serious stuff ((fred))

Since the news, Edith had become harsher towards her employees. Her worst nightmare had come true, and she had to take her frustrations out on an already hostile work environment; this was one story she refused to publish due to her family's attachment to it. However, she still had to keep the ball rolling by finding new stories to report and making profit. Edith wasn't a noted workaholic for no reason! She sat in The Three Broomsticks overlooking some of the drafts a few of the Prophet reporters had sent to her when she spotted one of the Potter-Weasleys barge through. She can keep that train rolling...

Waving up her hands, Edith called out, "Fred! I'm Edith Grayson from the Daily Prophet. Let's chat!"

@Fred Weasley II

Fred was meeting Teddy and Dominique for a few drinks later, but thought he wanted to get his beer on early: maybe engage in some pointless talk with punters. As soon as he entered the place though, there was a woman waving her arms around at him distractedly. It would've been only slightly worse if she'd clicked her fingers at him.

"Yeah, I know who you are," he said, slumping to the bar and dragging up a stool. If this was going to be a conversation, he couldn't be dry. "What do ya want?" he asked warily.

He was probably the only member of the Potter-Weasley clan who would willingly talk to her, but she was attractive.

@Edith Grayson

It was so refreshing that he came over to her with zero problems; most of the family tried avoiding her if they could help it which annoyed her greatly. Didn't they realize she had papers to sell to the people of Britain?

"I'm curious to hear your views on hot topic social issues. I tried talking to your cousin, Dominique, about it, but she wasn't the most cooperative."

She pulled out her notepad and automatic writing pen.

"What are your thoughts on house elf rights?"

It was good journalism to get the Potter-Weasleys comfortable before pushing their buttons.

@Fred Weasley II

He watched her mouth as she spoke, distractedly. As a pint of bitter got placed in front of him, he broke from the daydream.

"Er, yeah, what? House elves?"

That was a weird question. He didn't really know how to answer it in a sense that wouldn't put him in a bad light. Perhaps he should just be honest. At the end of the day, he couldn't really be anything but.

"I dunno, guess they should be paid. S'long as their happy, or whatever..."

@Edith Grayson

"I see..."

He wasn't as combative as Dominique, and Edith was highly appreciative as it. If it came down to it, Fred could become her go-to Weasley interviewee. She doubted that James would be as receptive due to everything going on.

"How involved do you think the Ministry should be in a person's everyday life?"

@Fred Weasley II

"Huh? How involved?"

He sipped his beer.

"Listen er... Mrs Grayson. I'm not the best person to ask these things," he said, as if he was thick and didn't have an opinion. He did. He just wasn't going to tell her. "I don't think much about that stuff, just try'n get on with it ya know?"

He shuffled uncomfortably.

"Do you... wanna drink?"

@Edith Grayson

So, he was also a question dodger? Well, if this meant she could get to the meat of the questions sooner...

"No, it'd be highly irresponsible for me to drink on the job. I'll take a sparkling cider, please."

Edith sighed before going through her coat to remind herself of some of the questions Daily Prophet readers have surrounding Fred. It was going to be nice to set up the crystal hotline just for Potter-Weasley tips.

"Then let's get personal, shall we? Many of my readers are wondering why you can't seem to get a relationship despite being such a sought-out bachelor. Why's that?"

@Fred Weasley II

Fred nodded at the barman following her drink order so that he could pay for it. A lot of the Weasley-Potter family would hate him even for that. As he took a sip of his own drink, he almost spat it out when she dove straight into her next question. Choking, his face tomato red, he managed to recover in some form and give her an agonising look.

"That is flippin' personal..." It was even more embarrassing being asked this question by a woman as well. Even if she was a glamorous, handsome kind of a woman. "I wouldn't call myself sought after, or a bachelor. Makes me sound like I'm in my forties or somethin'. But, I dunno, right person hasn't come along or whatever? I just ain't bothered about it..."

But he was, he clearly was. He took another quick sip of bitter to distract himself. Perhaps he'd already said too much already.

@Edith Grayson

"It was the first one written on my list of questions to ask," Edith justified as her mouth slowly upturned to a smirk. It was always so satisfying whenever she was able to catch one of the Potter-Weasleys off-guard. How she'd love to write a tell-all book about the family full of stories that haven't reached the media...

Tapping the counter, she took a sip of her sparking cider. "A bachelor is defined as an unmarried man, so you are a bachelor, Fred."

That settled that question.

"Do you plan on getting your equivalent diploma at any point in time?"

@Fred Weasley II

At least she thought of him as a man...

Fred took a sip of his drink, slowly.

"Yeah, maybe. I dunno yet. I'm pretty comfortable where I am. Lots of open land, exercise for me, earnin' money, social life. Not a bad life."

He literally wanted to burn that bloody hut to the ground sometimes and tell all the kids to fuck off.

@Edith Grayson