Disclaimer: I own none of these characters or anything else to do with Harry Potter, they are all the creation of J.
Chapter 4 – Discovery
Remus awoke with the rancid taste of wolfsbane lingering in his mouth. Rinsing it quickly with water, he felt a horrible sick feeling weighing in his stomach. No matter how many times he took the potion he never grew accustomed to its vile aftertaste.
As he dressed, an object within his robes protruded at an awkward angle, crumpling uncomfortably against his leg. Pulling it out he realised it was the Marauder's Map, hurriedly shoved into his pocket lest Snape had seen him with the confiscated item. He carefully eased out the wrinkles, refolding its many sections so that it lay smooth once again. It was early, earlier than he usually awoke on weekend days. In a few hours time, the majority of the students would be heading to Hogsmeade on their regular outing and the castle would be eerily quiet.
Remus climbed back into the comfort of his bed and spread the map before him. Speaking the revealing phrase, he studied the various rooms and passages displayed on the parchments folds. Most of the labels were positioned in the dormitories, as the majority of the school were still fast asleep. Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall were located in the Headmaster's office, presumably taking advantage of the lack of activity to hold a short meeting. Various members of staff walked the corridors, most likely getting an early breakfast before the students poured in, and several overly-keen students sat in the library, including of course, Hermione Granger.
Nothing unusual. Then he spotted Snape's label, moving swiftly along the corridor towards the charms classrooms. Something was definitely wrong, he could no longer pretend otherwise. Gathering up the map he hurried from the room.
Snape was already guarded around enough Lupin, and was aware that his suspicious behaviour hadn't gone unnoticed. If he was going to uncover the potion master's secret he would have to be more subtle in his observations. That meant he couldn't simply hang around the charms classroom. He pondered his options as he continued down the silent halls towards Snape's label. Checking the Map, he noticed a student walking hastily down towards the room Snape occupied. Blaise Zabini, yet again. So it was regular students returning repeatedly? Yet more questions, and still no answers.
Quickly concealing the Map in his robes, Lupin altered his course, heading away from the charms classroom, putting himself on a course that, hopefully, would intercept Zabini on his way there. He could hear quick, yet purposeful steps approaching him, and as he rounded the corner the dark skinned, dark eyed boy came into view. An obvious arrogance radiated from him, his nose held at a superior angle. Lupin mentally noted that his half-blood status and lycanthropic state probably made him lower than the dirt on his shoes in this boy's opinion. However he ignored this, finding out the nature of Zabini's visits to Snape was more important than bigoted ideologies.
"You're up and about rather early", commented Lupin casually, keep his tone light and conversational.
"As are you, Professor" he retorted, using Lupin's title as if it were a derogatory term. Similar, in fact, to the way Snape used it. Zabini continued down the corridor without a backwards glance. Muting his footsteps with a subtle "Silencio!", Lupin slowly followed the boy down the passage. As suspected, Zabini glanced around several times before hurriedly opening the charms classroom door and disappearing inside.
Sticking closely to the wall, Lupin cast several more spells that would allow him to hear the conversation within the room. As with his office door, however, Snape had installed several protecting charms over this room. Whatever activity was taking place within, he was evidently paranoid that no one find out. It took him many attempts to overcome these barriers, and was in the middle of doing so when the door of the room was eased open and Blaise Zabini's back appeared as he turned to shut it behind him. Lupin barely managed to cast an invisibility charm before Zabini turned and walked straight towards him, brushing his side as he went. Zabini paused, turned, and stared directly at Lupin with a puzzled expression written across his face. Lupin held his breath, waiting for his imminent discovery.
But Zabini just shook his head and muttered several angry curses to himself before marching off back to the Slytherin dungeons. Breathing a sigh of relief, Lupin returned to disabling the protection surrounding the classroom. By the time he finished, another student was heading in his direction, labelled on the Map as…Cedric Diggory? What was he doing up at this time? In this corridor? Heading for this classroom?
Still concealed with his invisibility charm, Lupin watched the brown-haired, grey-eyed boy march towards him, or rather the door of the classroom. Pausing slightly, Diggory checked the corridor was empty. Failing to notice the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher standing five feet from him, he turned back to the door and mumbled almost inaudibly. But the Professors lupine hearing missed nothing. As the Hufflepuff disappeared through the doorway, the word replayed over and over again in Lupin's mind.
"Hallucio".