Disclaimer: Not mine.
The Brotherhood
A/N - Last chapter except the Epilogue.
~~~ Chapter Forty Nine ~~~
Harry knew what was coming very soon. He had gone through this all before and although it was so long ago, he still remembered it clearly. It was a day that changed his life, after all. The aurors would come and take him to the apparation room, then apparate him to a small building on the beach. Once there, they would take him to a boat, and chain him to it, which they said was so the prisoners wouldn't throw themselves overboard. Harry knew he might have done so the first time he had ridden in that boat, had he not been securely chained. When they arrived at the island where Azkaban Prison stood, he would be checked in, given a prisoner's robe, and then taken to a cell. He would be left alone, but it wouldn't be long before the dementors came.
Harry's eyes were closed tightly at the moment, trying to tune out those thoughts, but it wasn't working. His mind kept wandering back to Azkaban, and for a fair reason. Wouldn't you think about the place that you'd be spending the rest of what would be a miserable life, too?
It was morning, that much Harry could tell from his place in this cell. The bustling around the building was starting up again after it had died down when night had fallen. He only knew this because he had been up all night, unable to sleep.
Also on his thoughts was Sirius. He had figured that the only reason that his Godfather hadn't come to him yet was that he was being restrained. He knew, or at least he thought he did, that Sirius wouldn't allow him to go back to Azkaban. He wondered whether that was the Ministry's doing, or someone else's. He wouldn't be surprised if Remus had made sure that Sirius wasn't there to try anything stupid when they sentenced him. However, Harry just wanted to see his Godfather one last time before...
"Potter," a gruff voice came from outside the cell.
Harry opened his eyes to see an auror standing there, giving Harry a look that clearly said, 'you deserve this'. Another auror, who was looking more sympathetically at Harry, was standing behind the first.
Harry stood up warily as the first auror opened the cell. He allowed them to put the cuffs on his wrists, and then to be lead out of his cell and down the hall. What was there left to fight for? He would always be a criminal. Even if he escaped, somehow, he would have to stay in hiding for the rest of his life. What was the point anymore?
Harry's grim thoughts continued as he was apparated to the beach where the boat was waiting.
Harry thought back to the reason Sirius and him had broken out of Azkaban in the beginning. Hadn't the reason been to prove their innocence? Sirius' had been proven with the discovery of Peter Pettigrew. Harry had made sure that the rat was convicted and Sirius was proclaimed innocent. Harry had received a trial, finally, and had been also found innocent of the original crime he had been convicted of. Their reason for breaking out was completed.
Although he was going back to Azkaban, his imprisonment was, at least, this time justified. Harry almost thought this was worse. No longer would he have the thought of his innocence to ward out the horrid feelings.
Harry was unpleasantly bumped out of his thoughts when he heard the cell door closing behind him. He realised that he had gone through everything mindlessly. He settled onto the bunk behind him and wrapped the dirty and ripped blanket that he found there around them. He found himself not really caring that the blanket had bloodstains on it.
As he sat, Harry's eyes fell on the cell across from him, seeking for the grey eyes that so often he had seen when Padfoot, in dog form, had laid under the bunk. He didn't find them. Instead, the cell was occupied with someone else. It had a sleeping prisoner in it, one that looked as if he had been there a long time. Harry almost wished that it was Sirius, but then shook his head. He wouldn't wish Sirius to be back in here. No, Sirius didn't deserve this.
Harry felt coldness seep through his clothes and skin, despite the scanty blanket and he knew the dementors were coming. He sank deeper back into his cell, although he knew it would make no difference. He would feel it just as much if he were standing right next to the bars of the cell.
As the dementors came closer, faces began flashing before Harry's eyes. The faces of those he had killed, he realised with a sick feeling. He closed his eyes, wishing they were go away. It only got worse. Soon, he heard their screams. Next came their awful pleadings and cries.
When the dementors were right outside his cell, the strain was too much, and Harry fell into unconsciousness.
A/N - I know that you're probably not happy with this ending, but I am planning a sequel where it continues, and the star can't stay in Azkaban long. I don't know when the sequel will be up, but keep an eye out for it, and continue on to the next chapter for the Epilogue.