A/N
Another update! I'm feeling in a writing mood just lately so this chapter is a product of that!
Enjoy
Taking a nap in most classes wasn't possible. Harry was more than certain that if he was to do so in McGonagall's class, he would be in detention quicker than he could say quidditch. However, History of magic was an entirely different story.
Harry felt himself drift off around ten minutes into the lesson and was, until his light nap was rudely interrupted by Hermione, sleeping quite peacefully. The witch shook him so violently that he knocked his notepad, wand and quill on the floor as he jumped from how unexpected it was. The class were deathly silent and had all turned to stare at him.
Professor Binns failed to notice the silence, nor the lack of attention on his lesson as he continued to drone on about the Witch Hunts and the repercussions of such; which, to Harry, was awfully boring and a waste of his precious free time. With a full timetable, Quidditch and the lack of sleep he'd gotten for the past couple of nights, Harry was exhausted.
He glared at Hermione for waking him but picked up his notebook and quill all the same. Ron seemed to have been daydreaming also as he looked just as confused as Harry felt.
He had absolutely no idea what the Professor was talking about and didn't feel the need to try and understand; Hermione would give them her notes as she had done in years previous. Harry and Ron only ever used the notes for revision, and even then, the pair usually failed their exam miserably, despite how outstanding Hermione's notes always were.
History of magic was quite possibly Harry's least favourite subject, besides potions, but that was only because Snape taught it. The teen had never shown interest in any of the previous conflicts or battles in the wizarding world and he was sure he never would; especially if Binns continued to teach the class in the same monotone voice as he always had done.
Eventually the bell rang to signify the end of classes for the day as Harry, Ron and Hermione headed down to the Great Lake where they had decided to spend the rest of the afternoon and early evening.
It was one of the only places where they could freely look at the map without any prying eyes.
They liked to sit under a large oak tree, just up a slight hill from the lake. It was a secluded and peaceful area where the trio could sit and work on their homework or sit and talk about private things. The odd group of first years would come walking by, but usually ran off when they realised the area was occupied.
"I've been thinking about the clues," Hermione started as they made their way up the hill.
"I'd expect nothing less" Ron joked.
Hermione glared back but continued, "anyways, I think renames slowly is an anagram."
"A what?" Harry asked as the trio reached the tree and sat down underneath; shielded from the sun by the large branches and leaves.
"An anagram; it's when an original word is mixed together to form another word. To solve the clue, you just have to unscramble the second word which will give you the original. Understand?"
"No," the boys replied in unison; Hermione rolled her eyes at the pair. How they passed any of their exams, she would never know.
"Watch," the young witch replied as she wrote out 'renames slowly' on a piece of parchment and began to scramble them, crossing out phrases that did not make any kind of sense.
Harry and Ron realised that, as usual, they were pretty useless as their best friend continued to make up more and more words, eliminating them when they did not make sense.
Instead the boys decided to start their own conversation as they watched Hermione struggling from afar. At one point Ron even suggested that they leave Hermione to it and go for a swim in the Lake, seeing as the weather was still unusually pleasant for a mid-September afternoon. Harry, however, rightly pointed out that that was not a very good idea, especially with the Giant Squid that owned the water there.
Finally, after multiple failed attempts, Hermione felt that was left with two words that did make sense but was unsure of the order.
"Does 'I swear solemnly' or 'I solemnly swear' sound better?" Hermione asked her two friends who had clearly distanced themselves from her to start a new conversation without interrupting.
"Errr… the second one I guess. I don't know, Ron?" Harry stuttered as their attention was brought back to the task at hand.
"Yeah, the second one." Ron replied without a hint of confidence in his voice.
Hermione picked up the map and held out her wand, "I solemnly swear…"
With that, the second clue disappeared from the browning piece of parchment as Hermione let out a squeal. "We did it!" She exclaimed as she excitedly studied the map.
"You did it Hermione, Ron and I weren't much help!"
"It's given us another clue," spoke Hermione as she showed the boys the front of the parchment.
Brilliant you are almost there! Now, being the nice person, that I am;
"Well, I think you should -"
"Shut up Wormtail."
"Here's the final clue my friend, look three lines backwards and at the end."
"It's like it's trying to have a conversation with us." Harry replied blankly as he shuffled back to sitting next to Hermione who had the map out in front of her.
"Three lines backwards and at the end; three lines backwards and at the end." Hermione whispered under her breath as she continued to repeat the clue in the hopes that something would magically come to her brain. The clues did seem to be getting easier and she knew they were close to solving it; the sooner they solved the map, the sooner Harry could return it to its proper owner...
Harry started at the map intently; he counted three lines backwards, and looked at the end of the sentence. "Could the next clue be, that I am? It is three lines up and at the end of the sentence?"
