"Get off me, you filthy Squib!" Cassie yelled, trying to tug her hand away from the bitter caretaker Argus Filch, who was grinning at finally having caught her red-handed, dragging her through the corridors.

"Get off me! I haven't done anything!" Cassie protested.

Filch stopped, his pasty face grinning in delight. "Black, you were caught trying to free the hippogriff after the appeal."

Cassie feigned innocence, then shoved him away harshly. "Me? I would never! I was only, uh, petting it."

Filch scowled at being pushed away. "Does petting a hippogriff involve firing spells at the restraints?"

Cassie frowned, staying silent.

"And when you were caught by the executioner, you proceeded to bribe him. And when he refused, you threatened him with a knife." Filch spat.

"It's a dagger, you moron," Cassie sneered.

"It's not allowed, and I'll be confiscating it," Filch declared incredulously.

"No you wont" cassie scoffed

 "Do you want to try me, Black? You'll have detention with me now. Do you want it to be worse than I planned?"

Cassie rolled her eyes. "You don't scare me."

Filch sneered. "Oh, really? How about one of the professors?"

Cassie faked a yawn before catching the eyes of a certain scarred professor outside his office. Her lips quirked up before turning back to Filch.

 "Any professor is fine," she said, then muttered under her breath a bit too loudly, "Except Lupin."

"Aha!" Filch screamed in delight. "All right. Detention with Lupin it is."

Cassie feigned horror. "No, Filch, NO! He hates me."

Filch, looking extremely pleased with himself, limped towards Lupin, who was opening the gate to his office. "Follow me," Filch commanded.

Cassie smirked before following.

"Professor Lupin," Filch greeted in his oily voice, a triumphant look on his face

Lupin looked up, his eyes shifting from Filch to Cassie, then back again. "Mr. Filch?"

"This one," Filch sneered, "was caught trying to free the hippogriff after the appeal. She was using spells to break the restraints and threatened the executioner with a dagger! I caught her red-handed, Professor! She needs to be punished severely. I suggest detention with you tonight."

Lupin's lips tightened as he looked at Cassie, who was smirking.
 "Oh, tonight I can't—"

Cassie interrupted, "Did you hear that? Tonight he can't—I'll take detention with you, Mr. Filch."

Filch smirked, "Aha—trying to escape, are we? I'm sure the professor will manage," he said, giving Lupin a glance before grinning to himself and limping away.

Once Cassie made sure he was out of sight, she let out a burst of laughter. "He's so easy to fool."

Lupin pinched the tip of his nose, shaking his head. "It's a full moon, Cassie. I can't."

Cassiopeia frowned. "Oh, is it? I lost track."

Lupin nodded.

"But there's time, right?" Cassie said, grinning. "Let's sit in your office for some time so Filch doesn't doubt us. I bet he has Mrs. Norris around."

Lupin sighed but nodded, motioning for Cassie to follow him into his office. They entered the dimly lit room, and Lupin closed the door behind them. Cassie took a seat in one of the comfortable chairs, and Lupin settled at his desk, which was littered with papers and an odd spare parchment folded and kept under one of the books.

"Ooh, what's that, Professor Moony?" Cassie said, pointing at the spare parchment poorly hidden under the pile.

"Nothing," Lupin said immediately, pushing it further out of sight.

"Ooh, does the professor have a secret admirer?" Cassie smirked, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her eye.

Lupin smiled and shook his head. "Nothing like that, Cassie. Just some old notes. Now, let's talk about something else, shall we?"

Cassie leaned back in her chair, still eyeing the hidden parchment with curiosity. "Old notes, huh? Sounds suspiciously intriguing."

"Trust me, it's nothing of interest," Lupin said, his tone final.

Cassie raised her brow but didn't push further. The silence stretched between them, punctuated only by the crackling of the fire.

"I need to try again," Cassie said suddenly, standing up with determination.

