Chapter 6: Prison Break-In
The prison was located on the outskirts of southeast London. It was a very large prison with four main buildings and one large tower. The bright lights from the prison's towers cut smoothly through the pitch back night. It was roughly around 11 o'clock and many of the day shift had all gone home for the night, leaving a skeleton crew of guards. The large buildings were surrounded by a barbed-wire fence that stood at the size of two men standing on top of each other. All the barred windows that looked into the prison shone with a luminescent cold blue light. Two guards were placed outside the gates.
Off into the bushes, two popping noises could be made out if the guards that were close enough. Peaking out of the bushes, the electronic eye of Professor Moody zoomed into the prison gates and guards. Snape leaned against a tree to hide in its shadow, waiting for the signal.
Nodding, Moody took Snape's arm and they both apparated to the spot that Moody saw. They were close to the building in a brightly lit courtyard. Slinking to a window close to the wall, Snape quickly did an apparition inside, followed by Moody. They were inside a cell. Snape jumped at the sound of loud snoring coming from the bed, quickly pointing his wand at the sleeping prisoner.
Moody grinned at Snape then looked out the cell window into the corridor. A single guard was patrolling that night which wouldn't be a problem for the two wizards. Nodding at Snape, they both apparated out of the cell right behind the guard. Snape used a quick "Stupify" to down the guard. Moody dragged the stunned man against the wall in the shadows so it was out of range from the cameras.
"That wasn't too hard, eh Severus?" the one-eyed man said as they started to walk down the halls, looking for the part of the building the wizards were kept. Snape shrugged as he glided after Moody.
"To be expected of muggles. They don't know how to keep what they already obtained." droned the potions teacher. Turning the corridor, they were faced with five fully armoured soldiers, all their backs were turned from the wizards. Snape grabbed Moody and forced them both back around the corner out of sight. The soldiers were talking amongst themselves.
"I heard the troops caught one of those master wizards. Apparently they will arrive tomorrow morning with the prisoners." said one man. Snape's eyes widened when he heard one of his co-teachers was caught.
So much for your plan, Albus. thought Snape. He continued to listen to the conversation.
"Never knew I'd join the military to go hunting for wizards." A few of the men laughed at the comment, saying that they felt the same way. Moody was about to go out to hex them in the back but Snape stopped him.
"Do you know where they are all kept? Since there are a lot of them." asked one of the men.
"All the little freaks are put in the south corridor. Had to pile them all in three of the mass containment cells." One of the soldiers then looked down, "If they were my kids, I would be mad too. Don't really blame the wizards for anything." Another man snorted.
"They are a threat to us. The prime minister said it himself! They deserve what's coming for them."
"Yeah, but.." At that moment flashes of blue and red came from the two wizards who came out of hiding in the corner. The armour stopped the attacks and the soldier's eyes widened in fear. One of them yelled on his radio.
"We have two hostel wizards inside the prison! I repeat! We have two…" The man was shot down from a green killing spell from Moody, his armour breaking as he fell dead. The others were shooting back at the wizards with their weapons. Snape and Moody resorted to sending out four more Avada Kedavras. The corridor became silent with only the sound of the sizzling cracked armour.
Moody followed Snape as they made their way toward the south corridor, with no regrets from what they did. No other guards were seen on the walk over. After a while of walking, Moody stopped and stood still for a solid five seconds.
"What is it?" asked Snape concern inching across his face.
"Crying. Coming from around the corner to the right," said Moody as he took no time to head in that direction. Turning the corner, they found four doors bolted shut by three large locks on the outside. One of the rooms was empty while the other three were filled with children, all huddled up against each other. A few of the younger ones were crying.
The two teachers ran over to one of the bolted doors and Moody tried a spell on the locks. It didn't work and he tried again. The lock glowed red but didn't open. Sighing in frustration, Moody kicked the door, gaining the attention of the students inside. They all coward back at the sight of the one-eyed man through the small window since he was new to Hogwarts and never met any of the children before.
Snape waved his hand and crouched down to take a closer look at the lock. Pleased by what he saw, he took out a small vial of red liquid and opened it. He told Moody to step back as he poured a drop onto the lock. It melted away quickly so he put drops on the other two locks on the door.
Once the locks were fully melted away, The door swung open, revealing the scared children. Snape's blood boiled as he saw that each of his students had a metal band on their head with dried blood on their faces. One of the kids jumped up.
"It's Professor Snape!" shouted the young man and the room erupted in murmurs and cheers. Even if he was the most hated professor, all the students almost cried with joy when they saw him. Snape didn't leave time for pleasantries and gave the vile to Moody to unlock the other doors. He reached in his cloak and pulled out a bag of portkeys and started to roll them into the large room.
"Each and every one of you must grab the closest portkey. Failure to do so will have you put in detention with me for the whole year. Are we clear?" The whole room dove toward the portkeys and some of the children were linking arms with someone who was touching the portkey. Group after group of children disappeared off to the school, into the arms of people who would take care of them.
As the other doors were opened, the relieved faces of the captives were shown. Moody was sick to the stomach at how these kids were treated yet he didn't show it. Snape proceeded to repeat his instructions and roll the portkeys across each room. No one questioned anything; only wishing to get out of that horrid place.
At last, it was only the two professors. Moody inclined his head toward a security camera that was pointed at the duo.
"Just saw it, too late to take it out now," said Moody. Snape just scowled.
"I'll see it destroyed either way," said Snape as he pointed his wand at it. The camera exploded sparks down onto the ground.
"Better get out of here before.." Moody was cut off by the stomping of heavy boots coming into the south wing. Pulling out his wand, he apparated out of there.
