Chapter 7
Mooney, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs
Dear Linnea,
I am happy to hear you are doing well in school and have found some friends. There was no doubt in my mind you would fit in. Which is why I have enclosed a gift for you. The blank piece of parchment included in this letter is in fact a map of Hogwarts.
Linnea looked at the tattered piece of paper that had fallen out of her letter earlier.
"Ok he has definitely blown a casket this time."
The paper was very tattered and looked very old. And she almost through it away before reading the letter, but the fact that it was a message from her father wouldn't let her take time to do anything else.
This map is hidden with a spell, simply tap your wand on the paper and say 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good.' and the map will appear. When you have completed using it ALWAYS clear it by tapping your wand and saying 'mischief managed' I must warn you to use this map with great caution. Do not tell anyone of it who you think might tell an authority figure. If you choose to tell anyone, keep it within a small group of friends, I am trusting you to use this map wisely Linnea I believe in your maturity and responsibility I know you won't let me down
Love,
Sirius
Looking around the crowded Gryffindor common room Linnea snuck around the wall and went up to her dormitory. She did this not only because if it did work (which she highly doubted) she would be already breaking one of the guidelines Sirius had put on it. Also if it didn't work she didn't want to look stupid muttering words under her breath and prodding an old piece of parchment.
"Well," she said to herself, "Here goes nothing."
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
Nothing.
" What I thought, just a jo…"
But, something was happening amazinglywords started to form on the page.
"Mooney, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs proudly present:
The Marauder's Map
But, that wasn't then end of it, lines starting on the outer edge of the paper skated toward the center and branched out it was a map of Hogwarts. The most amazing part was the small dots moving around the page, all with headings above them. It showed Professor Snape pacing his office, Kreger, the games keeper was outside by the garden and Linnea Huse was in the Gryffindor Tower. Linnea was in a state of shock and awe. She held the school in the palm of her hands. Gazing at the outer parts of the maps she noticed paths going off the map seeming to lead in the village outside of Hogwarts, they seemed to go from the school like…
"Tunnels" Alexia said. "They are tunnels to Hogsmeade village."
Linnea and Alexia were outside by the quidditch pitch with Amerie, Parvati, and Piper. She had just showed them the map. There was no way she was going to keep this from them.
"This is awesome." Piper added. "We could go to Hogsmeads with out anyone knowing. Third years and up are the only ones allowed to go."
"I don't know." Parvati said. "I mean, that's real not safe, we could get caught."
"I have to agree with Parvati." Linnea said. "Besides, I promised Sirius I would be responsible with it."
"Besides," Amerie replied, "its quite and old map right, I am sure people know about these tunnels by now."
Alexia and Piper obviously thought that not using this map to get into Hogsmeade was a direct insult to the makers of it.
"It's obvious that this is what it was used for, I mean why else would the tunnels be on there." Alexia argued
"Look!" Linnea said, "I agree with all of you. I think that it would be a great way to get into Hogsmeade, but don't you think it would be a little obvious if a couple of first years just showed up in the middle of the village. I mean c'mon. I think that Sirius gave this to me for a reason and I'm not going to use it for breaking rules until I know more about it alright."
That seemed to be good enough for everyone.
"Whoa we better hurry; we're going to be late for class." Amerie said.
History of Magic class had turned out to be not the all knowledge class Linnea thought it would be. She never thought her history could sound so boring. Even the wizard duel between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort was less interesting as trying to balance your wand on the end of your finger. Linnea new this for a fact, she had tried.
But, there was something keeping her awake. She would be seeing Lupin tonight for her first lesson. As much as she wanted to deny it, she couldn't help looking forward to heightening her skills.
Linnea pulled out the map once again to look at it more closely. There she was in History of Magic class, McGonagall in her office, and Lupin in his office. Hmm must not have a class right now.
She cleared it quickly as she saw another Hufflepuff began to look over her shoulder.
As she looked down at the cleared map becoming more and more tired at listening to Professor Binn's continued drawling she suddenly came up with an idea. "Wonder what else this map could do?" she thought
She then began to mutter nonsense phrases under her breath to see if she could get the map to show some other secret.
"I Linnea Huse command you to show your secrets."
Nothing.
"Oh come on please."
Suddenly words started to form:
Mooney wishes to protest the continuance of your jibber.
Padfoot concedes and would like to add get a life.
Linnea was absolutely abashed. The Map just insulted her. Not the map, but the people inside the map!
Linnea was officially freaked out. She didn't even notice Alexia staring at her with an odd expression.
After class she walked to lunch deep in thought. She had written a letter to Sirius at the end of class and wanted to send it quite soon. She was not worried by any measure, simply curious at the odd present Sirius had written her.
Piper went with her to deliver the letter, and on the way back they noticed a sign.
First Year Flying Lessons
Every Tuesday until Christmas break
Held at 2:00 pm
Gryffindor – Slytherin
4:00pm
Hufflepuff – Ravenclaw
"Ah man that's sweet!" Piper said
"Oh man yeah, c'mon lets go tell Amerie."
Linnea and Piper skirted up to the common room and found Amerie. She already knew ("spoils my fun" said piper)
"I hear the teacher is real hot. A Professor Bauer or something."
"Yeah sounds like a charmer" Piper joked.
Later that night Linnea said goodbye to Amerie and Piper and headed down to Lupin's office. It was a rather bright room with amazing creatures and pictures in it. She saw a picture on his desk of four guys who looked like they were only 16 or 17. They were smiling and waving up at her. She noticed one that had to be Lupin his face hadn't aged much, and one that looked like her father. She didn't recognize the other two.
Just then Lupin entered.
"Sorry I'm late, just talking to Professor Snape. So, where should we start?"
Linnea just looked at him.
"Um, alright, I guess I will get the ball rolling then" he said jovially. "Do you know how much you can do?"
"Well, no not really. I mean it kind of heightens I guess when I get mad but…"
"Well that's a good start."
For the rest of the evening Professor Lupin worked to try to bring her telekinesis to the level it was when she was attacked by Luke. When she returned to Gryffindor tower, she noticed she was a bit more tired. Not physically, just mentally fatigued something, she had to admit, she had never been before. She was quite looking forward to their next meeting, and as her mind drifted into a deep sleep she imagined herself, The first female Minister of Magic.