AN: I know it has been abysmally long since the prologue. Real life can be a pain, sometimes.
Not mine
Chapter 1 - Only A Newspaper
Cornelius Fudge pulled his cloak tighter around himself and shuddered involuntarily. The annual inspection of Azkaban was definitely among the most unpleasant of his duties as the Minister, even though the Dementors were allowed nowhere near him.
Fudge's glance slid from one prisoner to another without him paying much attention to any of them. Besides unpleasant, Fudge perceived the inspection as thoroughly pointless, since the prisoners were, as always, merely huddled in their cells, muttering or whimpering incoherently when they showed any sign of life at all.
The Dementors kept even the top-security prisoners docile, that is, trapped within their minds in well-deserved misery. It was almost possible to forget that these human wrecks were the most dangerous individuals in the wizarding world, whose names inspired fear almost as great as that of their Master's. The daily care of the Dementors had reduced them to little more than dead. Nothing to be worried about.
Fudge did, nevertheless, quicken his pace. After all, the sooner he got out...
"You're done with that newspaper, aren't you?"
The hoarse voice caused Fudge literally to jump. The Minister wheeled around and steadying his breath he faced the prisoner he had passed but a moment ago. Sirius Black had averted his gaze from the wall in front of his bunk that he had been staring at and was now looking straight at Fudge with the light of reason evident in his deadened eyes.
"What?" was all Fudge could manage. How in the blazes was this man still able to form a coherent sentence?
"I'd like to have your newspaper, if you are finished with it," Black said.
He stood up very slowly and stepped closer to Fudge, who had to use all of his willpower to keep himself from flinching back.
"What would you do with it?" Fudge asked suspiciously.
"Well," Black rasped. "I have to confess that I miss doing the crossword puzzle. One used to keep me occupied for days, and there isn't that much to do around here. After all, you can only count the bricks in your cell so many times until you start to remember the number." Black paused for a moment before adding "Minister," in a slightly mocking tone.
Fudge was far too occupied with staring at the man in utter amazement to notice. Here he was, having an intelligible conversation with a man, who had spent the past dozen years within a few feet from the Dementors all the time. And if he was not much mistaken, Black had just made a feeble attempt of a joke about his situation. He did not appear insane at all! It was unnatural!
Fudge's hand closed around the wand in his pocket and the Minister was suddenly more grateful than ever of the bars between him and the convict, and of the Aurors within earshot. Those empty grey eyes that were fixed on him were unnervingly calm, and that could have been a contemptuous smile playing around his lips. What if-
Fudge shook himself mentally. This place was starting to get on him. By the looks of Black, a muggle could have taken on him and won. He was the Minister for Magic and he was not intimidated by a convict trapped in his cell, asking for the Prophet. It was only a newspaper, for heaven's sake!
Without another word, Fudge handed his Prophet to Black who took it in equal silence. Then the Minister strode forward, attempting and failing to hide the violent shaking of his hands. He was definitely going to need a sizeable glass of Ogden's the very moment he got back to the mainland...
x~x
Had the Minister stayed but a moment longer, he would have been there to see the prisoner's forced smile freeze on his face.
Had the Minister looked back at him instead of hurrying away from the abnormal mass-murderer, he would have seen a range of emotions portrayed on the convict's usually blank face. He would have seen recognition changing rapidly to shock, before transforming to murderous fury that would have made even the bravest of people back off in fear.
Had the Minister not been so keen to get away from the top-security ward, he might even have heard the inhuman snarl erupting from somewhere behind Sirius Black's bared yellow teeth.
Fudge would have been terrified. But he wanted to get away from the island as soon as possible. He did not look back.
x~x
AN: Review.
