The Hunt for Answers

[Meredith Bancroft]

While Meredith did work at the hospital as the assistant head of the creature-induced injuries department, her specialties didn't include potions, plagues, and other diseases. Her department strictly worked with magical creatures that harmed wizards and witches, but that didn't mean she couldn't be involved in the search for a cure to the strange laughing plague.

Like most of the other healers at Hogsmeade's hospital, she'd received her NEWTs in potions and herbology and was quite aware about multiple diseases that had nothing to do with creatures. She'd had over eight years of experience and had stepped in quite a few times to help with emergencies when there weren't enough healers on the job. Eyes flickering across the pages of a large textbook she held in her hand, she scanned the pages in search of the section containing multiple biological illnesses and plagues.

For every disease there had to be a cure, or else everyone in Hogsmeade could end up infected and possibly die from the horrid plague. She had other worries going on in her mind, such as the fire that was ravaging Wellingtonshire at the moment, so it was quite difficult to concentrate on her reading. The hospital had closed its doors to new patients due to the over abundance of disease-ridden patients.

  

[Edward Macmillan 2]

Edward was stressed - quite literally. He knew that his parents had gotten Elmer and a friend of his away to the castle, and Charles and his wife was in London, so it was only him that was stuck in Hogsmeade during the quarantine. Not that he minded when it came to it, he actually preferred to stay and help as much as he could, and it was still his job to be a healer - had he been able to excuse himself for the time of the quarantine he could surely have stayed in the castle as well, but point was that he was a healer and he had a responsibility to the society and the citizens.

As it was not a spell that caught this plague running around, it was not his specilization, but he had time to help out as much as possible - He could still do the things that the healers that was used to handling things like this plague told him to. Being working hard and hardly noticing anyone walking around, his mind was somewhere else, and as such he almost ran into Meredith.

  

[Meredith Bancroft]

Luckily Meredith was one of those people who was always aware of her surroundings, so she swiftly avoided being run into by Mr Macmillan. She froze, looking up at the man who was of a higher class and of pureblood status and found herself growing nervous. He was younger than her, but there was no doubt that he could overpower her if he chose to. While she might have been higher up on the totem pole than him, he was still of a better social standing and probably more respected than she.

"Excuse me, Mr Macmillan," she said softly, looking up at the man. "Are you alright? You look a little stressed," she said with a small frown.

  

[Edward Macmillan 2]

When it came to work, Edward did not care about social class or blood status - most of the time he did not care much about blood anyway, but because of the family, some might think that. But at the hospital people were - he hoped - treated equally and based on their skills. At least that was what he tried to, but he could not say that everyone did.

He just smiled slightly to the older healer, but no one really seemed to worry about it. "No reason for you to excuse, I should be the one to excuse for not looking where I was walking." he said calmly with a smile. "And I guess there is no point hiding it. It is this plague and everything. I know my family is safe, but I still worry about them." he admitted.

  

[Meredith Bancroft]

Meredith nodded her head in understanding. She understood the amount of pressure the plague could put on a family. Especially for healers who were being pressured to find the cure when their families were suffering. Meredith only had one other brother to worry about, well him and his family. Perseus was never close with Meredith, but she still worried about her older brother during times like this.

"I completely understand. I'm making an attempt to understand the plague. Where did it come from? What caused it? Who can catch it?" he said, asking theoretical questions. "I hope you and your family stay safe," she said kindly, offering him a worried smile.

  

[Edward Macmillan 2]

In many ways Edward was lucky - a family that was capable of getting away if they needed to, and he did not minded working right now - it was better to know that he actually tried to help with whatever he could. He was not sure if he would be able to relax in the same way if he was with the rest of the family at the castle.

"Understanding the plague is often a good step in the right directions towards finding a cure - that way you know exactly what it is you are up against." he agreed with her. "I expect so. They were all fine when they went to the country side - and one of my brothers lives permanently in London, so it is limited for him." he said with a shrug of his shoulders. "And yourself and your family?" he asked, not wanting to let her think that he was without knowledge of what was good manners. They may be at work, but he could still behave well.