AN: I realize its late in the game, but someone asked in a review this last go around... This story is also on Ao3 under my Tumblr Alias "Witty Historian." so WH and KH, we're one in the same. Kait Hobbit's been my pen name since 2004, Witty Historian emerged in college.
Thanks for all the love last update, I'm glad to know you lot are still there. Enjoy! Xx
Falling Chains
Fred didn't know the first thing about steering dragons.
He had paid more attention than he normally did in Care of Magical Creatures when Hagrid talked about them, but not near as much as someone like Charlie would have. He knew every breed was different, but they had some very strong and similar characteristics that went down to their core. But every breed, Fred felt anyway, was wired differently and not worth differentiating. He was going to open a Joke Shop, not a Dragon Reserve. As far as he considered, Dragons were creatures that blew fires and destroyed villages. What else was there?
Looking at this dragon in particular, he couldn't tell what breed it was; it was pale, any vibrancy in its tallens has been taken from it in the underbelly of Gringotts. They looked partially blind and older than most rescue dragons would be. He was hoping a sense of justice and vengeance ran through this one. And the ability to recognize the good wizards from the bad—
Fred scooted forward, as high up as he could on the dragon's neck. "Hello, my name's Fred," he tried, bellowing it out, patting its neck. The dragon kept flying, paying no attention to the appetizer on his back. "Talking to a dragon you bloody idiot," he told himself, "Hello Fred, I'm Fire Spawn, lovely to meet you."
He should have paid far more attention in class.
Or rather, he shouldn't have ignored Charlie every time he went on about them.
Not my fault, I was just upset he got us banned from the village theater after they killed the Dragon in the Hobbit—
But Fred did remember something. Hagrid made it sound like dragons could sense something when it came to people. It was odd, but dragons could understand some things. Maybe not enough to carry on a conversation, but they were able to sense things. They could sense people's intentions, and judge them by it.
Well it was worth a shot.
"Listen, congrats on breaking free back there, I was hoping you could help me get my mates out of jail? They're in Azkaban in the North Sea?"
Again, nothing. Except maybe nothing. The tail seemed to be swishing a lot more. Was that a good sign? Or was the dragon recognizing there was an appetizer on its back and was going to throw him mid air before he captured him in his mouth. Would that hurt? Would Hermione know what had become of him?
"Right, don't know if you know the way, I can help with that, designandum " Fred bellowed, raising his wand. A light red beam stretched in front of them towards the horizon, "If you could be a chap and just follow the light, I'd appreciate it."
The dragon didn't course correct automatically, but it didn't turn away from the light either. Maybe this would work? Or maybe he'd wake up in Norway? Better than the dragon flying too high and him losing oxygen- but how would he live with himself if he woke up in bleeding Norway after missing the last battle?
Hermione would be pleased, he thought to himself but George would kill you—he'd have waited for you and Fire Spawn and left to take up the fight when you flew overhead.
This was one of the more thrown together Weasley plans. Fred was to do his best to fly over Aberdeen by sunset. George and the others would be waiting nearby in Buchan on one of the cliffs by the sea. They'd have a green fire going to guide them in, and somehow—Fred wasn't quite sure how—he was going to get the dragon to land and pick up his friends and they'd fly into the night.
He could hardly get the Dragon to follow a jet of light, how the hell was he supposed to get the dragon to land?
"So—the plan is to rendezvous with the rest outside of Buchan," Fred said, talking to the dragon. He wasn't doing it for the dragons sake, more for himself. To keep his nerves. Because a fat lot of good Fred Weasley should be if he lost his nerves—
"And from there, we fly off to Azkaban. As I reckon, it'll take us till eleven to get there. Which is good because Hermione thinks You-Know-Who will start moving his people around 10:30, 11 o'clock. So when we get there the prison won't be at max Dementors. After that all we have to do is break into the Wand Hold, grab all their wands and we're good—"
He trailed off. It was easy to say this—but how hard would this be? He paid less attention in History of Magic than he did Care of Magical Creatures. Professor Binns could have mentioned something about break in attempts and he'd have missed it coming up with the concept for extendable ears or a skiving snack—
Only Sirius had ever broken out. Maybe he should have talked to Remus—perhaps Sirius would have told him something, anything—
Maybe he was leading his friends into a trap. Maybe he thought they were running to a rescue mission, that what he was doing would sway the Battle of Hogwarts—but maybe it was the opposite. Maybe he would be taking out seven of its defenders—all so he would have done something heroic before possibly dying in said battle.
At least If you die here, Hermione won't find your body. He supposed that had some silver lining. She wouldn't stumble around a corner and find his crumbled frame. She'd find out about it afterwards. When he didn't pop in to find her. When neither he nor George popped in to find her. What would she do then?
Bravado Fred, think Bravado—he chastised himself. The prison would be at minimal defense. They weren't Harry Potter, but they weren't awful at Patronus' either. They could do this. There were seven of them and wasn't seven the magical number? They had to be able to do this.
Fred leand forward on the dragon's back, trying to rest. After a while he remembered he was still in disguise and tried to clean up, his red hair and bare face coming back, his nose shrinking to its regular size. George would at least recognize him now, should they ever find him.
He flew over Aberdeen around six; the dragon was clever enough to stay in the clouds as they went over the main city. He was still following Fred's beam for some reason or another. It gave him hope that maybe —just maybe— at least one of them knew what the other was doing.
Fred could see the cliffs of Buchan but his heart dropped, he couldn't see the green flames meant to guide him in. He couldn't see any flames. Just idyllic hills that stretched from the sea miles inland.
They hadn't come.
Either George hadn't been able to talk them into coming or something had delayed them—something must have stopped George, maybe Lee saw the writing on the wall and refused to let his mate risk life and limb as he had done.
