Kura: How is everybody during this quarantine period? I hope all of you are doing well and surviving.

Disclaimer: HP belongs to J.K. Rowling; OP belongs to Oda

3.32 Change

While she has no care for the old man, she had to admit that even he was very impressive. His past and current achievements, along with his bullshit towards the Ministry and constantly refusing the position of the Ministry of Magic really spoke about his character. It sometimes made her gag. He had that image of "righteousness" that always sounded fake.

Monet gave a polite smile towards the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, and the Deputy Headmistress, Professor McGonagall. Both regarded her differently. Dumbledore giving her his own polite smile while McGonagall just gave the slightest nod, hard to notice unless one had trained eyes. "It's a pleasure to finally meet with the both of you; I'm elated that you have accepted this."

"Yes well, anybody who is working towards the future of the next generation is always welcome at this school!" Dumbledore says cheerfully. "Come and sit!" He gestured to the seat across from him from where he sat. He turns back to McGonagall and says, "Why don't you sit as well, Minerva? Let us be comfortable for this interview, shall we? I'll prepare some tea!" The woman looks at him with a raised brow before give a small fond sigh and a shake of her head as the Headmaster, with a wave of his wand, transformed his messy desk to that of a table complete with a tea set. A teakettle and three teacups appeared from thin air and the kettle proceeded to pour black tea into the cups.

As all this happened, Monet sat down herself, knowing how Dumbledore worked.

A trusting man. He was one who looked at the best of everybody. The most famous case perhaps being that of the once Death Eater, Severus Snape. However, he was once a man who shared the same views as many pureblood families. Few remembered of his friendship with the dark wizard, Grindelwald. Monet researched well enough to know that something had happened, a death. Loss of family and eventually a falling out. There was no exact reason Monet found that he suddenly switched. Unless one was to count the deaths of the man's father, mother, and hidden younger sister.

A sob backstory worthy of a "hero".

Dumbledore was an interesting man.

"Thank you for the hospitality, Headmaster," Monet says sweetly.

"Yes well, I can't very well let our guest stand for the next hour!"

A flatterer.

"Moving on," McGonagall interrupts, a look of annoyance on her face. She waves her wand elegantly and out appears papers that pile neatly on the table. She picks up the top of the stack and reads it, "Monet Delacroix, a graduate of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with outstanding grades. Excelling in Transfiguration, Charms, and Potions, along with the extra studies put into the study of Ancient Runes, you were recommended by the headmaster there to take up an internship in any school of your choosing." She gives a small smile to Monet, perhaps impressed. She picks up another paper and says, "It says here that you are looking to become a professor in one of those subjects, correct?"

Monet nods. "Well yes. I have a passion for all three, and while I enjoyed researching about Ancient Runes immensely, I would say that I certainly excel at Potions the most. I would love to intern for a certain amount of time, say about a year or two, and learn how to properly engage with students of any age and groom them into wonderful wizards and witches. Of course, being a half-born myself, I've learned from both sides, how to interact with muggleborns or purebloods."

The headmaster's eyes seem to twinkle at this while McGonagall nods, pleased. "Well then, certainly having another intern would certainly encourage students to go into similar paths. It will help them transitioning into the future, especially for the 7th years." Dumbledore says. "I'm sure either McGonagall or our Charms professor would be delighted to work with you!"

Monet gives a charming smile, though inwardly she gave a small scowl. She wanted to go into potions specifically if possible. Getting close to Snape would be beneficial. His past occupation with Voldemort would give them an interesting (and very useful against both Voldemort and Dumbledore) ally.

"If I may ask, would Potions not be an option?"

Besides the headmaster, McGonagall shakes her head, saying, "Our Potions master, Severus Snape, isn't one to appreciate help. He prefers to teach and research on his own." She had given a small scowl full of disappointment when she said the word 'teach'. Only to give a small sigh. "Regardless of his preferences, we will still ask him, as well as Professor Flitwick, our Charms Professor, on whether they'd be willing to receive an intern."

"Is there any subject you would prefer; or is Potions your only preference?" Dumbledore asks, leaning back against his chair.

Monet shakes her head. "While I do have a preference towards Potions, I believe that I should not let that hinder me as life is always full of surprises. It is best to be able to adapt to what is thrown at me after all than be stubborn and stick to what I prefer."

