Melody Riddle and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter 16: Identities Untold

It was hard to keep up with his pace, but I had a feeling that if I were to just stop walking.. he'd still drag me along on my heels. We reached Professor Lupin's office... he wasn't there but a map was sitting on top of his desk. Professor Snape instantly went over to it and smoothed out the creases, glaring down at it with furrowed eyebrows.

What the — I thought as I realized it was The Marauder's Map. Did Professor Lupin confiscate it from the twins? How did he know how to work it? They wouldn't have told him how to do it....

With what felt like no time to debate on what happened, I studied the map with him. The names Severus Snape and Melody Riddle were in Professor Lupin's office. Professor Lupin was walking towards the Whomping Willow, his footprints printed out as speedily making his way there.

Professor Snape ran off, and I quickly followed him. "Melody, stay in my office!" he shouted.

"I'm coming with you," I said, latching my arm to his. "I won't leave even if you threaten me."

He rolled his eyes, but I could see a trace of a smile threatening to come out on his face.

Professor Snape slowed down to a quick walk as we neared the Whomping Willow. His cape billowed behind us... he looked almost murderous.

"You think Professor Lupin is behind all of Sirius Black's getaways?" I gasped, out of breath.

"How did you figure that out?" he asked in surprise.

"Well, the first person you thought of when I told you about that prophecy was Professor Lupin. And since Sirius Black could be the servant Professor Trelawney was talking about –" not, "– you think Professor Lupin is helping him. But why?"

He stopped in his tracks, looking around as if to make sure no one overheard, before turning to me. "Do you know why Lupin has been missing classes throughout the year?"

"Yes, he's a werewolf. Go on," I said. I just wanted to know, once and for all, why he hated Professor Lupin so much. Yes, he had been friends with Sirius Black, but I felt there was some deep hate in it that was obviously more than just having Sirius as a friend. And it somehow involved Harry's dad.

"Impressive that you understood the message... had we not come across this predicament, you would have accompanied me in handing him the last Wolfsbane potion he needs for tonight. With the issue at hand, Lupin and Black were friends when they went to Hogwarts. They were close friends with Potter and Pettigrew, both of whom Black murdered.

"I always knew something had to be wrong with Lupin when he kept missing classes while we were in school. One time, I spotted Madam Pomfrey leading him to the Whomping Willow. Black told me the way to get in, and so I went.

"I was nearly there when Potter came to rescue me, having heard what Black did. I almost came face-to-face with Lupin as a fully grown werewolf because of that stunt, and could have either lost my life or became a werewolf as well."

"But," I reasoned, "Mr. Potter saved you –"

"He was saving his own neck from getting expelled!" he shouted, speeding once again toward the Whomping Willow. "Don't you dare follow me in, or I will place a body-bind on you until I get back! It's for your own safety, Melody!"

"Ugh, Severus!" I shouted, my feet rooted to the spot.

"What?" he asked, stopping to turn and face me.

I hesitated, and then said, "Good luck!"

He stared at me, nodded, and then quickly set off again. He stopped halfway and picked up something – Harry's invisibility cloak. Placing it over himself, he continued forward unnoticeable... although, I could kind of see his movements in the grass. Not so invisible.