I solemnly swear that I am up to no good | Professor Remus Lupin

Chapter 66 - "Little family reunion"

My eyes flickered over the activated Marauder's Map, looking for Remus name. I quickly found it outside the castle walking with a quick pace into the direction to the woods and Hagrid's hut. I needed to hurry, so I quickly ran out of the classroom and out of the castle. I had taken the map with me and ran into the direction Remus footprints were walking. I ran over the wooden bridge and got closer to the moving footprints, I continued running and stopped when I saw his footprints fading, but continue to walk. That meant he was using a secret path, so I ran towards the point on the map where he must have entered.

I stopped in my tracks, when I looked up from the map and my eyes widened in shock. The whomping willow...but it was still, almost as if it was asleep. Remus must have used a spell, so I quickly walked to the hole beneath the usually dangerous tree. Without hesitation I jumped down and slid down the little hill, until my feet hit the earthy ground. At the end of the tunnel I saw a dimmed cold light and it looked like an old staircase. When I reached the old wooden stairs I heard voices, they were arguing. I heard Remus use the „expelliarmus" spell and quickly went after him and ran up the stairs.

I recognized the house we were in. The Shrieking Shack. I heard the voices coming from the bedroom and when I finally reached the top of the stairs, I saw Sirius hugging Remus tightly. My heart warmed at the sight of them. I knew how happy they both felt in this moment. Sirius, because his best friend believed in him and had helped him by the looks of it and Remus because all the sadness around his best friends was gone and replaced by happiness of having him back.

„He is a werewolf!" Hermione suddenly shouted from the other side of the room. I quickly ran through the door and protectively stepped in front of Remus and Sirius.

„Maeve?" Hermione, Harry and Ron said in unison when they saw me. Harry and Hermione's confusion quickly turned into anger.

„Since when does she know it?" I asked Remus, tilting my head slightly back to speak in a low voice. I didn't took my eyes of the trio, because whatever I just walked in, they didn't seem too happy about the three of us being here and I noticed that Remus had his wand pointed at Harry.

„I was just going to ask her..." Remus replied and eyed Hermione suspiciously.

„Since professor Snape set the essay..." Hermione answered in a loud voice.

„He made you do that too?" I asked with slight pity in my voice. I intended my joke to loosen the tense situation I had walked into, but without any success.

„Enough talk!" Sirius suddenly screamed behind me, causing me to flinch. „Come one let's kill him!"

„Wait!" Remus said to him in a loud and ordering tone, but Sirius interrupted him and impatiently walked around the room, he barely was able to stand still.

„I did my waiting!" He screamed. „Twelve years of it! In Azkaban..." His voice got more quiet in the end and I saw the horror of the memory in his eyes. I felt tears coming up at the thought of him going through all this horror, not only for being innocent, but being found guilty for betraying his friends and being the reason for their death...

A glance to my side showed me, that Remus must've felt the same, when I saw his sad and hurt expression, filled pity for his best friend. Remus looked at me and I gave him a small nod of reassurance.

„Very well." Remus said looking at the trio, before he handed his wand over to Sirius. „Kill him." He paused and lifted his finger up as he spoke. „Wait one more minute, Harry has the right to know why..."

„I know why!" Harry spoke loudly with a shaking voice. „You betrayed my parents...you are the reason they're dead!" Harry continued looking directly at Sirius. I protectively stood myself in front of him, I knew Harry still believed that it was Sirius' fault, but I also knew those words hurt Sirius.