Ha! I'm back! Snape's a git. Hehe

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Severus Snape hated James Potter. He hated Sirius Black. He would show the world what Remus Lupin really was. He would show that stupid Pettigrew that he had hidden behind the wrong sort. He hated all of them. It was that simple - yet just as complicated.

James Potter was perfect, and everyone knew it. Not only that, he was Head Boy. Every girl - even a few Slytherin girls - would fawn over him, and hang off of his every arrogant word. Then, just when Snape could get his revenge, James had to turn all good and save his life and.

Severus Snape hated James Potter for putting him in such a groveling position. He would never thank Potter for what he did. He had chickened out - saved his own skin.

His parents had been fools, and they had died for it. Then, stupid Potter had to make himself the hero and save everybody again. Snape knew this was the wrong thing to do - to aggravate the Dark Lord.

Voldemort would claim power, and the high and mighty James Potter will be wishing he had died that Christmas Eve.

Snape promised himself he would be there standing in the ranks of the Dark Lord's army to watch James Potter beg for death.

And Snape would not chicken out and play the hero. He would watch Potter die in pain, and he would not save him.

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January 17th would have been something for Remus to dread, if he hadn't had his three friends with him. The Marauder's map was already proving to be a great aspect to the efficiency of their plans.

But now that the map was finished, there was no need to explore the way they used to - they already knew where everything was by now.

"What are we going to do?" Sirius asked as he watched the sun lower steadily towards the horizon.

Peter didn't give much thought to the question before answering, "We should do something to the Slytherins."

The others usually would have been all for it, but this time they weren't - over the course of seven years it had started to get a little tired.

They were Marauders, and the Marauders were legendary pranksters. They had to come up with something creative.

James considered this and he grinned wickedly as he came up with the perfect victim, "Hey, how about Filch?"

Sirius grinned as well, "So, what should we do to the poor guy?"

Silence followed as the marauders racked their brains for the perfect idea. *The perfect idea*. all heads turned to Remus Lupin, who smiled.

"What, you think I have an idea?" he asked, but his mischievous grin gave him away.

"Yes," came Padfoot's reply.

"Okay, we all know he's a squib, right?" Moony began.

They all nodded. Remus' grin broadened. "Well, it's simple isn't it? Lock him in his office, and he won't have the power to get himself out."

James smiled and nodded, and Sirius beamed, "I knew you'd come through for us, Moony."

~~~~~~~~~~

Remus turned to Sirius, "I'll have to stay back when Prongs goes forward to do the spell. He has to turn back to human in order to at least *hold* the wand - let alone say the spell. You'll have to keep me from following him.

He then turned to James, "You can't let me see you when you transform back into a human. I'll kill you."

James smirked, "Is that a threat, Moony?"

Remus eyed him darkly, warning him not to toy with the issue. James knew he wouldn't kill him, but the wolf would.

The sun was setting, and the moon was already drawing nigh to the horizon. Madame Pomfrey was waiting outside the common room for Remus, just early enough that they could make it to the Whomping Willow.

Pomfrey took him as far as the tunnel, and Remus walked the rest alone. He could feel the wolf growl from inside him as the moon began to rise.

He stepped into the shack, and an icy chill ran through the room. The moonlight shone through the window, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

The growl that had been stirring inside of him crept up his throat as he crouched onto all fours, and the wolf took over all senses. Remus was mostly gone by now, and the wolf had nothing to devour. He scratched himself, and not long after could smell warm fresh blood. That's when he noticed it was his own.

The wolf started biting and clawing at his own fur, completely unaware of the fact that somewhere in there was a sleeping Remus Lupin. The wolf was taking over, and injuring himself until he felt something bite his left ear.

He turned around, furious and hungry, to see a giant shaggy black dog threatening him with his teeth bared. Padfoot had come to save Moony from the wolf. The wolf lashed out, and a giant stag stepped in front of the dog.

*Wake up, Moony.*

The wolf growled, but before he could strike, a strange feeling struck his heart. Not the wolf's heart. something human.

The wolf cowered back, and Remus came through. He looked at his friends to make sure he hadn't bitten anyone. Padfoot stepped forward cautiously. Moony nodded, and Wormtail crawled out from behind a crack in the wall. It was a good thing he had hidden - the wolf could have eaten him without a second thought.

Padfoot picked up the map from the ground with his teeth, and Moony noticed that Wormtail had a wand wedged in his tiny mouth.

Prongs went first out of the shack, and the rest followed. They left the invisibility cloak in the Shrieking Shack, since they didn't need it now that they were animals. Nobody could get a dog or a rat in trouble for wandering around at night. A stag and a wolf wandering with them might be a bit conspicuous, but they tried not to worry too much about it - especially since they were sure they hadn't been spotted before.

The only students other than the Marauders that knew about Remus's secret were Becca, Lily, and Snape. But none of them knew about how the other three tagged along every month as illegal animagi.

They reached the corridor that was right around the corner from where Filch's office was, and Padfoot dropped the map from his mouth, and with a bit of difficulty, unrolled it on the ground with his paws.

Fortunately, Filch was in his office according to plans, and now James could lock the door.

Prongs eyed Moony warily, and Wormtail spit out his wand. The rat scurried away, and Padfoot led Moony away from the corridor, and down a flight of stairs.

Moony could tell right when Prongs had turned back into James - he could smell it. An animal instinct was roused inside of him, and the wolf began to sniff out the trail. Padfoot bit his ear again, and Moony growled, regaining control.

Padfoot stiffened. The dog in him could sense an animal behind him - a cat, most likely. He turned around to see a pair of glowing green cat eyes staring back at him. The cat stepped forward and hissed. With horror, Padfoot realized that Mrs. Norris had not shown up on the map as being inside Filch's office.

She had stayed outside to keep watch. The cat called out for Filch, and Padfoot gave a loud bark. Within seconds Wormtail, Padfoot, and Moony could hear the sound of galloping hooves echoing throughout the halls.

Prongs had to slow immensely to safely get down the stone steps without injuring himself. He had his wand in his mouth, and was looking panicked.

The four of them got back to the Shrieking Shack out of breath, and saw that the sky was beginning to lighten slightly, and dawn was approaching.

Wormtail curled up with a breadcrumb he had found on the floor of the shack, and Moony and Prongs tried to catch their breath.

Padfoot however, gave a loud howl, and began barking viciously at nothing. Prongs, Moony, and Wormtail looked around at him questioningly.

Padfoot nudged and rubbed his nose toward the ground, but nothing was there. That was the point - there was nothing there. That's what the dog was indicating.

He had left the map on the floor in front of Filch's office.

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AN: Dun dun dun... sorry I didn't update for a while (even if it WAS only a few days. PATIENCE, people!)

I don't know if you've heard about the fires all throughout Southern California, but I'm right in the middle of it, so ya, it's a lil hectic. I hope I don't have to evacuate or anything.

Reviews! Thoughts? Reactions? Incoherent obscenities? Whatever they are, I wanna hear them!