Hermione looked at him shocked; Harry instantly knew that he was more than likely correct if his whiz head best friend was sporting that kind of expression. That was the quickest they'd figured out a clue and all Harry wanted to do was get to the end and see what this mysterious looking parchment was all about.
It had to be of some importance, Harry thought to himself; otherwise, why on earth would Lupin keep it around, in a locked drawer no less. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that the map was less innocent than it looked which only fuelled his curiosity further.
"Try it." Hermione replied as she handed the map over to Harry who placed it on the ground in front of his crossed legs.
The teen felt his robe for his wand and then his pockets as he realised, he could not feel the thin piece of wood. "I've left my wand somewhere; can I borrow yours?"
His mind instantly began replaying his guardians' words over and over about the importance of having his wand on him at all times and the man's warnings of the consequences he would use should he be found without it. He knew he should go and find it but he also wanted to solve this map; especially as he was sure that they were just an inch away from finishing it.
Besides, the only thing that could really harm him out here would be the dementors and Harry knew Lupin had met with Dumbledore last night about keeping the dementors off school grounds. He would be fine, and if he wasn't, he knew Hermione and Ron had their wands to protect him. His guardians was just trying to turn him into an overthinking worry wart like himself Harry rationalised.
"We should probably go and find it Harry," Hermione said as she handed her wand over all the same.
Harry spoke what he believed to be the answer, "I solemnly swear that I am," as he pointed the wand to the front of the paper.
Slowly but surely the entire conversation disappeared from the map and was replaced with just a few words...
Final clue...
"Good no to up"
Hermione laughed as she instantly took the map from Harry's grip, along with her wand. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
The map instantly went blank before the front began to reveal its cover as a castle like drawing appeared in the background, along with banners and a hint of red.
'Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers, are proud to present The Marauders Map'
"Brilliant Hermione!" Harry said excitedly as the trio watched the map develop. He was thinking that he should be worried about finding his wand but all attention was, for now, going to this map and its contents.
Very quickly, it became clear that this was a map of the castle and parts of the surrounding grounds, halting just before Hogsmeade village. Hermione slowly began to open the map into its entirety as the trio noticed that each room of the castle had a label, along with each floor.
The map was filled with tiny footprints all over; some were too clumped together to be readable in the common rooms and dorms however others, who were isolated into smaller groups, were very much legible and accurate.
"Wait!" Ron exclaimed, "there's us, by the lake!"
The three stared at the map as Hermione opened it up fully. All thoughts of Harry's missing wand had vanished. There, sat by the lake, was 6 small footprints labelled Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Look there's Fred and George walking up from the lake, and there's McGonagall in the History of Magic classroom!" Ron narrated as he looked over the map.
"Where's Lupin?" Harry asked as he realised, he was yet to see the man. Quite peculiar considering the man usually told him when he would be leaving the castle or had a meeting that he had to attend.
Hermione looked the map over before realising there were a number of other people missing too. "Dumbledore, Snape and Sprout aren't on here either. Flitwick is now walking to the gates that lead to Hogsmeade."
"Perhaps there's something going on there?" Harry asked, not expecting any kind of a reply. "Or maybe they are walking to the apparition spot?"
"We could go have a look? Your guardian isn't in the castle, nor is Dumbledore or Snape; there's got to be something going on?"
Harry thought about Ron's suggestion; he kept replaying his guardians' words in his mind about keeping himself safe and not doing anything foolish; but this might just be the only chance he'd get at visiting Hogsmeade without having to worry about being caught. The man could be anywhere right now and hopefully he was far enough away to not notice Harry was missing.
"Sure," Harry replied after some thought. If Ron never seemed to worry about getting into trouble with parents who he'd have to answer to if he was caught, then why should Harry.
"Harry, no! You'll get into so much trouble if your caught; you aren't allowed to be at Hogsmeade when it's swarming with teachers and students let alone going there alone!"
"No offence Hermione, but you aren't my parent, nor can you tell me what I can and can't do." Harry practically snapped back before instantly regretting it. He knew the witch only meant well but she was being to suffocate Harry with all her worrying.
"I know I'm not Harry and I'm not trying to be. Get yourself into trouble; see if I care." And with that, Hermione stood up, grabbed her wand and stormed back to the castle.
Ron looked awkward as though he'd been caught in the middle of a huge confrontation; although he was thankful that, for once, it wasn't him arguing with Hermione. "She'll come round; you'll see."
"Are you going to go then?" Harry questioned as he fought with himself to lose his argumentative tone. "I'll get my cloak from the tower."
"What about your wand though and haven't you got Quidditch practise tonight?"
"Damn Quidditch! This might be the only chance I get this year to go to Hogsmeade on my own. We haven't got time to go and look for my wand!" Harry quickly answered as he stood and raced down the hill and back to the castle. They ran so quickly that they managed to catch up with Hermione who was just about to enter through the portrait.
