Angel of Darkness Forever: Oh yes about Sirius, hmmm, innocent? Of murder sure but not of pranks!
Lectorsum: Thank you! I am glad this little fic of Remus going back is working so well!
Lily A. Lupin: Thank you!
Michelle Black a.k.a Elle: Yes Remus is really a dear.
For those I did not mention thank you so much for your reviews!
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Chapter Ten: The Marauders Map:
The next day found the headmaster in his office looking over the wonder that was the Marauder's map. Every part of the school was shown, he was amazed at the detail of the map, what made it work so well he mused. It seemed the map was tied, abet limitedly to the wards of the castle, those who had made it were very smart indeed. He looked up as Remus and his potions master and trusted spy Severus Snape came into his office. Severus was glowering as usual and Remus looked a bit tense, (he hoped Severus was not tormenting Remus again). Dumbledore had a few questions about three of the boys who had helped create this map. He was sure he had figured out the secret behind their names but he had to ask Remus.
"Ah Severus Remus do sit have a lemon drop?" Dumbledore asked but both boys politely refused. "This map is amazing, your talent astounds me Remus."
"Well I did not do it alone sir." Remus replied, "it was mostly Peter and I, James did a bit and Sirius well he added the part that kept others out."
"Ah is that why Mr. Moony congratulated Minerva on her cat-like curiosity, Mr. Prongs asked her kindly to keep her cute little nose out of other people's business, Mr. Padfoot added that he loved professor McGonagall and Mr. Wormtail stated that Minerva was better at sneaking around the school on cat-like paws than trying to read a bit of silly parchment." Dumbledore said a twinkle in his eyes, "Mr. Moony I presume?"
"Yes um I was called that sir, sir I would I mean I don't mean, tell Minerva, she will kill me!" Remus stammered. "We just wanted a bit of fun sir!"
"A bit of fun! You damn werewolf I should kill you!" Severus snarled.
"You tried that a few times in school if I recall." Remus replied.
"Who were the others?" Dumbledore asked heading off a row between two of his professors.
"Black was Padfoot, James Prongs, Peter Wormtail." Remus said wondering if the headmaster would ask the question that would release him from the bond that he had been put under years before.
"Remus I must ask you this, were James, Sirius and Peter Animagmus?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes sir and I am glad you asked that finally." Remus replied, "you have no idea how I wanted to say that for years."
"Why could you not?" Severus asked getting very upset.
"I was bound not to, only two ways could I, if the headmaster asked the question he did and of course if one of the others said they were one." Remus replied, "James was a stag, a large five point stag, Sirius a big shaggy black dog and Peter was a rat."
"Now for you Severus, what form do you take?" Dumbledore asked Severus looking at him calmly.
Severus paled and looked up at the headmaster in shock, he quickly hid that but for a moment his calm exterior was shattered. How had he found out? He was careful to not transform anywhere near the headmaster or McGonagall. Then it hit him, the headmaster did not know, could not fully know this was a trick, a trap and he had to play it safe. Yet the headmaster just kept looking at him and Severus sighed, his secret was out and so he stood up and transformed. Remus looked at Severus or rather his Animagmus form, that of a large golden-eyed black tom cat. Severus turned back and the headmaster was smiling broadly his eyes twinkling madly.
"I am so glad you have an animal form Severus, what do you call yours?" Remus asked before the headmaster could.
"Shadow, or your death if you annoy me too much." Severus replied then turning to the headmaster, "how did you know sir?"
"I did not, just had a feeling you would hide something like that from everyone." Dumbledore said.
"I am sorry headmaster, I never meant to hide it from you I just wanted….." Severus stopped before he finished what he wanted to say not daring to.
"I understand my boy, none shall know your secret." Dumbledore said looking down at the map once more, "now I do need to know does this map ever lie or make mistakes?"
"No, it's accurate down to the common passwords, not the common room, staff or personal room passwords, no, just the passwords to the shortcuts through the castle. We may have made the map but even we could not get into places the heads of houses or the headmaster did not give us permission to."