"You really shouldn't, Cassie. You'll get in trouble," Lupin warned, 

"When has trouble ever stopped me?" Cassie smirked before performing a Disillusionment Charm over herself. "How is it?" she asked.

"A bit choppy," Lupin remarked, "but no one will notice."

Cassie walked towards the door, opening it quietly. "Have a nice moon," she remarked cheerfully before stepping out, letting the door close slowly behind her.

Lupin smiled fondly and pulled the parchment out from its hiding place. He tapped it with his wand and whispered, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Lupin's eyes traced the familiar paths and names He watched Cassie's dot move stealthily towards the exit

"Just like your father," he murmured to himself, 

As he continued to study the map, his gaze swept over the various moving dots representing the students and staff of Hogwarts. Suddenly, something unusual caught his eye.

Lupin's brow furrowed as he leaned in closer, scrutinizing the unexpected movement on the map.

**************************

the confrontation scene takes place between sirius and harry and it will remain the same

**************************

"Ron -- are you okay?"

 "Where's the dog?"

"Not a dog," Ron moaned. His teeth were gritted with pain.

 "Harry, it'sa trap --"

"What --"

"He's the dog... he's an Animagus."Ron was staring over Harry's shoulder.

 Harry wheeled around. With asnap, the man in the shadows closed the door behind them.

 A mass of filthy, matted hair hung to his elbows. If eyes hadn't beenshining out of the deep, dark sockets, he might have been a corpse. Thewaxy skin was stretched so tightly over the bones of his face, it lookedlike a skull. His yellow teeth were bared in a grin. It was SiriusBlack.

 "Expelliarmus!"he croaked, pointing Ron's wand at them.

Harry's and Hermione's wands shot out of their hands, high in the air,and Black caught them. Then he took a step closer. His eyes were fixedon Harry.

"I thought you'd come and help your friend," he said hoarsely.His voice sounded as though he had long since lost the habit of usingit.

"Your father would have done the same for me. Brave of you not torun for a teacher. I'm grateful... it will make everything mucheasier...."

The taunt about his father rang in Harry's ears as though Black hadbellowed it. A boiling hate erupted in Harry's chest, leaving no placefor fear. For the first time in his life, he wanted his wand back in hishand, not to defend himself, but to attack... to kill. Without knowing what he was doing, he started forward, but there was a sudden movementon either side of him and two pairs of hands grabbed him and held himback....

"No, Harry!" Hermione gasped in a petrified whisper;

 Ron,however, spoke to Black."If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too!" he saidfiercely, though the effort of standing upright was draining him ofstill more color, and he swayed slightly as he spoke.

 Something flickered in Black's shadowed eyes."Lie down," he said quietly to Ron. "You will damage that leg evenmore."

 "Did you hear me?" Ron said weakly, though he was clinging painfully toHarry to stay upright.

 "You'll have to kill all three of us!""There'll be only one murder here tonight," said Black, and his grinwidened.

"Why's that?" Harry spat, trying to wrench himself free of Ron, andHermione.

"Didn't care last time, did you? Didn't mind slaughtering allthose Muggles to get at Pettigrew... What's the matter, gone soft inAzkaban?"

 "Harry!" Hermione whimpered. "Be quiet!"

"HE KILLED MY MUM AND DAD!" Harry roared, and with a huge effort hebroke free of Hermione's and Ron's restraint and lunged forward -He had forgotten about magic -- he had forgotten that he was short andskinny and thirteen, whereas Black was a tall, full-grown man -- allHarry knew was that he wanted to hurt Black as badly as he could andthat he didn't care how much he got hurt in return --Perhaps it was the shock of Harry doing something so stupid, but Blackdidn't raise the wands in time -- one of Harry's hands fastened over hiswasted wrist, forcing the wand tips away; the knuckles of Harry's otherhand collided with the side of Black's head and they fell, backward,into the wall -  Hermione was screaming; Ron was yelling; there was a blinding flash asthe wands in Black's hand sent a jet of sparks into the air that missedHarry's face by inches;

 Harry felt the shrunken arm under his fingerstwisting madly, but he clung on, his other hand punching every part ofBlack it could find.But Black's free hand had found Harry's throat"No," he hissed, "I've waited too long --"The fingers tightened, Harry choked, his glasses askew.

