Chapter 134
"Moody, I think we need to talk," Lupin's hoarse voice came from the back seat.
An old car sped along the wide road, leaving behind a trail of dust and the roar of its engine. Moody was driving, operating the pedals with his wooden leg.
Lupin and Sirius were tied up in the back seat. Their hands were bound, and their legs were fastened to the base of the front seat.
"Shut up." Moody turned his head slightly and snapped at Lupin, who had just woken up. His magical blue eye remained fixed ahead, watching the road.
"It's useless, Remus," Sirius coughed lightly. He had woken as well.
"They're Ministry lackeys. Fudge won't believe a word we say. He can't—and he won't." Sirius spat out the window, his sunken eyes fixed on Moody.
Moody let out a mocking laugh and turned his attention fully back to the road.
"You don't seem to understand your situation." He jerked the steering wheel to the right, narrowly avoiding a large truck.
"You're suspects now. You don't get to shout at me." He opened the window on his left, and a strong gust of wind rushed into the car.
"I only want to explain what I know. Even if you work for the Ministry, I still believe in your sense of justice. You're loyal not just to the Ministry, but to what's right," Lupin said weakly.
"Flattery won't work on me. Evil will be judged. My job is to arrest suspects and bring them in." Moody's rough voice filled the cramped car.
"Muggle transport is certainly exciting," Lupin said, noticing Moody's grin in the rearview mirror, his yellow teeth exposed as the wind blew his grey hair wildly.
Sirius gave a silent laugh. It wasn't shameful to fall into this man's hands.
"It's just a pity I didn't get to speak with James's son." His expression was calm, though regret flickered in his eyes.
"One-Eye, now that the Dementors are gone from Azkaban, where are you taking us? And until just now, this one beside me was under my Imperius Curse. None of this has anything to do with him." Sirius spoke half-mockingly, half-seriously, even kicking the back of Moody's seat with his bound feet.
If Lupin's hands had been free, he would have covered his face with one hand and Sirius's mouth with the other.
"Twelve years in Azkaban has clearly done something to your brain," Lupin said tiredly, rolling his eyes. Only in front of an old friend would Sirius behave this childishly.
But seeing him like this again…
Why does this make me feel relieved? Lupin couldn't help the faint smile at the corner of his mouth.
Moody glanced at them through the rearview mirror.
I really didn't want this job, he thought.
"Sit tight. Even criminals have rights. I still have to deliver you safely to where you belong."
He pressed the accelerator hard. The engine roared, and the whole car began to shake violently, as if it might fall apart at any moment.
"Damn it, why are there so many Muggle cars?" Moody slammed the steering wheel, urging the vehicles ahead to move faster.
They had reached central London. The traffic light ahead turned red.
"This isn't the way to Azkaban. Last time I went there, I took a boat," Sirius said, looking out at the busy streets filled with people and traffic.
"You talk too much," Moody replied.
After that, the car fell silent, aside from the rattling of its strained parts.
Eventually, the old car stopped on a shabby street. The walls were covered in graffiti, the surrounding buildings were run-down, and a filthy bar stood nearby, completely deserted.
"Don't try anything," Moody warned. Then he stepped out and walked toward a battered red phone booth.
He dialed 62442. A witch's voice answered from within. After Moody stated his purpose, the phone dispensed several silver badges.
"This old man going to buy us a drink?" Sirius muttered, only seeing Moody head toward the bar and missing what he had actually done.
"We should think about an appeal. Dumbledore will help us," Lupin said calmly.
"Out. We're here." Moody returned quickly, opened the back door, and hauled them out.
The three of them entered the phone booth. It descended like an elevator, and about a minute later, they arrived in the lobby.
"The Ministry of Magic?" Lupin asked, looking around.
It was a vast, magnificent hall. The polished dark floor gleamed. Above them, a peacock-blue ceiling was inlaid with moving golden symbols, like a giant living notice board.
"Since when do they hold prisoners here? Or is Azkaban full?" Sirius said, still sounding unconcerned.
As they passed, Ministry employees nodded politely to Moody before quickly moving aside.
He was both respected and feared—even in retirement.
Mostly because of the eye.
Moody led them forward at a brisk pace. With their legs still bound, Lupin and Sirius had to hop awkwardly after him.
They entered an elevator, then exited a moment later before two heavy oak doors. Moody tapped them lightly with his wand and muttered an incantation. The doors swung open.
Beyond lay a dim, worn corridor.
"Inside."
Moody stopped before a silver-white door with a sign:
Improper Use of Magic Office
He pushed it open without knocking.
"Your business is here."
Inside, a broad-shouldered wizard was bent over his desk. He looked as though he were sleeping, but he was actually buried in paperwork. Hearing Moody, he looked up and adjusted his thick glasses.
"Fill these out."
He pulled two forms from a mountain of documents scattered around him and handed them over.
Then he paused.
"Oh—wait. I remember you. Dumbledore brought you here once."
He glanced at Lupin and took one of the forms back.
"Bindings removed."
Moody tapped the ropes. They shrank away like living things.
"I'd like to see what this is about," Sirius said casually. He sat down, picked up a quill, and began writing.
"This one's yours," the clerk said, handing Lupin another form.
Two minutes later, both forms were completed and returned. The clerk stamped them and passed them back to Moody.
Moody examined them carefully with both eyes.
Then he said:
"Good. You're free."
He turned to leave, but just before stepping out, he stopped.
"I'll say this once more. I'm no Ministry lackey. I've never liked Fudge."
His hoarse voice echoed down the corridor.
Then the sound of his staff striking the floor faded as his limping figure disappeared.
Lupin and Sirius stared at each other.
Sirius suddenly grabbed the form again.
At the top, in bold letters, it read:
Animagus Registration Form.