Harry.looked.around.and.glimpsed.Snape.a.short.way.away,.moving.between.the.tables.towards.the.doors.to.the.Entrance.Hall,.still.absorbed.in.his.own.exam.paper..Round‐shouldered.yet.angular,.he.walked.in.a.twitchy.manner.that.recalled.a.spider,.and.his.oily.hair.was.jumping.about.his.face..
A.gang.of.chattering.girls.separated.Snape.from.James,.Sirius.and.Lupin,.and.by.planting.himself.in.their.midst,.Harry.managed.to.keep.Snape.in.sight.while.straining.his.ears.to.catch.the.voices.of.James.and.his.friends..
.Did.you.like.question.ten,.Moony?..asked.Sirius.as.they.emerged.into.the.Entrance.Hall..
.Loved.it,..said.Lupin.briskly...Give.five.signs.that.identify.the.werewolf..Excellent.question...
.D.you.think.you.managed.to.get.all.the.signs?..said.James.in.tones.of.mock.concern..
Think.I.did,..said.Lupin.seriously,.as.they.joined.the.crowd.thronging.around.the.front.doors.eager.to.get.out.into.the.sunlit.grounds...One:.he.s.sitting.on.my.chair..Two:.he.s.wearing.my.clothes..Three:.his.name.s.Remus.Lupin...
Wormtail.was.the.only.one.who.didn.t.laugh..
.I.got.the.snout.shape,.the.pupils.of.the.eyes.and.the.tufted.tail,..he.said.anxiously,..but.I.couldn.t.think.what.else.‐..
.How.thick.are.you,.Wormtail?..said.James.impatiently...You.run.round.with.a.werewolf.once.a.month.‐..
.Keep.your.voice.down,..implored.Lupin..
Harry.looked.anxiously.behind.him.again..Snape.remained.close.by,.still.buried.in.his.exam.questions.‐.but.this.was.Snape.s.memory.and.Harry.was.sure.that.if.Snape.chose.to.wander.off.in.a.different.direction.once.outside.in.the.grounds,
.he,.Harry,.would.not.be.able.to.follow.James.any.further..To.his.intense.relief,
.however,.when.James.and.his.three.friends.strode.off.down.the.lawn.towards.the.lake,.Snape.followed,.still.poring.over.the.exam.paper.and.apparently.with.no.fixed.idea.of.where.he.was.going..By.keeping.a.little.ahead.of.him,.Harry.managed.to.maintain.a.close.watch.on.James.and.the.others..
.Well,.I.thought.that.paper.was.a.piece.of.cake,..he.heard.Sirius.say..Til.be.surprised.if.I.don.t.get..Outstanding..on.it.at.least...
.Me.too,..said.James..He.put.his.hand.in.his.pocket.and.took.out.a.struggling.Golden.Snitch..
.Where.d.you.get.that?..
.Nicked.it,..said.James.casually..He.started.playing.with.the.Snitch,.allowing.it.to.fly.as.much.as.a.foot.away.before.seizing.it.again;.his.reflexes.were.excellent.
.Wormtail.watched.him.in.awe..
They.stopped.in.the.shade.of.the.very.same.beech.tree.on.the.edge.of.the.lake.where.Harry,.Ron.and.Hermione.had.once.spent.a.Sunday.finishing.their.homework,.and.threw.themselves.down.on.the.grass..Harry.looked.over.his.shoulder.yet.again.and.saw,.to.his.delight,.that.Snape.had.settled.himself.on.the.grass.in.the.dense.shadow.of.a.clump.of.bushes..He.was.as.deeply.immersed.in.the.OWL.paper.as.ever,.which.left.Harry.free.to.sit.down.on.the.grass.between.the.beech.and.the.bushes.and.watch.the.foursome.under.the.tree..The.sunlight.was.dazzling.on.the.smooth.surface.of.the.lake,.on.the.bank.of.which.the.group.of.laughing.girls.who.had.just.left.the.Great.Hall.were.sitting,.with.their.shoes.and.socks.off,.cooling.their.feet.in.the.water..