Chapter 20 – Reflection in the foeglass

The next day everything was ready. The rucksack nicely filled and Sunrise already at the Burrow. The wedding was in the afternoon so he couldn't fly as he was hoping for. He had no choice but to use floopowder. He hated the idea as it was as good as informing publicly of his departure, but he hadn't any other choice. Once there he would have found a way to make his traces disappear.
Ginny had been over the moon at being informed of Harry's success and he could hardly wait to be finally there.
Having enough time, he decided to pop briefly to the Ministry to give the last instructions and make sure everything was in order before his departure. He took the rucksack with the idea of leaving using the fire over there.
The department was quiet and almost empty, all Aurors being out on some business or other. Elisabeth was there however, and seeing his rucksack smiled complacently, he smiled back without proffering a word and went to his office to ultimate a report on the Inferi guy capture he was working on to keep in the Ministry archive.
As he was writing, something got caught in the corner of his eye. He looked up from the paper he was filling and frowned. Slowly, keeping his eyes on what it seemed so unusual, stood up and went to the other side of the room. He sat on the sofa's arm set (the only available space to sit on as it was covered with files) and stared in the foeglass. They had three in the department, and one was stationary in his office. Harry never looked in it, however. He had made so many enemies during his life that it was usually a confusion of shapes and shadows, impossible to make anything out of it.
But this time, standing out from shadows whizzing on the background, there was a face, as clear as a picture. So definite it was scary. This face, who was staring at him, was long and careworn, with long greasy air and an overgrown beard. Dark shadows were around his eyes and the expression of that face was everything but benevolent.
Harry didn't recognise it in the least and was trying to make out the meaning of it all when Elisabeth strode into his office.
'Harry I've got Goodwin at the fire. He is calling from Azkaban. I think there are some problems. Can you come?'
Albeit unwillingly, glancing perplexed a last time in the glass, he followed Elisabeth. He was starting to feel a twinge of uneasiness and wanted to observe that face some more to try to bring something on surface from his mind but the tone in which she had uttered the request, marked the call an urgent one not to be trifled over.
Earnest face in the fire was bleak revealing straight away he had been right in his hunch.
'What's going on?' he asked sitting down.
'We had a breakout.'
'What?!' Harry boomed. He couldn't believe his ears and for a moment he thought to have misunderstood. Nobody ever escaped from Azkaban. It was impossible. Spells everywhere, guards at every corner, prisoners within sight constantly. It was just impossible. Although Earnest's expression didn't leave place to misconception.
'How can that be?!' he exclaimed aghast 'Who is it?'
'Prisoner n. 01259364-L854' Earnest answered grim 'it's happened yesterday…'
'Yesterday?' Harry almost shouted enraged 'And you are telling me now?'
'We only found out today, an hour ago.' Earnest said as an explanation 'During yard time a scrape broke out. A massive one. It took us the whole evening to tame it and bring everybody back in cell. Seven prisoners needed a healer, two died stomped to death. Three guards injured and as usual we were short on staff. It has been mayhem for hours. A guard went missing and this morning has been found dead in a cupboard without uniform and wand. At the same time Johnson informed me 854 was missing. They found his cell empty serving breakfast.'
'Shit! How the fuck is it possible that his absence went unnoticed for more than twelve solid hours?'
'I'm in the dark as you are' he answered, his face in the fire couldn't hide his concern 'The only thing I know is that the guy was as good as invisible. When I saw the picture, I couldn't even understand who the hell he was. Nobody remembered him or having ever talked to him. Never had any trouble, a blank record. And it has been here for more than ten years!' he exclaimed losing a bit the composure kept until that moment 'Nobody ever heard a peep from him.'
Harry was flabbergasted but maintained his wits about him, his brain already reeling furiously on the next steps to take. It couldn't be treated lightly, they had to intervene immediately and massively, too many precious hours had been lost already and if the guy had been there for ten years already surely it wasn't for pickpocketing.