Both looked very pleased at her answer.

Eventually, the interview ended. Monet almost wanted to laugh. It was all too easy to fool these two. Though her mental strength certainly helped in case anybody tried to reach into her mind and see her true intentions. With the interview ending, she could see it as a success. She would be able to infiltrate Hogwarts and watch out for that one boy. The one boy her savior was so interested in…almost terrified of…

The boy who looked so similar to the vision she would see when she closed her eyes.

She suppressed her urge to smile. It was exciting.

Monet wasn't a masochist in anyway. That man terrified her immensely but there was also something exciting about finally seeing him. To see what he would become. To see the world burn around him. She would never follow him. But the world he would walk into… she wanted to see what the world would become.

"Thank you for the time you have given." Monet says with a smile as she stands, Dumbledore and McGonagall following her example. "I'll be looking forward to hearing from you," She gives a small bow.

Dumbledore walks around the table and holds out a hand. Monet smiles and takes it, giving a firm handshake. "It was a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Delacroix. We will be in contact with you shortly. I hope you have a pleasant day!"

"And you as well, to both of you," She says as she looks over to McGonagall who nods back, a small smile gracing her lips.

And with that, she leaves the room, only to nearly bump into a shabby dressed man who looks surprised at the sight of her. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" The man says, a small apologetic smile on his lips. He goes around her and she watches him go into the Headmaster's office. She could hear soft voices and one name is heard.

Remus Lupin.

Her eyes widened. So this was the werewolf who was hired here. A small smirk comes across her lips. "Interesting," She whispers softly to herself as she continues down the steps from the office, passing the gargoyles. She looks out through the windows into the sky. Winter was leaving and it'll be the start of Spring. A new change.

Her smirk changes to a small giggle.

A new change indeed.

Unknown to her, a small student, at the sight of her, immediately hid, hiding in the proper way for once. He was desperately trying hard not to give away his position and he was shaking in terror, though why he knew not. The only thing he knew was that she looked familiar and the instant he saw her, he was fil/led with terror and hatred. A deep hatred unlike anything he knew. Something he never thought was possible for him.

He closed his eyes and flashes of a girl, a giant girl holding onto a bunch of candies, sobbing as she stuffed them into her mouth as other children desperately tried to grab at the candies. The same girl collapsing as she coughed and begun to choke on her own blood, her skin turning deathly pale.

His own voice screaming out a name.

Chopper shuddered and opened his eyes, finally taking note that the woman had left. And without another word, he ran off, scampering away and towards the Hospital Wing in hopes of confiding in Law of his strange feelings.

~.~.~

Severus was scowling. He had just walked away from those blasted Weasley twins, who after he had finished scolding them, had snickered and whispered, plotting something devious no doubt. He could hear them whispering about some parchment and Monkey's brothers. And while parchment wasn't particularly bad, including Monkey's brothers made his head ache and he had the urge to groan.

Those four together spelt disaster.

No time to figure out what the four were plotting though. He was called to the Headmaster's office for something; a new intern according to what McGonagall had told him through the fireplace. Severus certainly did not want one but McGonagall was insistent that Severus come to, at the very least, learn about her after the interview McGonagall and Dumbledore just had with her and at least greet her.

Unbeknownst to him, the woman had already left.

When he arrived at the office, he stopped just outside of the door. However, he froze when he heard the voices of not only the Headmaster and McGonagall, but also the werewolf.

Immediately, his mood soured terribly. Why was Lupin there? Did it have to do with the new intern as well? Was that new intern for him or for Lupin? Were they already expecting Severus to refuse? Could that be why they had Lupin come in a well? To meet the intern?

A particularly nasty scowl came to his lips.

"We know that Black is in the castle but to think that he would trick a student!" All other thought disappeared at the mention of that despicable Black. Snape leaned forward as he heard McGonagall proclaim angrily, "We must find him immediately! Using one of our students!" She gave a huff. "To think that Black would go as low as to do such a thing…"

Snape scoffed softly. He could certainly seeing that arrogant man doing whatever it takes to get his way.

"Was there anything else you managed to uncover Remus?"

"Other than the student and Professor Nico being in cohorts with Sirius…I mean, with Black…no."

Snape gave a small start. Professor Nico? What could she possibly gain out of allying with Black?

