I hope you enjoy it... and don't worry - there will be more parts. After all, Snape has some things he wants to say when it comes to the actual confrontation with Harry...
by Trudy A. Goold
Harry Potter is copyright © J. K. Rowling. No infringement of that copyright is intended by this story.
"The Marauders' Secrets" is copyright © 2003, Trudy A. Goold.
Events in this story are from Chapters 14, 18, 19, 21, and 22 of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, copyright © J. K. Rowling 1999.
Professor Severus Snape, the Potions master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was making an attempt to enjoy the day as he wandered through the castle. Aside from two particular Gryffindors, every student in third year and above were out in Hogsmeade, and it left the school unusually quiet for a weekend.
He wasn't having much luck, however.
So far, this school year had been an abysmal one all around.
First, of course, had been Black's escape from Azkaban. Snape still hadn't figured out how he'd done it; but from what Minerva had said that idiot Fudge had told them, Black had apparently still been sane shortly before his escape. And while Snape had never liked admitting it, Black was clever; if he'd found a way to stay sane after almost twelve years of being guarded by Dementors, he could have found a way to escape his cell and the island.
That had been bad enough; but then had come Dumbledore's announcement that he'd hired Remus Lupin as Lockhart's replacement for the Defence Against the Dark Arts position. Dumbledore's reasoning, of course, had been that as Lupin was the last remaining member of James Potter and Black's little group, he might be able to provide them with an edge that would prevent Black from reaching the Potter boy.
However, Snape was of the opinion that in this case, Dumbledore's trust was going too far. It had happened before - Quirrell sprang to mind, as did Lockhart, whom he'd heard had attempted to use a powerful Memory charm on Potter and Weasley - and when it came to Lupin... So far, Black had managed to enter Hogwarts twice, despite the Dementors, and as far as Snape knew, the only way he could have done so without being spotted was if there was someone on the inside. He'd suggested that to Dumbledore after the first incident, but the headmaster was being stubborn.
Even if Dumbledore was right, and Lupin wasn't helping Black - which Snape thought only barely possible - there was still the matter of the fact that by hiring him, Dumbledore had permitted a werewolf inside a school full of students. While Snape had faith in his abilities when it came to brewing the Wolfsbane Potion, it was still exceedingly dangerous--
His thoughts were cut off abruptly as he heard the sound of running feet in the Entrance Hall. Frowning, he stalked out of the corridor he'd been in, and then raised one eyebrow as he got a good look at what was going on.
Draco Malfoy, Gregory Goyle, and Vincent Crabbe had obviously just come in the door, and were running in his direction - toward the Slytherin dormitories, Snape suspected. All three of them were covered in mud, and looked terrified.
Not wanting to get run over, he stepped into the Hall and caught their attention with a quiet, "Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Crabbe, Mr. Goyle."
"Professor Snape!" Malfoy exclaimed. "W-Weasley... S-Shack... P-Potter..."
Snape's frown deepened. It was obvious that the three third years had just come from Hogsmeade - what had caused this, and how was Potter involved? The brat should have been in Gryffindor Tower with Longbottom.
"Calm down, Mr. Malfoy," he said evenly, crossing his arms over his chest. "No matter what event has occurred, there is no reason for you to be running around like this. You are a Slytherin - I expect you to act with dignity no matter the situation."
It appeared that was precisely what Malfoy had needed to get himself under control, because he took a deep breath and fixed his usual expression of amused superiority on his face. Crabbe and Goyle - who, Snape suspected, had only been Sorted into Slytherin because of their families, and because the other Houses were inappropriate for them - followed Malfoy's lead.
"Now, explain to me what has sent you running back to the school from Hogsmeade - and what Weasley and Potter have to do with it," the Potions master ordered.
"I happened to see Weasley at the Shrieking Shack, and was walking over to see him, sir," Malfoy began.
Taunt him, most likely, Snape thought. He wasn't blind to the animosity between Malfoy and Potter's group of friends - but this year, with Lupin at the school, it was an even more unpleasant reminder of his own schooldays, and Potter's father and the Marauders. "Go on, Mr. Malfoy," he said, letting no hint of what he was feeling enter his voice.
"I was just standing there, talking to him, when..." Malfoy grimaced. "I was suddenly hit - from the back - by a large ball of mud. Then Crabbe and Goyle were hit, and a moment later..." A touch of fear entered his eyes, but he managed to keep his expression clear. "A moment later, I saw Potter's head, floating in midair!"
Crabbe and Goyle both nodded in agreement, backing up their leader's statement, but Snape didn't need the confirmation. He knew perfectly well what had happened. That blasted Invisibility Cloak... But how the bloody hell did Potter get out of the school? And why?
"Very well," Snape said out loud. "Return to your dormitory and get cleaned up. I will deal with this."
"Yes, sir," Malfoy said, a malicious grin crossing his face. He'd undoubtedly had time - now that he had stopped panicking - to realize that Potter had been up to something.
As the three students headed down the corridor, Snape thought for a moment. Potter hadn't gone out with the rest of the students, as he'd seen the brat with Longbottom after they'd all left; and he could not have gotten past the Dementors using the Invisibility Cloak - That warning Dumbledore gave at the beginning of the school year was obviously for Potter... - because they would have seen him...
That statue, up on the third floor, where he'd seen Potter and Longbottom! Of course... It must be a passage to Hogsmeade!
And Potter would know, since Malfoy had seen him, that he would have to return quickly, in an effort to avoid being caught. Since Malfoy and his lackeys had just arrived, Snape still stood a reasonably good chance of catching the brat as he came out.
Seething with anger, Snape stalked up toward the third floor.