At the end of November, Ravenclaw's first team flattened Hufflepuff in their Quidditch match, and the reserve match ended in a narrow win for Ravenclaw, meaning Gryffindor were not out of the running for either cup yet, though neither team could afford to lose again. This along with the fact that Professor Lupin had promised him anti-Dementor lessons, meant that Harry had become much happier. Wood became repossessed of his manic energy, and worked us as hard as ever in the chilly haze of rain that persisted into December. Alicia had also become much stricter with the reserve team, after the fiasco of their last game. Mary at least had agreed to work properly for the team, though she still wasn't talking to us outside of Quidditch.
It was after one such practice, that myself, Demelza, Amy, Andrew, Harry, Ron and Hermione were sat together discussing recent events. Amy was lying in Andrew's lap as he stroked her hair.
"Stefan really knows how to give compliments" said Demelza "he's full of them, even when you least expect it"
"Oooh, give us an example" said Amy
"Well, the other day, he described me as the ideal goddess, clever, attractive, funny, and Quidditch player extraordinaire. As flattered as I was, I feel like they're much more suited to Little Miss Weasley over there". She pointed at me.
"What's that, a Roger Hargreaves book?" I said
Demelza, Harry and Hermione laughed, while everyone else gave me blank looks.
Once Hermione had calmed down, she said "So, there's a Muggle series of children's books called Mr Men, and they have tie in series called Little Miss. Each one of them is titled Mr Something or Little Miss Something, so that's the joke she's making, as Roger Hargreaves is the name of the author. I used to really love them as a little kid. I assume your dad has the full set?"
"Yes" I confirmed "I've read them all, it's weird looking at still pictures but the stories are decent"
"I'd say we've got our own Little Miss Brilliant right here" said Harry, making Hermione blush.
"There's actually a Little Miss Magic character, believe it or not" Hermione said, "who, ironically, was one of my favourites, along with Little Miss Brainy and Little Miss Brilliant of course"
"You're certainly a combination of all 3 mate" I said
"Who was your favourite, Harry?" Hermione asked
"Well, in the very limited time I got to read them at Mrs Figgs' house, I'd say my favourite was Mr. Strong"
"I might need to try and have a look at some of these books, they sound pretty amusing" said Amy
"You're welcome to next time you're at the Burrow" I said
"Or at my house, growing up with a Muggle Mum meant I read them too" said Demelza.
"I didn't even know Dad had them" said Ron
"Well, maybe if you took more of an interest in what he does out in the garage, you might find some more surprises"
"Well I have my own Little Miss Perfect on my lap right here" said Andrew
"Thanks" said Amy, with an adoring look up at her boyfriend.
Two weeks before the end of term, the sky lightened suddenly to a dazzling, opaline white and the muddy grounds were revealed one morning covered in glittering frost. Inside the castle, there was a buzz of Christmas in the air. Professor Flitwick had already decorated his classroom with shimmering lights that turned out to be real, fluttering fairies. Everyone was happily discussing their plans for the holidays. I along with Ron and Hermione had decided to remain at Hogwarts. We needed to keep Harry company.
To everyone's delight except Harry's, there was to be another Hogsmeade trip on the very last weekend of term.
'We can do all our Christmas shopping there!' said Hermione. 'Mum and Dad would really love those Toothflossing Stringmints from Honeydukes!'
Harry spent the day before it reading a copy of Which Broomstick, to decide what he would replace his Nimbus Two Thousand with. He had been using a school Shooting star in team practice, which was very slow and unstable.
"You should get a Cleansweep Eleven, like me" I told him
"No offence, but as I'm so used to an elite level broomstick I feel like that would be a bit of a downgrade"
"Nonsense, it's brilliant. I love it" I said "In fact, I'm pretty sure several of the Harpies' U18 squad use them"
"Isn't that only because the academy leagues ban anything above Cleansweep level?"
I bit my lip
"True, but you should still consider it, it really is an excellent broom, and not ridiculously expensive either, certainly not for you"
"Yeah, maybe" but he didn't look convinced.
Harry and I decided to spend another day together while the others went to Hogsmeade. I was happy to let Demelza and Amy develop their relationships while I was trying to create my own. Luna had work to catch up on, though I suspected some of that would involve Nargle hunting, as it was close to Christmas.
We bid goodbye to Ron and Hermione at the exits then headed back towards Gryffindor Tower.
Snow had started to fall outside the windows, and the castle was very still and quiet.