What would he do now? Did he go on alone? That was suicide. He could hold off three—maybe five Dementors. He wasn't Harry bleeding Potter, he couldn't defend himself from a hundred—
"OI!" A voice clipped in the wind, interrupting his thoughts. Fred looked up, mildly panicked and saw George smiling at him, straddling the air. Behind him, he could see the others. Angelina, Katie and Alicia flying in formation, just as they had when they were chasers. Wood and Lee flew side by side, as the beaters would have, the only thing missing bats. And there was someone else—someone older bringing up the rear—Remus.
"Heard you were breaking into Azkaban. Thought you might need some help," Lee Hollard with a laugh, waving from the distance.
Fred looked again to George in disbelief, he coaxed the air and it directed him closer to his brother.
"What the bloody hell—"
"Thestrals," said George, patting the air, "it was Lupin's idea, that why I let him come along. He and Lee are the only one who can see em', figured it was smart to bring him along."
"Thestrals," Fred said dumbfounded, "Thestrals?"
"You know, the dead horses Hagrid showed us our seventh year?" George asked,he turned his eyes to Fred's dragon. "Or tried to show us. Anyway, they have a really good sense of direction and Lupin thought they could steer your dragon along."
"How'd he figure that?"
"Might get hungry?" George shrugged, "If it's alright with you, I'm staying on the Periphery—Lee and Lupin can see their ride, they're going to take the lead."
He noticed the two fly under him and take their spots to the front. Fire Spawn didn't seem to notice them. He wondered just how much eyesight the dragon had—he wasn't complaining, he'd rather not see his friends become burnt offerings to the sea below.
"You weren't lying about any of it—Gringotts or the dragon," yelled George, "Hermione out did herself—they figured it was those three but they haven't been able to ID the fourth person. Only reason we got Lupin, they thought it could have been him—he fled to Penny's and it was only luck he ran into us."
"He was in Britain? I thought he was in France with Tonks and Ted?" Fred called.
"That's my fault," said George, "I had tipped him off on your theory that it was about to end. When he came to Penny's and over heard us orchestrating a break in he jumped in going on about Thestrals."
Fred nodded but couldn't stop himself from feeling bile rising up within him. Remus' name had been on Hermione's list too. I'd they were successful at the prison and made it back to Hogwarts, would Remus make it through the night? Would he be able to keep that promise he made that Teddy Lupin would keep his father? Would he be able to save him?
Would he be able to save any of them?
((*))
They got their first views of Azkaban around 10:30.
At first they were just low lights on the horizon. As they got closer they could see it was just that, torches that lined the ridges of the fortress.
The prison was shaped as a square, thick walls making up its perimeter. Inside there was a courtyard with a large central tower that had four wings reaching out to the perimeter forming a boxed cross.
"According to Remus prisoners are kept in the wings," George yelled, pointing at the prison. "Dementors line the outer perimeter. I expect Death Eaters too."
"Right," said Fred, trying to get a better view. Lee and Remus had flown ahead of them to see if there was a good place to land, possibly to come up with a plan before they stormed the fortress.
To Fred's horror though, the dragon was now flying over Azkaban, as oblivious to the prison as he was the ocean below him. Fire Spawn didn't want to roast anymore bad guys, he wanted to be free.
"Oi, Georgie," Fred called, waving to his brother. George, Wood, Angelina, Katie and Alicia we're still behind him, although the girls and Wood were hovering ahead the prison, waiting for Lee and Remus. George was coming to him though, staying as ever along the Peripheries.
"I don't think the Dragons staying for this one," said Fred, patting the dragon's neck. "How do I get off?"
George looked at the dragon and then turned around to their friends, motioning for one of them to come over. Wood and Angelina flew nearby, their thestrals quickly catching up.
"Angie,be ready with arresto momentum if we don't catch him in time—" Fred could hear George say before turning his attention back to him, "No easy way to say this Fred. You're going to have to jump, Oliver or I will catch you and bring you on."
"Lovely, second free fall in twelve hours," he said, easing himself off the dragons hump. "If you change your mind, we'd love you to come roast some bad guys for us," he said, affectionately patting the dragon's neck, "Live well Fire Spawn," he said before turning to his brother and Wood.
He tried to gage how far he was from them, and desperately wished he could see the Thestrals. His luck he was going to ram into their wings. He took a deep breath and launched himself off the dragon into the night sky.
Angelina has cast her spell before the falling sensation racked him. But he quickly realized he wasn't falling. He was floating, almost parallel to the three thestral riders.
"Arresto Momentum?" Angelina laughed, as she kept her wand aimed at Fred and guided him over the sea to directly behind George, "why have him fall when he can float?"
"Wingardium Leviosa," George sighed,"Well fine Angie. Be the best of us as you always are."
Fred felt the sides of the thestrals against his ankles and he eased into air besides George. George patted his knee and turned around, "Welcome to the oddest flight you'll ever have."
"Right," said Fred glancing down; he missed the dragon. There was more security riding a fire breathing killing machine then there was floating in the free air, thestral or no.
"So I'm taking it we're not keeping the dragon?" Asked Wood, watching was the tail flicked in the night, "Pity, If anyone asks—official story- we had the dragon."
"Wood's already working on the story he's telling his teammates should we survive this," George sighed, turning his thestral back to Alicia and Katie, "He's also planning a few new moves he can implement for next season and trying to give them a dragon theme—make it legendary."
"Good Man Oliver," Fred laughed.
By the time they got back to the others, Remus and Lee we're flying towards them. "There's a cave on the south side of the island," Remus said, "We can go in, make our plan and go from there."
