the_debt_of_time

Barnabas cleared his throat, suddenly realising that this was not a social visit. "See,
Miss Granger, the thing is, Rita Skeeter used to bring in a lot of readers. The Daily
Prophet lost a bit of a, well, profit during the war. Skeeter's not the kindest person there is,
but she's always been a bloody good reporter, and people pay attention to what she says."
Harry scoffed loudly, angrily shoving his glasses up his nose and then crossing his
arms.
"I'm well aware that people pay attention to what she says," Mia replied. "But let's
overlook Rita Skeeter for a moment, sir. You're telling me that your company is having
problems because of the war?" she asked, her tone filled with concern. "Losing money?"
He bowed his head. "Yes, Miss."
"That's terrible!" She gasped, placing her hand against her chest in a move that
Narcissa Malfoy would have considered well-practised manipulation. "Isn't that just terrible,
Harry?"
Harry glanced up, looking surprised that he was being brought back into the
conversation. Before answering, he looked down at Mia's hands as though he were
expecting black birds to emerge from her wand and start attacking the man in front of
them. "Umm... yeah, I guess."
Mia turned her attention back to Cuffe. "Tell me, sir, was the Daily Prophet attacked
at all during the war? The building, your employees, your family?"
"Not so much, no," Cuffe said. "No family of my own, just me, actually. And as for
the employees, there were a few Muggle-borns I had to let go of," he said and then
whispered, "for their own protection, you see."
Mia dipped her head to him. "Of course. It was so good of you to think of them."
Her brows raised slightly, surprised, when Cuffe humbly nodded—clearly he was unable
to pick up on what she thought was obvious sarcasm.
Sirius leant to the side and whispered to Harry, "This is about to get really bad."
Harry shook his head. "I don't get it. She doesn't even look angry."
Remus snorted. "She looks like Dorea."
"Now," Mia said, looping her arm through Cuffe's in a friendly gesture as she
ignored the whispered conversation that all three knew she was capable of hearing. Cuffe
blushed, clearly making plans in his mind to retell the story later about how Harry Potter
walked into his office, and Hermione Granger, the most famous Muggle-born ever and