The Great Escape
12th of April, 2018
Author's note: For about one and a half years I have been reading fanfiction, mainly about the Harry Potter and Game of Thrones universes. Like many people I have read the HP books multiple times and devoured all other information I could find about it. Sadly I can't say the same for Game of Thrones. I started watching the show first and have decided to finish it and then read the books in a couple of years time. By then I won't have the plot lines as clearly in my mind as I do now and I will enjoy them more.
This story is the first that I will publish on this website. I've been working on it for a couple of days now and have about five chapters written. I don't know how often I'll be able to update though. I'll do my best to keep a constant flow, but I can't make any promises.
As far as other stories go, I have two other Potter fictions in the works.
I appreciate any reviews, positive or negative. I haven't let anyone read my writing yet and would love to hear an unbiased opinion.
The rights to anything you recognise in this work of fiction belong to the brilliant Mrs. J.K. Rowling. The title isn't mine either, I nicked it from the great movie starring Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough. I claim only the Protagonist. You may fight over the rest.
And now, enjoy! ... I hope...
Chapter 1
On Friday morning in Potions class I silently counted the seconds until the clock would strike twelve. I guess most people would expect this from a seventeen-year old five minutes away from lunch, but I wasn't nervous due to hunger. No, I couldn't care less what the elves were serving today, I wouldn't be eating it anyway if everything went according to my plans.
I couldn't help it, my were glued to the ancient clock behind Professor Vance's head, my left hand clutched the letter in my robe pocket and my Drought of living Death was sizzling to a ruin in front of me. Some of my classmates kept looking at me from time to time, definitely confused, but I couldn't care less.
When the Bell rang I fought the urge to run out the door. Instead I packed up my things as I did every Friday, I bottled and turned in my ruined potion as I did every Friday and I said goodbye to professor Vance, as I did every Friday. Little did she know that this would be our final goodbye.
I followed my classmates out of the dungeon, but we parted ways fairly quickly. I told them that I had forgotten something in the Tower and I would catch up later. If I failed to show up, as I definitely would, they would assume that I was meeting Ted in the Kitchens.
As soon as they had rounded the corner I sped in the opposite direction, heading towards the Headmistress' office. I had to be quick now. I ran when nobody was around, otherwise I strode purposefully through the corridors. When I arrived at the statue guarding McGonagall's office I stopped and caught my breath while silently thanking Merlin that no one stopped me to ask where I was headed at lunchtime. They'd know soon enough anyway…
After a few deep breaths I stood up straight and gave the silent Guardian the password. When I stepped onto the moving staircase I checked my pockets one last time. In the left, the Ministry letter and two black balls of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes' Peruvian instant darkness powder with a remotely controlled detonator. In the Right pocket, another two darkness powders and a dungbomb. My wand was strapped in my dragonleather wand-holster on my right arm.
As I rose further up, I thought over my bad luck once more.
I suppose it started a year ago when the Ministry first passed the law. Due to dwindling numbers of magical children being born in Britain the Ministry re-introduced the Betrothal act of 1365. It allowed the government to betrothe two individuals and force them to marry. In the original law the Ministry had the right to ensure that the marriage had been consummated. They had removed that particular paragraph before reintroducing the law, but the rest remained the same. The goal was to 'repopulate' magical Britain and to break down the barriers that still existed between pure-, halfbloods and muggleborns. Inbreeding was continuing in pureblood circles and increasing in halfblooded ones. Muggleborns increasingly decide to return to the muggle world. Heck, I was planning to go to university after Hogwarts as well…
Anyway, to break the barriers they now paired young teens from different 'bloodgroups' with one another. A year ago they paired the first couple, a halfblood and a muggleborn. It worked 'well', according to the ministry, meaning that the two of them gave up fighting after a couple of months and started to get along. Now they were two friends with a ring each and a baby that they could share in six months time.
Since then a couple of other matches had been made. Some put up more of a fight, others folded quickly. All in all the Ministry thinks their program was a success, and now they'd gotten to me. Seventh year Ravenclaw muggleborn from Switzerland. They'd probably pair me with a halfblood, or maybe they'd go for a pureblooded gall if they were confident enough.
Well, it didn't matter either way, I wasn't going to play their game. I wasn't going to let them violate my rights without a fight. And so, I bottled my righteous rage, calmed my nerves, put on my best pokerface and entered the office.
