[a/n]Dedicated to katmom, and of course alix33's tweenie squeeing braincells.

Harry Does Different CDXCIII

Remus v Wormtail

"Ever figure what was odd about Lupin?" asked Harry of his female friend. Having eaten, Ron had long since turned in, even though curfew still had over an hour to go.

Hermione nodded with some hesitance "It's obviously being kept quiet, but Dumbledore must know, so even though it's pretty dark, I think the only answer is the professor is a werewolf. Professor Snape could not tell anyone directly, but combine the essay with that not very subtle hint when he caught you out."

"Then the git took my Marauders' Map. Been sorta ducking him since. Wonder where he hid it." The boy's initial resentful look became contemplative.

The girl's eyes narrowed at her friend "I know that look, Harry. You learned it from either Fred or George. Please don't break- - -" she broke off then her voice climbed an octave "You're NOT going to steal from Professor Lupin!"

"Fred and George gave it to me fair and square." His mild tone was a sharp contrast to her alarm. But then the whole situation slid around in his mind and everything clicked into place "I wonder if this is how Trelawney feels?"

She shook her head, bouncing her wild curls "Whatever is that non sequitur."

"I love Latin, don't you?" quipped Harry "But never mind. Watch this: Lupin told me that night quote: Don't stray on the way back to your dorm. I shall know. Unquote: That means he knows how to work the Map. How? Simple, he's a Marauder. Moony, I think we can say, being a werewolf and all. He's told me lots about my Dad. Best friends, don'cha know? Remember about McGonagall talking about them? Black and Pettigrew must be the other two Marauders. Won't the twins piss themselves dry!"

"Harry language!" she snapped at him, but then grew serious "Sooooo, then, that also explains the shape of your Patronus. Male deer have antlers …massive ones… your Father was Prongs. Remember you mentioned about them being Animagi? Illegal ones, though. I wonder what forms Black and Pettigrew were?"

To that, he shrugged "Sorry, my revelation just ran out. Except I know where to get answers. Be right back." And he raced up to his dormroom.

"We can't go out now, Harry. It's past curfew and very near lights out." Said Hermione when he returned a minute later "And your cloak isn't a license to sneak. Where's Ronald?"

He laughed at her "Really Mione? Better three in trouble than two? But …no thanks… if it's not for food EVERYONE knows you don't wake a Weasley. I'll tell him all about it in the morning."

Abcij

"Just because you cannot be seen, Harry, does not mean you should be out after House curfew. And I am more surprised at you, Miss Granger. I believe you have ambition to become a prefect, maybe Head Girl. Incidents like this would tend to detract from that." Anyone witnessing would see the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor talking to a wall empty of even portraits; quite the spectacle.

Harry was feeling proud of his deductive skills, so as he uncovered went straight on the attack "Guess we shouldn't be too surprised the Map can see through invisibility cloaks, eh Moony?"

"And how did you reach that conclusion?" the older wizard looked both impressed and nervous.

Harry waved at the young witch admiringly "Oh I had help, right Hermione?"

"It was Professor Snape's essay, sir." She offered in a differential tone "We pieced together you're a were- -"

Making silencing motions he urged "Come to my classroom kids. Obviously we have more to discuss than mere truancy."

"Just thought I'd mention, sir, I did leave a note with Ron where we were going." Harry may have sounded polite.

To that, Lupin blinked "Sounds like paranoia to me. But come to my office; you're maybe not even in trouble."

"I thought that was when everyone is against you, but you're wrong." Countered Harry in a flippant tone "I've had three years here."

Behind the classroom, and after casting a charm that Hermione insisted on learning he addressed them "I suppose we'll consider this a student-teacher conference. What is on your minds?"

"You, Harry's father, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew made the Marauders' Map." Hermione's excited statement came out louder and faster than the boy's essentially identical one.

The man took it with outward equanimity replying "You make it sound like an accusation. Was a crime committed? I neither confirm nor deny, but what evidence do you have?"

"After you took the map you told me you'd know if I went back to Gryffindor, that night. You couldn't unless you knew the password." Pointed out Harry with certainty.

The response was a shrug "Circumstantial. Perhaps I have other ways. Either opening your map, or knowing the whereabouts of wayward students. I am the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."

"No real reason to deny it, sir." Hermione wasn't argumentative, she wouldn't be "And the coincidences only start there. Your reaction to being called Moony just now was one of surprise. You clearly have not heard it in a long time. Say, as a student."

In support, Harry added "Right!"

"We haven't heard much about that period, like a dark curtain over it." Other than a nod, she ignored her friend "But given the circumstances under which it came into the Twins' possession, it stands to reason it was used for the same purposes. And, more than once, you've looked at Harry with what I can best describe as longing, nostalgia. Sirius Black escapes Azkaban and Professor Dumbledore makes you DADA teacher. The coincidences keep mounting, sir."

