.No,..she.sighed,..just.some.guff.about.the.bass.player.in.the.Weird.Sisters.getting.married...
Hermione.opened.the.paper.and.disappeared.behind.it..Harry.devoted.himself.to.another.helping.of.eggs.and.bacon..Ron.was.staring.up.at.the.high.windows,
.looking.slightly.preoccupied..
.Wait.a.moment,..said.Hermione.suddenly...Oh.no….Sirius!..
.What.s.happened?..said.Harry,.snatching.at.the.paper.so.violently.it.ripped.down.the.middle,.with.him.and.Hermione.each.holding.one.half..
..The.Ministry.of.Magic.has.received.a.tip‐off.from.a.reliable.source.that.Sirius.Black,
.notorious.mass.murderer….blah.blah.blah….is.currently.hiding.in.London!..
.Hermione.read.from.her.half.in.an.anguished.whisper..
.Lucius.Malfoy.I.ll.bet.anything,..said.Harry.in.a.low,.furious.voice...He.did.recognise.Sirius.on.the.platform…..
.What?..said.Ron,.looking.alarmed...You.didn.t.say.‐..
.Shh!..said.the.other.two..
…..Ministry.warns.wizarding.community.that.Black.is.very.dangerous….killed.thirteen.people….broke.out.of.Azkaban.…..the.usual.rubbish,..Hermione.concluded,
.laying.down.her.half.of.the.paper.and.looking.fearfully.at.Harry.and.Ron...Well,
.he.just.won.t.be.able.to.leave.the.house.again,.that.s.all,..she.whispered.
.
.Dumbledore.did.warn.him.not.to...
Harry.looked.down.glumly.at.the.bit.ol.the.Prophet.he.had.torn.off..Most.of.the.page.was.devoted.to.an.advertisement.for.Madam.Malkins.Robes.for.All.Occasions,.which.was.apparently.having.a.sale..
.Hey!..he.said,.flattening.it.down.so.Hermione.and.Ron.could.see.it...Look.at.this!..
.I.ve.got.all.the.robes.I.want,..said.Ron..
.No,..said.Harry...Look….this.little.piece.here…..
Ron.and.Hermione.bent.closer.to.read.it;.the.item.was.barely.an.inch.long.and.placed.right.at.the.bottom.of.a.column..It.was.headlined:.
TRESPASS.AT.MINISTRY
Sturgis.Podmore,.38,.of.number.two,.Laburnum.Gardens,.Clapham,.has.appeared.in.front.of.the.Wizengamot.charged.with.trespass.and.attempted.robbery.at.the.Ministry.of.Magic.on.3ISI.August..Podmore.was.arrested.by.Ministry.of.Magic.watchwizard.Eric.Munch,.who.found.him.attempting.to.force.his.way.through.a.top‐security.door.at.one.o.clock.in.the.morning..Podmore,.who.refused.to.speak.in.his.own.defence,.was.convicted.on.both.charges.and.sentenced.to.six.months.in.Azkaban..
.Sturgis.Podmore?..said.Ron.slowly...He.s.that.bloke.who.looks.like.his.head.s.been.thatched,.isn.t.he?.He.s.one.of.the.Ord—..
.Ron,.shh!..said.Hermione,.casting.a.terrified.look.around.them..
.Six.months.in.Azkaban!..whispered.Harry,.shocked...Just.for.trying.to.get.through.a.door!..
.Don.t.be.silly,.it.wasn.t.just.for.trying.to.get.through.a.door..What.on.earth.was.he.doing.at.the.Ministry.of.Magic.at.one.o.clock.in.the.morning?..breathed.Hermione..
.D.you.reckon.he.was.doing.something.for.the.Order?..Ron.muttered..
.Wait.a.moment…..said.Harry.slowly...Sturgis.was.supposed.to.come.and.see.us.off,.remember?..
The.other.two.looked.at.him..
.Yeah,.he.was.supposed.to.be.part.of.our.guard.going.to.King.s.Cross,