The five people in the room turned to face me as I entered. Headmistress McGonagall sat calmly behind her desk, her hands folded upon it and as usual her face was hard to read. For all I knew she was devastated or elated behind that mask of iron will and discipline that she wore. Beside her stood a plump woman dressed in standard Ministry robes. She seemed to be around thirty years old and wore large glasses with a thick black frame. She was smiling cheerfully, as if she was having the time of her life and a few ink-stains littered her hands and robes. She was a bureaucrat, a paper-pusher, probably a stickler for rules.
On the opposite side of the room stood the other three. The older man and woman, evidently my bride-to-be's parents, were well dressed and very clearly seething with anger.
Her father was taller than I and dressed in tailored grey robes. His hair was a dark blond colour and combed to the back. He held his shoulders squared and I felt that this was a man to be listened to. Like his wife, his whole posture and attire screamed of wealth and nobility. He was at that moment staring at me with barely hidden contempt.
His wife was shorter than him, reaching his shoulders. Her hair was pulled back in an elegant knot and she too seemed to dislike me. The way she held her head just a bit to highly suggested that a foul stench had just entered her delicate nose.
Between them sat their daughter, and when I saw her I stopped in the middle of my stride. She was stunning. Beautiful. Coherent thought left my head.
Like her mother she had dark brown hair that she wore freely. Her shapely, red lips stood out against her soft, pale skin, but what captivated me most were her eyes. They were an icy, pale blue with a darker ring surrounding the iris.
"Ah, Mister Parker, come in. Now that we are all here we can start."
McGonagall's voice shook me from my reverie and I nodded. The Ministry employee came up to me and introduced herself. I didn't catch her name, I was still thinking about the beautiful witch in the room. From her tie I gathered that she was a Slytherin. I knew she wasn't in my year, but I guessed she was a sixth year. I recognised her from the hallways, of course (how could I not?), but I couldn't put a name to her face.
The ministry worker stood on the right side of the desk while my 'fiancé' and her parents took the three seats to the left of the desk. Once again I silently thanked Merlin for making things easier for me. Like this I had a better angle with my wand-hand to do what I had to do. I stepped to my vacant chair, put down my rucksack beside it and sat down.
For a few seconds the Ministry worker just smiled at us before she turned to me.
"Mister Meier, may I ask where your parents are? After all, they should be here for such an important occasion."
She said this last part with a slight chuckle and smiled that fake, toothy smile at me. She irritated me immensely.
"I'm of age, there's no reason for them to be here."
"Nevertheless, they should be here for such a significant event. Don't you think?"
"I'm not forcing my parents to fly from Switzerland to a remote corner of the Scottish Highlands just so they can see me sign a document."
On the left of me, my future father in law snorted at that comment. I wasn't sure if it was a derisive laugh or if he agreed with me. However, my comment caused the Ministry worker to drop her cheery façade for a few moments to scowl at me. Too soon for my liking, she returned to her sickening grin.
"Very well, as you know the two of you have been selected for the Ministry of Magic's Betrothal program. Now, marriage is…"
I stopped paying attention. If everything went according to plan I wouldn't need any of that information anyway. Instead I focused on the room and all the important details for my plan. To my right I was happy to note that there was still a fire burning in the fireplace from when the Ministry official arrived. On the sill above stood a little flowerpot full with floopowder. I then glanced at the other occupants of the room. The Ministry Worker was still droning on about the merits and responsibilities of marriage. I was happy to note that her wand was still in her handbag. The small family to my left was focused on what the bureaucrat was saying. None of them had their wands in their hands, so I assumed that the parents kept theirs in their breast- or other sort of pocket. I glanced at their wrists and couldn't see anything that would indicate a wandholster like the one I was wearing. I couldn't be sure but I had no choice to gamble on the fact that they would be too surprised to react and be slow on the draw. It was a serious risk, but I had to take it.
Lastly, I turned my gaze on McGonagall. To my dismay she held her wand in her hand. This had been my greatest worry. McGonagall was the most talented witch I knew and if I didn't get the draw on her my plans and future would be ruined.
She was looking straight at me, a bit confused at first but when her gaze caught my attention she gave me a pointed look. Like a scolded schoolboy I gave my full attention back to the Ministry worker until I was certain that McGonagall was no longer paying me any attention. I had broken out in cold sweat under her scrutiny. Her disabling me before I got to make my move was my greatest worry and now she had taken notice of my strange behaviour. The feeling of unease in my stomach was spreading and I was having difficulty of keeping my hand from shaking. I gripped the armrest harder and tried desperately to keep my face neutral. To calm myself down I listened to the Ministry worker once more.
