Journalism at it's Finest

Hermione stared down at the paper in her hands, her eyes wide. She had barely looked through it, as the first page had captured her undivided attention. Her heart was beating in her throat as she looked at it, but unable to fully understand it in her state.

Ron entered the kitchen, his cup of coffee firmly in his hand.

"Hermione, I think I am addicted to coffee," he said as he read through an article in Wizard's Weekly about addiction and its cure. He looked up at his wife when she didn't respond and frowned.

"Love?" he asked, "Are you okay?" Hermione looked up from the paper, her eyes wide.

"She's finally done it."

"Who? Done what?" Ron replied, moving closer. He dropped his paper to the table and placed the cup gingerly on a coaster. Hermione held out the paper and Ron took it, his eyes running across the front page. His eyebrows shot into his hairline as he realised what he was reading.

Running for Minister While Running From Her Past

The story of how our possible Minister for Magic, Hermione Weasley, has a more coloured past than she'd like to admit.

By Rita Skeeter.

Ron looked down at his wife, who at this moment looked like she might vomit.

"Maybe it's not what you think?" he said, trying to calm her. But with one quick glance he saw the line, '…she was never charged with kidnapping as she blackmailed her victim to keep them quiet…'.

"Bloody hell."

"Does she realise what she's doing?" Hermione asked, looking from Ron to the paper and back. "Does she realise who I am running against?! If he becomes Minister, we'll be facing the devastation of our civilisation." She stood from her seat, her hands running through her hair as she tried to remain calm, but failed.

"He plans to ruin the relationship we have built with the muggles, and to build a figurative and literal wall between us!" Her breaths were coming out short and fast, and her mind was racing as she tried to think of a way out of this. "It will be anarchy! He's basically Voldemort, but with a better PR team!" Ron chuckled, but stopped when he received a violent glare from his wife.

"What am I going to do?!"

"You know what you have to do," Ron stated calmly, trying to calm her down as well.

"I cannot trap her in a jar again," Hermione said, her voice weak as she fell onto their couch, burying herself in the pillows.

"No, give her what she wants, above all," he explained, his eyes lit with excitement, "give her a story." Hermione looked at him, her brow furrowed.

"Ron," she all but whispered, "you're a genius!" She jumped from the couch and sprinted into the study, her quill already ready to send the letter.

Hermione was scribbling for ages as she worked on her response. She wasn't really sure what she was writing, but she knew she had to give Rita something that would blow her socks off. Whatever that was.

A/N: Words – 514

Ancient Runes: Task 2

Write about a problem that was once solved by your character, but has come up once again in a slightly different form. Make sure to include the solution as well!

Extra Prompt: (emotion) stressed.