Chapter 299 - Master Belby Ⅱ (1/2)
A haggard middle-aged wizard with spectacles hanging off the bridge of his pale nose furrowed his brow as he took out a quill and used red ink to mark the journalist article before him. The door suddenly slams open as Miss Twinkle, his secretary, a witch with bright pink lipstick stands there a bit breathlessly.
”Yes, Miss Twinkle?” Said, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Prophet, Barnabas Cuffe.
”A missive from the Minister of Magic, sir!” Miss Twinkle excitedly said. ”They want the Daily Prophet to hold the morning edition as they'll be making an emergency announcement in thirty minutes!”
”What?!” Cuffe shouted causing his chair to slide back with a screech. ”Give me that!” Cuffe said as Miss Twinkle eagerly shoved the missive into his hands. ”Get me Skeeter! I want her there in less than five minutes to meet me there!”
”Yes, Editor Cuffe!” Miss Twinkle said, before scurrying off to try to find Rita Skeeter.
Grabbing his coat off his chair, Cuffe pulled on his coat as he hurried out the door only slamming the door behind him. He rushed past the startled members of the office as he made his way to the printing room to a skidding stop. In the doorway, he roared, ”Stop the front-page presses!”
The middle-aged manager in charge of the Daily Prophet presses stares as shoves his spectacles up his nose. ”What is the meaning of this, Editor Cuffe?” The manager asked rather unhappily.
”The minister is making an emergency announcement!” Editor Cuffe said. ”If it's that important, we're going to at least need the front page.”
”Understood, Editor,” the manager said, before shouting out to those in the room. ”I want everything to be ready lickety-split. We'll be running on crunch time people!” The members of the printers rush off to make the needed adjustments as Cuffe marches out the door and leaves them to their work.
Cuffe makes his way to the nearest floo portal and floo's away into the ministry. Other small newspapers were already present in the main lobby as they eagerly whispered and waited for the announcement to be made. Cuffe glances around before finally spotting Rita Skeeter already in place along with her photographer.
”Skeeter,” Cuffe said as he strides over. ”I feared that you would be late. How in merlin's name did you arrive faster than I did?”
”I didn't stop at the presses, sir,” Skeeter beamed as her crocodile handbag was in her stubby, red clawed hands. She was impeccably dressed in her usual green leather with fur at the cuffs and at the collar. ”On that note, sir, any inkling as to what the news might be about?”
”I'd hazard to say that they've either caught the attackers or there's been another attack,” Cuffe hazard to guess.
”Not the Quidditch World Cup, sir?” Skeeter said in surprise.
”The people are getting tired of the same old rehashed topic; they love drama and gossip!” Cuffe wisely said. ”And besides I doubt the Ministry would dare to make any other kind of announcement at this time.”
”Fair enough, sir,” Skeeter replied as she intently glanced around. ”And will you like for me to cover the ending of the Wizengamot trial in regard to the accused attacker? I do believe it's in two days.”
”No,” Cuffe dismissively said. ”I'll have a junior reporter cover the scene instead.”
”Thank you, sir,” Skeeter said with a great deal of satisfaction.
They grow rather quiet as the main lobby fills with public officials until the appointed hour. Exactly on the dot, the Minister of Magic Eugenia emerges with an entourage. Her usual two guards, three members from the Ministry of Magic, four unknown men, and a rather tall, thin, sharp-looking man with sleeked back hair in dark jade robes.
The stout witch with thickly bobbed hair steps forward and addresses the flashing room. ”My dear citizens of the wizarding world, I am proud to introduce the five men behind me,” Minister Jenkins said as she pointed to Master Belby closest to her. ”At my side allow me to present, Potions Master Belby, who is not only genius in his field but a man who has tirelessly worked on finding the cure for the curse known to werewolves.” Skeeter's quill seemed to be working overtime as that of the other journalists as everyone held their breath.
”With the greatest of honor and awe, I am pleased to announce that Master Belby has found a cure to werewolfism,” Minister Jenkins said causing the room to explode with questions.
Gesturing to them to quiet down, Minister Jenkins says, ”I know all of you have questions and they will be answered in due time. Please allow me to finish.” The reporters reluctantly quiet down as Cuffe eyes seem to bulge in disbelief still. But a wide grin slowly creeping on his face told another story. This morning's edition was going to sell like hotcakes.