Chapter 90
From Albert's fingertip, a blazing phoenix burst forth, soaring toward the ceiling of the cell in a brilliant display of light.
Sirius's eyes widened.
"Why… why is Melinda's Patronus with Albert?"
(Melinda, Sirius's wife and Albert's mother, had given all of her power to her son before she was killed while standing against Voldemort. That was the reason Albert bore her Patronus.)
The fiery bird wheeled once, then flew straight toward the cell door—only to vanish the moment it reached it.
Albert staggered, startled.
"Huh? Why did it disappear? Is it because I haven't used much magic yet?"
Sirius steadied himself, shaking his head.
"No, that's not it. The first time someone casts this spell, their Patronus fades once it confronts the fear that summoned it. Your phoenix went straight for the Dementors guarding the cell… but it didn't know the cell door cancels spells. That's why it vanished."
Albert blinked, then gave a quiet, "Oh… I see."
---
The Present
"Expecto Patronum!"
From the tip of Albert's wand, a majestic, pure-white phoenix erupted, immense in size and radiance. It soared forward with breathtaking speed, a storm of light descending upon the eight Dementors who had been closing in.
With a single powerful beat of its wings, the bird unleashed a wind charged with raw magic, shredding the cloaked horrors into nothingness. In an instant, they were gone.
The phoenix dissolved into silver mist once its master was safe.
Albert slid his wand back into his pocket, leaning against a tree with a weary sigh.
"I just hope this doesn't alert the Ministry's dogs to what's happening here… at least not before Father escapes."
---
One Minute Earlier
The great black dog—Sirius Black in his Animagus form—ran with every ounce of strength he had, determined to break free of this cursed place before the Ministry's lackeys closed in.
Then, without warning, something caught his eye.
A pillar of light erupted from the depths of the forest, climbing toward the heavens. He skidded to a halt and turned, his heart pounding. There, soaring above the trees, was a blazing white phoenix, scattering Dementors like ashes in a gale.
Sirius's chest clenched.
"No… I should go back. Albert must be surrounded by more of those monsters."
But before he could move, the sound of hurried footsteps reached his ears. Voices followed—men barking orders as they advanced. They were still far, perhaps fifty-nine meters away, but drawing closer.
The Ministry's hunters.
When news of Azkaban's most dangerous prisoner escaping had broken, the Ministry had panicked. They had dispatched more than fifty wizards to scour every possible trail of Sirius Black. Yet whenever they closed in, he slipped away again—like a rat darting through cracks in stone.
Michael, commander of twenty-five of the pursuers, had divided his men. He led half into the forest, while the others spread out to investigate possible refuges—the fugitive's home, or even the home of Harry Potter.
"We tracked his scent here," Michael growled, his hounds straining at their leashes. "The dogs say the fugitive is close. And then there's the Patronus. Someone cast one here—likely him, driving off Dementors."
He halted, turning to his squad. His eyes were cold.
"I'll advance with Sarad and Hyper. The rest of you, sweep the forest. Check every shadow, every trail. The fugitive may have cast that Patronus to lure us in, while he slipped away elsewhere."
The men nodded grimly, wands at the ready, and fanned out into the dark forest.
To be continued …