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MINISTRY FEARS BLACK IS 'RALLYING POINT'
FOR OLD DEATH EATERS
'Black？' said Harry loudly。 'Not …？'
'Shhh！' whispered Hermione desperately。 'Not so loud … just read it！'
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 Sinus 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 we beg the magical munity to remain alert and cautious。 On no account should any of these individuals be approached。'
There you are； Harry；' said Ron； looking awestruck。 That's why he was happy last night。'
'I don't believe this；' snarled Harry； 'Fudge is blaming the breakout on Sinus？'
'What other options does he have？' said Hermione bitterly。 'He can hardly say； 〃Sorry； everyone； Dumbledore warned me this might happen； the Azkaban guards have joined Lord Voldemort〃 … stop whimpering； Ron … 〃and now Voldemort's worst supporters have broken out； too。〃 I mean； he's spent a good six months telling everyone you and Dumbledore are liars； hasn't he？'
Hermione ripped open the newspaper and began to read the report inside while Harry looked around the Great Hall。 He could not understand why his fellow students were not looking scared or at least discussing the terrible piece of news on the front page； but very few of them took the newspaper every day like Hermione。 There they all were； talking about homework and Quidditch and who knew what other rubbish； when outside these walls ten more Death Eaters had swollen Voldemort's ranks。
He glanced up at the staff table。 It was a different story there： Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were deep in conversation； both looking extremely grave。 Professor Sprout had the Prophet propped against a bottle of ketchup and was reading the front page with such concentration that she was not noticing the gentle drip of egg yolk falling into her lap from her stationary spoon。 Meanwhile； at the far end of the table； Professor Umbridge was tucking into a bowl of porridge。 For once her pouchy toad's eyes were not sweeping the Great Hall looking for misbehaving students。 She scowled as she gulped down her food and every now and then she shot a malevolent glance up the table to where Dumbledore and McGonagall were talking so intently。
'Oh my …' said Hermione wonderingly； still staring at the newspaper。
'What now？' said Harry quickly； he was feeling jumpy。
'It's： horrible；' said Hermione； looking shaken。 She folded back page ten of the newspaper and handed it to Harry and Ron。
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 pot plant。 Healers 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 Miriam Strout； who was in charge of Mr Bodes ward at the time of the incident； has been suspended on full pay and was unavailable for ment 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 e forward。'
'Bode：' said Ron。 'Bode。 It rings a bell：'
'We saw him；' Hermione whispered。 'In St Mungo's； remember？ He was in the bed opposite Lockhart's； just lying there； staring at the ceiling。 And we saw the Devil's Snare arrive。 She … the Healer … said it was a Christmas present。'
Harry looked back at the story。 A feeling of horror was rising like bile in his throat。
'How e we didn't recognise Devils Snare？ We've seen it before： we could've stopped this from happening。'
'Who expects Devils Snare to turn up in a hospital disguised as a pot plant？' said Ron sharply。 'It's not our fault； whoever sent it to the bloke is to blame！ They must be a real prat； why didn't they check what they were buying？'
'Oh； e on； Ron！' said Hermione shakily。 'I don't think anyone could put Devils Snare in a pot and not realise it tries to kill whoever touches it？ This … this was murder： a clever murder； as well： if the plant was sent anonymously； how's anyone ever going to find out who did it？'
Harry was not thinking about Devil's Snare。 He was remembering taking the lift down to the ninth level of the Ministry on the day of his hearing and the sallow…faced man who had got in on the。 Atrium level。
'I met Bode；' he said slowly。 'I saw him at the Ministry with your dad。
Ron's mouth fell open。
'I've heard Dad talk about him at home！ He was an Unspeakable … he worked in the Department of Mysteries！'
They looked at each other for a moment； then Hermione pulled the newspaper back towards her； closed it； glared for a moment at the pictures of the ten escaped Death Eaters on the front； then leapt to her feet。
'Where are you going？' said Ron； startled。
To send a letter；' said Hermione； swinging her bag on to her shoulder。 'It： well； I don't know whether： but it's worth trying： and I'm the only one who can。'
'I hate it when she does that；' grumbled Ron； as he and Harry got up from the table and made their own； slower way out of the Great Hall。 'Would it kill her to tell us what she's up to for once？ It'd take her about ten more seconds … hey； Hagrid！'
Hagrid was standing beside the doors into the Entrance Hall； waiting for a crowd of Ravenclaws to pass。 He was still as heavily bruised as he had been on the day he had e back from his mission to the giants and there was a new cut right across the bridge of his nose。
'All righ'； you two？' he said； trying to muster a smile but managing only a kind of pained grimace。
'Are you OK； Hagrid？' asked Harry； following him as h