Among the imprisoned Death Eaters, numerous individuals possessed genuine talent. Put simply: if Erwin had to choose one wizard to recruit and develop, he wouldn't select a recent Hogwarts graduate. He would choose a convict from Azkaban without hesitation.
The reasoning was straightforward. First, their demonstrated capabilities—only the most dangerous criminals were sent to Azkaban in the first place. They possessed combat experience honed through desperate circumstances and genuine life-or-death conflicts. Second, their psychological conditioning—most dark wizards weren't born into privilege and comfort. They'd been driven to extremes by circumstances, forced to fight ruthlessly for every scrap of dignity and survival. The only significant problem with Azkaban prisoners was the loyalty question.
But Erwin didn't require their loyalty in any traditional sense.
The most effective method of controlling such individuals was through overwhelming superior force. Coincidentally, that was precisely what Erwin possessed in abundance.
Having resolved that strategic question, Erwin finalized his decision. He needed to visit Azkaban and recruit some expendable combatants. They would prove invaluable during upcoming operations.
A brief word to Old Tom, and the Ministry of Magic promptly issued Erwin an official Azkaban access authorization.
Erwin departed alone, traveling to the desolate coastline. He gazed across the grey water toward the distant, forbidding island. A bone-chilling wind swept across the rocky shore, making abundantly clear this was no recreational destination. This was Azkaban—the wizarding world's most notorious prison, sometimes grimly referred to as "the fifth Hogwarts house" by those with dark humor.
This time, Erwin chose not to Apparate directly. He'd never physically visited before and didn't possess the precise spatial coordinates required for safe arrival. He also elected not to fly—the prison's guards were Dementors, and while they posed no genuine threat to his capabilities, their proximity generated profound cold that was distinctly unpleasant to endure. This was the perfect opportunity to employ his rarely-used Patronus Charm.
Erwin waved his wand with practiced ease. His Patronus materialized before him—taking the distinctive form of a giant panda.
The relationship between Animagus forms and Patronuses was genuinely peculiar in his case. Typically, the two magical manifestations were closely linked—you could potentially alter a Patronus through significant emotional development, but an Animagus form remained permanently fixed. Most wizards who mastered both abilities developed their Animagus transformation based on their established Patronus. But Erwin's situation was fundamentally unique. His Animagus ability, inherited directly from Helga Hufflepuff's ancient magic, allowed transformation into various magical creatures—setting him apart from conventional limitations from the very beginning.
As for his Patronus... theoretically, there were significant restrictions on who could produce one. Wizards like Voldemort, thoroughly steeped in dark magic and countless murders, fundamentally could not cast the charm successfully. This was precisely why Azkaban employed Dementors as guards—the prisoners held there were essentially incapable of producing Patronuses to defend themselves.
Yet despite having killed numerous individuals himself, Erwin had mastered the charm without difficulty. His Patronus was remarkably substantial and powerful—the silvery panda stood three meters tall, a massive wall of protective light.
Seeing the enormous creature lunge forward enthusiastically for an affectionate embrace, Erwin quickly stepped back. A hug from a spirit construct that size would probably crush him despite its incorporeal nature. Did the panda have no concept of its own scale?
It paused, looking unexpectedly pitiful, stealing hopeful glances at him. Erwin sighed and stepped forward to pat the panda's substantial belly. He wanted to pet its head affectionately, but couldn't physically reach that high. He settled for giving its fur a vigorous rub instead.
The texture felt wrong—increasingly substantial and tangible. The panda's body was becoming progressively more physical, the silvery fur impossibly realistic to the touch.
Ebony, Erwin's shape-shifting familiar perched on his shoulder, suddenly jumped down. It observed the panda with evident curiosity, circling the larger creature thoughtfully. Before Erwin could react to the potential confrontation, Ebony lunged forward and sank its teeth decisively into the panda's leg, tearing away a wisp of silvery-white mist.
Profound silence fell across the shoreline.
Erwin froze, prepared to intervene in what he assumed would be a conflict between his magical companions, but the situation developed too rapidly. Ebony chewed the captured mist experimentally and swallowed it whole, seemingly savoring the taste.
The panda stared blankly at its own injured thigh, processing what had just occurred. Then it sat down heavily on the rocky ground and burst into tears—yes, actual tears. Erwin watched in fascination as silvery-white mist condensed into luminous droplets, striking the ground before evaporating into nothingness.
It was raw Patronus energy made tangible and then dispersing.
"What in Merlin's name...?" Erwin muttered.
At that precise moment, Ebony began transforming. Wisps of silvery-white mist emanated from its body as it cycled through various forms: phoenix, unicorn, basilisk. With each transformation, the surrounding mist grew progressively thicker and more concentrated. Finally, it returned to its preferred feline form—now rendered entirely in silver light, identical to the Patronus manifestation. Then, with a vigorous shake of its body, the accumulated mist vanished completely, returning Ebony to its original appearance.
The panda stopped crying abruptly. It approached Ebony cautiously, sniffing with evident curiosity and confusion.
A hint of innocent bewilderment flickered in Ebony's usually knowing eyes.
Erwin realized something potentially significant. "Ebony, you can absorb magical energy directly? Not exclusively blood and life force?"
Ebony made an uncertain sound—somewhere between acknowledgment and confusion.
"You're not certain yourself? Interesting. I'll arrange test subjects for you. If you can genuinely absorb energy beyond vital essences, I have something considerably more valuable for you to consume."
Erwin patted the still-sniffling panda consolingly, offering perfunctory words of comfort. The massive creature obediently lowered itself, and Erwin climbed onto its broad back for transport toward Azkaban.
He couldn't afford to worry excessively about his "national treasure guardian spirit" right now. He needed to locate Dementors immediately to test whether Ebony could truly absorb all forms of magical energy indiscriminately.
If that hypothesis proved correct, Ebony's strategic utility might exceed even Erwin's most optimistic projections.
The luminous panda glided swiftly across the dark water's surface, leaving trails of silvery light in its wake. Erwin landed on the island's rocky shore, where a single imposing multi-story structure dominated the landscape. The building was subdivided into countless individual cells, each topped with heavy iron bars. Behind those bars were people—or what remained of them after years of imprisonment.