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𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆, it was the day of another Hogsmade trip. And luckily, this time Marina's arm was healed and could finally attend. As she left to say goodbye to Neville (who wasn't allowed on the trip) with Lav and Pav, she felt bad and promised to walk him back. So as the two walked back up the marble staircase in the entrance hall as everybody else proceeded to the front doors.

"Thanks for walking me back Marina, you know I don't have the firmest grip on my feet." smiled Neville.

"It's no problem Nev." Marina winked. As they went up the third corridor, they saw Harry standing next to the one eyed statue.

"Harry! I forgot you weren't going to Hogsmeade either! Marina is just walking me back to the corridor!" Neville said.

"Hi, Neville," said Harry, moving swiftly away from the statue. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing," shrugged Neville. "Want a game of Exploding Snap?"

"Er — not now — I was going to go to the library and do that vampire essay for Lupin —"

"I'll come with you!" said Neville brightly. "I haven't done it either!"

"Er — hang on — yeah, I forgot, I finished it last night!"

"Great, you can help me!" said Neville, his round face anxious. "I don't understand that thing about the garlic at all — do they have to eat it, or —"

He broke off with a small gasp, looking over Harry's shoulder.

It was Snape. Neville took a quick step behind Harry.

"And what are you three doing here?" said Snape, coming to a halt and looking from one to the other. "An odd place to meet —"

"We're not — meeting here," said Harry. "We just — met here."

"That makes total sense!" shrieked Marina with sarcasm.

"Indeed?" said Snape. "You have a habit of turning up in unexpected places, Potter, and you are very rarely there for no good reason... I suggest the pair of you return to Gryffindor Tower, where you belong. And Weasley, return to the Hogsmade trip."

Harry and Neville set off without another word. As they turned the corner, Harry looked back. Snape was running one of his hands over the one-eyed witch's head, examining it closely.

𝐀 𝐅𝐄𝐖 𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑, Marina was now at Zonkos with her mates, which she hadn't been to on the last trip they visited Zonko's, which was so packed with students Marina had to exercise great care not to tread on anyone and cause. There were jokes and tricks to fulfill even Fred's and George's wildest dreams; they left Zonko's with their money bags considerably lighter than they had been on entering, but her pockets bulging with Dungbombs, Hiccup Sweets, Frog Spawn Soap, and a Nose-Biting Teacup apiece.

After a while, Marina decided to have some quality time with Ickle Ronniekins. Who was at the Shrieking Shack, the most haunted dwelling in Britain. It stood a little way above the rest of the village, and even in daylight was slightly creepy, with its boarded windows and dank overgrown garden.

"Even the Hogwarts ghosts avoid it," said Ron as they leaned on the fence, looking up at it. "I asked Nearly Headless Nick... he says he's heard a very rough crowd lives here. No one can get in. Fred and George tried, obviously, but all the entrances are sealed shut..."

"Who are you talking to Ronniekins!" Marina shouted as she scared him, making him jump a bit.

"Blimey Marina." Ron breathed. "You know Harry's already there."

"I know. I just wanted you to freak under pressure." Marina laughed.

"Do you want to get closer?" Hermione asked Ron. Making him go bright red.

"What?"

"To the Shrieking Shack?"

"Oh no..."

Someone was climbing toward the house from the other side of the hill; moments later, Malfoy had appeared, followed closely by Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy was speaking.

"... should have an owl from Father any time now. He had to go to the hearing to tell them about my arm... about how I couldn't use it for three months..."

Crabbe and Goyle sniggered.

"I really wish I could hear that great hairy moron trying to defend himself... 'There's no 'arm in 'im, 'onest —'... That Hippogriff's as good as dead —"

Malfoy suddenly caught sight of Ron. His pale face split in a malevolent grin.

Marina was held back by Hermione from breaking his neck. "Oi you little—"

"What are you doing, Weasley?"

Malfoy looked up at the crumbling house behind Ron.

