Chapter Two: The Return
AN: Society is a combination of prisons of our own making. They are prisons within prisons within prisons within prisons. Once you escape the first, you are clueless to the number of prisons that still enslave you. The concept of freedom then changes. Are you free to walk tall, to speak without fear, to enjoy life with no regrets? Or perhaps your escape from one prison is just the return to the next.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, JK Rowling has the honor. If I did I'd have probably made the War into its own series and have book 7 lead into it.
September 29th, 1995 Hogwarts
Theodore Nott had grown up tall, thin and stringy. He'd probably never end up on the cover of Witch Weekly or win its Most Charming Smile award. He was average in that regard. No amazing eyes or perfect teeth to set him apart and capture the attention of the masses. And no matter how much he exercised, he was never going to have Harry's build. However, none of that bothered him.
In any case, he had plenty of good qualities. If you were to ask Theo, his preferred nickname, before he'd gone to Hogwarts, he'd tell you he was primarily a clever, but solitary boy. And he had reason to be. After his mother had died, well, he never really thought that description of himself would change. Then he'd gone to Hogwarts, and on his very first train ride his world had changed. Theo had met Harry. And Harry, Harry had made him believe that he could do anything, be anyone.
Now, five years later, everything he held dear was threatening to fall apart. If he'd been the same boy as five years ago when he hesitantly boarded the Hogwarts' Express for the first time, he'd be trying to find the quickest hole to disappear into, a way to escape the world around him. But Theo wasn't that clever, solitary boy anymore.
Of course that didn't mean he wasn't still clever. No, he was still very clever as his friends were quick to tell him. Furthermore, he liked to think that his time at Hogwarts had made him even more so. The biggest difference between the scared little first year getting on that scarlet train and the young man he was today, was the solid group of friends currently sitting at one of the many comfortable sitting chairs in their hideout.
Before Hogwarts, Theo had never had many friends. Of course there were the mandatory parties his father made him attend. He'd met many of his fellow year mates during those riveting engagements. Still, he could not have called any of them friends. Knowing the people awaiting him at Hogwarts, he hadn't really thought it would change.
But then he'd met Harry. Theo looked around. Blaise was sitting near a bookcase talking with Daphne about one thing or another, and Tracey was looking out through a window charmed to display the outside of the castle. He was sure he would lay his life down for any one of them, which was why even though the world seemed to be falling apart he wasn't going to find the nearest hole and throw himself down it.
Theo looked again at his friends. They were missing one member. Probably the most important of them all. 'Blast it all!' Harry's absence was the whole reason why everything he and his friends held dear was threatening to fall apart now. Their organization within Hogwarts was already starting to unravel. He could see its bindings weakening. Their power structure dissolving beneath the small group's feet. Even so, he would not see the destruction to completion. He was not going to let them fall apart, their group or their organization. He would hold them together with his bare hands if he had too!
That thought brought him back to the present. Laying down a journal, Theo opened it to the last page with writing before he began to speak. "So, I've finished rounding up the people who still owe Harry money from that last professional Quidditch match in June. I'll start with the Ravenclaws: Boot, Corner…"
Theo was interrupted as the journal was roughly closed by Daphne. "It's over Theo. Harry's gone and he's not coming back. It's time we start doing our own thing."
"No! I'm not going to let everything we worked for just fall apart because of a little setback," Theo argued.
"A little setback?!" Blaise yelled angrily as he walked over to the main table. "Bollocks! Harry being gone isn't a little setback, Theo! Every day, every bloody minute, Draco and the others have been making us pay for our alliance with him! We have no more power! We're done!"
"Not that any of the other houses would know," came Tracey's soft but firm voice as she too walked over to the main table.
"Harry's not here to protect us anymore," Blaise continued firmly. "What we need to be doing now is keeping a low profile, not collecting debts!"
"So, you're just going to roll over! Play dead!" Theo looked around at his friends' faces. Blaise and Daphne looked a little shamed after his statement, but unmoved. Tracey, however, held a fire in her eyes that gave him hope. "I know I won't give up. I will not betray Harry," His voice didn't raise above his normal volume, but it was clear he was upset.
"He's gone Theo," Daphne spoke softly. "He's not just gone. He's in Anaon." She shook her head sadly before patting Theo on the shoulder.
"My dad's told me stories about Anaon," Tracey added. "It's a horrible place Theo. It makes Azkaban look like a Weird Sisters concert. A little loud and uncomfortable, but overall just annoying."
"Besides, he's probably already dead. Anaon is not a forgiving place, or have you forgotten?" Blaise inquired sympathetically.
No, Theo had not forgotten. He remembered. He remembered all too well.
July 29th, Evening, Nott Manor
Theodore had been sitting at the table eating dinner across from his father when a special edition of the Daily Prophet arrived. There weren't many things that could get a special edition, which worried him greatly. He'd not heard from Harry about visiting on his birthday and staying for the rest of the summer yet. Harry was never late about these types of things. In truth, Theo had been expecting a reply to his owl on the twenty-seventh. When his owl had returned without the message, he'd just just sent it out again, and again each following day.
After last year's events with the offer the Dark Lord gave Harry, he was worried about an attack. You didn't turn the Dark Lord down and live to tell about it. No, not even Harry was that lucky, which meant all summer he'd been worried about his friend's safety.
So, it was with trepidation that Theo watched his dad open the Daily Prophet.
BOY-WHO-LIVED SENTENCED TO ANAON!
A picture of Harry in chains surrounded by dementors mocked Theo from the front page. This had to be the most cocked up joke he'd every read. "Dad let me read that first."
Seeing the front page as well, Mr. Nott turned over the paper to his son. He'd had Harry over enough times to be concerned as well. He still needed to find a way to get from under the Dark Lord's thumb. The old age excuse wouldn't last forever.
Theodore found himself reading the article as if he were on a train speeding into a brick wall. The first sentence alone was enough for him to want to crawl into a hole and never come out again.
Harry James Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, was sentenced today to Azkaban in a never before seen trial. Mr. Potter was accused and found guilty of the use of the Unforgivable Curses and numerous other dark curses…
Theo wanted to stop reading, but couldn't. He needed to know what had happened.
Not even a year away from winning the Triwizard competition, one of the youngest Triwizard champions to do so, Mr. Potter also became the first underage wizard to be accused of using the Unforgivable Curses. This fact alone was why a sentencing trial was held instead of an official trial.
As Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Susan Bones had this to say about Mr. Potter. "It is without a doubt that Mr. Potter preformed those spells. There is no possibility that he was under Imperious when he performed these spells based on information provided by more than thirty of Mr. Potter's peers that he was immune to the Imperious Curse. Therefore, the trial held this morning was not to determine guilt, but to determine how we were to punish Mr. Potter."
Now, some of my readers may be confused. After all, it is common knowledge that the use of the Unforgivable Curses is a life sentence in Azkaban. However, since no one under the age of seventeen has ever been found guilty of using the Unforgivable Curses, it was unknown if it would be appropriate to send a fourteen year old boy to Azkaban for the rest of his life. The court had been split before the trial began…
Theo scanned down the article hoping that Skeeter was only being sensational.
As a prominent member of the Wizengamot, Mr. Malfoy had this to say before the trial. "Our children make mistakes all the time, is this not to be considered a mistake too? Sending any child to Azkaban for life should not be done lightly. I don't believe it should ever be done."