"… Paragraph twelve is all about the timeframe in which the second and third children should be born. Ms. Greengrass will have…"
Greengrass. That was her name. slowly , I pieced together all I knew about Greengrass.
Elizabeth, Elizabeth Greengrass. Sixth year Slytherin, used to go out with Teddy's friend Luke, one of the Slytherin Chasers. She was a Pureblood. Hah, the Ministry have dared to pair a Pureblood and a Muggleborn. Imagine their faces when it's the Muggleborn who makes a fuss…
Calmer once more, I looked around the office. Most of the portraits of Headmasters and Headmistresses gone by were dozing or absent. A select few were paying attention tot the lecture going on in the office below. They'd all heard it a number of times before.
However, one of the portraits paying attention to the conversation was the one directly behind Professor McGonagall. When I looked at the Wizard with the long white beard and half-moon spectacles he held my gaze and arched one eyebrow. Quickly, I looked away, terrified once more.
McGonagall suspected I was up to something, Dumbledore knew I was up to something but was curious enough to let me proceed for the moment. I was on very thin ice.
"Mister Parker, are you alright? You look rather pale."
My heart was beating at two hundred miles an hour. Everyone was looking at me. McGonagall's brows were furrowed and over her shoulder Dumbledore leaned forward in his seat, as if to hear better.
"'M fine. Just a bit nervous…", I lied quickly and tried to smile. I only managed a pained grimace. My eyes darted to the left and I found Elizabeth peering at me. Her head was tilted to the left and her eyebrows frowned a little. I quickly averted my gaze.
The Ministry worker said something like 'perfectly natural' and continued with her lecture.
I had to do it soon. I wouldn't have much time, the portraits would have aurors here within minutes. I slipped my left hand into my pocket. I picked up a Fishermen's Friend, which I always kept with me, with my fingers as I lodged a Darkness Powder bomb in the palm of my hand. I extracted my hand, put the sweet in my mouth and rested my hand along with the bomb on my thigh. Dumbledore was now looking straight at me. I held my breath, certain that he'd rat me out. I started raising my right hand, ready to flick my wand out and take my chances when he winked at me. Relief flooded through me, but I was careful not to show it. I still had a long way to go but at least I had an ally in the room.
I waited for another minute before I raised my right hand and scratched my nose. Once again Dumbledore was looking straight at me. I winked.
Time seemed to slow down as I made my next move. McGonagall was focused on the Ministry worker and I lowered my hand. My gaze was fixed on her as I flicked my wrist and my wand jumped into my hand. The Headmistress glanced over at the sudden movement and her eyes grew wide when I pointed my wand at her. She had no time to react, I had gotten the drop on her.
As my slumber charm struck her chest (wouldn't want to risk a heart attack by using a stunner) I was already turning on the bureaucrat. Her eyes grew wide and her mouth widened in shock but she didn't get much further than that. She hadn't even hit the floor, stunned I might add, before I was out of my seat and had dropped the Peruvian Powder. As the room turned dark I grabbed my Rucksack from the floor and moved back a couple of paces. Since I was the caster of the bomb I could make out the silhouette of the objects and people around me. A few seconds later the Greengrasses lay stunned on the carpeted floor.
Then I knew that I had to act quickly, some of the portraits would already be running to the Auror department. I detonated the second darkness powder in my left pocket and transfigured my robes into a rich purple colour. I changed the colour of my hair and strode towards the fireplace. I thumbled in my right pocket until I had the two remaining powder bombs and the dungbomb in my hand. I charmed them to detonate within the next 5 minutes and then threw them into the office. I grabbed some floopowder from the pot and then vanished said pot. Anything that made following my difficult was great right then. I stepped into the fireplace, threw down my powder and as the green flames rose around me I called out my destination: "The Leaky Cauldron!"
I hope you enjoyed this first chapter. I have to admit that the idea of the betrothal law is something I nicked from various fanfictions I've read. The Protagonist is based to a large extent on myself. The main thought behind the story was simply: What would I do (or at least try to do) in such a situation? And this is what I came up with.
I hope you have a lovely day and please review ;)
