Black days of Azkaban

Disclaimer - I do not won.

No pairings.

Rated R/NC17 (But only for torture, no sex!)

Warnings for torture of a Muggle Sort. So, if blood and pain squick you, do not read. Savvy?

A/N - The purpose of this story is that I got to thinking about Azkaban. There has to be more to it than Dementors and in another fic I mentioned Muggle torture. I also think that Umbridge is scarier than Voldemort, I mean really! Voldemort is a horrible Villain. Umbridge should have taken over the world!

Chapter 1 - A Serious Endeavour

The screams echoed upwards from the dungeons to the top floors of the old, but heavily fortified and guarded castle. Azkaban, the most feared place in the Wizarding World was a dank, dark, cold and noisy place. One would think otherwise, that it would be quiet, with some whimpers from its inmates. No, it was noisy. The screaming of pain. The swish and flick of a Muggle torture tool - among others - made this castle one of nightmares.

This did not bother her though. He bright pink robes were garish in the dank, greyness that covered the place. She hummed as her heels made a clicking noise, too cheerful. Her short, mousy brown hair was curled and her pink cap sat upon it at a stylish angle. Most of the cells were empty. Azkaban Castle was a huge place. There were at least ten inmates at the moment, and the one she wanted to see the most was one by the name of Sirius Leigh Black.

The man had been here for three months. They had sent plenty of Ministry people to see him, to talk to him, to gain from him a confession. Any confession. He spoke other words though, always denying the fact that he had killed the Potters. Not that Dolores Jane Umbridge actually cared about the Potters. No, she cared what this would do for her career. She smirked at the thought. A new office would suit her just fine.

Her first stop was the Warden's office - Located at the top most level of the highest tower, among the mist and the rain and the thunder - there was an obvious try of making it almost cheerful. Dark drapes covered the walls from floor to ceiling, the huge fire place glowed brightly, but not at all cheerily. There was still a noticeable draft. There were no pictures on the walls, for fear that some secret may get out. Azkaban was a fortress, they couldn't afford for anything to escape.

"Ah, Miss Umbridge, how nice of you to come?" Warden Hartford was a portly man. He enjoyed food, he enjoyed good books and a strong cup of Earl Gray Tea. There wasn't enough cheer to go around here and so he took advantage whenever he could. Of course the Dementor's were always told to never go near anyone who worked there while they could have fun with the prisoners whenever and however they liked. They had to stop short of Soul Eating, but that was about as far as the rules for them went.

Gregory Hartford stood from his chair, portly really didn't describe the man, he was more of a whale than anything, Umbridge knew him to have partly Muggles for family - a cousin by the name of Dursley, but he never talked of his Cousin. He had blond hair and had a snout like a pig. His nick name here-bout's was 'Pig Face' - thanks to Black.

"What can I do for you?" Gregory asked.

"I've come to see Black," Umbridge replied.

"Oh?"

"Yes, I intend to get his confession no matter what I must do in order to gain it. I have a Concurrence from the Minister, Fudge, you knew him from school," Umbridge explained with a simpering laugh. Gregory took the proffered paper and looked it over.

"Everything looks good, will you be staying the night? Or a few nights? I have guest quarters ready and they are not drafty and the Dementors are allowed no where near them," Gregory replied. Umbridge acted as if she needed to think about it, but at last she agreed.

"That would be wonderful, Cornelius can get along without me for a few days, he did say that I needed a holiday," she replied, again with that sickening and simpering giggle of hers.

Gregory blinked at her; "Dolores, you're batty!" he shook his head. But she didn't mind. Maybe she was batty for wanting to spend a week or so at Azkaban, it felt like Home. No place had felt like that. Maybe her in sadism was being met here, she didn't know. All she knew was that she liked it, and she didn't want it to end.

"So, when may I see Black?"

"I'll give you the highest clearance, you can see him any time day or night," Gregory replied. She smiled. That was what she had been after in the first place.

* * *

Cold.

He was always cold and he couldn't remember the last time he had been warm at all. The warming charm that an old Auror friend of his had put on his Azkaban robes had worn off after these long months - at least he thought it was months - and now she shivered against the stone wall, listening to the roaring sea outside the barred window and hoping for one clear night so that he may see the moon.

He dared not entertain any happy memories. Dementors were sure to come then, and so he remembered his childhood. Which wasn't happy at all, especially when he lived with his parents. He didn't like thinking about this, nor his mistakes. He didn't want to take fault, but it was. His choices had all led him here. He did not see any other road that did not, in the end, lead to the depression of Azkaban. He rubbed his hands together. His nails were long and jagged, dirt encrusted and he knew the rest of him was rather horrible to look at. His hair seemed to grow at a fast rate, whenever he was depressed, his hair always did this. He didn't care though. The rats nest of his hair could have been cut for all he knew and it would still grow back. His mother had done that plenty of times, till she just gave up and let him despair as he would.

He longed for the voices of his friends. Sometimes they echoed in his head -

Mr. Moony would like to inform some Noisy people to keep their beaks out of other peoples business!

Mr. Prongs would like to inform Mr. Padfoot that he is a dolt! A complete dolt!

Mr. Wormtail confirms Mr. Prongs Prognosis of Mr. Padfoot.

Peter, why?

That was the one question Sirius couldn't answer. He did not know why Peter betrayed him, James, Lily and Harry. He hadn't expected it. But in the end, it was the best (or the worst depending on how angry he was feeling) Marauder trick that Peter had ever come up with. It was brilliant. Playing to be their friend till the time came when he would turn the tables on them and take his revenge.

But for what? Did Peter want revenge for something petty? Sirius didn't know. Though he tried to Puzzle it out. Peter never did make sense to him. He wasn't bright, nor was he funny. He had been a roly-poly kid with a thing for zits and was horrible at Magic. Sirius, James and Remus always had to help him - and half the time he messed up their tricks till they gave him the job of being look our - which he messed up anyway.

Other than becoming an Animagus. He was a cheerful kid, always wanted food but sometimes was brilliant. Like agreeing to the trade - then betraying them to Voldemort. The bastard!

A grating in the lock of the bared door and Sirius looked up, strands of black hair stuck to his pail features. His fathomless grey eyes had no light of the former soul that still resided in that body. At least, he hoped he was still all there.

Two Wizards stepped through. Well, one was a Witch. Her pink robes looked out of sync with this place, against the cold back ground of the grey stone. Sirius didn't move. Didn't know what they wanted of him and he didn't want to be cursed for simply getting to his feet. He didn't feel like moving either, so, it was rude. He didn't care.

"Mr. Black," Gregory Hartford's fake cheerful tone made Sirius cringe. When Gregory got into this mood, his favorite prisoner to whip (himself) was Sirius. Who had learned to not fight and it might not be so bad. Though, he was just recovering from the last beating with the glass encrusted whip that Gregory had gotten as birthday present from his Mother. Who had to be related to the Black's in some way. That'd be something he knew his own mother would have done.

"Mr. Black, this is Dolores Umbridge, she's hear for your confession," Hartford smirked happily at Sirius. Somehow, Sirius knew that this would not turn out well.

TBC