"This certainly is displeasing. I just don't understand why Professor Nico would want to ally herself with Black…"

"Professor Nico is a mystery, even to me." Dumbledore's voice, silent until then, finally spoke. "Even as a child, she was…different. We must proceed with caution. Nico is a wild card that even I am uncertain how to stop her…I had hoped that she would ally herself with us as she was close to several of the students here…but the fact that Monkey sided with Black was an unforeseen action. Nico is extremely close to him and no doubt she would follow him."

Snape froze.

"I don't understand; what is their relation? From what I can see, thankfully, it is nothing sexual or in any way illegal; but their relationship is strangely close. How could what Monkey do influence her so greatly?" Lupin asks.

"It is strange. It seems to go beyond that of a favorite student, which is still inappropriate for a teacher."

The room stayed silent for a few seconds longer. Though it certainly seemed longer the more Snape listened in. Finally, Dumbledore says in a soft voice that had Snape straining to her, "Monkey is a strange child. However, I do believe that his heart is in the right place. For now, we must continue to observe them and believe that Monkey and Nico means no harm to anybody else. Minerva, please inform the rest of the staff about Black and Nico's affiliation. However, as Monkey is a minor, we should exclude him. Assure the rest of the staff that while Nico and Black are in contact, there is yet evidence to prove that she had truly joined him."

"Is that a wise decision, Dumbledore?" Lupin asks before McGonagall could say anything.

"…For now, it is better than to detain Nico and Monkey under speculations…"

Snape hurried away as Lupin and McGonagall gave their agreements, not wanting to get into any more of that conversation. His head was reeling just a bit and there was a sinking feeling in his chest. That boy and Black…not only were they in contact but Monkey believed whatever Black was saying? Did he believe Black to be innocent? What reason could there be?

The sinking feeling was getting heavier.

He skulked away, the sinking feeling never quite going away.

~.~.~

Today was quite the exciting day.

Prongs was elated. So was Padfoot. Both were just buzzing with excitement. Moony on the other hand was curious and surprised. He had not expected this to ever happen after the original four had left Hogwarts, leaving the map for anybody who were able to figure it out to use. Wormtail was just as excited as the first two, though he was quieter about it.

After all, the current possessor of the map was no one other than Remus Lupin.

Perhaps they should go back to the beginning.

The day was like normal.

Harry Potter ("how cool is that!?" Prongs would happily exclaim to the others while Padfoot just agreed enthusiastically) had used them once. He, along with his two friends, were plotting something. Something to do with Hagrid and with somebody called Buckbeak. From the name, they concluded it must be a magical beast, a friend of Hagrid's, or some unfortunate student with parents who had horrible naming skills. The poor lad if that were the case.

But as the day went on, Harry Potter no longer used the map. Instead, to their surprise and delight, it was the Weasley twins they met a few years back. The two had lovingly used their map with such wit and potential that they had originally been upset when the twins gave up the map for another. When they found out it was to Harry Potter, that anger was immediately replaced with excitement that they hid, treating the boy as they would with any other.

They could hear the twins talking about something with others. More potential pranksters? More potential rule-breakers?

An Ace and a Sabo. Brothers? They were protecting Luffy?

Luffy was that interesting boy who could hear their voices.

Nobody else could do that. Not even their creators. The map had to display their thoughts and then somebody could understand what any of them were thinking.

Why would they have to protect Luffy? From who?

"Mischief managed!"

Before they could get the answer, the map was closed. And the voices of Prongs, Padfoot, Moony, and Wormtail were left alone again. Then they could feel foreign hands and the tap of a new wand. A familiar voice was heard and boy, was this nostalgic! In all the years of being left in Hogwarts and left in the unfortunate hands of Filch, none of them had ever hoped to hear this voice again!

McGonagall held them. She was inspecting the map. And it was a bit scary. Sure, they wanted to speak; when would they ever get a chance to impress McGonagall with the beauty that was the Marauder's Map? But…at the same time, would she take them away? They had so much fun with the Weasley twins and then with Harry Potter…they didn't want to be put back into a cabinet with only darkness to surround them for another decade.

A voice was heard from McGonagall (her wand was still held up to the map).

"Be more careful boys; others may think you four are up to something notorious."

