The Hunt

Luna Lovegood had passed the search at the prison and had turned over personal effects with the exception of her notepad and quill. Her wand, cloak and purse were left at the front. She was escorted through a series of halls and led to the wardens office. A burly bearded man sat behind the desk.



“Miss Lovegood is it?” He said standing and offering a hand.



Luna nodded. “Yes Mr. Gable, thank you for seeing me.” She took a seat.



“I hadn’t thought anyone would be reporting on the prison itself. Most journalists are staying with the Ministry.”



“Yes I know, that’s why I am here. This is a part of the law enforcement process and the changes affect the prison as well don’t they?”



“They, do indeed, there have been many including my being posted here. However as the warden now, I have many things to go over and catalogue, I won’t be much help to you as my time is limited until I get things settled.”



“I understand and I had an idea on a solution.” He leaned forward on his desk. “I heard from a friend that Gregory Goyle would be posted here.” He nodded. “Mr. Goyle and I attended Hogwarts together. I was hoping to be able to interview him and perhaps even go through the admitting process at one point.”



Mr. Gable thought for a moment. “Well I can let you interview him and observe, as far as admitting, we need to make sure the new procedures are out into place before we can allow that. It may take a few weeks.”



“I understand Mr. Gable and figured as much, so I can do my reporting in a series of articles.”



“I must say Miss Lovegood, it is a joy to see that at least one reporter is brave enough to want to tell the story of how things change here.”



“Enough of a joy to allow me and only me to report.” She asked with a feminine tilt of her head. Mr. gable let out a huge belly laugh.



The door opened allowing Greg and another man to walk in. “Ah Mr. Goyle, I’m sure you remember Miss Lovegood.” Luna stood.



“Yes I do, how are you Luna.” He said giving her a small smile.



“I’m good than you.” She returned and shook the other mans hand, who she learned was Fred Dolinksy.”



“Miss Lovegood here is one of the reporters covering the new Ministry changes. She going to report on the changes in the prison.”



Fred’s eyebrows raised. “You’re the first. Everyone else is getting information from other sources or just taking the word from the ministry itself.”



“Yes I know, I’m hoping I’ll get an angle no one else is getting.” She said.



“Mr. Goyle,” Gable said standing, “since you and Miss Lovegood here are acquainted, she can speak with you and observe the happenings here. When things are set she can see the admission steps.” Greg nodded.



Mr. Gable was called away and left Greg to escort her to the front to get her belongings.



“You’re brave to be here. Most people are afraid of the dementor’s affects.” He said walking her to the gate.



“Yes well, the story needs to be told. The ministry can only say what happens, they don’t come here on a regular basis enough to show the effects on the process and the day to day situations that come up.”



“True, are you sure you want to do this?” She nodded. “Alright then. I take up my regular post on Friday. You can come then and follow a whole day if you want.”



“That would be wonderful.” She said. When she got to the gate and stepped out she turned to Greg. While Hermione and Ginny had decided to ask outright for what they want, Luna decided not to. She wasn’t that outspoken when it came to physicality despite her odd tendencies. She decided to leave him with a kiss.



As she faced him, she rose up and kissed him on the lips. Greg was a bit taken back and when she pulled away a few moments later and smiled, he simply stared. When she winked and vanished, he was even more confused. What the hell did she kiss him for? The confusion stayed with him the rest of the day. Maybe it was nothing. Girls kissed friends all the time right? Maybe he was misreading the whole thing. Yes, that was it.





Pansy Parkinson walked with purpose to the home of Ron Weasley. It was a fairly spacious size house for a bachelor. Ginny had told her where to find him. Ron designed broomsticks for a living and had made quite a lot of money doing it. He was also wise with the investments and was able to turn a minor investment into a huge profit. He was now able to focus on the designs he wanted to do, taking as long as he wanted since money was no longer an option. He also was able to set his own standards with regards to how his designs were marketed and in what venue.



He was in fact surprised to see Pansy at his door. He knew Ginny was friends with her as well as Hermione and Luna. He had no clue as to why she was here.



“Pansy? Is something wrong?” Pansy gave him a smile. Ron worked and designed out of his home, turning one of the spare rooms into an office with his materials and desks. When he greeted Pansy he was in jeans and a white t shirt, barefoot and holding a cigarette.



“Nothing is wrong Ron, I was just hoping to speak with you.” She said with all formality. Ron merely raised his eyebrows and stepped aside. His home was neat and ordered, but Pansy knew it was due to the house elf that Ron brought in. Hermione had objected but fell silent when she heard Ron was paying the creature. Although Pansy wouldn’t call a knut a month payment, but the elf refused to take more.



“Coffee or tea?” He asked.



“No thank you.” She sat and faced him leaning forward in her chair. “I’ve actually come to put in a bid.” She said with a brilliant smile.



“A bid? For what?” He asked.



“To advertise your new design.” She said. Ron nodded.



“I’ve received about six as it is, what can you do differently?” He asked. He was giving her his focused look. Ron was all business now and when it came to marketing his brooms he was serious.



“I’m sure you have gotten the typical responses, adverts and displays at Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley,” he nodded, “but from what I hear your broom is constructed with Quidditch in mind. The speed and easy maneuverability being the key points.” Again he nodded. “I can make sure your broom has prominent placement in Quidditch Weekly and in Fosters Supplies and Care.” Ron lifted his eyebrows.



“Those are interview magazines and mail orders.” He said.



“Yes, I also have a friend who works close to the editor. Focusing your design on players as well as fans allows you to broaden the target audience. Fans can be a big audience, but actual players look through those magazines religiously. Players themselves put a lot of research into a broom before they buy. If players buy the broom, naturally fans will want to copy them. The players will be another form of advertising in their own right.”



Ron sat thinking, his expression unchanged but Pansy knew he was concentrating. “My manufacturers tell me that advertising in periodicals like those are exclusive to Quidditch suppliers. I’m not a supplier.”



“It’s commonplace, but not as a rule. If you know the right people you can get away with anything. You said so yourself, you had Quidditch in mind when you designed the broom didn’t you?” He nodded. “Anything targeting the sport can be put in the magazines, it just has to be done the right way, and I can do that.”



“Give me some ideas and we can talk.” He said. This was common, he was asking for a rough draft of the adverts she would design.



“Do you have a model I could see?” She asked. He rose and she followed him to his office.



The house elf obviously left this room untouched. There were parchments scattered in piles on the desk, table and even the floor. Empty ink bottles and quills were all over the place, some broken.



He pulled a broom from a shelf on the wall and laid it across the table on top of the blanket of parchments. Pansy looked at it. While she wasn’t a Quidditch player, she made it a point to know about broomsticks so she could market them better. She had a case not to long ago but that one was geared more toward children.



For the next ten minutes she asked Ron about the finer points of his model. Ron answered her questions and then walked her to the door. I’ll have some sketches and rough drafts for you in a few days.



“Ok, I’ll see you then.” He said, holding the door open. Without any warning she rose up and kissed him. It wasn’t quick, and it took Ron by surprise. She held her lips over his, caressing his lips. It was her intention to give him something to keep in his mind before she made her real desires known. While she wasn’t as brave and Ginny and Hermione, she planned to do a little more then simply flirt. The kiss was the first step. With a gentle tug on his lower lip she pulled away and gave him a wink. But before he could react, she pulled away and apparated. He stood there for a moment then slowly shut the door.