Disclaimer: I own nothing

Title: The Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter: Escape

A/N: Sorry for a late chapter!

~*~*~~*~*~

Mothers weep, children sleep.

So much violence ends in silence.

It's a shame there's no one to blame

For all the pain that life brings.

-Jewel

~*~*~~*~*~

Sirius paced his small cell. He had to make sure Harry was safe, or get Pettigrew. Whichever came first.

He'd go insane if he kept on like this. But nothing mattered until Pettigrew was stopped. Put to death. Or, even better, given to the dementors.

He walked back and forth in his cell like a caged animal, often changing into a dog to settle himself. But nothing helped. All he knew was that he was going to get out, or at least die trying to. He owed Harry (and James and Lily) at least that much.

But the question is, how would he get out? Waiting for the next Fudge visit would be out of the question. The minister was now afraid to take even two steps in the fortress. Sure, he'd come back in two years, but Sirius might go insane by then with anticipation.

Sirius shivered at the thought. He was actually frightened of the consideration of going mad. No Sirius, going insane is not an option!

 Ah, why does this have to be so hard? Maybe I can…no that would be really stupid, Sirius thought to himself. He had thought of so many different strategies he was losing count.

After about ten more plans, a dementor came to give him food. Once the door opened Sirius mentally changed into a dog and slipped

passed the eyeless creature. Pettigrew's accusation pounding in his ears. Sirius barely realized what he was doing. It was like a dream sequence.

He rushed down the halls so fast everything was a blur to him. It was so strange to be out from bars and looking at them than from inside them. It was weird and wonderful. His legs felt like jelly, but not enough to keep him from running. He couldn't wait to have good thoughts without having them sucked out (evil dementors).

He zoomed passed a couple of hooded beings and remembered what Pettigrew had said. Concentrate, Black, Sirius ordered himself. He slipped through the gates/barrier. He was just skinny enough. See? Something good came out of not eating. It was remarkable what you can do to make things happen to you or to help you. Like, becoming Animagi got Sirius into Azkaban and got him out. Talk about coincidence.

Sirius's paws dug into the sand. He stared for a moment at the place that had held him captive for twelve years. And for once, Sirius didn't shiver at the thought.

@~*~*~@@~*~*~@

Remus Lupin sat at his kitchen counter preparing some breakfast for himself. He was still tired. Little circles under his eyes would be able to tell you that. He ran a hand through his gray speckled, sandy hair. No wonder he was so tired, last night was a full moon. He was still cramped up and had a couple nasty scrapes and bruises. He wished that James and Peter and Sirius had been with him.

He growled. Not Sirius. Sirius was the reason they weren't with him last night. Sirius was the reason he was alone.

Poor Peter. He was so little. He could never actually duel with anyone. He should've known he would die. But that didn't stop the hero. (A/N: do you know how painful it is to write this?) No. Nothing would have stopped him from saving his friends.

Remus was roused from his thought when something hard slammed into the window. He chuckled when he saw it was an owl with a newspaper. The werewolf opened the window and let in the bird of prey.

Remus gave the owl a Knut and it hooted thoughtfully. He untied the cords and picked up the newspaper. Hm…what happened today?

He nearly choked just reading the headline.

BLACK AT LARGE

Sirius Black, possibly the most infamous prisoner

ever to be held in Azkaban fortress, is eluding

capture, the Ministry of Magic confirmed today.

"We are doing all we can to recapture Black,"

said the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, this morning,

"and we beg the magical community to remain calm."

Fudge has been criticized by some members of the

International Federation of Warlocks for informing the

Muggle Prime Minister of the crisis.

"Well, really, I had to, don't you know," said an

irritable Fudge. "Black is mad. He's a danger to anyone who

crosses him, magic or Muggle. I have the Prime Minister's

assurance that he will not breathe a word of Black's identity

to anyone. And let's face it-who'd believe him if he did?"

While Muggles have been told that Black is carrying a gun

(a kind of metal wand that Muggles use to kill each other),

the magical community lives in fear of a massacre like that of twelve

years ago, when Black murdered thirteen people with a single curse.

Remus was stupefied. Siri-Black loose? That could only cause chaos. He stared into the eyes at his one time friend. They were haunted. Sorrow and guilt filled.

Remus would be able to forgive the little eleven-year-old Sirius, but not this one. He had done it for himself. Sirius had murdered his best friends. Best friends.

Why Sirius?

~*~*~~*~*~

Sirius didn't know how long he had been doggy paddling. Just as he got to dry land and found Harry and got Pettigrew. Nothing mattered now. Not even his sore limbs.

Just-keep-on-going! Sirius urged himself. Think happy thoughts. Happy thoughts! He could think normally again! Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

 "Look James! He has my eyes!" Lily told her husband. The father, James, held his little boy protectively against his chest.

                  

"I can't believe he's real. And so tiny. My son. That sounds so weird," James said mostly to himself.

"Treasure this moment now, James," Lily advised. "When Black comes in, Harry will be instantly corrupted."

James wasn't listening. He was too busy cooing and talking to himself about how perfect his Harry was. "I can't believe you convinced me to let Sirius be godfather," she went on. "I heard him talking to Remus about buying Harry his own broom. Never, ever trust Sirius alone with Harry. Something will be bound to happen."

"Aw, Lilyflower, how could you say anything like that about me?" Sirius asked entering the hospital room. "You know life would be so boring without me."

Lily snorted. "Please Sirius, without you, life would be normal."

"That's why you need me," Sirius said. James looked up at his friend.

"Look at him, Padfoot. He's perfect," he informed Sirius.

Sirius's breath seemed to be caught in his throat. "Can-can I hold him?" he asked staring at his godson, who would take a huge role in his life. James took one last look at his son and handed him over to the godfather. Sirius held him just as protectively against his chest as James. How could something/someone so tiny be so wonderful?

Sirius remembered when Harry was born. It was perhaps one of the happiest days of his life. Even though Harry wasn't his son, it felt as if he was because James was gone.

Before Sirius knew it, his paws touched sand. Watch out, Wormtail, because here I come.