"Could this get any worse? "Sirius asked.
Harry snapped his fingers and manifested the older form of Severus Snape.
"Welcome back, you wanker," John said.
"So, what's he doing here this time?" Mia asked.
"We'll know in a minute," Sara said.
Lily just snorted. She was pretty sure Snape was brought here for a reason and none of it could be good.
"Chapter Fourteen," Gideon responded. "Snape's Grudge."
Lily let out the most exasperated sigh everyone heard. Natalie rolled her eyes.
"Oh, Snape has a grudge?" Lena asked. "You don't say."
"I wonder what any number of petty things it could be this time," Natalie said.
"Potter, you do realize that I was right about the situation we were going to read about," Snape said.
"Just because you're right, doesn't make you any less of a prick," John said.
The search for Sirius Black does not turn up anything. He's escaped again.
"Well, Hogwarts security really isn't that much to write home about," Tonks said.
"As we've been learning the more we read these books," Lily said.
"I should be sharing something if I believe that Sirius is guilty," Remus said.
"Well, maybe you have your doubts," XS suggested.
"No, I'm just a coward," Lupin murmured.
Remus heard the cutting words of his older self and cringed. That was precisely what he was afraid of.
The Fat Lady has returned, with security trolls.
"Dementors are still there, despite Black sneaking past them numerous times," Astra said.
"We've established the people running this school are idiots, thanks," Ava said.
"Dumbledore does as Dumbledore pleases," Andromeda said.
"I'm beginning to wonder if Sirius went over to the other side because he got fed with something Dumbledore did," Peter said. "And yes, I know you haven't done it yet, but still can you blame yourself if you were pushed?"
"I don't blame myself for that…I blame myself for ruining Harry's life and betraying two of my best friends and killing a third," Sirius said.
Harry decides not to tell anyone about the Honeydukes passageway.
"I…I can't blame you," James said.
"Although Sirius knows about that one all too well," Peter said. "I do too. It's one of my favorites. We both found it together."
Peter's eyes got misty when he looked at Sirius.
"We do make a good team," Peter said.
The future group looked at the past group. This was getting harder and harder to get through without comment.
"Damn," Hermione murmured.
Well that was going to be heartbreaking when they found out.
"Indeed," Kate told her sister.
Ron has taken to dramatic tellings of his near brush with death with Sirius Black.
"Just couldn't help yourself, could you?" Regulus asked.
"This is Ron's fifteen minutes, let him have his moment," George said.
"I might have embellished things a little bit," Ron said.
"Just a little?" Sara asked.
"Okay, a whole lot," Ron said.
"Ah, the exaggerations of a thirteen year old wizard," Zari said. "Or were you fourteen by this point?"
"Fourteen," Ron said.
Although Harry does wonder why Black ran, instead of killing Ron and then moving onto Harry. He's had no problems killing people before.
"That is very suspicious," Mia said.
"Something's not quite right," Natalie said. "At all."
"Look, nothing about this future makes any sense," Bellatrix said. "It's all twisted and messed up. I could see myself doing something like this, especially if I'm still fixated on Riddle. But, Sirius…there's something that we're not seeing."
"It's all going to come out in the end," Ava said. "For better or for worse.
Neville in the meantime was forbidden to be given the password and also he received a howler from his grandmother.
"Are you serious?" Astra asked.
"Yeah, Gran means well, most of the time but that was embarrassing," Neville said.
"And once again, Howlers are a form of abuse and should be banned," Daphne said.
"I believe we've gone over that quite a few times during these readings," Nora said.
"It's useful to learn spells to confuse them," George said.
"They are disruptive," Percy said with a frown. "There's other ways to make your displeasure known."
"I agree," Andromeda said. "The only thing you accomplish by sending a Howler is making the child resent you. And also humiliating them.
Hagrid invites Harry and Ron over for tea.
"Good of him to check in," Kara said.
"Yeah, it's good of him too," Harry agreed.
"Hagrid's a good one when you're not dealing with one of his pets," Tonks said.
