Percy Jackson and the Hound of Hogwarts [Book 3]

42) Lupin's Disappointment

"Let me see, let me see..." Snape muttered, pulling out his wand and pushing it against the blank map. "Reveal your secret!"

Nothing happened.

"Show yourself!" Snape tapped the map with his wand.

I noticed Harry taking calming breaths beside me. His eyes were a little wide, and his fists were clenched.

"Professor Severus Snape, master of this school, commands you to yield the information you conceal!" He hit the map with his wand.

Words appeared suddenly on the map.

"Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business." I read after a moment of translation.

Snape froze. Harry started at the paper. I stifled a laugh. And more writing appeared beneath the words.

"Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony, and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git."

I snorted, and more words appeared on the paper.

"Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a professor."

I laughed that time, and grinned as more words appeared on the map.

"Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day, and advises him to wash his hair, the slimeball."

"So..." Snape said softly. "We'll see about this...."

He walked to his fire, grabbed a handful of glittering powder from a jar, and threw it into the fireplace. "Lupin! I want a word!"

After a large figure appeared in the fire, Lupin stepped out of the fireplace, wiping the ash off of his robes, "You called, Severus?"

"I certainly did," Snape said, his face twisted with fury. "I have just asked Potter to empty his pockets. He was carrying this." Snape pointed at the parchment, with the words of the Marauders still shining. A strange, closed expression appeared on Lupin's face.

"Well?" Snape said.

Lupin continued to stare at the map.

"Well?" Snape repeated. "This parchment is plainly full of Dark Magic. This is supposed to be your area of expertise, Lupin. Where do you imagine Potter got such a thing?"

Lupin looked up finally. "Full of dark magic? Do you really think so, Severus? It looks to me as though it is merely a piece of parchment that insults anybody who reads it. Childish, but surely not dangerous? I imagine Harry got it from a joke shop—"

"Indeed?" Snape's jaw was rigid. "You think a joke shop could supply him with such a thing? You don't think it more likely that he got it directly from the manufacturers?"

I sat confused, and saw that both Harry and Lupin looked like he felt the same.

"You mean, by Mr. Wormtail or one of these people?" He raised an eyebrow. "Harry, do you know any of these men?"

"No," Harry said quickly.

"You see, Severus?" Lupin turned back to Snape. "It looks like a Zonko product to me—"

With perfect timing, Ron burst into the office. He was out of his breath and clutching his side, struggling to speak. "I — gave — Harry — that — stuff. Bought — it... in Zonko's... ages — ago..."

"Well!" Lupin clapped his hands and looked around happily. "That seems to clear that up! Severus, I'll take this back, shall I?" Be folded the map and put it inside his robes. "Harry, Ron, Percy, come with me, I need a word about my vampire essay — excuse us, Severus—"

***

We had walked all the way to the entrance hall before Harry finally turned to Lupin, "Professor, I—"

"I don't want to hear explanations," Lupin said shortly. He glanced around, making sure the place was empty, then lowered his voice. "I happen to know that this map was confiscated by Mr. Filch many years ago. Yes, I know it's a map," he stared down as we stared up with shocked faces. "I don't want to know how it fell into your possession. I am, however, astounded that you didn't hand it in. Particularly after what happened the last time a student left information about the castle lying around. And I can't let you have it back, Harry."

"Why did Snape think I'd got it from the manufacturers?" Harry asked instead of arguing.

"Because..." Lupin hesitated, "because these map makers would have wanted to lure you out of school. They'd think it extremely entertaining."

"Do you know them?" Harry asked, awe in his voice.

"We've met," Lupin said quickly. He looked at Harry very seriously. "Don't expect me to cover up for you again, Harry. I cannot make you take Sirius Black seriously. But I would have thought that what you have heard when the dementors draw near you would have had more of an effect on you. Your parents gave their lives to keep you alive, Harry. A poor way to repay them — gambling their sacrifice for a bag of magic tricks."

Lupin walked away. After a moment of silence, we started up the marble staircase. We passed the one-eyed witch statue, but didn't stop.

"It's my fault," Ron said suddenly. "I persuaded you to go. Lupin's right, it was stupid, we shouldn't've done it—"

We had reached the corridor where the security trolls were patrolling. Hermione was looking at us, and she had a dark look on her face.

"Come to have a good gloat?" Ron said harshly as she stopped in front of us. "Or have you just been to tell on us?"

"No," Hermione said. She was holding a letter in her hands and her lip was quivering. "I just thought you ought to know... Hagrid lost his case. Buckbeak is going to be executed."

So this chapter exists. Um. My grandpa got diagnosed with kidney cancer a while back and his kidney doctor called him on Monday and told him he didn't actually have cancer, so that was nice. My sister got a new tattoo. Uh. My other sister got a nose piercing. She also got birth control. For some reason I got messages from the clinic she got the birth control from so that's cool. Uh U got an early birthday present. Harry Potter sweatpants. I now have two pairs of Harry Potter sweatpants. I also have a pair of HP pajama pants somewhere around here. Um. I learned metrix metrices for my sister's algebra and never really did that cause her boyfriend helped her. But now I know how to work stupid metrices. There's stupid.

Anyway, I hope you guys have had a good Wednesday (Thursday), and I hope you don't mind me posting 13 minutes late. I will see you on Friday!