i've done the dungeons, headmaster. no sign of black. nor anywhere else in the castle.
remarkable feat, don't you think? to enter hogwarts castle on one's own, completely undetected.  dumbledore gazes at the students, refusing to take the bait.
you may recall, prior to the start of term, i did express my concerns when you appointed professor --
turn to page 394. as the students eye snape with guarded curiosity, malfoy finishes scrawling something on a bit of parchment and balls it up in his hands. as he opens them, a moth flutters from his palms.
that's not really your concern, is it, potter? suffice it to say, your professor finds himself incapable of teaching at the present time. page 394. snape waves the moth away, blows out a candle and a slide show begins. an ancient woodcut of a horrific beast flickers at the front of the room. ron frowns down at his book.
quiet!
now. which of you can tell me the difference between an animagus and a werewolf? as the class stares mutely at a slide of an attacking werewolf, hermione waiting desperately for someone to respond to snape's question, the moth flutters by harry.
no one? how.  disappointing.
quiet, malfoy! though one must admit to feeling your pain. that is the second time you have spoken out of turn, miss granger. tell me. are you incapable of restraining yourself? or do you take pride in being an insufferable know-it-all?
five points from gryffindor! as a antidote to your ignorance, i prescribe two rolls of parchment on the werewolf by monday morning, with particular emphasis placed on recognizing it. passing notes, potter? snape snatches the drawing from under harry's nose. eyes it.
not exactly picasso, are you? i hope you demonstrate more talent on the quidditch pitch this weekend then you do as an artist.
if not, i fear you'll perish, given the weather forecast. until that time, however, you'll forgive me if i don't let you off homework. should you die, i assure you.  you need not hand it in. as snape turns away, malfoy sniggers with crabbe, coyle and pike. harry glances down at the drawing once more and we hear a true rumble of thunder and --
potter. what're you doing wandering the corridors at night?
how extraordinarily like your father you are, potter. he, too, was exceedingly arrogant. strutting about the castle --
turn out your pockets. harry doesn't move, eyes still boring into snape.
turn out your pockets! finally, harry obliges. seeing the map, snape's eyes glitter.
and this. what might it be?
really.  reveal your secret! to harry's horror, words begin to appear. snape studies him, a sadistic half-smile on his lips. turns the map his way.
read it.
go on.
why you insolent little --
well, well. lupin. out for a little walk in the moonlight, are we?
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 takes the parchment, which now displays a rather unflattering caricature of snape and a pair of potions.
clearly, it's full of dark magic.
expelliarmus! the wands fly from their hands. the others turn, find snape standing in the doorway, smiling smugly.
ah, vengeance is sweet. how i hoped i'd be the one to catch you.
i told dumbledore you were helping your old friend into the castle. and here's the proof.
give me a reason. i beg you.
listen to you two. quarreling like an old married couple. the creature and the criminal.
witty as ever i see. tell me, will you be so irreverent when i turn you over to the dementors? do i detect a flicker of fear? one can only imagine what it must be like to endure the dementor's kiss. it's said to be unbearable to witness. but i'll do my best. snape's eyes harden. he gestures to the door.
after you. as the others start to go, harry glances at the table where lupin has left harry's wand. in a flash, it's in his hand.
out of the way! .  and finds the werewolf preparing to pounce. leaping to his feet, snape draws his wand and steps forward, shielding hermione, harry and ron. the werewolf howls, sprints forward, when -- swoosh! -- a giant dog intercepts it in midair. they hit the ground in a fierce tangle of flashing teeth, a single horrible flailing beast. again and again, the dog pushes the werewolf back, but the werewolf is too strong.