Snape looked back into the large cells that once held hundreds of students that he knew. Sickened, he lifted his wand and apparated after Moody, leaving the despicable prison empty.
"WHAT?!"
The roar came from the office. One of the scientists, that was walking by, winced at the loud noise due to a night of drinking the night before. A woman with blond tied back hair entered the office of Dr. William Hanson.
"Is everything alright sir?" she asked. Her concern was met with outright anger.
"All right? All RIGHT!?" He stood up abruptly and leaned over his desk with a deep scowl. "Anything but all right Dr. Davis!"
"What is it?"
He huffed and sat back down into his seat, so harshly that she thought it might break underneath him.
"All the work we did yesterday now results in nothing." He turned his monitor roughly so Nicole Davis could see. "Frickin' wizards and their magic. This is why we convinced world leaders in the first place! They're out of control!"
Dr. Davis looked at the security camera footage that was playing on the monitor. In it, two figures were opening the cell doors that lead to the wizard children. Knowing it was magic proof, Nicole gasped as they opened the locks with only the use of a small vile.
"This is impossible…" she whispered in disbelief. William motioned back to the monitor.
"Keep watching."
The tall one dressed in black robes took out a bag of round objects and rolled them in each room while the other one started opening the other locks. When their job seemed done, the one with the electronic eye motioned towards the camera. The robed one looked at it with disgust and pointed his wand at it. The screen then turned to static.
Nicole looked up at William, "All of them escaped?" William nodded his head.
"Killed five armoured guards in the process. That same spell again." He opened up another window on his desktop. "However, I have written up some blueprints for an improved armoured material. It is only a small amount of changes from the original design, we can get it done later today." He then looked at the time and tapped his finger against the desk.
"We just need Umbridge here so we can start the testing." As if it was a summon, Umbridge came bursting through the door.
"My apologies for being late!" A small chuckle escaped her lips, "I made the portkeys as you requested. They lead straight to a village filled with wizards, close to that school mind you." She placed a briefcase on the desk.
Nicole watched as William opened the case with a glee in his eyes. In the case where four large screws. A shiver went through William as he gazed upon the enchanted objects. He shut the case and put it down under his desk.
"Good, this will do well to finish the project. I will call for Sergeant Sharp to get his troops together. We will begin the attack in three days. In that time I want all vests and armour to be modified with these new modifications." He looked at Umbridge. "I suggest we begin with you testing the vests with that killing spell."
Umbridge gave a curt nod and started to follow Dr. Davis out of the room. She was stopped by William clearing his throat.
"Ehm. Umbridge, will you please quickly identify two wizards for me?" She smiled and walked back over to the monitor. She watched as a tall dark clothed man along with a man with an electronic eye, sneak down a prison corridor.
"Oh, well the one with the eye is Mr. Alistar Moody. He was an Auror for many years, fought in the war; an excellent soldier many wizards say." Umbridge then looked at the other man and had to squint to see who it was.
"I believe the other one to be Professor Severus Snape. He works as a teacher at the school and I believe he teaches potions, very talented I heard. He was hired personally under the headmaster near the end of the war. There are rumours that he is a Death Eater but it is most unlikely since he was hired under the headmaster."
William nodded. "That is all Umbridge. Leave." She frowned and turned on her heels and left.
It would be a few busy days for William and he intended to start working right away.
Staggering through the tall grass field, Harry supported Luna as they made their way to the Burrow. It was a long night of trudging along small roads and pathways. It was still a bit dark out and the sun was peaking above the horizon. Once Harry saw the tall, precarious-looking house, he started to shout for help.
"Hey! Help! Mr. Wesley!" Harry's cries were answered when two identical heads stuck through the grass. They looked Harry up and down.
"Harry? Luna?" said the Wesley twins in sync. Their eyes widened when they saw Luna. "Dad! Harry is here!"
They brought Harry back towards their house and were met by Mr. Wesley, who was packing the small car with luggage. Ron was carrying a suitcase to the car but dropped it when he saw Harry. The twins took Luna from Harry as Ron almost tackled his friend to the ground in a big hug.
"Harry! We thought you might have been captured or something worse," exclaimed Ron as he pulled away looking lovingly at his friend. Harry smiled until he saw two girls coming out of the house. One of the girls was Ginny who was dragging a large suitcase. The other girl was Hermione, sporting a small backpack.
She saw Harry and her eyes widened. Running over, she slammed him into a hug.
She's here! We are all here! Thought Harry. Tears started to roll down his cheeks. Ron noticed the tears and hugged the two from the side, causing Hermione to look annoyed into the red hair.
"What happened?" asked Hermione as she put both of her hands on Harry's shoulders. "And what happened to Luna?"
Harry let out a large sigh and hung his head. Mr. Wesley trudged up to the group of 14-year-olds and jutted a thumb towards the packed car.
"We are ready to leave for Hogwarts. I suggest we leave now since I heard that they need all the help they can get right now. It will take us a few days to get there, with the patrols on high alert now." It was starting to get brighter out as the field sparkled with morning dew.
Glancing from Ron to Hermione, Harry put a hand on Ron's shoulder and gave them a brief smile, motioning towards the car.
Inside the car, Ron and Ginny had to sit on their older brother's laps to make room for the three unexpected guests. Mrs. Wesley had Luna in her arms, holding the weak blond girl close to her for comfort.
Hermione, who was uncomfortably pushed up beside Harry, asked again, "What happened?" Harry turned towards the window and started to tell his story, looking out into the clouds they were flying through.
"You see, it started early yesterday morning, I woke up to a loud banging from the front door..."
Thank you so much for reading this fic! Please leave a review to let me know what you think. ;)