Chapter 26
School Starts
The Christmas vacation was over far too soon. The Sunday before the rest of the school returned, Harry got up early, and went into the common room. "Morning, Ferretboy," he said by way of greeting.
"What do you want?" Malfoy asked, glowering.
"Lost track of time, have you? Harry asked, smiling slightly.
Draco looked up in response to that.
"Today's Sunday, Malfoy," Harry informed him. "And...that being the case," he added, taking up his wand, he then murmured something, and the ropes binding Malfoy fell away. "Go on then... and don´t turn back," Harry growled.
Malfoy didn't need any further prompting, got clumsily to his feet, and took of running out the portrait hole and home. Harry was swinging the portrait closed when he heard noise upon the stairway. It was Hermione making her way down from the girl's dormitories to the common room.
She immediately noticed the chair and scattered ropes. "You let Malfoy go, I see," she declared, motioning to the chair with her chin.
"I didn't want him here any longer than necessary, thanks," Harry answered. Hermione nodded in agreement. "Oh! Harry, you simply won´t believe what I saw just the other day," Hermione began, taking a seat. "I had to go to the bathroom yesterday, and was on my way back to the common room, when I saw McGonnagal and Dumbledore."
"So? I see them all the time, Hermione," Harry reasoned, wondering where she was going with all this.
"Well, yes. But it was what they were doing that was so hard to believe," she added, trying hard not to grin.
"What they were---?" Harry asked, bewildered.
"Oh, really! Boys can be so dense at times! They were kissing each other, Harry," Hermione explained.
Harry widened his eyes in disbelief. "No!"
"Yes! You do remember, don't you? Back when the Hogwarts Sisters told us that McGonnagal had herself a boyfriend. Well, we certainly now know who it is," Hermione said, nodding.
Both looked up as Ron thundered down the steps. "Morning, 'Mione. Harry," he said, looking at the two. That was when Harry and Hermione told him about McGonnagal and Dumbledore and their seemingly clandestine activities.
"Wicked!" Ron said quietly, blinking a few times. "Well, best get downstairs, eh? I'm starving!" The three then proceeded down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
Once they had begun eating, they looked over at where both Professor McGonnagal and Dumbledore sat talking at the head table.
"It´s amazing just how good they can keep a secret," Harry said, shaking his head.
"Maybe so, mate...but, don't you think we should, er, drop them a hint or something?" Ron asked.
"Maybe later, Ron," Hermione suggested.
The comforting silence of the Great Hall was broken by someone booming out the Hogwarts Sister's rendition of the song "A Whole New World" (from the Muggle move "Alladin") over a magical CD player utilizing a Sonorus spell. They couldn't help but look up to the head table where the four former musicians sat. Professor McGonnagal looked back their way, elbowed her friends, and they all waved at the trio. Harry grinned, then looked over at Ron and Hermione who were grinning as well.
Harry was interrupted by the arrival of the Owl Post, his snowy owl, Hedwig gliding down, landing then making her way over to him, asking for a bit of breakfast. He noticed she was clutching a copy of the Daily Prophet in her one claw. As Harry fed her a bit of bacon, Hermione gently retrieved the paper from Hedwig.
When she looked at the front page, she nearly fainted, her face becoming very pale, and her brown eyes enormous with surprise.
"Hermione? Hey, what´s wrong?" Harry asked, suddenly concerned.
Hermione turned the front page so they could read what it said:
Mass Breakout from Azkaban.
Yesterday evening, fifteen sentenced Death Eaters escaped from Azkaban prison. Among those that escaped were convicted murderess Bellatrix Lestrange as well as Lucius Malfoy, two Death Eaters very close to You-Know- Who. "The Ministry is at a loss," Cornelius Fudge reluctantly allowed. "Something like this has never happened before. Needless to say, the Ministry is on the job and all shall be recaptured soon enough!"
More detail of the mass breakout, please turn to pages 1 through 10...
Fifteen of them? They're all free?" Ron asked, stunned.