"Which happens way too often," Astra said. "But, the one pet who is the best is the one who is getting put down."
Astra shot Malfoy an extremely nasty glare.
It turns out that Hagrid heard of the events of Saturday night.
"News spreads fast in Hogwarts," Tonks said with a smile.
"Magical castle, magical rumors," Zari added.
Hagrid is preparing for Buckbeak's case.
"Right, in all of the excitement, we almost forgot about that little detail," Harry said.
"I would be upset with you, but I can understand with everything else going on," Lily said.
"Still, I'm not sure how that poor thing's going to get out of it," Natalie said.
"Oh, there are ways," Frost said.
Malfoy said very little right now.
Hagrid turns the discussion to Hermione.
"Well, that wasn't their fault," Kate said. "My sister's inability to admit she's wrong…"
"I was very wrong," Hermione said.
"Back then you couldn't admit that though," Daphne said.
"I know," Hermione said. "This is why Harry couldn't trust me on other things later on."
"Oh, what about?" Lita asked.
'You'll learn," Hermione said.
The time turner ruined a lot about her life.
Hagrid says Hermione's been in a right state and she was upset when Ron got stabbed. Taking on way too much. She's been helping him. And he doesn't blame Harry for not helping due to the Quidditch practices.
"He shouldn't blame you for anything," Astra said.
"Yeah, Harry stretches himself too thin at times too," Sara said.
"I really do," Harry admits.
"You do want to help everyone," James said. "However, that runs the risk of hurting yourself."
"I appreciate Hagrid's defense of me, but I was wrong this time," Hermione said.
"Maybe there are times where we should have met halfway," Harry said.
"Maybe, but not this time," Hermione said. "I betrayed your trust, badly."
"Yes, people could be a bit stupid about their pets," Harry agreed with Hagrid. "But, the problem is, she can't or refuses to look at things from anyone else's perspective. I would forgive her, if she would just understand. If she would just apologize. Am I really being unfair?"
"Yer not," Hagrid agreed." But for some people, it's hard. And I think Hermione…she gets embarrassed when she's wrong about something."
"Yes, thank you Hagrid, you're right!" Ava yelled.
"He really hit the nail on the head," Zari said. "You have a perfectionist streak a mile long. Admitting you made a mistake is admitting a flaw in yourself."
"Even if those flaws help you learn lessons and you refuse to acknowledge them," Lena said.
"This schedule's making her lose it," Harry said.
"Aye," Hagrid agreed. "Girl's biting off a bit more than she can chew. Don't know how she manages it. She hasn't told a soul."
Harry and Ron both nodded.
"I'll say my piece later," Ava said.
Charlotte had been put on pins and needles. This mysterious way Hermione was taking all of her classes had her on edge. And how agitated Ava was with it, painted a grim picture.
"It's dangerous, it's really dangerous, isn't it?" Charlotte asked.
"If it is what I think it is, I can't believe Dumbledore would even sign off on this," Lily said.
"Dumbledore has to give his pet students shiny baubles to keep them in check," Snape said.
"You'd know all about that, wouldn't you, Snivellus," John said. "Being one of Dumbledore's pets."
Harry and Ron make plans to go into Hogsmeade.
"Not sure if this is a good idea, all things considered," Astra said.
"Well, it's not like I'm any safer in Hogwarts," Harry said.
"Until someone actually gets lucky and captures me, I don't think you're going to be safe anywhere," Sirius said. "They might as well just lock you in a Gringotts vault at this point."
"Good you didn't suggest that when Dumbledore was around," Sara said. "He might take you seriously."
"Nah, that's actual functional security," Kate said. "Can't have Dad too safe. Only in an easily controlled place."
Hermione yells at them, telling them that she'll tell McGonagall about the map. And when Ron accuses Hermione of trying to get Harry expelled, she tries to guilt trip him.
"Oooh, Hermione," Astra said.
"This didn't make you any friends at all," Lita said.
Hermione watched her past self, almost wondering how in the hell did she think this was going to get Harry and Ron to listen.