"Good idea," said George. "Lee lead us down," Remus ordered and the six riders followed down to the little cave. Fred flicked his wand and the little blue lights Hermione favored outlined the room. George tossed a bag at him, which he nearly dropped.
"Figured you hadn't eaten since this morning," George said, "I doubt they have anything good
in these kitchens and if were flying to fight at Hogwarts I doubt Dobby will be waiting for us with a sandwich."
Fred opened the pack and pulled out a sandwich which he quickly inhaled. He hadn't realized just how hungry he had been. He watched his friends pull out their own snacks, and in Alicia's case a small silver flask.
"It's not Polyjuice is it?" He asked as she took a swig.
Alicia laughed, "You realize we're about to break into Azkaban Prison, right Fred? No," she laughed, "Ogdens best, 1981 bottle. Figure a little liquid courage might be what we need to get through," she handed him the flask, "Cheers,"
He raised it to her before he took a quick swing. The rush of fire running through him as though he was the dragon. He passed the bottle to Katie and tried to return to his sandwich. He didn't feel any better or worse, he just felt a little hot and ready for it all to be over.
"Right, so I say we pair up on Thestrals and leave some in here, just in case the Death Eaters decide to kill our rides to limit an escape," said Remus, looking at George, "what do you say?"
"Agreed," he responded, "Ideally we'd apparate out but in case they put the jinxes up we should keep the Thestrals as long as we can."
"Right," Remus said, taking a stick and drawing a crude rendering of the prison. "So we fly into the courtyard. Perfect world they don't notice us and we can slip into the prison tower and go find Justin and the rest—"
"Less than perfect world," Lee interrupted, " have to remember some of us are the most unlucky bastards to walk the earth—"
"Less than perfect world," Remus said with a grimace more than a grin, "Less than perfect world we engage from the air or once we land. The girls make a rush for the Tower, Wood you go with them. Lee, Fred, George and myself bring up the rear and secure the tower while we search for people to fight."
"And once we're in the tower?" George asked looking at the drawing, "assuming the four of us don't kill every Death Eater and Dementor as we run to the tower after the rest of them."
Remus looked at the ground and then to George, "James and Sirius used to have a saying, that if you planned every detail you missed every opportunity to improvise and make it better."
"That's a pretty shitty saying," George said, looking from Remus to Fred, "Right Fred? Real shitty?"
Fred looked to Remus and understood. The only way this was going to work was if they improvised, If they counted on the moment rather than their movements.
"Once we're in the tower we split up and search," Fred agreed, "Send anyone who will come to the main doors. Once we've got everyone we regroup and plan from there."
"If that's the plan I wish I hadn't shared my flask," said Alicia, tossing the empty container to the ground. She strode to the thin air where her thestrals was and patted it, "Let's get it over with,"
Katie raised an eyebrow, "That's good enough for you? Storm in, figure how we storm out later?"
Alicia shrugged, "I'd rather die doing something great than live the way we have this last year," she looked around the room at her old teammates, "and I don't think I'm alone with that sentiment."
Fred felt something vibrate in his pocket. He looked puzzled but then turned to see he wasn't the only one. George, Lee, Katie, and Angelina were also retrieving something from their pockets. His hand touched the coin and he realized why.
It was their DA Galleon. The serial number no longer a number code but a message, the words pressing through the weak lamp light.
Lightning has Stuck. Battle at Hogwarts. Come now.
He heard Katie gasp as she read the words, handing her coin to Wood as she turned to Remus. "It's happening—Harry's at Hogwarts. He got in and—"
"And they're calling out for fighters," George finished, looking at Fred, "Better get started then, shouldn't we?"
"The sooner we do, the sooner we get back to them," he answered and then turned to the others, "if you think you're needed more at the castle—I understand."
"Don't be daft Fred," said Wood, "they need us but they can wait. You can't break into Azkaban with just your brother. This is the big one."
"The one we've been waiting for," Angelina interrupted with a laugh, Alicia interrupting "The one we've trained and practiced for."
"Come along Captain, let's go," Fred said, clapping the side of the invisible horse.
"I'm not the captain this game Freddie," Wood said, getting on his own thestral, "This time that's you."
And with that, the liberators dove over the cliff and into the night, ready to storm Azkaban.
((*))
If they lived to see the morning, George Weasley would tell everyone and anyone he met that this was his darkest hour. This was the moment in his life he was most convinced he was going to die; and with him, everyone dearest to him.
They flew over head into the stone courtyard. The girls were able to make a dash to the tower, almost half way there before the Death Eaters noticed there were intruders. Remus shot first, throwing a hex meant to block their door, but it bounced and put a hole in the wall instead.
Twelve or so Death Eaters stormed out of the angry hole after them. The four of them kept running, firing and attempting to engage with the Death Eaters while they made their way further in, ducking as the Death Eaters that hadn't left their post threw hexes and jinxes that sent stones flying towards them.
The three girls had just made it through the gate to the tower. That was Justin's tower—at least he thought it was. They kept high security risks in that block, he knew that much from Remus retelling stories from Sirius when they flew to meet Fred.
He could hear two sets of feet behind him, Remus and Fred, running as they threw spells back at their attackers. "Oh come on," Fred laughed hurling his own. "I thought you lot were supposed to be good at this! Is You-Know-Who so desperate he's recruiting trash like you?"
George turned around, ready to join in the revelry when he saw it—stones were falling, fast and quick and undiscrimitory. Hurling themselves towards Fred.
George felt himself go sick as the stones made their way to his brother. But thankfully Remus had seen it to and with a wave of his hand the stones exploded into small pebbles. "Watch it," Lupin yelled, taking Fred's wrist and yanking him faster to the stronghold.
