Kassandra Bauer and the Deathly Hallows. (Book 7)

Chapter 22: Bury the Hatchet.

(Ron Weasley P.O.V)

I spent Christmas eating in an English Wizarding Hamlet. Very kind people. But the Hamlet itself had gone through some tough times. Apparently, the entire place was stripped of its resources to go to the war effort. Hardly any food and other supplies. And it kind of reminded me that I was the lucky one, and they were not. I was starving, and miserable without my family, but I wasn't alone. They probably had gone through just as much shit as I did. Maybe worse.  

Going into the New Year. Anubis and I both headed for the Eastern Coast of England, beyond the waves of the shore was Azkaban. Erathor's Fortress. From what I could gather from Dad, it was that Azkaban was located in the middle of the North Sea. And both Anubis and I marched through the Woods as we headed to the shore line. "More and more woods." I commented. "Well, I suppose we'll be preferring it to Darkness and Despair soon enough. And the smell of the North Salt Sea." 

"And the stench of Erathor, as we get closer." Anubis replied. "But while we are there to liberate Prisoners, Ronald. Let us not forget that it will not stop until Erathor is destroyed." 

"I'm aware of that." I said. "For all I know, Mum and Dad could be in Azkaban right now, suffering. Ginny included. And also... Kassie's Mum." 

"That's why we must hurry. We cannot allow any more harm to come to innocents." Anubis insisted. 

We then took another step. Until I heard something rustling in the woods. Footsteps. It wouldn't surprise me. We already encountered many of those in the woods already. "Someone's coming." I said.

"Well, don't just stand there. Hide." Anubis told me. So I fell behind a tree line. My wand out and ready to go. 

But they weren't Death Eaters. And they weren't Goblins or anything like that. In fact... I knew these people. It was Beatrice Haywood. What was she doing here? And Erika Rath? Tulip Karasu? And... and Ismelda Murk? And Jae Kim was here too. And I saw those people from America. Jason and Chelsea too, along with the Bronze Skin Twins.

"What?" I asked. "What are they doing here?" 

"How peculiar." Anubis answered. 

"They'll be lots of guards. Predictable Patrols." Tulip commented. 

"And we've got to go through all of it to liberate all those Prisoners." Beatrice remined.

"Including my Dad." Rath added. "And Ethan's Mom of course." 

"We just liberated a fucking Prison Fort, and you're concerned about breaking into whatever the fuck Azkaban is?" Jason asked while shaking his head. 

"Well, Azkaban makes that Prison Fort look like a Kiddie Park, Yank." Ismelda pointed out. 

"So it's decided. We'll go to Azkaban and rescue all the Prisoners." Beatrice said.

"Um... Bea... we all already decided that." Ismelda reminded.

"Yeah, I'm just saying it over and over so that everyone is on the same page." Beatrice replied.

"Hm... Prisoner Rescue..." I noted. "They must have the same idea we have." 

"Yes. It appears the Rebels are now in a position where they can do something about Azkaban." Anubis agreed.

"Sh." I then heard a shushing sound from Rath. "What was that?" 

"Must be a Scout." Ismelda said. "Stupefy!" She shot it in my direction.

"Protego!" I shouted with a shield. "Hey! It's just me! Don't shoot!" I came out from the bushes.

And when the Rebels saw me, their expressions turned to confusion. Not that I blamed them for that. "Ron?" Beatrice asked.

"Hey, Beatrice." I answered.