"Wait!" Harry yelled.
Hermione took a step back as she looked at her flushed faced, best friends. "What is it Harry." Her voice sounded tired.
"I'm sorry about earlier; I know you are only trying to look out for me."
"I realise that I'm worrying a lot just lately but please at least try and not get caught if you still insist on going."
"I'm getting my cloak, don't worry about it. We won't get caught." Harry reassured as he entered the common room behind Hermione and said hello to a few of his friends, before following Ron up to the boy's dormitories.
Harry reached under his bed and pulled out his trunk where he kept a few of his pictures of his parents and his invisibility cloak.
He pulled it out from his trunk before sitting on his bed. "Which passageway looks the best to take?" The teen asked Ron.
"Well, Fred and George have told me a few are already blocked off and this one," the Redhead pointed to the Shrieking Shack "is impossible to get through because of the Whomping Willow."
Harry knew about that passage and had no desire to accidentally leak his guardian's secret of being a Werewolf, therefore he failed to correct Ron about it being impossible.
"How about this one then, it's in one of the quieter parts of the castle?" He thought as he pointed to a passage labelled 'The One-eyed Witch'.
"Sure," Ron replied.
Both boys stood from the bed as Harry picked up the cloak and swept it over himself and Ron. The pair noticed how much tighter the cloak seemed now than when he'd first gotten it two years ago; they were certainly growing up quickly.
"Stay under here until we get into the passage, okay? I don't want to risk anyone catching us."
"Yep," Ron reassured as they descended down the spiral staircase and into the busy Gryffindor Common Room. They had to work hard to avoid bumping into anyone and cause their cover to be blown; even Hermione failed to notice the portrait door opening on its own.
The walk down to the passageway was long and difficult; with dinner being served in only ten minutes, the corridors were beginning to fill up again, making staying under a cloak that was already too small, more than difficult.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he looked down at the map and noticed that they were almost at the passageway. After turning the last corner, there stood a statue that was true to its name, the witch was very much one-eyed which was not something Harry had noticed before.
Harry glanced down at the map and realised that it was glowing up with a spell-like word 'Dissendium'.
"Get your wand out Ron,"
Ron reached in his pocket and looked down at the map. He then spoke the incarnation and the two watched as the statue moved away to relieve a small looking tunnel.
Ron stepped down into the passage first as Harry followed shortly after. The passage was lit up as Ron cast a Lumos Charm and the statue moved back, blocking off the passage way.
"Are you sure about this Harry?" Ron asked to double check before they got too far in to turn back.
"Yeah - yeah I'm sure. Why? Aren't you?"
"No, I'm fine with it; I just didn't want you to be worried about getting into trouble with Lupin, that's all."
"I won't be because we aren't going to get caught." Harry smirked, trying to make himself seem more confident than he felt.
He knew it was wrong and he knew his guardian was doing everything in his power to keep him safe but this was too good of an opportunity to pass up. He was only going to be gone for less than an hour, if Lupin didn't know he was at Hogsmeade, then nor would Sirius Black; everything was going to be fine.
"Well, I guess the only way we can go is straight?" Ron said light heartedly as he took the clock off now that they were in no danger of being spotted.
"I suppose," Harry answered as he continued to stare at the map in awe. "This is pretty cool isn't it."
"Yeah, I bet Fred and George would be jealous. Wait till you see their faces when I tell them!"
"You can't tell them Ron! No one can know about this. I'm not going to get in trouble just because you thought Fred and George should know."
"Oh, no, you're right mate. I forgot how you got the map."
The two boys walked in almost silence as Harry began to doubt whether it was actually a good idea. He couldn't help replay in his mind what Lupin would say if he found out.
"Lupin would kill me if he knew I was doing this." Harry finally admitted despite their conversation only moments ago.
"My mum would too, I'd be grounded forever." Ron replied casually. Harry did not doubt his best mates' words. He had seen Mrs Weasley angry at her children multiple times; rarely was Harry included in this, but he had no desire to every be on the resaving end of her rath. Remus would likely lecture him but Molly… No one could yell quite as loudly as she could.
The pair continued down the passage way, dodging spider webs as they went, much to Ron's discomfort. The passage began to get lighter as Harry took out the map and realised that his suspicions were correct, they had managed to reach the end of the passageway and were just at the tip of the map, where Hogsmeade was cut off.
"I guess we go through the trapdoor?" Harry suggested as he lightly pushed the door above their heads.
Ron, being taller than Harry, pushed the door up first and pulled himself up; he then gave Harry a helping hand as the pair stood in what seemed to be a cellar for the store's stock.
