Chapter Eighteen: Wolf, Dog, and Dementor

"Listen: there's a helleva good universe next door--let's go."

-E. E. Cummins

Azkaban prison was on an island, everyone knew that. Even its location wasn't hidden in the least. Dark gray rock rising sharply from the water, metal bars holding the prisoners in, a constant chill that was more in your mind than the air, and the screams… the screams as the prisoners let out the terror, the pain, and slowly but surely, their sanity. Thus it had been in every case, except that of Sirius Black.

Not that any of it bothered the guards, of course. The guards Azkaban caused a great deal of those unpleasant factors themselves. The guards of Azkaban were dementors- the only guards of Azkaban. Most of them were off chasing Black, but a few remained to tend to the prisoners, and a huge chunk guarded Hogwarts.

Sirius Black was the only man to ever have escaped Azkaban, after all, and the Ministry had had a very reliable tip off- Peter Pettigrew had told them the year before that Black was likely to head for Hogwarts. No one had seen Pettigrew for a while, but that didn't matter. He was probably just trying to keep from getting any attention from Black, or so Cornelius Fudge had assumed. No matter. It was imperative that Black be caught. The wizarding world's main threat needed to be dealt with.

Remus Lupin- an obstacle Harry had not expected to encounter this year- would not be easy to persuade. Nor was it likely that bringing up that they had Lupin's little friend, Peter Pettigrew, in captivity help their case. The best method of persuasion Harry could think of was simply to be as blunt and honest as possible- it was what Lupin would be the most likely to act favorably to. Ron's presence would only be helpful to that effect.

As the feast drew to a close, Tracey helpfully distracted the other slytherins by 'accidentally' spilling a dish of pudding all over Draco Malfoy; Harry (accompanied by Silas and Padfoot, as always) slipped off unnoticed to follow Lupin out of the Great Hall. Over at the Gryffindor table, Ron Weasley rose and followed.

They followed Lupin up staircases and through corridors, finally arriving at an unfamiliar room- Lupin's office. The walls were blank, and furniture sparse; Lupin had had no time to so much as unpack yet. Padfoot stayed close to Harry, watching his former friend intently.

"You may take as long as you want to tell your story, but first, he needs to be bound," said Lupin in a determinedly calm voice, looking intently at Harry.

"I don't think-" Harry began, but Padfoot walked over to Lupin and lay down at his feet.

"Alright then, bind him."

"Incarcerous!" spelled Lupin tonelessly, avoiding looking at the dog. Moments later Padfoot was bound thoroughly in thick ropes. Harry made a metal note to remember the spell.

"Well, then?" Lupin asked, "I trust you have an explanation."

Harry looked up into the man's eyes. Lupin's expression seemed almost blank, empty… but echoes of pain and desperation had left their mark. Harry swallowed. This wasn't going to be easy. Sure, Lupin wanted to believe them, but he had a feeling that would only make the man harder to convince.

Harry took a deep breath, and began. Lupin listened with frightening intensity.

"I found him in Hogsmeade last year. He seemed rather overly friendly, and a bit too interested in me, and Silas," Harry gestured to the snake around his neck, "informed me immediately that he wasn't a dog. The only thing I could think of was that he must be an animagus. I thought it was likely that it was Black, and decided that whoever it was, I'd prefer to have him where I could keep an eye on him. I assigned Silas to keep an eye on whenever I couldn't, such as while I slept."

Lupin, Padfoot, and Ron were all staring at him.

"You knew he was an animagus? Why-"

"If I'd announced the fact, Ronald, he'd have known that I knew. It is much easier to figure out a person's motives if they don't realize how much you know.

"He didn't try anything, however. Towards the end of the year, when Ron and I were investigating a source on the Chamber of Secrets and got into a spot of trouble, he transformed and helped."

Ron snorted. "Yeah, if you call being surrounded by giant spiders a spot of trouble. Though…" Ron's voice trailed off, and Harry could tell he was thinking about the basilisk, and probably what they'd found in the chamber as well.

"After getting out of the forest, Ron found a rat lurking around. I made a guess based on Black's reaction and stunned it. Pettigrew confessed to not only the murder of the twelve muggles but also the betrayal of my parents within seconds of being forced to transform to his normal shape."

"Where is Peter now? If you've hurt him-"

"Why so concerned? Tell me, Lupin, has Wormy been much of a friend these past few years?"

"He's been through a lot, nearly being murdered, then thinking you were killed, that was the last straw-"

"The last time he needed you for information, actually."

Lupin was staring at him, eyes wild. "You don't have nearly enough proof that-"

But then a silvery shape entered the room through the wall, heading for Lupin. A Patronus. It reached the man and dissolved. Lupin just stood there for a moment, looking shocked, then said, "We'll have to finish this later."

"What is it, Professor?"

Lupin took a deep breath before answering. "There's been a mass break-out from Azkaban."

"W-what?" Ron stuttered. "How?"

"I don't know, Mr. Weasley. Dumbledore assumes it was by Voldemort, the Death Eaters, or both, and orchestrated personally by Black, since he's done it before, but… …but in was within the last hour, and I've had my eyes on him the entire time."

With that, Hogwarts's newest professor swept from the room.

A/N: Mwahahahaaaaaaaaa….

Er, hi people… Sorry the chapters don't seem to be very long or frequent lately. I've been insanely busy. Thanks to everyone who reviewed. You were my motivation to get this chapter written.

TheSmallestGhost, sambee, storywriter10791, FroBoy, Aqua Mage, thsunami, I-Y-T-Y, azntgr01, Shadow Lighthawk, Manatheron, Shadow Eclipse, Black-Raven3, firmin, The Sleeping Creature, NamelessHeretic, madnarutofan, Nights Silhouette, Whitetree-Nimloth, albert87, MarauderinglyMagical, Shiruba Fokkusu