Chapter 34: The Marauder's Map
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. I'm happy to say this story now has over 200 followers! Thank you all for your support! And after seeing the Hogwarts Legacy game in action needless to say I've been getting some ideas. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
We find ourselves in the Great Hall for dinner and Penny was apologizing to her friends for being so distant.
"I'm sorry about everything. I didn't realize how you all must have felt when I pushed you all away." Penny apologized.
"It's alright Penny. You were just coping with a bad thing." Barnaby said.
"It happens to us all from time to time," Ron said.
"We're just glad you're back," Harry said making her feel better.
"Hey uh, where's Sam?" Penny asks looking at the Slytherin table.
"That's weird. Where could he have gone running off to?" Hermione asks.
"I think he said something about helping Eric and Cole out with something," Harry recalls.
"They must be trying to help come up with classes for Hagrid." Barnaby assumes.
"Still weird to do it in the middle of dinner. Hope they're not too hungry." Tulip said.
Little did they know in the secret tunnels of Slytherin, Sam was leading Eric and Cole through them.
"Alright guys this is the spot where I found the tunnels," Sam said coming to a stop. "Do we have everything we need?"
"Yep. I got rope, a flashlight, and trail markers so we can find our way back." Cole said holding up his bag.
"And I got parchment, ink, and some food from the feast. Don't know how long we'll be here." Eric said.
"Got your wand and daggers?" Eric asks.
"Always," Sam said gesturing to his belt before taking out his wand and pointing it at his eyes. "Vizophrous!"
Zapping his eyes, Sam cringed before the spell took effect.
Looking around he saw the snakes point to the secret switch.
"Now you two," Sam said pointing at them.
"Uh maybe hold off on the eye blasting for now," Eric said not a fan of this spell.
"Yeah you used it, so right now that should be enough," Cole said not wanting to get blasted either.
"Alright guys, stay close. It's easy to get lost in here." Pressing the switch, the wall opens revealing the secret passageway.
Making their way inside, the three boys look in awe to see a corridor with several paths and some had staircases that went up and down.
"These look like they must go all over the castle," Cole said.
"But which one do we go through first?" Sam asks.
Pausing both muggle boys glanced at each other.
"Well Sam, you're the one who found this, so you should be the one who picks first," Eric suggests.
"Okay, I pick…" Glancing at each of them, Sam noticed one hallway seemed a little older than all of the others. "That one."
"Hang on. Hang on." Taking out a trail marker, Cole marks it with a 1 and tapes it to the wall.
"Lumos." Raising his wand, Sam made a bright light as the snakes from Slytherin's spell seemed to guide him through the hall.
"Look there's a light up ahead," Cole said spotting something ahead.
Smiling eagerly all of them were eager to see what awaited them but to their horror saw the path leading them forward had a big hole in the middle that was way too big to jump.
"Wish you brought your broom. Guess we'll try another one." Cole said about to leave when Sam grabs his shoulder.
"We can cross this," Sam said stopping him.
"What?!" Both boys said in shock.
"Are you mad? We can't make that jump." Eric said.
"And Newt said to only use the Swooping Evil in case of emergencies," Cole points out.
"Oh yes, we can. Grab onto me. And hold on tight." Sam said taking out his wand.
Grabbing his arms, both muggle boys held on.
"Carpe Retractum!" Using the spell, Prof. Lupin taught him, Sam pulled the three of them over the hole and they landed on the other side.
"That was brilliant." Eric smiles.
"When did you learn that spell? We could have used that one on some of Newt's expeditions." Cole asks.
"Just learned it. Nice to have a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher that knows what he's doing." Sam chuckles.
Continuing onward they saw a door at the end of the hall.
Bracing themselves, the three boys had no idea what to expect on the other side of this door, but they were going to face it.
Slowly reaching out, Sam opens the door, and when they stepped in they gasped.
Inside was a personal study filled with trinkets, shelves of books, a large desk with maps and layouts of the whole castle, and a gleaming coat of arms of the Slytherin house hanging on the wall.
"What is this place?" Eric asks as they looked around.
"Could that Sirus Black have hidden here when he snuck into the castle?" Cole asks.
"I don't think so. Looks like no one has been here in forever." Eric said examining all the dust on the bookshelves.
Taking one book off, Eric wipes the dust off to show the year it was published was 887.
"You know this place isn't half bad. I mean with a little cleaning, some new furniture, a couch and we could totally make this our own clubroom." Cole chuckles.
Making his way to the desk, Sam examined the contents to see several drawings of the corridors, that were faded slightly. Looking at the notes he spotted some familiar handwriting on them.
