Werewolf Of Azkaban, Part XXI and Part XXII
This is for elfinears, who requested for it, and thus reminded me that this fic still exists. And because I was horrible and have not updated in a year and a half, I give you two parts instead of just one. ♥
Werewolf of Azkaban
Part XXI
It is the Marauders’ Map, Fred explains with an excitable gleam in his eye, when Harry is done gawping and resisting the urge to flee. The Marauders’ Map - and this is said with no small amount of reverence, George even puts a hand over his heart - is every mischief-maker’s greatest companion.
Harry doesn’t even have to ask how it works, because his mouth is barely open before George taps the map and declares mischief has been managed, and the entire parchment is cleared. When the last of the ink has disappeared Fred taps it again, this time declaring he is up to no good, and then there is a small splotch of ink that spreads out, web-like, forming hallways and classrooms and passages and - Harry stares in amazement - names.
It tells you where everyone is, at all times. It does, George nods solemnly at Fred’s words. And, he adds, it also shows you where all the secret passages in the school are, and how to get in.
Now, they say, they know Harry has more or less been confined to the school, with a regular guard around him. And they figure that as they already know all the secrets of the school, it might be time for them to pass on the Map to someone who needs it more.
Harry barely believes them, even when the Map is thrust into his trembling hands. It is only after the twins leave, with cheeky, knowing winks, and he stares at the little footprints tagged ‘Fred Weasley’ and ‘George Weasley’ hurrying down the plotted corridor on the map, that he understands the enormity of their gift.
*
Werewolf of Azkaban
Part XXII
Harry Potter. He stares at his own name, taking experimental steps backwards and watching his representation on the map follow the movement.
His eyes sweep over the rest of the map. He sees all the names of all the students - and staff - in the school, a whole mass of letters which somehow avoid overlapping each other even in close quarters. He doesn’t know who half the people are, but he cannot stop staring at their names anyway.
He watches Fred and George Weasley on the map as they scamper off back to Gryffindor; holds his breath and backs into a corner when ‘Argus Filch’ prowls a nearby corridor. He makes sure his cloak is in place, and settles himself onto the floor when it becomes apparent Filch is not leaving yet. Right now, with the Map in his hands, he does not mind terribly.
After a while, almost unconsciously, his eyes dart to the inked walls of the dungeons, and he scans the map until he sees ‘Draco Malfoy’ in his dorm room. He smiles to himself, then his eyes roam over Gryffindor Tower. ‘Ron Weasley’ is still in bed, as are ‘Hermione Granger’ and ‘Ginny Weasley’. Then he notices movement at the foot of the Tower - ‘Sirius Black’ is pacing around his rooms restlessly. He walks around the lounge, pausing every so often at the same point, before pacing again.
Harry frowns, recalling the layout of Sirius’ rooms. Based on where the door is on the map, in the spot that Sirius keeps stopping is - a window. It is obvious Sirius is looking out at the grounds, but why?
Upon a sudden hunch, Harry checks that Filch is a safe distance away, then hurries to the nearest open arch in the corridor. He glances up into the sky and sure enough, his guess is confirmed.
It is the night of a full moon.
*****
Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part IX | Part X | Part XI | Part XII | Part XIII | Part XIV | Part XV | Part XVI | Part XVII | Part XVIII | Part XIX | Part XX
Werewolf of Azkaban
Part XXI
It is the Marauders’ Map, Fred explains with an excitable gleam in his eye, when Harry is done gawping and resisting the urge to flee. The Marauders’ Map - and this is said with no small amount of reverence, George even puts a hand over his heart - is every mischief-maker’s greatest companion.
Harry doesn’t even have to ask how it works, because his mouth is barely open before George taps the map and declares mischief has been managed, and the entire parchment is cleared. When the last of the ink has disappeared Fred taps it again, this time declaring he is up to no good, and then there is a small splotch of ink that spreads out, web-like, forming hallways and classrooms and passages and - Harry stares in amazement - names.
It tells you where everyone is, at all times. It does, George nods solemnly at Fred’s words. And, he adds, it also shows you where all the secret passages in the school are, and how to get in.
Now, they say, they know Harry has more or less been confined to the school, with a regular guard around him. And they figure that as they already know all the secrets of the school, it might be time for them to pass on the Map to someone who needs it more.
Harry barely believes them, even when the Map is thrust into his trembling hands. It is only after the twins leave, with cheeky, knowing winks, and he stares at the little footprints tagged ‘Fred Weasley’ and ‘George Weasley’ hurrying down the plotted corridor on the map, that he understands the enormity of their gift.
*
Werewolf of Azkaban
Part XXII
Harry Potter. He stares at his own name, taking experimental steps backwards and watching his representation on the map follow the movement.
His eyes sweep over the rest of the map. He sees all the names of all the students - and staff - in the school, a whole mass of letters which somehow avoid overlapping each other even in close quarters. He doesn’t know who half the people are, but he cannot stop staring at their names anyway.
He watches Fred and George Weasley on the map as they scamper off back to Gryffindor; holds his breath and backs into a corner when ‘Argus Filch’ prowls a nearby corridor. He makes sure his cloak is in place, and settles himself onto the floor when it becomes apparent Filch is not leaving yet. Right now, with the Map in his hands, he does not mind terribly.
After a while, almost unconsciously, his eyes dart to the inked walls of the dungeons, and he scans the map until he sees ‘Draco Malfoy’ in his dorm room. He smiles to himself, then his eyes roam over Gryffindor Tower. ‘Ron Weasley’ is still in bed, as are ‘Hermione Granger’ and ‘Ginny Weasley’. Then he notices movement at the foot of the Tower - ‘Sirius Black’ is pacing around his rooms restlessly. He walks around the lounge, pausing every so often at the same point, before pacing again.
Harry frowns, recalling the layout of Sirius’ rooms. Based on where the door is on the map, in the spot that Sirius keeps stopping is - a window. It is obvious Sirius is looking out at the grounds, but why?
Upon a sudden hunch, Harry checks that Filch is a safe distance away, then hurries to the nearest open arch in the corridor. He glances up into the sky and sure enough, his guess is confirmed.
It is the night of a full moon.
*****
Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part IX | Part X | Part XI | Part XII | Part XIII | Part XIV | Part XV | Part XVI | Part XVII | Part XVIII | Part XIX | Part XX