 Then he saw Hermione's foot swing out of nowhere. Black let go of Harrywith a grunt of pain; Ron had thrown himself on Black's wand hand andHarry heard a faint clatter --He fought free of the tangle of bodies and saw his own wand rollingacross the floor; he threw himself toward it but

 "Argh!"Crookshanks had joined the fray; both sets of front claws had sunkthemselves deep into Harry's arm;
Harry threw him off, but Crookshanksnow darted toward Harry's wand --"NO YOU DON'T!" roared Harry, and he aimed a kick at Crookshanks thatmade the cat leap aside, spitting;

 Harry snatched up his wand and turned-"Get out of the way!" he shouted at Ron and Hermione.They didn't need telling twice. Hermione, gasping for breath, her lipbleeding, scrambled aside, snatching up her and Ron's wands

 "Going to kill me, Harry?" he whispered.Harry stopped right above him, his wand still pointing at Black's chest,looking down at him. A livid bruise was rising around Black's left eyeand his nose was bleeding.

"You killed my parents," said Harry, his voice shaking slightly, but hiswand hand quite steady.Black stared up at him out of those sunken eyes.

"I don't deny it," he said very quietly. "But if you knew the wholestory."

"The whole story?" Harry repeated, a furious pounding in his ears. "Yousold them to Voldemort. That's all I need to know."

"You've got to listen to me," Black said, and there was a note ofurgency in his voice now. "You'll regret it if you don't.... You don'tunderstand....""I understand a lot better than you think," said Harry, and his voiceshook more than ever.

 "You never heard her, did you? My mum... trying tostop Voldemort killing me... and you did that... you did it...."Before either of them could say another word, something ginger streakedpast Harry; Crookshanks leapt onto Black's chest and settled himselfthere, right over Black's heart. Black blinked and looked down at thecat.

 "Get off," he murmured, trying to push Crookshanks off him.But Crookshanks sank his claws into Black's robes and wouldn't shift. Heturned his ugly, squashed face to Harry and looked up at him with thosegreat yellow eyes. To his right, Hermione gave a dry sob.Harry stared down at Black and Crookshanks, his grip tightening on thewand. So what if he had to kill the cat too? It was in league withBlack.... 

 Harry raised the wand. Now was the moment to do it. Now was the momentto avenge his mother and father. He was going to kill Black. He had tokill Black. This was his chance

And then came a new sound -Muffled footsteps were echoing up through the floor -- someone wasmoving downstairs."WE'RE UP HERE!" Hermione screamed suddenly. "WE'RE UP HERE --SIRIUSBLACK - QUICK!"Black made a startled movement that almost dislodged Crookshanks; Harrygripped his wand convulsively -

Harrywheeled around as Professor Lupin came hurtling into the room, his facebloodless, his wand raised and ready. His eyes flickered over Ron, lyingon the floor, over Hermione, cowering next to the door, to Harry,standing there with his wand covering Black, and then to Black himself,crumpled and bleeding at Harry's feet.

"Expelliarmus!" Lupin shouted.Harry's wand flew once more out of his hand; so did the two Hermione washolding. Lupin caught them all deftly, then moved into the room, staringat Black, who still had Crookshanks lying Protectively across his chest

 "Where is he, Sirius?"Harry looked quickly at Lupin.

Black's face was quite expressionless. For a few seconds, he didn't moveat all. Then, very slowly, he raised his empty hand and pointed straightat Ron. Mystified, Harry glanced around at Ron, who looked bewildered. 