"Hmm then why does Peter Pettigrew come up on the map?" Dumbledore asked.
Remus put his head in his hands as if he was thinking and, of course he was. He knew who had the rat, of course he knew but he had to act as if he had just realized it. When Ron was asked about Scabbers, or as he should be called Peter Pettigrew aka traitor he would tell about Remus giving him the cage. Remus would be under suspicion at that time and possibly on his way to Azkaban. No he had to do this right and so he looked up looking stricken and worried. He could not lose the trust he was gaining with the headmaster, there was a chance it would destroy the aged headmaster and Remus was not going to be responsible for that!
"Where do you see Peter?" Remus asked.
"Next to Ron Weasley." Dumbledore replied.
"He has a rat, I gave him a cage to put his rat in as he said Scabbers his rat was not doing well." Remus explained, "Scabbers has to be Peter, I never did see him though, if I had…."
"And Rosmerta's dog she told me about is Black." Severus said getting the wizards to look over at him, "I visit her now and again, saw the damn mutt slinking about and asked her about him. I will go get Black."
"I will have Mr. Weasley bring his rat down here." Dumbledore said, "the Aurors and the minster will want to have a word with both, Remus you will stay here. Oh and Severus you are not to harm Sirius."
"Of course headmaster, on this venture I will not harm him." Severus said.
Remus remained seated while Severus made his way out of the headmaster's office in a billow of black robes, headed down the stairs and out of the school. Remus hoped this would turn out well or else Sirius would be kissed by a Dementor and he would have lost that part of the battle, a part that could determine the outcome of the war itself. That he did not want to do, he sat and waited while Dumbledore sent a note to McGonagall to have Ron come and see him with his rat at once. This was turning out to be very stressful for the werewolf as he said waiting and trembling oh so slightly in fear.
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In the meantime a large well cared for black dog lay by the fire chewing on a bone. His shaggy fur was clean and brushed over a powerful muscular frame. He had clear gray eyes and sighed in contentment as Mary Glade, granddaughter of Madam Rosmerta scratched his head and he rolled over for a belly rub. The Glade family knew him as Blackie, former friends had known him as Padfoot and in human form this was Sirius Black a wanted escaped prisoner from Azkaban. Sirius had been in hiding for two months here, he had come to Hogsmeade and tried to get into Hogwarts only to find he could not. It was in his dog form, sickly, all skin and bones and matted fur Rosmerta had come in and taken him in, cleaned him up and fed him well until he was in his current state.
He looked up as Rosmerta came into the room and got up wagging his long tail happily, she patted him on the head and put a collar and leash on. He whined a bit, he did not like the leash and collar as it meant more trips to the vet, at least he was still intact but as he had been so sick and in need of care he was taken to the wizard animal healer, given shots and potions and healed up. He was led out and his gray eyes widened in horror at who he saw standing waiting for him. No, not Snape, this was not happening, was he found out? Yes by the look in Snape's eyes he knew exactly who he had now, he gave Rosmerta a smile and took the leash leading the dog out and towards the school. As soon as they were out of the village Snape knelt down by Padfoot and looked him in the eye.
"You listen to me Black, we found Pettigrew." Severus said.
I kill him, bite rip out his throat. Padfoot growled barring his teeth.
"I am to take you to the castle, you will stay in dog form, until we get to the headmaster's office or I will take a whip to you myself." Severus growled.
Hate you Snape, will do as asked. Padfoot got up and tugged on the leash, we go now.
Severus led the shaggy dog up to the castle and up to the headmaster's office. Padfoot whined as he saw Remus there and walked up to him and nuzzled his hand. He turned as he saw several Aurors there led by the horribly scarred Alastor Moody. He looked at Padfoot with both eyes, his normal beady eye and his vivid blue magical eye. Ron Weasley had put a sleepy rat on the floor at the command of the headmaster and Remus turned it to the human form of Peter Pettigrew. Padfoot watched as Ron got furious and when Wormtail tried to run he stunned him with a powerful stunning spell. Realizing it was time to stop hiding Padfoot turned to his human form, and he promptly was stunned by Moody and like Pettigrew bound tightly to a chair.
