Remus came back for the next DADA class and showed the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws a Hinkypunk, a strange, one-legged creature that looked relatively harmless.

After the bell rang, Remus held Harry back. "Are you all right, Harry? I heard you went to the hospital wing."

"Yeah, I think so. Why? Why do they affect me like that? Am I just-?"

"It has nothing to do with weakness," said Remus sharply, as though he had read Harry's mind. "The Dementors affect you worse than the others because there are horrors in your past that the others don't have.

"Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them. Even Muggles feel their presence, though they can't see them. Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself- soul-less and evil. You'll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life. And the worst that happened to you, Harry, is enough to make anyone feel sick. You have nothing to feel ashamed of. "

"When they get near me-" Harry stared at Remus' desk, his throat tight. "I can hear Voldemort murdering my mum."

Remus reached out and laid a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I think it's critical for you to learn the Patronus Charm."

"The Patronus Charm? Is that that white misty thing Dumbledore used?"

"Yes. That white misty thing." Remus chuckled at Harry's choice of words. "Now," he added more briskly, "I believe you have homework to attend to."

To everyone's delight except Harry's, there would be another Hogsmeade trip on the last weekend of term. Once again, Harry had to look for something to do.

He started to head for the library when he was stopped by the twins.

"What are you doing?" said Harry curiously. "How come you're not going to Hogsmeade?"

"We've come to give you a bit of festive cheer before we go," said Fred, with a mysterious wink. "Come in here..."

He nodded toward an empty classroom to the left of the one-eyed statue. Harry followed Fred and George inside. George closed the door quietly and then turned, beaming, to look at Harry.

"If you brought me here to make out, I'm afraid you'll be sorely disappointed," Harry said dryly.

"Oh, darn," George said, snapping his fingers.

"There goes that plan," Fred added, though he did not really having to feign his disappointment. "But there is something we have." He brandished a piece of parchment to Harry. "Early Christmas present for you, Harry."

Harry stared, feeling baffled. "A bit of old parchment. Wow, how thoughtful of you."

"A bit of old parchment!" Fred grimaced as though Harry had wounded him. "Explain, George."

"Well... when we were in our first year, Harry- young, carefree, and innocent-"

Harry snorted. "You two are as innocent as I am social."

"Well, more innocent than we are now- we got into a spot of bother with Filch."

"We let off a Dungbomb in the corridor and it upset him for some reason-"

"For some reason," Harry muttered.

"So he hauled us off to his office and started threatening us with the usual-"

"-detention-"

"-disembowelment-"

"-and we couldn't help noticing a drawer in one of his filing cabinets marked Confiscated and Highly Dangerous. "

"Don't tell me-" said Harry, starting to grin.

"Well, what would you've done?" said Fred. "George caused a diversion by dropping another Dungbomb, I whipped the drawer open, and grabbed- this."

"It's not as bad as it sounds, you know," said George. "We don't reckon Filch ever found out how to work it. He probably suspected what it was, though, or he wouldn't have confiscated it."

"And you know how to work it?"

"Oh yes," said Fred, smirking. "This little beauty's taught us more than all the teachers in this school."

"You're winding me up," said Harry, looking at the ragged old bit of parchment.

"Oh, are we?" said George.

He took out his wand, touched the parchment lightly, and said, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Harry's eyes widened as words appeared.

Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs

Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers

are proud to present

THE MARAUDER'S MAP

The Marauder's Map! Harry's jaw dropped. This was the very item that his father and his friends had used!

"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs," sighed George, patting the heading of the map. "We owe them so much."

"Noble men, working tirelessly to help a new generation of lawbreakers," said Fred solemnly.

"Right," said George briskly. "Don't forget to wipe it after you've used it-"

"-or anyone can read it," Fred said warningly.

"Just tap it again and say, 'Mischief managed!' and it'll go blank."

"Wow," Harry whispered. He looked at the map and watched the dots move around. He had to show Remus! "Remus will be pleased," he muttered.

"Professor Lupin?" Fred said. "What does he have to do with this?"

"He's one of the Marauders," Harry told him.

The twins' eyes went wide. "He is?!"

"Yep. Moony."

"And the others?" Fred demanded.

Harry grinned. "I don't know if I should tell you..."

"Oh, come on, Harry!" Fred moaned. "Don't leave us in suspense!"

"Well, I mean you know Lupin's Moony. Maybe you should ask him."

"Great idea." Fred grabbed George's arm and dragged him away.

"See ya later, Harry!" George called over his shoulder.

Harry shook his head. He could only imagine Remus' reaction to the pair.

Remus was in his classroom when two red-haired boys burst inside. "Ah, gentlemen, what can I do for- oof!"

Both twins had jumped on top of him, hugging him and knocking him over. "We are not worthy of being in your presence!" they chorused.

Remus pushed them off and stood up, blinking. "I'm sorry. What?"

"You are Moony, one of the creators of the Marauder's Map?" George said.

"You have the map?" Remus said. "Wait, how did you-" he broke off with a sigh. "Harry told you, didn't he?"

He was answered by two enthusiastic nods. "But he wouldn't tell us who the others are," Fred grumbled.

"Where did you even get it?" Remus was almost afraid to know.

"From Filch," George said.

"Detention in first year."

"When we were young and innocent."

"So, Moony," Fred said, propping an elbow on Remus' shoulder, "who are the other Marauders?"

"Ask Harry."

"But he said to talk to you," George protested. "He wouldn't give anything away."

"So stubborn," Fred grumbled, though his eyes had a fond look that Remus had been very familiar with seeing in James' eyes when he thought of Lily.

"Well, I'm afraid I cannot help you with that," Remus said.

"But-"

"I am a professor," Remus reminded them. "I do not have to tell you anything. Keep bugging Harry about it, okay?"

When Remus next saw Harry, it was in the Great Hall. The twins were on either side of him, both pouting and making pleading gestures. Harry caught Remus' eye and stuck out his tongue. Remus just chuckled.

What even is my writing?