A/N: Yay, four day weekend! And I thought I'd start off this vacation on a good note: by writing a new chapter! Bon appetite!

Chapter 10

Harry took a deep breath and knocked on the door to the Headmasters office. This was the part of the plan he was dreading.

"Come in." At Dumbledore's invitation, he pushed through the entryway of the room. The Headmaster sat behind his desk, regarding his new student with interest.

"Hello, Mr. – Harrison, is it? – What can I do for you?"

Harry looked downcast at the floor. "Sir, may I request a day's excused absence from the school?"

Dumbledore gave him a puzzled look. "Whatever for?"

Slowly, Harry looked back up, his eyes wide and slightly tearful. It was a technique he had seen his cousin, Dudley, use many times before, eliciting pity from all those around him. "My Grandmother passed away last night. Her funeral is tomorrow and I would like to be able to attend."

"Oh." Dumbledore's features softened. "Of course, Mr. Harrison. When will you be returning?"

"The day after. My guardian thought it best that I have something to take my mind off ... everything and he feels continuing visiting here will be the best."

He raised an eyebrow. "Your guardian?"

Harry nodded. "Yes. He was a friend of my parents. They died when I was young."

"My condolences."

"Thank you, Professor." He turned and left the room. He waited until he was halfway across the school before collapsing in relief. That had gone better than he had expected it to.

Albus Dumbledore watched the retreating boy with less suspicion. His intentions seemed genuine. Maybe he had been overreacting, asking Severus to keep a special eye on the child. Although, he still had a nagging feeling of familiarity.

He was shaken out of his thoughts by a second knock on the door. After bidding the person entry, the door opened to admit Remus Lupin. The young man looked slightly nervous. Albus was immediately reminded of the times Remus had been sent to the Headmaster's office as a student – he had always been a terrible liar.

"Can I help you, Remus?"

"I just wanted to let you know that I might be a little bit late for tomorrow night's dinner. I have some errands to run in London and I'm not sure what time I'll be getting back."

"It's alright, Remus. Have a good time in the city."

Albus' eyes narrowed as his office door swung shut again. Maybe he was too quick to end that suspicion after all.

"So how'd you get the Ministry to give us a visiting pass into Azkaban?" Harry asked in the silence of the car ride. The two had an agreement that they would not speak of their plans until way out of reach of the castle. And the Headmaster.

That morning, both Harry and Remus had Flued out of the school at different times, to different destinations. They had then continuously traveled through the fireplaces for the next half-hour, until meeting in a small restaurant in Northern England. They had been driving along a narrow twisting road since then. Harry had no idea where they were headed.

"Every prisoner is granted one family or friend pass into the prison a year. As everyone still thinks Sirius is a traitor, no one has visited him yet this year."

Harry hesitated. "Have you ever gone to see him before?"

"Once," Remus answered shortly.

They continued on in silence.

"Harry, Harry, wake up." He felt a gentle shaking on his shoulder. He blearily opened his eyes and saw Remus peering down at him. "We're there, Harry."

Harry lifted his head and looked around. "Azkaban is a beach?" he asked, dazed.

Remus chuckled. "No. It's off the coast from here. We have to take a boat to get to it."

Rubbing his eyes, Harry got out of the car and surveyed the beach before him. It wasn't very remarkable. There was a small dock, with an even smaller boat tied to it, and – Harry squinted – a tiny, run-down shack perched out on a rock in the sea.

'Wait a minute!'

"I've been here before! The Dursleys took me when they were trying to prevent me from getting my Hogwarts letter!" Remus just gave him an odd look and he motioned for the teenager to climb into the boat after him. "Weird."

"Are we almost there?" Harry could feel the excitement in his chest mounting. Sirius. He was going to get to see Sirius again!

"Do you see that dot way out there on the horizon?" Remus pointed his arm straight out in front of the boat's path. Harry's eyes followed the line.

Barely viewable was a small island set on the crease where the water and they sky met.

"Almost."

"That's it."

"Wow. I thought it would be bigger."

Remus rolled his eyes.

Almost two hours later, the looming fortress ahead of them was in full sight. Harry wished it wasn't. The chill in the air around them deepened with every passing second and Harry had to struggle to remind himself why he was doing this.

'Sirius is in there. You will finally get to say everything you want to say to your godfather.'

But his apprehension was still mounting.

"Remus?"

"Yes?"

"I supposed now would not be a good time to mention that my biggest fear is Dementors?"

"You supposed right." He gave Harry a wry grin. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I'm not much of a details person."

Harry's teeth chattered. The wind whipped through his hair, threatening to toss him violently out of the boat. That is, if he didn't throw himself out first. He could already hear faint echoing voices in his head. His parents. Cedric. Sirius.

The boat was fifty feet of shore and trapped in the shadow of a giant monstrosity emerging from the black water surrounding it. Sitting high upon the dark island was a weathered stronghold. Moans and pleas, carried by the breeze, rang in the ears of the approaching guests.

Remus shivered and uttered three words that almost made Harry's blood run cold.

"Welcome to Azkaban."

'Sirius was in there.'

The very thought made him want to cry.