That sentiment seemed to be held by the majority of the Wizengamot before the trial. But, after hearing witness statements from Ronald Weasley a classmate of Mr. Potter and Sirius Black, Mr. Potter's own godfather, the Wizengamot was in a slightly different opinion…
Theo was a little surprised by Malfoy's comment in Harry's favor, but not surprised by the Wizengamot in general. Harry was still the Boy-Who-Lived, the wizarding world owed him. Not that everyone seemed to remember.
Mr. Ronald Weasley seemed to believe with good reason that Mr. Potter was getting involved in the dark arts as early as first year.
"…Always picking on anyone who wasn't a Slytherin. I'm pretty sure he was starting to get in the dark arts from some of the older Slytherins around that time…" – Ron Weasley
After hearing Mr. Weasley's testimony, it became clear that Dumbledore had been hiding the fact that Mr. Potter seemed to always be involved in some of the most controversial events that has transpired in the last four years at Hogwarts. Slowly gathering followers and knowledge of the dark arts.
Theodore didn't think anyone at that court should have listened to anything Weasley had to say, but idiots came in all shapes and sizes.
Of course, it was pointed out that Mr. Weasley being a Gryffindor was extremely biased against Slytherins. Therefore, his testimony alone would not have condemned Mr. Potter. However, the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot seemed to have planned for this by getting Mr. Potter's own godfather to testify against him.
"…What I'm trying to say is that despite Ron's bias against Slytherin, he is right. Moreover, if I, his godfather, couldn't get him to change his path in a year. Then a couple of years in Azkaban isn't going to change Harry. If anything it would make things worse… I'm recommending the court to treat Harry like any other adult wizard. Forget about his fame. Forget about his age. Treat Harry like any other dark wizard who used an Unforgivable Curse, and sentence him to Azkaban, for life." - Sirius Black
Theodore must have re-read that section several times before moving on. He was completely horrified to read that Black, Harry's own godfather, had testified against him.
Mr. Potter has been on a dark path. A path that would have led to another dark lord. The ever forgiving Dumbledore didn't want to give his savior a free pass again either. Going so far as to say "…the future looks dark with a free Mr. Potter."
But I and many of the others there were still confused with a need to send Mr. Potter to Azkaban. Both the Minister of Magic and the Head of the Magical Law Enforcement seemed to agree with me.
"…Mr. Potter could not be much of a threat to the wizarding world half-trained and wandless." - Cornelius Fudge
"…Mr. Potter is nothing but a half-trained wizard, who will not be able to harm anyone else once expelled from Hogwarts and his wand destroyed." - Amelia Bones
But it turns out that Headmaster Dumbledore knew more than he'd ever let on about the rise of You-Know-Who.
"…I have seen a student like Mr. Potter before… thirst for power… excel … gather followers. And I have seen that orphan become the dark lord Voldemort and cause so much death and destruction. I will not see another Voldemort created under my watch!" - Albus Dumbledore
Dumbledore. It always seemed to come back to Dumbledore. The Headmaster had always seen the worst in Harry even when no evil existed. So, he was not surprise to read Dumbledore's words. He'd known Harry was trying to change the Headmaster's opinion on him, but it seemed his little Gryffindor stunt hadn't help him here. He'd told him it wouldn't, befriending the youngest Weasley could do him no good, and now he hated that he'd been right. Still, he was surprised the Weasley girl hadn't spoken up in Harry's defense. Theo supposed that not even her blinded feelings could see past dark magic like the Unforgivables. He'd never trusted that girl anyway.
Even with all the Headmaster had said, he'd wanted to show mercy on Mr. Potter despite several of the Wizengamot calls for the Dementor's Kiss or the Veil. The Wizengamot was all set to send Mr. Potter to Azkaban when Madam Dolores Umbridge made her appearance. With Madam Umbridge's actions, Mr. Potter was sent to Anaon instead of the regular section of Azkaban.
"…Nothing is too much for the safety of the wizarding world… Today marks the end of his terror. What better place to put the vilest wizard of this decade, of this age than Anaon of Azkaban…" - Dolores Umbridge
She had this to say about her comments during the hearing. "He thought he could fool the wizarding world. Confuse us, have us looking in the wrong direction. Spouting lies that You-Know-Who was back. To have the wizarding world looking for a dead man when we should have been looking into how a fourth year Hogwart's student could possibly win the Triwizard Tourney."
I have to agree with her. Today marks the beginning of a bright future for the wizarding world. The most heinous criminal of our time will never become the next dark lord. The wizarding world can rest easy now that Harry Potter has been stopped.
Theo looked again at the last part of the article. He didn't know much about Umbridge, but that would change. She had sent Harry to Anaon, but it was still clear that it wouldn't have been possible without Dumbledore's support.
The Special Edition paper didn't end there. There were other stories. The majority of the stories centered on Harry's trial. A small story about the History of Anaon Prisoners. Another about the fable of Anaon. That had been the worst.
"…Damnation to Anaon of Azkaban means an eternity of unrelenting physical and emotional torment…"
Put everything in that paper together, and it was all but assured that Harry would die in that prison. If history was to repeat itself based off of the History of Anaon Prisoners story, then he wouldn't even last a month.
No. Theo remembered all too well. He remembered the anguish that he'd gone through right after he'd read the news. He had fled up to his room, confused and filled with despair. He'd been ready to give up right then and there. And he would have, if he'd not tripped over his own two feet. Falling into his desk, he sent everything on it tumbling to the floor. The mess seemed to signify his life.
He'd screamed then, loud and hard. Screamed for the friend he'd lost, and the end of his strength. What was he, what were any of his friends without Harry?
He remembered picking up the mess in his growing depression. He'd been prepared to go underground knowing that to hang out with his friends in public would only create a larger target for them all. His thoughts had only darkened as he went through all of his steps for damage control. It was only when he'd picked up a small chest, a chest that wasn't his, but Harry's that his thoughts changed.
Sitting back, he ran his hands over the chest. Harry had given this to him just months ago. He knew what was in it, theoretically at least. They were the precious items that Harry couldn't risk bringing back with him to his relatives. Theo gently opened the chest. It couldn't hurt now.
There hadn't been much. An expensive looking jewel that Harry had been keeping since first year. Harry's journal of accounts. Theo knew it held all the people who owed Harry money in it. The journal was something solid, it gave him something he could do. Moving to pick it up, Theo's hand brushed against a tiny golden key. Bypassing the journal, he picked up the key. He still remembered Harry giving him the paperwork that granted him limited access to his vault.
"If anything happens to me Theo, I'm counting on you to take care of my things." Harry had said to him. There had been no threats, no doubts that Theo could do it. Harry had simply handed him the paperwork and the chest after that one sentence. Afterwards, they'd left their dorm room to go catch the train.
Rising from his thoughts, Theo addressed his friends. "I'm not giving up. I'm not going to let everything Harry. No, everything we've worked for go to waste," looking at his remaining friends, he continued, "Harry will be back. And when he does return. I'm going to be ready." Taking a deep breath he continued. "Will you?"
As Harry had already learned, he had not just destroyed the piece of Voldemort's soul embedded within his forehead, but he'd also absorbed Voldemort's memories. And there was a lot to learn from them.
Spells, rituals, magic he'd never even dreamed existed. There was so much knowledge. Too much. It took time to sort through the useless memories from the interesting, the memories with no magic versus the ones with new magic. Even so, each new memory brought with it a store of information. He was sure it would have taken him more than twenty-five years to have accumulated all of this knowledge on his own. Chuckling softly to himself, he'd have to remember to thank Voldemort someday.
