Chapter One Hundred And Forty-Five: Valentine's Day
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The news about the Death Eaters escaping Azkaban quickly spread through the school until it was the only thing anyone could talk about.
Rumours flew around the school that some of the convicts had been spotted in Hogsmeade, they were apparently hiding out in the Shrieking Shack and were going to break into Hogwarts just like Sirius Black had done.
Those who came from wizarding families had grown up hearing the names of the escaped Death Eaters spoke with as much fear as they did when speaking about You-Know-Who.
The relatives of the victims from the ten at Hogwarts had suddenly found themselves the centre of attention, other nosy students wanted to know exactly what happened to them. But still, no one, except those closest to Lina knew that her mother's murderer was one of the ten that had escaped.
Whispers around the hallways that were once horrible whispered accusations about Harry were now about the Prophet and how they weren't satisfied with the version of how and why ten high-security Death Eaters had managed to break out of Azkaban. In their confusion and fear the once doubters seemed to slowly believe what Harry and Dumbledore had been saying since last year.
It was not only students who were gripped by the sudden news. It was now common to see teachers in groups of twos and threes conversing in low urgent whispers in the hallways that they would instantly stop the second they saw a student approach.
Lina knew it was because they weren't free to talk in the staffroom because of Umbridge. The teachers weren't even allowed to talk to the students due to Umbridge's decree number...
BY ORDER OF THE HUGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS Teachers are hereby banned from giving students any information that is not strictly related to the subjects they are paid to teach. The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty Six. Signed: Dolores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor.
This decree became the butt of many jokes among students. Lee Jordan one Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson had pointed out to Umbridge that due to the new decree she was not allowed to tell Fred and George off for playing exploding snap in the back of the class.
When Lina next sat Lee his hand was bleeding and scared.
Fred, George and Lee had found out the same thing had happened to Lina a couple of months prior.
The only good thing to come from the breakouts, if it could be considered that, was that the entirety of the DA club was working twice as hard on the spells Harry was teaching them.
Even Neville who in the short span of a couple of weeks had become one of the best in the class under Lina and Hermione.
Neville had come to Lina a day after the news about the breakout asking her to help him improve his spell work. In between her lessons with Professor McGonagall, which were closely being monitored by Umbridge, captaining the quidditch team, hospital duty, homework and revising for her N.E.W.Ts, taking part in the DA lessons she was spending which little free time she had tutoring Neville.
