I solemnly swear that I am up to no good | Professor Remus Lupin

Chapter 13 | Footsteps

We waited in one of the corridors that were barely even used until most of the students went to bed and even some of the teachers were headed off to their rooms. Only a few people were still moving around and the twins taught me how to use the map.

"You say...I solemnly swear that I am up to no good" George explained and pointed with his wand on the blank paper. Text and lines appeared.
"Who are Mooney, wormtail, Padfoot and pongs?" I asked them as the paper showed those names.

"Gods" fred said and laughed.
"They probably made this masterpiece" George added.

"The Marauders..." I whispered and looked closer on the map. I opened the map and it revealed every room and corridor of Hogwarts. Some footprints with name tags were moving some weren't. It even showed some secret ways and hidden paths, the twins explained to me.

"If you are finished say 'mischief managed' so that no one is able to read it" George added.

I followed some of the names. Dumbledore was walking around in his office in a circular shape, Snape was in his study, McGonagall and Flitwick were still in the great hall along with a hand full of other students, probably just talking. Most of the students were already in bed or in the common rooms. The twins talked to each other about the things they wanted to do with the map and I continued looking at the footprints.

The twins got up and motioned me to follow them, they wanted to head back to the common rooms. They were really focused on their plans and didn't noticed I was walking really slow until I stopped moving. I still stared at the map and after a while I found their names and far behind them my own. Their footprints continued walking away from me and turned around a corner towards the Gryffindor tower.

I looked back at my own name again and noticed a second pair of footprints near me. Since the map was still not completely unfolded I couldn't see a name. I intentionally walked towards the other footprints, I continued staring at the map and used it as orientation. I went closer to the footprints and closer until they were just one corner away from me.

I waited behind the corner and the footprints continued walking towards my direction. I wondered who it could be and slowly began to realize how stupid this was of me. It was probably to late to run away know, so I quickly whispered "mischief managed" and folded the now clear paper back together and hid it behind my back. I hadn't seen the name of the other person yet and fear was coming over my whole body, which enabled me to move. My heartbeat quickened and I sucked in my breath as I heard the footsteps. Shit, shit, shit was all I could think of now.

The footsteps came closer and closer until the person walked around the corner and bumped right into me.

"Maeve? What are you doing here?" I heard a familiar voice ask.

"Remus- Professor?" I asked him back and looked into his face, he stared down at me and was standing very close to me and his hands were placed on my arms. " I ...I couldn't sleep" i began.

He didn't look like he fully believed me but sighted. "Me neither" i stated.

"Why?" I asked without hesitation and sounded a little too worried.

"I could ask you the same..." he began. "Do you wanna take a walk?" He asked me. I looked at him surprised and before he could continue I said "I would like nothing more."

Well this was a little too much I thought to myself, why couldn't I just say yes and always needed to show what I was feeling. He smiled at me, happy about my answer and we went down the corridor I had came from.

When we arrived at a large door which was leading out of the castle, he opened the door for me and waited until I went past him before he followed me and closed the door behind him. He lead me towards end of the inner courtyard, from where you had an awesome view on the lake.