The Daily Prophet

14th Nov. 1998 Pg.8

MUGGLES SUFFERING FROM NEW DISEASE

The Cancer, which has been a serious cause of death in Muggles soared to new heights since last evening. Muggle hospitals are being flooded with patients and yet the fatality rates are soaring. The Magical community is advised to keep themselves safe and also help their Muggle neighbors discreetly, if possible.

The Daily Prophet

15th Nov. 1998 Pg.3

MUGGLES BELIEVE SOMETHING HUGE IS AT WORK

The number of victims of cancer reaches alarmingly new height as nearly one-fourth of Britain is suffering from it in various stages…..Muggles in panic as they believe something supernatural, otherwise magical, is at work…Ministry advises to be extra cautious…

The Evening Prophet

15th Nov. 1998 Pg.1

WIZARDS IN DANGER

A new strain of cancer is now spreading amongst the magical community, with virtually no cure. The Healers are trying their best to sustain the life of the victims…

The Daily Prophet

16th Nov. 1998 Pg.1

EPIDEMICS HAVE MAGIC ORIGIN

...Ministry thinks the recent increase in diseases is the result of an accidental magic….Aurors are currently investigating it….

The Daily Prophet

17th Nov. 1998 Pg.1

INTERNATIONAL DISEASES ON THE RISE

…several countries from North America, Europe, Asia and Australia are reporting many fatal diseases amongst both the magical community and the non-magical community…..wizards are baffled at this sudden outburst seemingly without reason…..

The Daily Prophet

18th Nov. 1998 Pg.1

AURORS FIND A POSSIBLE CAUSE

….Ron Weasley, currently leading the investigation…the attack on Gringotts and the epidemics are somehow related…investigation team is working hard….

The Evening Prophet

19th Nov. 1998 Pg.5

MUGGLE ROYALTY MISSES ARTIFACT

A Witch working as a part of the Muggle security for the British Empire says that a jar has been reported missing from the Buckingham Palace (royal residence). The jar had supposedly been in the family for several generations. The Witch brought this incident to light as traces of magic were found in the room where the jar was kept. The incident has been reported to the Aurors, but it has been kept pending as they are busy with the investigations of the epidemics.

Mr. Garder rubbed his forehead as he put the latest newspaper down. The recent series of events was worrisome enough for him. But what worried him more was the change in his apprentice. Ever since that incident at the wizarding bank, she had been off, but her behavior had shifted more drastically since the last weekend.

Mr. Garder was generally not a very good reader of emotions, but he could say that she was punishing herself for something. He knew that she even skipped her meals these days.

He couldn't bear to see her this way. He decided to give her a piece of his mind.

"Busy in thoughts again, Ms Granger?" he asked, jolting Hermione out of her stupor.

She gave him a weak, albeit painful smile. "Nothing like that, sir."

"Ms Granger" Mr. Garder began. "You have been working on the same assignment for the past three days without much of progression. Years of experience have taught me to identify when someone is under a curse, even the emotional ones."

Hermione's eyes widened slightly and she opened her mouth to deny it, but then thought the better of it. No point in hiding it anyway. Her face caught that faraway look once again.

"May I ask the reason for your turmoil?" Mr. Garder asked gently, not knowing the degree of emotional attachment to the cause.

Hermione heaved a long sigh. She tried to control herself but her voice cracked slightly "It's…complicated."

Mr. Garder didn't reply. He patiently waited for her to continue as she struggled to collect her thoughts. After a long time, she continued.

"What if I said that…I was somehow responsible….for all the recent events?" Hermione said in a barely audible voice.

Mr. Garder didn't immediately reply. He mulled over his thoughts. The witch in front of him was surely a powerful one; it wouldn't surprise him if she accidently set these events in motion. But he also knew that she would never hurt another living being intentionally.

At last, he said "Then I know that it was an accident and that you never meant to do it."

Hermione started, "But-"

"Hermione" Mr. Garder said firmly, effectively silencing her. "I might not know you that well; I know that you're good at hurt and would never hurt an innocent person. So I would advise you to stop beating yourself over it."

He paused for a bit. "Besides, this is not the work of a single person, so I doubt an event like this would have been prevented by your actions. It's not your fault Hermione."

Hermione….

Hermione was surprised at Mr. Garder's words. She was touched by his faith in her. She knew that they were screwed the moment they saw the Greeks in the palace, but she spent the past few days about how she could have prevented the jar from breaking.

While she knew that she couldn't change the past, that didn't mean she couldn't change the future. It was time for her to stop mulling over what could've been and start focusing on how to stop it. A new determination, slowly but surely began to creep inside Hermione.

"You're right, sir" Hermione mumbled. Then in a spur of moment she said "May I have the rest of the day off?"

She then backtracked once she saw Mr. Garder raise his eyebrow, "I mean, I'll complete the assignment before-"

"I expect to see you tomorrow in a mentally sound condition then" Mr. Garder said. "Have a nice evening, Miss Granger."

"Thank you, sir" Hermione gushed. She Apparated to her home before deciding what to do.

Draco Malfoy. The name popped into her head. She hadn't spoken to him since that incident. She realized that she probably needed some time for it to sink in that he had a twin. So she had avoided meeting him, as she was the only other person who was aware of this fact. Except his parents, probably.

Hermione made up her mind and decided to pay a visit to the blonde ferret.

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Hello sweet people

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