From the Eyes of the Werewolf

The Second Search

"What happened?" Remus burst through the door and into the staff room. He glanced from face to face searching for an answer. He didn't see McGonagall or Dumbledore in the room.

"Sirius Black has broken into the castle again," Professor Sprout said from the corner.

"Yes, I know that, but what happened? Where's Harry?"

"Harry? Harry Potter?" Professor Sinistra asked. "I assume he is in the Gryffindor Common Room with all the other Gryffindor students."

"Then he wasn't harmed. He's fine?"

The door had opened again as McGonagall joined the group. "Mr. Potter is in perfect health, although he and the rest of Gryffindor Tower probably won't be getting much sleep tonight."

"What exactly happened then? Did Harry see Sirius and go for help?" Remus asked, his voice full of concern.

"No," replied McGonagall. Before Remus could question her she added, "It wasn't Mr. Potter who saw Sirius Black."

"What do you mean?" Remus frowned.

"It was Ronald Weasley who saw him. Apparently Mr. Weasley awoke to find his curtains torn and Sirius Black standing over him with a large knife in hand." McGonagall looked extremely grim, and rather pale.

"How did he even get into the castle let alone Gryffindor Tower?" asked Professor Vector.

"He would have had to have the password!" Professor Flitwick said.

"And I wonder who would have given Black that information?" Snape took a step toward Remus and glared at him.

"If you are suggesting I had anything to do with this, Severus, then I'm sorry to disappoint you. I don't even know the password into Gryffindor Tower myself. How could I have given Sirius information even I don't know?"

"Then how did he get in?" hissed Snape.

"I don't know how he got into the castle," McGonagall sighed, "but I'm afraid I do know how he got into the tower." She paused a moment. "It seems that the new guardian of Gryffindor Tower has taken to changing the password every day. One of the students couldn't keep track of them all, so he wrote them down."

"What?" Snape said. "Let me think...who would be so stupid as to do something so utterly foolish?" His tone was dripping with sarcasm.

"That really isn't important," Remus said pointedly to Snape before McGonagall could answer. "What we need to know is how Sirius got that list from the student."

"Apparently, the student lost the list sometime yesterday," McGonagall said stiffly.

"And Black must have found it," said Professor Sprout.

"Which would suggest that Sirius has been on the grounds for some time. At least long enough to find that list." Remus pointed out.

"Well that explains it then," Professor Vector said, taking a seat.

"Not really," objected Remus. "It doesn't explain why he would attack Ron."

"He didn't 'attack' Mr. Weasley," McGonagall corrected.

"I'm sorry, I was told that one of the students was attacked," explained Remus.

"You were misinformed. Black did not have the chance to carry out his attack. Mr. Weasley awakened, saw a filthy man hovering over him with a knife, and screamed. Probably saved his own life." Her hand rested on her chest showing her thankfulness that Ron wasn't harmed.

"Got the wrong bed, did he?" Madam Hooch said after a stunned silence.

"It doesn't make any sense," sighed Remus, shaking his head.

"It makes perfect sense," said Professor Sinistra. "Black thought it was Potter's bed. But when he saw Mr. Weasley he knew he'd made a mistake."

"And he ran away?" Remus said in disbelief. "He comes face to face with the wrong boy and he's so frightened that he runs away? No..."

"What are you suggesting?" Snape said, folding his arms.

Remus turned to look at him. "Just that I find it peculiar that he ran."

"Why?" sneered Snape.

"Because, Severus, Sirius is a convicted murderer. He killed his friends...and many innocent Muggles, as well...why would he not kill an unarmed thirteen year old boy?"

Professor Flitwick stepped forward. "Because he wanted to kill Mr. Potter, not Mr. Weasley. It's as Madam Hooch said, he got the wrong bed."

"But, consider this:" Remus slowly began to pace about the room, thinking out loud so that all of the staff could follow his train of thought. "This is a man who supposedly doesn't care who he kills in order to get to his target. Why would he go through all the trouble of breaking into the castle and getting up to Gryffindor Tower only to run when he realizes he's at the wrong bed? I mean, I hardly think Sirius Black could have developed a conscience during his stay in Azkaban.

Upon seeing his mistake, why didn't he just kill Ron and then move onto Harry?"

"An excellent point," Dumbledore said from the doorway. "Indeed, why didn't Sirius Black kill Mr. Weasley?"

There was a long pause as one by one each member of the staff looked to Remus to answer the question. "Well, I can only think of one answer. Sirius simply didn't want to kill Ron Weasley." Remus thought for a moment and then said the most puzzling thing of all. "Which leads me to believe, and I know this sounds mad...but it makes me believe he didn't want to kill Harry either."

"That goes against the logic you yourself just pointed out!" exclaimed McGonagall.

"To some degree, yes." Remus turned to look at Dumbledore. "I don't claim to understand the motives behind his actions, but if Sirius had wanted Harry dead, then I wholeheartedly believe that Harry would be dead! He would have killed whomever stood in his way."

"But we know he's been after Harry all this time," said Madam Hooch.

"Do we?"

"Why else is he here?" she countered.

"I don't know!" He looked from Snape to Dumbledore. "I know this sounds absurd. I've been going over this and over this, and I don't have a good explanation! But I do know that Sirius was always a determined individual, and by God if he had wanted to kill Harry then one thirteen year old unarmed wizard wouldn't have stopped him."

"He was afraid of getting caught," suggested Professor Vector.

"Possibly," Remus took a deep breath and exhaled slowly and ran a hand through his hair, "but...I...I just can't see it. I know he wouldn't have gone that far and not finished the task, if that were indeed his objective. If Harry had been his target, then Harry would now be dead."