'Psst – Harry, Ginny!'
We turned, halfway along the third-floor corridor, to see Fred and George peering out at us from behind a statue of a humpbacked, one-eyed witch.
'What are you doing?' said Harry curiously. 'How come you're not going to Hogsmeade?'
'We've come to give you a bit of festive cheer before we go,' said Fred, with a mysterious wink. 'Come in here …'
"Then we'll let you 2 have your festive snog of course" said George, sniggering.
I immediately had suspicions of what this was about, but needed confirmation before saying anything.
He nodded towards an empty classroom to the left of the one-eyed statue. We followed Fred and George inside. George closed the door quietly and then turned, beaming, to look at us.
'Early Christmas present for you, Harry,' he said, and he pulled the Marauders Map out.
"Is this some kind of joke?" Harry asked
"Oh Harry it's not a joke, this is brilliant, trust me" I said
'This, Harry, is the secret of our success,' said George, patting the parchment fondly.
'It's a wrench, giving it to you,' said Fred, 'but we decided your need's greater than ours.'
'Anyway, we know it off by heart,' said George. 'We bequeath it to you. We don't really need it any more.'
'And what do I need with a bit of old parchment?' said Harry.
'A bit of old parchment!' said Fred, closing his eyes with a grimace as though Harry had mortally offended him. 'Explain, George.'
'Well … when we were in our first year, Harry – young, carefree and innocent-
Harry snorted
'– well, more innocent than we are now – we got into a spot of bother with Filch.' 'We let off a Dungbomb in the corridor and it upset him for some reason –' 'So he hauled us off to his office and started threatening us with the usual –' '– detention –' '– disembowelment –' '– and we couldn't help noticing a drawer in one of his filing cabinets marked Confiscated and Highly Dangerous.'
'Don't tell me –' said Harry, starting to grin.
'Well, what would you've done?' said Fred. 'George caused a diversion by dropping another Dungbomb, I whipped the drawer open and grabbed – this.'
'It's not as bad as it sounds, you know,' said George. 'We don't reckon Filch ever found out how to work it. He probably suspected what it was, though, or he wouldn't have confiscated it.'
'And you know how to work it?'
'Oh yes,' said Fred, smirking. 'This little beauty's taught us more than all the teachers in this school.'
'You're winding me up,' said Harry, looking at the ragged old bit of parchment.
'Oh, are we?' said George. He took out his wand, touched the parchment lightly and said, 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.'
The map revealed itself
'Right into Hogsmeade,' said Fred, tracing one the secret passageways with his finger.
'There are seven in all. Now, Filch knows about these four –' he pointed them out, '– but we're sure we're the only ones who know about these. Don't bother with the one behind the mirror on the fourth floor. We used it until last winter, but it's caved in – completely blocked. And we don't reckon anyone's ever used this one, because the Whomping Willow's planted right over the entrance. But this one here, this one leads right into the cellar of Honeydukes. We've used it loads of times. And as you might've noticed, the entrance is right outside this room, through that one-eyed old crone's hump.'
'Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs,' sighed George, patting the heading of the map. 'We owe them so much.'
'Noble men, working tirelessly to help a new generation of lawbreakers,' said Fred solemnly.
'Right,'said George briskly, 'don't forget to wipe it after you've used it –'
'– or anyone can read it,' Fred said warningly. 'Just tap it again and say, 'Mischief managed!' And it'll go blank.' 'So, young Harry,' said Fred, in an uncanny impersonation of Percy, 'mind you behave yourself.'
'See you in Honeydukes,' said George, winking.
They left the room, both smirking in a satisfied sort of way.
Harry turned to me, and he saw me smiling back at him
"Told you. Brilliant, isn't it?" I said
"You knew about this already?"
"Yep"
"How?"
"They were using it when they helped us rescue Andrew. That was how they knew where to find us"
Harry looked excited. He picked the map up, and turned towards the door.
"Right, the passage entrance is just outside the door her, let's get down there, then we can..." he trailed off.
"What's the problem?"
"I'm just..."
He bit his lip
"I'm just remembering what your Dad said last year. Never trust something that can think for itself, if you can't see where it keeps it's brain"
"Oh don't worry, this isn't anything like Riddle's diary. We're only going to use it to get into Hogsmeade, we aren't going to attack anyone. Plus, the twins have been using it for years, and nothing's happened to them"
Harry looked at me, perhaps amazed by my logic, like Lupin was.
"Alright" he said, stepping outside. Let's go then"
