Chapter 39:
"I can't believe we're actually doing this!" Remus said in a whispered shout from beneath the invisibility cloak. The four boys were now standing inside of the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom and outside the door that lead to Professor Malfoy's living quarters.
"Shhh, Remus! I have the dungbombs from Zonko's right here." James said as he held up two nasty looking brown balls with wicks. "We'll throw them in there and go to your escape route to get back to Gryffindor tower before anyone notices we are missing. Then Professor Malfoy will smell so bad for a week that no one will be able to be near to him."
"We'll be unknown legends for pranking a teacher!" Sirius said.
"Yeah, it will be great." Peter said nervously. Remus gave a small grunt and nodded.
"Ready one, two -" James said as he held the doorknob.
"Wait!" Remus whispered.
"What now?" James said.
"Can't you hear that? Malfoy is awake and talking to someone in there!" Remus asked.
The four boys put their ears against the door and listened, sure enough, there was a conversation going.
"My Lord, you heard of your followers accomplishments in London last week?" They heard Professor Malfoy's voice ask in an unusual high pitched voice.
"Yes, killing that filthy muggle, Grant Hendel. I am very proud of you all. Was it your idea?" A strange, airy, and snake like voice said.
"Yes, my Lord." Malfoy replied with pride.
The boys looked at each other in pure horror.
"Excellent work. I have decided you to be a leader in my forces, you will be my greatest ally." The voice replied.
"Thank you so much, my lord. I will not disappoint you. I am so grateful. Together we will return the wizarding world to the purest order." Professor said.
"Yes, and I will rise to power and sit on a throne of the skulls of the unworthy." The voice said loudly.
The boys, shaking looked at each other. James silently put his finger over his lips and lead the boys out of the classroom and into the hall. They walked in silence through a back route that Remus discovered until Sirius broke the silence.
"What the hell was that?" Sirius said in horror.
"I don't know." James said in confusion.
"Professor Malfoy killed a muggle!" Peter squeaked.
"We need to tell McGonagall and Dumbledore right away." Remus said.
"You can tell me right now why you are out of bed!" Professor McGonagall said angrily right behind them.
"Ah, Professor, you look ravishing this evening." James said.
"Yes, just miraculous." Sirius said after. He looked down at his watch and said "Is that the time? We better get to bed, right away. Sorry to bother you." He said and he took a step away.
"Not so fast! Now I was brought here tonight because someone believed that you would try to play a prank on Professor Malfoy." McGonagall said annoyed.
"Who believed such an outrageous idea?" James asked slightly scared.
"It was me." a voice came from the shadows. Severus Snape emerged into the light. He gave a dirty look to Remus.
"Mr. Snape, I told you to stay back." McGonagall said annoyed.
"It's okay, mam. I am not friends with any of these pranksters. Not anymore." Snape said directly to Remus.
"Severus." Remus said.
"No, Remus. You know what I realized, that you have been helping James all this time. All the daily hexes and curses. The intruder in my bathroom, and the menace at the Valentine's day dance. You were just pretending to be my friend so you could play more pranks on me. You are just James's minion, a zombie trying to please his master. So, when I overheard this prank, I knew you must be stopped." Severus said.
"Severus, I-" Remus said.
"No, Remus! Also, Professor I would like to report another crime of Remus Lupin's." Severus said.
"And what would that be?" McGonagall asked, interested.
"On the night he "claimed" to be visiting his ill mother, I witnessed him leave the castle and approach the whomping willow tree. He somehow made it stop moving and disappeared behind it."
"Remus, is that true? You didn't go visit your mother?" James asked upset.
"No, James, he's lying -" Remus panicked.
"Liar. You are such a liar." James said to Remus.
Remus exchanged a panicked glance with McGonagall.
"I am sorry, Mr. Snape, but there is no evidence whatsoever to prove Remus snuck out the other night. . . I in fact personally saw him go off with his dad. You must have been mistaken." Professor McGonagall said.
Severus squinted his eyes and said "Mam -"
"But you were certainly not mistaken about tonight! I see you have dungbombs in your hand, Mr. Potter. No doubt you were on your way to use them against Professor Malfoy." McGonagall accused.
"No, Professor, we just came from there, and we heard a terrifying conversation." Peter said, trying to help.
"So you admit you were going to prank a teacher?" McGonagall asked a shaking Peter. The other boys groaned.
Remus took a deep breath in and said "Yes, mam. But we stopped because we seriously heard the Professor talking with someone about a murder."
"Impossible. Professor Malfoy is one of the most respected teachers in Hogwarts. Stop trying to wiggle out of this situation. You are all in serious trouble." McGonagall yelled. The boys gulped.
"But, Professor!" Sirius yelled.
"Enough! 50 points will be taken from Gryffindor." Mcgonagall said.
"Mam!" James yelled.
"Each, Mr. Potter. Unless you'd like more?" McGonagall asked. The boys stayed silent. "Also, you will each serve detention cooking with the house elves on the day of the final feast before you get to eat."
"We're really sorry, Professor." Remus sincerely said.
"I expected so much more from all of you. Especially you, Remus Lupin. Now, go to bed, including you, Mr. Snape." McGonagall said to the five and she walked away.
"Severus." Remus said but Severus walked away toward the Slytherin Dorms.
"Come on, let's go to bed." Remus said.
"To the dorms, or the whomping willow?" Asked James suspiciously.
"You heard McGonagall, Severus was mistaken." Remus said as believably as possible.
"I saw your's and McGonagall's face, you both were lying." James said.
"No, I -" Remus stuttered.
"Whatever, let's go to bed." James said, still annoyed. Remus followed the boys in silence to their beds. For the first time, they didn't say goodnight. Remus laid awake in bed and held Moonlight and wept silently into her fur.