Chapter 3
I do not own any of J.K Rowling's Characters.
A few days later after talking to Harry about Sirius, I was once again in my empty classroom taking notes for a lesson plan, every now and then pausing to consult an open book lying next to me. The sun was beaming in through the large windows to the right of me and I frowned as I heard the door open softly. My quill was poised above my notes as I watched Remus close the door and walk up to my desk holding what appeared to be a piece of blank parchment. I noticed that he looked slightly angry, which for him, was quite unusual.
"Remus," I said, frowning "What's wrong?"
Remus remained silent and placed the parchment in front of me and I looked down at it. "Mr Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business. Mr Prongs agrees with Mr Moony, and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git. Mr Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a Professor. Mr Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day, and advises him to wash his hair, the slimeball." I finished reading and looked up at Remus steadily.
"What is this?" I asked slowly, bemused. It had been a long time since I had thought about the peculiar nicknames James, Peter, Sirius and Remus had for each other.
"Meg," He said in a low voice "I haven't been completely honest with you." I raised my eyebrows but when I said nothing he continued "This is a map of Hogwarts, in particular the secret passages in and out of it. We created it but it was confiscated by Filch before we left. Severus just found Harry with it, I don't know how he got it but I just had to cover up for him and have taken it off him."
"Okay," I said slowly, trying to take in what he had just said. I was confused and put down my quill before picking up the parchment Remus had just said was a map.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Remus said quietly and tapped it with his wand. I watched as thin ink lines began to spread like a spider's web from the point that Remus' wand had touched. The lines joined each other, they criss-crossed, they fanned into every corner of the parchment; then words began to blossom across the top, great, curly green words, that proclaimed:
Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present THE MARAUDER'S MAP
The map showed every detail of the Hogwarts castle and grounds and had tiny ink dots moving around it, each labelled with a name in minuscule writing. I swallowed, speechless, as my eyes darted over the map.
Remus' voice was nearly a whisper as he said "Did Sirius ever tell you what we used to do at school…uh - during a full moon?"
My eyes snapped up to Remus and I frowned.
"I guess not then," He said slowly. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair before he continued "James, Peter and Sirius used to - er - accompany me during my transformations."
My eyes grew wide and I managed to splutter out "What?"
"They became unregistered Animagus and we all used to walk around the castle grounds and Hogsmeade until dawn - that's how we wrote the map." He paused as I stared at him. "Sirius and James transformed into such large animals, they were able to keep me in check and under their influence, I became less dangerous, it was as though my mind become less wolfish while I was with them." he finished.
I had a million questions going around my mind, the most prominent question being why did Sirius not tell me about this, but after a beat I said "So let me get this straight - James, Sirius and Peter managed to become Anamagi in school?"
Remus nodded "I mean it took them until 5th year, but yes."
I silently hated myself for being impressed with this fact, it had taken me the best part of 2 years to accomplish it after school. I quickly pushed the feeling down as suddenly my heart began to beat quicker, why was Remus telling me this now?
"I think that's how Sirius is getting into the castle." Remus said quietly as though he had read my mind.
"So what are you going to do?" I asked him after a pause and he made a movement that was a half shrug half shaking his head.
"I suppose I should tell Dumbledore," he said thoughtfully. "I have been battling with myself, wondering whether I should tell Dumbledore that Sirius is an Animagus. But it would mean admitting that I'd betrayed his trust while I was at school, admitting that I'd led others along with me."
"We don't know how he is managing it, Remus." I said quickly trying to convince myself more than Remus.
"Dumbledore's trust has meant everything to me. He let me into Hogwarts as a boy, and he gave me this job, when I have been shunned all my adult life, Meg." Remus said seriously, giving me a pointed look.
"I know." I said softly "But listen to me, we don't have any proof that being an Animagus has anything to do with him getting into the castle." I gestured at the map with my hand. "Who is to say that he even remembers this map, let alone the ways in and out."
Remus sighed, looked at me in an almost pitying way but, he nodded, picked up the map and left my classroom. After hearing the door click shut, I buried my face in my hands. It was so obvious that being able to transform into an animal had everything to do with Sirius getting into the castle. It was the perfect disguise, especially if no one but Remus knew.