Chapter 14: Snape's Grudge

I don't own Digimon or Harry Potter

Once news spread of Sirius Black's entry into Gryffindor Tower, there had been yet another long and fruitless night of searching the entirety of Hogwarts. From the highest tower to the lowest dungeon for Sirius Black by the staff, Dragon Cloaks and ghosts.

By dawn, everyone had found out that Sirius Black had escaped again. When Daisuke, Harry, Hermione, Ron, the Digimon, and the rest of their classmates exited the common room that morning for their day of classes, they were greeted by Lancelot and Leon.

"We're here to escort you today. Elyan, Percival and Winn are doing the same for the other houses." Lancelot answered their unspoken question.

"Yes, now please keep together and do not wander off," Leon ordered with a stern look as they made their way down to the Great Hall.

"I bet your dad's angry about last night." Hermione whispered to Daisuke.

"No doubt. That's the second time Sirius Black's gotten into the castle and escaped without being seen or caught." She whispered back.

"Let's just hope this isn't going to be a third time's the charm idea." Veemon piped up and the small group nodded in agreement. Once in the Great Hall, an odd thing happened, several other students began surrounding Ron asking him about the previous night's attack by Sirius Black.

"Well, I never thought I'd see the day." Harry muttered, looking at Ron's beaming grin in surprise.

"That Ron would be the talk of the school instead of you?" Daisuke asked with a grin. "And here I thought you liked the fame," she teased.

"Shove off, despite what some people think I'd prefer it if I were just a normal student here and not someone famous." Harry retorted before looking at Ron again as he began retelling the story to the gathered crowd who were hanging on his every word. "But I do wish this were happening on circumstances better than my best friend almost being killed last night."

"But I thought I was your best friend." Herissmon chirped with a pout as he munched on some toast.

"I can have more than one best friend, besides you're a Digimon, you're like my best Digimon friend," Harry said quickly, making his partner grin happily and purr.

"Smooth," Daisuke and Veemon muttered in between giggles, both ducking as Harry chucked a spoon at them before going back to his porridge with a grumble.

Later that day, after their morning classes, the small group of friends headed back to Gryffindor Tower to catch up on some homework. As they reached the corridor leading to the common room, they all froze in shock as they laid eyes upon two very large, ugly trolls who were marching up and down the corridor, grunting and growling to themselves.

"Bloody Hell…" Ron whispered as they walked down the corridor and bumped into Jun.

"Don't mind them, they're the new security for the Fat Lady." she told them.

"The Fat Lady is back?" Hermione asked. The group following Jun to the portrait and sure enough, back in her proper place and fully restored to pristine condition was the Fat Lady.

"Yep, she was placed during morning lessons. And Sir Cadogan was taken back to his original spot." Jun explained.

"And the trolls?" Harry asked, glancing nervously at one of the trolls who peered down at the humans with a grunt.

"Her personal security, she wouldn't come back unless we provided them for her," Jun answered, and they all looked at her. "Yeah, I don't like it either. But they'll be gone once Sirius Black has been caught."

"They still have not caught the man?" the Fat Lady questioned, the portrait letting out a whimper of fright.

"Don't worry Fat Lady, you'll be safe. I doubt even Sirius Black would try his luck against two trolls." Daisuke said quickly, reassuring the painting. "And also might I say, it's so good to see you back as the portrait of Gryffindor Tower. We missed you."

"We did?" Ron whispered and grunted when Hermione elbowed him. "I mean, yeah we did." He coughed awkwardly and the portrait smiled.

"Why thank you. Now who was my replacement while I was away?" the Fat Lady asked them.

"Sir Cadogan," Harry answered.

"And how did he fare guarding the common room?"

"Um…not very well. He kept changing the password every few days." Ron answered.

"Poor Neville, he had to keep a list of the passwords…which is kind of how Sirius Black got inside last night." Veemon added.

"What!?" the Fat Lady shouted. "He let that madman into the tower? Did he not think to alert the teachers or Dragon Cloaks first?"

"Sir Cadogan is an idiot, I don't think he even bothered to ask who he was since he had all the passwords." Ron answered.

The Fat Lady scoffed. "Well, don't worry. I won't be changing the passwords on you as much as he did, nor will I willingly let a madman into the tower." She promised.

"Thank you. Oh, Fortuna Major." Daisuke said, the portrait nodded and swung open allowing them into the common room.

"Wait, wait!" they turned and saw Neville running down the corridor toward them. Harry held the portrait open allowing his friend to hop through.

"Th…thanks," he panted. "Professor McGonagall won't tell me the new password…"

"Is that because of last night?" Hermione asked him and he nodded ashamed. "Oh Neville."

"It's okay. I've only got a week's worth of detentions with her. And I'm probably going to get a Howler sent by my nan too."

"Oh…I know the feeling." Ron muttered, patting his arm as the others all comforted their friend.

Two days later, Neville was indeed correct, a Howler was sent to him by his grandmother, and it was quite a loud one. Even when he grabbed it and ran out of the Great Hall, the roar of the older woman could still be heard which made several students laugh.

