Jail Bird Choir

CHAPTER 3

“Where the hell have you been?” Ron snapped as he mounted his broom as Harry came hovering down to his level.

“Errand.” Harry muttered as both he and Ron took off across the water heading for the darkened island that housed the Wizarding world’s most heinous criminals and now one of Harry’s closest friends.

“Alistair said nothing much happened during their patrols. A few false alarms and the odd sea monster but nothing remotely exciting.” Ron commented as he flew slightly lower than Harry to get a better view of the rough, sea below them. Azkaban was its own island. Sitting in uncharted dangerous waters, and with a magical void surrounding its entire perimeter it was the ultimate fortress. If the wind was right, the screams of the prisoners could heard on the shoreline of the mainland but that was rare. “So where did you go this afternoon, Hardbroom was in a mood.” When Harry made no attempt at conversation Ron continued, as he rejoined Harry’s height.

“I talked to Tonks.” Harry mumbled as he stared at the castle and its black stonewalls that they were drawing closer to.

“About?” Ron pestered knowing that Harry was deliberately being obtuse.

“Snape.” Harry replied as they both landed easily on the dead receiving lawn in front of the large iron gates. It was bitterly cold, the magical void sucking the very life from everything and creating a swirling biting gale that screamed around them.

“And?” Ron continued as the pair of them approached a small wooden hut that was built against the stonewall beside the gates.

“And nothing, it was just a general discussion about him.” The red haired wizard looked dubiously across at Harry but chose not to comment as Harry knocked on the window of the hut. From inside there was a shuffling of chairs and feet before the curtain was pulled aside and the window slid open. The man inside was hideously deformed his features practically unrecognizable beneath the mangled burnt flesh of his face.

“Name and purpose.” The man barked out unaware that his visitors had taken a large step back from the window when confronted by the sight.

“JA Harry Potter and JA Ronald Weasley reporting for patrols.” The man in the window made what attempted to look like a smile and only revealed more of the horrific damage of the man’s face.

“Junior Auror’s new lot then?” The man growled as he tossed a set of keys through the window. “Keep away from the castle, don’t take the south path by the water and don’t mind the screams you’ll get used to them.” With another of his terrible smiles the man slammed the window shut and pulled the black out curtain across leaving Harry and Ron staring at one another, a set of keys jangling between them.

“Friendly guy.” Ron muttered as he grabbed the keys and headed for the Iron Gate. Harry hesitated as he stared up at the windowless castle watching the bats circling each tower before coming to land on the turrets. “So come on what about old Snivelrus? I’m assuming he’s not dead.” Ron pushed open the gate and let Harry walk inside before following him in and locking and closing the gate behind them. Inside the walls was even darker than outside, the magical void sucking light into pitch. With the noise of sea behind them, the eerie quiet of the castle took affect punctuated only by a soulless groan or a piercing scream of agony. A shiver ran up Harry’s spine as he wondered how many of the occupants were due to him. Ron seemed unaffected by the place entirely and merely tossed the keys in his hand for a moment before beginning a casual stroll along the coble path.

“Not yet anyhow.” Harry whispered as he fell into step beside his best friend who was rummaging around in his cloak pocket for a packet of sweets.

“As predicted the slimy git lives on…” Ron declared cheekily as he offered Harry a sherbet fizz before taking a handful for himself and stashing the rest back in his pocket.

“Ron.” Harry warned having had this discussion nearly a year ago.

“I know, I know but I really don’t know what you saw in him especially after what he did to Dumbledore and for a Malfoy no less.” Ron was bitter his tone of voice changing the instant he mentioned Malfoy. Harry sighed and shrugged his shoulders not wanting to repeat himself yet again to another person who would never understand anyway.

“Does it matter what I saw in him Ron? He was a friend and now he’s rotting away in this place because there’s no one who can defend him anymore.” Harry didn’t realize what he’d said until Ron stopped walking and stared at him in shock, his mouth gawking like a fish.

“He’s in here?” Ron looked horrified up at the castle before glancing sharply back at Harry for confirmation. Harry sighed and nodded as he turned to continue walking.

“Yes, it was all done in secret apparently.” Ron raised a cautious eyebrow at Harry knowing his best friends stance on Severus Snape, and the strict instructions he’d gave to the Minister of Magic after the war concerning Snape’s welfare. Harry had been livid when warrants had been issued for Snape’s head, alive or dead. After everything the potion master had done he was still categorized the same as his peers.

“You’re pissed aren’t you?” Ron whispered cautiously as they rounded the corner of the castle and continued down the gravel path marking their patrol perimeter. A red flash in Harry’s eyes caught in the moonlight and Ron instinctively fingered his wand tucked in the holster under his cloak.

“You have no idea Ron.” Harry breathed out as he stared up at the towering fortress beside him, so close to Snape but so very far away.

“You’re not going to do anything stupid are you because practicals are next week and I need all my limbs fully functional or I’ll fail?” Ron looked pleadingly up at Harry who laughed and rolled his eyes casually.

“Whatever I do Ron, I’ll make sure I don’t involve you besides this could get rather messy.” Harry smiled strangely to himself, the red flecks in his eyes returning for a moment before fading away leaving Ron to sigh heavily at his friend as they continued their watch.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>