"You acted like their mother more than their friend sometimes," Peter said lightly. "And by their mother, I mean my mother. Always dictating, always controlling, always believing you were in the right."
"I feel like you have some unresolved issues with her," Nora said.
"Well, I have a feeling she celebrated my death quite nicely because it gave her the prestige of a dead son that she could milk sympathy out of," Peter said.
After a bit of a conversation, after Hermione left, Harry says he's going. But if he does, he's bringing the Invisibilty Cloak.
"Well, providing you don't do anything too reckless, that's the safest option," James said.
Harry said nothing. James knew that look better than anyone else. Because he often wore it.
"Oh bugger me sideways," James grumbled.
During Hogsmeade weekend, Harry makes a show of telling Ron goodbye, for Hermione's sake.
"So, did you buy it?" Frost asked.
"I was suspicious," Hermione said. "But, I was wrestling with guilt and loneliness. Turning Harry and the map in, it was the right thing to do right?"
Hermione shook her head.
"I would have broken his trust again," Hermione said.
However, Harry meets Neville, who has been banned as well.
"Oooh, you were acting a bit weird," Neville said. "Now I know why."
"Sorry for the brush off," Harry said.
"I didn't take it too personally," Neville said. "I just figured that you still blamed me about the entire Black thing. Everyone else did."
"We didn't," Fred said and George nodded.
"Neither did I," Ron said.
"And I didn't either," Harry said.
"Well, fair enough," Neville said.
"And it's more my fault than anything," Hermione murmured.
Astra raised her eyebrow. Now she was interested.
All of Harry's attempts to shake Neville off, but it's all for nothing.
"Couldn't get a hint at all," Kara said.
"Well, I was desperate for someone to talk to," Neville said. "And Harry's always been nice enough. Helped me out of a couple of tight spots."
And then they run into Snape. When Harry tells Snape that they're not meeting here, they just met here, Snape tells them to head off.
"Meddling bat," Sirius grumbled.
"It's for Potter's own good someone meddled," Snape said.
"It was also for my own good that I got sent back to the Dursleys," Harry said. "But, I'm sure you would be the first to testify to Petunia being a good person."
The tension in the air could be cut in the knife. Snape flashed Harry a somewhat nastier look than usual.
"Ouch," Kate said.
"I felt that one," Lita said.
Snape casually studies the one-eyed witch.
"You knew about it, didn't you?" Lupin asked Snape.
"I figured there was something up, although obviously I had no idea how to open it," Snape said. "I should have put a monitoring spell on that witch."
"Well, you didn't, did you?" Sara asked.
Harry gets Neville away with the password and heads back to the one-eyed witch.
"You're sneaking out, aren't you?"
Harry almost jumped halfway into the air. Beatrice had been standing in the hallway.
"You're going to tell me not to?" Harry asked.
"I'm telling you, I wouldn't, not with Snape breathing down your neck," Beatrice said. "There's the danger of you getting caught by him."
"Snape's gone," Harry said when studying the map. "Back in his office."
"Yeah," Beatrice said. "He's gone. For now. But, he has a nasty habit of popping back up at the worst possible times. I can't help but think you're doing this to thumb your nose at Granger because she won't apologize to you."
"Bingo," Tonks said.
"Well, it sure seems like you are," Kate said. "No offense, Dad."
"None taken," Harry said.
"Beatrice's really got the measure of her," Tonks said.
"Seems like a nice enough girl when Caity met her," Frost said. "She's really cleaned up after school. Although she looked like she regretted something when your name was brought up."
"A conversation for later, I think," Lena said.
"Figured about as much," Frost said. "You never reveal the good stuff."
"Well, a lot of the good stuff pops up in these books," Harry told her.
Harry wasn't going to tell Beatrice that she was wrong. Beatrice leaned in and took Harry's hand.
"Stay safe," she told him.
"You're going to let me go?"
"Well, I'm not a prefect," Beatrice said. "You don't have to listen to me. But, I'm telling you this is a bad idea that you're going."
