Corona

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March 2020

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Corona. That word was everywhere. Everyday Luna could read about this pandemic crisis in the newspapers, both the Daily Prophet and the Daily Telegraph. How many people were infected, how many died, how many countries had cases, and what the politics did against a further spread. It was horrible, and Luna felt for all those people around her.

"Anything new?" her husband Rolf Scamander asked, taking a sip from his coffee mug. He preferred not to read about it at all and just waited for his wife to tell any news.

"The pubs are getting closed," Luna replied. "Britain is taking any precautions they can. They even think about a general quarantine for everybody who doesn't need to go out."

"Bummer," Rolf mumbled. "Would we be included?"

"I'm not sure but as wizards we can just apparate to work, right?"

"And we can't even get infected in the first place."

"True."

It was a relief when St Mungo's declared that witches and wizards were immune against the virus, no matter if pureblood, half-blood or Muggle-born (something about different DNA or so). The wizarding community was safe per se – but then the first squib got the disease and people started to worry again. Besides, there were many witches and wizards with Muggle family members and friends. Luna regularly checked with Hermione if her parents were okay who further belonged to a risk group because of their age. But there wasn't much the wizarding community could do – there wasn't a spell against the virus…

Suddenly an owl pecked on the window, and Luna went to open it to let the brown feather ball in. She was glad she had thought of putting a notice-me-not-spell around their apartment or their Muggle neighbours would soon be irritated by the number of owls in the area.

After Luna had retrieved the letter from the owl, she gave the bird a bit of her toast and looked at the envelope. It was a formal letter by the Ministry of Magic and with the seal of the Minister himself.

"What does Kingsley want?" Rolf wondered aloud when he saw the letter.

"Don't know," Luna shrugged and opened it. Having quickly read through the short note, she announced: "He says he needs to see me as soon as possible."

Rolf arched an eyebrow. "Why is that?"

Luna shrugged her shoulders. "He didn't say."

"Well, then I suppose you shouldn't keep him waiting."

"Right." She quickly packed her things and flooed through their chimney into the atrium of the Ministry of Magic. The fountain consisted these days of a hovering huge ball made of grey stone. The names of all the victims of both Wars against Voldemort were engraved in it, while water slowly trickled down over the ball and into a basin.

Luna took the elevator to the topmost level and went to the Minister's office. When she knocked, almost at once the door was opened.

"Please come in, Mrs Scamander," a young woman said who Luna recognised as Kingsley's assistant Mara. "We have been waiting for you." She waved her towards the table where already three other people were seated.

"Well this is a surprise," Luna said her first thought aloud.

There was Neville, wearing his teacher's robe and grinning happily at her. Then there was Dean Thomas in Muggle clothes, waving at her, and last but not least Draco Malfoy in his white St Mungo's healer clothes, trying to look bored, but Luna noticed his curiosity.

"Please have a seat," Mara told her. "Minister Shacklebolt will be with you in a moment." When the assistant had left the room, there was a moment of silence.

"So, what's this all about?" Luna wondered but the others shrugged.

"No idea," Neville returned.

"I hope it's important," Draco snapped. "I am quite busy." It had gotten better with him over the years, but he was still arrogant.

Then the door opened again and Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt in all his glory entered. "Sorry to have kept you waiting," he greeted them joyfully and sat down.

Mara followed with tea and biscuits for everyone.

"Thank you all for coming so quickly," he then opened the meeting. "I'm sure you have already figured out why we are here." When mere silence met him he continued: "We have here one of the top healers of St Mungo's", he indicated towards Draco, "an absolute plant expert" (Neville), "and an absolute animal expert" (Luna), "and, of course, a member of the Muggle government's secret health lab", (Dean).

Luna was the first to figure it out. "You want us to find a cure against the coronavirus."

"Yes," Kingsley confirmed. "Though we wizards and witches cannot get infected, we owe it to our Muggle friends and family to help in any way we can. I would like you with all your different fields of expertise to work together and try to find out as much as possible. Mr Thomas will be our bridge towards the Muggle scientists, as I am in constant contact with Prime Minister Johnson. I was also able to get Hermione Granger on board since she is a brilliant potioneer. She will join us later. What do you think?"

They looked at each other but apparently found no reason against this task force so they agreed. "Excellent," Kingsley smiled. "I have prepared a room for you where you can work. I will once in a while have a look but other than that you have total freedom."

"If we had a Hufflepuff," Luna suddenly noticed, "then all Hogwarts Houses would be working together."

"Well," Neville replied sheepishly, "the Hufflepuff's declared me an honourable member of their House when I inherited Professor Sprout's job."

"Perfect," she grinned. "Hogwarts against Corona. That virus doesn't have a chance!"

And with that confidence and optimism, the task force started their work.