Chapter 2
The insane, delighted shriek belonging to Bellatrix Lestrange Nee Black could be heard throughout the entire prison, as well as the gasps of pain from the other imprisoned Death Eaters. Then, shouts of glee and shock filled the air.
Theodorus Nott stared at his Mark, which, rather than being pale and almost transparent, was now jet black. "He's back," he whispered.
He wasn't sure how to feel about this. Sure, when he'd first joined the Death Eaters, he'd been thrilled, and looking forward to changing the world and the hearts of wixenkind. But then he'd realized how insane the Dark Lord actually was, and feared for the life of his son.
"What's going on?" the inmate to his left croaked. Dorus had forgotten his name already.
"The Dark Lord is back," he replied blankly.
"We must return to him!" Bellatrix insisted, looking determined.
"How the fuck are we supposed to escape, bitch?" Antonin Dolohov snapped. "No one's ever escaped from Azkaban before!"
"We'll turn into our Animagus forms," Bellatrix retorted, looking very much as if she wanted to stab the man. "I saw my stupid cousin turn into that dog a lot of times, and the Dementors ignored him. Mine can fit through the bars."
"So can ours," said Rodolphus, indicating himself and his brother, who had the cells across from Bellatrix and Antonin.
"And mine," Antonin sneered at the woman. The man had never respected women, but he wasn't stupid enough to treat Bellatrix the same way.
"Dorus," Rabastan called quietly. "Isn't your Animagus form a raven?"
"Yes," Dorus replied. He hadn't transformed in years, so he wasn't sure if he could do it now.
"The five of us will go," Bellatrix ordered. Antonin rolled his eyes when she wasn't looking.
"How can you be sure the Dark Lord will let us back into his ranks?" Dorus rasped. "He isn't big on forgiveness and mercy, Bellatrix."
"We'll have to do something to get back into his good graces," Antonin agreed, eyes glittering.
"We'll kill the Potter boys!" Bellatrix squealed. "Getting rid of threats is a perfect way to get back into his ranks!"
Dorus refrained from correcting her about the boys' last name, and decided instead to panic. The twins were in the same House and year as his son, Theo, and Bellatrix was very talented at causing a massive amount of collateral damage. He couldn't let the woman hurt his boy.
"I'll catch up with you," he told Rabastan as the other three began transforming. The man had been closer to his parents than the others, and he would understand. "I want to talk to my father first."
Rabastan nodded distantly and transformed into a black fox, nearly identical to his brother's form. The only difference was a small patch of dark gray fur on Rodolphus' front leg, evidence that Fabian Prewett had nearly detached his arm years earlier.
Bellatrix's sleek black panther slipped through the bars, incredibly skinny due to malnutrition. Antonin's weasel climbed up one of the bars, hissing.
Dorus transformed himself, opening his eyes to find the world much larger. It took him a few tries to take off, but he managed to fly off out the window.
He needed to warn his father, and get his child out of the school.
Daily Prophet
MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN PRISON
"Enter," said Albus, shutting the stack of papers he'd been reading into his desk drawer.
The door opened, revealing a man with bright red hair, AK green eyes, and a soft smile. Albus stared at the man for a moment, recognizing those green eyes as Tom Riddle's. His hair and nose were also similar to the dangerous boy's. But the smile and hair were very different.
"Alaric Belanger-Reid?" Albus said after a pause.
"Yes, that's me," Alaric replied quietly. His accent was Canadian, or American, Albus could never tell the difference. "You're Albus Dumbledore."
It was a statement, not a question. Albus could see curious respect in the man's eyes.
So, definitely not Voldemort in disguise.
"Forgive my rudeness," Albus said, gesturing to the chair in front of him. Alaric sat down. "You bear an uncanny resemblance to an old student of mine."
Alaric twitched, a pained and angry expression crossing his face very briefly.
"Well, why don't we begin," said Albus, deciding to ignore that. He pulled Alaric's file from his desk. "It says here you first applied for the Defense Position, but then changed your mind and applied for Potions instead?"
The man straightened. "Yes," he agreed. "I heard about the curse, and decided not to risk it. I also have a Mastery in Potions."
Yes, Alaric's education was impressive. He had Masteries in Defense, Potions, Dueling, Charms, Transfiguration, Astronomy, Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy. He'd gotten Outstandings on sixteen Newts -- Alaric had been homeschooled, so he had taken four more subjects that Ilvermorny hadn't offered.
"Why do you want to teach at Hogwarts at all?" Albus asked.
"Partially because I was curious," Alaric said after a pause. "My mother never attended Hogwarts, but she was supposed to. Beauxbatons sent her a tutor."
Albus knew, of course, that not every Muggleborn or muggle-raised witch or wizard attended Hogwarts, despite living in the area, but had ignored the issue. "Your mother was..."
Grief filled the man's expression. "Aria Reid. She was a Muggleborn."
After a pause, Albus said, "And the other reason?"
Alaric's expression lit up slightly. "I used to tutor wixen in the town where I lived. I love kids, and I love teaching them."
"May I ask about your father?" Albus questioned cautiously.
"My mother refused to talk about my biological father," Alaric said flatly, expression dark. "I got the impression that it was a very short encounter, a... forced one, given my mother was a lesbian."
Albus blinked. Had Voldemort raped a woman?
"I didn't realize why until I opened a bank account at Gringotts, and had to take a Magical Aura Test," Alaric continued.
"Your father is Voldemort," Albus said quietly.
"I prefer the term sperm donor," Alaric deadpanned, earning a startled laugh. "I have never met the man -- my mother fled to Canada when she found out she was pregnant with me -- and I refuse to have anything to do with him. As far as I'm concerned, my parents are-" another flash of grief "-were, Aria and Linden Belanger-Reid."
"What happened?" Albus asked gently.
"They died in a car crash," Alaric replied blankly. "A few weeks ago. I moved here to get away from-" he stopped. "Can we get back to the interview, Headmaster?"
"Albus," was the reply, "all my staff call me that."
Alaric nodded slowly. Then he blinked. "Are you saying that I'm hired?" he asked incredulously.
Albus nodded. He wanted to keep an eye on Voldemort's son. "Yes. I'll inform our current Potions professor that he'll be teaching Defense next year."
"Next year?" Alaric repeated.
"There's only a month left of school," Albus explained. "There's no point in beginning your position now. Take the time to get to know your students, and let your students get to know you."
"Okay," the man said, still looking bewildered. He cocked his head. "Is there time for me to meet the staff?"
"Good idea," Albus said cheerfully, standing up. "There's a staff meeting in a few minutes, actually. Follow me."