"Suppose you'd love to live here, wouldn't you, Weasley? Dreaming about having your own bedroom? I heard your family all sleep in one room — is that true?"

Harry seized the back of Marina's robes again to stop her from leaping on Malfoy the second time.

"Leave him to me," he hissed in Marina's ear.

Harry then crept silently around behind Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, bent down, and scooped a large handful of mud out of the path.

"We were just discussing your friend Hagrid," Malfoy said to Ron. "Just trying to imagine what he's saying to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. D'you think he'll cry when they cut off his Hippogriff's —"

SPLAT!

Malfoy's head jerked forward as the mud hit him; his silverblond hair was suddenly dripping in muck.

"What the —?"

Ron had to hold onto the fence to keep himself standing, he was laughing so hard. Marina cackled as well so much, she fell onto the snow.

"HAHAHHAHA! Oh god! Potter I l—"

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle spun stupidly on the spot, staring wildly around, Malfoy trying to wipe his hair clean.

"What was that? Who did that?"

"Very haunted up here, isn't it?" said Ron, with the air of one commenting on the weather.

"Probably your mummy and her death eater friends." Marina whispered.

Crabbe and Goyle were looking scared. Their bulging muscles were no use against ghosts. Malfoy was staring madly around at the deserted landscape.

Harry sneaked along the path, where a particularly sloppy puddle yielded some foul-smelling, green sludge.

SPLATTER!

Crabbe and Goyle caught some this time. Goyle hopped furiously on the spot, trying to rub it out of his small, dull eyes.

"It came from over there!" said Malfoy, wiping his face, and staring at a spot some six feet to the left of Harry.

Crabbe blundered forward, his long arms outstretched like a zombie. Harry dodged around him, picked up a stick, and lobbed it at Crabbe's back. Harry doubled up with silent laughter as Crabbe did a kind of pirouette in midair, trying to see who had thrown it.

As Ron was the only person Crabbe could see, it was Ron he started toward, but Harry stuck out his leg. Crabbe stumbled — and his huge, flat foot caught the hem of Harry's cloak. Harry felt a great tug, then the cloak slid off his face.

For a split second, Malfoy stared at him.

"AAARGH!" he yelled, pointing at Harry's head. Then he turned tail and ran, at breakneck speed, back down the hill, Crabbe and Goyle behind him.

Harry tugged the cloak up again, but the damage was done.

"Harry!" Ron said, stumbling forward and staring hopelessly at the point where Harry had disappeared, "you'd better run for it! If Malfoy tells anyone — you'd better get back to the castle, quick —"

"Oh that was bloody brilliant! Your frickin great Potter!" Marina cackled.

Harry blushed. "Thanks Marina. See you later," said Harry, and without another word, he tore back down the path toward Hogsmeade.

IT WAS ALMOST midnight, and Marina couldn't sleep. She hadn't had her nightmares currently, but was having some insomnia. So she thought she would go get some warm milk from the kitchens. As Marina walked out, she then saw Harry walking with the maurders mal in his hands.

"Oi!" she whispered. Making him jump.

"Oh...hi. What are you doing here?" He asked.

"Couldn't sleep, what are you doin? And with your little map of all things?" Marina replied.

"Um...nothing." He answered rapidly.

"Hey look! Dumbledunce!" Marina shrieked, Harry turned around, making Marina snatch the map out of his hands. She looked at the parchment to see Peter Pettigrew in thick black ink passing by. Then Severus Snape appeared at the map as well.

"Holy crap..."

Suddenly, Snape appeared. He approached them at a swift walk, his black robes swishing, then stopped in front of them.

Harry stashed the map, extinguishes his wand, a turns... into the harsh glare of Snape's wand.

"Potter. What're you doing wandering the corridors at night with Weasley?" snapped Snape.

"I was... I was... sleepwalking..." Harry answered.

"And I...wanted to go get some milk."