He spent the next several years alternating between training his mind and magic with training his body. He couldn't do the same things he would have with a two or three meal diet, but he was still growing. So it was absolutely important that he didn't over do the exercise. Yet without it, his increasing magical power would have put a burden on his body which would have amounted to the same thing as over exercise. Using more energy than he was consuming, which would be detrimental to his growth.
With a routine in place, he learned and grew. And as his power grew, he could banish the dementors for longer and longer periods of time. In fact, it turned out that the dementors didn't bring him food as he'd thought before. Tasteless food would appear at the same place at the same time every day no matter what was around him at the time. He'd studied the runes very carefully, before determining the food was being sent from somewhere within the prison. Most likely the kitchens. He wouldn't be able to use the kitchen to get out of Anaon. There would be too many wards against it.
Still, he had time. So, he trained and he grew stronger. The dementors where both the strength and the weakness to this prison. As he reviewed his memory of the fateful kiss during his first month here at Azkaban, the door to his cell had been open. It must have been the dementors, and that would be the key to his escape. The only problem seemed that every time he used the Patronus Charm the door would immediately close tightly. So, he needed to find a way to overpower the dementors without triggering the cell's failsafe mechanism. Once he did, he'd be home free. Or wherever home was now-a-days.
So, Harry was patient. Each time the dementors came. He let them in, and tried something new.
It was six years in Azkaban before he got it right.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIII!"
The dementors screamed as their bodies twisted in on themselves, compressing into one red gem-like object. There was a momentary lull of activity after the first two dementors became nothing more than black smoke and tiny red gems, but he knew it wouldn't last. Moving to pick up one of the gems, he felt an icy chill pass through him. They were coming.
Instead of panicking, he smoothly picked up the gem he'd been eyeing. It was solid and cold to the touch, bone cold. If he looked closely, he could see a whirl of blackness within the gem. Calm and collected, he met the next wave of dementors without hesitation. They did not come in waves of ones or twos, but somehow forced their way through the door of the tiny cell. Five dementors this close was overwhelming, but he'd mentally prepared for this moment.
"Die." It was a whispered command, but enough to ignite his spell.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIII!"
Their screams were the most unholy thing he'd ever heard. Dark and shrill, they pierced his very soul. Still, he'd faced darker things, and his soul would survive this destruction.
Even as the group of dementors before him vanished, more filled their place. Harry did not waver. This was it. If he failed here, he'd never make it out of alive. That would not happen here. He'd promised himself, he'd see the sun one more time.
Wave after wave of dementors died before him. His magic strained but he did not let up. He'd prepared well for this moment, and he trusted that his magical reserves would not fail him now. A steady pile of the red gems built at his feet and soon enough the direction the dementors were coming from changed. Moving forward, Harry stepped over the large pile of gems to peer down the corridor. Left or right?
The dementors were starting to come only from the right. A part of him knew that he should go that way to finish off the dementors, so that they could not sneak up on him later. Still, dementors couldn't really sneak up on anyone as their presences could be felt yards away, and he did want to be free sooner rather than later. Hesitantly moving toward the left, he stopped suddenly. The earlier waves of dementors had originated from the left, which meant it was unlikely to be the way out to sun and freedom.
Correcting his course, he took his first step outside of his cell and walked confidently to the right. Soon he came upon an open door. Beyond the door, the corridor sloped upward. Yes, this was clearly the right way to go.
It was a long walk from Anaon to the main prison, but he didn't mind. His dementor encounters were becoming fewer and fewer as he continued forward. They were truly stupid things. Not realizing they should have run from him until he'd made it nearly to the exit of the prison. Walking the few remaining feet to the exit, he watched as the last of the dementors run, or really drift, away from the island prison. Looking out past the door, his eyes fell onto the grey blue sea. Oranges and reds danced in the sky as the sun set in the distance. He'd just missed the powerful sun, a pity.
The wind blew salt filled air through his hair. He was free. He could leave Azkaban, nothing was stopping him. Three hundred and five years? A chuckle escaped his lips. Try six years in Anaon of Azkaban. The vilest place on earth for the vilest criminals. And now. 'I'm free.'
But free to do what? What was out there for him? Was he going to be on the run for the rest of his life? Never to stay in one place for long periods of time? He thought about his friends. They would open their homes to him, but could he ask them? Could he put his friends in danger like that? Having to hide him? He'd just trade one prison for another.
And then there was Ginny. Six years was a long time to wait for someone. That was longer than he'd even known her. And after the trial, could he really expect her too?
"Hey, kid!" A male voice from one of the inmates broke Harry out of his contemplation.
Turning his back to the setting sun, Harry faced the prison and the hidden faces of the numerous prisoners housed within the place.
"Over here." He saw an older man in his mid to late forties with dark brown hair waving him over. The man was in a cell on the other side of the hall near the doorway that led deeper into the prison. Bypassing the rest of the inmates, he made his way to the old man. His steps were overly loud as no one else dared to speak.
"You think you could let me out of here? I mean you did just destroy all of those damned dementors so," the old man questioned.
Harry didn't reply with words. Instead he waved his hand over the lock and released the old man. Once out, he shook Harry's hand and introduced himself. "Name's Jim McCaffer. Been here thirteen years. Never thought I'd see this side of a cell again."
"Oi! Let me outta here too!" Shouted the young man in the cell next to Jim's cell. He looked like he was in his late teens. "You can tell him your life story later, Jim!"
"That's Danny. He's a good kid. Been in here for a couple of months for filched some rich lady's necklace," Jim explained as Harry moved over to free Danny too.
Once Danny was free, everyone in the prison seemed to think it safe to yell for their freedom as well. So Harry made his way slowly from one cell to the next unlocking each in turn. With Jim by his shoulder, telling him little pieces of information about the inhabitant.
Finally finished, Harry took a heavy seat on a bench near one of the prison walls. He briefly closed his eyes, leaned back and rested his head against the cold wall. He'd used a lot of magic fighting the dementors and freeing the other prisoners. For now, he needed to rest up before attempting a proper escape.
Opening his eyes, he saw Jim and a large group of the inmates encircling him. He'd seen some of the prisoners escape, but the majority seemed to expect something more of him.
"What are all of you still doing here? You're free now," he spoke softly but firmly.
"I could say the same thing to you, but you're still here," Jim answered. Pointing behind him Jim continued. "I don't know about any of these blokes. But me?" Jim shrugged casually, "I don't have anywhere else to go." Several of the other inmates nodded along with him. Danny's head was bobbing up and down in his agreement. "I'm thinking that with a little work. This place wouldn't be a bad place to call home. I mean without the dementors, Azkaban is just a rundown castle."
"Sure is." Danny was among many who replied to Jim's statement in agreement.
Harry looked around. He'd never thought of Azkaban as a place to live. At least not willingly. But now that he thought about it. Every dark lord had to have a dark lair. "Is that so?" He replied as he closed his eyes and leaned heavily on the wall.
Jim looked over at Harry in concern. "Shit! Are you alright?" Not waiting for a reply, Jim turned around. "Hey, someone get this man some food! They don't feed him as much as they feed us."
How Jim knew that, Harry would never know. What he did know was that he was thankful for him.
"They don't feed us that well neither," Danny's voice came back in reply.
"So you can see the man needs some food. He just blow up all those dementors wandlessly! He's got to have used up a lot of magic," Jim trailed off as he looked at Harry who had yet to open his eyes again.
"Oh. Oh! I'll get him something to eat. I love to cook!" Jim didn't see the guy who spoke up, but he could hear his footsteps echo down the hall that led to the kitchens.