There were boxes stacked higher than Harry's head, that looked as though they were going to fall any moment. The room also had a dusty, mould type smell that filled the boy's noses causing Harry to sneeze. The pair held their breath as they listened carefully for the door at the stop of the stairs to bust open. When no such thing happened, they slowly moved to the other side of the room to hide underneath the steep staircase, out of sight.
"We must be in Honeydukes." Ron said as they glanced around the room, "there's boxes full of sweets, I've heard my older brothers talking about this place all the time. It's usually so busy on Hogsmeade weekends, that you can hardly move!"
"Not that I'll ever get to experience that." Harry replied sourly but not meaning to cause any offence to Ron. He mentally noted that he would ask Lupin one last time to sign his permission slip and, if the answer was no again, he would give up trying.
"Well, we are here now aren't we," the redhead smirked as he grabbed the end of the invisibility cloak and pulled it on as Harry went under the other side.
The two were careful to be extra cautious as they climbed up the staircase that would lead to the shop floor; Harry accidentally made the stair creek slightly at one point but thankfully the shopkeeper failed to notice, once again.
They listened intently at the door for a couple of minutes until they heard the bell on the door ring and the shopkeeper greeted the new customer. The boys took this as the perfect moment for their getaway as they pushed the door open and exited the shop as quickly as they could to avoid detection.
Harry stepped out into the cobbled street as he looked around in awe. The shops were similar to that of Diagon Alley but were much smaller in height. They were painted all kinds of bright colours and all had a rounded front with the shop's items on display to attract customers. Harry was sure the little village had all the shops that Diagon Alley had, but in a fraction of the size.
Harry knew they had to be careful as the village wasn't exactly busy; they couldn't be walking into shops, making doors open and close on their own, despite the area being one of the only places still entirely inhabited by witches and wizards.
"What should we do first?" Ron said excitedly. He'd heard many stories from his older brothers, Fred and George about how they'd snuck off to Hogsmeade before without getting caught. Before, Ron could not understand why they would do so when there were monthly Hogsmeade weekends but now he understood; the rush of adrenaline and the peacefulness of the small town was brilliant.
"Let's just follow someone and see what shops they happen to go into."
Ron picked out a young male, who was around their late twenties, and followed him around for a while; Harry got a look at the post office, joke shop and Scrivenshaft's Quill shop before the pair called it a day as it began to get very hot and stuffy under the cloak. They agreed to look at Honeydukes on their way back to the passageway as they found looking for a place to take the cloak off for a few moments, a much more pressing priority.
The pair rounded the corner that left the main part of Hogsmeade for a wooded area where the Shrieking Shack was noticeable in the distance. Harry and Ron walked over to a large rock where they sat down on top, taking the cloak off for a moment's breather.
"Did you know that's the most haunted building in Britain?" Ron asked as he visibly shivered.
"Really?" Harry replied as he could already sense where this conversation was heading.
"Yeah, the locals have all reported hearing screams and shouts; none of them will go near it."
Harry decided to play along, "I don't blame them."
"I don't know why they don't just pull it down. It looks like one gust of wind would topple it anyways."
Harry opened his mouth to reply before hearing multiple footsteps in the distance which were quickly joined by loud voices; Harry felt his face go white as one of the voices he would know from a mile off.
"Shit" Harry whispered as he threw the cloak over himself and Ron.
"What what's going -"
"Shhh!" Harry hissed back, "Lupin is coming."
Harry jumped off the rock along with Ron, and the pair pressed themselves against the thick tree line that went around the area.
"I appreciate that, however I will not be content until the dementors are removed from the school Albus. My child gets into enough trouble on his own, without adding the dementor and their targeting of him to the mix."
Harry watched as Remus, Dumbledore, Snape, Sprout and Flitwick all stood, more or less, in a line in front of the Shrieking Shack.
"Cornelius has informed me that he will be in touch; however, until then, all we can do is strengthen the wards around the school, which, as you know, is why I have asked for your help here today."
"Strengthening the wards does not help the issue that Harry faints whenever the dementors come near him."
"I know Remus; however the quicker Black is caught, the quicker the dementors can leave the school's grounds."
"Should Black be captured, I assume the dementors have been authorised to give the dementor's kiss?" Snape asked in a tone too cheerful for Harry's liking.
The 'kiss' wasn't something he recognised; Remus had never informed him that the dementors were able to do much else other than cause people to faint.
"I am unaware of any such authorisation Severus, but I can only guess that the dementors' orders are similar to that of when they are stationed at Azkaban."
Harry watched as Remus's face paled slightly. He now knew that his Guardian and Sirius were once friends and was starting to become curious about the man's thoughts on Sirius Black's innocence. Harry was positive that if either Ron or Hermione committed such a crime against him, he would also be more than sceptical of whether they were guilty or not.
The boys then watched as the group of Professors began to raise their wands and repeat a spell that Harry did not recognise, over and over again. The sky in front of them began to link in in a protective bubble that vanished a few moments after each Professor's spells linked.
