance."
Rita Skeeter promptly pulled out a shorthand quill and a notebook from somewhere, looking at Vid with excitement:
"To be honest, I've wanted to interview you for a long time, but have never found the opportunity — are all your inventions your own? Or is Terence Moray ghostwriting for you? How did you gain the full support of a long-established Great Alchemist? And..."
Suddenly, the notebook in her hand ignited with a "boom," the scorching flames nearly singeing Skeeter's hair.
She screamed and discarded the notebook.
Looking at the young wizard smiling in front of her, then at his empty hands without a magic wand, Skeeter's excited and frivolous demeanor instantly subdued.
The young wizard before her was the kind she least wanted to encounter —
Not an empty-headed fool who would be deceived by empty fame, nor a weak individual she could easily bully, nor anyone who possesses great skills but is kind and adheres to rules, one who wouldn't retaliate even if offended.
"How did you recognize me?" Vid asked curiously, "My photo should not have been published."
"I wanted a chance to interview you, so around the start of school last year, I waited outside Flourish and Blotts for several days..."
Rita Skeeter said sheepishly.
Back then, after finally confirming among the coming and going students who Vid Gray was, an event occurred outside the bookstore — Lucius Malfoy and Arthur Weasley got into a fight.
It was the first time Malfoy had a public scuffle, back then Skeeter was so excited she was beside herself, her quill was almost flying across the notebook, after the Malfoy father and son left she even chased after them for an interview.
After recording this unexpected incident and rushing to be the first to submit the article to the newspaper, Rita Skeeter then remembered her original purpose, but she had already missed the opportunity.
"The big news I'm talking about isn't about you interviewing me." Vid paused and said, "Do you know about the recent joint investigation by multiple countries into certain dark wizards?"
"I've heard something," Rita Skeeter replied honestly, "I heard they didn't find much, just caught a few thieves and smugglers, and now they've disbanded."
"I actually discovered a group of people secretly causing trouble, I already have the whereabouts and appearances of a few members — I can confirm the Ministry of Magic knows nothing about them — are you interested in this news?" Vid asked.
Actually, those werewolves might not be related to the dark wizards abducting underage students, but Vid vaguely guided Skeeter to think along this direction.
He knew, Skeeter, frequently spouting nonsense in the newspapers, had been warned many times by the Ministry of Magic, if there was a chance to slap the Ministry in the face, even Dumbledore, she wouldn't let it pass.
Sure enough, Rita Skeeter's eyes gleamed, her mouth split into a grin.
She instinctively licked her lips, deliberately pretending to hesitate, "But... reporting this kind of news, the dark wizards might retaliate against me..."
"— So would you like to come with me to investigate? Or shall I find someone else, a more courageous journalist?"
"— I'll go!" Skeeter proposed conditions, "In return, you'll give me a chance for an exclusive interview later."
"Alright!" Vid agreed readily.
...
The ship had already set sail.
There was a buffet on board, with Rita Skeeter disguised as a regular housewife wearing a headscarf, taking some food, as instructed by Vid, she focused on observing a few people eating together.
The table was filled with roast chicken and roast lamb, a man with thick eyebrows was cutting beef steak, probably only rare, with a slightly charred surface; cutting it revealed the red, raw meat inside, juice flowing out, making the plate look stained with blood.
Skeeter casually glanced at it and then withdrew her gaze, walking over to Vid to meet him, whispering, "Is it them?"
Vid nodded and said, "There are two more in the lower deck."
He led Skeeter to the lower deck, finding the truck.
The two in the truck were still asleep, the ship's hold was silent, with a few orange-uniformed staff inspecting the vehicle's securing conditions.
Rita Skeeter whispered, "What's in the truck? Even here they want to have people guard it."