There was a pause from the woman as the twins and the other two replied back before a chuckle was heard from her. And then the map was passed back to the Weasley twins who accepted it happily.

After some time, the map was opened again.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

They were in an empty classroom. They could hear the voices of all four boys.

"I don't see his name anywhere, Sabo."

"Do you think the map might not be able to detect certain things?"

"Like what?" Fred asks. Though he sounded curious, the map was getting angsty.

There was nothing wrong with their map! Or so they would like to proclaim. They all knew there were certain things that may not appear not because of mistakes but due to the fact that perhaps the creators had not known everything about the castle… as absurd as that sounds…

"Sabo might be right; there's no Chamber of Secrets in here," George's voice says softly. "We tried looking for it before last year…you know when Ginny was…"

Immediately all four boys went silent while the four in the map were shocked. Oh, they had known about the Chamber. However, nobody knew its location. No matter how much they search, the four never found it. Granted, it was an old legend of Hogwarts they found out about later on in their years at Hogwarts but still. It was a hidden place with many secrets.

"I don't think I've ever seen the Room of Requirements either."

Room of Requirements? The four in the map went silent. There was much more to Hogwarts that they never put into the map…that was extremely distressing. If only there was some way to speak to their creators, to the now Marauders…

Time passed.

They learned many new things.

One of which that apparently, two of them was in the castle. For some reason, one of them was hiding and the four boys holding their map was looking for him.

Eventually, they were closed up with a closing line from Sabo being, "I swear, he must be hiding somewhere; maybe the map just can't find him…"

Perhaps they were going to give the map back to Harry Potter. Perhaps they were looking for one of them because they wanted to meet him (Padfoot kept saying this). Perhaps there was something else going on, something bigger that made the map curious. Very curious. But it wasn't Harry they were given to. Whether they found that one of them in the end was all up in the air. If there was something bigger going on, the map doesn't know. Maybe will never know.

However, what they do know is that somebody else was now in possession of the map.

It wasn't Harry Potter.

It wasn't the twins, nor the two boys they were with.

It wasn't even Luffy.

But the hand felt familiar. As the map was given to him by the four reluctant boys, the map felt excitement rather than worry.

It took some time before a wand was pressed against the paper and they heard a soft, almost weary, but relieved voice say, "Hello."

And they burst into excitement, all of them talking all at once. Moony spoke the least; this was himself after all. Padfoot was perhaps the most excited. Moony and Padfoot shared a bond different to that of the rest. Prongs was elated to speak to another Marauder after so long. It's been years! Or what they assumed to be years. What happened to them since then? Is Voldemort gone? Is Lily doing well? Was Harry his son as the rest of them theorized? Wormtail was scared to know what happened to the war but the knowledge that Moony was alive made him hopeful.

They went silent as nothing else was said. But then the holder of the wand spoke softly.

"I'm looking for Sirius…can you help me?"

Kura: …I'm not sure if I should've ended it there…but in any case, yes, Lupin does get the map back. I didn't get to write how because this was all in the map's POV. It's a bit weird, their point of view. There were points where it was in "the map's point of view" while other times, it was in "the four in the map" instead. I'm sorry if anything was confusing.

Berry: To clarify btw, we did have a small idea of how Lupin got the map. Basically, he was with McGonagall after leaving Dumbledore's office. The two split up for a second before McGonagall found the twins, Ace, and Sabo, allowing Lupin to hear them due to his heightened hearing (we are in firm belief he can hear better than others). And he had heard the words, "Mischief Managed". All this time, he had been searching for the map. Originally, he had suspected Harry of having it.

Kura: There were little hints to suggest that in previous updates.

Berry: And he was trying to figure out a way to get it. But now he knows, or had proof to believe that these boys have it instead. He follows them to where he overhears them talking about finding Sirius and he confronts them about it just as the map is closed.

Kura: We have this weird thing where unless a wand/hand is holding them while closed, the map can't hear anything from the outside world. They aren't being used at this point of time and the map was on the floor while the four was searching the contents. So after being closed, the map was still on the floor, nobody was holding it, therefore, until it was picked up again and then handed over to Lupin, they had no idea Lupin would be getting the map. And thus, their excitement. They knew Lupin was in the castle (thanks to the four boys) but they weren't expecting to be given to Lupin (granted reluctantly).