Disclaimers: Mentiones of abuse, neglect, and harm to children will be mentioned. I do not own any of the canon Harry Potter characters.

Summary: Unbeknownst to the wizardry world, Rita Skeeter squeezed out the truth of unknowing muggles on the real matter of the Boy Who lived. And causing the scandal of the century.

The calm before the storm

Mrs. Johnson pursed her lips as she laid back on the warm leather sofa. She could feel her muscle relax as she stared out of her window into the debt and direction of the house down the block.

The time came when the sun went down that she began to think of that fashion killer that came into her home not a couple of week ago.

She asked too many questions, all with the audacity of walking and talking with that coat, about the boy who lived on the house that cause too many questions and rumors. A reporter, she said, to figure how normal children live with the laws that would be in place or some ridiculous thing.

She personally, didn't care much for what that woman said. She answered the normal ones, but it was the stick on the mud questions that would leave her tilting her head.

Why are there bars on the window? Mrs. Johnson frowned as she recalled what Mrs. Dursley told her. Because he's always running away and causing wicked trouble.

Do you often see him? Or his state? Mrs. Johnson never met a problem with the Dursley's, but that didnt mean she would gladly walk into their home, she is poorly aware of how they treated their ward. I never had a personal interaction with that boy, but he does like too skiny for his age, I suppose.

She thought of herself as a respectable woman with morals and standards, even with her husband, but she always felt aware of something not quite right with that family. She went out of her way to discourage interaction with that family, even restricted contact with her boy with that pig of a son they cuddled.

She never saw, or heard anything, but she always saw how long that poor child worked under the sun during the summer. In her opinion, that Dudley needed a firm hand and some excessive amount of exercise.

How do you view him? That Rita woman leaned in with something in her eye that made her lean back away from her. A woman that would do anything to get her the facts and the story. View? Well, um, he's a good enough boy, even with all those things he's done.

Things? Care to expand on that? Mrs. Johnson blinked at the rushed question, she coughed into her hand as she picked up her cup of tea. Well, I heard from his aunt that he steals and apparently even fights on school grounds. Leading to why they always keep him home, I suppose.

The fashion killer only half nodded, if it confirmed something already made up in her mind. And do you belive it? Those rumors? Now, listen, Mrs. Johnson wanted to laugh at such silly question. Things here on the small, peaceful suburb, there's one thing you must be clear: You are you're reputation.

If you came from a failing family, you'll be isolated and driven away. You could handle it, maybe even enjoy it. But we're all human, and interactions are what connect you to reality. You don't want to lose those connections. That's why Mrs. Johnson never publicly spoke against such idiotic rumors.

She's a stay-at-home mother, with a wonderful, smart boy, and a idiotic husband. She moved a country away from her family, she needs connection to grip her reality.

So, this point Mrs. Johnson guards up, Would you mention my name in this paper? As table turns, Rita blinked at the question. No, why?

Mrs. Johnson sighed as she carefully put down her neglected cup of tea. You have to understand something here. I- Well, his Aunt is very. . . Doting on her son. But to that boy, she, uh, is like a distant family you never met before. She defends herself by saying how the boy was dumped on her, which I can understand, by how his neglectful, drunk parents died on a car accident-

Wait- Wait. Are you saying that's how they died? Drunk? She leans back in surprise on how forceful her words gasped doubtfully. That's what his aunt always says whenever the topic is brought up. But, no I do not belive those rumors. I, personally, only met Harry once, but when I did, he was very polite and smart. Even went out of his way to help me on the yard. We only talked for a bit very his aunt went thundering out.

The Rita person tensed up, pursing her lips and narrowing her eyes in concentration. Mrs. Johnson had no reason why not to believe the things Mrs. Dursley had to say about the boy's parents. But her reaction is too curious to pass up.

Why? Did you know the parent's boy? She took a while to answer, but finally she muttered, No, I personally never meet the Harry's parents, but the, uh, reports made it crystal clear how they both were murdered trying to defend their month's old baby.

At that point Mrs. Johnson gasped in horror, did the boy even know? Did anyone?

I never knew! Petunia always rants about how horrible his sister was! Like- Like- how she was send away for misbehavior to some school for criminals, and how she always ignored their family.

The fashion killer- Rita, only nods. Ask some dumb questions and leaves as soon as she came. It, in all it experience, was strange, and unforgettable.

The next couple of days after her talk with a maybe-reporter, she talked to her friend and neighbor. About how the reporter talked and asked strange questions about the boy down the street. How his parents weren't drunks, but died trying to save their baby boy. About all the mystery surrounding that family.

That neighbor talked, and so the talk spread and spread, before reaching the ears of a horse-faced woman, who was already on thin ice.

And so, the careful and high stake reputation that made you crumbled at the feet.