Albus Potter and the Curse of the Deceiver

Azkaban

—CHAPTER 11—

Azkaban

Albus woke with a dull throbbing in his head with his right side pressed against ice-cold stone. There was an eerie sadness and an air of despair that was cast around the location and in a weak attempt to escape, he sat up straight, trying to scramble to his feet but failing, collapsing onto the stone again as a chill flew past him.

‘Al,’ a soft voice said hoarsely. Albus glanced to his side to see Jessica separated from him by bars. He gasped when he saw a large gash across her cheek and she smiled. ‘It’s nothing. I tried to escape.’

‘W...where are we?’ Albus stammered. Jessica sighed, leaning against the bars. ‘Azkaban. When the Ministry found out about Lockwood’s curse on me, they threw us in here. How they found out beats me but they reckon from here, I can’t hurt anyone. I don’t know why you’re here though.’

‘I’ll tell you in a sec...are those dementors?’

Jessica nodded. ‘It’s no use knowing how to cast a patronus without having a wand. Now please tell me what’s going on!’

Albus grimaced and chewed on his bottom lip. It was dry and his sharp teeth shot a pain through his mouth. He noticed a small jug of water and lunged for it, carefully drinking as small an amount as he could.

‘Al,’ Jessica said again. ‘Tell me.’

Slowly, Albus leaned back against the stone wall and told Jessica what had happened from the that day in the Room of Requirement forth. He watched as horror and fear filled her eyes and eventually, when he finished, she looked like she was about to faint. ‘So. I have to die.’

Albus nodded.

‘You have to be the one to kill me.’

Another nod.

‘Right.’

Silence.

Suddenly, Albus clapped his hand to his chest with a yelp, pulling his necklace away from him.

‘What’s that?’ Jessica asked. Albus held the necklace by the strings. The small, gold piece that resembled a galleon, was shining...it was also extremely hot. Albus carefully examined it to find the words Look out for us engraved onto the coin before they disappeared. Moments later, three names appeared. Ro, Max and Mel and then we’re coming for you.

Jessica suddenly sat up straight, closing her eyes, curling her hand around one of the bars until her knuckles turned white.

‘Jess?’ Albus asked anxiously. ‘Jessica! What’s wrong?’

‘L...Lockwood....’ Jessica said through gritted teeth. ‘...trying to....get...into my ...head...he’s coming to Hogwarts...tonight!’

‘But we’re not there!’ Albus gasped. ‘Everyone’s just going to get hurt!’

‘Well,’ Jessica said, breaking out of the seemingly painful state she’d been in. ‘We have to be there, don’t we. And you have to do it and you know it.’

Albus swallowed, feeling saliva accumulate in his mouth. He gulped it down, forcing himself not to show Jessica how scared he really was. And then, they waited.

*

Albus drifted off to sleep after an hour. His eyes were heavy and his head was still throbbing. When he woke, it was from a kick to his leg. Opening one eye, Albus saw Max, Mel and Ro standing before them. The bars that separated Jessica and Albus were broken.

‘Get to your feet and do everything I say,’ Ro said quietly. ‘The Dementors can’t hear us, they can only feel our presence. Albus, hug Max. Jessica, hug Mel.’