20th January, 1993

Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, marched through the corridors of Azkaban, checking the locks.

"The Dark Lord will rise again," raved Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Crucio-crucio," mumbled Avery.

Fudge walked through quickly. These Dark wizards quickly put one into depression.

"Hello, Minister!"

Fudge nearly overbalanced. He turned to see who had spoken.

It was Sirius Black, top security prisoner. One of the most infamous prisoners to be held in Azkaban.

"Say, Minister, have you finished with your newspaper? I quite miss doing the crossword," said Sirius, in a perfectly normal voice.

Fudge saw no reason not to give him the paper, so he did.

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Sirius stared at the bit of news headed by 'MINISTRY OF MAGIC EMPOYEE SCOOPS GRAND PRIZE'. It had a moving wizarding photograph of his family.

He stared at the photo for a long time. The youngest boy, who still attended Hogwarts, had a rat on his shoulder.

Peter.

With a start, Sirius remembered that Harry was currently at Hogwarts too. Peter was perfectly in position to kill Harry if he got so much as a whiff of Voldemort coming back.

"We don't want a holy godfather. We just want someone to look after Harry if Lily and I-"

"I love Harry already. You've got nothing to worry about, Prongs."

Sirius decided that it was time to pull off something that no one had ever done-break out of Azkaban.

He turned to his side instinctively, almost believing for a moment that James was beside him, and they were planning one of their mind-blowing pranks.

And once again it hit him, as it had nearly every day for twelve years...James was gone.

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"BLACK STILL AT LARGE

Sirius Black, possibly the most infamous prisoner ever to be held in Azkaban fortress, is still eluding capture..."

Remus stared at the Daily Prophet. He still couldn't believe that Sirius had broken out.

But, after all, why not? Sirius had always been clever, doing things no one had ever thought of doing.

That's what the Marauders used to do, years ago. The Marauders that Sirius had destroyed.

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7th August, 1993

Sirius, in his Animagus form, stared at Number 4, Privet Drive.

Harry was in there.

How long he stood there, hoping to get a glimpse of his godson, he didn't know.

Suddenly the door burst open.

Sirius couldn't take his eyes off the boy standing there. He was almost a splitting image of James.

"I'm going," said Harry. "I've had enough."

Even his voice was identical to James.

Padfoot followed Harry to Magnolia Crescent, feasting his eyes on his godson, almost able to believe that it was James. Finally Harry boarded the Knight Bus.

Sirius set off for his journey north to Hogwarts.

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Remus had learnt to have any detached outlook towards the world. Even though he didn't have any good memory worth mentioning any more, he could still produce a Patronus.

He needed that skill when Harry requested him to teach him the Patronus charm. Though it was a ridiculously advanced charm for a third year, Harry, who evidently had James' determination, insisted on learning it.

At the end of one lesson, Harry said, "Professor Lupin? If you knew my dad, then you must've known Sirius Black as well."

"What gives you that idea?" asked Remus sharply.

"Nothing-I mean, I just knew they were friends at Hogwarts..."

"Yes, I knew him," said Remus shortly. "Or I thought I did."