Harry Potter

The Aftermath

Chapter 9

Escape

December 23, 2017

The year is 1993 towards the end of July Marie had continued to fight for Sirius' rights to a trial and had at least once a week sent a letter to the Minister of Magic which now just happened to be Cornelius Fudge himself. She had no real hope of convincing Fudge but she hopped that if she pestered him enough he would at least let her talk to Sirius. Course Fudge had been a total pain in her ass since she was fired as an Auror twelve years ago but she remained relentless in her task for Sirius rights.

Escape from Azkaban

Late last night or early this morning a single prisoner

of Azkaban Prison has escaped. The infamous mass murder

Sirius Black, who killed twelve muggles and one wizard

-Peter Pettigrew- after betraying James and Lily Potter to

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named on Halloween night 1981.

The Muggle Prime Minister has been warned of Blacks

escape and the Wizarding Community is advised to

keep on the look out for Black pictured above and if

sighted please do not try to apprehend him. Black is highly

dangerous, alert the Ministry and the Auror's

will take Black back into custody, again do not approach.

More to come as information is available.

"Sirius has escaped..." Marie said to herself surprised as she looked up from reading the Daily Profit in her hands. She then tossed the paper on the table without bothering to finish her breakfast she rushed over to the pictures on the wall and selected one then disaperated. She returned a few minutes later then began her day she had planned on using her day off to go shopping for things she needed in the house but now she was going to stay right here so she decided to use the time outside in the garden.

~*~*~*~ Sirius ~*~*~*~

Sirius was tired he had swam across the North Sea and in his weakened state he was ready to eat and sleep but he needed to find safety first. He found a rather ditzy witch and snuck her wand away then apperated to the house he and Marie shared. He stared at it from the shadow's slightly confused it was still boarded up the way he had done fourteen years ago. He transformed back into his dog form then slinked around to the back of the house and made his way inside.

Sirius returned to his Human form looking around the house confused there was nothing here everything was gone, then he noticed on a counter in the kitchen was a thick layer of dust but also a clean picture with frame obviously been placed here quite recently so he picked it up curiously.

The picture was of Marie with her family right after graduating from Hogwarts. They were standing in front of her family's old farm house. 'She's telling me where to go.' Sirius thought and smiled softly as he placed the picture inside his pocket then walked back over to the door then turned to cover his tracks in the dust with this borrowed wand. He transformed back into his dog form then disappeared into the shadows of the buildings. The thought of a double cross never crossed his mind. Once into the shadows again he apparated not far from Marie's family home.

Sirius padded up the long road from Tring to the Willis family home. He slipped through the front gate then noticed Marie tending to the rose bushes up against the porch and he growled lightly to get her attention.

Marie looked up curiously then a huge grin crossed her face as she stood up. "Padfoot..." she whispered softly. Then glancing around she didn't see anyone else but that didn't mean anything. "You hungry boy come on lets get you some food." she said brightly as she patted her leg in a come here motion then started up the front porch.

Sirius followed her curiously lopping behind her happily with his tail swishing back and forth. "Go on to the end of the hallway then stop." he heard her whisper as she ushered him into the house and he did as she told him.

Marie had earlier that day pulled all the shades in the house to keep people from looking inside but now she shut the door locked it and put up every enchantment she could think of as far out as she could to warn them of anyone approaching the house. She turned once done then began to walk down the hall "Sirius." she said with tears in her eyes as she watched him transform into himself again.

"Marie I got your message." Sirius said as he smiled down at her and handed her the picture from the other house they had shared.

"So I see." Marie said and giggled softly. "Here I've already gathered everything you need for a shower including a change in clothes. I'll make food while you're in there." she said as she opened a door under the stairs to show a small main floor bath.

"If I change they'll know I came to see you." Sirius said as he looked over at her worried for her safety.

"Don't you worry about me I've dealt with the Ministry and their baboons for over a decade. If you really want to put those awful clothes back on Ill clean them but for now please bathe and take those smelly things off." Marie said as she scrunched her nose slightly to as politely as possible tell him he stunk.

"I hear you." Sirius said then rolled his eyes playfully and walked into the bathroom shutting the door.

While he bathed Marie busied herself in the kitchen putting together a small feast knowing at his size and the years of bad nutrition he wouldn't be able to eat a huge amount but she really wanted him to have a nice variety of foods to eat. By the time he was done in the bathroom Marie had the table full of single servings of every kind of food she remembered he liked.

"I'm quite a bit smaller than I was before." Sirius said with a frown as he walked out of the bathroom and into the kitchen holding his pants up, the food smelled so delicious his mouth was watering.

"Sit down and eat dear." Marie said as she pointed to the chair at the head of the table with a drink and a plate ready for him.

"You've went all out Marie." Sirius said stunned as he walked over and sat down in the chair she had indicated then looked at her confused. "Aren't you going to eat?" he asked curiously.