Harry went pale, nearly as pale as Hermione. "Well, one things for sure...that can´t lead to any good," Harry observed. He took the paper from Hermione's nerveless hands, and looked over to where Dumbledore sat. The Headmaster continued to talk with Professor McGonnagal, apparently not yet taking the opportunity to read the paper. Harry excused himself to his friends, and made his way over to McGonnagal and Dumbledore.
"Ah, good morning, Harry. What may we do for you?" Dumbledore asked politely.
"Excuse me, sir. But have you seen this yet?" Harry said, handing over the paper to him. Professor McGonnagal gasped as she read the headline, and Dumbledore gave her a stare when he to had read the article. "Thought you'd like to know, sir," Harry added. He then lowered his voice to say, "And, by the way, you two should be a bit more careful. Hermione saw you yesterday on her way back from the bathroom."
McGonnagal looked away, blushing a bit. To save her from further embarrassment, Harry then asked, "So did you produced any more CDs than that?"
"Well, yes, Mr. Potter, we have indeed. There are nine others to speak of," McGonnagal informed him. "All ten of our CDs are available at that store in Hogsmeade, you know."
"Good to know. Thanks, Professor. Good morning again, Professor Dumbledore," Harry said, intending to take his leave.
"Minerva? Isn't the next planned trip to Hogsmeade coming up soon?" Dumbledore suddenly asked, making Harry turn back around.
"Why, yes. Yes, it's next weekend, Albus," McGonnagal answered.
The doors to the Great Hall swung open a moment later, and Malfoy came inside, flanked by his ever-present bodyguards, Crabbe and Goyle. Dumbledore said nothing, but gave Harry a rather significant look over his half-moon spectacles.
"Yes, while we´re on that," Harry said awkwardly. "You should know, Professor...he deserved everything he got."
"Oh, I'm quite certain of that, Harry," Dumbledore said chuckling softly. "Now, do go back and eat your breakfast, my boy."
"Yes, sir," Harry said and headed back to where Hermione and Ron sat, waiting for his return.
School Starts
The Christmas vacation was over far too soon. The Sunday before the rest of the school returned, Harry got up early, and went into the common room. "Morning, Ferretboy," he said by way of greeting.
"What do you want?" Malfoy asked, glowering.
"Lost track of time, have you? Harry asked, smiling slightly.
Draco looked up in response to that.
"Today's Sunday, Malfoy," Harry informed him. "And...that being the case," he added, taking up his wand, he then murmured something, and the ropes binding Malfoy fell away. "Go on then... and don´t turn back," Harry growled.
Malfoy didn't need any further prompting, got clumsily to his feet, and took of running out the portrait hole and home. Harry was swinging the portrait closed when he heard noise upon the stairway. It was Hermione making her way down from the girl's dormitories to the common room.
She immediately noticed the chair and scattered ropes. "You let Malfoy go, I see," she declared, motioning to the chair with her chin.
"I didn't want him here any longer than necessary, thanks," Harry answered. Hermione nodded in agreement. "Oh! Harry, you simply won´t believe what I saw just the other day," Hermione began, taking a seat. "I had to go to the bathroom yesterday, and was on my way back to the common room, when I saw McGonnagal and Dumbledore."
"So? I see them all the time, Hermione," Harry reasoned, wondering where she was going with all this.
"Well, yes. But it was what they were doing that was so hard to believe," she added, trying hard not to grin.
"What they were---?" Harry asked, bewildered.
"Oh, really! Boys can be so dense at times! They were kissing each other, Harry," Hermione explained.
Harry widened his eyes in disbelief. "No!"
"Yes! You do remember, don't you? Back when the Hogwarts Sisters told us that McGonnagal had herself a boyfriend. Well, we certainly now know who it is," Hermione said, nodding.
Both looked up as Ron thundered down the steps. "Morning, 'Mione. Harry," he said, looking at the two. That was when Harry and Hermione told him about McGonnagal and Dumbledore and their seemingly clandestine activities.
