Malfoy Neighbors

Two New Articles-Year 5 Chapter 21

The fallowing monday rolled around. While you ate breakfast with Sam, you noticed one of your classmates reading The Daily Prophet. The front page had ten black and white photos of people who looked a bit frightening. The title above them read:

'MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN MINISTRY FEARS BLACK IS "RALLYING POINT" FOR OLD DEATH EATERS'

Under each photo was a name, along with the crime that put them in Azkaban.

'Antonin Dolohov, convicted of the brutal murders of Gideon and Fabian Prewitt.

Augusta Rookwood, convicted of leaking Ministry of Magic Secrets to He-Who-Nust-Not-Be-Named.

Bellatrix Lestrange, convicted of the torture and permanent incapacitation of Frank and Alice Longbottom.'

Were some of the names. You stoped at Bellatrix Lestrange. Something about her looked familiar. You asked your fellow classmate if you could read his paper once he was done with it. He nodded and kept reading. After a few minutes passed, he handed you The Daily Prophet and left the table.

'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 for 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."'

You read the article to yourself slowly, making sure you fully understand what it was saying.

"What are you reading?" You heard Sam ask. You handed her the paper and looked up to see Draco and his friends at the Slytherin table. He must not have read the paper yet. He seemed as he did every morning. Your attention moved to the staff table.

Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall were in conversation while Professor Sprout had the paper propped against a ketchup bottle.

"Listen to this" Sam said, pulling your mind back to your table.

'TRAGIC DEMISE OF MINISTRY OF MAGIC WORKER St. Mungo's Hospital promised a full inquiry last night after Ministry of Magic worker Broderick Bode, 49, was discovered dead in his bed, strangled by a potted-plant. Healer called to the scene were unable to revive Mr. Bode, who had been injured in a workplace accident some weeks prior to his death. Healer Minriam Strout, who was in charge of Mr. Bode's ward at the time of the incident, has been suspended on full pay and was unavailable for comment yesterday, but a spokeswizard for the hospital said in a statement, "St. Mungo's deeply regrets the death of Mr. Bode, whose health was improving steadily prior to this tragic accident. We have strict guidelines on the decorations permitted on our wards but it appears that Healer Strout, busy over the Christmas period, overlooked the dangers of the plant on Mr. Bode's bedside table. As his speech and mobility improved, Healer Strout encouraged Mr. Bode to look after the plant himself, unaware that it was not an innocent Flitterbloom, but a cutting of Devil's Snare, which, when touched by the convalescent Mr. Bode, throttled him instantly. St. Mungo's is as yet unable to account for the presence of the plant on the ward and asks any witch or wizard with information to come forward."'