When they made it in, the girls and Wood were already gone. Lee was waiting for them, "they split up, one for each wing. He motioned to his left, "Ange went that way, east wing. Oliver's taken the north wing with Katie and Alicia's taken the south. Need someone to take the west wing."
"You take the east and I'll go west," Fred said, clapping his brothers shoulder. "Open all the doors you can, tell them we're taking volunteers to go fight for Harry—"
"You tell them, I'm going with you," said George, "I nearly saw you snuff it to rocks—"
"Angelina—"
"Is a highly capable witch," said George, "You—"
"Want you to go and make sure your birds safe. I'll be fine," Fred turned to Lee, "You sticking with Remus or going with Alicia?"
"The Wand Hold, it's a building over. Once we've taken care is this lot outside we'll make a push for the Hold and get ready to hand back wands." Lee answered.
A loud cannon sounded outside, Fred. George, Lee and Remus looked at one another. "Focus on the fight outside," Fred said, looking at Remus and Lee, "we'll need to take care of them before we can get their wands."
"Oh we'll take care of them," said Remus looking through a hole in the door, " there's only what, a dozen Death Eaters and a hundred so Dementors—childs play right Lee?"
Lee smirked and looked at his old Professor, "What I do before breakfast Professor."
"Take Luck," Fred said, bumping his friends shoulder, "we get them out, confuse the Death Eaters with how many people are out—hope it's enough to gain an advantage and once we do get them to the wand hold and get them the hell out of here."
Fred disappeared, running through the west doors without hesitation. George looked to Lupin and Lee, as though they too were waiting to see what path he'd decided to take.
He motioned to the door that would lead him to Angelina, when he remembered another set of brown eyes, the ones that had once asked him to keep Fred safe, nearly a year ago when they put the fidelius charm on her parents' house—
"Bloody hell," he swore and he stormed down the western doors into the wing after Fred.
((*))
There was confusion up and down the hall as Fred began his liberation.
People were screaming, obviously alarmed by the sounds of the Death Eaters laying siege to the Prison. Others, he supposed, were screaming because they had long since been driven mad.
Fred was half way down the hall, waving his wand and opening doors, yelling at them to get to the main gate, they were going to fight for Potter—occasionally calling out for Justin Finch Fletchy.
George wasn't sure about these prisoners. Only two or three had leapt from their cell and we're running towards him and the exit. He poked his head in two and saw their inhabitants tucked in the corner.
These weren't warriors. These were people who would need St Mungos and summer days to heal before they'd ever wield a wand again. Maybe someday, but not tonight. Not for Harry. No matter how much they may hate the Death Eaters who put them here, they wouldn't be able to fight them. Not tonight.
"Fred!" George called, racing down the hall towards his brother, "Fred slow down!"
"Why would we do that when there's people to help Georgie," Fred asked,brandishing his wand and setting more doors open.
A tall, thin man with copper grey hair stumbled out of one. George couldn't place him, but Fred could. He stopped, George nearly toppling to the ground as he hit him.
"Reg Cattermole!" Fred said excitedly, clapping his shoulders, "You're Reg aren't you?"
"Aye," said the man, looking at the two brothers confused, "Do I know—"
"Afraid not, but I know your wife" said Fred with a friendly smile, "I helped her and the kids get out the day they brought you in—"
"They got out?" The man said in a voice broken whisper, his body folding as though he had the wind knocked out of him, "I didn't know—they just threw me in, I didn't know If Mary or the kids—oh God—"
"Got them out and to France the day the Ministry was attacked," said Fred,his voice softer, kinder, "They're in a safe house with friends just outside of Calais. We'll take you to them as soon as we finish fighting for Harry."
"Harry—Harry Potter?" Reg asked looking at the scene, more prisoners running to the doors where Lee and Remus were. "What—"
"They're prepping for the last battle, it ends tonight Reg. Come fight with us," said Fred as though he was a great crusader. "I have to find a friend, then I'll be right there."
The man nodded and darted down the hall, a case of confusion still written on his face, mixed in with another emotion, one George could only define as hope. They had reached the end and found a set of stairs leading up.
"How many floors you think each tower has?" Asked George, looking up the tower well.
"Enough I think we split up," said Fred, "I'll be honest—I didn't think it'd be this full."
"Death Eaters in charge nearly a year with full reign and you didn't think they'd have filled up the place?" George said, skipping up the stairs and laughing darkly, "Hell Fred, what did you think they were doing with Azkaban, redecorating?"
((*))
Fred finally found Justin on the fifth floor of the West Wing.
He has been lucky: only half the cells were on the third floor and the people in the cells had more sense than the people on the first and leapt from their cells.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Justin asked as his door unlocked. He looked at Fred with utter disbelief as though his eyes couldn't register what they saw.
"We're about to fight the big one, thought you'd like to come along," Fred said with a grin, "Now come on, we've got to free this floor and then head down with the rest—"
"This way—Amos! Amos we're getting out!" Justin called, "Fred bleedin' Weasley is getting us out!"Justin said, sprinting down the hall.
"Amos—?"
"Cedric's dad," said Justin, turning around with a grin. "He's been in since September—our cells used to be next to each other but they moved him down after a prisoner died and they wanted to spread us out."
"Arthur Weaslsy's son come to save the day?" asked a raspy voice from the darkness. Fred followed, waving his wand and setting blue lights to send shadows on the mans face. Sure enough, their stood Amos Diggory. His face had more wrinkles than Fred could remember, and his hair had a wiry look to it, sticking out in a clouded halo around his head.
"Mr Diggory," Fred waved his wand. The door unlatching, "how'd you get here?"
