Harry Potter: Harry Slytherin 3

Chapter Seven: Marauder's Map

"Sirius Black." Harry questions leaning forward on the bed. "who is that? Should I know that person?"

Draco huffs as he continues to pick up papers and things from the floor. "I should think so." He looks at Harry. "from what I know about him he was loyal to the dark lord as any, the reason your parents are dead and the reason you have that scar." He growls lowly looking at the mess. "how dare he come into our dorm and trash the place!? Just who does he think he is!?"

"he was a death eater?" Harry frowns. "the reason I can't have a normal life... is because of Sirius Black?" he stands up in a rage. "why didn't you tell me!?"

"because you can't do anything about it! and we were supposed to be safe here!" Draco replies. "My father said Death eaters can't get into the school and they've tried before."

"why isn't he dead already!?" Harry growls.

"because he's a death eater Harry." Draco replies. "no death eater is going to kill him for doing what the dark lord told him to!?" Draco sees somebody come into the room and the conversation is now over.

Harry still has more questions for Draco but for the time being he decides to go elsewhere. 'fine if Draco can't help me then I'll find Sirius Black by myself.' Harry says to himself. He pulls his trunk from under his bed he takes from it a piece of parchment that is folded up neatly. "I'm going for a walk."

"alright." Draco says glancing at Harry. "watch your back."

"I will." Harry nods. Draco didn't know it but the neatly folded parchment in Harry's hand was actually given to him by Fred and George Weasley during the birthday party. They had told Harry it held the castle's secrets and showed where everyone was at all times inside the castle as long as one spoke the phrase 'I solemnly swear the I am up to no good'.

Harry taps the parchment with his wand. "I solemnly swear the I am up to no good." An instant later the paper is seemingly alive with traces of people within the castle moving about. He searches for any trace of Sirius Black on the map but doesn't see his name. 'guess he isn't here... somebody else must have trashed the common room and dorms.' He searches for other names that he doesn't recognize. "wow look it how fast peter is moving." Harry says watching as a name Peter Pettigrew makes its way down the hall at a running speed. "Seems he's in a hurry. Maybe I should go find out why."

Harry makes his way down a hall that will put him directly in Peter's path so that he can encounter him by 'accident' and ask him what the hurry is. Harry waits and waits in the hall but doesn't see anyone or even hear footsteps at all. Then the name walks right past Harry and disappears down the hall. "how odd... a ghost maybe?" then he notices Snape and Lupin coming from different directions. "mischief managed."

"what are you doing Potter?" Snape grumbles holding his wand up to light the dark hall.

"got lost." Harry frowns.

"What's going on here?" Lupin questions looking at the two.

"what's this?" Snape questions snatching the parchment from harry.

"just a bit of parchment." Harry says.

"really?" Snape looks at it curiously. "reveal your secrets..." he mumbles at the parchment with his wand.

The paper then has a tons of insults on it about Professor Snape.

Snape flips it around and looks all in it but finds nothing but insults. "what is this?"

"seems it's an enchanted piece of parchment designed to insult whomever tries to read it." Lupin chuckles looking at the paper.

Snape hands it back to Harry unamused. "why ever would you want something like this?" he turns to Lupin. "out for a late night stroll Remus?"

Lupin nods. "just another night." He replies.

"full moon soon." Snape smirks. "best stay indoors."

"I'm aware." Lupin frowns. "but that is my own business."

"the welfare of the school and its students is everyone's business." Snape replies. He glances at Harry and then turns and walks away down the hall.

Lupin waits for Snape to leave then turns to Harry. "don't think your off the hook just yet mister potter. Where did you get that map?"

"map?" Harry looks at the parchment. "you know about the map?"

"of course I do. how did you get it?" Lupin says taking it from Harry.

"it was given to me." Harry frowns. "but I'm pretty sure it doesn't work."

"what do you mean it doesn't work?" Lupin questions skeptically.

"just a moment ago. I saw a name and I came down here to cut them off and see why they were in such a hurry but... when I got here nobody came... and the name walked right past me on the map... I didn't see anybody in the hall." Harry replies.

"really?" Lupin looks at the blank parchment. "who's name?"

"Peter Pettigrew." Harry replies. "but like I said there wasn't anybody there."

"you don't say." Lupin looks at the parchment again. "well in any case you shouldn't have this. I'll keep it till the years end. You can take it home at that time."

"your confiscating my map?" Harry frowns. "why?"

"for good reason." Lupin replies. He starts to walk away but something makes him turn back to Harry. "I tell you what mister Potter how about in exchange I teach you a spell to ward off dementors."

"that would be great." Harry says. "what's the spell?"

"come see me tomorrow after class. Bring your wand of course and a very happy thought." Lupin replies. "the happy thought must be powerful."

"yes sir. I'll see you after class." Harry nods then turns and walks back to the common room.

Harry returns to the common room and finds Draco sitting on the sofa watching the fire place. "Malfoy."

Draco turns to look at Harry. "your back."

"yeah." Harry walks over to the fire place. "what are you doing?"

"thinking." Draco replies. "the fire helps..."

"I'll leave you too it then." Harry nods and goes upstairs to bed.

Draco glances at the steps as Harry disappears then he looks back at the fire with his hand on his chin. Some deep thinking about the meaning of life and the world within it was changing Draco from the beliefs of his family. Surely there is more to living then just to make everyone else feel bad.

-the following day-

Harry goes after class to see Lupin. He learns the Patronus charm though he has a bit of trouble producing one. "come on Harry think of the happiest moment you can."

"I'm trying." Harry says.

"alright..." Lupin frowns. "take a break we'll try again in a bit."

The two sit and have some tea. "you're a lot like your father you know." Lupin says.

"did you know him? my father that is?" Harry asks.

"Yes. He and I were the best of friends... myself, James, Peter, and Sirius... were inseparable." Lupin sighs. "but life as a way of throwing you for a loop when you least expect it. one minute your living high and free with your friends like they were your own family... the next..." he sets his glass down. "one is in Azkaban two others dead..." he looks at Harry. "cherish each moment Harry... you never know when it will all be taken away."