The Professors Verdict
September 15th, 1971
The walk to Professor McGonagall’s office was tense and silent. Snape glared daggers at the back of Remus’s head, while Remus kept his gaze fixed firmly on the floor, his heart pounding.
When they reached the office, McGonagall pushed the door open and motioned them inside. The room was neat and orderly, with bookshelves lining the walls and a roaring fire in the hearth. A small tartan armchair sat in one corner, and the desk was stacked with neat piles of parchment.
“Sit,” McGonagall commanded, her tone brooking no argument.
Remus and Snape sat in the two chairs opposite her desk, each shooting the other a brief look of disdain.
“Explain,” McGonagall said, folding her arms and looking between the two boys.
“He started it!” Snape said quickly, pointing at Remus. “He was wandering the corridors after curfew, and when I asked what he was doing, he hexed me!”
“That’s not true!” Remus protested, his voice trembling slightly. “I was just mapping the castle—I wasn’t doing anything wrong. Snape grabbed my map and wouldn’t give it back. I only used magic to get it back!”
Snape scoffed. “You were sneaking around! Probably planning some stupid prank with Black and Potter.”
“Enough,” McGonagall said sharply, raising a hand to silence them. She looked at each boy in turn, her expression unreadable.
“Mr. Lupin, what were you doing with this map?”
Remus hesitated. He didn’t want to explain too much, but he also didn’t want to lie. “I’ve been… making notes of the secret passages and shortcuts around the castle,” he admitted. “It’s easy to get lost, and I thought it might help me get around more quickly.”
McGonagall raised an eyebrow. “A map of secret passages, is it? That’s… resourceful, though I’m not sure it’s entirely wise.” She turned to Snape. “And you, Mr. Snape? What made you feel it was necessary to confront Mr. Lupin?”
Snape straightened in his chair, his tone defensive. “I thought he was up to something. He’s always with Potter and Black—they’re nothing but trouble. I was trying to keep him from doing anything that might get us all into trouble.”
McGonagall’s lips pressed into a thin line. “And casting Levicorpus on a fellow student—how does that fit into your defense?”
Snape’s face darkened, but he didn’t respond.
McGonagall sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I won’t tolerate dueling in the corridors, nor will I tolerate students taking it upon themselves to police their peers. Both of you are to serve detention—together. Perhaps spending some time working side by side will teach you to resolve your differences without resorting to hexes.”
“Together?” Snape repeated, his voice filled with disbelief.
“Professor, please—” Remus began, but McGonagall silenced him with a sharp look.
“My decision is final,” she said firmly. “You’ll report to Mr. Filch tomorrow evening. Now, off to your dormitories. And if I catch either of you wandering the corridors after curfew again, it will be far more than detention.”
Snape stormed out of the office without another word, his robes billowing behind him. Remus lingered for a moment, looking at McGonagall.
“I’m sorry, Professor,” he said quietly.
McGonagall’s expression softened slightly. “I believe you, Mr. Lupin. But you must be more cautious. This castle is full of secrets, and not all of them are safe for wandering students. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Professor,” Remus said, nodding.
“Good. Off you go.”
Remus left the office, his heart still pounding. He didn’t see Snape as he made his way back to the Gryffindor common room, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that this wouldn’t be the last confrontation between them.
When he climbed through the portrait hole, James, Sirius, and Peter were waiting for him near the fire.
“What happened?” James asked, his hazel eyes wide with curiosity.
“Snape,” Remus muttered, flopping into an armchair. “He caught me marking my map and decided to make it his business, claiming I was gonna use it to pull pranks with you two or something.”
Sirius snorted. “Slimy git. What did McGonagall say?”
“Detention,” Remus replied. “With Snape.”
James winced. “Rough. When?”
“Tomorrow night,” Remus said, rubbing his temples.
Peter looked concerned. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” Remus said, though he wasn’t entirely sure he believed it.
Sirius leaned back in his chair, smirking. “Cheer up, Professor Lupin. At least you’ve got us to make your day interesting.”
“And hey, that's not such a bad idea. The pranks, I mean. I think we must begin to plot our revenge!” James beamed with excitement
Remus couldn’t help but laugh, despite his lingering frustration. For now, he was content to sit by the fire and let his friends’ antics distract him from the tension of the evening.