Prologue
Hermione Granger was looking over a few important papers. Papers that would make the life of house elves even better. Better hours, better payment and so much more laws that she was finally be able to approve.
Even more so now that she was the minister of magic. Something that she worked very hard for to get here. It meant long hours and coming home late, but Hermione loved every single minute of her job. She was not alone in it. She had her best friend Harry and her husband Ron by her side.
A knock on her door made her look up.
“Enter.” She called out calmly putting her quil on her desk. The door opened and a short male with black hair walked into her office. The head of aurors walked in clearing his throat.
“Basil, what is the matter?” she asked curious. Wondering why he was here unannounced. They had no appointment. Well, none that she was aware of herself.
“I just received some disturbing news from Azkaban. I thought… well… you should read it yourself.” And he handed the parchment over to Hermione who carefully grabbed it. Afraid that it would somehow break in her hand. Her eyes focused on the letter in front of her.
Important. Only for the minister of magic Mrs. Granger minister of Magic, Harry Potter Head of the British Auror Office and mister Basil. Head of Aurors.
I can’t say much in this letter should it fall in the wrong hands during it’s journey towards London, but I am afraid I have to let you know Mrs. Weasley, Mister Potter and Mister Basil that the twin sisters Lauryn and Margarita Riddle have escaped from Azkaban just this morning. There where abouts are still unknown.
Knowing one of your relatives may be in danger from this day forward I felt it was my duty to write this letter.
To bring you this news.
Kind regards,
Kayson Horne
Head of Guards of Azkaban
Hermione’s face paled when she put the letter down. Lauryn and Margarita…. Two witches from which she hoped would be behind bars for the rest of their life’s. It had been her biggest fear that one day they would escape.
“Alert Harry Potter and my husband Ron Weasley. Tell them to meet me downstairs at the fire places.” Hermione stood up. Grabbed her bag and followed Basil out of her office. Where she stopped in front of the desk of her brother in law Percy Weasley, who was also her assistant. However now his head was resting in his hand and he clearly was sleeping. Hermione cleared her throat. Startling Percy who looked up a bit shocked to see her standing in front of him.
“Sorry I was…” Percy stumbled. Hermione shook her head. “It is okay. Can you head to my house and bring Hugo and Rose to the Burrow or to your house? Ron, Harry and I have to check something out.” Percy nodded and didn’t ask any further questions. Knowing that when the three best friends where going somewhere important it was best to let them go and not to argue about it.
When Hermione eventually finally arrived at the fire places after she was stopped multiple times along the way by other wizards and witches that needed to talk to her she saw her husband and best friend standing there waiting for her.
“What is the emergency?” Ron asked her curious. Hermione looked at Harry who nodded. It was clear he already knew what this was all about, but they still had to tell Ron.
“We can’t talk here.” Hermione said when she walked towards the fire place. The two males followed her and once they were outside Hermione stretched her hand.
“We have to apparate.” She told Ron and Harry to which Ron looked disgusted. “Do we really have to?” He asked his wife who nodded. Ron sighed deeply. Never having liked apparation, but still grabbed her hand. Harry followed and in just a few minutes they arrived at the harbor. Harry looked at her.
“Azkaban? Why on earth are we headed to Azkaban?” Ron asked, confused. Starting to realize what their destination was going to be. Hermione just simply started to walk down the harbor until they arrived at a big, large black ship. The captain was sitting on a chair on the dock. Smoking his pipe, but looked up when he saw the most three famous people from the Wizarding world standing in front of him.
“Mr Potter, Mr. And Mrs. Weasley. To what do I owe the pleasure of having you visit these outskirts of England?” The captain asked curious. Looked but didn’t see any prisoners with them. It was just the three of them.
“We need to get to Azkaban, now.” Hermione said fiercely with no explanation, but the captain caught up on how urgent this visit was. The captain nodded, stood up and walked on to the boat followed by Ron, Hermione and Harry.
“Harry. You have been awfully quiet this whole time.” Ron commented once they where well on their way to Azkaban. Harry looked at his best friend and took in a deep breath.
“Remember I had a case sixteen years ago? For which I had to go to Romania?” Ron nodded.
“It involved your brother, Charlie.” Ron blinked a few times. Not having expected this.
“Charlie? What? Why… I don’t.” Ron rambled on. Harry sighed deeply, but interrupted him.
“Charlie was married to Rosalie as we all know. Out of love. Just like we knew that she could not get pregnant. Despite them having tried for years. When she did one day get pregnant Charlie became suspicious.” Harry started to explain to Ron. Knowing very well it was time that he knew what happened all those years ago after Minerva’s birth.
