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Chapter 54*

It's late one night, and you find yourself restless, unable to sleep. Curiosity gets the better of you, and you decide to investigate what Harry is doing with the Marauder's Map.

 You suspect he might use it to sneak around the castle. You position yourself in a hallway near the entrance of the Gryffindor common room, waiting patiently.

Soon, you hear the faint sound of footsteps. Harry emerges from the common room, and you silently transform into your Animagus form, a sleek fox, to follow him. You trail him down dark hallways, your paws making no sound on the stone floor. Suddenly, Harry pauses and looks around, realizing he's being followed. You quickly duck back into the shadows, peeking around the corner.

"Come out," Harry says, peering into the darkness.

You step forward cautiously, revealing yourself as a fox. Harry looks at the map again, muttering, "Oh no," and whispers, "Mischief managed." You know who is coming and stay hidden.

Suddenly, Severus appears, his wand glowing softly. "Potter, what are you doing walking the corridors at night?" he demands.

Harry looks up, trying to appear nonchalant. "I was sleepwalking."

Severus's eyes narrow. "I too was exceedingly arrogant, strutting about the castle."

"My dad didn't strut, nor do I," Harry retorts. "Now if you don't mind, I would appreciate it if you could lower your wand."

Severus lowers his wand slightly. "Turn out your pockets," he orders, his voice dangerously low.

Harry hesitates, but Severus repeats the command, and Harry reluctantly pulls out a blank piece of parchment from his hoodie pocket.

"What's this?" Severus demands, eyes glinting with suspicion.

"Just a spare bit of parchment," Harry says, his voice trying to sound casual.

"Really?" Severus says, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Open it."

Harry does as instructed, and Severus commands, "Reveal your secrets."

Harry reads aloud, "Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs offer their compliments to Professor Snape and request that he keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business."

Severus's face contorts with anger. "Why, you insolent little—"

Before Severus can finish, Professor Lupin appears behind him, his presence immediately noticeable to you as your little fox heart races a million miles a minute.

"Professor," Lupin says, his voice calm.

Severus spins around to face him, his eyes narrowing. "Well, well, Lupin. Out for a little walk in the moonlight, are we?"

Lupin's gaze shifts to Harry. "Harry, are you all right?"

Severus cuts in, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "That remains to be seen." He grabs the parchment from Harry's hand. "I have just now confiscated a rather curious artifact from Mr. Potter. Take a look, Lupin. Supposed to be your area of expertise. Clearly, it's full of dark magic."

Lupin takes the parchment from Severus, his eyes scanning it briefly. "Oh, I seriously doubt it, Severus. It looks to me as though it's merely a parchment designed to insult anyone who tries to read it. I suspect it's a Zonko's product."

Severus's eyes flash with frustration as he tries to grab the parchment back, but Lupin pulls it away just in time. "Nevertheless," Lupin continues smoothly, "I shall investigate any hidden qualities it may possess. It is, after all, as you say, my area of expertise."