Today the eleventh chapter comes online.

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Azkaban

The next evening, the Rebels have been informed of the marauders' plans late that afternoon, the adults prepared to rescue Ted. Lily packed Al and Rose's brewed potions and James an outdated map of Azkaban. Better than nothing, he thought to himself.

»Is everyone ready?« asked Tonks. The small group had gathered around the round table, all ready for the mission ahead. When she got an approving nod from each of them, she broke off the head of the wooden horse and placed it on the table in front of her.

Just at that moment, James started the stopwatch they had been given by the Rebels. »The clock is running.«

Without another word, they all apparated to the North Sea coast. In a few seconds the wind, which had increased towards night, whipped around their ears. The lonely and partly derelict hut lay five hundred metres ahead of them. They took cover behind an embankment and surveyed the area.

»Sirius and I will check the place. Not that we're about to surprise Aurors transferring a prisoner,« whispered James and without waiting for his best friend he ran off. Sirius followed him and, stooping, they approached the hut. Above them, the Dementors circled, taking notice of them. Without hesitation, James stretched a shield over them with Expecto Patronum. Protected, they arrived at the door. Without exchanging any more words, they were a perfect team, Sirius opened the door and James slipped through. The small hut was divided into two rooms, the two men checked them with their wands. They were lucky, no Aurors or more Dementors were in sight.

James went back to the door and signalled for those waiting to come in. With a few steps and a shield as well, they joined their friends. Lily was the last to lock the door behind her.

Remus walked purposefully to the port bowl. »We shouldn't waste time.«

James looked at the stopwatch. »Ten minutes left.«

A shiver ran down Lily's spine. Was it enough time? Would they make it to Ted's cell? She shook her head. She couldn't have thoughts like that now.

»Now is the last chance to stay here.« James looked searchingly at the faces of his friends. They radiated confidence and trust. None backed down, they would get through this together.

They all clutched the port bowl. But nothing happened.

»Do we need to activate it somehow?« asked Sirius, letting go of the object again.

Suddenly the key began to vibrate. »Sirius, quick,« Remus called out and his friend reacted in a flash. Just as his fingertips touched the portkey, they were pulled away. In a few seconds they were out of the hut and standing in a cold and dark stone cell.

»Where are we?« whispered Tonks.

»Lumos,« breathed Lily and the room brightened.

Sirius looked closer at the walls. »I think we're in the basement here.«

James, who had already unpacked the plan, oriented himself. With his index finger he pointed to the lower area. »We should be somewhere around here, each of these rooms has a door.«

Before he could speculate further, Sirius had found the door. »Come on, we need to get to the fourth floor.« Without waiting for the others, he led the way. James folded the map roughly, but kept it in his hand. Lily and Tonks followed Sirius, Remus and James at last.

They walked down a long corridor that ended at a stone staircase. Sirius looked questioningly at James.

Glancing at the map, he nodded to his friend. »We should come out in a large hall.«

Wand drawn, they slowly walked up the steps. The hall James had mentioned was huge. The ceiling went over two floors and a yellowed chandelier hung in the middle. Deep cracks were clearly visible in the stone walls at the corners. The masonry was cracked by the salt water and the lashing winds. Under the chandelier was a small wooden table.

»Where are we?« asked Lily.

»The entrance area. This is where you arrive, seated at the table,« Sirius indicated said wooden table with a nod of his head, »and the rules are explained to you.«

»What rules?« James hadn't known there would be rules in Azkaban.

Sirius shrugged. »You know them already. You can't break out of here, you're lost here and you'll sit in your cold little cell for the rest of your life.«

»And you broke the rules as usual,« James said with a grin.

His best friend merely nodded in reply. »Come on, we need to keep moving, there's the stairs back there that lead to all the floors.« Sirius had never seen the basement in his time in Azkaban. But the hall and the stairs were familiar territory to him.

With quick steps, they walked down the hall to the stairs. The steps were made of the same stone as the entire building. Carefully they arrived on the fourth floor.

»Where is cell 165?« asked Tonks, looking down the long corridor. To the left and right, evenly spaced, were the cell doors.

Crouching by the stairs, James unfolded the map and looked for their position.

»We're here.« Sirius pointed to a spot in the left corner.

»There's cell 165. We'll walk all the way back there, turn left and the second door on the left should be Ted's cell,« Lily concluded.

Tonks straightened up. »Then let's not waste any time,« she said and ran off. Her husband followed her. James and Lily folded up the map and quickly caught up with them both together with Sirius.

In the corridor, so close to the inmates, you could hear their wailing, moaning and in the distance shrill screams that drove into your marrow.