"Wait a minute." Reaching into his bag, Sam pulls out Slytherin's journal and holds one page up to the notes. The handwriting was exactly the same. "Guys…this is Salazar Slytherin's. This must have been his study when he was building all of these."
Walking over the other two boys examined the sketches and saw several passages they never knew existed.
"He made passages all over the castle. Along with secret codes and tricks to unlock them." Eric said.
And fortunately thanks to the spell, Sam saw the snakes spell out each one for him.
"Which one are we at?" Cole asks loving this.
Grinning, Sam was loving this discovery more and more when he noticed one snake pointing to a door.
"Huh?" Opening the door, Sam paused confused by what he saw. "Wait a second." Looking around Sam turned his head around and looked up. "Uh I think I found where this one is."
Following him they peeked out to see the door led to the 4th floor corridor not too far from the staircase.
Slowly turning their heads they saw that Salazar Slytherin had hidden the door, in the door of a giant painting.
"Are you kidding me?!" Eric said.
"Seriously?!" Cole said.
As they stepped out Sam closed the door and it faded into the painting.
"He hid a secret entrance in plain sight and no one ever realized it," Sam said in disbelief when the sounds of footsteps echoed.
"Someone's coming. Sam your eyes." Eric points out.
Gasping Sam points his wand at his eyes and undoes the spell just in time to show Prof. Flitwick walking down the halls.
"What are you boys doing here? The feast is almost over." He asks.
"Sorry professor. Got a little held up." Sam said.
"What were doing here?" Flitwick asks suspiciously.
"Uh Sam here had a few Care of Magical Creature questions for us and as the assistants to Prof. Hagrid we thought it was only right that we try to help him," Eric said.
"Just part of the job," Cole said.
"Yes, quite right. Well best hurry back. It's almost time for bed and none of us should be up when the Dementors are on patrol." Flitwick advises before walking away.
"I'll look more into the study and those corridors later. We'll do this again soon." Sam whispers.
Nodding the three friends split up, while Eric and Cole made their way back to Hagrid, Sam went back to the common room.
Going to his bed, Sam tucks away his Viper Fangs, and journal when he noticed his Pensieve glowing softly under his bed.
"Hmm what do we have here?" Sam asks crawling under the bed.
As an image began to show, Sam suddenly was sucked in.
Recovering from the landing, Sam finds himself in the Three Broomsticks back in Hogsmeade.
"Hmm, not much has changed about this place," Sam noted when he saw the door open and gasps seeing his parents Leonard and a pregnant Lucy walking in.
"Lucy there you are." Walking over, Sam spotted a familiar-looking man with glasses approach them. "Let me help you."
"Back off James. I'm pregnant, not helpless." Lucy said.
"Still the same as ever I see." James rolls his eyes.
"It's good to see you, old friend," Leonard said as they shook hands. "Is she here too?"
"Yep got us a booth in the back." James gestures.
Making their way in they saw a beautiful woman with long red hair waiting for them.
"Lily. So good to see you." Lucy smiles.
"Lucy you're glowing." Lily smiles happy to see her.
"Give yourself a few more months and we'll see how much you love being like this." Lucy hints touching her stomach.
"So how are Moony and Padfoot doing?" Leonard asks as the women sat down.
"Oh you know same old same old," James said.
"Of course. What about Wormtail?" Leonard asks.
"Hmm, he's been a little weird lately. Hardly ever see him around anymore and when we do, he gets all nervous and fidgety." James said.
"I see," Leonard said curious about that.
"Moony? Padfoot? Wormtail? What kind of names are those?" Sam asks tilting his head.
"So uh what exactly am I in for when Lily gets around that stage?" James whispers.
Putting a hand on his shoulder, Leonard sighs. "Brace yourself my friend. It is going to be a bumpy ride."
Hearing this Sam couldn't help but laugh.
As the two married couples sat down James and Lily looked at them.
"So to what do we owe the pleasure?" Lily asks.
"Well, Lucy and I are going to be leaving for her family home. They're going to help take care of and help me protect her until the baby is born, but before we left, we wanted to ask you both something important." Leonard said getting their and Sam's attention.
"Would you two consider being the godparents to our baby?" Lucy asks making them gasp.
"You want us? Are you sure?" James said surprised.
"You do know the situation we're in?" Lily asks.
"We can't think of anyone better. We believe you two are the best choice to be our child's godparents in case something ever happens to us." Lucy said.
"What do you say?" Leonard asks.
Looking at each other, Lily slowly nods her head and James smiles.
"We'd be happy to." James declares.
Smiling both of Sam's parents were happy to hear it and while Sam was happy to see this he was also sad, sad because his godparents seem like such amazing people but he never got to meet them.
