Chapter 16: Release from Prison
Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall took quite a while to select three suitable candidates from among the prisoners.
After all, they were selecting professors. Even if they had lowered their standards enough to recruit from Azkaban, unsuitable candidates still had to be eliminated first.
Serious criminals were definitely out of the question. Among the minor offenders, thieves, swindlers, and robbers were unacceptable, and those imprisoned for sexual offenses were even more so.
Otherwise, in a place as vast as Azkaban, how could William have possibly stood out?
While William struggled with his decision, the two professors were also in a dilemma. Having created such a grand scene, if the first three candidates refused, they would have no choice but to select again from those who had been rejected—but that would make things even more troublesome.
Fortunately, they quickly received an answer.
"I've made up my mind, Professor Dumbledore."
William took a deep breath to calm himself and said, "But I have one condition: the name of this course must be changed. Call it Self-Defense Arts, Anti-Curse Studies, or even Preliminary Auror Training or a Hit-Wizard Crash Course. The name must be changed. My letter of appointment, the timetables, the students' schedules, the first-years' acceptance letters, and even the internal designation within the Ministry of Magic—the name for this course must be changed everywhere."
"Of course. I will communicate with the Ministry of Magic. In that case, welcome to Hogwarts."
Dumbledore smiled, spreading his hands on the table.
---
The clothes taken from him when he was imprisoned, his confiscated wand, a few small personal items, and a book.
These items, magically sealed in a trunk, were brought over all at once and placed before William, looking exactly as they had when they were taken away.
The Hit-Wizard became remarkably amiable. This man, who had been specifically instructed to help William complete his release procedures, assisted him with all the necessary formalities, arranged for a boat to leave the remote island, and even thoughtfully left William half an hour to bid farewell to his cellmates.
To be precise, the Hit-Wizard even asked William if he needed the Dementors to visit his cell beforehand, before he went in to bid farewell to his cellmates one by one, but William politely declined.
Carrying nothing, William returned to his cell with the Hit-Wizard's help, feeling light. He was met with a chorus of greetings from everyone inside.
"So what's the word? You're going to Hogwarts?"
Big Guy was the first to speak, his face full of joy.
"Yes, I'm going to Hogwarts."
The cell instantly erupted as if a bomb had gone off. Everyone's eyes were filled with envy, wishing they could immediately take his place—for these mortals in Azkaban, there was nothing more desirable than freedom.
William himself could no longer suppress his emotions. The feeling he had desperately tried to hold back in front of Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and the Hit-Wizard—a feeling like a fire had been lit under him, making him want to rocket into the sky at any moment—could no longer be contained.
He stopped pretending. His mouth stretched into a wide grin, revealing a brilliant smile he hadn't worn in two lifetimes.
"I'm getting out!"
He quickly ran to his bunk, pulled open the pillowcase, fumbled inside for seven or eight pieces of leftover candy, and shoved them directly into Big Guy's hand. He then threw the pillow all the way over to Nine-Fingers' bed.
From a pile of manuscripts beside his pillow, he pulled out the few pages of his diary. He gave the remaining stack of papers and drafts to the Warden, then, grinning, kicked the shoes off his feet to the newly arrived house-elf, Jinbi.
When it came to the one who always talked back, William had nothing of value left. He simply took off his shirt and draped it over the man. "Keep that temper of yours in check. You've got a long sentence. If the Warden changes, be careful not to earn yourself a few more beatings."
By the time the Hit-Wizard arrived at the agreed-upon time to remind him, William was already walking out, barefoot and bare-chested, carrying a money pouch. Inside were all his savings and his diary, plus thirty galleons personally gifted by the Warden, totaling just over a hundred. Along with those few diary pages, this was everything he owned.
He took a shower, threw away his prison uniform, and changed into the clothes he had been stripped of upon his arrival. In less than an hour, William was already out on the sea, sailing away from Azkaban.
Two other prisoners were released at the same time as him, both just as crazed.
The unperturbed Hit-Wizard paid no attention to these three who had survived Azkaban, casually playing cards by himself.
By the time the three half-crazed men were nearly collapsing from exhaustion in the sea breeze, the boat had already docked.
The three were unceremoniously dropped onto the beach. The Hit-Wizard retracted the gangplank before they had even steadied themselves and sailed the boat away.
The three released prisoners looked at each other, only then realizing they hadn't even had time to introduce themselves before being thrown off the boat. Since that was the case, there was no need for introductions.
With two soft pops, the two individuals released at the same time as William—he wasn't sure if he should call them cellmates—had already Apparated away from the beach, leaving William by himself.
Should I use a spell too?
At this thought, William subconsciously pulled out the wand that was theoretically 'his own.' But as soon as he held it, he found this wand felt even worse than the one Dumbledore had lent him before—he didn't know whose it was—as if the wand itself was resisting him.
Nevertheless, he gripped the wand firmly and raised it.
Then, he froze on the spot.
Had any of the spells he'd reviewed prepared him for this situation?
No. Although he understood Apparition, he had never once tried it, and the memories in his mind made it clear just how miserable things could get for those who used the spell carelessly.
So, why was he holding up his wand?
Just as William was feeling incredibly foolish and decided to stop this silly act, a deafening roar suddenly erupted in his ears.
With this colossal sound, an intense light and two enormous wheels stopped right in front of William.
A line of golden letters shone blindingly in the light—The Knight Bus.
It was a triple-decker bus, summoned by William's recent action. The conductor on board was a chatterbox; the 'original William' had wanted to cast a few hexes on him countless times but had never succeeded. William remembered this clearly, because the original William had frequently used this fastest bus in all of Britain for travel in the half-year before his imprisonment.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, for the stranded witch or wizard—oh, William! Long time no see, my friend. How've you been?"
"What're you standin' there for? Get on, William. I'm a full-time conductor now, got the promotion 'bout a week after we last met."
"Where've you been striking it rich lately, William?"
...
"Just got released from Azkaban. I'm heading to Diagon Alley, thanks."
The bus immediately fell silent.
(end of chapter)