Ace of Spades

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

During breakfast, I opened the package from Sirius to find a silver piece of a broken mirror. If I looked in it, I could see the reflection of another room, one I recognised from the Black house. It was like looking into a whole other dimension, seeing another place as if I was there. It was almost like a telephone but with a video option that allowed me to see the other side.

The night went quickly and then in the morning, news struck the student body of Hogwarts.

MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN

MINISTRY FEARS BLACK IS "RALLYING POINT" FOR OLD DEATH EATERS

I almost snorted into my coffee when I saw it. Sirius wasn't a Death Eater. He was powerful enough to be one but he was too good, too nice for that, even if the Ministry wanted to believe otherwise.

The Ministry of Magic announced late last night that there has been a mass breakout from Azkaban. Speaking to reporters in his private office, Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, confirmed that ten high-security prisoners escaped in the early hours of yesterday evening, and that he has already informed the Muggle Prime Minister of the dangerous nature of these individuals.

"We find ourselves, most unfortunately, in the same position we were two and a half years ago when the murderer Sirius Black escaped," said Fudge last night. "Nor do we think the two breakouts are unrelated. An escape of this magnitude suggests outside help, and we must remember that Black, as the first person ever to break out of Azkaban, would be ideally placed to help others follow in his footsteps. We think it likely that these individuals, who include Black's cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, have rallied around Black as their leader. We are, however, doing all we can to round up the criminals and beg the magical community to remain alert and cautious. On no account should any of these individuals be approached."

"What's so funny, Potter?" Theo asked, leaning over to peak at what I was reading.

I waved the newspaper, "Prophet just announced there's been a breakout from Azkaban. Apparently, ten people escaped, all of them Death Eaters."

He gestured and I passed the newspaper to him. He read it before handing it to Draco and Blaise. Their faces hardened, as if the mere mention of the breakout was news to them, and unpleasant news too.

"We'll have to inform Whitehorn in case she doesn't know," Draco muttered, "Another meeting is needed. Maybe even involving the Circle."

"I agree," Blaise nodded. "The Circle needs to know too."

"Let me grab some food," Theo finished his piece of toast before he stood up along with them, taking another jammed toast. The three Slytherin Aces strutted over to the Ravenclaw table. A brown-haired girl turned to them, curiosity that turned to dread came over her face before she nodded too and stood to follow them out.

I was curious about this Circle they mentioned. Did it have anything to do with the Ace Legacy? I hadn't found anything that had to do with it in any of the books. Then I thought to ask Silver during that evening when I was in a private area of the library.

I pulled out books, skimming their content page before continuing. I was looking for something but I didn't know what it was.

"Being an Ace is being part of a legacy of Hogwarts. You don't have to have family that were previous members but simply attend Hogwarts at any time," He told me as we strode side by side, books returning to the bookshelves as I let them go. "I was once human, normal. I was once alive and when I attended Hogwarts however long ago, I, too, was an Ace. Ace of Spades specifically. Each Ace has a meaning, only known to the Aces."