"You eat Sirius I had breakfast not long ago." Marie said with a smile then laughed as he dug in without any further complaints.

Once Sirius had ate his feel he looked over at her knowing she would have questions and that after this long he owned her the answers. "I'm sorry." he said softly to her as he looked at her sadly.

"I'm sure." Marie said as she looked at him with a sweet sad smile. "Now explain." she said as she leaned back in her chair waiting for his explanation of what happened that night.

"Marie, you know I suggested that I should be the decoy?" Sirius asked curiously as he looked into her eyes wondering if she remembered that night so long ago.

"I remember, I left right after that to go get Remus and when I returned you told me they had made up their mind but nothing more than that." Marie said as she looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"I talked James and Lily into using Peter as their Secret Keeper. The enemy would naturally come after me first, then you or Remus before they ever thought about that worthless rat Peter. I killed them Marie, I gave them to the Dark Lord on a silver platter." Sirius said with tears in his eyes as he looked away from her towards the front of the house which was the living room.

"You didn't kill them Sirius. I had figured that is what happened the more I thought about your behavior that week the more I was convinced that Peter was the traitor. Now did you kill him and those muggles?" Marie asked curiously she didn't believe he had done it she honestly thought the little blight was in hiding still because her and Remus were still free and would kill him if they saw him.

"That bloody bastard framed me by killing those muggles, cut off his own finger, then transforming in to his rat form escaping into the sewers." Sirius said bitterly as he looked back at Marie.

"As I thought, the worthless rat never could carry his own weight he's letting some one protect him from me and Remus. That and the Ministry and the wizarding population believes him to be dead." Marie said with a sigh and a frown.

"Where's Remus anyway I thought after he lost his apartment that James was paying for you would take him in?" Sirius asked curiously looking around as if to see his old friend walking into the room from the hall. "I hear he's going to be at Hogwarts teaching this year."

"Sirius stay away from Remus." Marie said worriedly as she looked at him holding his hand to make sure he listened to her.

"Why?" Sirius asked confused as he looked at her wondering what was wrong.

"I've not seen Remus in years Sirius. He believes you are the traitor and that because I am your fiance I am also a traitor. In his mind we killed James and Lily. That night after they died I went to check on him and he attacked me, he can't be trusted with your location." Marie said worried as she watched him carefully go from confusion to anger.

"What do you mean he attacked you? I sent you there because I trusted him!" Sirius said angrily as he just stared at her.

"He tried to stun me several times, I got away unharmed dear calm down. I went to see Dumbledore the day after you were arrested trying to get his help and I saw Remus again. We were civil until I was doing shopping in Hogsmead because it was unsafe for me to do so in Diagon Alley. He was part of the crowd yelling at me to leave and never return cause I was a Death Eater Lover. Sirius please don't go to Remus for help if you get into a tight spot." Marie said as she squeezed his hand lightly as she looked up at him worried for his safety.

"What do you mean unsafe for you in Diagon Alley?" Sirius asked curiously he had never thought of the wizarding world turning against her because she had been with him.

"Sirius please don't worry about me, I'm fine. You're the one on the run, why did you choose this time to escape." Marie said looking at him curiously expecting a logical reason for his timely escape.

"Marie do you have the paper from a few days ago?" Sirius asked curiously then watched her get up and go get the last few Daily Profit Papers.

"Here which one do you want. The top one is today's." Marie said as she sat the papers down curiously watching him sift through old papers.

"Here this one." Sirius said pulling out the specific one he was looking for and handing it to her.

Marie looked at it curiously wondering what was so special about this paper but she picked it up and read the article he had pointed at.

Ministry of Magic Employee Scoops Grand Prize

Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office

at the Ministery of Magic, has won the annual Daily Prophet Grand

Prize Galleon Draw. A delighted Mr. Weasley told the Daily Prophet,

"We will be spending the gold on a summer holiday in Egypt, where our

eldest son, Bill, works as a Curse Breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank."

The Weasley family will be spending a month in Egypt, returning for the

start of the new school year at Hogwarts, which five of the Weasley

children currently attend.

"Ok what is so special about a trip to Egypt?" Marie asked confused as she looked up at Sirius.

"Look at the picture Marie." Sirius said then just sat that silently watching her.

"That son of a bitch is at Hogwarts...with Harry..." Marie said wide eyed as she looked up from the paper to look at Sirius who was nodding to her.

"We have to protect him...well I have to protect him." Sirius said as he crossed his arms and leaned back into the chair.

"I can't believe I over looked that little bastard. Wait how did you see it?" Marie said confused as she folded the paper back up and looked at him.