"I already promised Ron that I'd be there," Harry said.
"Oh, I forgot, you're Cassie 2.0, where you wouldn't break a promise to a friend, even if it cost you big," Beatrice said. "Well, keep that map. Stay underneath the cloak."
"Will do," Harry said with a mock salute.
"Cheeky little bugger," Beatrice murmured but she was smiling.
"Oh, Cassie 2.0, that's the truth and you know it," Tonks said.
"She's really fond of you," Lita said.
"What gave you that clue?" Harry asked.
"Just the looks she gives you," Lita said. "So, considering she's still around, nothing really bad happened…did it?"
"You'll find out with the rest of the group," Harry said.
"Come on, you're not going to give your favorite goddaughter a hint?" Lita asked with a pout.
"Don't bother," Mick told his daughter. "You'd have better luck beating your head against the wall."
"We'll all find out later," Sara said.
Harry meets with Ron sometime later. And after some weirdness underneath the Invisibility Cloak.
"I understand perfectly," Peter said with a chuckle. "Talking to someone underneath that thing when you're not there is all kinds of weird."
"Never could get the hang of it," Ron admitted.
A visit to Zonko's gets Harry some dastardly supplies.
"Always worth a trip there," Tonks said. "So many cherished memories."
"Filch must have banned the entire catalog at this point," Sirius said.
"Half of it thanks to us," James said.
"The other half thanks to us," George added.
"But, our little shop got a blanket ban," Fred said. "That drove up business through the roof."
"Ah, the Streisand effect," Lita said. "Make something forbidden and people will be more curious."
"People never learn," Kara said.
They head up to the Shrieking Shack, where Ron explains that there's a rather violent crowd that lived up here.
"Oh, yes, wild," Remus said.
"Real party animals" Sirius said.
"Knowing what we know about ghosts, I'm surprised anyone bought Dumbledore's rumors," Daphne said.
'Well, your average wizard on the street is pretty dense," Astoria said.
Malfoy pops up, mocking Buckbeak's inevitable trial and Hagrid's attempts to defend him.
"Can someone please hit that smug twat?" Ruby asked.
"Give it time, honey," Harry said.
Malfoy's eyes narrowed, remembering this day.
"You only bring it on yourself," Frost said, grinning in anticipation.
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle come up to Ron. The usual amount of Malfoy dishing on the Weasley poverty happens.
"Feels like a re-run," Zari murmured.
"Get some new material, please," Bellatrix said.
"He'll never change during our time at Hogwarts," Daphne said. "So get used to the same trite trash."
"That's not a spoiler is it?" Ruby asked.
"No, merely like remembering that the little punk has been playing the same tune for three years," Mick said.
"This is the guy who thought Potty and the Weasel were the height of brilliance," Astra said. "So, not expecting too much out of him."
Harry stops Ron from leaping on Malfoy.
"Your reflexes," Sara said with a small grin.
"I had a better idea," Harry said.
"On the one hand, I feel like you shouldn't tempt fate," James said.
"Or Murphy," Lily said.
"We know all about that tricky blighter," John said.
"Don't we ever," Ava said.
"I enjoy a good dose of karma as much as the next guy," Mick said. "But that guy is taking too far."
Harry tells Ron to leave Malfoy to him.
"Mmm," Frost said.
"Oh, I can't wait for this," Astoria said.
"Me either," Daphne said.
"We would have done the same thing to Snape," Sirius said.
"I agree with Black," Severus said.
"Time to check the temperature in Hell again," Natalie said.
"It's about as bad as the few times I've been forced to agree with Weasley," Malfoy said. "And I hate you, Potter."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way," Harry said.
"I don't think Harry cares when your mother loves him so much," Frost said. "Ah, why the pouty face, Julian?"
"That's a Kodak moment," Tonks said.
Everyone laughed when Malfoy just scowled.
Harry starts hurling glops of mud at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.
"Oooh, nice shot!" XS yelled.
"It's very good," Mia said with a small grin.
