A Second Life

28. Escaped Prisoners and Hidden Mazes

Remus

"You can't be serious, Dumbledore!"

"I assure you, Lupin, I am very serious about this."

I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. "You're telling me you actually want me to spy on them and report back to you?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "Now, let's not put it like that. I simply want you to keep and eye on them, make sure they aren't up to any incriminating... activities."

"It's about the prison hold, isn't it?"

The grim expression he wore confirmed my fears. "Yes. Miss Adair was seen leaving the cellar moments after the prisoner was set loose."

"How could she have known he wasn't in Azkaban? How can you trust the student who told us? How did they even know it was the Prison? You aren't making sense, Dumbledore." My voice rose in volume with each word.

"Remus, you have to understand. There is a killer within these walls and it could very well be because of our own trusting and incompetence."

"Our own? No, not ours. Your incompetence. We have no proof she let him out."

"Remus, I implore you to see reason. I understand that you've grown attached to them, of course, understandably so, they are your students - but they could be part of something much bigger than this." Dumbledore said, his tone growing desperate with each word.

I wasn't being stupid or delusional. I knew that the demigods and gods wouldn't be of any harm - it wasn't like I could just go up to Dumbledore and say that though. And for Dumbledore to suggest they had a hand in all this? It was blasphemous.

"So what? You want me to protect Harry from them then? Keep your 'Golden Boy' away from them? Keep the Boy Who Lived safe?" I snarled.

"Please, Remus."

His plea served to fuel my anger. "You've already asked Hagrid, haven't you?"

"I did what I had to—"

"Setting them up? You know that they'll be able to see the Thestrals. You know it. And you asked Hagrid to set up a trap. A whole 'show what they really are' type of situation. In front of all the students. In front of Harry. You're more cunning than I thought you to be."

"That wasn't my intention, Remus. You're reading into this too literally." He said, furrowing his brows.

I glared at the floor in defiance.

"There's something you aren't telling me, Lupin."

I stayed silent.

"What do you know about the students? What aren't you telling me Remus?"

"Nothing." I said, lying through my teeth, meeting his gaze head on.

He raised his eyebrows. "Fine. I expect a report on their behaviour by next week. Also, Sirius wanted to talk to you. The owl had to be intercepted before the ministry caught wind of the message, hence my interference." He explained, simultaneously diverting my attention and shutting out any possibility of protest from his order.

I sighed. "Thank you." I nodded my head in farewell and left, not needing any more time near that old man. Merlin's beard, he may be wise and powerful, but he was also a massive pain in the backside almost all the time.

Hermione

I walked aimlessly around the school, not really going anywhere specific. I was nearing the Owlery when I passed by a gaping black hole, in place of one of the portraits. I'd never seen anything quite like it. I looked around carefully, making sure no one could see me, before tentatively taking a step inside. I wasn't sure what I expected. I knew the war had broken down some barriers, making Hogwarts a hotspot for rogue homeless wizards over the summer. But Dumbledore had reassured us the whole castle had been scanned through, making sure it was empty.