"Fudge gave me the paper on one of his rounds the other day when I asked for it, it just happened to have Peter on the front page." Sirius said with a slight shrug. "The problem is I was planning on telling Remus and getting revenge. I went there to kill him Marie, and I have every intention on doing so." he said as he looked up at her wondering how far she would go.

"I work in Hogsmead now at the Three Broomsticks, I'll help you." Marie said seriously as she looked up at him and leaned over crossing her arms on the table.

"What do you mean you work at the Three Broomsticks? You're an Auror." Sirius said confused yet again looking at her miffed by her revelation.

"Oh Sirius I was fired just a couple months after you were arrested on suspicions of being a Death Eater for my defense of you. Well that and the fact that I lashed out at the full Wizengamot one day during Death Eater trials, to be more specific after Lucius Malfoy's sham of a trial." Marie said with a shrug like it really didn't matter at all.

"Marie..." Sirius said reproachfully frowning at her.

"What? I couldn't take it they were letting known Death Eaters walk free and refusing to give you your right to a trial. I was put on house arrest for several months, it wasn't until after Valentines day that they finally admitted I wasn't a Death Eater, but they still refused my request for your trial and investigation." Marie said as she sat back in her chair again but now looking up at the ceiling. "The Ministry attacked me anyway they could publicly for over a year making it difficult to find work but I managed, I beat them at their own games." she said with a sad smile on her face as she looked back over at him.

"You've been entirely alone haven't you? No friends, no family, no me." Sirius said as he stood up and walked over to her holding out his hand to help her up.

"It's just been me and this farm, I couldn't sell our home, but I couldn't keep living there with all those awful people either." Marie said sadly as she put her hand in his then stood up not really relying on him cause she knew he was weak from his captivity.

"I'm truly sorry Marie." Sirius said as he pulled her into a hug and rubbing her back and holding the back of her head comfortingly as he pressed her body to his. He had missed the feel of her and her sent she had always smelled so good to him.

The walls Marie had built up over the years just seemed to melt away as she laid her head down on his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Oh how I've missed you." she said softly as she sighed. After just a few moments the farthest charm alarm went off. "Damn the Ministry to hell..." She said as she wiggled out of his embrace grabbing his hand and pulling him back to the bathroom where he showered.

Sirius just watched her curiously as she pushed in on the center of the cold handle then the hot handle before pulling up the back drain plug. She turned and looked at him with a smile and a wink then turned both handles at the same time. He watched in amazement as the sink jumped out of the way to reveal a hidden passage.

"Take your dirty clothes, the towel, your borrowed wand, and here take this. This one is yours." Marie said with a bright smile as she pulled his wand out from her back pocket and handed it to him. "Now get in there and stay there no matter what you hear don't you dare come out I can handle Fudge and his Aurors!" she said sternly as she watched him collect all his stuff then slink into the passage to hide.

"Marie I don't want to cause you any more trouble." Sirius said as he looked at her worried.

"Then don't come out. Stay in there, if you have to that passage comes out on the far side of the hill we are on about three miles away. But I don't think you'll need to I've protected this area the best I can now hush. If you need out press here and it'll open the passage back into the house." Marie said and pointed past him with a smile and a shrug then she made the sink go back into place. She used her wand to dry up the bathroom then she walked into the hallway and used her wand to put the kitchen back into order like no one had been in there for hours. She walked to the front door and opened it just as the last of her alarms went off to tell her they had reached the front gate leading to the house.

Marie stepped out on her front porch with her wand in her hand down by her side. "Can I help you?" she asked slightly aggravated seeing their wands drawn and ready for use.

"There is a mass murder on the loose." one man said he was tall with dark brown hair and green eyes.

"I read the paper." Marie said with a raised eyebrow at the man since he hadn't stopped looking around to speak to her. "You're on my property why?" she asked knowing the answer but asking it anyway.

"I sent them Miss Willis. It is still Willis isn't it?" Fudge asked snidely as he walked through the gate as well.

"Cornelius. Of course it is don't be a horses ass!" Marie said as she rolled her eyes at Fudge then glared at him.

"You will respect the Minister of Magic and address him as such." the first man said irritated at Marie's off handed insults to his leader.

"Shut it you, I wasn't speaking to you! As a matter of fact you are unwelcomed pains in my ass right at the moment so I see no need for respect, that and the fact that Cornelius lost all respect from me twelve years ago." Marie said as she switched her glare over to the man who seemed shocked by her blatant disrespect of him and the Minister for Magic.

"Still the same as you always were." Fudge said with a sigh and a shake of his head.

"If you mean smarter than you then yes. Would one of you three numb nuts like to tell me why you are here since this makes the third time I've asked." Marie said aggravated as she crossed her arms showing them she had her wand out and ready too.

"We are looking for Sirius Black of course." Fudge said as he folded his hands in front of him.

"Why here? And how would Sirius know where I am? As you know we lived in Diagon alley twelve years ago." Marie said as she glared at Fudge again.