"Even if it's risky they're there for the people closest to them. Just like Harry." Sam smiles seeing the family resemblance.
"Rosemerta a round of Fire whisky over here!" James said.
"Make it Butterbeer!" Lucy corrects.
"Wait why the change?" James asks.
"We can't drink while pregnant Potter, remember?" Lucy said knocking on his head.
"Knock it off," James said adjusting his glasses. "Well if you can't why can't we?"
"If we have to suffer through all these pregnancy dos and don'ts so do you boys." Lucy points.
"Mmm not a bad idea," Lily smirks making the men cringe.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again. Your woman is evil." James hissed.
"Not my fault, I married the one Slytherin you couldn't knock down a peg." Leonard chuckles kissing his wife on the cheek.
"I hope for their sake their kid doesn't get her attitude or he's going to make a lot of enemies," James said.
"Or a lot of friends." Lily giggles making Sam laugh.
"I think you're both right in this case." Sam chuckles as Madam Rosmerta brings them 4 mugs.
"To our children's future." Lucy declares.
"Here here." The four of them said clinking their mugs ending the memory.
Coming out of the memory, Sam bangs his head under his bed.
"Ow!" Groaning Sam pulls himself out holding his head in pain. "Okay note to self, take it out from under the bed before I dive into the memories."
Climbing out, Sam lays down on his bed.
Pretty soon November had come along and things were starting to get cold as they entered December. It had even started to snow.
As the students were gathering to go to Hogsmeade to do some holiday shopping before heading home, Harry was watching his friends leave and hated that he couldn't go with them.
Grabbing his Invisibility cloak, Harry held it close thinking about sneaking after them.
But just as he was about to leave, two familiar faces blocked his path.
"Heya Harry," Fred said.
"Up to a little trouble I see," George said.
"What are you guys doing here? Why aren't you at Hogsmeade?" Harry asks.
"Come to give a little festive holiday cheer. Follow us." Fred said leading him to an empty classroom.
"An early Christmas present," George said handing him a worn-out piece of parchment.
"What is this?" Harry asks.
"This Harry, is the secret to our success," George said.
"After last night, we decided that your needs are greater than ours. Plus we already memorized it by heart at this point." Fred said.
"What do I need an old piece of parchment for?" Harry asks still confused.
"Show him, George," Fred smirks as George took out his wand.
"I solemnly swear, I am up to no good," George said as ink began to form.
"Messers Moony, Wormtail, Wildheart, Padfoot, and Prongs are proud to present, The Marauder's Map." Harry read aloud.
"We owe them so much," George said as Harry opened it and saw a whole map of Hogwarts as well as tiny dots moving around the map and names indicating who it was. As well as several paths going in and out of Hogwarts. Some even led right into Hogsmeade.
"Wait so this map shows—" Harry starts.
"Everyone," Fred said.
"Where they are," George said.
"What they're doing," Fred said.
"Every minute," George said.
"Of every day." Fred finishes.
"Where did you find this?"
"Nicked it from Filch in our first year. Now he knows about these 4, but he doesn't know about these 3. Don't bother with these two. This one is caved in and this one goes right under the Whomping Willow, but this one here leads right into Honeydukes." Fred points.
"Oh, and Harry remember when you're done say "Mischief managed." Otherwise, anyone can read it." George said saying the chant making the map go blank.
Following the map's instructions Harry follows it arriving right into the cellar at Honeydukes.
Making his way out of the shop, he sees Sam, Eric, Cole, Ron, Hermione, and Barnaby leading Penny to the edge of Hogsmeade.
"They say it's the most haunted place in Britain," Hermione said.
Walking by the Hog's Head, Sam pauses remembering the conversation he had with Aberforth.
As much as he wanted to go in there and talk to him, he still didn't have an answer yet to his question.
Making their way to a fence with a small opening they look to see a worn-down old house in the distance.
"The Shrieking Shack. A place so haunted not even the ghosts will go near it." Ron said.
"Freaky," Penny said.
"I don't see any doors or even any windows." Cole noticed.
"No one's ever gotten close enough," Hermione said.
"Well maybe some places are better left alone," Eric said.
"Well, well look who's here. You geeks looking for a new clubhouse?" Turning around they saw Malfoy, Crabbe, and Golye approaching.
"Oh great, this guy." Eric rolls his eyes.
"Bit grand for you isn't Weasley? Don't you and your family sleep in one room?" Malfoy mocks.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Penny asks.
"Lookie here fellas, Haywood joined the Loser Group again. And here I thought you finally got some brains and chose to leave." Malfoy said.
"Shut your mouth Malfoy." Ron glares.