"That should be enough to keep Black at bay for the next few weeks." The small charms Professor Filius Flitwick commented as the group lowered their wands.
"Will we be repeating this spell in a month or so's time then?" Lupin asked.
"Unless the situation changes, I think it would be highly beneficial for the students and staff to know that they are protected. I would be more than happy to repeat this." Professor Sprout, head of Hufflepuff house, replied.
"In the meantime, I would like you to inform the students of your house that there will be a change in the rules. No student is to be walking around the castle alone and curfew will be changed from 9pm to 7pm for all students as the evenings begin pulling in."
Harry watched from afar as Sprout, Flitwick and Snape bid the headmaster farewell and made their way back up to the castle, leaving Lupin and Dumbledore standing just in front of the rock where Harry and Ron had once sat.
"Have you spoken with Harry yet?" The headmaster asked.
"No, I intend to go and talk to him in the Gryffindor tower, the moment I get back to the castle. I will ask him about the meeting and the arrangements he would prefer." The man paused and scratched his head. "I've given some thought about whether I should tell Harry what he is seeing when the dementors target him and I am intending on waiting until later in the year or whenever it comes up in conversation. Harry is a sensitive child, I know he is more than frustrated with all the rules I've set down for him already; he does not need something else to be worrying about."
Harry scrunched his nose up as he listened to his guardian. It was too cryptic to understand quite what the man was talking about which made him feel worse.
"And what about Sirius Black? When do you intend on informing him about your past friendship with him?"
The two professor's had Harry's full attention now; Ron too seemed to be listening intently also as he edged closer to Harry's side.
"Again, when the time feels right. I worry that if I do tell him of our past, it will make him want to seek the man out. Harry is impulsive and downright foolish at times; there's not a doubt in my mind that if he were to find out that myself and his father had a close friendship with him, not to mention that he is still his Godfather, Harry will be furious. I would much rather tell him when Black is caught and is finally given a fair trial."
Harry felt his face warm at the man's description of him. His breath hitched, as did Ron's, and then his legs turned to jelly when he heard the truth.
Sirius Black was his Godfather.
The one person who was meant to take him should anything happen to his parents; the person who was meant to raise him when no one else could, betrayed his parents in the worst possible way. That was enough to tip Harry over the edge.
He fought the urge to whip the cloak off and yell at his guardian for not telling him; however, even he could see the irony in his actions if he were to do so. The man had just described him as impulsive and foolish; taking his cloak off and being at Hogsmeade after all the warnings he'd been given would be proving his guardian correct, without a doubt.
"I could not agree more Remus; I intend to floo Cornelius tonight and request that Sirius be given a trial after all these years when he is caught. I realise the ministry was overworked back then, but sentencing the man to life in Azkaban without a trial is no excuse."
Harry could see the hurt and disappointment in the headmaster's eyes; it was the first time Harry could recall seeing the man look such a way.
Then, as if out of thin air, a note appeared in front of his guardian as he hastily opened the envelope.
"It's from Minerva; she has requested that I come back to the castle; something to do with Harry." Lupin sighed as he turned on his heel, "that child will be the death of me. I will speak more with you later" he said to Dumbledore, before walking back up to the main part of the little village.
Harry waited only a moment before himself and Ron practically ran behind him. He could have sworn he'd made eye contact with his headmaster but did not even have time to react as the boys rushed to Honeydukes to get to the passage.
Harry couldn't care less that the shop door had just magically opened and closed on its own causing the shop owner to give a curious look as he went to inspect. His attention was drawn from the door behind the counter, just long enough that the boys were able to sneak behind and through, without being detected. The pair were down the trapdoor and back into the passage quicker than lightning.
"Are you alright?" Ron was quick to ask as the door shut on top of them.
"Yes - no, I don't know." Harry stuttered out. "We've just got to get back to the tower."
Harry whipped out the map from his pockets that still showed the castle; Lupin had just come into view as he entered the castle grounds through the front gates. Harry knew they were around ten minutes behind his guardian and he had no idea how he was going to explain himself out of this one.
"I can't believe Sirius Black is your Godfather." Ron said quietly as they jogged back to the castle. They were both breathing heavily by now.
"Nor can I. Why would Remus keep that from me?"
"Dunno mate; I think it seems a bit unfair but adults always have ways to explain why don't they."
Harry knew this, and was positive Lupin would come up with some sort of excuse as to why he didn't tell him. That was another reason why he knew he couldn't tell the man what he'd seen, and now heard.
Harry checked the map once again and saw that his guardian was heading towards McGonagall's office. He felt himself involuntary gulp.
After what felt like the longest moments of Harry's life, the pair finally reached the end of the tunnel as Ron spoke the incarnation once again to move the statue.