"Daisuke, what're we doing?" Veemon asked as the two walked alone down a corridor after their afternoon lessons.

"We're looking for Salem, that cat's gone missing again. I swear, I told him to stay in the common room, didn't I?" his partner asked.

"Yeah." He answered and she slumped. "Maybe he's with Crookshanks. Those two have been quite close this year."

"Yes…very curious." Daisuke replied.

"Don't give me that excuse you bastard!" both stopped on hearing Alexander's voice around the next corner.

"Who is your dad talking to?" Veemon asked.

"Shush." Daisuke whispered as they both peeked around the corner to see Alexander holding Professor Lupin to the wall with a fierce look in his eyes.

"Alexander, I already told you I do not know how Sirius got into the castle."

"And I told you not to give me that excuse. I remember that you two were thick as thieves in your school days. You two were never that far apart except when Black had detentions, or you were in the Hospital Wing."

"You think that because he was a friend from school, I'd willingly help him sneak into the castle so he can try to kill someone?"

"He is not trying to kill just someone. He's trying to kill my son!"

"Your adopted son." Professor Lupin reminded Alexander.

"Doesn't matter. I still care and love him like he was my own flesh and blood." Alexander stepped back and clenched his fists. "If I find out that you're somehow helping Black and you've been hiding it, I'll see you thrown into Azkaban with him."

"I swear, I'm not hiding anything," Lupin said.

Alexander dryly chuckled. "That wouldn't be the first time you've hidden something now, would it?" he replied.

"It looks like your father thinks Professor Lupin helped Black get into the castle, but why?" Veemon whispered.

"I don't know." Daisuke said before she gave her partner a look before walking around the corner towards the two adults. "Papa, Professor Lupin," she greeted, acting like she hadn't just heard their tense conversation.

Both men jumped at her voice before Alexander faced his daughter with a smile. "Oh, Daisuke. What're you doing in this part of the castle?"

"Looking for Salem, he's run off again." She answered as Veemon caught up to her.

"Well, perhaps Lupin could help you find him. I'm sort of preoccupied." Her father told her.

"What do you mean?" Veemon asked, raising an eyebrow as Daisuke's father checked his watch.

"I'm due to leave for London with Hagrid soon. I'm representing him in his and Buckbeak's hearing at the Ministry." Alexander said with a frown.

"Oh no." Daisuke whispered.

"Don't worry starlight. Thanks to you and the other's help, we've got plenty of knowledge on how we might win this." Alexander said. "The only thing we can't research for, is if Lucius Malfoy will throw his weight around."

"I don't see why he's involved, I'm the one who got injured by Buckbeak and I didn't want to have him hurt or anything," Daisuke huffed.

"I know and so does Hagrid. But Malfoy is a powerful man, even after being kicked off the board of governors for Hogwarts he still had a lot of wealth behind him, and with the Ministry, sometimes it's all about who has the most coin." Her father said softly before he bent down to hug her.

"Tell Hagrid I wished him luck," she said.

"Of course." Her father smiled and kissed her forehead before he stood up and walked off.

"Well…" Lupin said softly, adjusting his robes. "Let's see if we can find your cat."

"Sure," Daisuke replied and she, Veemon and Lupin walked off to search for Salem.

Later that evening, in the boy's dormitory of Gryffindor Tower, Harry was still awake in his bed, the tip of his wand alight with the Lumos charm and the Marauder's Map sprawled out on his lap. It had fascinated him ever since Fred and George had gifted it to him. He was sucking on a Blood Pop when Ron suddenly jolted awake in his bed with a yelp, somehow not waking the others in the room.

"Spiders! Spiders, they want me to tap dance. I don't want to tap dance."

Harry smiled slightly. "Then tell those spiders that, Ron." He told his best friend.

"Right…yeah, tell them, I'll tell them." He said, laying back down and the moment his head hit the pillow he was fast asleep and snoring again.

As he looked back down at the map, unfolding it some more, his eyes narrowed when he saw something odd, a name that shouldn't be there. Peter Pettigrew.

"But he's dead…" Harry thought, he looked around at the others fast asleep before he got out of bed, putting on his sneakers quietly. He headed down to the common room and saw Herrismon asleep on the sofa beside Veemon. He quietly shook his partner awake who yawned and rubbed his eyes.

"Harry?"

"Shush. Come on," Harry whispered, and his partner blinked but followed his partner out of the common room.

They soon were walking down one of the many hallways in the castle with Harry having told Herissmon about seeing Pettigrew's name on the map. "So, we're investigating when we could be sleeping?"

"Yes," Harry said softly, holding out his lit wand to light the way in one hand while he held the map in the other.

"But why didn't we go find one of the Dragon Cloaks, they could search instead of us," Herissmon said.

"And have them find out about the map? They'd take it and tell Mum and Dad, who'd probably find out who we got it from before they destroyed it." Harry said, holding up his wand as they turned a corner.

"Oi, turn out that light. We're trying to sleep!" one portrait on the wall hissed.

