James Sirius Potter examined the old parchment in his hand, his fingers following the split directly down the middle. His father had obviously put intense care into keeping it from his children's mischievous grip. It seemed nothing more than plain old parchment.

"What the hell is this?" He muttered, about to place it back into his father's previously locked drawer. Suddenly, black ink danced across the parchment and sunk in quickly.

'Mr Prongs recognises a young Potter' is what James saw scrawled across the front. The handwriting was messy, but looked like it was usually messier. Like the writer was trying to seem more mature than they really were.

'Mr Padfoot suggests that this one can be trusted' soon appeared in almost illegible handwriting after the first message had faded away.

'Mr Moony thinks this one can be anything but trusted. Obviously a troublemaker, like you two.' James was shocked. The little sheet had thoughts. Were there people trapped inside?

'I'm sorry!' was written almost immediately after the previous message had disappeared.

'Bog off, Wormtail, you lying coward!' The second 'person' wrote.

James laughed.

'Mr Prongs would like to inform the young Potter that this is NOT a laughing matter. He would also like to suggest that he be told the secrets of the map.'

'Mr Padfoot agrees. What about Mr Moony?'

'Mr Moony would be honoured to pass on a legacy.'

"Legacy?" James mumbled. "And I'm James. James Sirius."

'Mr Prongs begs James to simply tap his wand to this parchment and solemnly swear that he is up to no good. He must also manage his mischief when he is done.'

James nodded and grabbed his wand. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

The final message faded and the ink drew a majestic pattern around the front. James saw the words 'The Marauders Map' bold on the front, with other things dotted around which he couldn't be bothered to investigate properly. James flung the parchment open and saw the interior of a building. Being in his fourth year of the notorious school of magic, he quickly realised that the map was of Hogwarts. He also noticed the name 'Argus Filch' in a ribbon written by the Great Hall. The ribbon then moved slowly to the other end of the hall, footsteps showing its path. 'Mrs Norris' then appeared from seemingly nowhere and placed itself beside Filch.

"I'm taking this to school." James laughed.

"James! Are you packed? We're leaving for King's Cross in 20 minutes!"

James gulped before shutting the parchment and murmuring 'Mischief Managed'. He watched as the ink faded and again, he was holding no more than a piece of parchment.