Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures - H.P.S.T Chapter 1489: Return to Azkaban

“Alright” Harry hesitated for a moment, and finally took the tiny little bottle of Felix Felicis. “Be careful, it’s all up to you tonight, Hermione, keep an eye on Ginny, bye.”

And he was off, hurrying back through the portrait hole and toward the entrance hall.

Evan and Dumbledore had just arrived at the entrance hall when they saw Harry hurrying down the stairs, sweating profusely.

“I would like you both to wear your cloak, please,” said Dumbledore. “Yes, Evan, you too,” and he waited until Evan and Harry had thrown their clocks on before saying, “Very good. Shall we go?”

Dumbledore set off at once down the stone steps, his own traveling cloak barely stirring in the still summer night air.

Evan followed, he could feel Harry beside him, still breathing heavily.

“But what will people think when they see you leaving, Professor?” Harry asked, his mind on Malfoy and Snape.

“That I am off into Hogsmeade for a drink,” said Dumbledore lightly. “I sometimes offer Rosmerta my custom, or else visit the Hog’s Head … or I appear to. It is as good a way as any of disguising one’s true destination.”

“Have you been in Azkaban when you were not in school this term?” Evan asked.

“Most of the time, yes, working on unraveling that magic.”

“Then how did you stay in Azkaban without being discovered?” Evan continued to ask.

Ever since the Dementors defected, Azkaban had been fully taken over by Ministry wizards.

Rufus Scrimgeour had been searching everywhere for Dumbledore, even trying to get information out of Evan and Harry. If he knew Dumbledore had been in Azkaban that whole time, he would probably have turned the entire island upside down to find what Dumbledore was after.

Since so much time had passed and neither Scrimgeour nor the Ministry had done anything, it meant no one had realized what Dumbledore was doing right under their noses.

“A Concealment Charm,” Dumbledore replied. “It’s actually not too difficult. The Ministry is short-staffed now. They can only guard the important checkpoints of Azkaban and can’t maintain the complete control the Dementors once had. Getting into the prison interior isn’t easy, but sneaking onto the island — if one is careful — can go unnoticed.”

Well, as long as Dumbledore was willing, he would have no problem entering anywhere.

They made their way down the drive in the thick night.

The air was full of the smells of warm grass, lake water, and wood smoke from Hagrid’s cabin.

These smells were not unpleasant, but soothing and reassuring. It was difficult to believe that they were heading for anything dangerous or frightening.

“Professor,” said Harry quietly, as the gates at the bottom of the drive came into view, “will we be Apparating to the Ministry?”

“Yes, we’ll Apparate directly into the Ministry of Magic, somewhere discreet so we won’t be seen,” Dumbledore explained cheerfully. “We have no other choice. Like Hogwarts, there are many ancient protective enchantments around Azkaban. Apart from a special Portkey kept within the Ministry, it is impossible for outsiders to reach the island by any other means; they can’t even find it”

“But Sirius successfully escaped from Azkaban that year.”   

“Escaping from the inside and entering from the outside are two very different challenges. Sirius swam out, but we can’t swim in. Not only do we not have the time, but we wouldn’t even be able to locate the island,” said Dumbledore. “By the way, both of you are able to Apparate now, I believe? Harry, have you learned it?”

“I have, but I haven’t got a license.”

Harry felt it best to be honest; what if he spoiled everything by turning up a hundred miles from where he was supposed to go? After all, the farthest he’d Apparated before was from one end of the Great Hall to the other.

“No matter, I can assist you again,” Dumbledore paused and continued, “Evan, even though you know the location, it’s best if I guide you during Apparition.”

Evan nodded without comment, and he didn’t know if Dumbledore could see it, but he didn’t ask any more questions.

They turned out of the gates into the deserted lane to Hogsmeade, shrouded in the night.

It was dark all around. Behind them was the brightly lit Hogwarts Castle. In front of them was Hogsmeade with only a few windows flashing with lights.

As the three neared the Three Broomsticks they heard raucous shouting.

“— and stay out!” shouted Madam Rosmerta, forcibly ejecting a grubby-looking wizard. “Oh, hello, Albus … You’re out late …”

“Good evening, Rosmerta, good evening … forgive me, I’m off to the Hog’s Head. … No offense, but I feel like a quieter atmosphere tonight. …”

Evan could feel that Rosmerta had been watching them from behind until the three turned the corner into a side street.

Ahead, the Hog’s Head’s sign creaked a little, though there was no breeze.

In contrast to the Three Broomsticks, the pub appeared to be completely empty and looked like it would collapse at any time.

“It will not be necessary for us to enter,” muttered Dumbledore, glancing around. “As long as nobody sees us go … now place your hands upon my arm. There is no need to grip too hard, I am merely guiding you, you follow me to use Apparition, On the count of three … One … two … three …”

The world spun wildly. Evan felt as though he were being squeezed through a thick rubber tube, every part of his body compressed. His vision blurred, and when everything came back into focus, he found himself in the underground courtroom of the Ministry of Magic, right in front of a massive black statue of a Dementor.

The statue was incredibly lifelike. It was posed as if about to strike, lifting the hood over its head to reveal, in a hazy and indistinct shimmer, that terrifying mouth, poised at any moment to deliver a dreadful kiss and suck the soul from the person before it.

“This… this is the Portkey?” Harry asked, trying to calm himself.

“Yes, this is the room behind the Wizengamot’s special courtroom and leads directly to Azkaban.” Evan answered. He looked around the black room. It was quiet and there was no one. There was no monitoring magic in this place. It was incredible that it could be reached by Apparition!

“How to do it?”

“Put your hand on it, don’t use force!” said Evan, repeating what Sirius had once told him.

“Keep your Invisibility Cloak on. Don’t come out of it until I say you can,” said Dumbledore. “And be warned — it will be very cold over there.”

As he spoke, he raised his wand, and a pale white halo began to emanate from the statue.

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