As the prisoners waited for the return of the cook, small conversations broke out as Jim guarded Harry's resting body. Fifteen minutes later the brown haired cook came back with a large pot of food and a couple of bowls. Dishing out a bowl and some bread to Harry the cook spoke. "It won't taste the best since I didn't want you to have to wait and all, but it's something."
It could have tasted like dung and Harry still would have eaten it. As it was, he didn't really take the time to see if the cook had any real talent. After three bowls, he felt a renewed energy. Looking at that crowd, he knew he had something here, but…
"So, Boss. What do you want us to do next?" Jim looked at him expectantly.
"Boss? Not yet. I'd like to be your boss, but how can I trust you?" Harry questioned. He'd learned long ago that less was more. If they really wanted his leadership they would answer that question for him.
"I've spent the majority of my life avoiding getting branded like cattle by You-Know-Who. I'm not going to get branded by you no matter how strong you are." Came a woman's voice from the middle of the crowd.
"I don't need to brand you. I just need to trust you. Right now, I don't see how that would work out," Harry shook his head and was about to tell them they'd have to find someone else to be their boss when Jim interrupted him.
"What if we swear on our magic? Would that work? It's not a branding, but it will ensure we stay loyal to you." Jim looked around and saw some agreement within the crowd.
"Do you even know who I am?" Harry had yet to introduce himself to anyone. His hair had grown out from the time being in Anaon, so that it covered his scar. His glasses had been broken some time ago. Without Voldemort's knowledge, he would have been virtually blind. It seemed like a legitimate question, so he was surprised when Jim laughed in his face.
"Do I know who you are? Ha, ha, haaaa. I've been in this prison long enough to know that only one prisoner has been sentenced to Anaon in the last century. That prisoner is you, Harry James Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived. I know who you are, why you're in here, and how long you were supposed to be here." Jim looked directly in Harry's eyes as he continued. "I, James Sebastian McCaffer, swear on my magic to always be loyal to you, Harry James Potter, my lord and master." Jim put his hand down as he continued to speak. "The wizarding world will regret the day they sent you to Anaon, and I'm going to make sure they do."
The magic was instantaneous. Harry both felt and saw Jim's pledge to him. Danny was next, then the cook, and the rest of the remaining prisoners soon followed. Not all of them worded it the same way. Some tried to make sure there would be a loop-hole to save their lives if something ever went wrong. Nevertheless, those were also accepted by Harry's magic.
There was clear excitement in the voices of the recently freed inmates. Harry smiled slightly, this was the start of something new. He would need to get in touch with Theo to get some funds to renovate Azkaban. A yawn escaped him. 'First, I'll need to rest.' He thought as his eyes found Jim who was talking animatedly with the cook, Danny nearby adding his two Knuts every once in a while. "Jim."
"Yes, Boss?" Jim walked back over to Harry without begin asked.
"If we are to do this right, then we will need access to my accounts," he began.
"What do you need me to do?" Harry liked that Jim didn't ask too many questions. Jim was ready to get right to work. That would make this easier.
"I need you to go see a friend of mine, Theodore Nott. Tell Theo," here Harry paused in thought. "Tell him, 'The dark lord has returned', he'll know what to do."
Jim gave Harry a big smile, before nodding. "I'll be back by the time you wake up!"
Walking toward the exit to Azkaban, Danny walked in step with Jim. "So, the big Boss man put ya in charge of gettin' some funds?"
"It would seem so," Jim replied.
"I think ya might be needin' some of me services." Before Jim could reply, Danny continued. "Ya may need to filch somethin'."
Jim laughed in Danny's face at that. "Ha! And why would I take a thief from Azkaban? Seems to me your little heist didn't go over so well, huh? Or did you just walk yourself into Azkaban?"
"Hey, now. That was just one bad lift." Jim had stopped walking since they'd reached the door to freedom. Danny walked around him so that he was in front before continuing. "Bird had a spell on her jewelry. It took 'em weeks before they found me and they only found me 'cause I didn't take the spell off right." Jim started to walk around Danny. "Really valuable necklace."
"I'm sorry Danny. But you're just a kid," Jim said as he moved to open the door to freedom. Jim wasn't sure who had shut it, but it probably didn't matter now.
"Wait! Ya need me. See, how ya goin' to get a wand, eh? How ya plannin' on findin' the place? I got connections, see. I can help!" Seeing Jim was on the hook Danny put the icing on the cake. "Ya havn't been out in forever! Ya. Need. Me."
Jim took a few minutes to consider. "Alright, lad. You can come." With that Jim swung open the doors and left with Danny following closely by his side.
It was well past midnight when Theodore took a break from reviewing his notes and checking the books. He knew he should go to bed, but at the young age of 21 he had inherited a great deal of responsibility. So a late night like tonight was to be expected.
Tonight was one of many nights where his work was hampered by his own mind, which seemed to be going a thousand miles in the wrong direction. These days the young Lord Nott was head of house, and taking care of his old man. Or that was the story he and his father had spun Voldemort. His own excuse combined the first. As a young new head of house, Theodore just didn't have the time or the knowledge to be both a Death Eater and Lord Nott.
He smiled to himself in thought. It was a small price the Nott family paid instead of service to Voldemort's cause. Neither Voldemort nor his Death Eaters knew how much money Theo was making in investments. He liked to let them keep believing that the Nott income was the same as when his father was in charge of the accounts. Small price indeed. It made life easier on everyone around.
Everyone. That brought Theo's thoughts back to his friends, which happened a lot these days. They were one more down now. Tracey hadn't transitioned as well as the others. She'd been a target for the Death Eaters because of her half-blood status. The poor thing had been in love with Harry, and a little too out spoken against the Death Eaters. Even with Theo's pureblood status, he'd never spoken out against the Death Eaters. He sighed. Tracey was in a better place now.
Moreover, he'd spent the last two years since her death getting all of the names and information on the perpetrators. They were all new recruits at the time, no real name to them, no living family, and no clear value to Voldemort. All the same, he knew Harry would want to take care of them when he was back. So Theodore had their names, addresses, favorite places to hangout, and all of their known associates.
As for the rest of his friends, Theo knew he had the easiest job, safest too.
Although Daphne was doing well with her sister cozying up to Draco Malfoy, she had the dangerous job of collecting information on Voldemort's movements and other activities. He thought she was well suited for the task in comparison to him or Blaise. As a woman, she played up the delicate sensitivity to get out of Voldemort's main forces. A small chuckle left his lips. Daphne and delicate just weren't two things that belonged in the same sentence, but she pulled it off well enough that Voldemort hadn't even thought it necessary to give her the dark mark.
In wizarding society, Daphne was a little known supporter of Voldemort, giving her security on both sides. Still, it was a dangerous job, but necessary as she was in a position to give Harry all the information that he needed to know. Theo was keeping a journal of all the activities she reported and activities that he found out on his own. He'd been keeping that journal since the middle of his fifth year, when he'd first noticed Voldemort's movements.
He'd also been keeping tabs on Umbridge. Surprisingly, the woman had not been having a good time. Fudge had demoted her right after the incident. Although he'd only manage to get her fired two years ago, he was making sure, personally, that she couldn't find any other place of employment. At least, not within the wizarding world. He'd also made sure to keep close track of her whereabouts. When Harry was ready, he would have everything he needed to act.
