CHAPTER TWELVE: Remus Lupin

Black tossed the newspaper aside with a little more energy than was strictly necessary. Remus Lupin looked up from the book he was reading and said, with his characteristic understatement, "No good news, Sirius?"

"Not good, nor bad, either. No news worth reading."

"Well, it is yesterday's paper. Perhaps the Sunday 'Prophet' will have something more to your liking," Lupin said mildly - swallowing a smile and dropping his face behind his book once again.

Right on cue, an owl flashed by the window and a soft "thud" was heard on the front step.

Sirius Black rose to go collect the paper saying darkly, "You're entirely too optimistic Remus."

Lupin absently noted the sound of the front door's squeaky hinges as he returned his attention to his book. His attention did not stay there long, however.

A loud oath filled the front hall and was followed by the sound of the door slamming. Alarmed, Lupin put his book aside and stood to face his friend.

"What?" he said tensely.

Sirius shook his head darkly and merely handed Lupin the paper.

AZKABAN PRISON BROKEN OPEN was the headline that greeted Lupin's horrified eyes. "No." Lupin breathed. Then, as the headline sunk in he, too swore.

AZKABAN PRISON BROKEN OPEN

Azkaban, the notorious Wizard Prison has been unguarded since as early as Friday, the Daily Prophet can exclusively report. The Dementors who have long guarded the island prison left Azkaban sometime Friday night or Saturday morning, taking some of You-Know-Who's most infamous supporters with them. The Dementors left dozens of broken, mentally unstable prisoners behind.

"We have no real information about what actually happened," Corneilus Fudge, the Minister of Magic stated late Saturday, "So rumor-mongering and panic are a bit premature. Until we ascertain what occurred and why, we suggest the magical community rely on reason and not rumor." Fudge may have been referring to the rumors, widespread since last June, that You-Know-Who has in fact been restored to his body and called his faithful Death Eaters back into his service.

"The Disappearance of the Dementors without notice and with prisoners like the LeStranges certainly does tend to support the rumors," Said a member of the Dark Arts Defense League who asked to remain anonymous. "This news is grave and disturbing. While panic may be premature, caution certainly is not."

"What now?" Lupin asked putting the paper down with a sigh.

"We wait to hear what Dumbledore wants us to do next."

"Ah, indeed." Lupin said moving to gaze out the window. Black heard him say something but couldn't quite make it out.

"Come again, Remus."

Lupin turned with a sigh, "I didn't know I was speaking aloud. I just said 'The LeStranges'. I'm thinking about a student I had at Hogwarts. This news will hit him doubly hard, I fear."

"The Longbottom's boy?" Sirius asked

"Yes. I didn't think you knew about that. It happened after you were imprisoned."

"I've studied up a bit since my escape." Black said dryly. "The Longbottom boy-"

"Neville." Lupin supplied.

"He's about Harry's age isn't he?"

"Yes, he and Harry are in the same year, the same house in fact."

Sirius shook his head and made an indistinct noise.

"What?" Lupin asked.

"I'm thinking that waiting for word from Dumbledore is sensible but impossible."

"I agree wholeheartedly," Lupin said with a glint in his eye, " Let's go."