"I refused to keep quiet about how my son died," he said rubbing his wrists and looking around. He saw Justin and threw his arms around him in an embrace. He then looked to Fred, "We're the only ones on this floor. They moved Tulip down a few months ago."
"Tulip?" Fred asked confused.
"She's older, got brought in after Amos but before me—tried blowing up a Death Eater when he left his house for the Ministry.
"Lovely girl," Amos smiled, " Strong Soprano, used to sing at night for us. Come along, let's go."
"Wait—is Mrs Diggory here? My friends are searching the other wings, we'll find her—"
"No, no Marsha's nor here," said Amos as they reached the stairs. "Once Scrimgeour disappeared I sent her to stay with her sister in Boston, told her to appeal to MACUSA, try and get help sent to Britain," he shook his head, "Her last letter before they brought me in was that she and Jane had started a lecture series over the crimes of You-Know-Who but that MACUSA wasn't rushing to debate coming to our side."
Fred turned to Justin, whispering "MACUS—"
"The Magical Congress of the United States of America," answered Justin as a matter-of-fact, "The American Ministry," he turned to Mr Diggory, "it's a pity they're not like their muggle cousins otherwise they'd have invaded months before he ever took power."
Amos shrugged and the three ran down the staircase back to the main floor.
They met George as they journeyed down. He was with a tall man a few years his senior. He had thick black hair that had been peppered grey along the sides from his imprisonment. His face was thin but not as gaunt as some is the others Fred had seen. There was a sparkle in it Fred recognized as mischief and he wondered if he knew the man.
"Fred! It's Diego Caplan, remember?" George said beaming as though he had met a hero. He looked over and saw Justin and Mr Diggory, "Ah good, he found you—Justin this is Diego Caplan, the man who taught us how to play the detention game."
A smile broke on the mans face and Fred could see the handsome rouge behind the prison sentence. "It's true I got Pitts to retire, but you two were worse for it you had to deal with Filch."
"We'd never have had the heart to break Ol' Pitts," said Fred.
"But Filch—" George continued, "that was a daily delight trying to get him to leave."
"What were you in for?" Fred asked as they journey toward the first floor, then pushing through the crowd that had assembled as they made their way back to Lee and Remus.
"They caught my friends and I trying to blow up the Ministry," Diego started, "Not the entire Ministry mind you—we were trying to take out the Muggleborn Registration Office. Figured they were doing the most evil. Badeea, Ben and Talbot came in with me and from what I hear Tulip didn't last the week before she earned her ticket to Azkaban."
"Tulip Karasu—" Fred said turning to Mr Diggory, a giddy little smile slapped in his face, "That Tulip?"
Mr Diggory nodded confused as the group finally reaching the front with Lupin.
"You're right," said Fred looking back to Mr Diggory, thinking of the fierce redhead so many years his senior who he had had a crush on as a first year, "She's a lovely one-the things that girl could do with a dungbomb-."
The others had also made it back. Their rescued prisoners also in the first floor wings. Some, Like Justin and Mr Diggory had chosen to come to the front lines with their rescuers while the others waited in the wings till they could be called on.
"What's it look like?" Fred asked Lupin who was at the peak hole.
" Twenty Death Eaters—they're not his inner circle but they're not playing games either," he said turning to Fred. "And If your going to be here awhile cast a patronus, they keep trying sending Dementors to ram the door.
"This is the only way in?" asked George.
"And the only way out," said Lee ruefully.
"What if we create a new exit?" Said Fred eyeing one of the stone walls. "We blast this open, have everyone run out, head to the wand hold and we try and hold them off—"
"Do you want us dead?" asked Angelina sharply, turning to George, "Can you hear him? Tell me, does he want us dead?"
"I don't think that would be wise," said Remus, as Fred glared at Angelina, "you can't control an explosion like that Fred. Those rocks would become projectiles. One to the head could kill someone."
Hadn't he done the same thing earlier that morning with the burning treasure in Gringotts? If it wasn't broke—
"We need a diversion—something to take their attention away. The exploding wall would definitely divert their attention for moments, but we need minutes," said Remus.
George turned to him, "I have a couple of fireworks in my bag. It wouldn't be our departure from Hogwarts but we could climb to the top floor and launch it from the window?" He said, glancing back to Remus, "would that work?"
Another rush against the door and a wave of fear breaking against it.
"Just leave a patronus before you go," said Lee as they turned to make their way up.
((*))
In the end, it was he, George and Justin that made their way to the fifth floor. Justin said he knew the best angle from his cell to launch. Fred thought he had really come as he hoped he'd get to see the twins blow up his cell stone by stone.
"Sorry it took us so long to come get you," said George, "Honestly—I didn't think a break in could be done."
"Break ins are easy, it's the breaking out that requires a certain level of finesse," said Fred as they reached the top floor.
George rolled his eyes, "The man breaks in and out of Gringotts and he's become an aficionado on the practice."
Justin nearly gave himself whiplash turning to Fred, "You broke in and out of Gringotts? When?! Why didn't we hear about it?!"
"Just this morning—" Fred said as they ran into the room, "Doubt many of this lot knew. If they had I think there'd have been more guards tonight."
"It's actually lighter than typical," said Justin as they reached his cell, "About an hour before you lot got here they called in the wing wardens. Typically there's a guard per floor but they called everyone to the Keep."
"Must mean Harry's operation is going as planned," Fred sighed. As relieved as he was the plan had worked and they had come to less defenses Azkaban, it was only so because they had probably sent the bad lot to battle Hermione and the others.
"Right , Harry's operation—that's what we're headed for?" Justin asked and took the brothers to the corner of the room directly beside the window.
"Perfect world, it all ends tonight," Fred said as he helped take a plank from Justin's bed and slope it down George's shoulder out the window.