Theo sighed heavily as he thought of Blaise. Out of the three of them, Blaise had the hardest time coming up with excuses for not joining Voldemort, which was why his friend was currently MIA. Well, not completely missing. Both Theo and Daphne knew where he was, mostly in Italy gathering strength and supplies for when Harry came back. Blaise frequently made trips across Europe gathering potential allies. Meeting with dark creatures was dangerous business. Nevertheless, if anyone was suited to the job, it was him.
He just had a way with talking his way out of instant death. Theodore still remembered Blaise's recount of how he managed to postpone joining Voldemort and lived to tell about. If what Daphne said about that day was true, then Voldemort had been having a very bad day indeed. It's not any wizard that can tell Voldemort 'no' when he's having an off week.
Yet, Blaise seemed to be able to work around dangerous species well. So far, he'd been successful in convincing the other magical species to hold back from joining with Voldemort. Theo was still going over his last report. It seemed like Dumbledore was also working the magical creatures angle, but the Goody Two-Shoes didn't stand a real chance. Besides, what could Dumbledore promise them? Nothing, but his damned 'Greater Good'.
As for himself, he had the honor of keeping track of everything and everyone, which included scheduling meetings with the group. He made sure they meet at least four times a year, mostly on low profile holidays and the like. It was a balance of maintaining their friendships and planning for an unknown future. And then there was the finances, every evolving.
Debts, investments, and other financial decision, were about of his job. At first, it hadn't been anything more than collecting what was due to Harry and following his friend's wishes, like with his investment into the Weasley's joke shop as a full third partner. It was, in fact, one of their most lucrative ventures. But that was to be expect of his friend's decision. With Harry in mind, Theo had made other investment decisions based on products he remembered Harry talking about of summer holidays or breakfast. Now, he spent a large portion of his time finding and researching new investment opportunities within the same line of their current portfolio. A little money here, and a little money there had made Harry and the group very rich.
Moreover, since Theodore was named on Harry's vault, he had been able to keep it open. Therefore, all of the investments that Harry had made before his extended stay at Azkaban were still in effect. Not having Harry's assets frozen was a really nice bonus to his friend's overall accounts. Altogether, he was sure that when Harry got back he'd be pleased with what they had done as a group.
When Harry came back. That day was soon approaching, Theo was sure of it. He had maybe another four years of wait left before he expected his friend to walk through his door. Ten years, Harry would need no more than that to escape. If that dog could do it in little more than ten years, then so could Harry. Even if he had to teach himself how to become an animagus, he had faith that Harry could do what no one had ever done before, and escape from Anaon.
Shaking himself from his thoughts, he sighed heavily. 'I should get to bed.' He thought. Tomorrow would be just as busy as today.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Hurrying to the door, Theo called out to his house elf to get the first aid kit. There weren't many people who would disturb him at this hour, and if they did it could be for only a few reasons. Upon opening the door, he'd been expecting to find Daphne or Blaise nearly dying, but what he found instead was two strange men wearing ill-fitting long black cloaks.
"Wotcha, Nott!" Answered the younger of the two men.
"Who are you?" Theo signaled behind him for Twinky to get ready for a fight. They'd practiced for this moment.
"I would be Jim, and this young gentleman would be Danny. We're here about a mutual friend?" Replied the older of the two.
"Mutual friend? Somehow I doubt that any friend of mine would be associated with thieves." Theo snared in reply.
Moving to shut the door in their faces, he was interrupted by the older thief, Jim, words. "Even with the return of the Dark Lord?"
Pausing, he looked them over again, harder. They were wearing tattered clothes underneath the black cloaks. In fact, he'd seen clothes like this in pictures of escaped Azkaban prisoners.
"I think you'll want to have this conversation inside, lad." Jim nodded to the open door in reply.
Danny looked around nervously before nodding in agreement. "Don't think we was followed, but ya never can be too sure."
"Please come in." Turning around Theo addressed Twinky. "Would you please get some refreshments? These men are likely very hungry."
"Yes, sir."
Theo walked them into his study. "Please sit." After pouring some of his finest fire whiskey into three glasses, he joined them.
Danny drank his glass greedily. "Wow! That's some really fancy stuff."
"I have to agree. This is very good." Came Jim more reserved reply as he sipped his drink.
"It should be, as it's my most expensive bottle." Theo took a small sip as he eyed his two guests, still unsure of his decision to let them in his home.
Danny looked down at his glass, finished it off, and then stuck his glass out for more. "Mind fillin' her up, mate?"
Theodore raised an eyebrow but complied.
"Try to drink it a little slower this time, lad. We still got to make the trip back. I can't do it with you plum drunk!"
"Alright, alright, old man. Whatever you say." Danny took a much smaller sip in response.
Theo studied them over his glass. Was this some kind of ruse or was Harry really back? When the food got there, he let them eat as he contemplated how to approach his current situation. If this was a ruse, then saying anything about Harry would destroy them. But if Harry was back? If Harry was back, he didn't want to wait to find out. So many pros and cons circled his thoughts. Approach the topic directly or indirectly? Did his friend really send these men? It was impossible for him to be sure.
Unfortunately for Theodore, the food didn't last long enough for him to come up with a sound plan. It was best to just get it done and over.
"Now, that you've had your fill. Tell me, what is this about?"
"Well, it's like this. By now you've already figured out we're escaped convicts from Azkaban. I'm Jim McCaffer, you've probably not heard of my crimes, but it's safe to say I'm not supposed to be out yet, well ever. Danny over here really is a thief, took the wrong hand bag, if you know what I mean."
"Hey now, it was a gold necklace. Just had too many charms for me to sell it off, is all." Danny interrupted.
"Well, besides that you're probably wondering why the Boss didn't come here himself, now that he was free and all." Jim waited for Theodore's reply.
"Yes that would be the most important question along with why you two are here."
"They're one and the same. The Boss didn't just break out of Anaon. He destroyed our guards."
"The dementors? Impossible." Theo couldn't believe what he was hearing. He'd known Harry was powerful, but that powerful?
"Not for the Boss. Saw it with me own two eyes." Danny nodded seriously with awe in his voice.
"That's right. So the Boss destroys the dementors and doesn't know what to do with himself, so I tell him to let us out of prison."
"Kind heart the Boss man has, kind heart," Danny added.
"I'll not say all of the prisoners stayed to thank the Boss for his kindness, but there are a lot of us, one hundred or so. Now, it won't be long before the government gets wind of the dementors' disappearance from Azkaban. They won't believe they're destroyed but they will know they're missing, along with a number of the prisoners. We'd be hounded and hunted, and a lot of us don't have any place to go. So I put the idea out there for the Boss that we could fix up Azkaban as home. Without the dementors, it's just a lonely castle off the coast of England."
"I see. Harry must have used up too much magic to get here himself. Am I correct?" Theodore inquired.
"Yup, Boss man is sleeping it off," Danny added causally.
"If Harry really wants to fix up Azkaban, then he'll need money." Theo got up to look through his papers on a nearby desk. "We'll need to setup a fake guard company with all of the prisoners' names and identification." Theo separated several pieces of parchment from the pile on his desk. "I'll get some funds to start with wardrobe and the like. I can also setup a contracting company. We'll want barracks in the prison so that we can have twenty-four hour guard." Theodore nodded, before turning back to Jim and Danny. "Give me the names and descriptions of the inmates and I'll have all of the paperwork drawn up within the next couple of days. The documents will be on Fudge's desk within the week."
Jim nodded in his approval. "Then a toast for the return of the Dark Lord."
"Yes, a toast," Theo added.
Danny raised his glass in agreement. "A toast!"