"Nine out of ten," Astoria said.
"At least you hit Goyle in the head, so no harm done," Junior said.
"That's for sure," Malfoy said. "Messed up my hair for a week."
"Poor thing, my heart bleeds for you," Frost said.
Eventually, the cloak slips and Malfoy sees Harry's head floating in mid-air.
"Damn it!" James yelled. "You flew too close the sun."
"I thought I lost my mind when I saw that," Malfoy said.
"Didn't stop you from telling Snape, though," Harry said.
"Well, you were out there illegally," Snape said. "Malfoy should have reported you."
Harry bolts back up to the school, before Malfoy can reach anyone.
"Not going to make it, are you?" Tonks asked.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it," James said.
"Well there's four more books, so Malfoy doesn't get Harry expelled," Lily said. "But this is still pretty bad."
The moment Harry slipped out of the passageway, a pair of hands grabbed him, and pulled him into a corridor. It took Harry about thirty seconds to realize that Beatrice Haywood had him.
"Play along," Beatrice hissed. "Snape's on his way."
"Play along with what I…mmmph!"
Beatrice shoved her mouth onto Harry's with a kiss. The action happened so fast that Harry could hardly register it. His hands moved up around Beatrice for a split second, as the sixth-year witch made out with him.
"Well, that's some quite auspicious circumstances to have your first kiss," Zari said in amusement.
"Damn, Harry, "Sara said. "Good for you."
"Having a hot older girl make out randomly with you, every man's dream," Sirius said wistfully.
"Too bad Snape's not going to buy that little gambit for a minute," John said.
"Still bonus points for her to be brazen enough to try," Lena said.
"A girl wouldn't touch him without the Imperius Curse anyway," Bellatrix muttered.
Both Snapes just scowled. And Bellatrix grinned.
"Where is the lie?"
"What the devil is going on here?"
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, YOU MOTHERFUCKERS!"
Several of the people jumped up and Kate just grinned.
"Sorry, I couldn't resist," Kate said.
"It was Dumbledore," Ruby said.
"But, don't worry, he only swore because he had a headache," Lita said.
"Must you bring that unholy abomination up?" John asked.
"Oh, it's all in good fun," Harry said.
Beatrice pulled away from Harry and nipped at his lip playfully. Snape sat in the hallway with a scowl on his face.
"We were practicing," Beatrice said.
"Practicing?" Snape asked.
"Snogging," Beatrice said. "For when Harry goes through his maturity next year. Never too early to start practicing."
Harry tried to act like this was not news to him.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Haywood, follow me," Snape said.
"Oooh, that girl," Frost said with a smile.
"Snape's not buying what she's selling though," Tonks said.
"It is a subject which is grossly neglected at Hogwarts though," Sara said.
"Knowing Dumbledore, he would have Snape teach it," Astra said.
More than a few people cringe.
"Well, that's enough to make me take a vow of celibacy," Sirius said.
"Funny, Black, real funny," Snape said.
"Glad you liked it, Snivelybear," Sirius said while blowing him a mock kiss. "More action than you'll ever get."
Harry tried to wipe his hands without Snape seeing. The fact there were glops of mud on Beatrice's robes and a little bit in her hair did not help his situation any or incriminate him any less.
"She didn't kill you for that?" Tonks asked.
"Nah, she was cool," Harry said. "At least I think she was."
"Not the kind of evidence you want Snape to see," Mick said. "Isn't there some kind of scouring charm you could use on your hands or something?"
"Always get rid of the evidence," Mia said.
"Thanks, I'll pass on those tips to thirteen year old me when I get a chance in the past," Harry said.
"Harry, this is bad," Lily murmured.
"It gets worse," Harry said.
"I hate when you say that," Natalie said.
"Really, you too?" Astra asked.
Snape begins to tell them about the incident.
"Well, Malfoy's obviously mistaken," Beatrice said. "Because, Harry was with me the entire time."
"And can you prove that?" Snape asked.
"I was, Professor,' Harry said.