"Take the map, if we run into Lupin in the halls, say we were in the Owlery. I'll leave my cloak down here."
"Why should I take the map?"
"Incase Lupin asks me to turn out my pockets or something. He probably won't ask you, and if he does, I'll say it was mine."
"Oh right, okay." Ron replied as he stuffed the map into his pockets.
Harry checked the map one last time; Lupin was still in McGonagall's office but it was certainly closer to the tower than they were.
Closing the statue behind them, Harry and Ron raced through the corridors, and up the stairs to get to the tower; too fearful to get the map out in public, it stayed stored away, safely in Ron's jumper pocket. It was a guessing game as to who was going to get to the tower first.
Harry climbed the final set of stairs as he felt his stomach drop.
"Bloody hell." Harry swore under his breath as he watched his guardian talking to the portrait.
"Remus!" The teen called as Ron eventually joined him at the top of the staircase.
"Where have you been?" The man's tone was harsh and much sterner than Harry had heard from the man in a while.
Ron interjected before Harry could get a word in, "We were at the Owlery, Professor."
"So, if I were to ask Hermione so would tell me the same thing, correct?"
"Yes,"
"She didn't know where we were going." Harry glared at Ron as the boys said different things at the same time.
"Get some night clothes Harry; you are going to spend the night down in our quarters."
The professor moved out of the way of the open portrait to allow Ron to step inside, Harry held back a moment.
"I don't want to sleep down there tonight." Harry responded feebly.
"I do not particularly care for what you would like to do at the moment. You are to gather some clothes and meet me back out here in 5 minutes. Any longer and I will be forced to get some for you." Lupin spoke harshly.
There was no arguing with that Harry thought as he turned his back on the man and rolled his eyes. The man knew where he had been; the teen was sure of it.
Entering the common room, Harry noticed their usual table was unexpectedly deserted, despite Hermione's large stack of books still on the table, along with parchment and a quill.
Harry however, didn't have a second to question it as he took the spiral staircase two at a time to his dormitory.
He pushed the door open with more force than he'd like as the handle slammed against the wall. Harry was surprised to see Ron sitting on his bed and Hermione was opposite.
"Are you in trouble?" Ron asked sympathetically.
"I don't know yet." Harry replied honestly as he opened his drawers to retrieve some pyjamas and a clean uniform for the next day. "I'm sleeping down in our quarters tonight."
Hermione nodded as she refrained from saying what she wanted to. She had had a feeling that, before long Lupin was going to find out; Harry had pushed his luck too far.
"I'll back you up if Professor Lupin asks where you were." Hermione reassured.
"Cheers Hermione. Anyways, I've got to go," Harry stated as he stuffed his clothes into a backpack. "I'll see you in class tomorrow."
"See ya, good luck"
"Bye Harry."
Much too soon, they arrived down in the teachers wing. Remus magically opened the door, before speaking, instructing Harry to sit down.
Harry glared up at the man but hastily sat down on the sofa as he watched Lupin pace up and down in front of him.
Remus was unsure how to handle this; he was more than frustrated with the child. He'd tried being honest with him, he tried being jokey and light hearted but neither had worked. He had also warned Harry that there would be no messing around with any breaking the rules; not where Sirius Black was concerned. As far as the man knew, Black was after his child and so Harry putting himself at any unnecessary risks was going to force the man to enforce consequences as a reminder.
"I'm more than positive that there was a certain item that I asked to be in your possession at all times only the other day. What was it?"
Harry released his breath slightly as his brain realised that this was unlikely about his trip to Hogsmeade; however, if his guardian was this upset about his wand, Harry cringed at the thought of how he would react to everything else the teen had done over the past few days.
"My wand." Harry whispered.
"Precisely; and do you remember me saying that I would like you to be able to present your wand to me, whenever I ask?"
Harry nodded.
"So, tell me Harry, where is your wand right now?"
Harry gulped, "I don't know."
The man had moved to sit in his armchair as he lightly grabbed Harry's arm to pull the boy up, and stand in front of him.
"Did you have any intention of ever going to find it?" Remus asked in an exasperated tone.
"Yes, I was going to when we got back from the Owlery." Harry lied.
The man raised an eyebrow at his ward; some things were beginning to not add up. "Was that before or after you went back to the tower?"
Harry paused for a moment as he mentally scolded himself; the man could see through his lies, Harry was sure of it. "After, we were going to get Hermione to help us."
Remus nodded unconvincingly. The man knew he had no proof to show that the teen was lying so was forced to take his word for it. "Why exactly did you not think to come and inform me that your wand had been missing for nearly four hours?"
"I don't know! I guess I wasn't thinking straight." Harry replied desperately. He was starting to feel more than frustrated with the man's constant questioning; especially when he knew how much his guardian was also lying about things.