One Week Later
Fudge was having a really bad day, week even. There was one large problem recently dropped on his desk. Well more than one, but they all stemmed from the same source. The dementors had left Azkaban.
Surprisingly enough, there wasn't nearly as many escaped prisoners as there could have been. And for the ones that had escaped, the Magical Law Enforcement Department was catching them pretty quickly. No, the real problem was that Azkaban was currently unguarded. He didn't dare put Auror Officers on guard duty. One wrong word and the whole wizarding world would know about this mass breakout. No, Cornelius Fudge did not become one of the longest lasting Ministers in magical history by letting scandals like this one get out. And Fudge planned on being Minister for another ten years. So that meant he needed to fix this, and fix it quietly.
Minister Fudge was just about to call in a favor from Lucius, when he knocked over his 'to do' pile. He'd been putting off any other work in favor of solving this Azkaban problem. It was just his luck for his day to get worse. Now he was going to have to call in another favor from Lucius. The man already had a long list of them racking up. Fudge absentmindedly fixed his pile of paperwork, only to suddenly stop at one form. It couldn't be could it?
PRIVATE GUARD COMPANY REQUEST FORM
Fudge didn't even know they had forms for requesting a private guard. He took that one out of the pile to read. "Let's see. Private company wants to guard the holding cells in the Ministry."
Fudge laughed as he found his solution. One redirection later, and the ANKOU Company was hired to guard Azkaban. They weren't likely to make a big fuss either, since Fudge was planning on paying them triple their asking price.
So pleased with his accomplishment, he decided to take lunch early. He hadn't gotten very far before bumping into Lucius. "Hello, Lord Malfoy. It's a pleasure to see you."
"Minister Fudge, the pleasure is mine." Lucius replied in a short bow.
Fudge chuckled at Lucius' response. He was always so polite. Never trying to steal his position, but often ready to hand out sound advice. In fact, Fudge wouldn't mind sharing his pleasant mood. "I was just about to go to lunch. Would you care to join me?"
"It would be my pleasure." Malfoy bowed again to Fudge as he motioned for him to lead the way.
Sometime in the middle of their lunch the conversation shifted topics.
"I hope all has been going well," Lucius inquired.
"Oh, yes. Things are running very smoothly," Fudge smiled happily to himself.
"Nothing going wrong? I'm sure I could help if you needed anything," Lucius pressured the topic.
Fudge smiled brightly, he knew he would have been able to count on Lucius. But it was better that no one know about the dementors. Wouldn't want to give Lucius another thing to hang over his head. "No, no problems at all. But if I do run across something I can't solve, then I'll be sure to owl you. Thank you for your concern, Lucius."
"Yes, well. I live to serve." There was a slight frown on Lucius' face, but Fudge wrote it off as nothing. He was just in too good of a mood to let anything bring him down.
Three Months Later
Harry lay atop his bed deep in thought. It had been a busy three months since his Azkaban takeover. A week after he'd sent Jim to talk with Theo, Theo had come to Azkaban in the guise of surveying the property to meet with him. It had been the first time since the train ride home so long ago that he'd seen any of his friends. He was glad it was Theodore. Unfortunately, Theo had not had all good news.
"Harry." Theo spoke softly. "It's so good to see you." He moved as if to hug Harry, but stopped short thinking better of his actions. Instead, he clasped forearms with him.
"Brother," Harry replied. "Come sit with me." They sat down on Harry's bed at the back of his cell in Anaon. "Is Anaon what you thought it would be?" Harry paused for a moment before he continued, "Without the dementors, it just seems, cold."
Theo looked around letting the silence wash over them before he turned to Harry. "Come home with me, Harry. I've a wing just for you. You needn't stay here anymore."
Harry paused in thought before answering Theodore. "No, I cannot leave my people just as I have promised to lead them." Harry shook his head as he continued. "And I cannot just trade one prison, no matter how fancy, for another. This is what my freedom looks like." Harry nodded to the open cell door a little more than two feet in front of him.
"Is there no way I can convince you to leave Anaon?"
"Anaon is my home now, and soon it will be a glorious home. Thanks to you, Theo. Thanks to you." Harry put his arm briefly across Theodore's shoulders. It was the closest thing to a hug Harry was capable of doing, probably for now and forever. "Tell me. How are the others?"
Theo paused before he answered. "Daphne has gotten in close with Voldemort's inner circle. She's gotten a wealth of information." Theo handed Harry a well-used journal. "I've written everything she's learned in here."
Harry nodded as he accepted the book. "I trust she's not taken the dark mark."
"Never. I've managed to use my youth as a shield from the mark. Daphne has used her, shall we say, delicate nature to not join."
Harry laughed heartily at that. "Daphne. Ha! Ha! Haa! Delicate? Ha! Haa!"
Theo chuckled as well. "I know. It's hard to believe anyone would buys it. But she's always been good at acting."
Harry smiled coldly. "She was always good at convincing the other houses of her innocence. Still, I'd think Blaise would have better luck deep in Voldemort's camp. He could talk his way out of anything."
Theo nodded. "And so he has. Talked his way out of getting the dark mark or dying. To England and most of the wizarding world here, Blaise has dropped off the face of the Earth."
"But in reality…"
"Blaise has been in Europe contacting dark creatures and the like that have been oppressed one way or another by the wizarding world. Mostly convincing them not to join forces with Voldemort." Theo nodded to the journal unopened in Harry's hands. "His success and promises are also in there for you to review. Although, I imagine you will be seeing them both very soon. They will be able to tell you everything in person. Anything you have questions on, the move for the future…"
"No." Harry interrupted. "I don't want them here until after the reconstruction. You shouldn't come too often either, Theo. We don't need a lot of scrutiny until we're ready to handle it."
"Alright then. I'll not call for a meeting until then," Theodore nodded in agreement.
"What of Tracey? I'm sure she will be thrilled to see me." The smile in Harry's eyes changed as Theodore avoided eye contact. "What is it, Theo?"
"I'm sorry. We've failed you in this regard."
Harry stood and paced for a short while before speaking harshly to Theodore. "Tell me what's happened. Tracey would never betray me."
"No, she was loyal to you to the last: too loyal, too outspoken. She became an acceptable target for Voldemort's hit list." Theodore handed Harry an unlabeled folder before continuing. "This is all the information on the three men who were a part of her murder. It has all of their information including their known acquaintances, their habits, known hang out spots, and the like." Theodore paused as he watched Harry read the folder before him. "I thought you would want to take care of it personally, so I haven't moved on them."
Harry raised his head from the folder. "Yes. Good job Theo. I'll take care of this tonight. If that's all?"
Theo hesitated in response. "There is one more thing you should know."
"What is it Theodore?" Harry's reply was sharp.
"I thought you might want to know of Umbridge's fate." The look on Harry's face held no patience, so Theo continued quickly. "Minister Fudge demoted her right after your trial. It would seem that she has had extremely bad luck ever since. I didn't know if you would want to target her yet. She has many enemies, but the connection between you two is still too strong." The look on Harry's face showed that he did not care about the connection. "If you truly do not want to be noticed, then I would suggest going after her once we're settled. Once her death can look like something else entirely. But it is your decision."
"I'll take your opinion into consideration." Harry turned back around. "Now, if that's all?"
Theo stood up in response. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask," Theodore paused before adding "My lord," as he turned away from Harry to take the fifteen minute walk back to Azkaban.
