Willow || Cedric Diggory

Winter Woes

When Rey didn't get any offer to be anyone's date after his cousin, he thought he was in the clear. He was beyond grateful on the fact that nobody really took interest in him, besides Cedric of course. Imagine his disappointment when someone approached him discreetly during one Tuesday afternoon and asked him to be her date. 

"I'm sorry, Hannah. But I'm already seeing someone else." Rey blinked twice at the fourth-year Hufflepuff, hoping that she would understand.

"Aw... That's too bad." Her face fell as she walks away. 

Rey didn't thought much of her as he found himself preoccupied by the Dueling Club. But soon enough, he found out that Hannah and Gunnar were only the tip of the iceberg. The very iceberg that would ruin his 'good week' ship.

The only reason that Rey haven't got many 'personal' invitations to be someone else's date was because of the timing. It was common for everyone to start looking for a date around two weeks before the Yule Ball. Not because the students were lazy or something, but rather that was the time when the teachers to confirm whether the Ball would be held or not. By the word of mouth, Rey figured that Professor Binns have announced it to the Slytherin and Durmstrang students yesterday. Maybe that was why his cousin approached him last night.

"Rey!" Someone called him again. Gods forbid if it was one of those hype and older students.

"Hermione?" He sighed a breath of relief.

"Yes, I was going to give you this letter." She handed him a letter from his brother.

Never in the few months he have been receiving letters from his brother, that he got one in the afternoon. It was always morning -during the breakfast-, and never beyond that. So in an abundance of caution, Rey flipped and inspected the letters a few times before opening it. What was written within, managed to gave him the fright of his life.

"What?" Hermione stood next to him in curiosity, after observing his ashen complexion.

"Oh no..." She whispered immediately as she saw what he was seeing too.

In the letter, etched a piece of article that have been taken from a newspaper. Under said piece, there was a clear message from his brother. Written in big bold letters, Rey could read them clearly: DON'T WANDER OUT ALONE. Despite of how disturbing those letters looked like, the article that his brother have sent away was way more disturbing. Written by Hampstead, it said:

NERO BROTHERS UP TO NO GOOD!

A series of crimes have been reported by the muggles across many cities, stretching from Stoke-on-Trent to Scrunthorpe. The crime itselves ranged from petty mugging to a particular case of murders. Although the muggles' police force -an equivalent to our very own Aurors- haven't made any significant connection or discovery regarding those crimes, a few photographs taken by them have shown the Nero Brothers blending with the background. 

This series of crime, we belief, have started in about a week after the death of one of them in the Quidditch World Cup riot. It is clear for anyone to see that the two left are seeking revenge for their brother's death. Although they have only did their crime in small towns like the aforementioned two, the two have been spotted frequently in major cities around the Peak District, with the first spotting was as recent as Friday last. 

Although we have sent this news and tried to post this column on other major papers, we have been repeatedly barred and threatened by the authorities. With such condition in hand, we can only advise everyone to be cautious, especially if you live in the areas that we have mentioned.

Under the title, Rey could spot the two Nero brothers walked around in long black coats on a crowded place. Upon further inspection, Rey realized that they were spotted around St. Peter's Square, standing right next to the Manchester Central Library. The place was crowded with regular muggles, who were totally oblivious on how dangerous those two really are.