The First Altercation
September 15th, 1971
The castle was quieter in the evenings, the hum of activity from earlier in the day replaced with the occasional distant sound of laughter or footsteps echoing in the corridors. Remus loved these moments—the stillness, the chance to explore the vast labyrinth of Hogwarts without interruption.
Armed with his hand-drawn map and a self-inking quill he “borrowed” from Sirius, he wandered the castle, his keen eyes scanning for anything unusual: false walls, hidden staircases, doors that weren’t always there.
He paused in a narrow corridor on the third floor, staring at a statue of a humpbacked witch. There was something odd about it—the way it leaned slightly to the left, the faint scratch marks at its base.
“Secret passage?” Remus muttered to himself, running a hand along the cold stone. He noted it on his map with a small question mark. He’d come back later to investigate more thoroughly.
He tucked his map into his robe and was about to continue down the corridor when a low voice cut through the silence.
“Wandering around after curfew, Lupin?”
Remus spun around to see Severus Snape stepping out from the shadows, his wand loosely in hand.
“I could say the same for you,” Remus replied, keeping his voice steady.
Snape’s lips curled into a sneer. “I’m not the one scribbling on parchment like a lost first year. What are you doing, anyway? Plotting how to keep up with Black and Potter in class?”
Remus felt a flicker of irritation but kept his composure. “Just exploring. Hogwarts is massive. I like knowing where things are.”
Snape’s eyes narrowed. “Or you’re up to something. You and your little group seem to have a knack for trouble.”
“And you don’t?” Remus shot back, surprising himself. “You seem awfully interested in what we’re doing for someone who insists we’re beneath you.”
Snape stepped closer, his wand now raised slightly. “Careful, Lupin. You don’t want to make an enemy out of me.”
“I’m not looking for enemies,” Remus said evenly, though his hand twitched toward his own wand.
“Could’ve fooled me,” Snape muttered. He glanced at the map sticking out of Remus’s pocket and sneered. “What’s this?”
Before Remus could react, Snape snatched the map and unfolded it. His eyes darted over the sketches and notes, his expression shifting from smug to curious. “Secret passages? How quaint. Planning your escape route for when Black and Potter finally turn on you?”
“Give it back,” Remus said, his voice low.
Snape ignored him, his finger tracing one of the marked passages. “This is pathetic. Do you really think this will help you? You’ll never belong with them, you know.”
“I said, give it back.”
Snape looked up, smirking. “Make me.”
Remus hesitated. He didn’t want to fight, especially not with someone as confrontational as Snape, but he wasn’t about to let him walk away with the map he’d spent weeks working on.
In one swift motion, Remus drew his wand. “Expelliarmus!”
Snape’s wand flew out of his hand, clattering to the floor. Remus quickly grabbed the map from his other hand, shoving it back into his pocket.
Snape’s expression twisted with fury. He lunged for his wand, snatching it up before Remus could react.
“Levicorpus!” Snape shouted.
Remus felt himself yanked into the air by his ankle, his robes falling over his head as he dangled upside down. His wand slipped from his grasp, clattering to the floor.
“Let me down!” Remus yelled, flailing uselessly.
“Why should I?” Snape asked coldly, stepping closer. “You think you’re better than me, don’t you? Just because you’re good at hiding your secrets—”
“Snape!”
Both boys froze at the sound of a stern voice. Professor McGonagall was standing at the end of the corridor, her sharp eyes narrowing as she took in the scene.
“What is the meaning of this?” she demanded, striding toward them.
Snape quickly flicked his wand, releasing Remus from the spell. He landed ungracefully on the floor with a thud, his face burning with embarrassment.
“Professor, I—” Snape began, but McGonagall cut him off.
“Enough,” she said briskly. “Both of you, to my office. Now.”
Remus groaned inwardly as he picked himself up, brushing off his robes. Snape glared at him but said nothing as they followed McGonagall down the corridor.
As they walked, Remus couldn’t help but think that this was the start of something far more complicated than one late-night altercation. Something about Snape’s words—about hiding secrets—sent a chill down his spine.
He would have to be more careful in the future. Much more careful.