"Sorry," Harry said, lowering his wand. He looked at the map again and saw Peter Pettigrew's name approaching them. "He's right in front of us." He whispered and Herrismon tensed and growled softly, narrowing his eyes as both waited for the supposedly dead man to appear out of the darkness, but as the name on the map crept closer and closer, there was no sight nor sound of him.

Herrismon's ears twitched as he heard something, but it wasn't a human's footsteps, more like a small animal scurrying down the corridor.

Harry looked at the map, turning in a circle before nearly jumping out of his shoes when he saw his reflection in a mirror on the wall. He let out a long sigh and looked at Herissmon. "False alarm I think."

"Come on, let's go back to bed," Herissmon said, yawning and rubbing his eyes. Harry nodded and looked at the map for a moment and his eyes widened when he saw Severus Snape's name on it, heading towards them.

"Snape's coming!" he hissed, and his partner gulped. "Mischief Managed. Nox!" he hurriedly said, making the map revert to its blank state and the light on the tip of his wand went out leaving them both in darkness.

But only for a moment, as another wand lit up in front of Harry's face and the man holding it, was Snape. "Potter, what a surprise. What're you doing out of bed?" he asked.

"Sleepwalking…" Harry stammered out quickly and Herissmon facepalmed at his lame answer.

"I see…" Snape raised an eyebrow. "You are just like your father, just as arrogant, strutting about the castle as if you own it."

"My father didn't strut. And nor do I." Harry snapped back.

"Turn out your pockets." Snape then ordered, narrowing his eyes when Harry hesitated. "Turn out your pockets." He said again.

Harry reluctantly did so, taking out a few Blood Pops he had yet to eat, his Digivice and the folded-up Marauder's Map.

"What's that?" Snape asked, eyeing the parchment curiously.

"Spare bit of parchment. Found upstairs, was looking for a bin." Harry shrugged.

"Open it," Snape ordered, watching him do so before pressing his wand against it. "Reveal your dark secrets," he hissed at the map.

Nothing happened for a moment before slowly ink splotches began appearing much to Harry and Herissmon's surprise. "Read it." Snape told Harry.

"Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs…offer their congratulations to Professor Snape…and…" Harry trailed off, trying to fight the smirk growing on his face.

"Go on," Snape said, narrowing his eyes.

"And they ask that he keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business, the slimy git." Harry finished.

Snape's cheeks flushed in rage. "Why you insufferable little…" he growled.

"Good evening, Professor," a voice called out behind Snape who spun around aiming his wand at Professor Lupin and Lancelot.

"Well, well Lupin, out for a little walk…in the moonlight?" Snape asked his fellow professor who ignored him and looked at Harry and Herissmon.

"Harry are you alright?" he asked, stepping around Snape as did Lancelot.

"That remains to be seen," Snape said, snatching the map out of Harry's hand. "I've just confiscated this extraordinary bit of parchment from Potter, it's clearly brimming with dark magic. Perhaps you should have a look, it's your area of expertise after all."

Lupin raised an eyebrow, then took the map and let out a dry chuckle.

"I hardly think it's anything like that Professor. It appears to be bewitched to insult anyone who tries to read it. I believe it's a Zonko's product." he told Snape. "But I shall investigate further, as you said it is my area of expertise after all." He said when Snape tried to take it back from him. "Harry, Herissmon, come with me." He told the two, walking off and Lancelot waited until Harry and Herissmon walked past before following them.

Snape glowered at the four before he stormed off, extinguishing the light on his wand without a word.

A few minutes later, Professor Lupin led Harry and Herissmon into his classroom and once Lancelot shut the door he turned to them. "Harry, tell me did a Bludger hit you in the head last Quidditch practice?"

"Um no."

"Very good." Lupin smiled before he frowned at him. "Then perhaps you would kindly explain to Lancelot and me why you were skulking around the castle at night, unprotected, with a killer like Sirius Black on the loose?" Lupin asked. "What you did tonight spat in the face of your parent's sacrifice. They did not die protecting you from You-Know-Who just to have you foolishly wander into his grasp now."

"Herissmon, you should know better as well. Did you not think to try and stop him?" Lancelot asked the Digimon who bowed his head sadly.

"Harry, why did you not hand this map in when you found it?" Lupin then asked Harry, waving the map in his hand. "Did you not think it wasn't created by Sirius Black, as a way for him to lure you to him?"

"No professor…"

"Well, be very thankful we ran into you two tonight," Lupin said. "But I assure you, I will not cover for you again. Lancelot, will you please escort them both back to Gryffindor Tower?"

"I will," Lancelot said with a nod. "Come on you two."

Herissmon and Harry began following him out of the classroom when Harry stopped. "Um, Professor." He called out to Lupin who looked up from the map. "I don't think that map works properly. Tonight, I saw the name of a person on it, a person who I know to be dead."

"And who might that be?"

"Peter Pettigrew," Harry answered, and Lupin's posture stiffened before he let out a nervous chuckle.

"That's not possible."

"I know. But that's what I saw." Harry told him. "Goodnight, sir."

"Goodnight," Lupin said softly watching them leave the classroom, looking at the map intently. "Not possible…" he said again, heading to his office.

The end of the chapter

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