"And I told you I saw Peter Pettigrew on the Map." Added Harry, stressing the point "Did you look for him on it?"

Lupin shook his head "You don't look for dead people on the Map, it doesn't work that way. I have seen Black on it twice since taking it from you. So I know he's here. I've just not been able to react fast enough to pursue him."

"Sir, not to change the subject, but I understand about Animagi. If you're Moony because you're a werewolf and Harry's father was Prongs, being a stag, then it is logical to assume Wormtail and Padfoot have a similar etymology. What are they?" asked Hermione.

The professor chuckled at the boy's expression "She means the origin of the names. Black, or Padfoot is a large black dog. The Prophet has been reporting it as grim sightings. Peter was a rather large brown rat."

"I saw it even before I got to Hogwarts. The dog, that is." Harry interjected "While I was walking away from Privet. So Black had all that time to attack me? I don't know how long it was following me."

Lupin cut in "Must be a sign of his insanity." adding sarcastically "We can ask him over tea."

"Ron has a rather large brown rat …calls it Scabbers. Do you think?" asked the witch.

The professor's mind was made up "Sirius Black blasted Peter to pieces before you could talk, Hermione. Harry he betrayed your parents. Would you argue he be freed?"

"Have you seen the article in The Prophet with the Weasleys? Ron was holding his rat." Harry countered "Minister Fudge said all they found of Pettigrew was his thumb. Anyone in my dorm can tell you Scabbers has nineteen toes. I want to know the truth …whatever it is. What do you want, Professor?"

Remus flinched at the formality "What is it you suggest?"

"Simple enough, sir, look at the Map." Said Hermione, then with a shiver "Ronald even sleeps with that thing." It only took seconds to confirm that, at least in part, history was wrong.

Abcij

Bonnie Puddifoot was out behind her pink restaurant putting out some food for the town stray. She called out "Come on Gary! Come and get it! Where ya at Gary! Come on boy!"

Woof woof! In his guise, Sirius wondered just where that name came from. The proprietress' old love possibly? As may be, the sweet aroma of food reached his nose long before the voice got to his ears. On arrival, he took the meatball from the extended hand, sloppily chewed and swallowed and licked the hand in thanks. What happened next was a total shock to many in Hogsmeade.

"Attention! Attention! This is Albus Dumbledore!" the voice that needed no introduction reached every corner of the village "I address this message to Padfoot! Some unorthodox investigators have brought Wormtail to my attention. He is in custody. You may come to visit anytime you wish. Students will be restricted to the Great Hall or their Common Rooms to avoid any incidents. The main gate has a reception committee consisting of Moony and Prongs. Your safe passage is guaranteed by me as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I repeat ….." after the repetition it concluded "…..this message will repeat hourly."

Nothing was overcrowded as the students had all dorms and the Great Hall to occupy. The only moment of unruliness came from the Gryffindor Commonroom with Ron's twin brothers loudly protesting their imprisonment when their cherished mentors' names echoed.

Bonnie Puddifoot squeaked in shock "Well how rude! He didn't even thank me!" her expression was one of confusion as the big black dog disappeared with impressive speed. "Shame on you Gary!"

Abcij

"Here he comes." Lupin had much better eyesight than the bespectacled boy and walked forward. The last few hours had been a rollercoaster ride for the werewolf. The notion of reuniting with an erroneously imprisoned friend, after participating in the capture of an assumed long-dead one held equal parts of joy and dread. As the black dog grew in the distance he held up a hand. Then called out "Transform, Sirius! Approach slowly! Any wand you have; out; butt first!"

The escaped con complied, smiling with a hint of crazy "Oh come on, Moony, you can trust ol Padfoot. Using them Marauder names sure got my attention. I'd've fallen over if I'd been human when I heard especially Prongs' name. I get it though. HO! Harry!" and he hurried forward.

"Stop Black." Came the curt command, and his tone was only slightly more cordial when he addressed Lupin "Show me his wand, Professor. Accio!"

Sirius blinked "A little testy with the teacher, Prongsie, but nice spell. Don't think we learned that one officially until Sixth."

"We can be friends AFTER you've been proved innocent." Harry's tone was harsh. He took a few steps aside and gestured with both wands "You two can go in front of me. The professor will lead you to where Headmaster Dumbledore is setup."

That was the second unpleasant surprise for the escapee, he complained "Come on, lighten up Harry. They've got Pettigrew. That alone proves I'm innocent."

"Actually all it proves is you didn't kill him. That doesn't prove you didn't betray my parents." The teen countered, emotionlessly. Then added "I'd much rather you didn't, for more reasons than you can know. But for now, getagoing."

The adult wizards had little choice but to comply. In answer to Sirius' expression Remus had to sigh "Guess it's partly my fault. I could have been involved in his life sooner, or at least come clean the first time I had the chance."