Chapter 7

Fudge specially went to see Sirius Black and took a photo with him.

This "mysterious man," the die-hard supporter who killed twelve people on the street, was undoubtedly a subject worth paying attention to.

And a person worth promoting.

This was the publicity strategy that had been decided long before he came.

After taking the photo, Fudge was about to leave when Sirius asked if he could keep the Daily Prophet.

"I want to play the crossword puzzle on it."

He pointed to the newspaper and said to Fudge.

Fudge signaled the reporters behind him to take a photo of this scene.

"Of course, Mr. Black."

Fudge showed great friendliness and generosity to this descendant of a pure-blood family.

"Yes, ladies and gentlemen, there is nothing more to see here. Let's go back."

Fudge took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He led a few people out of the castle.

On the beach, looking at the setting sun, Fudge sighed with relief.

Another task completed, he could return.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let's take one last photo here.

Look at that sunset, how beautiful!"

He spread his arms and said. The reporters naturally had no objections.

"Sure, Minister."

They stood next to Fudge, and when a reporter signaled to look at the camera, the photo was taken.

In the photo, Fudge was smiling broadly, and Azkaban behind him remained as grim as ever.

After taking the photo, Fudge called a few enforcers to give them a pep talk.

He didn't like this place at all.

Even without the Dementors, it was hard for him to keep a smile on his face.

Leaving the castle, Fudge felt a great sense of relief.

'I will never come to this cursed place again.'

Fudge vowed in his heart.

Just as everyone was enjoying themselves, they didn't notice a small golden beetle that had emerged from the dilapidated, collapsed castle and silently crawled onto the ship.

That was Duvall.

Compared to the ship that had previously transported the Death Eaters, this one was quite luxurious.

It had two decks, like an enlarged yacht, with a dedicated café and lounge, but it was lit by candles, not electric lights.

When Duvall flew in, the candles were singing.

Singing, literally singing, with their mouths open, very happily.

Duvall quietly hid in a corner.

It looked like a bedroom.

After a while, Duvall heard Fudge's voice, getting closer and closer.

He was heading towards this room.

When these people boarded the ship, someone tapped the side of the ship with their wand, and the ship started moving on its own.

"Ugh, Azkaban is such an uncomfortable place."

Fudge was talking to someone, and Duvall heard the sound of a chair being pulled, followed by the sound of two people sitting down.

Duvall saw two pairs of legs.

"Would you like anything? Tea? Coffee?"

The Minister of Magic asked, and the person opposite replied, "No, just water will do."

"Alright."

The Minister of Magic's hands didn't move, but the sound of tea being poured could be heard.

From Duvall's perspective, he could only see the legs of the two people.

Duvall was very tense because he knew he was still in an extremely dangerous situation. He didn't know when the enforcers in the prison would realize he was missing.

He also didn't know when he would be discovered by these people.

The Minister of Magic and the person opposite were still talking.

This time, their topic shifted to Dumbledore.

They mentioned Dumbledore's name.

Fudge seemed troubled.

"My owl, yes, the owl I sent to Hogwarts always gets no reply."

He sounded dissatisfied with Dumbledore.

Complaints poured out of his mouth.

The person sitting opposite didn't speak, but from the sounds, he picked up a teacup and took a sip of water.

He didn't want to get involved in the Minister's troubles with Dumbledore.

He was just a listener.

Duvall was lost in thought.

He had to keep his mind active to counteract the side effects of being an Animagus.

"I need to keep my mind active, so who is he.

A person who constantly writes to Dumbledore, a cowardly Minister, he is Fudge.

Fudge, this person must be Fudge, the Minister of Magic.

How many years have I been in Azkaban?

Fudge came to power, and Harry Potter started school.

What year is he in?

Wait, Sirius hasn't escaped yet, which means Harry Potter hasn't reached third year.

Is it first year or second year?"

Duvall's mind was racing.

Fudge continued to talk to the person in front of him, and through their conversation, Duvall realized that this Minister of Magic was a complete bumbler.

He was constantly complaining to his subordinates about Dumbledore, and the subordinates occasionally responded with "Hmm," which Fudge didn't find problematic.