“Of course at first he shook the thought away that something may be wrong, but it wasn’t until he talked to the healers at St. Mungo who told him that they had done all the research they could at the time where it was made clear that Rosalie really couldn’t get pregnant. He contacted me so I started to dig around for information and found out the truth about who Rosalie really was. Well… Rosalie turned out to be Lauryn and the one who was pregnant from Charlie was her twin sister Margarita.” Ron fell silent. Knowing those two names all too well. His face paled.
“They tricked him?” Ron blurted out. Harry looked at Hermione for a moment who nodded in confirmation.
“It was their plan all along. The fact Charlie was involved in it all was… well… out of revenge. For all that happened in the past.” Harry sighed. Looked outside the small window at the sea. Waves crashing down on the ship. Making it a bit rocky.
“Margarita and Lauryn switched places and well… there is that. We couldn’t imprison them immediately. The baby’s safety came first. Charlie’s well being too. We had to patiently wait and Charlie stayed at home those months. Knowing that if he left there was a chance that Margarita would fled.” Ron stayed silent. Taking all the news in. All these years….
“Why involve me now?” Ron asked, confused. Having no clue why they would tell him all this now. In fact. He wondered why no one told him about this at all.
“Because…” Hermione hesitated. Looked over at Harry, but than at her husband again. “They are after Minerva.” A heavy silence fell in between the three of them while Ron digested all the information he had just received.
“Minerva? Our Minerva? Charlie’s daughter?” Ron looked at his wife and best friend.
“Yes.” Harry admitted. Ron fell silent again.
“But… how? Why?” Ron stammered. “We don’t know.” Hermione admitted when the boat came to a stop at the harbor from Azkaban. All three shivered. It was cold. They looked at the tall fortress right in front of them. The waves crashing loudly against the shore and dementors flying high up in the sky. Keeping the prisoners at bay. The head of guard. A tall man with a black beard and dark brown eyes was waiting for the famous trio.
“The only thing we know is that they told me and Hermione that one day they would come for her. Not the why, just that they would come for Minerva.”
“Mr. Horne.” Hermione said when they had walked of the boat. Followed by her husband and Harry. greeting the head of guard calmly when she walked over to him. “Mrs. Weasley. I wish we could have met each other in better circumstances.” Mr. Horne said when he stretched out his hand that Hermione shook. He gave a slight nod to Ron and Harry.
“So do I. Can you lead us to their cell?” Hermione asked him. Coming straight to the point. Mr. Horne motioned to follow him. On their way to the cell where Lauryn and Margarita where held captive they passed other prisoners. Who were shouting unforgettable words towards the trio. Ron walking closely to his wife. Sending dirty looks to the prisoners whenever they insulted her. Harry just did his best to ignore the words. Knowing that some of them used to be death eaters.
Once they arrived at the cell the trio looked at it. The cell was empty. No trace left of Lauryn and Margarita. Hermione’s face paled now that she knew it was all true. That Minerva and most likely Charlie where both in danger now.
“How?” Was all Hermione could mutter when she walked into the cell. Had a good look around. Mr. Horne sighed deeply.
“The new guard that we hired a few months ago helped them escape.” Harry looked up at that. Confusing written all over his face.
“I interviewed him myself… before you did. What did we miss? Even his background was all clear.” Harry shook his head in disbelief. Went over every single detail from the interview in his head, but could not even find a single hint of what the guy’s plan was. He knew how to answer every question. Every spell was done perfectly. Went through the training with flying colors.
“I am afraid he knew precisely how to get hired for this job.” Mr. Horne sighed, deeply.
“We need to tell Charlie.” Ron all of a sudden said. Startling Hermione a bit who was still inspecting the empty cell.
“Charlie… yes. We need to.” Hermione stammered. Having no clue how to break this news to Charlie yet.
“Aren’t Charlie and Minerva on the way to the Burrow by now?” Harry said softly as he looked at Hermione. Who nodded. Realizing something.
“The family week. I had almost forgotten about it!” Hermione exclaimed when she walked out of the cell.
“Sorry Mr. Horne. We need to go. If you hear anything or know something please let us know.” Hermione hastily said. “Of course Mrs. Weasley.”
“And oh. Before I forget. Don’t let the word get out. The less people know about this, the better.” Hermione said. Fearing how the magical world will react when they learn who exactly escaped Azkaban. Her main priority now was the safety of Charlie and his daughter Minerva.