"Wicked!" Ron said quietly, blinking a few times. "Well, best get downstairs, eh? I'm starving!" The three then proceeded down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
Once they had begun eating, they looked over at where both Professor McGonnagal and Dumbledore sat talking at the head table.
"It´s amazing just how good they can keep a secret," Harry said, shaking his head.
"Maybe so, mate...but, don't you think we should, er, drop them a hint or something?" Ron asked.
"Maybe later, Ron," Hermione suggested.
The comforting silence of the Great Hall was broken by someone booming out the Hogwarts Sister's rendition of the song "A Whole New World" (from the Muggle move "Alladin") over a magical CD player utilizing a Sonorus spell. They couldn't help but look up to the head table where the four former musicians sat. Professor McGonnagal looked back their way, elbowed her friends, and they all waved at the trio. Harry grinned, then looked over at Ron and Hermione who were grinning as well.
Harry was interrupted by the arrival of the Owl Post, his snowy owl, Hedwig gliding down, landing then making her way over to him, asking for a bit of breakfast. He noticed she was clutching a copy of the Daily Prophet in her one claw. As Harry fed her a bit of bacon, Hermione gently retrieved the paper from Hedwig.
When she looked at the front page, she nearly fainted, her face becoming very pale, and her brown eyes enormous with surprise.
"Hermione? Hey, what´s wrong?" Harry asked, suddenly concerned.
Hermione turned the front page so they could read what it said:
Mass Breakout from Azkaban.
Yesterday evening, fifteen sentenced Death Eaters escaped from Azkaban prison. Among those that escaped were convicted murderess Bellatrix Lestrange as well as Lucius Malfoy, two Death Eaters very close to You-Know- Who. "The Ministry is at a loss," Cornelius Fudge reluctantly allowed. "Something like this has never happened before. Needless to say, the Ministry is on the job and all shall be recaptured soon enough!"
More detail of the mass breakout, please turn to pages 1 through 10...
Fifteen of them? They're all free?" Ron asked, stunned.
Harry went pale, nearly as pale as Hermione. "Well, one things for sure...that can´t lead to any good," Harry observed. He took the paper from Hermione's nerveless hands, and looked over to where Dumbledore sat. The Headmaster continued to talk with Professor McGonnagal, apparently not yet taking the opportunity to read the paper. Harry excused himself to his friends, and made his way over to McGonnagal and Dumbledore.
"Ah, good morning, Harry. What may we do for you?" Dumbledore asked politely.
"Excuse me, sir. But have you seen this yet?" Harry said, handing over the paper to him. Professor McGonnagal gasped as she read the headline, and Dumbledore gave her a stare when he to had read the article. "Thought you'd like to know, sir," Harry added. He then lowered his voice to say, "And, by the way, you two should be a bit more careful. Hermione saw you yesterday on her way back from the bathroom."
McGonnagal looked away, blushing a bit. To save her from further embarrassment, Harry then asked, "So did you produced any more CDs than that?"
"Well, yes, Mr. Potter, we have indeed. There are nine others to speak of," McGonnagal informed him. "All ten of our CDs are available at that store in Hogsmeade, you know."
"Good to know. Thanks, Professor. Good morning again, Professor Dumbledore," Harry said, intending to take his leave.
"Minerva? Isn't the next planned trip to Hogsmeade coming up soon?" Dumbledore suddenly asked, making Harry turn back around.
"Why, yes. Yes, it's next weekend, Albus," McGonnagal answered.
The doors to the Great Hall swung open a moment later, and Malfoy came inside, flanked by his ever-present bodyguards, Crabbe and Goyle. Dumbledore said nothing, but gave Harry a rather significant look over his half-moon spectacles.
"Yes, while we´re on that," Harry said awkwardly. "You should know, Professor...he deserved everything he got."
"Oh, I'm quite certain of that, Harry," Dumbledore said chuckling softly. "Now, do go back and eat your breakfast, my boy."
"Yes, sir," Harry said and headed back to where Hermione and Ron sat, waiting for his return.