Hermione Granger strode purposefully down the damp, dark corridors of Azkaban Prison. Flanked by two unspeakables who kept the golems away with a strange circular talisman. The dementors of Azkaban had been replaced by golems shortly after the dementors had abandoned the prison and joined Voldemort. The golems were magical constructs that had similar effects to the dementors. They drew power from the happiness in people and left them with nothing but the worst experiences in their lives. That had happened 6 long years ago close to Harry's 17 birthday after his sixth year at Hogwarts.

Harry had been accused of killing Rubeus Hagrid. Everyone had thought he was guilty. Albus Dumbledore, all of the Hogwarts staff, the Weasley's, the order of the phoenix, all of the students and almost all of the public. Even his best friend Ron turned on him believing him to be guilty and testified against him. However one person had remained loyal to him. That was the person striding down the halls of Azkaban to release Harry. Hermione had never wavered in her loyalty to her best friend. She had cut off relations with all of the traitors that betrayed Harry and once she left Hogwarts, never contacted the again. She had been ridiculed when she tried to convince people of his innocence. Nobody listened and she was shunned.

Harry had been thrown into Azkaban shortly after the dementors had been replaced. He wasn't given a trial and sentenced to life imprisonment and no matter how much he begged and pleaded with the headmaster or anyone else, he was rejected. His pleas fell on deaf ears.

A captured death eater caught a day previous was tried under Veritaserum and when asked of his previous illegal activities, he recited that he had taken a polyjuice potion and imitated Harry and gotten him thrown in Azkaban. After the shocked silence that followed this statement, Harry was announced innocent of all charges and was set to be released immediately. Hermione had been contacted and informed that as he only trusted her, she would be the one there to tell him.

The unspeakables stopped abruptly in front of a cell. One of them stuck the talisman into a hole in the cell bars and it creaked open slowly. Huddled in one corner of the room was a thin and frail looking Harry Potter. As the bars creaked further, he looked up at her, confusion etched on his face.

"Hermione?" He asked, his voice parched dry. "Is that you?".

She smiled widely at her friend who had maintained at least a portion of his sanity although she didn't hope for much more than that.

"Yes it's me Harry. I'm here to get you out of here." She said through tears of joy that were sling unchecked down her cheek.

"How is this possible?" He asked breathlessly.

"They caught a death eater yesterday. He admitted to faking you using polyjuice potion and killing Hagrid. You're a free man again." She said happily, hoping that Harry had enough sanity left to understand what she was saying.

He just stared at her for a moment before leaping up and smiling widely at her. He ran to her and grabbed her around the middle and swung her through the air, an amazing feat for one who looked so weak and fragile. He laughed a deep joyous laugh.

"I've been imagining this for so long." He said as he put her down.

She stared amazedly at her friend.

"Harry how is it that you are still… well… sane." She asked.

Harry just chuckled. 'Still the same Hermione' He thought happily to himself.

"Come on. Let's get out of here. I can tell you everything once we leave. I don't want to spend any more time in here." He said.

She nodded happily realizing that Harry had full mental functions. She held his hand and walked beside him the two unspeakables following closely behind them.

They stepped out of the main gate and Harry quickly looked about and took a deep breath. He hadn't had any fresh air for 6 years and hadn't seen the sun for just as long.

One of the unspeakables reached inside his robes and pulled out an old candy wrapper. They all grabbed onto it and were whisked away to the Ministry of Magic.

When they reappeared, The unspeakables remained standing but Harry and Hermione were sprawled unceremoniously on the floor. They quickly gathered themselves up and followed the unspeakables who were already heading to one of the elevators. Once they were in, one of them took out another strange object and inserted it into a hole in the side of the elevator. A smooth female voice sounded.

"Ministers Office"

The elevator lurched and proceeded downwards. They stopped after a while and stepped outside into a short corridor. At the opposite end, there were two aurors flanking an elegant mahogany door. They nodded as the group approached. Hermione was whispering into his ear.

"Harry, Arthur Weasley became the new minister. I just wanted you to warn you." She said urgently as they approached the door.

A quick flash of rage passed across his face but was just as quickly replaced by a business-like neutrality. Hermione saw this and gave his hand a squeeze. One of the aurors opened the door and indicated that they enter. They did so and found a terrified looking Arthur Weasley sitting behind his desk.

"Harry…" He began but was cut off quickly by Harry who was obviously trying very hard to contain his rage.

"Minister, I am here to take care of business and nothing more. I will require my Gringotts key returned to me as well as my wand. You will release #12 Grimmauld Place to me. After that, you will never again speak to me. Is that understood?" Harry said sharply.

The minister looked downcast and closed his eyes and nodded.

"It'll be taken care of by tomorrow." He said dejectedly.

Harry stood up and left the office without another word, Hermione still holding his hand as they left the ministry together. Since Harry didn't have anywhere to go yet, Hermione invited him back to her apartment in muggle London. They got a cab and left without a second glance at the world that had betrayed him.