"You are not sufficient enough of an alibi, Miss Haywood," Snape said. "Mr. Malfoy saw Potter's head in Hogsmeade."
"Well, maybe he should see Madam Pomfrey if he's hallucinating," Harry said.
"Mr. Malfoy is not hallucinating,your head was in Hogsmeade," Snape said. "No part of you was allowed in Hogsmeade."
"Not a single part of Harry was in Hogsmeade," Beatrice protested. "If you didn't interrupt, a part of him might have been someone else other than Hogsmeade."
"Miss Haywood, be quiet," Snape said. "Empty your pockets out Potter. Both of them. Now!"
"Snape said calmly," Lita said.
"Oh, I don't think he would have believed you no matter what you said," Kara said. "He's had it out for you since the moment you've gone to Hogwarts."
"Yes, we've noticed," James said. "You can't help yourself."
"Your son was disobeying the rules," Snape said. "And you know I'm right."
"Doesn't make you any less of a disgusting putrid asshole," Lily said.
Harry emptied out his pockets, revealing the Zonko's products. Beatrice face-palmed behind Snape's back and shook her head, as if to tell Harry he was on his own with this one.
"Oooh, that was my thoughts exactly," Tonks said. "Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy."
"Yeah, I can't defend that one," Sara said.
"That's not going to help any defense for that one," Mick said.
"So I gathered," Harry said.
"So, famous Harry Potter decides to bend the rules," Snape said.
"You've been calling me that since the moment I walked into your class," Harry said.
Beatrice had been torn between amusement and the most obvious "oh God, just strike me down" look.
"Good, defend yourself against him," Astra said. "It's about time you clapped back against him."
"Oh, Harry, you didn't," Hermione groaned.
"I did, and it was long overdue," Harry said.
"Although perhaps not the best time," Lily said.
"Was any time the best time against Snape?" Tonks asked.
"You are arrogant, just like your father," Snape said.
"Oh, and you knew that before you even met me in person. Should go after Trelawney's job, instead of the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. Might have better luck with that, Professor."
"Ten points from Gryffindor for cheeking a Professor," Snape hissed.
"Oh, I'm like my father," Harry said. "The same father who saved your life? Your ungrateful life which is…."
"Who told you this?" Snape asked.
"Dumbledore," Harry said.
"This won't end well," Zari remarked.
"Oh, it's not going to," Harry said.
"This is not James's fault, it's mine you greasty prat," Sirius said.
"He's too far gone to listen to reason," Severus said of his older counterpart.
"I did enjoy how you told him about how he would better luck getting that Divination job," Nora said while grinning.
"Oh, I love it when you get cheeky," Sara said. "Especially when it's deserved."
"And he's earned someone giving him the verbal smackdown," Lita said.
"Well, Professor Dumbledore spared you the sordid details of what happened," Snape said. "You see, it was not an act of valiance from your saintly father. But rather an act of preservation. He didn't do what he did because it was noble, but he did what he did to save his own worthless skin."
Snape offered a small smile, although it was not a kind one.
"Let me correct you, Mr. Potter. You see, your dear Daddy only saved me, because had the practical joke he and his friends pulled on me, would have resulted in his expulsion from Hogwarts. James Potter always thought himself to be above us mere mortals, who did not play Quidditch."
"Let's face it, you thought Lily was a prize and you were resentful that you didn't have her," Natalie said.
"Oh, Nat," Lily said. "We shouldn't…"
"You're pathetic then, now, and always," Natalie said.
"You really shouldn't be taking out what I did on my son," James said.
"Your son needs to be…."
"Enough," Sara said.
Beatrice put her hand on Harry's shoulder as if to warn him.
"Harry's not like that," Beatrice said. "He went into the Chamber of Secrets…."
"Obviously, you think that should be applauded, Miss Haywood," Snape said. "I have no doubt you're egging him on. Trying to recapture some of the old adventure, since Miss Jacobs left this school. She refused to be a normal student. Well, she wasn't above being punished and neither is Mr. Potter."
"Snape's got a lot of grudges apparently," Lena said.
