The Crook

Mundungus Fletcher was no stranger to Azkaban. He'd been to the prison ten times in his life - once to visit his dad, twice to visit Sirius Black, and seven times as a prisoner himself. He'd never been locked up more than a month or two.

(It was still hard to face the dementors.)

Because they had a way of reaching into the innermost secrets of his mind, of finding his deepest insecurities and darkest regrets, of forcing him to remember the things he'd worked his entire life to forget. They knew exactly how to break a man: by reminding him why he was worthless.

"Here to visit Sirius Black," he told the wizard on guard duty. "I've got news for him."

The guard, who was himself guarded by a large patronus in the form of a jaguar, leaned against the stone wall and looked Mundungus up and down. "Fletcher," he said through clenched teeth. "What brings you back here? You homesick?"

Mundungus shook his head. "Sirius Black," he repeated, and he could already feel the confidence draining out of him, could already feel the coldness settling in. . . .

"Black's in cell 1364," the guard said. "I can find a guard to show you the way."

"Human guard?" Mundungus asked.

The guard grinned. "Not exactly."

Mundungus shuddered. "I'll go by myself, thanks," he said. "I know the way."

"You do, don't you," the guard called after him as he started down the dimly lit corridor. "I forgot, Dung. You're intimately familiar with these cells."

Mundungus rolled his eyes and kept walking. He had to squint to make out the cell numbers. 1013 . . . 1124 . . . 1258 . . . A few of the convicts shouted at him when he walked by . . . some of them were moaning . . . some of them were on the ground, screaming . . . 1312 . . . 1345 . . .

Cell 1364 was near the end of the long hallway. "Sirius?" Mundungus said, putting his face up against the bars. "You in here?"

Sirius' face poked out of the darkness. "I'm here," he said raggedly. "How've you been, Dung?"

"Fine. And you?"

Sirius looked around himself and choked out a laugh. "I've been better, actually." He pushed a hand through his hair, stringy and greasy from years of neglect. "You here to bust me out?"

"Not today, I'm afraid. Maybe next time." And he didn't know whether he was joking or not, because Mundungus couldn't decide whether he thought Sirius was innocent or guilty. "I just came with some news."

"Happy news, I hope."

"Oh, brilliant news. Your mum's dead."

Sirius blinked. "My mum's dead?"

"Your mum's dead."

Sirius threw back his head and began to laugh again. "About bloody time," he said, sinking to the floor of his cell. "That old hag can rot in hell. She deserves nothing less. I'm only sorry I won't be able to spit on her grave."

Mundungus grinned. "I'll be sure to take care of that for you," he said, and then he began to shiver violently. "I've got to get out of here," he muttered. "Before the dementors send me into a depression. But it was good to see you, Sirius."

Sirius gave him a lazy wave. "Don't be a stranger," he said sarcastically. "And don't loot my house, either. I see that glimmer in your eye."

Mundungus chuckled. "Try and stop me. Oh, wait, you're stuck in a cell like a guilty dog."

Sirius' grin faded, and he asked, completely seriously, "Do you think I'm guilty, Dung?"

Mundungus tilted his head very slightly. "Honestly? I'm not sure."

The man in the cell sighed. "That's better than the rest of the world, I suppose."

Mundungus gave him a gruff nod. "Are you? Guilty, I mean?"

Sirius nodded. "It's my fault James and Lily died," he said. "I didn't kill them, but it's still my fault."

"What do you mean?"

"I didn't pull the trigger, Dung. But I loaded the gun."

"What about Pettigrew?"

Sirius laughed again, and it sounded broken. "Pettigrew can rot in hell right along with my mum."

"But did you kill him?"

"No. I didn't. And I'll never forgive myself for that."

And Mundungus walked out of Azkaban wondering what on Earth that could mean.

[Monthly Drabble-A-Thon: Azkaban]

[Collect A Collection Competition: Mundungus Fletcher (Order of the Phoenix)]

[Fiddler on the Roof Character Challenge: Nahum - write about Mundungus Fletcher]