When All is Lost One is Found

Chapter 15: The Prisoner of Azkaban

When All is Lost, One is Found

Author: Rinoaebastel

Chapter 15: The Prisoner of Azkaban

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than writing practice. Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling.

AN: This story may contain scenes taken from the Harry Potter movies and books, but it's not exact dialogue, just rewording of dialogue or omission. It is not marked.

June 1994

It was the twentieth newspaper that he'd thrown in the trash so far this school year. Sirius Black was the latest man in the news and his decrepit face taunted and laughed at him. It was annoying enough to see Lupin on a regular basis. The wolf had almost killed him in the past, and now he had to deal with his mocking.

That wasn't the worst of it. After Lupin had the nerve to mock him in class in the form of a dummy, Dumbledore still expected him to brew the Wolfsbane potion for him. If it weren't for the safety of the students, he would've spit in it, rendering it useless.

But he'd had experience with the fear and close death at the claws of a werewolf and wouldn't wish it on anyone. Even Potter.

He snatched up the smoking cup and crossed the empty corridors as he headed towards Lupin's office. At least Black's attacks were causing people to be wary about lingering around the castle. He was still confused as to how Black was capable of entering the castle without aid, but Dumbledore had either remained silent like always, or he knew but didn't want to put the blame on his precious Gryffindors. He knew the other classes weren't so stupid as to let him in.

He pushed the office door open, not bothering to knock. He paused when he took his first step passed the threshold. "Professor?" he said and furrowed his brows when no one responded. He looked at the small storage room and noted it was wide open and no one was inside. He glanced at the desk and spotted a parchment. He walked over to it and gently placed the cup on the table beside it.

It was a map of Hogwarts complete with not only names of the houses, and areas in the land surrounding the castle, but also of names of people. Moving.

His throat went dry. Potter and Granger's names were nearing the whomping willow. They were in a tunnel he was extremely and unpleasantly familiar with. Lupin was following them at a quick pace as well.

How could he go out like that without taking his Wolfsbane first? Did he not care that he was a danger to the students. He'd long become familiar with Potter's idiocy, but Granger, she was proving to be as much of an idiot as her friend.

He grabbed the map and dashed out of the office. He ran through the corridors and through the Great Hall, thankful that he'd gotten in more exercise in the past year.

When he felt the grass under his boots, he ventured to look forward. The whomping willow was frozen. That meant Lupin was there because he was the only one that could tame that tree.

His heart slammed against his throat and he looked down at the map. Only his name was showing now.

It didn't matter though, because he knew where he needed to go.

He jerked to a stop at the tree's root. He checked the tree over once despite its frozen state, it wouldn't do any good for him to be mistaken and end up getting smashed into a paste or hurled into the lake. When satisfied it wouldn't wake up, he took a deep breath and forced a step forward.

He pushed back his thoughts, thinking of the safety of his students, of protecting Lily's boy, and crawled into the hole. They were lucky there were clouds in the sky, but he didn't know how long it would be before the wind whipped them away and with it, the only protection from the moon and what it turned Lupin into.

With each moment he kept pushing back all the fear he'd felt being there. He pushed back the memories that bombarded his brain as if they were trying to get him to admit to being a coward.

The tunnel was darker than he remembered and lacked the growling that he'd once experienced as a youth. That growling was replaced with voices. They grew louder the closer he got to the end of the tunnel. He slowed his movements and used all the stealth skills he'd attained during his service under the Dark Lord. He removed his wand from his sleeve and skulked even closer until he could distinguish the voices: Lupin, Potter, Granger, Weasley and . . . Black.

Sirius Black was there.

So it had been a Gryffindor to let him enter the castle, and that Gryffindor had been Lupin.

He reached the end of the tunnel and pushed slowly, the creak from the door masked by their voices.

The light in the room was dim, but he could still see well. He climbed the old ladder, testing each rung before he ascended. When he got to the top, he remained in a crouched position. He froze when their voices went quiet. Had they heard him?

He counted to ten and kept his wand pointed at the door. When satisfied no one was coming, he crept closer.

"Why are you doing this? I kept your secret! You earned my trust and you just threw it away!" Granger's voice was angry but he could hear specks of pain within each word.

"I shouldn't have doubted you would figure it out," Lupin said. "What gave me away?"

"Professor Snape's work about werewolves. It'd been so sudden and coincided with your disappearance that I put two and two together," she said.

He couldn't help but grin at that.

But almost as soon as the grin appeared, it ended and he chose that point to burst through the doorway.

"Expelliarmus." Black's and Lupin's wands came to his hand.

He smiled at their surprised faces. At how Lupin raised his hands and tried to explain. He wouldn't listen to any excuse, but in the back of his mind he knew Dumbledore would try to ease what they'd done.

His eyes darted to the children. Weasley was hugging his rat and his leg was injured, bleeding, but not to the point it was life-threatening. Granger had her back against the wall and Potter was in front of her, trying to play hero again.

Snape glared at Sirius. This was the man that betrayed the Potters. He was the reason for Lily's death. "What a wonderful surprise to find both of you here."

"Severus, you should liste—"

How dare he use his first name like they were friends? He pointed his wand to Lupin to silence him. "Shut up, wolf. Dumbledore didn't listen to me when I told him you couldn't be trusted. I hope you get the dementor's kiss right along with Black.

"Snivellus, you're wrong every time you put your greasy presence in front of us." Snape took a step forward, placing the point of his wand on the man's neck. He could feel his magic scorching Black's skin. It was one of the most pleasing sensations he'd ever experienced.

"Just give me a reason." Snape took another step. "Please," he said, following with a snarl that would've rivaled Lupin in his wolf form.

Unfortunately, Black wasn't stupid and chose to shut his mouth.

Then, before he could react, someone shouted and jolts of pain stabbed into his back and he fell. He could've sworn he heard his skull crack right before he lost consciousness.

AN/ Hope you like it! I definitely loved this and next week chapter too. It might be because it's one of my fave books but... Oh well you will see and tell me what you think on the reviews :P