Harry had left Umbridge for another time. Instead, he'd taken care of Tracey's killers that night. The nobodies had begged and pleaded, not that it helped them. He'd taken little enjoyment from his task, but he'd made sure he didn't kill them too quickly. Gutting them, he'd let them bleed out for hours as their bodies burned slowly from the inside out. Keeping them alive long enough had been the real trick of it.
Harry could not yet say if the burning had slowed the bleeding or quickened their death, but once it was all said and done. He'd strung them up outside of their houses, and cut their heads off with a scythe. He'd placed their heads next to their feet and jammed the end of the scythe inside of the skull. After summoning the most expensive thing the killers owned from their homes, he'd placed the offerings as a gift to Tracey on his bookshelf next to a picture of the five friends.
The picture brought him back to his initial thoughts. Today was the day he would meet Blaise and Daphne again. The overhaul of Azkaban and Anaon had finally been completed. The work should have taken at least six months without complications, but with his help they had managed to get it down to three. Theo had spent a great deal of money to get the goblins to lead construction, while Harry had mostly cleared large areas of rock. Even so, he'd done it faster than any team of goblins could have dreamed of clearing rock.
Harry looked around at his own room. The goblins had done most of the work here, expanding his single seven foot by five foot cell and the surrounding cells into eleven foot by nine foot rooms. Harry was currently in the main room that strongly reminded him of his cupboard, except perhaps a grown up version that housed more than just a bed. Across from him were four bookcases to the right of the entrance where he kept his rare books and collections. In fact, several of the red gems from the dementors were in a bowl next to his keepsakes from Tracey's killers. It was a little bare now, but that would change with time.
Next to the bookshelves was an open doorway that led to his bathroom. A whole eleven by nine foot room that he needn't share with anyone. On the other side of the bathroom doorway, was a desk on wheels. He'd roll it over to his bed to do any necessary paperwork. Currently the journal Theo had kept was on the desk. He'd read it several times now, and was impressed with the amount of work his friends had done while he was otherwise occupied.
Currently, he'd finished all the work that was needed so far, but he was sure there would be more after the meeting with his friends.
Bouncing in place, Harry tried to channel his restless energy. Soon the time would come to meet his friends again. He'd not seen Blaise or Daphne in years. How much had they changed?
Moving over to the doorway next to his bed, Harry passed the power stone he'd had installed based off of the knowledge he'd gotten from Voldemort. Inside the room was a small gym. Pull-up bar, free weights, clear space for sword and dueling training, and much more. It was clearly a training room, a fact that Harry was planning to use. With any luck, he'd be able to distract himself with training.
Starting out small, he begin with simple exercises similar to the ones he'd done in the early days of his incarceration, then moved on to a more intense workout. With a half hour before his scheduled meeting, he stopped to shower. Pausing briefly at the entryway, he looked back at the small gym. While he would have preferred to run his worries away, he had not yet figured out a way to run in such a small space. He supposed he could just enlarge the room, but… Shaking his head he continued on to his bathroom. His workout room could wait for now he wanted to look his best for this meeting.
Things would be different now. He would no longer be just their friend, but the Lord they swore to follow. And he wanted to be a Lord they could be proud of, strong and powerful. Which was one of the real reasons he had not wanted Blaise or Daphne to see him right after his escape. He'd been weak from his imprisonment. There was no other way to describe the state he'd been in: malnourished, thin, and lacking the outer strength he was so accustomed to at Hogwarts. But now, now, he had gained weight, put on a good amount of muscle. He looked in the full length mirror as he finished dressing. Now, he looked like a Lord.
As Harry exited his bathroom, the thick drapes at his door moved aside.
"Harry." Theo clasped forearms with Harry as he entered followed shortly by Blaise and Daphne.
"Blaise. Daphne." Harry clasped forearms with each of his friends in turn. Blaise was taller, but otherwise just as he remembered. On the other hand, Daphne seemed shorter than memory served, but her eyes were just as sharp as ever. "It's so good to see you both."
"Really, now. Theo tells us you've been out and about for a couple of months now." Blaise raised his eyebrow at Harry in question. "Didn't want to bother us with the news then, huh?"
Daphne also gave him a look that said you better have a good answer for this. "Ha. Something like that Blaise. I've been gone for so long, I didn't really see how a couple more days would matter."
"Days. I can understand. Weeks is pushing it, but months?" Daphne shook her head in disappointment, "One might get the impression that you didn't want to see us?"
"Never. You are my family. You guys are all I have left." Harry turned away from them in thought as he sat down. No sooner was he sitting, then Jim followed in with a couple of his top guards bringing with them chairs and a long table to go in front of his bed.
Once Jim and the guards had left and everyone was seated, Blaise spoke up. "Nice service you have here. Do you know if you can trust them?"
"I wouldn't have turned my back on them if I didn't. They've all pledged their loyalty to me on their magic." Harry paused in thought before continuing. "An invisible dark mark you might say."
"So, you've thought of everything?" Daphne asked. Theodore was oddly silent.
"No, not everything. Just the basics for now, loyalty and this stronghold. The rest is why you're here."
"Ah. So you didn't just want to say hello," Blaise joked.
"Have I ever wasted your time Blaise?"
Blaise's face became serious as he replied. "In this case, just seeing you again, alive and strong, is more than enough reason to be here today."
Daphne nodded in agreement. "I hope the Reaper thing was you?" It was a good attempt to change the topic. "Voldemort was greatly upset that anyone would go against any of his men. And the way it was done," Daphne paused in memory, "Well, it just reminded me of your sadistic side. You were always one to look outside the box for ways to hurt someone."
Harry nodded. "I was glad that Theo left the revenge for me. I also thought it fitting."
Daphne nodded in agreement, but it was Theo who spoke up. "Your kingdom is Anaon. Your people are the bringer of death, the Ankou Company. And your signature is the scythe. The Prisoner of Azkaban will forever change the balance of power within the wizarding world."
Blaise chuckled at Theo's conclusion before taking a sip of the fire whiskey in front of him. "I figure you want me to keep doing what I'm doing?"
"Yes. Tell the werewolves that if I can't make their living conditions better within the wizarding world in the next couple of months, then they can join Voldemort if they want."
"You're ready to move up our involvement with the dark creatures? When this pans out, it will make negotiations with the others creatures easier. I want to start seriously working with the goblins soon. Keep in mind that new ideas that are money makers are the best way to approach them, then just better living conditions." Blaise didn't even question the possibility of improving werewolves' lives. If Harry could destroy dementors, then helping the werewolves would be a piece of figgy pudding.
"What about me? Working so close to Voldemort could become even more dangerous when he realizes you're alive and well," Daphne questioned.
Harry didn't even pause in his answer. He'd been thinking about what to do with Daphne. His next steps would make waves after all. "Stay where you are. Don't pretend you don't know of my return. If he asks about me let him know of my escape. Moreover, let him know of the dementors. If I can do that, survive Anaon, then he is nothing to me. And with that said, make sure he knows that the wizarding world has done more harm to me, then he has. I can pretend to forget our past, but I will not forgive the future."
"And of me. What is to stop Voldemort from killing the messenger?" Daphne showed no fear in her question. Her eyes told Harry that she would die in his service if she must.
"Harming you in any way would be harming me. Harming Theo would be harming me. Harming Blaise would be harming me. I don't need to kill him for good to destroy him. In my time here, I've learned a million ways to kill a man. I'd like to see how long his immortality holds against them." Harry spoke with so much conviction everyone in the room was transfixed.
Daphne nodded her understanding. "And of his immortality? What do you plan to do about that? An immortal enemy is not something you want to keep."
