Secrets Revealed

Chapter 15

Hermione screamed. Sirius leapt to his feet. Harry jumped.

"I found this at the base of the Whomping Willow," said Severus, throwing the cloak aside, careful to keep this wand pointing directly the Lupins. "Very useful, Potter, I thank you..."

"You're who I smelled earlier! You threw the dust up so I couldn't distinguish the scent!" Nova accused.

Severus was slightly breathless, but his face was full of suppressed triumph. "Indeed. You're wondering, perhaps, how I knew you were here?" he said, his eyes glittering. "I've just been to your office, Lupin. You forgot to take your potion tonight, so I took a gobletful along. And very lucky I did... lucky for me, I mean. Lying on your desk was a certain map. One glance at it told me all I needed to know. I saw you running along this passageway and out of sight."

"Remus! I thought you closed the map!" Nova exclaimed and looked at Remus.

"I thought I did! Severus —" Remus began, but Snape overrode him.

"I've told the headmaster again and again that you're helping your old friend Black into the castle, Lu- Remus, and here's the proof. Not even I dreamed you would have the nerve to use this old place as your hideout —"

"Sev, you're making a mistake," said Nova urgently. "You haven't heard everything — I can explain — Sirius is not here to kill Harry —"

"Three more for Azkaban tonight," said Snape, his eyes now gleaming fanatically. "I shall be interested to see how Dumbledore takes this... He was quite convinced you were harmless, you know, Lupin... a tame werewolf —"

"You fool," said Remus softly. "Is a schoolboy grudge worth putting an innocent man back inside Azkaban? And an innocent woman who has been through more hardships than you could ever hope to survive?"

BANG! Thin, snakelike cords burst from the end of Severus' wand and twisted themselves around Remus'  mouth, wrists, and ankles; he overbalanced and fell to the floor, unable to move.

"Remus!" Nova exclaimed and went to help him.

With a roar of rage, Sirius started toward Severus, but he pointed his wand straight between Sirius' eyes.

"Give me a reason," he whispered. "Give me a reason to do it, and I swear I will."

Sirius stopped dead. It would have been impossible to say which face showed more hatred.

Harry stood there, paralyzed, not knowing what to do or whom to believe. He glanced around at
Ron and Hermione. Ron looked just as confused as Harry did, still fighting to keep hold on the struggling Peter.

Hermione, however, took an uncertain step toward Snape and said, in a very
small voice, "Professor Snape — it wouldn't hurt to hear what they've got to say, w-would it?"

"Miss Granger, you are already facing suspension from this school," He spat. "You, Potter, and Weasley are out-of-bounds, in the company of a convicted murderer, a shifter, and a werewolf. For once in your life, hold your tongue."

"But if — if there was a mistake —"

"KEEP QUIET, YOU STUPID GIRL!" Severus shouted, looking suddenly quite deranged. "DON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" A few sparks shot out of the end of his wand, which was still pointed at Black's face. Hermione fell silent. Then suddenly looked very confused.

"Vengeance is very sweet," Severus breathed at Black. "How I hoped I would be the one to catch
you..."

"The joke's on you again, Severus," Black snarled. "As long as this boy brings his rat up to the castle" — he jerked his head at Ron — "I'll come quietly..."