Dawn Rivera

The Servant of Lord Voldemort

Hermione and I scream. Black leaps to his feet. Harry and Danny jump as though they received a huge electric shock.

"I found this at the base of the Whomping Willow," says Snape, throwing the Cloak aside, careful to keep his wand pointing directly at Lupin's chest. "Very useful, Potter, I thank you..."

Snape is slightly breathless, but his face is full of suppressed triumph. "You're wondering, perhaps, how I knew you were here?" he says, his eyes glittering. "I've just been to your office, Lupin. Your 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."

"Severus -" Lupin begins, but Snape overrides him.

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

"Severus, you're making a mistake," says Lupin urgently. "You haven't heard everything - I can explain - Sirius is not here to kill Harry, Danny nor Dawn -"

"Two more for Azkaban tonight," says Snape, his eyes now gleaming frantically. "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," says Lupin softly. "Is a schoolboy grudge worth putting an innocent man back in Azkaban?"

BANG! Thin, snake-like cords burst from the end of Snape's wand and twist themselves around Lupin's mouth, wrists and ankles; he overbalances and falls to the floor, unable to move. With a roar of rage, Black starts towards Snape, but Snape points his wand straight between Black's eyes.

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

Black stops dead. It is impossible to say which face shows more hatred.

Harry and Danny stand there, looking paralysed. I don't know know what to do or who to believe. They glance around at Ron, Hermione and me. Ron looks just as confused as Harry and Danny do. Hermione and I, however, take an uncertain step towards Snape and Hermione says, in a very breathless voice, "Professor Snape - it - it wouldn't hurt to hear what they've got to say, w-would it?"

"Miss Granger, Miss Rivera, you are already facing suspension from the school," Snape spits. "You two, Potter, Weasley, and Mr Rivera are out of bounds, in the company of a convicted murderer and a werewolf. For once in your lives, hold your tongues."

"But if - if there was a mistake -" I say.

"KEEP QUIET, YOU STUPID GIRLS!" Snape shouts, looking suddenly quite deranged. "DON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" A few sparks shoot out of the end of his wand, which is still pointing at Black's face. Hermione and I fall silent.

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

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

"Up to the castle?" says Snape silkily. "I don't think we need to go that far. All I have to do is call the Dementors once we get out of the Willow. They'll be very pleased to see you, Black...pleased enough to give you a little kiss, I daresay..."

What little colour there is on Black's face leaves it.

"You - you've got to hear me out," he croaks. "The rat - look at the rat -"