Rating: G
Characters: Rita Skeeter, Percy, McGonagall, Tonks, Ollivander, Harry

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THE DAILY PROPHET - SPECIAL MORNING EDITION

A Dark Anniversary

As the commemorative events of the past few days drew to a close, the wizarding world was rocked by news of an unprecedented crime, writes Rita Skeeter, special correspondent. Late yesterday evening, for only the second time in its long and shadowy history, the security of Azkaban Prison was breached, and a prisoner has escaped.

Severus Snape, 49--Death Eater, formerly Potions Master at the Hogwarts Academy of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Head of the disgraced and disbanded House of Slytherin--was convicted of crimes against Wizard and Muggle-kind and sentenced to life in prison without parole, following the final defeat of the infamous cult leader Tom Riddle (aka Lord Voldemort.) Prior to last night's daring raid on the prison, he had spent several years in solitary confinement, despite the objections of numerous former students and colleagues who have declared Snape innocent since the day he was imprisoned.

Our readers will no doubt recall the furor surrounding the last such escape to sully the prison's record. Sirius Black, convicted of the murder of Peter Pettigrew, left Azkaban under the very noses of dozens of Dementor guards, by means that have not been discovered to this day. Black, whose name has since been cleared, took the secret of his liberation to his grave. However, there has never been any evidence to suggest that he received any outside assistance. His former classmate, Remus Lupin, rumored to be the closest of Black's friends and confidants, could not be reached for comment.

"Unlike the incident involving Black," said Minister of Magic Percy Weasley, "yesterday's jailbreak was unquestionably the work of outside parties. We entreat those responsible to come to their senses and return the prisoner to his just and lawful confinement. Severus Snape is a very dangerous man, and enjoys a large following among both those Slytherins who managed to elude conviction and those misguided souls who believe him to be innocent. If he remains at large, it would not surprise me in the least to see the rise of a new Dark Lord within a very short time."

When asked for her reaction to the Minister's statement, Hogwarts Headmistress Minerva McGonagall had this to say: "What a load of unadulterated rubbish--with due respect to the Minister, of course. I've known Severus Snape for nearly forty years. He is a decent and honorable man--a more unlikely Dark Lord I cannot, for the life of me, imagine. If Percy had listened to reason from the beginning, the Ministry would not now be suffering this embarrassment. I only hope whoever took it upon themselves to break the poor man out had his best interests at heart, and not some notion of revenge. I can assure you that very few of those who escaped justice ten years ago think kindly of him!"

McGonagall, who has been one of Snape's staunchest advocates, declined to comment upon rumors that she was somehow involved, and that Snape might in fact be hidden somewhere about the Academy itself. (The famed Chamber of Secrets has received a good deal of attention as a possible hiding place; however, according to both McGonagall and the Ministry, the Chamber has been sealed since its last opening some sixteen years ago.)

We interviewed Auror Nymphadora Tonks, who stated that the perpetrators of yesterday's crime employed some form of unidentified Dark Magic to screen their identities, disrupt wards, and confuse the prison guards. (No serious injuries were reported.)

"There were two or three of 'em, best we can guess," she said, "and they brought something in with them--probably something alive, though we can't even be sure of that. We've got our Defense experts working on it, of course, but as of right now that's the most I can tell you. We do know that they brought an extra wand in--one that the prisoner was able to use, even though he was in pretty poor shape. How exactly they managed that without access to Snape beforehand I can't begin to guess."

In search of an answer to that question, we spoke to famed Diagon Alley wandmaker Ollivander, who flatly denied any knowledge of the matter. "Every wand sold in this shop complies one hundred percent with Ministry guidelines," he stated, "and is properly registered according to Wizarding law. You might try speaking to my esteemed competitor, Mr. Gregorovich--his record for compliance is spotty at best."

Perhaps the most intriguing rumor uncovered by this reporter in connection with this story is the sighting of war hero Harry Potter yesterday afternoon in Knockturn Alley. Eyewitnesses place Potter in this shady locale a few hours before the escape, and claim to have seen him in company with one Draco Malfoy, former Slytherin student under Professor Snape and son of notorious Death Eater Lucius Malfoy.

Mr. Potter made a brief statement when queried about the rumors, as follows: "Get stuffed, Skeeter. I don't know why someone decided to spring Snape, but wherever he is, I wish the old bat well. As for Draco Malfoy, he and I have never got along. If he knows what's good for him, he's a thousand miles away from here and keeping his head down. Now get out of my way--I've had it up to here with reporters."

(Photos by Colin Creevey)

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