"I understand that, however I have reminded you countless times of always make sure you have your wand on you; you should have informed either myself or any other member of staff who could have brought you to me."
"I didn't think of that." Harry rolled his eyes.
"That much is clear. I strongly believe that you are not taking the current situation at hand seriously!"
"I am!" Harry snapped back. He just wanted to go to his room and stop being forced to talk with a man that was continuously lying to his face.
"I definitely disagree which is why you are grounded to these quarters for the next two days as a reminder and so that I can keep a closer eye on you. You have clearly not been taking this seriously enough and I am going to put a stop to that right now."
Harry looked at the man in disbelief. "Two days?! I didn't even do anything that bad!"
"I can certainly employ other consequences should you believe this to be unfair" Remus paused as Harry shook his head quickly.
The grounding was hardly a punishment in Remus's eyes. Harry would still get to see his friends during classes and it wasn't as though it was the weekend. He would just be sleeping in his bedroom down in the teachers quarters. It also meant that the man could keep spend a bit more time with his ward as the teen had been more than off with him for a while now.
"Sirius Black is not a joke or a threat that should be taken lightly. I've tried being brutally honest and I've tried to be light hearted about the situation; neither has worked so you've left me with little other choice." The man then held out Harry's wand as the teen snatched it from the man's hand and stuffed it into his robe before starting to walk away.
"You're just being a git." Harry spoke in a voice much louder than he usually would, as his guardian quickly grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back to standing in front of him.
"Excuse me?" Remus's voice was lower and sterner than Harry had ever heard. That alone should've been enough to tell him to stop; but it wasn't.
"What? You are!" Harry shouted; having this conversation with the man was just the icing on the cake with what he'd already overheard that day; or rather, what the adults in his life were hiding from him.
"You know that the only reason I keep reminding you of the rules is that you don't do anything foolish and out yourself in harms way. I am your guardian Harry; it isn't my job to be fair, it's my job to keep you alive and safe."
"But you're always telling me what I can and can't do; suffocating me with all these stupid bloody rules and then scolding me all the time like a toddler!" Harry's voice raised a couple of decibels to a yell as anger pumped through his veins, so much so, that a mug that sat in the table magically fell and smashed onto the floor. "You just want to make my life miserable and you aren't -" Harry felt his anger disparate as Lupin took a hold of Harry's arm, turning him to the side, as the man's hand collided with his backside not once but twice.
"Watch your language and your tone. Calm yourself down; you are far to old to be having doubts of accidental magic." Remus scolded as he let go of the loose grip he'd held on the boy's arm.
Harry stepped back as his hands instantly covered his backside. He scowled at his guardian as tears threatened to fall. He knew he was upset and angry about everything, but he certainly did not think it was enough to cause the accidental magic for the mug to smash.
Lupin saw the hurt in the boy's face as he waved his wand and cleaned up the smashed mug. He hadn't intended on swatting the teen but in the same breath, he did not regret it; it was more to stop the teenager's outburst than to cause actual discomfort. They were hardly hard and it wasn't as though the child had not been warned or been through much worse pain before.
"You clearly need a reminder that you do not talk to me in such a way nor let your magic get so out of control. Not only does it ensure that you do not get whatever you are asking for, but it also proves to me that you are far more immature than I thought."
Harry looked up at the mans disappointed face as his stomach dropped. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean any of that. I - I'm just frustrated with everything."
"Again, I recognise your frustration and I certainly do not take any pleasure in stopping you from attending Hogsmeade or constantly checking that you have your wand but my words, before, were just going over your head."
"I don't need to be grounded though. I won't lose it again."
"This isn't about losing your wand Harry; everyone misplaces things from time to time. It's about the fact that you knew you had lost it and continued to wander around the halls as though nothing was wrong or amiss. You had plenty of chances to tell a professor and choose not to because you claimed you forgot; if placing you on restriction for a while is enough to serve as a reminder, then that is what I will do.
Harry sighed as he admitted complete defeat. The teenager gave the man one last pleading look before lowering his eyes to his shoes. "Can I go to my room?"
"Yes, you may." The man had noticed the boys forlorn face and felt a pang of guilt for it. He was just about to let the boy leave before noting that the teen had supposedly been in the Owlery and he failed to see him at dinner, "have you eaten?"
"What?" Harry replied; he was not quite sure what eating had to do with being grounded.
"Did you eat dinner?" The man replied as he stood from his armchair.
"No." The reply was short and blunt.
"I will send Nipa to deliver some sandwiches to your room; you are to eat at least two."
Remus was being more than impossible and totally over reacting about the situation. He didn't even know Harry had been at Hogsmeade, nor did he know of the eavesdropping or how Harry had rummaged around his things and taken the map.
