The escape

Albus walked down to the dungeon again a few hours later and was relieved to find the guards asleep. All the prisoners were chained up again, but James was still not tied to the wall. But he just sat there, staring into nothing. Albus quickly searched the guards for the keys to the chains. He took one of their wands and got the door open. He considered trying a Memory charm but decided against it. He wasn't sure he could do it properly and with just him down there alone, he needed to get going. No one would believe these guards had nothing to do with the escape, even if they were given the chance to speak for themselves. If Scorpius had been here, he would have considered taking them with him as well, but he already had too many people he needed to get away, without adding others. Besides, the only one who knew that he had made this meal himself was Broadshaw. He was the leader of this group of guards and had simply loved the idea Albus had presented. But he was also terrified of this young boy who had literally killed someone a few days earlier, so it was unlikely he would tell anyone that it was his idea. And even if he did, it was his word against Albus'.

He walked over to his brother, who seemed to be in a kind of trance. When he shook him, James lashed out, nearly hitting him.

"Whoa. What was that for?" Albus asked, surprised. He started removing the chains on James' hands and feet.

"Sorry. I thought you were… Never mind." James looked slightly dazed still. He looked a lot worse than he had a few hours ago, when Albus had told him the plan. Did he even remember it?

"What is wrong, James?"

"I don't know. It is like pieces of me are missing. I just hope they come back. If I dwell on it too long, I nearly lose myself in the emptiness. Your black shape reminded me of a bad dream."

"Well, then please don't dwell on them right now. We need to get out of here before someone comes to check on the guards. Help me get the chains off the others," Albus said, still worried.

"Leave? Chains? Where?" James still seemed a little confused.

"Something really is wrong with you. Just sit here. It'll be alright."

By the time Albus had revived and unchained as many of the prisoners as he could, James had collected himself. He helped carry a few whose chains they didn't find the keys to. They all touched Albus, and he Disapparated.

***

Albus, James and about 15 other people appeared over the hill of the Burrow. The Muggles were dazed by their sudden Apparition, many of the wizards were also still weak. Albus was honestly relieved that he had managed to get them all there without anyone getting Splinched. This part would have been easier if Scorpius had been with him. He had considered doing this in two trips, but he hadn't dared. What if someone saw them?

Albus didn't know exactly how late it was, but he supposed he shouldn't be surprised that the lights were still on in the Burrow. The familiar sight was a relief, after everything he had seen in the last few days. As they came nearer, he heard shouts. Several people came out the door to see who it was that suddenly descended on them.

"Albus! James!" Ginny was the first to recognise them. She ran up to meet them and embraced both of her sons, crying in relief. Harry came running over and joined in the embrace. Ron came running next but stopped.

"Where is Rose?" he asked. Albus freed himself from his parents' grip to face Ron.

"She's uhm… She's still there."

"Still where?"

"We were going to get them all out of the dungeon, but then Rose was moved elsewhere, and the plan was already in motion and... I had to save those I could." Albus said, a little ashamed. "Please tell me Dean survived?" he said as he looked up at his father.

"He did," Harry confirmed. "But why did you have to pretend to kill him?" James looked up from his mother's arms at this statement, surprised, but relieved. At least one bad thing he had seen was not true. His brother was not a murderer.

"It was the only thing I could think of," Albus said. "We were all there, taken to that graveyard, and they were discussing how many children of enemies they really needed. Scorpius and I…"

"Oh, so this was Scorpius' idea?" Harry interrupted.

"No, it was mine!" Albus insisted. And it was true, but he saw that Harry didn't fully believe him. But he could worry about that later. "We figured we would have a better chance at escaping if some of us were not in chains. But we didn't really think it through…"

"That is clear," Harry added dryly.

"WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?" Ron asked again.

"She is still back at the headquarters!" Albus replied. "I need to get back there before the escape is discovered, or they might be in greater danger."

"Back where?" Harry asked.

"I don't know exactly where it is, he never told us. I think it is up north though, it is a run-down castle and cold. The dungeons are in a separate area, which is why I was able to get the prisoners out."

"But how are you going to get back if you don't know where to go?" Ginny asked.

Albus paled, realising he hadn't thought of that. Though he supposed he could try to visualise the place where he had left, even if he didn't know exactly where it was. Then another important detail came to mind.

"Where is Aunt Hermione? She needs to be careful; they are after her!"

"What do you mean? How do you know that?" Ron asked, alarmed.

"She is headed back to the Ministry," Ginny answered him. "She has hardly slept or eaten since you kids disappeared. How did you get out of the castle anyway?"

James started staring off into nothing again.

"The Ministry? Oh no, how long ago?" Albus cursed himself. He should have said this right away. He hoped he was not too late.

"Never mind that now," Harry said to Ginny. "Al, what do you mean, they are after Hermione?"

"He said so. He asked Rose where to find her alone. She said she didn't know. He… he tortured her."

Ron fell down on his knees, groaning.

"She refused at first, then she, she named a location… Please, please don't be mad at her. She…"

"Where, Al, where?" Harry interrupted.

"Visitors entrance to the Ministry."

They all looked at each other, faces stricken with horror. Hermione was usually more careful. But she was in a hurry, and angrier than she had been for years. She might just use that entrance tonight. Harry started running for the boundary, hoping to get there before her. Ginny only now seemed to notice all the other people that Albus brought back with them. She straightened and tried a friendly smile. "Hello. I'm sorry, we forgot you were here for a moment. Please, come in. We have food, and clothes for you."

"Am I dreaming? First, I am stuck in a nasty dungeon in chains, then there was a lot of pain, and the next I am here, and no dungeon in sight. And where did all the others go?" one of them asked.

"Where are we? Who were those men? What did they want? Why were they torturing us? Why do I still have chains?" another one asked.

"Don't worry. We will explain everything inside," Ginny answered.

Ron helped her reassure the confused Muggles while Albus tried to sneak away. Molly and Arthur both came running to help with the crowd. They carried some of the weaker ones. James suddenly shook himself out of his stupor and also started herding the people inside. Most of them seemed to recognise James from the dungeon and followed him inside. Ginny looked around to check that everyone was following and saw Albus walking away.

"Al! Come back here!" she shouted after him.

"Mum! I have to go back! I can't leave them there alone!"

"You are not going anywhere before you have explained. Now get inside."

Albus accepted defeat and walked inside with the others, knowing that it was useless to argue when his mother used that voice. She was perfectly capable of pulling him in with magic if he didn't walk in by himself.

Once they were all inside, a few of the Muggles seemed to recognise Albus, or at least his robes, and they tried to run away or hide behind James.

"No, no, don't worry! He won't harm you anymore," James quickly reassured them. "He is…" He looked apologetically at his brother. "He is the captured one now. See?"

Ron took the hint and grabbed Albus by the scruff of his neck. Albus pretended to resist. Ron then picked up one of the chains he had removed from one of the prisoners and took him out of the living room and into the kitchen.

"Well, I probably deserved that," Albus said as they entered the kitchen. He rubbed his neck where Ron had grabbed him.

"No you didn't. You saved many lives tonight. So, well done, I suppose," Ron said.

"I'm sorry about Rose."

"We'll figure something out. For now, you need to tell us everything that happened after you went down to Hagrid's cabin,"

Ginny entered the room after them. "For a start, how on earth did you get out of the castle?" she asked. She sat down on Albus' other side.

"There is a secret entrance. It goes from Firenze's classroom and out in the Forest."

Albus then proceeded to tell Ginny and Ron everything that had happened. The only thing he did not say was the last place he had seen Rose and Scorpius. When he was finished, he felt relieved. It was good to share the burden with somebody.