"And I don't intend to. There are things we'll have to do to end Voldemort's immortality, but that is for a later time. I don't want him to know about how much I know about his so-called immortality."
"With the knowledge of immortality, do you plan on making yourself immortal too?" Theo's question was asked innocently enough, but the way Blaise's head turned let Harry know there was an undertone to it.
"I thought about it, but life has not been kind to me. I do not see how immortality would help me, nor do I wish to live for eternity. More importantly, I do not fear death. I will welcome it when my time comes, and until then I will forge the world in my own image." Harry took a sip of his fire whiskey before he continued, "Why Theo, does the idea of immortality excite you?"
"No. I just wanted to know what type of leader you would become." Theo took a sip of his fire whiskey before continuing. "Anaon has changed you, but not as much as you might think," he added with a smile.
It was then that their dinner arrived. The chef serving the food himself.
Blaise chuckled at the spread before them, took one bite before nodding in Harry's direction, "Now, I see why you don't want to leave." Blaise took a long sip of the wine the chef had paired with dinner, his fire whiskey long finished, "They treat you like a king here. I'm sorry Theo, but there's no way Twinky could compete."
Daphne nodded in reply. "The cook is very talented, no house elves?"
"None. Davies says he loves to cook. How could I take that honor away from him?"
"How indeed!" Blaise replied.
Theo was the only one who had yet to touch his food. "Before we get too comfortable, I have one more question."
"What is it Theo?" Harry asked softly.
"Next?" Theo's face asked the question for him. "We know what we will be doing, but for you? What is next, my lord?"
The seriousness of the question surprised Blaise and Daphne, but Harry took it in stride. "The Ministry. Next I take the Ministry." The smile on his face was devious, but it seemed to hearten Theodore.
Raising his glass Theo replied. "A toast. To the takeover of the Ministry and a new Dark Lord."
The next day found Harry contemplating the wards of Azkaban. He had already practiced apparating outside of the new updated Azkaban wards. That was of no concern to him now, but the Ministry wards? They would be strong, but not stronger than the wards of Azkaban.
He contemplated the time. It was late enough that the Minister would be in his office, yet early enough that the work of the day should not have reached him. He had already decided which runes he would use that would not be noticed by a wizard like Dumbledore. He had prepared everything, now was time for action. Taking a deep breath, he turned on the spot.
Crack.
"What the…?"
Harry quickly put up wards that would disrupt any existing magic in the office. He didn't need Fudge calling for help.
"Who in the world are you!?" Fudge shouted in outrage.
"I'm hurt, Minister. Has it really been so long that you don't remember me?" Harry feigned injury to his chest before continuing. "I suppose my hair is longer, and I've changed from a boy to a man. But still, I'd think you would remember the face of the vilest prisoner of Azkaban?"
Fudge looked up at Harry in confusion. One of his hands was under his desk, probably trying to call for help.
"They won't come. I've already sealed this room off from the rest of the Ministry," he replied casually.
"Impossible. You haven't even got your wand out." Fudge lifted his own wand shakily.
Harry waved his hand and the wand flew to his hand. "Now, that's not nice. It's like you've never met a person who excels in wandless magic. A young prodigy you sent to Azkaban about, oh, say six years ago?"
The look of confusion, turned to fear at having his wand taken from him, then horror when realization hit him. "No. It's impossible. We sent you to Anaon. No one survives Anaon." Fudge trailed off at a near whisper.
"And that, Minister, would be wrong." Harry walked over to Fudge perching himself on the edge of his desk. Reaching over to the ink well sitting next to the Minister, he continued. "No worry, Minister, I remember. It seems life has been treating you well." He paused for a second. "Well, maybe not so well. It looks like you're having trouble with your re-election campaign. Thicknesse's faction seems to be gaining more power as the days move on, again."
Fudge sputtered his reply. "You should be dead! There was a complete renovation of Azkaban including Anaon! You were never mentioned in any of the reports."
Harry continued as if the Minister had not said a word, "Somehow, I don't imagine Malfoy will be helping you keep your seat once more." Harry chuckled to himself. "I keep thinking what could be worse for your position within the government, then a scandal. I can see it now. 'The Dreaded Harry Potter escaped from Anaon!'" Reaching across the desk, he sliced Fudge on the cheek with the quill that had been left in the ink well. Fudge tried to lean back, but felt his body being held in place as his blood ran down into the ink well held under his chin.
Fudge tried to speak and was surprised when he could. "This isn't possible! It just isn't!"
"Really, Cornelius, can I call you that?" Harry didn't wait for Fudge to answer. "Ankou Company? Really? The being that brings the tortured to Anaon. Didn't ring a bell?"
Harry moved the ink well away from the Minister as he waved his hand over Fudge's face. The other man gingerly touched his cheek in surprise. He'd been healed. Why? While the Minister eyed him, Harry picked up the basket that help a stack of the papers waiting for Fudge's attention and turned it over letting the paperwork fall out onto the desk.
"What do you want from me? Revenge?" Fudge's question came out as a high-pitched strangle, terror laced throughout.
Harry used the blood-ink to write on the bottom of the basket as he replied, "Revenge? Yes. But I seem to remember you voting against having me sent to Azkaban for life. More importantly, you took care of putting Umbridge in her place. So, instead of replacing you with one of my men, keeping you alive while we use your hair for polyjuice, I've decided to give you a choice." Harry finished the writing, waved the basket dry, before putting it back. Walking to one of the corners in the office, he begin to move things around without of purpose. Writing as he went with the same blood soaked ink. Moving from one corner to the next, he made his way steadily around Fudge's office.
Ten minutes of this silence was all the Minister could take before he exploded. "What choice!? You can't just tell me there's a choice between never seeing the light of day and freedom, then walk away!"
Harry turned back to Fudge's desk slamming down on it. "I can do whatever I WANT!" He took a deep breath before continuing, he'd not quite gotten his temper back under control. "You are mine, Cornelius. One way or the other, you, you and the wizarding world are mine." Harry looked away lost in thought. Fudge didn't dare interrupt this time. Something in the boy's eyes told him not too.
"As I was saying. Your re-election is not likely at the rate you're going. If you make a deal with me Fudge, then I'll make sure that changes. How would you like to be Minister for another ten years?"
Fudge had worked with Lucius for years, for every favor there was an equal or greater favor in return, "What do you want?"
"The Ministry. You can be the Minister, but you will be nothing but my puppet. Dancing along my strings. You get all the fame and recognition that comes with the office, but never set one more piece of legislation without my say so. And in return, I can promise you will make history."
The look on Fudge's face was that of a trapped man. He clearly knew he had no choice. If he wanted to be a free man, then he had to take it. Fudge nodded his agreement. "I'll do what you ask."
"Good." Harry looked as if to leave before turning back to Fudge. "Just one last thing Cornelius." The questioning look in Fudge's eyes was enough for Harry to continue. "I need you to swear loyalty to me on your magic."
"Now that is asking too much!"
"Oh, is it?" The look in Harry's eyes was enough that Fudge changed his tune within the next breath.
"Well, I'll need my wand." Harry handed Fudge his wand. "I, Cornelius Oswald Fudge, swear on my magic to always be loyal to you, Harry James Potter, within the best of my ability." Harry smiled deviously as his magic accepted the Minister's vow. "What am I to call you? I can't go around saying Harry or Potter without everyone knowing about you still being alive. It would ruin me."
Harry paused, tilting his head in thought before answering. "Call me, the Fixer."