The Grindelwalds 2

The Riddlease Part 25

The next month passed by slowly for Luzia and her siblings. Benji was probably the busiest out of all 3 of them. Benji was training for Ravenclaw Quidditch matches almost everyday. Most of the lessons they would normally have every day were rarely taking place these days, the weird disease made by Delphini was spreading far and wide through the United Kingdom and more and more children were catching it, even inside of Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall kept cancelling lessons and sending the children back to their common rooms to isolate themselves from other houses to help limit contamination, but it never didn't really work. The Ravenclaw common room had already been contaminated with Delphini's Disease 5 times and it was only February now. Sarah Grindelwald was probably the safest because  she was away from the school and she lived alone. Penelope suggested to Professor McGonagall that herself, Benji and Luzia would be better off with their mother in her cottage, but McGonagall refused. She told them that they would be much safer in their common rooms. The only good thing about being stuck in the common rooms pretty much all day every day was that in Richard was there, at least in the Gryffindor common room.

Luzia still felt weird about Richard being back and him being completely fine about everything that happened before Christmas. Luzia had started to eat more over the last month, but only a few mouthfuls at each meal time. 

One day, a notice had appeared on the Gryffindor notice board. It was telling all the teachers to meet Professor McGonagall in the Great Hall at 10:00am on the 5th of February (Which was today.) 

"See you later, behave." Richard told the children in the common room before leaving for the Great Hall at around 9:52am that morning.

Richard sanitised his hands when he left and carefully went to the Great Hall without standing too close to anyone.

The Great Hall had changed a lot in the last month, there was now clear pieces of plastic along the benches separating children from sitting next to each other and breathing each others air, it was the same on the staff table too.

Richard joined the back of the queue behind Professor Ittle. Richard had been trying his best to avoid teachers these days, he didn't want to answer any questions about his quick need to resign from his job and then come back temporarily. Professor Ittle turned around and greeted Richard.

"Hey Richard, you alright?"

"Hmm, and you?" Richard felt tired and weak, he was getting hungry and because he was so close to Luzia and her warm blood he wanted her blood more and more by the day.

"I am great. Any idea about what this is all about?"

"Probably about news on this weird disease, I suppose."

Professor McGonagall came out of nowhere in her cat form and transformed into a human in front of the men. 

"Come in, I have news-fresh from The Ministry."

She gestured them inside and each teacher took their seat on the staff table that was now separated by plastic walls. Professor McGonagall stood in front of the table so they could all see her clearly.

"Gentlemen, ladies, I am sure you all know why I have ordered for you all to be here. I have ordered you all here because I have news from The Ministry. News that will change a lot of things from now on." She paused for a movement to allow suspense. "The Ministry have given this disease a name, it is called, 'Riddlease.' "

A few of the other teachers murmured to themselves.

"It is a mixture of the last name, 'Riddle' and the word 'disease'. " Professor McGonagall told them. "The Ministry have also said that every family in world must stay inside of their homes if possible. Obviously, that is not easy for a boarding school like Hogwarts to do so we have a choice to make, either the children stay here until it is safe or we send them home now. Hands up for keeping them here."

5 teachers raised their hands.

"And raise your hand for sending them home."

4 teachers raised their hands.

"It's settled then, they will remain here."

Richard was shocked.  He didn't know what to do or think. Surely keep children locked at school for an unknown amount of time would be risky and there was no way that parents would be pleased. Richard also didn't know if he could handle being trapped in the Gryffindor common room everyday with Luzia and her blood.

Professor McGonagall went on. "I will inform parents today about this school being on lockdown, nobody will be allowed to leave it or enter it unless they have an important reason to."

Richard rolled his eyes, would that mean he couldn't go and get blood from his centaur in the Forbidden Forest?

"I trust that each head of house can inform each children. Good day." Professor McGonagall said then left.

The teachers spoke to each other for a while before leaving, Richard sat silently then left. he went back to the Gryffindor and sanitised his hands before entering.

"Hello children." He said when he entered. "Professor McGonagall has told me to tell you that this school is now on lockdown which means you are trapped here."

An outburst of speech erupted in the room from the children. "But why?"

"The Ministry have suggested that it would be safer. Your parents are being told as we speak."

Luzia and Penelope looked at each other and then back at Richard.

"Luzia, Penelope. Come with me." He told them and they followed him.

Richard led them into the girls bedroom.

"Your mum is safe, I don't know if you'll be able to see her yet, but when I find out I'll tell you."

"Does mum know we will be trapped here?" Penelope asked.

"I assume she will be told soon."

"Is there a name for this weird illness then?" Luzia asked.

"The Ministry have called it Riddlease."

"What if we catch it?"

"You'll be looked after at St Mungos until you can return to school, I won't let anything happen to you 2 or Benji or your mum."

"Ok."

"Penelope, go downstairs and explain to the others what this disease is called while I speak with Luzia for a minute"

Penelope left the bedroom and went back into the common room.

"Luzia, I don't know how to say this, but... I miss you." He whispered.

"Miss me?"

"I miss your blood. Being so close to you and not being able to drink any hurts me, I am really weak."

"But I can't feed you here, anyone could see or find us."

"I know, but I just wanted you to know that I felt weaker than normal and that I miss you, and just to warn you that I might for some reason  need your blood so much I bite you accidentally."

"Ok... I guess that is fine. Just be carful ok."

"Yes, Luzia. I'll leave now before my  urges start."

Richard left the bedroom and went downstairs.

Luzia felt flattered that Richard craved her again, it made her feel more normal then she had felt in months. She knew it was wrong though, she knew that this would affect her more than she knew before, she would hate for any other children to find out their teacher was feeding of a students blood, but she knew she'd have to tell at least 2 children at this school about it, Benji and Penelope. She didn't know how to tell Penelope though, she assumed that she could tell her at bed time as they'd be alone by then, but she was scared.