On the other hand, Harry couldn't believe how much his guardian was hiding from him and he was just expected to be okay with it; to not react. Sure, he wasn't actually meant to know about half of the things he did but that was beside the point.
The point was, Sirius Black was best friends with his guardian and parents and was Harry's Godfather; not a single adult in Harry's life had thought to tell him.
Harry rolled onto his stomach and planted his face into his pillow. He hoped that if he sank it in enough, he wouldn't ever have to face Remus again.
He wasn't quite sure how long he'd lay there with his eyes closed, but after a while, he heard his door open as footsteps walked into the middle of the room. Lupin had decided that instead of sending in their assigned elf, he would deliver the sandwiches as he still had a few more things to discuss with his teen.
"I know you are awake."
Harry rolled his eyes again as he rolled back onto his side to face the man.
Lupin was carrying a plate of four sandwiches that he placed on Harry's desk before moving his desk chair and sitting on it, a few metres from Harry's bed. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands in front.
"Last night Professor Dumbledore informed me that the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, would like to meet with us to discuss your progress. Would you prefer the meeting to happen here at Hogwarts or elsewhere?"
"I don't really want it to happen at all." Harry mumbled as he looked up at the man who looked just as stern as he had done in the living room beforehand. "Here I guess."
Remus nodded, "and would you like Professor Dumbledore present or just the two of us."
"Just us two is fine."
Harry watched as his guardian scribbled a note on a piece of parchment and banished it away quickly. He could only assume that the note had been sent to Dumbledore.
"Professor Dumbledore also informed me that, last night, Sirius Black was spotted at Hogsmeade again. It's vitally important that you stay on the castle grounds and do not venture out, especially not alone. Understand?"
Harry felt sick to his stomach. He had been at Hogsmeade today and his guardian had no idea; in fact, he'd been there and had been unarmed, Lupin would surely kill him if he ever found out! "Yes. I get it." The teen replied in an exasperated tone.
"I'm not sure you do Harry, especially after not informing anyone of your missing wand. Professor McGonagall had to retrieve it from the History of Magic classroom where you'd left it under the desk. You also continued to walk down the corridors without it; you cannot be so careless in the future."
"I said I was sorry! It won't happen again." Harry replied as he began to get irritated by the man's constant scolding and his presence in Harry's company all of the time. The teen did not want to say so much as two words to his guardian, yet here he was, expected to spend the two days with him.
"I sincerely hope it doesn't." Lupin gave his ward a stern look. "Gryffindor house are going to be informed by Professor McGonagall this evening that there has been a temporary change to the rules. No student is to be walking alone in the corridors and curfew has been changed from 9pm and 7pm; I want to see you following these rules carefully young man."
"I will." Harry answered shortly as he rolled onto his back. He'd already heard Dumbledore saying that at Hogsmeade earlier that day, however he couldn't tell his guardian that he already knew.
"See to it that you do; I will not hesitate to employ further consequences should you find yourself above either the school rules or my own." Lupin raised his eyebrows at the teen knowingly. It was the absolute last thing the man wanted to do. He despised being upset or angry at the child and certainly did not enjoy punishing him; however, Harry had already proven that he does not listen to his warnings so, Remus decided to take things up a gear when it came to his ward's safety.
Harry felt himself blush at the mans words; there wasn't a doubt in his mind that he knew what his guardian was referring to.
"There a full moon in two days so I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping yourself inside."
"I'm grounded anyway, aren't I?" Harry replied with attitude. He also realised that perhaps the full moon was the reason for the man being so strict and in a seemingly low mood.
"Yes, but you were also told to keep your wand on you at all times... I'm reminding you now so that you do not forget." And with that, the man stood now as he replaced the chair back under the desk.
"Eat your sandwiches and leave them outside your door." Lupin eyed the clock and noted that it was now nearing nine in the evening. "And I'd like you to get an early night; you look exhausted."
Harry scrunched his nose up at the man's demanding word. He didn't think he looked that tired but felt himself yawn all the same.
"Goodnight Cub."
Harry knew he should've replied, especially at his guardian's use of his nickname but did not do so. He loathed every second he was spending with him at the moment and was sure it was going to be this way until the man finally told Harry the entire truth.
Lupin stayed standing in the middle of the child's room, expecting a reply. When it did not come, he sighed and closed the door softly behind him.
He knew Harry likely thought he was being cruel and completely unfair but if that's what it took to keep the mischievous boy safe, then so be it. He wasn't about to offer an apology for grounding the boy; he'd been foolish and irresponsible. Hopefully it would serve as a lesson for him not to forget his wand again.
Remus sat back down in his armchair that he'd occupied a few moments before as he picked at the newspaper that, these days, never had a different front cover. Allowing himself to read parts of it, the man momentarily dozed off as he realised, he was just as tired as his teen had looked.