"But then..." Lupin muttered, staring at Black so intently it seemed hewas trying to read his mind, "... why hasn't he shown himself beforenow? Unless" -- Lupin's eyes suddenly widened, as though he was seeingsomething beyond Black, something none of the rest could see, "-- unlesshe was the one... unless you switched... without telling me?"

Very slowly, his sunken gaze never leaving Lupin's face, Black nodded."Professor," Harry interrupted loudly, "what's going on --?"

 But he never finished the question, because what he saw made his voicedie in his throat. Lupin was lowering his wand, gazing fixed at Black.The Professor walked to Black's side, seized his hand, pulled him to hisfeet so that Crookshanks fell to the floor, and embraced Black like abrother.

"DON'T BELIEVE IT!" Hermione screamed.Lupin let go of Black and turned to her.  "You -- you --""Hermione --""-- you and him!"

 "Hermione, calm down --" 

 "I didn't tell anyone!" Hermione shrieked. "I've been covering up foryou --"

 "Hermione, listen to me, please'" Lupin shouted. "I can explain --"

Harry could feel himself shaking, not with fear, but with a fresh waveof fury."I trusted you," he shouted at Lupin, his voice wavering, out ofcontrol, "and all the time you've been his friend!"

 "You're wrong," said Lupin. "I haven't been Sirius's friend, but I amnow -- Let me explain...."

 "NO!" Hermione screamed. "Harry, don't trust him, he's been helpingBlack get into the castle, he wants you dead too -- he's a werewolf!"

There was a ringing silence. Everyone's eyes were now on Lupin, wholooked remarkably calm, though rather pale.

 "Not at all up to your usual standard, Hermione," he said. "Only one outof three, I'm afraid. I have not been helping Sirius get into the castleand I certainly don't want Harry dead. An odd shiver passed over hisface. "But I won't deny that I am a werewolf."

Ron made a valiant effort to get up again but fell back with a whimperof pain. Lupin made toward him, looking concerned, but Ron gasped,

 "Getaway from me, werewolf!"Lupin stopped dead.

Then, with an obvious effort, he turned to Hermioneand said, "How long have you known?"

 "Ages," Hermione whispered. "Since I did Professor Snape's essay..."

 "He'll be delighted," said Lupin coolly. "He assigned that essay hopingsomeone would realize what my symptoms meant.... Did you check the lunarchart and realize that I was always ill at the full moon? Or did yourealize that the boggart changed into the moon when it saw me?" 

 "Both," Hermione said quietly.Lupin forced a laugh."You're the cleverest witch of your age I've ever met, Hermione.

 "I'm not," Hermione whispered. "If I'd been a bit cleverer, I'd havetold everyone what you are!"

 "But they already know," said Lupin. "At least, the staff do."

 "Dumbledore hired you when he knew you were a werewolf. Ron gasped. "Ishe mad?"

"Some of the staff thought so," said Lupin. "He had to work very hard toconvince certain teachers that I'm trustworthy --"

 "AND HE WAS WRONG!" Harry yelled. "YOUVE BEEN HELPING HIM ALLTHE TIME!"He was pointing at Black, 

 I have not been helping Sirius," said Lupin. "If you'll give me achance, I'll explain. Look --"He separated Harry's, Ron's and Hermione's wands and threw each back toits owner; Harry caught his, stunned.There, said Lupin, sticking his own wand back into his belt

"You'rearmed, we're not. Now will you listen?"Harry didn't know what to think. Was it a trick?

. "The Marauder's Map. I was in my office examiningit --" 

 "You know how to work it?" Harry said suspiciously.

"Of course I know how to work it," said Lupin, waving his handimpatiently. "I helped write it. I'm Moony -- that was my friends'nickname for me at school."

"You wrote --?""The important thing is, I was watching it carefully this evening,because I had an idea that you, Ron, and Hermione might try and sneakout of the castle to visit Hagrid before his hippogriff was executed.And I was right, wasn't I"


"I watchedyou cross the grounds and enter Hagrid's hut. Twenty minutes later, youleft Hagrid, and set off back toward the castle. But you were nowaccompanied by somebody else."

