The answer to Megan's worries about what had made Voldemort so happy came the next morning. Hermione had just unrolled her copy of the Prophet and she was looking at the front cover when she gasped.

"What?"

"There's been a breakout from Azkaban..."

She spread out the paper for them to read. There was a huge frame of ten pictures of the escapees under the headline. Each picture had a name under it. Antonin Dolohov, Algernon Rookwood, and Bellatrix Lestrange were among them.

"Isn't Bellatrix Lestrange the one who..."

Megan nodded. She glanced up at the staff table. Dumbledore and McGonagall were talking intently under Umbridge's malevolent eye at the far end of the table.

"Why is no one worried or even discussing this?" Harry asked, glancing up the table.

"... They don't believe the Prophet any more because it's overruled by the Ministry." Hermione said. "So now that they're finally telling the truth about something, everyone's just writing it off as more rubbish... It's crying wolf."

Megan looked down at the article.

MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN

MINISTRY FEARS BLACK IS RALLYING OLD DEATH EATERS

"Black..." Ron said. "Not...?"

"Who else?" Harry asked bitterly.

The Ministry of Magic announced last night that there has been a mass breakout from Azkaban prison.

Speaking from his private office, Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic confirmed that ten high security prisoners escaped in the early hours of yesterday night and has already informed the Muggle Prime Minister of the danger these individuals represent.

"We find ourselves, unfortunately, in the same position we were in during Black's escape two and a half years ago," said Fudge last night. "But we strongly suspect Black, as the first man to ever escape Azkaban, to be behind the breakout. Indeed, he would, in his position, be ideally placed to manoeuvre others out. We think likely that the individuals, including Black's cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, to have rallied around Black. We are, of course, making every effort to round up the criminals but in the meantime, we advise the Magical Community to remain alert and cautious."

"That's why he was so happy the other night..." Hermione said.

"Fudge is blaming this on Sirius?!" Megan hissed outraged.

"Well, he has no choice, has he? He spent the last six months lying!"

Megan's fist clenched.

"Dumbledore warned him this could happen... He's going to get us all killed just because he can't face the truth..."

Megan glanced at Neville. His face was full of a strange expression. She wanted to go and talk to him but wasn't sure he'd approve.

"And listen to this... a man working at the Ministry was killed in St Mungo's! Just last night!"

"How?" Harry asked aghast.

"Apparently, Bode – That's the victim – received a plant at Christmas and when he was well enough to look after it, he touched it and it killed him..."

"What plant does that?"

"It was Devil's Snare," Hermione said.

Megan knew how treacherous that plant could be, coiling around you like a snake.

"Megan?"

Seamus had gotten up and come over.

"... Yes?"

"Er... listen, I'm sorry about calling you a liar. Even me mum says the Prophet's been saying stuff that doesn't add up. So... what I'm trying to say is... I believe you."

Megan nodded, shook his hand and he walked off.

"Hopefully, more like that will come," Harry said. "Come on, let's go to Care of Magical Creatures..."

That day's lesson was in a darker part of the forest's outskirts.

"'Bit more sheltered 'ere, they prefer the dark."

"What do, Hagrid?" Megan asked cautiously.

She noticed with satisfaction that Malfoy didn't like the idea of the forest.

"Ready? Now what we're studyin' today's pretty rare. I think I'm the only one who's managed to train 'em in Britain."

"You're sure they're properly trained, are you?" Malfoy asked, panic in his voice.

"Course they are."

"Then why's your face mangled?"

"None o' yer business. Now, hold up a moment."

He lay down the dead cow he had been carrying and told them to stand back.

"They're a bit shy, see."

Shortly after, Megan saw what she recognised as a Thestral.

"Now, how many of yeh can see them?" Hagrid asked as they began biting bits of meat off.

Megan raised her hand.

"Yeah, knew you'd be able ter. And you, Neville?"

"Excuse me but what are we looking at?" Malfoy called loudly, making the Thestral jump.

"Thestrals." Megan said.

"Aye, tha's right."

"But they're really unlucky, they bring all sorts of misfortune..."

"No, no," Hagrid chuckled. "That's superstition, that's all. They're really clever and useful. The ones we've got in Hogwarts mainly pull the carriages, unless Dumbledore's got a long journey and can't Apparate. Ah, here come two more..."

A mother and its baby appeared. The baby then trotted up to Megan who crouched down and stroked it gently. She imagined it was the one she had seen with Luna.

"Aah! I think I felt something!" Malfoy said.

"It won't hurt yeh, yeh nitwit, so just stand still. Now, who knows why some see 'em when others can't?"

Hermione, for the first time, seemed to be unsure. Megan raised her hand.

"Go on then," Hagrid smiled.

"Thestrals can only be seen by people who have seen someone die," Megan said.

"Exactly, ten points ter Gryffindor. Now, if yeh–"

"Hem hem!"

Umbridge was standing behind them, her clipboard in hand.

"Oh, hello," Hagrid said politely.

"You received my note this morning?" she asked.

"Yeah, I did. So, yeh found us all righ'. Good. We're doin' Thestrals, today."

"I'm sorry?"

"Thestrals, big winged horses, like, see?"

She scribbled something on her clipboard.

"So, er... so, how come we got a heard? Well, it started with a male and female, 'course. This one, Tenebrus, my special favourite, was the firs' one ter be born here."

"Excuse me, but are you aware that Thestrals are classified as dangerous by the Ministry of Magic?"

Megan bit her lip. She had been afraid of something like that.

"They're not dangerous, they're just thought to be 'cos of the death thing! I mean, okay, one might bite yeh, if yeh really annoy it, but..."

Umbridge continued to scrawl notes.

"But I mean, a dog'll bite yeh if yeh pester it, won't it? And people love dogs!"

"I shall walk among the students and ask them questions. Don't mind me."

Megan and Hermione had their fists clenched.

"You evil hag..." Hermione hissed. "I know exactly what you're doing, you foul..."

"Anyway, there's plenty of good things abou' Thestrals..."

Behind them, Umbridge was talking to Pansy Parkinson.

"D'you find it easy to understand Hagrid when he talks?"

"No," she said. "It often sounds like a lot of grunting."

Umbridge scribbled still more. Hagrid flushed but said nothing of the comment.

"Er... for one, they 'ave a great sense of direction. Once they're tamed, like this lot, yeh'll never be lost again. Just tell 'em where yeh want to go."

"You can see them, can't you?" Umbridge demanded of Neville.

"Yes..." he said. "I saw my granddad die."

"I see. And what d'you think of them?"

"... I... they're OK..."

"Too intimidated... to admit... they're frightened..."

"I'm not scared!"Neville said, upset.

"It's all right," she said, patting him sharply on the shoulder and moving away. "Well, I think I have all I need for now, Hagrid." she announced. "You shall receive the results in a few weeks' time."

She marched off. Megan squeezed Neville's shoulder.

"It's okay, Neville..."