章節 188: Chapter 188: "The Great Azkaban Escape"
On a small, desolate island between Azkaban and the mainland, four figures huddled in the shadow of a rocky outcrop. Their faces were gaunt, their eyes wild with a mix of exhaustion and newfound freedom. These were no ordinary escapees - they were some of the most dangerous Death Eaters to have ever been imprisoned in Azkaban.
Peter Pettigrew, looking more rat-like than ever, kept his distance from the others, his eyes darting nervously between them. The Lestranges - Rodolphus, Bellatrix, and Rabastan - glared at him with a mixture of disgust and reluctant gratitude. The tension in the air was palpable, thick with unspoken accusations and lingering resentment.
Rodolphus broke the tense silence, his voice hoarse from disuse. "I still can't believe we're out... and that it's thanks to this sniveling traitor."
Bellatrix's eyes flashed dangerously, her wild hair whipping in the sea breeze. "Don't think this makes us friends, Wormtail. You're the reason our Lord fell." Her hand twitched, as if longing for a wand to curse him with.
Pettigrew flinched, his voice trembling. "I... I got you out. That has to count for something." He wrung his hands nervously, his beady eyes never resting on one spot for long.
Rabastan snorted, a harsh sound in the quiet air. "It just means we won't kill you right now. The Dark Lord can decide your fate when he returns." The implied threat hung heavy between them.
"Speaking of which," Rodolphus interjected, his brow furrowed, "I didn't think a coward like you would be brave enough to save us, knowing we might have taken revenge on you for leading our Lord into a trap."
Pettigrew's voice rose an octave higher. "I didn't know it was a trap. Lady Potter kept everything quiet. Even James and Dumbledore didn't know she was going to use that sacrificial ritual." His words tumbled out quickly, a desperate attempt at justification.
Rabastan's lip curled in disgust. "Don't make excuses. It was your job as the spy to know everything."
Bellatrix, her eyes never leaving Pettigrew, spoke up. "Who's going to keep an eye on this rat? We don't want him to escape before our Lord returns. The rat knows how to hide." Her fingers twitched again, as if imagining wrapping them around Pettigrew's neck.
Pettigrew's voice took on a pleading tone. "I won't run. I helped you all escape from Azkaban, remember? We are the staunch followers of our Lord."
Rodolphus narrowed his eyes, suspicion clear in his gaze. "I still find it hard to believe you helped us break out of Azkaban. I didn't think we were close. There must be something I'm missing. Is helping us escape useful for you?"
Pettigrew swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly. "I didn't have any other reason. Since I was able to escape, I thought I would help you guys, our Lord's most trusted followers, to escape with me. Believe me."
But Pettigrew was lying, and the nervousness in his eyes betrayed him. He really did have a reason for breaking out of the prison with the Lestranges, a reason that went beyond mere loyalty or self-preservation.
It all began about half a year ago when a fool named Lockhart was brought to Azkaban. Upon seeing the Dementors and experiencing their happiness-draining effects, Lockhart became terrified and mentally unhinged, attempting to escape. Although the Aurors eventually subdued him, Lockhart unintentionally knocked down a ward stone near Pettigrew's cell during the commotion. This particular stone controlled the wards preventing Pettigrew from transforming into his rat animagus form. The Aurors on duty that day were new and unaware of the stone's significance, so the wards remained unfixed.
Pettigrew noticed the change a day later when he unconsciously transformed into a rat in his sleep. Overjoyed at this discovery, he yearned to escape immediately but lacked the strength to do so. Instead, he used his rat form to hide from the Dementors' effects and gradually regain his energy. After a month of recuperation, he felt strong enough to attempt an escape.
In his rat animagus form, Pettigrew easily evaded detection by guards and Dementors, making his way out of the prison building. However, he soon encountered a major obstacle: the island was surrounded by treacherous seas with choppy waves, making swimming impossible. Moreover, anti-apparition wards prevented magical transportation off the island.
Undeterred, Pettigrew explored other potential escape routes. He attempted to hide in the boats used by guards and Aurors to travel between the island and mainland. However, he discovered that the boat dock was protected by wards specifically designed to detect animagi, a precaution against outside help for escaping prisoners.
Realizing he couldn't escape alone, Pettigrew reluctantly turned to his fellow inmates for assistance. After careful consideration, he decided to approach the Lestranges. They were the only prisoners he somewhat trusted, and he believed they were less likely to betray him to the guards, which would have crushed his dreams of freedom.
Pettigrew began meticulously planning their escape. Since the Lestranges couldn't leave the prison building as he could, he searched for alternative exit routes that would allow them to evade both Dementors and guards. His efforts paid off when he discovered the prison's sewer system, which had pipes large enough for people to crawl through.
Using his rat-like ability to dig, a skill honed by his animagus form, Pettigrew started excavating a tunnel from the sewers to the Lestranges' cell. This talent proved invaluable, as rats are renowned for their capacity to burrow paths to food sources. The work was grueling, and more than once Pettigrew feared discovery, but his desperation drove him on.
While working on the tunnel, Pettigrew also focused on helping the Lestranges regain their strength. He began pilfering extra food from the prison pantry and secretly delivering it to them, slowly building up their energy for the escape attempt.
When all preparations were complete, they executed their plan during a period of relaxed guard patrol. Pettigrew's careful observations of guard rotations over the past months proved crucial to their timing. He surprised himself with his newfound strategic thinking, having never considered himself particularly clever before.
The escape after coming of the sewers, culminated in overpowering and silencing two guards at the docks, allowing them to acquire two wands. The struggle was brief but intense, and for a moment, Pettigrew feared they would fail at the last hurdle. They then commandeered a boat moored nearby. Using the stolen wands, they managed to navigate through the turbulent waters, despite considerable difficulty, and successfully completed their escape. The journey was harrowing, with waves threatening to capsize their small vessel at any moment.
Now, the group rested on this small island, recuperating and strategizing their next moves. The adrenaline of their escape was wearing off, replaced by the grim reality of their situation.
Rodolphus sensed Pettigrew was hiding something, but decided to let it go for now, acknowledging the debt they owed the rat for their freedom. His eyes, however, remained fixed on Pettigrew, watching for any sign of betrayal.
"What now?" Rabastan asked, looking to his older brother. His voice held a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
Rodolphus straightened up, taking charge. "We recover our strength. Find new wands. These two won't do for serious fights. Then we start gathering information."
Bellatrix's eyes gleamed with fanatical devotion. "And we find a way to restore our Lord. And maybe complete our unfinished mission - let's get rid of the Potter and Longbottom brats for our Lord." Her voice rose with excitement at the prospect of violence.
Rodolphus frowned, a voice of caution. "But they're at Hogwarts under that old fool's protection. How can we get to them under these conditions?"
Pettigrew, sensing an opportunity to prove his worth, spoke up. "I can help. I know many secret ways into Hogwarts. Dumbledore will never find us." His voice quivered with a mix of fear and eagerness.
Rabastan's expression changed, a hint of respect creeping in. "I'm starting to like you, rat. Looks like you're not as useless and dumb as I thought."
As night deepened, the escaped Death Eaters began to plan their next move. The wizarding world, blissfully unaware, was about to face a threat it thought long buried in the depths of Azkaban. And at the heart of it all, Peter Pettigrew played a dangerous game, knowing that his survival depended on his usefulness to these dangerous allies. As he looked at the faces of his companions, illuminated by the rising moon, he wondered if he had made the right choice. Freedom had come at a price, and he feared the cost might be higher than he was prepared to pay.
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