"Well, that makes this chapter title very fitting then," Kara said.
"I can't believe he would go off on her about that," Tonks said. "After all Cassie did and all you do…people could be more grateful."
"Especially considering Harry shouldn't have been put in that position in the first place," Charlotte said. "And while I can't speak for this Cassandra Jacobs, I'm sure she had no choice either."
"She didn't," Tonks agreed.
Snape discovers the piece of parchment in Harry's pocket. And after Harry freaks out at Snape almost throwing it into the fire, Snape muses its instructions to get into Hogsmeade past the Dementors.
"In a matter of speaking," George said.
"Oh, I would have loved to see him throw that into the fire," Peter said. "We have safeguards against that.."
"You do?" Ron asked.
"All the work we put into it, and you don't expect us to have insurance against a little thing like fire," Sirius said. "You would if you knew all of the work you put into it."
"We have a pretty good idea," Zari said.
"And it was amazing," Lita offered.
Snape does everything in his power to get it to reveal its secrets. And pretty much demands it do so.
The Marauders all broke out into laughter.
"Oh, you had to," Zari said with a grin.
"Amazing," Mick said.
"At this point, he got everything he deserved," Sara said.
"Yes, because a bunch of childish bantering is what I deserve," Snape said.
"You had a high opinion of yourself and your importance," Sirius said.
"And we have the map secured against the likes of you," Remus said.
The Marauders' Map insults Snape as only it can.
"You asked for it," Lily said. "Your attitude is the worst it's ever been this year."
"I wonder why," Snape said.
Lupin sighed. He knew why. Mistakes were made on many sides.
"I think my fictional avatar offered some good advice," Peter said. "Pity he won't take it."
Beatrice and Harry stood in the office, the scene playing out like a car crash.
"The map's sassier than you are," Beatrice whispered to Harry.
"Maybe?" Nora asked.
"At this point, Snape has to know, right?" Sirius asked.
"Well given how you always called each other those stupid nicknames, even he wouldn't be dumb enough to not figure it out," Bellatrix said.
Snape summons Lupin into his office.
"Speaking of snitches," Mick said.
'Snitch his name is Snape," Tonks said in a sing-song voice.
Snape grills Lupin about the Map. Lupin says it just seems like a harmless joke product.
"He knew you knew," Lily said to Lupin.
"Yes, and I knew he knew that I knew," Lupin said.
"Wonderful, Snape's going to be blaming you for this," Natalie said.
"His pettiness keeps reaching new depths," Lena grumbled.
"Just wait," Kara said.
"Oh, you're getting in on the fun too?" Zari asked.
Kara just grinned.
Snape comments that it's likely Harry got it straight from the manufacturers.
"Well, that's confirmation he knew more than anything else," Mia said.
"Of course I did," Snape said. "As Bellatrix said, I'm not that stupid."
"Of course not, no one could be that stupid," Regulus added.
Harry denies knowing Mr. Wormtail or any of them.
"Technically a lie," Lita said.
"Well, I didn't know it at the time," Harry said.
"Unfortunately there's a lot you don't know," Daphne added.
"Don't we know it," Astra said.
Lupin says it's a Zonko's product and Ron arrives out of breath, saying that he's brought Harry all of that stuff at Zonko's ages ago.
"Could work just a tiny bit better on your timing," XS said.
"Well not all of us have access to the Speed Force," Ron said.
"True," XS said.
"Snape's not buying it for a second," Astoria said.
"But, there's very little the greasebat can do about it," Natalie said.
Lupin cuts Snape off and summons Beatrice, Harry, and Ron off to have a word.
"And now Professor Lupin's going to tell you off," Kate said.
"He knows everything," Sirius said. "He knows it wasn't a prank product."
"So, what's he going to do?' Ruby asked.
Remus had a very bad feeling he was going to act irrationally.
Lupin says it's a map, he knows it's a map. He's astonished that Harry didn't hand it in, providing what happened to information when someone left it lying around.
"That was low," Lily said.
