Rita's punishment - Open.

[magicministry]

Who : A note from Big Brother & anyone else.
When : September 5th, around noon.
Where : Sitting room.
Rating : TBA
Summary : TBA

Comments

[poisoned_quill]

Rita read the news of the nomination with a faint flicker of unease. She knew damn well that she would be nominated this week - it was a given, really, with the number of people she'd seriously pissed off. But perhaps the audience liked her, or liked the spectacles they were given to watch, thanks to her, so maybe she wouldn't go this week.

Then she read the other note.

Oh, sweet jesus on a broomstick. She stared at the glass on the table, heart beating hard, breath coming short.

Maybe she should just leave now. Go and get her trunk and leave. How could it possibly be worth it? Penalties for using Veritaserum were a slap on the wrist. Penalties for being an illegal animagus were... well, she didn't really know. Very few people had been caught during her lifetime. But there was an animagus registry for a reason, and not being on it...

Fuck. What would it matter? If she refused to drink it, the Ministry would know she was hiding something important, and no doubt they'd invent a reason to interrogate her. Perhaps it would be

[nevilletherebel]

Neville scanned the piece of parchment and smiled, turning to Rita and looking her straight in the eye as she drank her potion. Now he stepped forwards, sitting down opposite her and narrowing his eyes.

"A taste of your own medicine..." he surmised. "I shant ask you how it feels, because it'll count as a question. There is something...far more important to ask...something I don't think I will be able to understand unless...well..."

He tilted his head backwards, thinking how best to phrase it so that she couldn't escape it. "During the second war against Lord Voldemort, certain of us decided not to fight; to stay back for an altogether far more selfish reason. You warranted to save your own skin; but I think it was more than that, Rita...what were you so afraid of Voldemort taking from you?"

[poisoned_quill]

Rita was rather grateful that the first person into the room was Neville. The illusion that no one might come in didn't last long, and she was getting more and more concerned about what she would be asked

[nevilletherebel]

Neville listened, and although he couldn't understand even after all that, why she wouldn't fight, he did consider things settled. Knowing her reasons soothed the anger inside of him a little bit. He stood back up, looking down at Rita, thinking that she was done.

Just as he was about to turn away, however, Rita spoke again, and Neville turned to face her.

There was no denying that something ugly passed over Neville's face at the mention of Bellatrix Lestrange. For a moment he felt terribly sick, furious, suicidal, homicidal...and then he closed his eyes and breathed in slowly. She was dead. Bellatrix Lestrange was dead. Nothing to worry about. She had earned her just reward for what she had done.

He tilted his head slightly. "Is that why you were at the trial?" he asked, his eyes on Rita's. "To see her earn her just desserts?" And then he froze, realising he'd asked a question. "Nevermind that...you don't have to answer that. I'll just..." He stepped back.

[potion_failure]

Romilda read the slip of parchment and looked at Rita, a cold look in her eyes. She couldn't quite forget that she had spiked their food with Veritaserum. So she was allowed to ask her one question. Perfect. Well, she had no idea if it would even matter to Rita, but she decided to take her chance anyway. After all, hadn't Skeeter been awfully smug about her and Harry?

"So, Rita..." She smoothly said. "Who was the last person you slept with?"

[poisoned_quill]

Rita closed her eyes. Oh, Merlin. Oh, fuck. She hadn't been expecting this one, and...

"I don't... it's not..." But none of those were the answer to the question, so she couldn't finish the sentences.

Well, he'd know she'd had no choice.

"Neville."

She wouldn't say any more, though. Not now. If they wanted to know, they could use up their questions grilling her about it.

[last_born_girl]

WHAT THE FUCK??!?!?!

Ginny's eyes went wide. Of all the things she's expected to hear from Rita... That was nowhere on the list.

Of course with her question used up, she couldn't continue the interrogation; But still.... Neville and RITA? That was *so* far beyond wrong that it wasn't even funny.

"But... What... Guh??" She was barely able to form words, she was so stunned.

[poisoned_quill]

The shock on Ginny's face did a curious thing. It made Rita angry. How dare she think... whatever she was thinking. What? Rita was too old for him, too nasty for him? Well, fuck that. She wasn't a nasty bitch all the time, and she damn well hadn't been then.

"Drop it," she snapped. Then made herself think, made herself calm. "Please, just drop it. For his sake, not mine."

And she was in danger of saying too much if the words got away from her, so she cut herself off.