CHAPTER SIX

MALFOY IN AZKABAN

Two days have past but Harry was still struggling with what he had learned. The note Crouch sent him only proved what Harry's hunch was when he recognized Sirius' mirror- that his godfather was indeed alive and could be somewhere beyond the veil. This certainly widened his ray of hope of seeing Sirius again, though he had no idea how.

Harry's unemployment had forced him to give up his apartment. He wrote to Ron yesterday if he could stay at their new place, which was bought through Fred, George, and Ron's earnings from their joke shop. Hedwig arrived that morning, bearing with her Ron's reply. As Harry expected, it was a yes. Harry now clutched his luggage and disapparated, appearing in the Weasley's home.

The Weasley's new home was better than the Burrow. As Harry walked towards the kitchen, he passed a very inviting fireplace by a cozy living room, lined with red and cream satin curtains and draperies. The Weasley's clock was still present by the couch, and a beautiful arc served entrance to an equally marvelous dining room, lined with portraits and in the ceiling hanged a beautiful glinting chandelier. All the red headed Weasleys were there, sitting around an ornate, oblong shaped dining table, ready to welcome Harry in to their home.

"Harry dear" said Mrs. Weasley as she waved her wand to conjure an extra plate on the table. "come join us for dinner."

"Thank you" said Harry as he went towards a vacant chair beside Ron. "Hi Ron."

"Hey mate" answered Ron, scooping a heap of mashed potatoes. "glad you're staying here. It's so dull here that I think I'm going mental."

"Like your not already mental" piped Fred and George in unison. "So Harry, heard you've gotten sacked."

Harry felt embarrassed as the topic of his unemployment was brought up. "Well..." he started.

"Don't worry Harry, we think its brilliant." said George. "though we haven't been sacked before."

Harry felt uncomfortable as the topic of his sacking continued in the dining table. "I don't understand why they would do this to you, Harry dear." said Molly. "I'll have a word about this with the minister, Harry." chipped in Arthur. The talking ensued as Harry ate dinner, wishing to become invisible to avoid being the center of discussion.

Dinner had to end of course, to Harry's relief, and now he was led by Ron to his room.

"Ron, I need to tell you about something" said Harry as they went to his room. Minutes later, he finished telling Ron all that was to tell.

"So you think Sirius is still alive?" started Ron, awestruck with what Harry had told him.

"Yeah. And Crouch knows how to bring him back." said Harry.

"Who is disguised as an employee in Muggle Relations?" continued Ron.

"Exactly. I can't ask Crouch how to free Sirius though. He escaped."

"I know! You could ask the Death Eaters in Azkaban. Their bound to know a thing or two about Crouch and that veil thing"

"Yeah but how? I'm not allowed access their, Ron. I just got sacked."

"Well… Ask Hermione to accompany you. She's allowed there."

Harry found this a start of a good idea. They busied themselves for further polishing of this plan, discussing how to deceive Hermione by making sure that everything appeared to have nothing to do with Crouch, or in her case, Edgar.

By nine in the evening, the plan was set. Harry went to Hedwig and attached a letter to her outstretched right leg. She then flew out of the window into the nighttime sky. Harry told Hermione in the letter that he had to see what was happening in Azkaban as part of his Auror job since she has not yet received news of his unemployment. If in case she asks why he can't do it alone, Harry wrote that he just needed someone to be with him since a lot has happened in his past that were highly connected with the people imprisoned within the walls of the prison fortress. With a plan in mind, Harry felt much more relaxed. With this, he lied down on the bed and turned of the lights, slowly drifting into sleep, though feeling a strange familiarity with a certain recurring dream that soon entered his mind.

The next day arrived and Harry was up and about, expecting an answer from Hermione. Much to his expectation, Hedwig was now perched atop her cage with a letter bound upon her leg. Harry untied it and was faced with the handwriting of Hermione, noticeably written in a hurry, and started reading.

Harry,

I have no idea why you needed someone to accompany you towards Azkaban. Well, if I must, I willwalk you there. I hope this will be quick though. Meet me in the Ministry entrance at nine o'clock in the morning.

Love,

Hermione

With that, Harry sped down the ornate staircase of the Weasleys and immediately said goodbye to them as he disapparated.

He arrived at exactly nine in the morning and standing by the entrance of the Ministry was Hermione, clutching a red work bag.

"Harry, I've no idea what you mean in that letter." said Hermione.

"I'm sorry but I just need someone to be with" said Harry in a most unconvincing tone, clearly knowing that he is not an emotional person who will easily feel uncomfortable inside a place with people who previously planned to murder him encaged in it.

"Fine, let's get going then."

They both went inside the Ministry and went to a corridor by the far end of the hall. They then went to a tall wizard by the counter and surrendered their wands, clips, quills, and any object not allowed to be carried within the Azkaban fortress. Hermione then showed her pass, which allowed Harry, too, to enter the prison.

Once they were ready, they went inside the big iron gates opened by two masked men, apparently guarding the entrance. As they stepped inside, both Harry and Hermione felt a sweeping coldness in the air. They sensed immediately anguish in the atmosphere, almost as if the air itself was sad, bouncing off the walls and infecting everything it reaches. Both of them took in a deep breath and then started to walk into the dungeon-like hall of the prison.

All of the walls were made of stone, setting a medieval mood unto the place. No light was visible besides the torches that lined the walls. It seemed to be nighttime even though it was just a bit past nine in the morning. As they walked, they did not speak, apparently struck with an ill sense of wonder as they stepped into this new world.

A few steps later, they suddenly felt a familiar coldness, much cooler than the already cold air. They felt as if all the warmth in them was beginning to evaporate. Sure enough, they had entered the cells all lined with Dementors patrolling the prisoners. Harry felt the same dread he had experienced ever since he saw a Dementor back when he was thirteen. These foul creatures floated though the halls with their gnarly rotting hands and hooded covered body, leaving a foul stench of death.

"Hermione," started Harry, "I think I could handle this now. You can go outside."

"Are you sure?" asked Hermione though she looked glad to have an excuse to leave Azkaban prison.

Harry nodded. Hermione then walked towards the big iron gates serving entrance to the prison.

Harry had to say this of course as to assure that Hermione won't know what has been happening especially regarding Crouch since Hermione has developed a fondness with this man. He had to speak to a Death Eater alone. This particular Death Eater was Lucius Malfoy.

END OF CHAPTER SIX