"Dunno about you lot, but I could use a perfect world right about now," Justin smiled and George winked.
"Justin, you put the firework on the ramp and I'll light it. Make sure it rolls out of cell or we'll all become part of a show we'd rather not see," Fred said. He looked up at George, "which would we rather start with? The Dragon or the Pinwheel?"
"Dragon," said George, "I brought that one in honor of your dragon, thought it might give us luck."
"You're dragon?" asked Justin looking at Fred suspiciously, "what—"
"Tell you in a minute- hold and launch," Fred said, handing the firework ball to Justin who held it in place while he lit the fuse.
The ball rolled down the ramp before disappearing over the stone edge. Justin rushed to the window but Fred pulled him down, just in time for the rain of fire flares from their Dragons wings.
He could hear the cries from the courtyard. He looked at his brother, "How many more of those do we have?"
"Half dozen, rest are pinwheels," he answered with a grin, "Launch and Load?"
"You're not going to need more than that," said Justin, pointing out the window. "Look, your dragons summoned a real dragon—how did you do that?" he asked in a near reverent awe.
Fred rushes to the window and could make out the pale hide of Fire Spawn, flying over head, shooting fire at the people on the ground.
Fred tried not to smile as he saw what looked like two Dementors withering as their capes caught fire.
"Come on," he said with a smile, "this is our chance, we're getting out of here, now."
((*))
When Fred emerged from the tower, Fire Spawn had just flombayed another handful of Dementors.
Truth be told, if Fred didn't know any better he'd think the Dragon was enjoying itself. Burnt heaps of Dementors littered the courtyard. Remus and Lee were dueling three Death Eaters while Wood and Katie had a half dozen or so in body bind curses. George and Angelina were in front with Alicia, clearing a path to the wand hold, Tulip, Badeea, Diego and Talbot following them as they did.
Fred, meanwhile, was dueling two Death Eaters. Neither were as coordinated as the Death Eaters they had faced when they had gone to retrieve Harry from Privet Drive.
With a flourish of one's wand they had sent jets of their own fire to his feet. "Oi, careful," he said, setting one in a body bind and ducking the others purple jet.
He leapt as another shower of jets arose and he set a shower of red, stupefying the remaining fellow. "Fred!" Called a voice from behind the smoke, " We could use some help over here if your done training for the ballet."
"Oi!" Cried Fred rushing into the smoke. He could see the four outlines of George, Angelina, Remus and Lee. The first pair were battling the five Death Eaters while the latter were dealing with the Dementors who hadn't been turned to ash heaps.
"Protego !" He bellowed, sending a shield up for George and Angelina, just as a flash of purple bounced against his charm, "Expecto Pat— I said Protego dammit!" Fred said, flourishing his wand as someone made another push for Angelina.
Lee called for him again, and this time Fred sent his Patronus. One summoned on the hopes of sunny days with Hermione on a beach, far away from this place. And then, after the Dementors has shied away, before they came close, he waved his wand again calling out "Incendio!"
The bottoms of their robes ignited and they began to flail, clumsily gliding with full haste out of the courtyard while a lone Death Eater trailed behind.
"Stupefy!" Cried Lee, the Death Eater tripping and falling to the ground with a thunk.
Lee and Fred turned. Remus has joined George and Angelina in their duel. With the two of them joined the Death Eaters were now outnumbered and retreating to the gate.
"I think we got them!" Said Lee with a smile, "I think—"
His voice was cut off by a commanding roar. Fred turned around to see Fire Spawn behind them, charging as fast as their wings could go.
"Duck!" He yelled, pushing Angelina and George down to the ground, just before the flames came out against the Death Eaters.
"If I didn't know any better I'd say that Dragon fancies you," said Lee as they got up, watching as the dragon now lay siege beyond the walls, roasting survivors who had fled to the coast. "Hermione's not the jealous type is she?"
"Hermione versus a dragon isn't a battle I'd like to see," Fred grimaced, helping Angelina up and then George.
He surveyed the scene around him. There were piles burning—he assumed those were dementors. Wood and Katie we're bringing over three more Death Eaters over to the group already under a body bind. He supposed they'd need to go into cells until morning when Kingsley took power of the Ministry.
To his reckoning, there wasn't anyone left. Those who hadn't been roasted or rounded up had fled. The island was theirs. They had taken the prisoners of Azkaban. Azkaban was theirs.
"It's a shame Sirius didn't live to see this," said Remus as they walked to the Wand Hold, "I think he would have enjoyed watching you roast Dementors."
"He'd probably had a few other ideas of what to do with them," smiled Fred, "and he'd have had a good time throwing open the doors during our rescue mission."
Remus nodded, smiling as they walked, "The Prisoner of Azkaban no more."
A few of the prisoners who had stayed in the tower had made it to the Wand Hold before they had. Among them Xeno Lovegood who was in what looked like an intense conversation with Lee Jordan. Stan Shunpike was telling anyone who would listen what it was like being under the imperius curse for three years and Fred nearly tripped over himself when he saw Madam Rosmerta behind a counter, holding wands and calling out the names written on little white slips of paper tied to them.
"How'd she get here?" Fred asked Remus, "we hadn't heard they'd gotten Rosie."
"About a week after you guys went into hiding—right before Teddy was born," Remus muttered, "Umbridge brought her in."
"But she's not a muggleborn is she?" Fred asked.
"No, but Umbridge thought her drink had been tampered with—"
"And it had," Rosemerta had said with a smile, "Wouldn't have killed her, but it would have sent her to St Mungos."
"Really?" George asked flabbergasted, "I thought bartenders didn't get involved with politics—"
"We don't," answered Rosmerta with a smile, handing Justin his wand, "but usually politicians don't talk about how they're going to imprison children when they frequent the bars. Figured she had broken the code first."