"You would be the one person sympathetic to Black. This is your Family home it makes sense that if you are not in Diagon Alley then you would be here." Fudge said as watched Marie curiously.

"You've finally lost your bloody mind." Marie said with a frown and an eye roll.

"Until we establish that Black isn't here you are under arrest for harboring a known criminal." Fudge said then nodded to the first man who had spoken when they arrived.

The man aimed his wand at Marie without missing a beat and he had her down on the ground with her hands tied behind her back which was attached to the ties around her feet causing her to drop her wand by her leg.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Marie asked angrily as she shook her shoulders back and forth trying to pry her hands free. "Cornelius your brain is just as fuzzy now as it was back then. You can't arrest me on something you think I may have done, you need proof which you don't have, now release me. Come to think of it you had no proof against Sirius back then either!" she said as she glared up at Fudge wanting to just strangle him.

"This same argument Miss. Willis has gotten old." Fudge said irritated as he pointed his wand at her and stunned her making her fall over to her right side unconscious. "Search the house." he said as he put his wand away.

The first man looked from Marie over to Fudge shocked. The Minister of Magic had just attacked a disarmed and bound woman. He walked over and undid the ties then rolled her on her back then nodded into the house at the other guy who was also shocked staring between Marie and Fudge.

The two men went into the house silently but once at the back of the house in the kitchen the second man spoke. "Fred? Do you think she is right I mean he attacked her with out batting an eye she was disarmed and bound already?" he asked curiously wondering if his partner had the same thoughts.

"I just don't know Gavin, he shouldn't have attacked her she wasn't going anywhere she was no danger to him or us..." Fred said with a frown as he looked back up the hallway. "Come on we've got to check the upstairs still." he said then moved past the bathroom which was empty or so it seemed.

After a few minutes they returned to the porch with Marie still unconscious "Minister there is no one else here." Fred reported as he stopped beside Marie.

"Damn... I was hopping he would be here and I could throw her in Azkaban with him..." Fudge said softly to himself before he turned and walked away. "Just leave her there lets go to Hogwarts to meet with Dumbledore." he said from the front gate as he turned back to see them not following him. He had missed the look they had given each other when he had turned to walk away.

Sirius heard their leaving pops and he was worried about Marie, he had heard the conversation in the kitchen and hallway, so he slipped out of his hiding place and peaked out of the bathroom curiously towards the front door still standing wide open. Marie was laying on the front porch unconscious and he wanted to rush to her but he was a wanted man if the Ministry saw him he would do her more harm by getting her stuck in Azkaban so he cautiously made his way to the door peeking out. He watched the surrounding area for a few moments then slipped out of the house picked up her upper body carefully then noticed her wand was laying under her and he grabbed it placing it on her stomach he picked up her legs. He carried her into the house then used his foot to shut the door and he walked over to the couch and laid her down.

Sirius rebuilt her enchantments to warn them of anyone else coming up to the house. "Marie." he said softly as he sat down on the edge of the couch beside her, from the time of the conversation he had overheard till now he guessed it was about time for the stunning spell to wear off and he was right cause her eyes started to flutter open.

"Sirius..." Marie said confused as she looked up at him then put one of her hands up to her head and rubbed it lightly. "Damn him, he stunned me the bastard." she said as she pushed her self up on her elbows.

"Then they searched the house and left you laying there on the porch." Sirius said as he watched her curiously. "I can't stay here I'll just put you at more risk." he said sadly then stood up.

"Sirius wait." Marie said and she reached out and grabbed his hand.

Sirius turned back around and looked at her curiously, he was shocked to see tears building in her eyes so he sat back down. "Marie I don't want to put you in danger." he said softly as he pulled her into a hug.

"To hell with the Ministry, I won't loose you again over them." Marie said as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Marie I want to see Harry, and I have to get Peter I have to make him pay." Sirius said as he rubbed her back lightly.

"We have to get Peter!" Marie said with determination in her eyes as she looked up at Sirius. "Little rat must be terrified now that you've escaped. And I know where Harry is." Marie said with a wicked smile.

"How do you know where he is?" Sirius asked curiously cause he wasn't really sure where to find him.

"Kings Cross Station of course." Marie said with a smile. "His first year he introduced himself to that Weasley family the ones that went to Egypt, as he tried to figure out how to get onto platform 9 ¾. That and he looks just like James." she said as she looked up at him happily.

"Just like James huh." Sirius said and looked over at a picture of all of them after graduating Hogwarts, that Marie kept on the mantel. Then noticed the picture of him and her on Harry's first birthday. "You never gave up on me, did you?" he said softly as he turned to look at her.

"No." Marie said softly putting a hand up to his cheek as she locked eyes with him. "I knew you were innocent." she said with a smile before she pulled him closer for a kiss.