 "What?" said Harry. "No, we weren't!"I couldn't believe my eyes," said Lupin, still pacing, and ignoringHarry's interruption.

"I thought the map must be malfunctioning. Howcould he be with you?"

"No one was with us!" said Harry."And then I saw another dot, moving fast toward you, labeled SiriusBlack.... I saw him collide with you; I watched as he pulled two of youinto the Whomping Willow --"

"One of us!" Ron said angrily.

"No, Ron," said Lupin. "Two of you."He had stopped his pacing, his eyes moving over Ron."Do you think I could have a look at the rat?" he said evenly.

"What?" said Ron. "What's Scabbers got to do with it?"

 "Everything," said Lupin. "Could I see him, please?" 

Ron hesitated, then put a hand inside his robes. Scabbers emerged,thrashing desperately; Ron had to seize his long bald tail to stop himescaping. Crookshanks stood up on Black's leg and made a soft hissingnoise.Lupin moved closer to Ron. He seemed to be holding his breath as hegazed intently at Scabbers. 

"What?" Ron said again, holding Scabbers close to him, looking scared. 

"What's my rat got to do with anything?" 

"That's not a rat," croaked Sirius Black suddenly.

 "What d'you mean -- of course he's a rat --""No, he's not," said Lupin quietly. "

He's a wizard.""An Animagus," said Black, "by the name of Peter Pettigrew."

"Ridiculous!" said Hermione faintly. 

"Peter Pettigrew's dead!" said Harry. "He killed him twelve years ago!"He pointed at Black, whose face twitched convulsively. 

"I meant to," he growled, his yellow teeth bared, "but little Peter gotthe better of me... not this time, though!"

 And Crookshanks was thrown to the floor as Black lunged at Scabbers;

 Ronyelled with pain as Black's weight fell on his broken leg. 

."Sirius, NO!" Lupin yelled, launching himself forwards and draggingBlack away from Ron again,

 "WAIT! You can't do it just like that -- theyneed to understand -- we've got to explain --""We can explain afterwards!" snarled Black, trying to throw Lupin off. 

One hand was still clawing the air as it tried to reach Scabbers, whowas squealing like a piglet, scratching Ron's face and neck as he triedto escape. 

"They've -- got -- a -- right -- to -- know -- -everything!" Lupinpanted, still trying to restrain Black

. "Ron's kept him as a pet! Thereare parts of it even I don't understand, and Harry -- you owe Harry thetruth, Sirius!" 

Black stopped struggling, though his hollowed eyes were still fixed onScabbers, who was clamped tightly under Ron's bitten, scratched, adbleeding hands. 

"All right, then," Black said, without taking his eyes off the rat."Tell them whatever you like. But make it quick, Remus. I want to committhe murder I was imprisoned for..."

 "You're nutters, both of you," said Ron shakily, looking round at Harryand Hermione for support. "I've had enough of this. I'm off."He tried to heave himself up on his good leg, but Lupin raised his wandagain, pointing it at Scabbers. 

"You're going to hear me out, Ron," he said quietly. "Just keep a tighthold on Peter while you listen."

"HE'S NOT PETER, HE'S SCABBERS!" Ron yelled, trying to fore the rat backinto his front pocket, but Scabbers was fighting to hard; 

Ron swayed andoverbalanced, and Harry caught him am pushed him back down to the bed.

"But Professor Lupin... Scabbers can't be Pettigrew... it just can't betrue, you know it can't...

""Why can't it be true?" Lupin said calmly, as though they were in class,and Hermione had simply spotted a problem in an experiment withgrindylows.

 "Because... because people would know if Peter Pettigrew had been anAnimagus. We did Animagi in class with Professor McGonagall. And Ilooked them up when I did my homework -- the Ministry of Magic keepstabs on witches and wizards who can become animals; there's a registershowing what animal they become, and their markings and things

Lupin started to laugh."Right again, Hermione!" he said. 

