Did Rita see Sirius transform?

[finwitch <finwitch@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52638

"Amy Z wrote:
 
> I think I know where your confusion comes from:  it's from the fact 
> that Hermione is going to require her not to write for a year (GF 
> 37).  How is she going to enforce this rule?  Blackmail--
> she'll "spill the beans" on her being an unregistered Animagus if 
she 
> doesn't keep quiet for a year.
> 
> I can see why she doesn't just spill the beans straightaway, as she 
> would lose her leverage if she did.

Me:
However -- Rita might register and write what ever she wants if 
that's ALL she has. A beetle is enough of an unnoticed, small 
creature for her to continue her spying even if she were registered.

I don't think Hermione just took her *word* for it. I think they have 
a binding magical contract. Hermione doesn't turn her in to 
authorities and she puts her quill away for a year...

Amy Z:
>  But I wish she'd keep the 
> blackmail going for *three* years.  As it is, I suspect Rita's 
quill 
> is going to play a role in book 6 and/or 7.

Me:
I'm positive it does... Clue in CoS: Lockhart guiding Harry about 
publicity and fan mail.
But as annoying Rita Skeeter can be, I think she'll do anything for a 
good story. MOM doesn't own her - not with all the things she writes 
aginst Ministry; Draco Malfoy was speaking to her to get at Harry - 
Draco *knew* her animagus status; Lucius had told him that because 
Harry Potter is popular, it would be bad PR to speak bad of him (in 
PS); I doubt Lucius has a hold on Rita, but Draco does. Now that 
Hermione does, too, I don't think it's that bad...

Is Rita going to write Sirius' story? Well, she *can* use it against 
Dumbledore (bad testimony) - and it *is* a journalist's dream...

She might. Suppose that Sirius catches the beetle and makes a deal 
with her? Magically binding contract, of course.

Also, I think that Sirius is one reason Fudge doesn't want to admit 
Voldemort's return: if he admitted that, he'd had to admit that Peter 
Pettigrew had cut Harry's arm - that Peter Pettigrew was alive - that 
Sirius Black was innocent; (Fudge was horrified to find him so sane 
that he might indeed be innocent, horrified.) Why? Because having 
been in Azkaban for twelve years for a crime uncommitted, without 
even a trial - Ministry would be bankcrubt paying off the debt 
(though Sirius being unregistered animagi and owning flying 
motorcycle might cut that off, but Fudge doesn't know that... and 
even so, it's terribly much gold they owe).

-- Finwitch