"I won't ask Dumbledore again in the future."

He swore fiercely at the end.

Duvall didn't know how much time had passed until the ship suddenly stopped.

This was a sign that they had reached the shore.

The door suddenly opened, and a cold wind blew in, disrupting the steam from the hot water.

An enforcer, yes, an enforcer that Duvall was very familiar with, rushed in hurriedly.

"Minister," Duvall recognized the enforcer's pants, a light blue striped pair that hadn't been washed in a long time and had oil stains, "a prisoner is missing."

"What?"

Fudge suddenly stood up, surprised, and he didn't bother to steady the chair, which fell over.

Just as Duvall thought the chair would fall, its four legs bent slightly, and it grumbled as it stood to one side.

'Is this magic?'

Duvall thought, but Fudge didn't pay attention to this. He took a deep breath and tried to look calm and composed.

"What happened? I mean, who escaped?"

"Duvall Jones, a Death Eater."

The enforcer said quickly.

"Duvall Jones?"

Fudge licked his lips and said, "Bad news, isn't it, bad news."

He paced back and forth, looking extremely anxious.

Duvall saw his heavy footsteps making loud noises on the ground.

He walked up to Walker and asked with a glimmer of hope, "Are you sure he escaped, Walker?

Not missing for some reason, but escaped, not dead, not hiding somewhere you didn't see?

Have you searched the entire island?

Have the Dementors and other creatures investigated?

Are you sure he really escaped, not dead?"

Duvall saw that Fudge was very reluctant to believe that someone had escaped from Azkaban.

He didn't want to believe that anyone could escape from Azkaban.

This had never happened in centuries.

"Yes, Minister."

Walker said.

Duvall looked at the applewood wand.

So his name is Walker.

Duvall thought.

Walker, sounding a bit anxious, said, "Please come with us. We need to thoroughly check this ship to ensure Duvall is not here to harm you.

We have already contacted the Aurors, and they will soon arrive from the Ministry. The ship has already docked."

"Alright, alright, I need to write to Dumbledore. This is all too absurd.

I need Dumbledore's help."

Fudge said.

He was supported by Walker and left, and the aide also followed. Duvall carefully emerged from the corner and flew towards the door.

Outside was already in chaos.

As a Death Eater, Duvall, though not as famous as Bella, Sirius, and Antonin Dolohov, was still a notorious criminal.

More importantly, Duvall was the first, at least the first known person in centuries, to escape from Azkaban.

This was too shocking for Fudge to believe.

The enforcers boarded the ship, and Duvall was ready to fight to the death.

He simulated the battle in his mind. If the Shield Charm could block a spell, he could Apparate away.

An Animagus was not invincible; he remembered that Lupin had a way to reveal Animagi.

However, Duvall found that he had clearly overestimated these bumbling enforcers.

Even as enforcers, they didn't consider the possibility of an Animagus.

They hurriedly searched the ship and escorted the Minister and reporters away.

Duvall flew off the ship, not knowing where he was, and disappeared from there.

Half a day later.

Hogwarts was like a zoo.

Professor McGonagall, who was resting at home, was surprised.

She was supposed to be at home, but when she saw countless owls flying to Hogwarts, she thought something major had happened.

Rushing to the school, she saw many curious faculty members observing the owls in the sky.

The school was on holiday, and there were fewer troublemakers in the school.

Especially the two Weasley boys.

Without them, Mr. Filch was much more relaxed.

Entering the Headmaster's office, Professor McGonagall asked.

"Headmaster, what major event has happened at Hogwarts?"

Hagrid, seeing Professor McGonagall, hurriedly greeted her.

Professor McGonagall nodded and said, "It's good to see you, Hagrid."

Hagrid took some of the owls back.

These owls had traveled a long distance, and some needed careful care to fly back.

In the office, only McGonagall and Dumbledore remained. Dumbledore waved his wand and invited McGonagall to sit down.

Listening to McGonagall's question, Dumbledore said casually, "Nothing major," while reading a letter, "just a prisoner escaped from Azkaban."