"You got the Veritaserum?" Scrimgeour, the head of the Auror corps asked Severus.
"Yes sir." Severus said handing it over and watching as it was tested, "the strongest and best as I made it myself."
"Good, let's find out what these two know." Scrimgeour said his yellow eyes flashing as he administered the Veritaserum. "Now let's get the truth, who was the Potters secret keeper?"
"I was." Pettigrew said getting several sharp gasps from the room.
"Did you break your oath to hide them and tell the dark lord where they were?"
"Yes I did." Pettigrew said.
"Who killed twelve muggles?" Moody asked.
"I did, they were worthless anyway, always more to replace them." Pettigrew said. "I did what I had to for the dark lord."
"Sirius Black are you a death eater?"
"No I am not, I hate the dark lord." Sirius said.
"Peter Pettigrew are you a death eater?"
"Yes I am." Pettigrew replied.
"Did you help torture Alice and Frank Longbottom?" Remus asked remembering Neville's very surprising Boggart.
"I did, Barty was sick, could not join and I was supposed to be dead, had to take his place." Pettigrew said. "I remained free even though Barty did not, he should have been rewarded, the dark lord will be back!"
"You traitor, you fowl piece of…."
"One for Azkaban tonight, Black will stay here until he is fully cleared." Fudge said as pale as a ghost. "Bring Pettigrew now!"
Once the Veritaserum wore off Pettigrew found himself in a secure cell in Azkaban and Sirius found himself walked to the hospital wing by Severus. He wanted to talk to Remus, to speak to him but Remus was being interrogated at the moment as part of procedure. It had to be done and he felt for his old friend and had to let him know he did not blame him for not believing he was innocent. After all look what he had done in sixth year to his dear friend. Once at the hospital wing Poppy was told the truth about Black. She took one look at his ragged filthy robes and relatively clean hair and beard and ordered him to bathe. He did washing away the last of Azkaban from his body.
He was tall and strongly built now thanks to his time as the pet of Rosmerta, he had ruin tattoos on his chest, a cross on his left forearm and a thorn band on his upper right arm. He cut his black hair to his shoulders and trimmed then shaved his beard leaving a carefully trimmed goatee. He put on clean new undershorts and walked out into the hospital wing where he was checked over by Poppy and given a clean bill of health. He had very faint scars across his back, not from his time in Azkaban but from his own parents who thought nothing of taking a whip to their own son! Poppy knew they would be there and did not comment on them, she had not when he had to be healed up when he ran away from home at sixteen when he refused to join Voldemort and she would not now. Sirius put on a set of hospital pajamas and turned to find Severus glaring at him.
"So you are a professor here now, take over from Slughorn?" Sirius said not knowing what else to say.
"Yes, you would do well to understand I am a respected figure at this school now Black." Severus said glaring at Sirius. "You will not try anything against me understand me?"
"Right, yes of course, I wish to see Harry." Sirius said turning to Poppy, "I want to see my godson."
"You rest first then you can see him tomorrow and Severus I think it is time for your check up, if you will just…"
Severus just glared at her and turned leaving in a billow of black robes. Poppy smiled realizing this was the only way to get him out of the hospital wing so that her patient could get some rest. She did not want a fight between these two in her hospital wing. By threatening Severus with a checkup she knew she could get him out and leave her to her patient. She did know that by tomorrow the fallout from the arrest and imprisonment without a trial of the last lord of the house Black would rock to the very core the British magical world. For now though she would tend to Sirius and make him rest, tomorrow was another day altogether.
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So there it is, the headmaster gets the map, sees Pettigrew puts two and two together, and Remus is able to tell about his friend's Animagmus forms. Remus's lame "I did not want to talk about them being illegal Animagmus" did not fly for me. He could very well have been bound not to say a word. Now as for Sirius, once he starts feeling normal he will be back to his old self. Look out world!
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