"Yeah, you really shouldn't have guilt-tripped on that," Astra said.
"What?" Remus asked.
"It gets worse," Lupin said.
"Words we're all learning to hate a lot, I think," Astra said.
"Really, you don't say?" Frost asked.
Lupin casually says he's encountered the Map Makers before.
"Remus!" Lily shouted at the older Lupin. "You could tell my son the truth."
"And what good what that do at this point?" Lupin asked.
"You're avoiding getting too personal because you still feel guilty," James said.
"It's really not making you come off well," Natalie said.
Then Lupin concludes with a guilt-trip about Harry's parents. Along with keeping the map.
"Invoking us to make Harry feel bad after acting like you barely knew us until he forced the issue?" James asked. "Are you…."
"That might have been a step too far," Lupin said.
"Might have?" Lily asked, calm and deadly in her words.
"It was a step too far," Sara said.
"Well, at least now he can use the map to help find homicidal future me," Sirius said. "Because, that's what you're going to do. Right?"
Lupin shifted. He still felt a lot of guilt, even after all these years.
"Harsh," Beatrice murmured.
"He has room to talk, didn't even bring up the fact he knew my father until I prodded the issue," Harry said.
"Yes, exactly!" Lily yelled.
"Oooh, don't upset her when she's like this," Natalie said.
"Good advice," Astra said.
"Very good advice," Kara agreed.
"Well…I don't know," Beatrice said. "Look Harry I'm…"
"Don't worry, you were trying to help," Harry said.
"I spoiled your first kiss with some stupid plan that didn't work," Beatrice said.
"Oh, it wasn't bad, not really," Harry said. "Sorry about the mud in your hair."
"No problem," Beatrice said. "Washes off. Not the stickiest thing you can get in my hair."
Harry's eyebrow raised.
"Explain it to you when you get older," Beatrice said with a shadow of a smile. "Later, lover-boy."
Beatrice kissed Harry on the cheek before going off.
"What was that all about?" Ron asked.
"Explain it to you when you get older."
"You don't know do you?"
"Not a clue, mate."
The entire group laughed.
"The fact there's a time where you didn't know what you were doing with women is quite frankly amusing to me," Sara said.
"We all start from humble beginnings," Zari said.
Ron is apologetic to Harry. Harry is distracted by the fact that he left the Cloak in the passageway.
"Rookie mistake," James said.
"I got a lot better about not leaving it around," Harry said.
"He does get a lot better with stealth too," Sara said.
"Fortunately for us all," Mia said.
He catches sight of Hermione and is almost afraid she must have said something.
"Perfect end to a perfect day," Lena said.
"I can't believe you," Astra said.
"Actually that's not why she's here," Harry said.
It turns out that Hagrid lost. And Buckbeak's going to be executed.
"I stand corrected, that's a perfect end to a perfect day," Lena said.
"I really hope you're happy with yourself," Ruby said to Malfoy.
"A little bit back," Malfoy admitted.
"And that's even worse news," Astra said.
"And that's the chapter," Ava said.
"At least this is going to smooth things over between these three for now," Peter said. "Adversity brings people together."
"But, Hermione still hasn't apologized," Kate said.
"I know," Hermione said.
"Got to take better care of that cloak too," Lena said.
"I know," Harry said.
"And you and Beatrice…girl's got some guts," Frost said. "One day you're going to have to tell us what happened."
"One day," Harry agreed.
"First kiss," Kara said. "Well we all got to start somewhere."
"The funny thing that would work on any teacher other than Snape," Lita said
"The Grinch who took everyone's happiness," Nora concluded. "So, ready to move on?"
"Oh, let's see what happens next," Ruby said.
"Let's see how much I'd want to slug Malfoy," Astra said.
"Oh, someone beat you to that one," Frost said. "But, that would be telling."
Malfoy rubbed his eye subconsciously.
Sirius had been in a bit better spirits after seeing the map mock Snape. However, he still worried about how this would turn out.
"Well, let's go," Daphne said.
To Be Continued.