Chapter 91: Remus Lupin

--July 10th, 1997. Azkaban Prison. Midnight.

Glancing at me, Moody shook his head, "Are you absolutely sure you guys want to go through with this?"

Turning to look at him, I replied, "Yes Alastor, I do, and so do you, you just won't admit that you want this just as badly as I do, if not more."

Suddenly, an old man walked into the clearing and morphed his features back into Tonks'. "So," she leaned against a tree, "What's the plan?"

Sitting on a tree stump, I looked at Tonks and Alastor, "Well, we know that Aurora is being kept in a secluded section of the eastern wing, and is heavily guarded by a squad of four Dementors."

"Hmmm…" Alastor frowned, "We can't apparate inside…so what do we do about it?" He looked at Tonks, "Any ideas Nymphadora?"

Grimacing at the sound of her first name, Tonks nodded, "Yeah, I think I have a plan."

Chapter 92: Severus Snape

--July 10th, 1997. Undisclosed Location.

Dammit. I should have never agreed to that damnable oath. Narcissa Malfoy and I had an understanding, yes; but I didn't like the fact that Bellatrix Lestrange felt the need to interfere with everything. It was irritating, to say the least. It was really her fault I was in this mess.

Chapter 93: Alastor Moody

--July 10th, 1997. Azkaban.

"Ah, Alastor!" the head warden of Azkaban smiled when he saw me, "Long time, no see! What brings you here?"

Glaring at him with one eye while scanning the room with the other, I simply replied, "I'm here to see one of your prisoners."

Blinking in surprise, he looked at me, "Er…which one?"

"One Aurora Draconis Kapranos. Ex-auror."

"Oh," he looked nervous, "All right, but she's a dangerous one, Alastor."

I nodded, "I know she is."

He looked at me in surprise, "Oh? You know her?"

"Old friend. Now are we going or not?"

Nodding profusely, the warden rubbed his hands together, "Oh yes! Of course! Right this way!"

Within minutes, I stepped in the front of a cell and looked inside. Turning to the warden, I cocked my head toward the door, "She's in there?" When the warden nodded, I swung the door open and stepped inside.

The form inside was battered and bruised, but still instantly recognizable as my friend. She was even thinner than usual, and her face had taken on an unhealthily gaunt cast. "Aurora?" I called softly, "Aurora, it's me, Alastor."

At the sound of my voice, she looked up sharply, "Alastor Moody?" Her voice rang out sharp and clear as always in the confines of the cell. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Shhh," I placed one hand over her mouth, "Lupin, Tonks, and I are going to get you out of here."

Glaring at me, she pried my hand free, "Why the hell would you want to do that?"

"Because," I paused uncomfortably, "We need you alive. Hell, I need you alive." When she opened her mouth to protest, I narrowed my eyes, "Look! I don't give a toss about your damn vow, or about your obsession with dying! I know what you went through—I was there part of the time. You're not going to die, not here and not now, do you understand me?"

Staring at me for a long time, she finally said: "All right Alastor. What is it you want me to do?"

Taking her hand in mine, I glanced down in surprise, "You still wear my ring?"

She nodded, "Yeah, is that a problem?"

"No," I muttered, "Of course not. It simply surprised me is all." Reaching into my jacket, I produced a long, thin wand, "Here, I believe this belongs to you."

Taking it silently, she tilted her head, "So suppose I do manage to blast my way out of here, what happens to you?"

I laughed quietly, "Oh, I'll already be long gone as far as they're concerned. When you get out, immediately switch to your animagus form and you'll soon be picked up by a transport that was arranged by Lupin and Tonks, who have secured safe passage for you back to Grimmauld Place, where you should find me and a few others planning the next step in our operations. You'll have to be updated of course."

"Right. Later then." Turning away from me, she tucked the wand in her coat and sat on her bunk. "Expect me back before dawn."