A/N: I know it's later than I initially promised, but I've finally started writing "Harry Potter and the Fortress of Shadows". I just wanted to make sure the story was as great as it could be, and I'm fully satisfied with how it turned out. I had this opening in mind from the start, so I knew I needed a plot that was just as strong.

If you haven't read my first installment, "Harry Potter and the Book of Merlin", I'd suggest you do so before reading this.

So, without further ado, I give you "Fortress of Shadows".


PROLOGUE

Neither the conductor of the prisoner transport train, nor any of the guards posted outside each compartment noticed the four black-clad figures emerge from underneath the raised tracks.

Of course they wouldn't, seeing as the appearance of the mysterious figures blended in perfectly with the dark night sky and they navigated their broomsticks so swiftly, that noise wasn't an issue at all. Even if the whooshing of the broomsticks pierced the still air, the sound would have been masked by the train's howling whistle and the chugging of its engines.

The four disguised figures were able to keep pace with minimal effort. Eventually, their speed became so great that they were able to pass the first three compartments. Once the figures were beside the fourth from the back compartment, two of them broke away from their partners. They glided and swirled over the top of the train until they reached the opposite side and sped up towards the conductor's area.

Still, no one took notice.


No one, that is, except for Ron Weasley, who was seated inside the fourth compartment along with a variety of other Azkaban inmates. Ron had his unshaven and scraggly face pressed lightly against the glass window, his breath causing small steam blots to form there. He peered out through hair that reached down slightly over his eyes, on the verge of falling asleep. Although it wouldn't be a particularly comfortable sleep, because his hands and feet were linked together by chains that connected him with the husky prisoner sitting beside him. Like all the rest, Ron was wearing a black and white-striped jumpsuit that had a four-digit serial number stitched on the left shoulder.

Ron was just about to shut his eyes completely when he saw the masses of black momentarily obstruct his view of the moonlit country landscape. The sudden movement made him more alert, and Ron straightened up to try and see what was happening.


Up ahead, the train's conductor was fully awake and keeping a keen eye on the path ahead. He reached for the mug of coffee that was sustaining his alertness, picked it up and took a long gulp before he felt something small but stiff press against the base of his neck.

"Don't turn around," ordered a gruff voice in the conductor's ear that seemed muffled by perhaps a mask. "Stop the train. Now." The voice was calm, completely devoid of any aggression.

The conductor tightened his grip on the mug out of nervousness. "But –…"

The pressure on the conductor's back, which must have been a wand tip, became more pronounced. "Do it."

Not wanting to get hurt, the conductor obliged by reaching up to grab the brake handle, and pulled.


Ron's compartment was abruptly rocked violently by the force of the braking system. Whereas the compartment had seconds before been silent with slumbering criminals, it was now filled with the screech of the brakes and the confused and angered shouts of the other prisoners.

A burst of red light outside the front compartment door caught Ron's attention next. He could make out a figure slumping against it through the door's square window and seconds later, the door was kicked in. Framed in the doorway were two people wearing all black, their faces entirely hidden by masks, save for eyeholes.

The other prisoners were still making indiscernible noises, so the figure on the left raised a wand and cast a spell that caused all of the windows in the compartment to shatter.

Ron, like the others, ducked his head down into his lap and covered it with his arms to protect himself from the shards. Ron cautiously raised his head up as the compartment became dead silent again. He saw that the two figures were making their way down the aisle at a rushed pace.

One of the prisoners, quick as a flash, put himself in the way, puffing out his chest. "Hey!" he said in what sounded like the toughest voice he could muster. "The bloody hell do you think you're -…"

He was cut off by the first figure delivering such a powerful elbow blow to his cheek, the prisoner went sprawling back into his seat. With the temporary hindrance out of the way, the two figures continued their progression.

Ron's eyes widened slightly when the intruders stopped beside his pair of seats.

"Get up." The voice was somewhat distorted by the mask, but the threatening tone wasn't lost.

The prisoner beside Ron immediately got to his feet, but was forced back down by a forceful hand on his shoulder.

"I mean you, Ron Weasley."

Ron shared an uncertain glance with his seatmate before he slowly rose.

The first figure pointed his wand at Ron, which made Ron flinch, but the jet of light that emanated from the wand instead wrapped around Ron's restraints and undid them instantly. The metal cuffs clanged to the floor.

A bang at the other end of the compartment diverted Ron's gaze so he could see the second figure swiftly aim a wand of their own at the charging guard.

"STUPEFY!"

The force of the spell propelled the guard into the ceiling and back on the ground, where he lay motionless.

Two cracking sounds announced the arrival of two more disguised figures. Every prisoner was in too much of a stunned state to do anything but stare.

"Let's go!"

The first figure grabbed Ron by his shirt and hauled him to the open front door, his three associates right behind them.

Once outside, Ron was shoved onto a broomstick by the first figure while he and the others mounted other broomsticks. The first figure got on in front of Ron, the two of them sharing the same broomstick.

Before Ron knew it, they were in the air, leaving the still-stalled train behind them as the wind whipped at them. They flew for a while until they touched down an isolated grassy area where there was no sign of civilization in sight.

Ron and the four mysterious individuals dismounted their brooms. Rubbing at the red and sore skin on his wrists where the cuffs had just been, Ron gazed around and whistled. The masked people still had their backs to him.

"So," Ron finally said, "who do I have to thank for…"

Ron trailed off in shock and stood there in genuine surprise as the figures all removed their masks and turned as one, their wands lighting their now visible faces. Ron's mouth dropped when the first figure produced a pair of glasses from his pocket and slipped them onto his face.

Harry stood beside Hermione, both of them wearing serious expressions. Ian and Ann were on their partners' sides.

Harry arched an eyebrow and shrugged his right shoulder and said in a simple tone, "Looks like we're working together."