Remus nodded, smiling, "You always were Hogwarts first defender."
"And now it's time for us to be her other defenders," Fred said turning to George, "shall we get the others ready?"
George looked at his watch, "Quarter to 12—we beat hurry or they'll have sealed the door."
Fred lifted himself atop the counter where Rosmerta was handing out wands. Some of the din died out as people saw him, it was only after he called out twice and George whistled that the room stilled.
"Right—thank you. You're free!" A tumult of applause shook the room. Even the most vacant of eyes registered and smiled while others clapped and clamored.
"But we're not out of the clear yet," said Fred, fishing out his DA Galleon. "Dumbledore's Army called out an hour ago while we were liberating the jail. They're calling for aids, Hogwarts goes to war tonight."
A few whispers, but nothing more. Fred couldn't get a read of their faces—would they stay or would they come?
"We can't say we understand what you've been through," said George, boosting himself atop the counter with Fred. "But we're going. And anyone who wants to come along we'll apparate with you. If you want to stay, you can. And if we win, someone from the New Ministry will be here in the morning."
"We'll go!" Called Diego from the back, he Badeea, Ben, Talbot and Tulip making their way forward, "you're going to need people who know Hogwarts like the back of their hand and who better than the Curse Breakers."
"Diego please—not that again," sighed Badeea, "That was Catalina and Andre—"
"And I'll come," said Amos Diggory, straightening his spectacles, standing beside Justin, "for Cedric."
"And Luna!" Cried Xenophilius as he joined the duo.
"You know you can count on me," said Rosmerta, "especially if this means I can finally break into the bottles I've been saving for the end—"
A half dozen other people raised their hands to come. Fred took heart— with the addition of the rescue party they'd be adding 24 to Harry's side. Maybe not the army he had hoped for, but still—
"Alright, everyone coming head outside and we'll apparate out," he said, scanning the crowd. Then he saw him, and headed towards Reg Cattermole.
"Oi Reg—"
"I—I don't know If I'd be any good for you son," he said bashfully as though ashamed, "it's been a while since I had my wand."
"No, no—that's fine," he started, putting a hand on his shoulder, "I want you to be in charge here. We shouldn't be long—just keep everyone inside. I don't know what our dragon friend is going to be doing. I imagine If you explore a bit you can find some food. Just let people sleep until the rescue comes."
"What if—" Reg seemed to hesitate, "what if we don't win? What if the Death Eaters come back? They're not going to take kindly to this."
Fred squeezed his shoulder, "We're going to win," he said firmly, "and I'll see you once we have."
Reg nodded quickly, averting his eyes as though he had seen too much the last nine months to believe in happy endings. "Alright, everyone else—listen to Reg here, I'm leaving him in charge. We'll see you all very soon," he promised and then disappeared out the door before anyone could usher a word of protest.
((*))
People were apparating on top of one another when they reached the Hogshead. Oliver Wood has only popped into thin air when Alicia and Katie stepped into the shop and onto his toes.
"What the devil—" yelled Aberforth from behind the counter. Slamming the glass he had been drying raising his hands and head to the ceiling he clenched his fists and yelled, "Stop coming from wherever you are! We're closed!"
"Closed for resistance fighters though?" Asked George, creeping further into the shop, "Come on, we know you got Harry and the others into Hogwarts tonight, we're here to fight too!"
The Barman rolled his eyes, "You lot are a proper mess, you realize that. Filch has the Slytherins locked safe away in the station house and you lot are trying to storm in."
"That daring nerve sets Gryffindor apart," charged Angelina, entering the room from around back. She looked at the others, "Come along, there's a passage back here. Dean Thomas is waving us in."
Fred turned to Aberforth, "So what do you say? Daring Nerve?"
Aberforth stared at his for a moment, "It's a smart Gryffindor who knows where his fight is."
"And your a smart man, come along—before all the Death Eaters are taken," George said coming back to his brother's side.
There was suddenly a great commotion from the door. Someone was beating against it fiercely. Fred turned to his brother and then Aberforth, his wand raised. The door was unlocked, did their attacker not know that? Where they trying to pull when they needed to push?
He motioned to lock the door but it opened before it did, "Please," cried a voice, "Please—don't let it be too late—"
The words died as their owner looked at the three of them. Aberforth lowered his wand. "Ah—this looks like it's a family matter," he said turning for the portrait, " lock up before you head for the school."
Fred felt his muscles tense and jaw lock as he focused his eyes with that of his older brother, Percy's horn rimmed glasses slanted as he tried to straighten up and meet their glares.
Hermione had told him Percy would be coming. That he would get battlefield forgiveness. But he hadn't known it would happen this way—that he and George would extend it first. Could have tipped me off on that Hermione, he thought.
"Well—" George started but Percy interrupted, words rushing out of him.
"I'm so—I'm so sorry," he started, his words rushing from him. "You were right. You both were—and I—"
"Was a Ministry Loving, family disowning git?" Fred finished for him.
"Well—yes, I was," said Percy.
"Couldn't have said it better myself—" Fred sighed, folding his arms and turning to George, "he owned up to it, maybe we should cancel the gauntlet."
"He has shown up just in the knick of time—it'll make Mums year if the three of us walk into Hogwarts as brothers," he sighed, "I'm going to regret this later-come on Perce —let's go."
"What?" Percy said unconvinced, not quite sure what had happened.
"We agree, you have been a ministry loving, family disowning, git but given we are all about to go into battle we excuse you of your sins to House Weasley and are inviting you to join us in the defense of Hogwarts," George said with a flourish, "Merlin I hope you were this slow at work—"
A small smile broke on his face, "Really—we're, we're good?"
