The 7th Child
A/N: Thank you so much for the response so far, I'm glad people are enjoying this!
This next chapter is the first big bit of action, and I know I've kind of skipped though Azkaban a little bit, but I think I'm going to address the effect of the place on Ginny later. And maybe sort of use flashbacks to illustrate their relationship more but we'll see!
Disclaimer: I don't own pretty much anything I've used in this
- Eve x
Chapter 3: The Breakout
Ginny sucked a breath in sharply through her nose, nervousness welling up inside her. This was it. Sirius had decided to escape today as, within his animagus form (Padfoot, she thinks he called it), he was small enough to slip through the bars. Padfoot also came with the added bonus of being ignored by the dementors and, Ginny noted as she shivered from the unnatural chill, that could only be a good thing. Her nervousness was not just for Sirius though. Some arose due to her uncertainty over whether he would keep his word, because it was going to be near impossible for Sirius to sneak out, let alone with Ginny.
"Alright kiddo, wish me luck." Sirius' harsh whisper came across from his side of the corridor, and as Ginny turned, she watched him transform into the shaggy beast she had seen numerous times since her imprisonment. Fear began to set into her stomach and quite suddenly, an urge to vomit arose. If Sirius failed, she would be alone in this place. Alone with nothing but the dementors to keep her company. An attempt to escape from Azkaban was an immediate sentence of dementor's kiss. If that happened to Sirius…
Her attention was rapidly diverted as she watched Sirius slip out through the bars, and dive into the shadows. She could still hear his breathing, shallow and fast, his nerves palpable, even from a distance (however slight). He needed to go, to run before a guard came down the corridor and realised that Sirius wasn't in his cell. It was with a sinking heart that Ginny realised this.
"Go, before they catch you. Go!" Her whispered yell caused Sirius' eyes, which were glowing in the dark, to fixate on her. She started making shooing motions with her hand, her desperation becoming more obvious. "You have to leave!"
With that, she heard rather than saw Sirius running down to corridor, away from her and towards freedom. Inexplicably, tears started to flow down Ginny's cheeks, as she realised she was actually alone. As she heard the pad of Sirius' paws get fainter, she gasped out one last phrase towards her one companion in this hell.
"Good luck."
- The 7th Child -
Sirius started running down the corridor as Ginny told him to leave, a feeling of guilt slowly building. He couldn't leave an 11 year old girl in this place, especially when she was innocent. It wouldn't be right. Luckily for Ginny, Sirius had been thinking about this a while and had come up with a plan that even his fellow marauders would be proud of. After all, it was incredibly risky and stupid.
Slipping back into the shadows, Sirius was able to see several guards about to make their rounds. He quickly looked around, trying to find the auror that usually inspected their corridor at around this time. He couldn't really remember the name of the man, was it Fawlish? Dawson? D-
"Dawlish!" Bingo. Sirius' eyes narrowed onto the slightly portly fellow and began to follow him from the darkness. Slinking down the corridors, past the cells containing the mad prisoners, Sirius felt some of the tension in his muscles dissipate. 'It might be going well so far Black, but you're not out of the woods yet.' Sirius scolded himself lightly, in an attempt to remind himself to stay on edge. Still shadowing Dawlish, Sirius waited before he turned into the secluded corridor in which he and Ginny had been placed. 'Kind of hilarious how they've put the two innocent people in the two highest security cells. Actual morons' Sirius chuckled to himself before getting into position.
As Dawlish approached the empty cell Sirius used to occupy, Sirius dived forward, transforming mid jump. The added momentum from his suddenly increased weight sent Dawlish into a sprawling heap, with Sirius on top. Sirius then scrabbled for Dawlish's wand, his knee on the back of the auror's neck. Dawlish kept struggling managing to flip them over, and nearly restrained Sirius. However, the convict fought back wildly, like a caged animal with nothing to lose. Finally seizing the wand, Sirius sent a silent stunner, rendering Dawlish unconscious. Smirking slightly, Sirius got to his feet and turned to face a wide eyed Ginny.
"Told you I'd break you out, now didn't I?"
- The 7th Child -
Ginny couldn't believe it. Sirius had come back for her. He'd actually risked his escape to come back for her. To be completely honest, she was surprised he actually had enough strength to fight the auror but she supposed it must have been adrenaline.
"Right, lets open this cell up" Sirius cast a variety of charms on the cell, before a simple unlocking charm caused the door the creak open. Both of them looked surprised.
"An unlocking charm? Seriously? That's all it took? I could have busted out of here years ago" Sirius sounded so shocked and affronted that Ginny couldn't help but start laughing. Sirius allowed a small smile before inclining his head. "C'mon we have to go."
Ginny nodded and exited the cell where she'd been for the last month. She felt almost giddy with joy. Sirius grabbed her shoulders and steered her towards the shadows, masking them both completely before he bound Dawlish and levitated him into her cell. They then began to head down the corridor. Ginny's heart was pounding so rapidly that she was sure someone else could hear it. They slunk down the corridors, both praying to whatever higher power they could think of that a more competent guard didn't come. Ginny could feel sweat beading on her forehead, her hands clammy, and her breathing shallow. They were nearly there. Nearly at the apparition point. Nearly free. As they took the final few steps, she let out a sigh of relief. They had made it. They were going to be free. She wasn't sure if Sirius could apparate properly yet, but she'd take a slight splinching over Azkaban any day.
