Chapter 105: “Prison Break (2)”
Until the International Wizarding Federations Confidentiality Law was implemented, the Ministry of Magic believed that a well-secured wizarding prison was necessary to detain those witches and wizards who hadmitted numerous crimes.
The Ministry aimed to confine particrly powerful wizards there before resorting to more stringent imprisonment measures.
The Ministry initially nned to build a new wizarding prison on the remote Hebrides inds of Scond.
However, the newly appointed Minister of Magic, Mr. Damocles Rowle, rejected this proposal.
Instead, he chose Azkaban Ind as the location for the new prison, citing the Dementors residing there as a valuable advantage.
The Dementors could effectively guard the prison, saving the Ministry time, trouble, and expense.
The n was swiftly executed, and Azkaban Prison was established within two months.
It has served as an adequate detention facility for wizards for over two hundred years.
Mr. Cornelius Fudge returned to their camp located in a secluded corner of Azkaban Ind, perched on a massive reef.
The camp consisted of a small, run-down cabin that endured minimal influence from the Dementors.
Several specialmissioners from the Ministry of Magic stationed in Azkaban rested there.
Entering the dpidated hut, Fudge hurried to the fire to dispel the cold.
Despite the storms battering the windows, the relentless waves crashing against the cabin walls, and the gusting wind shattering a few broken windows, Fudge felt a sense of relief.
Cornelius, how is the situation? Anything unusual tonight? another man in the cabin asked.
Nothing out of the ordinary, Gard, Fudge quickly replied.
Gard, a specialmissioner belonging to the Aurors office, was a young and promising Auror who might soon be transferred from the ind.
The thought made Fudge slightly envious of wizards like himself.
He would have to wait until retirement if he wanted to leave Azkaban.
But I sense something strange about tonights Dementors, Gard frowned. Something doesnt feel right.
Dont overthink it, young man! Fudges mood improved as he dried himself from the rain.
He jokingly added, The criminal capable of escaping from Azkaban has likely not been born yet.
To be honest, Cornelius Fudges statement was not an exaggeration.
Azkaban had maintained a perfect record of zero escapes in its nearly two-hundred-and-seventy-year history.
The witches and wizards imprisoned within its walls had no record of sessful escapes, for the Dementors made it impossible.
Throughout the years, many intellectuals in the wizarding world have contemted the existence of Azkaban.
Its treatment of criminals was deemed excessively cruel, causing even initially ordinary and non-dangerous prisoners to rapidly lose their sanity.
A cemetery had even been established to bury those who sumbed to depression.
While numerous individuals questioned the prisons existence, the Ministry of Magic steadfastly defended its position, relying on the wless record of zero escapes.
Alright, Garter,e and have some grilled sausages! Mr. Fudge cheerfully suggested. In this cold weather, a few grilled sausages and whiskey feel like heaven.
As he spoke, he began skewering the sausages.
Gard had no objections and quickly joined in to assist.
The entire cabin soon filled with the aroma of the barbecue.
A few hourster, a fully satiated Mr. Cornelius Fudge fell asleep.
However, his slumber was short-lived as a loud explosion jolted him awake.
Whats happening? Mr. Fudge hastily arose from his bed, his portly figure scrambling. He bellowed loudly.
Simultaneously, he instinctively grabbed his wand from the pillow.
Cornelius! The bedroom door swung open, revealing Gad and anothermissioner from the Ministry of Magic.
Both were armed. It seems someone is attempting to escape from the prison!
Mr. Fudge was taken aback. He swiftly donned his wizarding robes and dragon leather gloves.
He followed the other two as they dashed out of the cabin.
An old rowboat awaited them at the shore, and they boarded it hastily.
The boat sped towards Azkaban Ind.
In the sky, countless Dementors floated abouthundreds, even thousands; perhaps all the Dementors on Azkaban Ind had been mobilized.
Dressed in their ck cloaks, they fluttered around the ind, emerging from every direction in an impatient search.
Fudges vision blurred, and he desperately tried to think of happy thoughts.
Dementors attacks often spared no one.
The Ministry of Magic had encountered cases where their special agents fell victim to the Dementors.
Expecto Patronum! Gard raised his wand.
A silver-white stag materialized beside them.
Fudge finally felt the earlier chill dissipating, and he couldnt help but breathe a sigh of relief.
They hurriedly passed cell after cell until they reached the location of the earlier explosion.
After a few minutes, they found it.
A spell had sted apart a wall, and several nearby cells doors hung open, their upants absent.
Merlins beard! Cornelius Fudge covered his mouth in disbelief.
The worst hade to pass.
Azkaban Prison had witnessed its first sessful escape in history.
He suddenly recalled the tabby cat.
Then, his thoughts turned to the Muggle fishing boat in the midst of the storm.
He stuck his head out of the broken wall and surveyed the sea.
Unfortunately, there was no sign of the Muggle fishing boat.
Meanwhile, an odd quartet desperately swam in the frigid waters of the North Sea.
Four peculiar creatures.
A tall stag with two long, pointed antlers, with an entric tabby cat perched upon its back.
If Cornelius Fudge were present, he would immediately recognize the piebald cat as the one he had seen on the fence of Azkaban just hours ago.
A pitch-ck, sshing ck dog was apanying them, and a tiny mouse sat atop the dogs head.
A fishing descended, ensnaring all four extraordinary creatures.
Subsequently, they followed the Muggle fishing boat, swiftly distancing themselves from the wicked ind thaty not far away.