Chapter 3: The Prison Break

Harry and Hermione had lived in Universe 325 for one month and fifteen days. They had arrived just one day after Harry learned that his moth

Harry and Hermione had been living in Universe 325 for 15 days and one month.

They got there the day after Harry found out that his mother was still alive. It had been strangely quiet since then, which was a big change from the constant war they had come from. They spent a month and a half getting used to their bodies, the feelings and memories of their other selves, and the new magic that was flowing through them.

It was odd how simple magic had become. Casting without a wand was as easy as breathing. They thought it was because of their years of experience and strength, but it wasn't. It was their attitude. Harry and Hermione were young and had grown up without adults to tell them what magic couldn't do. No one said, "That's impossible," when Remus died. So they did what couldn't be done.

They didn't use wands anymore.

And even though things had been quiet for the past few weeks—going to Muggle London, laughing like teenagers in love, and even sneaking in a movie—they hadn't forgotten why they were there.

This was the day. The day they would let Sirius Black out of Azkaban.

He was still in jail. Harry had not gone to Hogwarts in this world. Nobody knew the truth. So Sirius didn't have to run away. But Harry wouldn't let him stay in that hellhole for one second longer than he had to.

The plan was simple and very dangerous. They would hit at midnight.

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Azkaban—midnight

A dog was curled up in the deepest, safest cell in Azkaban. The air was cold and full of sadness. The walls seemed to hum with the cries of lost souls, muffled screams that echoed across the stones like a memory you couldn't quite shake. Magic itself felt stifled here, as if even hope didn't want to stay.

There were two Dementors standing guard on each side of the iron gate. They stayed still. They weren't breathing. But from their hooded shapes, tendrils of fear leaked out and curled into the cell like smoke.

The dog whined, and you could see its bones through its matted fur. It shook all the time, even though it didn't have much strength to do so. It had shallow breathing and empty eyes.

Two balls of fire suddenly burst into flames in the hallway, making the stone walls glow orange. Two hooded people walked through the fire, and the heat of their bodies pushed the unnatural cold back.

Before the Dementors could do anything, a stag and an otter burst out of the intruders' Patronuses. They were silver and fierce, and they slammed into the cloaked guards, pinning them against the wall in a flash of light.

The Dementors screamed, a hollow, ear-splitting wail, and one of them rushed forward, trying to claw its way through the silver light. The stag got mad, stood up, and charged. The creature was pushed back by a crackle of magical energy.

Hermione raised her hand and moved her fingers. The locking spells came undone like threads of smoke, and the cell door clicked open.

Harry ran ahead. He knelt down next to the dog and held its shaking head.

"Sirius... Sirius, it's me," he whispered, petting his godfather's fur.

The dog whined and then slowly moved. Bones broke and changed shape. The black fur turned into skin. In a matter of seconds, Sirius Black's broken, gaunt body lay in front of him, barely alive. His eyes opened and closed quickly, but they weren't focused.

"James?" he croaked.

Harry gulped. "No, it's Harry." It's your godson. You're safe. We're going to get you out of here.

Sirius blinked. His lips shook. Then his eyes rolled back, and he fell limp in Harry's arms.

Harry gritted his teeth to keep from losing his temper.

Hermione got down on her knees next to them. "We have to leave. Now.

The Dementor that had broken through the barrier screeched again and rushed forward behind them. Hermione turned around and pushed her hand out.

"Expecto Patronum!"

With another high-pitched scream, the otter's light got brighter, pushing the Dementor back. This time, it didn't try again.

Harry picked up Sirius and held him like a baby. He was very light, which was scary.

They disappeared again in two balls of fire.

The Patronuses disappeared. The Dementors went back to where they had been. They didn't notice that the cell behind them was empty now.

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The grumpy old shopkeeper David woke up with a start. Again.

There was a rhythmic tapping sound coming from below.

He groaned, put on his robe, and walked into the store. The noise was coming from the corner, where he kept his most annoying owl in a cage.

A beautiful white female with bright amber eyes glared at him through the bars, her beak tapping with urgent accuracy.

But tonight was different. The moonlight coming through the high windows made her feathers look like they were glowing. A magical light curled around her, like frost melting backwards.

He muttered, "You again. What is it now, girl?"

The owl hooted, and its eyes were full of something old. Her look wasn't just annoyed; it was aware.

She had been on edge for weeks. Tapping. Waiting. But something had changed an hour ago. A wave across the magical weave. A presence she had never met but always knew.

He let out a sigh and opened the cage.

She jumped out right away, gave him a nod that he could only see as a thank you, and then she flew away with a scream that sounded like a bell of prophecy.

David shook his head. "You're waiting for someone, right? Or maybe you were waiting for him.

The owl flew high over London with a purpose, not just because it was its nature but also because it was meant to. She was aware now. Her wizard had come back.

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Sirius was in one of the upper bedrooms, unconscious but finally warm and safe.

Missy had wrapped him in magical blankets and was making potion after potion to keep him stable. Hermione used magic to keep an eye on his vital signs and sometimes brushed his tangled hair back from his forehead.

But it wasn't an easy healing. Hermione worked nonstop, using charms to ease his pain, whispering spells to calm his broken mind, and old healing spells from an ancient grimoire she found in the manor's library. She put cool cloths on his hot forehead and changed the shape of nutrient-rich potions to feed him while he was still out cold. The work was close, fragile, and never-ending.

Harry sat in a chair next to the bed and lightly covered Sirius's bony fingers with his hand.

Sirius moved once, jumped, and muttered something under his breath.

"James... "Not again... don't let them take you..."

Harry closed his eyes and tried to breathe normally. That one moment, the past and the present were at odds with each other. He tightened his grip, not enough to hurt, but enough to let her know he was there. I'm not going.

They took turns watching over him all night, with Hermione casting spells to help him sleep. Harry sat still and told stories from the past about the real Sirius, like how he tried to ride Buckbeak like a broomstick. Around that time, he tried to prank Snape but ended up getting hexed by McGonagall instead. He would do anything to bring the real Sirius back from the brink.

Sirius's breathing had calmed down by dawn.

Harry stood by the window and watched the sky get brighter.

He should have felt better, but all he could taste was revenge.

He turned to look at Hermione, who was worried and had a worried look on her face as she floated a vial toward Sirius's pale lips.

Harry said in a low voice, "We saved him. But this isn't done yet. Not by a long shot."

Hermione didn't answer right away. She was focused and purposeful, but her shoulders were tense.

When she finally said something, her voice was quiet but firm.

"No." It's just starting. Voldemort. Severus Snape. Everyone who let this happen will have to answer for it.

Harry's knuckles turned white against the windowsill.

He said, "They thought they had broken us." "But they've only brought out something worse."

And when the sun rose over the sea, the world still didn't know that two ghosts from another life had just started a fire that would never go out.

Until the last shadow was gone.

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