"We've done it." Sirius sounded giddy with excitement, and, to be completely honest, Ginny didn't blame him. They had actual done the impossible. They'd broken out of the unbreakable. She wasn't going to be stuck here. Freedom tasted so sweet and -
"You're not out yet Black." With dread, both Ginny and Sirius turned round. Robards stood behind them, a slight frown upon his features. Ginny groaned. Out of every guard, it was the one who had actually treated them like humans, the one who Sirius would have a problem incapacitating. But still, Sirius raised the stolen wand, his hand shaking ever so slightly. She could tell he didn't want to curse this man, but he would. If that's what it took to get out, he would. Robards' frown had become more pronounced at that action, and his hand tightened around his own wand. "I can't let either of you go. Both of you have been put here for a reason. I can't just let you walk out." Robards actually sounded like he didn't want to imprison them again, but Ginny knew that they couldn't rely on the slightest bit of sympathy.
"Well, I mean you could, I don't think me or Ginny would rat you out. And I don't see anything that could stop you from letting us go." And there was Sirius' smart arse response. Ginny inwardly groaned, that was not the way to convince this man to let them go. She was under no illusions that if it came to a fight, Robards would win. They were lucky with Dawlish, he was unprepared, but Robards was facing them, and had had time to pull himself together. They needed to leave. Now. Before anyone else noticed they were gone. She started to tug on Sirius' tattered uniform, worry and fear evident on her face. Robards noticed this action, and dropped his wand.
"Stun me."
"WHAT?" Two incredulous voices rang out.
"Stun me then go. I don't think Azkaban is a place for a child, and the only way she's getting out is you Black so stun me and go."
Sirius turned to look at Ginny, half shrugged and then cast a stunner. As Robards fell, they both turned and sprinted for the apparation point. Hearts pounding, desperately hoping no one caught up. They were literally running for their lives. Arriving there, Sirius grabbed Ginny's arm, but before they could disappear, Ginny felt the awful effect of the dementors begin to creep up her spine. She whirled around and stared as what looked like hundreds of the black cloaked monsters glided towards them.
"SIRIUS!" Her strangled yell made him turn around and he swore loudly. He grabbed her arm tighter, and whispered a quick message in her ear. She turned to look at him confused, as the feelings of despair got stronger. She could almost hear Tom… A sudden feeling of being squeezed through a tube distracted her, and her last view of Azkaban was a ghostly hand being stretched out towards her. She thought she screamed.
With a loud crack, they had arrived on a street. Ginny looked around confused. Why were they in London? Sirius smiled at her and waved his (stolen) wand. A house started to appear from inbetween houses ten and fourteen. She stared in wonder at the evidently magical house that had just appeared. She turned to look at Sirius, who had began to sway on his feet. Ginny reached out to steady him and began to lead him up to the front door, at his direction. As they opened it, Sirius' last reserves of energy failed him, and he fell to the ground with a large thump. At that, a portrait started screaming and Ginny looked around the dark corridor in slight horror. It felt like an old dark family home. The incessant screaming from the portrait and managed to lure a decrepit old house elf out, who looked shocked to see them in the corridor. However, he ignored them (with a few mumblings about Sirius that didn't sound too kind) and went to reassure the still screaming portrait.
Sirius' sarcastic voice startled her out of her inspection. "Welcome Ginny, to Number 12 Grimmauld Place, home of the great and noble house of Black."
- The 7th Child -
Albus Dumbledore was sitting in his office, playing with one of his instruments when an owl arrived from an old contact at the ministry. Grabbing the note offered, Dumbledore absentmindedly paid the bird, whilst opening the letter. As the bird flew off, Dumbledore dropped the silver instrument in shock. Hurriedly, he reread the note, scarcely believing his eyes. Ginny Weasley and Sirius Black had broken out of Azkaban? Whilst it meant that they would be convicts until he could clear their names, it didn't upset his plans too much. The only problem now, was that he had to find them. Slowly, Dumbledore got to his feet and began to pace. He had a lot of work to do.
- The 7th Child -
Harry was in the lounge, basically serving the Dursleys when the news came on. 'An emergency broadcast? Something exciting must have happened.' Harry thought absentmindedly, as he continued with his job of the hour.
"Two prisoners, mass murderer Sirius Black and terrorist Ginevra Weasley, have escaped from a top secret prison, according to an official statement. The authorities wish to remind anyone to stay calm and if you see either of these people, to call this number." Harry whirled around, his face drawn to the screen. Ginny was on there, her photograph next to a slightly deranged man. A number was largely displayed beneath both pictures, and Harry wondered why a wizarding issue had made it onto the muggle news.
"BOY! Fetch me some biscuits!" Uncle Vernon's command startled Harry out of his reverie, and sent him quickly into the kitchen. As Harry went, he could hear Uncle Vernon talking about the breakout to Aunt Petunia. "Absolutely incompetent! Imagine allowing to prisoners that dangerous to escape…"
As Vernon's voice trailed off, Harry smiled. Ginny was free! Although she was in the company of a very dangerous man, she was free. Grabbing Uncle Vernon's biscuits, Harry grinned. He had some very important letters to write tonight.