"But the Ministry never knew that hereused to be three unregistered Animagi running around Hogwarts." 

"I you're going to tell them the story, get a move on, Remus," saidBlack, who was still watching Scabbers's every desperate move.

"I'vewaited twelve years, I'm not going to wait much longer." 

"All right... but you'll need to help me, Sirius," said Lupin, I onlyknow how it began..."Lupin broke off. There had been a loud creak behind him.

 The bedroomdoor had opened of its own accord. All five of them stared at it. ThenLupin strode toward it and looked out into the landing. 

"No one there..."

 "This place is haunted!" said Ron. 

"It's not," said Lupin, still looking at the door in a puzzled way. 

"TheShrieking Shack was never haunted.... The screams and howls thevillagers used to hear were made by me."

 He pushed his graying hair out of his eyes, thought for a moment thensaid, 

"That's where all of this starts -- with my becoming a werewolf,None of this could have happened if I hadn't been bitter... and if Ihadn't been so foolhardy..."He looked sober and tired. Ron started to interrupt, but Hermione, said,' "Shh!" She was watching Lupin very intently. 

"I as a very small boy when I received the bite. My parents triedeverything, but in those days there was no cure. The potion thatProfessor Snape has been making for me is a very recent discovery. Itmakes me safe, you see. As long as I take it in the week, preceding thefull moon, I keep my mind when I transform.... I'm able to curl up in myoffice, a harmless wolf, and wait for the moon to wane again.

"Before the Wolfsbane Potion was discovered, however, I became a fullyfledged monster once a month. It seemed impossible that I would be ableto come to Hogwarts. Other parents weren't likely to want their childrenexposed to me.

 "But then Dumbledore became Headmaster, and he was sympathetic. He saidthat as long as we took certain precautions, there was no reason Ishouldn't come to school...." 

Lupin sighed, and looked directly atHarry. "I told you, months ago, that the Whomping Willow was planted theyear I came to Hogwarts. The truth is that it was planted because I cameto Hogwarts. This house" -- Lupin looked miserably around the room, --"the tunnel that leads to it -- they were built for my use. Once amonth, I was smuggled out of the castle, into this place, to transform.The tree was placed at the tunnel mouth to stop anyone coming across mewhile I was dangerous." 

Harry couldn't see where this story was going, but he was listeningraptly all the same. The only sound apart from Lupin's voice wasScabbers's frightened squeaking. 

"apart from my transformations, I was happier than I had ever beenin my life. For the first time ever, I had friends, three great friends.Sirius Black... Peter Pettigrew... and, of course, your father, Harry --James Potter."

 "Now, my three friends could hardly fail to notice that I disappearedonce a month. I made up all sorts of stories. I told them my mother wasill, and that I had to go home to see her... I was terrified they woulddesert me the moment they found out what I was. But of course, they,like you, Hermione, worked out the truth....""And they didn't desert me at all. Instead, they did something for methat would make my transformations not only bearable, but the best times of my life. They became Animagi, in our fifth year, theymanaged it. They could each turn into a different animal at will." 

"But how did that help you?" said Hermione, sounding puzzled.

 "They couldn't keep me company as humans, so they kept me company asanimals," said Lupin

. "A werewolf is only a danger to people. Theysneaked out of the castle every month under James's Invisibility Cloak. 

They transformed... Peter, as the smallest, could slip beneath theWillow's attacking branches and touch the knot that freezes it

. Theywould then slip down the tunnel and join me. Under their influence, Ibecame less dangerous. 

My body was still wolfish, but my mind seemed tobecome less so while I was with them." 

"Hurry up, Remus," snarled Black, who was still watching Scabbers with ahorrible sort of hunger on his face.

"I doubt whether any Hogwartsstudents ever found out more about the Hogwarts grounds and Hogsmeadethan we did.... And that's how we came to write the Marauder's Map, andsign it with our nicknames. Sirius is Padfoot. Peter is Wormtail. Jameswas Prongs."