"Professor Dumbledore," Flitwick said breaking the tension, "we could debate Black's reasoning all night long. What we really should be doing is looking for him!"

"Agreed," said Madam Hooch.

"Should we split up and search the castle again?" asked Professor Sprout.

"Why?" said Remus. "Sirius wouldn't be in the castle still."

"And how do you know that?" Snape said suspiciously.

"Because if I was an escaped convict who had just been spotted, I wouldn't stay put and wait to be caught."

"Where do you think we should look, then?" asked Flitwick.

Remus glanced out the window. "The only place we haven't yet looked...the Forest."

This surprised McGonagall. "No man could survive in the Forbidden Forest!"

"Hagrid would disagree with you," Professor Sprout pointed out.

"Indeed, but Hagrid has spent years building up an understanding with many of the creatures that live in the Forest. Black has not. He wouldn't last longer than one night alone in there," McGonagall said.

"Unless he was desperate enough to try...and it was the only place no one was sure to look for him..."muttered Remus.

"He has a point," sighed Professor Sinistra"We should have Hagrid search the Forest."

"No, I'll go. I..." Remus hated to admit it, but this was one time when being a werewolf was to his advantage. "I can...that is...I know...his scent." Remus looked pained, as if revealing such a detail about his animal nature made him less human. But at a time like this he had to put that thought aside and move on. "If he's in there, I'll find him faster than Hagrid." Remus had already opened the door when Snape stopped him.

"I'll join you, if you don't mind."

"It's too dangerous," Flitwick said, trying to talk some sense into them.

"Professor Flitwick, I assure you that there is nothing in the Forest that would do much harm to me...or Severus."

"I still think we should search the castle," Madam Hooch said. "We still don't know how Black is getting into the castle. We might find something...some clue that could show us just how he's doing it."

"Agreed," Dumbledore said softly. "While Professors Snape and Lupin search the Forest, we will search the castle for any sign of Black. I'll alert Mr. Filch that all secret passageways need to be checked and rechecked."

***

The two men walked in silence out of the castle and began crossing the grounds heading into the Forest. The only sound came from their feet as they tromped across the slightly damp earth. Snape took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. Remus kept his focus ahead, but could feel Snape's eyes on him as they walked.

"We'll want to stay quiet in the Forest, so I suggest you say whatever it is you need to say before we get there," Remus sighed.

"Very well," Snape said. "I'm not letting you get away from me in the Forest. We will stick together."

"I didn't think we would separate."

"Didn't you? Don't you have plans to meet up with your old friend at some previously decided upon location so that you can plan his next attempt to kill Potter?" Snape accused.

"No," was all Remus replied. He really didn't want to get into this argument again with Snape.

"I know you're helping him. I know you've had contact with him."

"And just how do you know this, Severus?" Remus said, stopping to look him in the eye. "You keep accusing me of this and yet you have no proof of it."

"Proof? Consider that we haven't had a break-in at Hogwarts in years. You become a teacher here and now, all of a sudden, Black is on the run and breaking into the castle. Two old friends...working together after all these years."

Remus pursed his lips. He knew nothing he could say would convince Snape that he wasn't in league with Sirius. How many times had they discussed this very issue? It was a waste of time to go into it again. "I am going into the Forest to look for Sirius, the man responsible for the deaths of my dearest friends. I hope to find some trace of him so that we can put this to rest once and for all. Now, are you coming with me...or are you just going to stand there and accuse me all night?"

Snape squinted at Remus as if trying to see something hidden from him. He scowled, nodded, and then the two men resumed walking towards the Forest. As they reached the border of trees, a small, furry something scuttled past them. The hurried movement caused the ruffled leaves on the ground to crackle and both men froze at the sound. Snape eyed the animal as it ran off into the forest. Remus, raising an eyebrow, asked, "Hungry?"

Snape shot an angry glance at Remus. "Not at all. You?" He flashed a wicked look at Remus, baring his teeth.

"Not to worry, Severus. My thirst for blood only comes once a month." They stood staring at each other for a moment before Remus broke the gaze and moved deeper into the trees. "I suggest we get started."

They hardly said another word as they went about their task. The search was as complete as any search could be at night. Remus had to acknowledge that Snape was capable of moving with extreme stealth, his footfalls were as silent as Remus'. They moved as much undergrowth as possible, looking for any tunneling that Sirius might have created. They searched the larger trees for signs of a hiding place within the branches. Remus even kept an eye out for imprints on the ground that resembled a dog's, even though he told Snape he was looking for footprints. But they found nothing.

Soon dawn was approaching and the first rays of morning sun were starting to cast an orange glow over the grounds. It was actually Snape who suggested that they head back for the castle. They were both covered in dirt and grime from the search and since they had been at it all night, they both needed some rest.

But as they entered the castle, they were surprised to be met by Dumbledore. "I think there is something that you should see...now," he informed them. They followed him up the stairs and down the hallway towards some of the usual classrooms. "We found it a few hours ago. Professor Flitwick thought that we should alert you about this right away, but I felt you needed to finish your own search. Did you find anything?"

"No, Headmaster. Has something else happened?" Remus said.

"What is it you found?" Snape asked.

Dumbledore did not answer him. Instead, he stopped outside of Remus' own classroom and signaled for Snape and Remus to go in. One step inside the room and Remus knew why Flitwick had been so worried. On the chalkboard was scrawled a message. A message even Remus didn't understand. But even though the handwriting was messy, Remus recognized it instantly as Sirius'.

Peter is Here