0285 A Fair exchange

Words : 1250 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

0285 A Fair exchange A short distance away, the trio were spared the brunt of the chaos. As the blinding light began to wane, they witnessed the convergence of the two Marauder's Maps into a singular entity, a fusion of magical cartography that left only one map in its wake. High above, Bryan observed the scene with a mixture of astonishment and curiosity. How many maps had merged into one? Two, or perhaps three? He pondered the implications of such a phenomenon—would a wizard encountering their temporal original self during time travel be subject to a similar, bizarre fate? Hmmm A muffled cry of anguish pierced the silence of the forest, drawing everyone's attention to the inner depths of the forest. Snape, who was vigilant and wary of Sirius trying to escape, halted abruptly. And pointed his wand towards the source of the disturbance. Meanwhile, the others were still reeling from the aftershocks of the map's explosive union. "Are you all right, Ron, Hermione?" Harry's voice was laced with concern as he scrambled to his feet and rushed to aid his friends. "Ow, my bum hurts!" Ron lamented, massaging his buttocks with a grimace. "Can someone tell me what the hell is going on? Harry, did you know there were actually two of these Marauder maps?" "Fred and George never mentioned this to me," Harry replied, his gaze fixed on the parchment beneath Snape's feet, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "Don't be silly, you two," Hermione chided softly, her brow furrowed in concentration as she too studied the parchment. Unnoticed by the others, her hand brushed against the small funnel concealed beneath her shirt, her expression growing increasingly grave. Sirius and Lupin, battered but ok, limped back to the group. They noticed Snape's vigilant posture and looked around with confusion, squinting their eyes. As experienced wizards who had come through the war, their attention had been drawn to other things earlier, but now they couldn't fail to notice the chilling aura creeping in from all directions like mist. "Severus—" Lupin began, plucking a damp leaf from his cheek before extending a hand towards Snape, "I need to get my wand back, I assume you don't mind, right?" "You three, come over here!" Hagrid's booming voice cut through the tension, beckoning Harry and his friends who were still confused. "Now is not the time to dawdle!" "What's going on, Hagrid?" The trio exchanged bewildered glances, their voices overlapping in confusion. As they drew nearer, Hagrid deftly maneuvered Malfoy under his arm, corralling the three students behind him while reclaiming his crossbow from Hermione. "We've been ambushed," Sirius said with a serious expression. Snape didn't hand him his wand, so he had to face the chaotic darkness with his bare hands. Harry cast a sidelong glance at Sirius, but didn't say anything. Sirius was still not on his list of trusted individuals. In that moment, Hagrid positioned Malfoy within the protective circle formed by the adult wizards. Harry and Ron, with evident distaste, secured Malfoy's arms, ensuring he would not fall down. "Who is attacking us, Hagrid?" The tense and intense atmosphere made Hermione's face turn pale. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Could it be the Centaurs--" "I'm afraid not, Miss Granger--" Lupin said with a bitter face, "They are much more dangerous and evil creatures than Centaurs--" As his words hung in the air, a gust of wind swept through the clearing, sending a cascade of leaves fluttering to the ground. A mocking voice suddenly echoed through the desolate Forbidden Forest, "it's quite ironic to hear such an evaluation from your mouth--" In the dim moonlight, a man with messy beard and disgusting yellow teeth, exuding a bloody smell, slowly appeared. "My friend, Remus!" "I searched the area with my fellow werewolves, but we didn't find the person we wanted to kill. Instead, we stumbled upon this... spectacle," he sneered, his eyes gleaming with a cruel amusement. Lupin, his face a mask of restrained fury, opened his mouth to retort, but Greyback's attention had already shifted, his predatory gaze locking onto Sirius with a calculating intensity. "Perhaps this is fate's own charity," Greyback mused aloud, a twisted smile playing upon his lips. "You know, the life of a werewolf is full of hardships, and the chance to claim fifty thousand Galleons does not come often." Sirius hesitated for a moment, then his eyes showed a hint of hostility. "Werewolves have no desire to be at odds with Hogwarts, Hagrid," Greyback continued, his voice a sinister lullaby as he gestured covertly to his hidden pack. His finger, aglow with an eerie silver light, pointed accusingly at Sirius and Remus. "Hand over Black and this traitor to us, and then you can take the others and leave, Hagrid." Upon hearing this request, Snape's eyes flickered. He glanced at the two people named by Greyback and a mocking smile appeared on his face. "A fair exchange, I believe," Snape purred. "What say you, gentlemen? Will you demonstrate the valor and selflessness befitting your reputations?" Harry was certain that Lupin and Sirius would reject such an outrageous demand. Yet, to his astonishment, after they exchanged glances, Lupin actually said with a serious face, "If we agree to your terms, will you truly let the others go, Greyback?" "Professor Lupin!" Hermione's exclamation was a mix of shock and disbelief, her voice reverting to the formal address out of sheer reflex. "You can't negotiate with werewolves. They're not trustworthy. Oh, Sorry, I meant—these particular werewolves are not very trustworthy." Perhaps because Hermione started calling him "Professor" again, Remus looked pleased. He smiled gently and said, "You don't understand the gravity of the situation, Miss Granger." "No, Remus!" Hagrid also said roughly. "Professor Dumbledore wouldn't agree with your decision, we must all return to Hogwarts!" Not only were Harry and the others shocked by Remus's decision, but Snape was too. When he heard that Remus and Sirius were truly willing to stay behind, the satisfaction on his face disappeared, and his expression turned very ugly. "So, what is your decision?" Greyback admired his metallic hand in the crimson moonlight, sounding a bit impatient. Truth be told, he wished none of them could escape tonight, but even werewolves have enemies they dare not provoke. If he really did that, he would probably have to move his entire pack out of Europe. "Hagrid, we must prioritize the safety of Harry and the others," Lupin stated, his voice resolute. "No!" Harry shouted vehemently. He realized that if they really left Lupin and Sirius behind, they would be in great danger. "If we're going, we must all go back together!" "You're as brave as your father, Harry." Sirius sniffed and said sentimentally, "But what Remus said is right. You kids can't handle this group of werewolves." Sirius and Remus's decision made Hagrid hesitate as well. He knew the gravity of the situation, but at the same time, he also knew that if he left Remus behind, the werewolves would definitely not let him off easily. And Sirius would surely be killed, and his body would be handed over to the Ministry of Magic for a reward. The Ministry of Magic would prefer Sirius to die as a criminal rather than as a wrongly accused hero. ******************************* For More Chapters; /FicFrenzy

0285 A Fair exchange

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