'What's the felony?'
'He was a Death Eater'

The conversation didn't prolong itself much longer after that. Harry had all the information he needed. Elisabeth was tailing him while he was pelting her with instructions, a quill following them writing everything on a parchment.
'I want everybody back. Everybody that is not on a case of life and death must be here in half an hour!' he ordered stern.
'I want the Minister informed. The Daily Prophet must be informed without delay also. I'll do that'
Elisabeth was already disappearing hurriedly behind the corner to carry out all what he had asked when Harry stopped her. When she turned enquiringly, he looked down and without meeting her gaze said somewhat hesitantly
'Would you be so kind to call Ginny for me when you are done with the rest? Tell her I won't be able to make it' and as she was nodding ready to march out, he added 'Perhaps it would be wise to keep some distance from the fire when you tell her' he cleared his voice uneasy 'A step or two, just to be on the safe side'
Elisabeth smiled 'Don't worry, I'll explain her it's not your fault'
You don't know my wife Harry thought privately.
It was quite cowardly to let Elisabeth handle it; Harry was aware of it, but he didn't have the time to manage it himself considering it couldn't possibly be a short or easy call to do.
He calculated mentally that this affront was going to cost him dearly indeed. At least one week of reproachful silence for the missed wedding, adding another week for having delegated Elisabeth for the call and probably an additional week because (unless of a miracle) the two weeks trip was cancelled likewise. Let's round it all up and it was a full month of icy cold vibes and pointed neglect. It was going to take endless efforts in every direction to overcome it, but it couldn't be helped. It was unthinkable to leave the country with a Death Eater at large.
Percy wasn't at all surprise to hear from him.
'I was expecting your call. I may as well inform you that those reporters were freelance not sent by the Daily Prophet. We have some more important matter to divulge to the magical community than your whereabout' he said pompously without looking up concentrate on writing something on an official looking parchment 'And if you don't mind, I'm quite busy, late on my daily schedule. No time for petty complain.'
'Percy, I don't know what you are talking about. I'm in my office. I need to inform you about a serious matter'
Percy raised his eyes on him and putted down the quill 'I thought you were already on your way. One or two reporters told us they saw you at the Emirates border not long ago.' He rolled his eyes unnerved 'It's almost impossible to get reliable information these days. This is just unacceptable. I won't tolerate the spreading of fake news. I already told mum you were on your way.'
'I was about to be on my way, but I have been prevented. There has been a breakout from Azkaban. A death eater. I want the press being informed, his pictures printed, he must be captured as soon as possible.'
Percy sprang to attention putting aside the official looking parchment and getting a new one 'Of course, Harry! Straight away! We can have a special edition printed in a matter of hours if needed.'
'Cheers. I'll talk to the minister. I'm sure he will agree with me on the necessity of it. I'll look over for the file and I'll send a picture over asap.'
He continued giving him the few details already in his possession and left him busy taking note furiously with one hand and throwing some floopowder in the nearby fireplace with the other shouting a name.
Harry on the other side, as busy as Percy, was damning for the first time the impenetrable mess of his office. He had an accurate idea of every single file in there but with only the prisoner number it wasn't going to be easy research. Especially because what he was looking for was ten years old. He was already head of department back then and that made the job easier. At least it was him who had filed it. However, he had done so many reports on death eaters that was impossible for him to understand which one it was only by the number.
It took him twenty full minutes to find it, buried under years and years of more or less serious misdemeanours.
And when, sat on the floor amid papers scattered everywhere, he finally opened it, the picture struck him. At first, he wasn't sure why. He stared for some time trying to understand why there was an unpleasant sensation creeping on him.
But as Elisabeth strode again in his office 'Harry, everybody is here and the Minister wants to talk to you', a new, horrible notion made his way.
He didn't give any sign to have heard her, he only raised his eyes slowly to the foe glass.
The same face, ten years older, was staring at him with a smirk.