A sneer curdles the corners of Snape's lips.

"Sorry...I forgot to explain, milk is that white liquid that humans drink for calcium..."

"I know what milk is, you imbecile." Snape spat.

"How extraordinarily like your father you are, Potter. He, too, was exceedingly arrogant. Strutting about the castle --"

"Don't be jealous sir. He's not great." Marina mumbled. Snape scoffed.

My dad didn't strut. Nor do I. Now, if you don't mind, I'd appreciate you lowering your wand at us."

Snape eyes Harry coldly. Containing himself, he lowered his wand.

"Turn out your pockets."

We're dead meat.

"Turn out your pockets!"

Finally, Harry obliged. Seeing the map, Snape's eyes glitter.

"And this.   What might it be?"

"Spare bit of parchment..." Harry answered.

"Really..." Snape scoffed, "Reveal your secret!"

Marina's stomach turned, words begin to appear.

Oh well. Time to mentally bury myself.

Snape studied them, a sadistic half-smile on his lips.

"Read it Potter."

Harry took the map. "Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs offer their compliments to Professor Snape and..."

"Go on."

Marina looked over his shoulder and read it aloud. "and request that he keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business."

Marina then bursted out laughing.

Snape smile dropped. "Why you insolent little --"

"Professor...?" said a voice behind Snape. The three looked to see Lupin, standing in the shadows.

"Well, well. Lupin. Out for a little walk in the moonlight, are we?" Snape slowly said emotionless.

"Cat fight is gonna happen." Marina whispered.

"Marina? Harry? You all right?" Lupin asked.

"That remains to be seen. I've just now confiscated a rather curious artifact from Mr. Potter. Take a look, Lupin. This is supposed to be your area of expertise."

Lupin took the parchment, which now displayed a rather unflattering caricature of Snape and a pair of potions.

"Clearly, it's full of Dark Magic." Snape spat.

"Oh your just upset that there's a funny joke on it." Marina replied.

"Quiet Weasley!"

"I seriously doubt that, Severus. It looks to me as if it merely insults anyone who tries to read it. I suspect it's a Zonko product. Nevertheless, I shall pursue any hidden qualities it may possess. As you say, it's my area of expertise. Come along you two."

As Marina and Harry walked aside a fuming Lupin, who gripped the map fiercely. Marina knew something wasn't right. After all, why would he be so angry at a piece of paper that he assumed to be a Zonkos product? Remembering what the map said...prongs, sounded like an animal part. Padfoot...a dog? And Moony, slang for moon, was even more strange.

"I don't know how this map came to be in your possessions, but  I'm astounded that either of you didn't turn it in. Did you ever stop to think that this -- in the hands of  Sirius Black -- is a map to you?"

Lupin could barely contain his anger.

"Your father didn't set much store by rules either. But he and your mother did give their lives to save yours. Gambling their  sacrifice by walking about the castle unprotected, with a killer on the loose, strikes me as a poor way to repay them. I won't cover up for you again, Harry."

"Did you know these map makers sir?" asked Marina with curiosity.

"Yes...we knew each other." He answered.

Lupin entered his office, tossed the map on his desk, and began to sort through some papers. Harry and Marina then lingered briefly in the doorway, absently eyes the waxing moon that glimmered beyond the window, then started to turn away.

"Professor. Just so you know, I don't think the map always works. Earlier, it showed someone in the castle. Someone I know to be dead." Harry told him.

Lupin nodded, half-listening, "And who was that, Harry?"

"Peter Pettigrew."

Lupin hesitates ever-so-slightly, then returns to his papers.

"Very well. I'd like you to return to your dormitory now. Oh, and Harry? Don't take any detours. Marina? Don't make any trouble."

As Marina walked back to her dorm, she remembered Snape's lesson.

Lycrotherapy.

And the moon.

Lupin's illness.

Moony.

Moon.

Lupin's Boggart was the moon.

Professor Lupin is a damn wolf.