"Woah. We—" Fred waved his hand between him and George, "we are never associated as being good. Mischievous—"
"—menacing—" supplied George.
"And devious we are. Very rarely are we considered good," Fred finished, " Unless good is being used to describe our pranks."
Percy laughed weakly, "Then were on speaking terms?"
"Yeah, we're there," Fred said, waving his wand and locking the door, George extinguishing the lights that remained. "Angie said something about a tunnel—"
They walked into the back room and Fred saw a door behind an open portrait. "Look! The Castle made a new entrance," he said in reverent awe, "Wonder where it lets out?"
" Probably in a broom cupboard or an abandoned classroom," said Percy poking his head down the tunnel. He raised his wand and a little beam of light spilled on the stone floor, "The Ministry was monitoring Hogwarts like never before—I'm surprised they don't know about this. Do you think it's safe?"
"Dean Thomas was running people down it when we got here—Dean wouldn't lead them into a trap," George answered, looking down the expanse "Wherever we're going, it's not a trap."
"How'd you hear about this Percy?" Fred asked, "last I heard Death Eaters were after you—after they found Ron—"
"I got tipped off by my receptionist—Audrey. She err—heard they were planning on taking Ginny at Easter and said I needed to go and get her before that could happen. So I was waiting at the Station House before Easter Holiday she wasn't there. I was afraid it was too late but Neville told me someone from the family had come to get her earlier that morning because Ron was dying—but he wasn't was he?"
"Nah it was a rouse," explained George, "One of our better ones if I say so myself."
"Well I went back to work and Audrey didn't like the sound of any of it—"
"You seem to be quite chummy with this receptionist," said George with a smirk, "I didn't know Secretary Weasley gave them such council."
"Shush—Audrey's—a good person," Percy finished, uncomfortably. His face a light blush in the darkness, "She knew there was a fall out with me and the family and she tried to make bridges where she could. Apparently Bill dropped off this ugly plant last fall and she would come and water it in the office, wouldn't let me kill it if I tried."
"Did she now," Fred smiled winking at George, "well, cheers to Audrey."
"Yeah—she also tipped me off when they were looking for me. Not long after the botched Ginny rescue she apparated to my flat and made me run, saying someone tripped the sensors she had on at the office," Percy explained.
"Where'd you go?" George asked.
"Oliver Woods place," Percy said as though he was unsure of himself. "We were roommates in school—I knew it was a stretch but I figured he'd have connections in the resistance. If anything people wouldn't have thought to look there. I threw and old set of work robes into the Thames, tried to fake my death and I've been with Oliver and his gran ever since."
"You've been at Woods?" Fred asked surprised and mildly annoyed, "we were just with Wood—why didn't he say anything?"
"Asked him not to—he knows what I'm like, he knew I knew I had messed up," Percy explained. "When he left today he left me with a shortwave radio telling me to listen close, that something might happen—he didn't know what, and he couldn't tell me what he was doing," Percy shrugged and then turned to his brothers as they continued their walk. "But since you were with him—what was it you were all doing?"
"Broke into Azkaban," said Fred.
Percy stopped mid step. "You didn't," he said in disbelief, "what were you really doing?"
"Honestly, we broke into Azkaban. Knew there was a good chance this was going on," George flourished to the castle, "And Fred figured You-Know-Who would have had minimal security if he was pulling forces to storm Hogwarts so—"
"We went and got two dozen or so people to fight for Harry and we came along to offer our services," Fred finished. Their path was becoming narrow, they were now single file walking towards a slanted staircase.
"You two haven't changed in the two years we've been apart," Percy laughed, "Breaking out of Hogwarts, breaking into Azkaban—"
"Oh and don't forget breaking into Gringotts," said George with a ready smile, "Brother Fred here's done a hat trick."
"You did what—"
"Ah look! Here's the door!" Fred said quickly pointing to the rays of light coming from the cracks around the door, "We'll have more time for stories in a minute. Let's get in there, find mum and see where they need us."
Fred was blinded by the light when he opened the door. He could hear cheers from some as they saw he and George emerge, and he could hear his mother gasped when she saw her three sons.
His eyes adjusted and he could see what must be the room of requirement. It looked like a mismatched campground, like the Quidditch World Cup, different house flags dropping the walls while hammocks crisscrossed pillars. The room was bustling with people like Platform 9 ¾, or Diagon Alley in the Summer. Percy was now wrapped in their mother's embrace, Remus was speaking to Bill and Fleur.
And Fred could see Hermione Granger, standing at the door, looking very displeased to see him.
((*))
AN: I don't think, in the 52 Chapters that have proceeded this one, I've done a chapter that was solely Fred. Won't lie, it was a nice change...
First off thank you to the reviewer who suggested back in Chapter 51 to bring Amos Diggory into play. I'll be honest, I had completely forgotten about him and was excited to get to throw him into the mix...and also my Hogwarts a Mystery Characters! I'd felt bad for killing Andre off a few chapters back, I'm glad we got to bring Diego and the gang into the mix.
This chapter was a lot of fun to write. Its strange, some chapters rush to the screen while others you have to ebb it out slowly. I'm hoping the next chapter will be just as cooperative. I have a business trip/conference I'm organizing so I can't promise the next one in two weeks, but am hoping to have something your way by the beginning of February.
Because the next one is the one. The Battle of Hogwarts. The Who Lives Who Dies Who Tells Your Story one. What we've been building up to since that summers night in 2015. We're there. We're knocking at the door. And the anticipation is killing me.
As always, lemme know what you thought about this one. It was fun having the Quidditch Team back together. Live Well Fire Spawn, and may you all live well at the start of this New Year.
Cheers,
KH