"Allthis year, I have been battling with myself, wondering whether I shouldtell Dumbledore that Sirius was an Animagus. But I didn't do it. Why?Because I was too cowardly. It would have meant admitting that I'dbetrayed his trust while I was at school, admitting that I'd led othersalong with me... and Dumbledore's trust has meant everything to me. Helet me into Hogwarts as a boy, and he gave me a job when I have beenshunned all my adult life, unable to find paid work because of what Iam. And so I convinced myself that Sirius was getting into the schoolusing dark arts he learned from Voldemort, that being an Animagus hadnothing to do with it... so, in a way, Snape's been right about me allalong...so was Cassiopeia" 

"Snape?" said Black harshly, taking his eyes off Scabbers; for the firsttime in minutes and looking up at Lupin. 

"What's Snape got to do withit?"

 "He's here, Sirius," said Lupin heavily. 

"He's teaching here as well."He looked up at Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

 "Professor Snape was at school with us. He fought very hard against myappointment to the Defense Against the Dark Arts job. He has beentelling Dumbledore A year that I am not to be trusted. He has hisreasons... you see, Sirius here played a trick on him which nearlykilled him, a trick which involved me --"

 Black made a derisive noise. "It served him right," he sneered.

 "Sneaking around, trying to find outwhat we were up to... hoping he could get us expelled...."

 "Severus was very interested in where I went every month." Lupin toldHarry, Ron, and Hermione.

 "We were in the same year, you know, and we --er -- didn't like each other very much. He especially disliked James.Jealous, I think, of James's talent on the Quidditch field... anywaySnape had seen me crossing the grounds with Madam Pomfrey one evening asshe led me toward the Whomping Willow to transform. Sirius thought itwould be -- er -- amusing, to tell Snape all he had to do was prod theknot on the tree trunk with a long stick, and he'd be able to get inafter me. Well, of course, Snape tried it -- if he'd got as far as thishouse, he'd have met a fully grown werewolf -- but your father, who'dheard what Sirius had done, went after Snape and pulled him back, atgreat risk to his life... Snape glimpsed me, though, at the end of thetunnel. He was forbidden by Dumbledore to tell anybody, but from thattime on he knew what I was...."

 "So that's why Snape doesn't like you," said Harry slowly, "because hethought you were in on the joke?"

 "That's right," sneered a cold voice from the wall behind Lupin.

 Severus Snape was pulling off the Invisibility Cloak, his wand pointing,directly at Lupin

Hermione screamed. Black leapt to his feet. Harry felt as though he'd received a huge electric shock.

"I found this at the base of the Whomping Willow," said Snape, throwing the cloak aside, careful to keep his wand pointed directly at Lupin's chest. "Very useful, Potter, I thank you..."

Snape was slightly breathless, but his face was full of suppressed triumph. "You're wondering, perhaps, how I knew you were here?" he said, his eyes glittering. "I've just been to your office, Lupin. You forgot to take your potion tonight, so I took a gobletful along. And very lucky I did... lucky for me, I mean. Lying on your desk was a certain map. One glance at it told me all I needed to know. I saw you running along this passageway and out of sight."

"Severus—" Lupin began, but Snape overrode him.

"I've told the headmaster again and again that you're helping your old friend Black into the castle, Lupin, and here's the proof. Not even I dreamed you would have the nerve to use this old place as your hideout—"

"Severus, you're making a mistake," said Lupin urgently. "You haven't heard everything—I can explain—Sirius is not here to kill Harry—"

"Two more for Azkaban tonight," said Snape, his eyes now gleaming fanatically. "I shall be interested to see how Dumbledore takes this.... He was quite convinced you were harmless, you know, Lupin... a tame werewolf—"

"You fool," said Lupin softly. "Is a schoolboy grudge worth putting an innocent man back inside Azkaban?"

