The Spark {Book 5 in the Star of Gryffindor Series}

Chapter 11 - Bombs

The Daily Prophet
Issue No. 101,891
3 November, 2021

Predatels Bomb St. Mungo's

In what is now thought to be the largest terrorist attack on British soil in the history of the wizarding world, St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries was bombed early this morning. Security wizards who survived the attack have detained a suspicious young witch who they believe set the bombs. The Ministry has given no further word on the matter, though a source has said they believe the American witch is linked to the Predatels.

Bombs detonated on the fourth, third, and second floors, wiping out entire sections of the hospital. Few survived the explosions, and those that did are being treated in what is left of the hospital. Wizards are still attempting to get into wings that were blocked off by the explosion, including the Janus Thickey Ward on the fourth floor, the Herman Pye and Luella Banglow Wards on the third floor, and the Meredith Kingsman Ward on the second floor. The death count has reached over three hundred forty from the initial blast, with many witches and wizards badly wounded or still unaccounted for. The building has been temporarily stabilized, according to disaster relief workers, but clean-up and permanent reconstruction could take weeks. For now, the hospital has gone into emergency mode, accepting only the most critical of cases in the untouched lower floors.

This atrocious act has put all levels of government and civilian services on high alert. Sources tell us that the Ministry was unaware that the Predatels were capable of this much damage, and are currently scrambling to up security on other high risk areas, including the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts School. Many citizens are in a state of shock. To attack a hospital, full of defenseless patients, proves that the Predatels are truly worse monsters than we ever thought. Only the lowest beast could stoop to such depths. We can only hope that they will apprehended soon.

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During fifth year, I've heard, it's very easy to succumb to the pressure and get overwhelmed by all your work. Having never cared too much about my grades, I hadn't had much of a problem so far this year, but a Trilia Bones had had a panic attack during Potions a few weeks before, so I understood it was quite possible. Other than Wren, my group of friends was pretty chill, luckily. However, that made me a very bad comforter when other people in our year started crying, or worse, over their schoolwork.

Haverna had gotten into the habit of assigning us a very complex essay every class period. It was very stressful, especially the days when we had a total of 48 hours to write it. I didn't particularly care, knowing my practical grade would at least balance out the theoretical grade in the class, but even I felt the strain. Rose took it worst, I think. One night, she burst into tears in the middle of the common room.

Albus dashed over to hug his cousin. "Hey, what's up, Rose? You're okay, all right?"

Rose shook her head. "No, Al, you wouldn't understand." She glared at her Charms book.

Wren slowly walked up behind me. "What is it?"

Rose wiped at her eyes, obviously trying to stop crying. "Nothing. Please go away."

We didn't go away. "Rose, what's wrong?"

Rose looked up at Wren, studying her for several seconds. Finally, her shoulders slumped, and she buried her head in her arms. "I don't know, I can't get this essay right, and I've been working so long, and it's not perfect and I don't understand."