The marauders tried to draw as little attention to themselves as possible and slipped past the cell doors. Sirius had a thick lump in his throat. Already in the great hall downstairs, memories flooded his mind. The cold and helplessness pulled at his bones and froze him. He felt like he did back then. Back when they had all been betrayed, he had been accused, arrested and Harry had been sent to live with his relatives. When hope became small and insignificant. When he had to fight every day anew.

Shaking his head, he tried to shake off the thoughts and memories. »Why are there no Aurors here. I thought the children had said they were guarding Azkaban.«

»Don't you feel it? There were Dementors at the hut and you can clearly feel their presence here outside the stone walls. They must have used them again,« Remus speculated.

»Help!«, and, »Free us,«, came from the cells they crept past. Lily, who wanted to turn and go back, was pulled on by James. »We don't have time for that. We can only save one inmate today.«

Sirius pushed her on from behind as well. He didn't want to stay here any longer than necessary.

Just before the turn, he was grabbed. Quickly he raised his wand and shone into the cell. With the right spell on the tip of his tongue, he recognised the face.

Narzissa Malfoy, his cousin, had reached through the bars and held him by the arm. James and Lily, who had witnessed their friend being stopped, hurried to run to him. With a wave of his hand, Sirius signalled them to follow Remus and Tonks. He could handle his family all by himself.

James and Lily quickly caught up with Tonks and Remus, who were almost at Ted's cell.

Sirius turned to the prisoner. »What do you want?« asked he, shaking off her hand. As he did so, he eyed her more closely. Her dishevelled hair stood out wildly, her sunken face drawn by cold. Her eyes were pale and without emotion. Her dry lips were pressed together in a thin line. Azkaban was draining the last of her strength, Sirius knew only too well.

»You must protect my grandchildren. I beg you. They are your family too. Protect them. Keep them safe from this. They are not bad people.«

Sirius looked at her searchingly. »Like you are? And now you're asking me to look after Scorp? And what about Maxym? Is she worth my protection too? Or is it only your beloved pure-blooded grandson who is to be guarded?« Narcissa looked at him in surprise. »Yes, I know both your grandchildren. And let me tell you this. They are, Merlin knows why, nothing like you and your depraved husband. They don't care about blood status and purity. They stand up for their friends. No matter who they are. They fight for what is right.«

»I know all that. That's why I'm asking you to look out for them, after all. Both of them.« Narcissa looked at him pleadingly.

Sirius glanced down the corridor. He didn't have much time left. »And why should I do that?«

»Because they belong to House Black. Through me, through my blood. They are our family. And you are a Black as well. Even if you never wanted to be,« she hissed.

»It wasn't me who burnt my face out of the family tree,« he returned bitingly. »They have parents, Narcissa. They protect their children.«

But the inmate shook her head. »You think this is the end? That was just the beginning. And my son and his wife will be here soon too. Then the children will have no one. They will be at the mercy of others. Please, take care of them. Promise me. I don't want them to pay for this. It's enough that Draco and Astoria are dragged into this.« Narcissa tried to reach for him again, but Sirius took a step back.

»I'll see what I can do.« Sirius walked back to the cell door. »But I won't do that because they have your blood. Nor because they belong to the oh-so-great House of Black. I'm doing it because they're innocent children. Because they deserve all the protection I can give them.«

Without waiting for her reply, he ran to James and the others. He had already spent too much time with his cousin.

As he turned the corner, he heard her yell, »Thank you!«

James and Lily, oblivious to the exchange at Narcissa's cell, reached Tonks and Remus.

»Bombarda!« shouted Tonks and blew open the cell door. After the smoke cleared and individual splinters were on the floor, the inside became visible.

»Oh by Merlin!«, startled, Tonks held her hand in front of her mouth. After seconds of shock, she rushed towards the lifeless figure lying on the floor. She knelt down, took her son's head and placed it in her lap.

»My dear son, what have they done to you?« Remus, equally disturbed about Ted's condition, squatted down beside his wife.

Lily immediately reached into her bag and pulled out some vials. »He must be exhausted and barely have any strength left in him. Infuse him with this.« She held out a mixture to Tonks. The latter did as instructed.

»It must have been the Dementors. I remember what it was like.« Sirius, meanwhile, had caught up with them and quickly grasped the situation in Ted's cell.

James looked at the stopwatch. »It's almost time.« He walked over to his wife. Tonks reached around her son and pulled him close. Then she pulled out the body of the wooden horse. The others also grasped the body. Last, Sirius placed Ted's lifeless hand on it.

They felt a pull and disappeared from Azkaban.

I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to write your thoughts and impressions in the comments, I would be very happy.