"Very well, very well. We've got a solid defense and we're confident we'll prevail." Blah blah blah. There were some things you just had to say as an attorney. Giving a conspiratorial smirk, Miles said, "I know the Ministry's allowing you to send a reporter to cover the trial. I hope you're sending in your best."

"I always send the best to cover the Ministry stories. Ticky is a very good reporter and I'll know he'll be fair."

Ticky Boxman? Fair? Was this man really that big an imbecile? A frown formed on Miles' face and he made a displeased sound. "Boxman? The same Boxman that made the victim of a werewolf abduction look like a fool?"

Barnabus frowned. "It wasn't all Boxman's fault. The reporter who interviewed Parkinson didn't really do that great of a job to begin with." He shrugged. "If you don't want Ticky, I'll send someone else." He looked at Miles for a minute. He knew Miles had connections, though he wasn't sure who those connections were too. The last thing the editor of a chief newspaper needed was someone mad at him. Readership would decline rapidly. "Did you have any suggestions?"

Miles cocked his head to the side, pretending to mull the question over. "What about that reporter that was brought on not long ago. Brown, is it? Covered the Macmillan murder? That one seems to have a good bit of integrity. And she comes from a respectable family, if I remember correctly." He gave Cuffe a significant look. "Is she available?"

"Lavender?" Barnabus wrinkled his nose. "She's only been here for a couple months. I just don't think she has it in her to do something this big." Miles kept looking at him with that look. Suddenly, the light dawned in the editor's head and a look of realization fluttered across his features. "Oooh. Yes. I think she'd be perfect for this story. If she's not available, I'll make sure she is." Barnabus looked over Miles' shoulder and motioned over his secretary. "Will you go get Lavender Brown for me?" The woman nodded and went off. Barnabus turned back to Miles with a smile. "I'm sure she'll be very fair."

"I'm sure she will," Miles replied as though they were sharing some private joke. Salazar, this man is a worm. I may need to wash after this. "I appreciate your dedication to making sure the trial gets reported accurately and impartially."

"Well, that's what we strive for here at the Prophet. Fair reporting and accuracy." Barnabus' face broke out into a smile when Lavender approached the office door. "Ms. Brown! I was just telling Mr. Bletchley here about your illustrious publishing career. Please, come in and shut the door."

Lavender rose an eyebrow at Barnabus. It wasn't every day that he deigned to allowed to lower peons into his sanctuary. Barnabus' office was the biggest. The bastard even had his own loo. "Carol told me you want to see me."

"Yes, dear girl, we wanted to tell you that we have a new assignment for you."

"We?" Lavender looked over at the man in the room, taking in his suit. Business man. Clean. What's he talking to Barny for?

Miles offered his hand. "Hello, Miss Brown. I'm Miles Bletchley. I'll be defending Megan Jones and Anthony Goldstein in the upcoming trial. Mr. Cuffe was telling me that you'll be the one covering it. I'm familiar with your work, and I'm very pleased with his choice. Not everyone has your unbiased and truthful style."

Lavender shook his hand slowly, looking between him and Barnabus with a wary look. "I don't think someone needs to try hard to be truthful for that case. It's pretty open and shut. She confessed. He confessed. Game over." She looked over at Barnabus as she pulled her hand out of Miles'. "I really don't think I'm right for this article."

"Nonsense. You wrote that piece of the death of the Macmillan fellow."

"That Macmillan fellow had been a friend," Lavender bit out. "I really wouldn't feel comfort-"

"All the more reason to report on the trial of the person accused of killing him."

Lavender wanted to reach out and slap the smug expression off the editor's face. She's not accused of killing Ernie. She did kill Ernie. She confessed to killing Ernie. "I'm sure there are plenty of other reporters you can put on the story. What about Brocklehurst? I'm sure she'd love to do something worthwh-"

"She's busy with a story on hemlines," Barnabus said, interrupting her. "I would really like you to take this assignment, Lavender. I'm sure something can be arranged to cover the fact you'll be cooped up in the courtroom for as long as it takes. Monetary compensation."

She was angry. He knew she needed the money, and he was dangling it in front of her face. Lavender hated the fact that she was poor at this moment then ever before. However, if she didn't take the assignment, there was every possibility that it would go to someone who would be sympathetic, untruthful in the telling. She couldn't have that. She wouldn't let someone make light of the things they'd done, the things to who they'd done them to. She frowned, glancing at Miles. "You're representing them?"

With an understanding smile, Miles nodded. "I am. Unfortunately, not all my cases are especially palatable. All defendants deserve a fair trial, though, and legal council is an important part of that. I've a great deal of confidence in your ability to cover the trial fairly, Miss Brown. I do hope you'll accept the assignment."

Attempting to put on a polite smile, Lavender looked back at Barnabus, giving him a look she hoped told him that she wanted some substantial compensation for writing the story. "I guess I can drop the other things I'm working on since this is so important." She rose an eyebrow at Barnabus.

"Brilliant!" Barnabus reached out with a beefy arm, pulling Lavender against his side as he beamed at Miles. "Well, there you have it. An honest and unbiased reporter giving the news a delicate touch. I don't think there's anyone better suited for the job."

Lavender grimaced, looking at Miles with unmistakable malice toward the man wrapped around her.

"Excellent. I'm glad to hear it." Clearing his throat, Miles put on a serious face and addressed Barnabus. "Be careful there, my friend. Sexual harassment is becoming a very common charge. As a solicitor, I'd advise you to keep your hands to yourself. I'm sure Miss Brown here knows you've no ill intentions, but better safe than sorry, yeah?"

Barnabus' face fell before he practically shoved Lavender away.

Catching herself on the arm of a chair, Lavender pushed her hair out of her face and looked up at Miles with a small smile of thanks. She looked back at Barnabus, the smile instantly going from a smile into a frown. "It starts Thursday, yeah?"

"Yep. Be there early," Barnabus answered.

Lavender looked back at Miles with a carefully guarded expression. No offense, but I hope you're really bad at your job. "I guess I'll see you there."

"Looking forward to it. Thank you for your time, Mr. Cuffe. Miss Brown, have a lovely day." Giving Cuffe a curt nod and smiling at Lavender, Miles excused himself with the same bit of swagger as he'd arrived. And that's how that's done.



Summary: Miles gets his pick of reporters to cover the Goldstein/Jones trial. Lucky Lavender, yeah?