Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall took quite a while to select three suitable candidates from among the prisoners.
After all, they were hiring a professor. Even if they had lowered their standards to choosing from Azkaban inmates, they still had to eliminate the unsuitable ones first.
Serious offenders were out of the question. Among the minor offenders, thieves were unacceptable, as were con artists and robbers. Anyone imprisoned for sexual offenses was a definite no.
Otherwise, how could William have gotten a chance in such a large prison?
While William was wrestling with his thoughts, the two professors were also feeling the pressure. If all three candidates from this first round of selection refused the offer, they'd have to pick again from the rejects, which would make things far more complicated.
Fortunately, they soon got their answer.
"I've made up my mind, Professor Dumbledore," William said, taking a deep breath to steady himself.
"But I have one condition. The name of the class must change. Call it Self-Defense if you like, or Curse-Defense Studies. Even Auror Basics or Dueling Fast-Track Training would work. It just needs a new name. My contract, the class schedules, the students' timetables, the letters of acceptance for first-years; even the Ministry of Magic's internal references to it; must reflect this change."
"Of course. I'll liaise with the Ministry," Dumbledore agreed with a smile, spreading his hands across the table. "Welcome to Hogwarts."
***
The belongings confiscated upon William's imprisonment; his clothes, wand, a few personal items, and a book; were all returned to him. They had been magically sealed in a box and were now placed before him, exactly as they had been when taken.
The Auror handling William's release had suddenly become quite affable. He had been specifically instructed to assist William with all the necessary paperwork and arrangements, even booking a boat to leave the remote island prison. He also thoughtfully allowed William thirty minutes to say goodbye to his fellow inmates.
In fact, the Auror even offered to have a Dementor visit William's cell first so he could properly bid farewell to everyone. William politely declined.
Carrying nothing, William returned to his cell, feeling lighter than ever. His fellow prisoners greeted him eagerly.
"So, what's the story? You're going to Hogwarts?"
The Big Guy spoke first, grinning broadly.
"Yeah, I'm going to Hogwarts," William confirmed.
The cell erupted like a bomb. Everyone's eyes gleamed with envy, each wishing they could take his place. For these Azkaban inmates, nothing was more desirable than freedom.
William could no longer hold back. The emotions he had suppressed in front of Dumbledore, McGonagall, and the Auror burst forth like fireworks. His grin stretched wide, revealing a joy he hadn't felt in either of his lifetimes.
"I'm getting out!" he shouted.
He ran to his bunk, yanked open his pillowcase, and pulled out seven or eight candies he had saved. He shoved them into the Big Guy's hands before tossing the pillow onto Nine-Fingers' bed.
Pulling out a few pages of his journal from a stack of manuscripts beside the pillow, he handed the rest to the cell boss. Smiling, he kicked off his shoes and gave them to Jinby, the newly arrived house-elf inmate.
When it came to the inmate who always argued with him, William had nothing left to give. So, he simply took off his shirt and draped it over the man. "Keep your temper in check. Your sentence is long, and if a new boss takes over, you might get beaten again."
When the Auror came to remind him at the agreed time, William walked out barefoot and shirtless, carrying only a pouch. Inside were all his savings, his journal, and thirty Galleons gifted by the cell boss.
Altogether, he had just over a hundred Galleons and a few pages of his journal; his entire worldly possessions. He bathed, discarded his prison uniform, and changed back into the clothes he had worn when he was first incarcerated.
Within an hour, William found himself drifting across the ocean, far from Azkaban.
Two other inmates were released alongside him, both equally delirious.
The Auror, unfazed by the scene, ignored the three who had endured Azkaban's horrors and continued playing cards.
By the time the three half-mad men were nearly collapsing in exhaustion from the sea breeze, the boat had already docked.
They were carelessly tossed onto the beach. The Auror didn't even wait to see if they were steady before pulling up the gangplank and sailing off.
The three former prisoners exchanged glances. It dawned on them that they hadn't even introduced themselves before being thrown off the boat. Since that was the case, there was no point in doing so now.
With two soft pops, William's two fellow ex-inmates Apparated, leaving him alone on the beach.
Should I try using magic too?
The thought crossed his mind as he instinctively pulled out the wand that theoretically belonged to him. However, as soon as he grasped it, he felt a wave of rejection even stronger than when Dumbledore had lent him someone else's wand. It was as if the wand itself resisted his touch.
Still, he held it firmly and raised it.
And then he froze.
Had any of the spells I reviewed covered this situation?
They hadn't. While he understood Apparition, he had never actually tried it. His memories vividly warned him of the horrors that awaited those who misused the spell.
So why did I raise my wand?
***
Just as William realized how foolish he was and decided to stop this ridiculous act, a deafening roar echoed around him.
Accompanying the noise, a blinding light appeared, accompanied by two enormous wheels, coming to a stop in front of William.
Golden letters gleamed in the light, glaringly bright; 'Knight Bus.'
It was a triple-decker bus, summoned by William's earlier gesture. The conductor, a chatterbox, immediately launched into conversation. William, tempted multiple times to cast a curse, found himself unable to do so. The memories were crystal clear; before his imprisonment, the original William often took this bus, known as the fastest in all of Britain.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus. This service is for anyone; oh, William! Long time no see, my boy! How have you been?"
"Why are you standing there? Get on, William. I got promoted to full-time conductor about a week after we last met."
"Made any money lately, William?"
...
…
"I just got out of Azkaban. I need to go to Diagon Alley. Thanks."
The bus fell silent.