The headline of the Daily Prophet informs the students of the Death Eater mass breakout from the wizard prison Azkaban. The Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge voices the opinion that the Death Eaters went to join Sirius Black to oppose Dumbledore′s warning that Lord Voldemort is back. Harry, Ron and Hermione also read that Broderick Bode – an Unspeakable of the Ministry – has been killed by a pot plant, which had been disguised as a Christmas present. Harry and Ron hear from Hagrid, who has new scratches and effusions of blood that Prof. Umbridge has set him on probation. The Educational Decree Number Twenty-six has been published stating that teachers are banned from giving students any information that is not strictly related to the subjects they are paid to teach. Harry is demoralized by his Occlumency lessons with Severus Snape. Ron thinks that Snape opens Harry′s mind a bit every lesson to help Voldemort. But Dumbledore trusts Snape and the three of them trust Dumbledore. On Valentine′s Day Harry and Cho meet at the oak front door. Ron has Quidditch practice the whole day. Hermione asks Harry, if he would come to the "Three Broomsticks" near midday. Harry and Cho talk about Quidditch until they decide to go to "Madame Puddifoot′s". Both of them drink a cup of coffee. The atmosphere tenses when Cho gets jealous of Hermione without any reason. Finally Harry makes his way to the "Three Broomsticks" alone. He meets a melancholic Hagrid and then Hermione, Luna Lovegood and Rita Skeeter. Hermione tells him about her plan that Rita should write a true to original interview with Harry which will be published in the Quibbler which is owned by Luna′s father.