BANG! Thin, snakelike cords burst from the end of Snape's wand and twisted themselves around Lupin's mouth, wrists, and ankles; he overbalanced and fell to the floor, unable to move. With a roar of rage, Black started toward Snape, but Snape pointed his wand straight between Black's eyes.

"Give me a reason," he whispered. "Give me a reason to do it, and I swear I will."

Black stopped dead. It would have been impossible to say which face showed more hatred.

Harry stood there, paralyzed, not knowing what to do or whom to believe. He glanced around at Ron and Hermione. Ron looked just as confused as he did, still fighting to keep hold on the struggling Scabbers. Hermione, however, took an uncertain step toward Snape and said, in a very breathless voice, "Professor Snape... it wouldn't hurt to hear what they've got to say, w—would it?"

"Miss Granger, you are already facing suspension from this school," Snape spat. "You, Potter, and Weasley are out-of-bounds, in the company of a convicted murderer and a werewolf. For once in your life, hold your tongue."

"But if—if there was a mistake—"

"KEEP QUIET, YOU STUPID GIRL!" Snape shouted, looking suddenly quite deranged. "DON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" A few sparks shot out of the end of his wand, which was still pointed at Black's face. Hermione fell silent.

"Vengeance is very sweet," Snape breathed at Black. "How I hoped I would be the one to catch you...."

"The joke's on you again, Severus," Black snarled. "As long as this boy brings his rat up to the castle"—he jerked his head at Ron—"I'll come quietly...."

"Up to the castle?" said Snape silkily. "I don't think we need to go that far. All I have to do is call the dementors once we get out of the Willow. They'll be very pleased to see you, Black... pleased enough to give you a little kiss, I daresay... I—"

What little color there was in Black's face left it.

"You—you've got to hear me out," he croaked. "The rat—look at the rat—"

But there was a mad glint in Snape's eyes that Harry had never seen before. He seemed beyond reason.

"Come on, all of you," he said. He clicked his fingers, and the ends of the cords that bound Lupin flew to his hands. "I'll drag the werewolf. Perhaps the dementors will have a kiss for him too—"

Before he knew what he was doing, Harry had crossed the room in three strides and blocked the door.

"Get out of the way, Potter, you're in enough trouble already," snarled Snape. "If I hadn't been here to save your skin—"

"Professor Lupin could have killed me about a hundred times this year," Harry said. "I've been alone with him loads of times, having defense lessons against the dementors. If he was helping Black, why didn't he just finish me off then?"

"Don't ask me to fathom the way a werewolf's mind works," hissed Snape. "Get out of the way, Potter."

"YOU'RE PATHETIC!" Harry yelled. "JUST BECAUSE THEY MADE A FOOL OF YOU AT SCHOOL YOU WON'T EVEN LISTEN—"

"SILENCE! I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO LIKE THAT!" Snape shrieked, looking madder than ever. "Like father, like son, Potter! I have just saved your neck; you should be thanking me on bended knee! You would have been well served if he'd killed you! You'd have died like your father, too arrogant to believe you might be mistaken in Black—now get out of the way, or I will make you."

"You talk a lot, Snivellus," an unexpected voice scoffed. "FLIPENDO!"

"Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled—except that his wasn't the only voice that shouted. Hermione had tried to disarm him at the same time. There was a blast that made the door rattle on its hinges; Snape was lifted off his feet and slammed into the wall, then slid down it to the floor, a trickle of blood oozing from under his hair.

"Ah, well, hello Potter," Cassiopeia spat, walking in and kicking a piece of rubble toward Snape.

"Black?" Potter said incredulously, his face morphing into one of disdain.

Damn thats a long chap- but it was fairly easy to write cos the confrontation scene is directly from the book.

only the start and ending is mine

also-- dw it will be revealed how cassie came in- and ooh- cant wait for the next few chaps

im also thinking of keeping bonus end of year 3 chaps-

lets see

im leaving for india today-

byei

mxriddle