"Ooh quite the tongue Weasly. Seems someone needs to teach him a lesson on how to speak to his betters." Malfoy said.
"I hope you don't mean you." Hermione scoffs.
"How dare you speak to me like that you filthy little mudblood." Malfoy glares.
"Oh please you've said that word so many times it's lost all impact," Sam said walking forward. "No one wants you around Malfoy, so do us all a favor and just leave."
"How dare you talk to me like you're my better." Malfoy glares.
"Malfoy he is better than you," Cole said.
"And unlike you, Sam doesn't need to constantly put others down to make himself feel like a big deal," Eric said.
Malfoy was about to let them have it when suddenly a snowball flew in and hit him in the head surprising everyone.
"Who's there?" Malfoy calls out when more snowballs flew in hitting him, Crabbe and Goyle. "Don't just stand there! Do something!"
"Wha?" Before Goyle could react something yanked his beanie down over his eyes and yanked Crabbe's pants down revealing polka-dotted underwear.
Panicking Crabbe bent down to try and pull them up when something kicked him in the butt sending him face-first into the snow.
Bursting into laughter everyone was enjoying Malfoy's group getting their butts kicked by an unknown entity.
As Golye tries to get up, something grabbed his scarf and spun him around and around knocking him into Crabbe and Malfoy and sending him crashing in the snow.
Before Malfoy could recover something grabbed him by the legs and yanked him down the slope towards the Shrieking Shack.
"Have a nice trip Malfoy!" Barnaby calls out.
Scrambling to get up, Malfoy makes a run for it with Golye and then Crabbe following right behind him.
As everyone laughed Sam felt something mess with his hat.
"Harry," Sam smirks as Harry took off the cloak and joined in the laughter.
"What are you doing here? I thought you couldn't get that permission slip signed." Eric asks as Harry yanks his hood over his head to hide his face.
"Did you learn to apparate? We're not supposed to be able to do that until our 6th year." Ron asks.
"No not that." Harry shook his head.
Going back into town Harry told them about Fred, George, and the map.
"Those weasels. How come they never told me about the map? I'm their brother." Ron asks.
"Of course, Harry's not going to keep it. He's going to turn it into Prof. McGonagall." Hermione said.
"Yeah sure and while we're at he can throw in his Invisibility Cloak and Sam can give her his daggers too," Ron said.
"Don't drag me into this. I earned those," Sam said.
"I agree with Ron, why on Earth should Harry have to give up something that helpful?" Barnaby asks.
"Harry if you don't want it, we'll take it off your hands," Eric said.
"No way, I'm not giving this away," Harry said.
"Would you consider lending it?" Sam asks curious if Slytherin's tunnels were on that map.
"Penny, help me talk some sense into these boys," Hermione said.
"Actually, I think having something like that on us could come in handy," Penny admits.
"Seriously?" Hermione said in disbelief.
"Sorry Hermione but you've been outvoted," Cole said.
"Am I the only one who sees the dangers of this? Black could be using the passages to get into the castle. The Teachers have to know." Hermione said.
"If they do they're gonna ask how I know about them and I'll be ratting out Fred and George. Besides the only one that's really accessible is the one in Honeydukes and I doubt he knows about that." Harry said.
As they walked by Honeydukes they see a sign being put up.
Customers are warned that Dementors will be patrolling the streets every night after sundown until further notice to help in the recapture of Sirius Black. All residents are advised to get all their shopping done before nightfall. Merry Christmas.
"I'd like to see Black get into Honeydukes with the Dementors around every corner," Ron said.
"Harry you shouldn't be here at all. It's dangerous." Hermione said.
"Are you seriously going to report Harry for wanting to spend time with us?" Ron asks.
"Well…no," Hermione said.
"Then let him have this," Barnaby said.
"Moony, Wormtail, Wildheart, Padfoot, and Prongs? Who are these people?" Penny asks.
"I don't know but Fred and George seem to idolize them," Harry said.
"Wait. I know some of those names." Sam said getting his attention. "I did some diving into some memories recently and I saw another memory of my parents. My dad was talking to your dad and three of those names came up. I think our dads were friends with the Marauders." Sam said.
"Incredible," Harry said.
"Well, that's not even the craziest part," Sam said.
"What could be crazier than knowing the people on the map?" Barnaby asks.
"Harry, your parents were supposed to be my Godparents." Sam declares surprising him.
"Wait what?" Harry said looking at his friend surprised.
"They walked into the 3 Broomsticks and I saw my mom was pregnant and yours was too." Sam said pointing to said pub.
"Ooh, Sam do you remember which booth they sat in?" Penny asks getting an idea.
"Yeah, I think so," Sam said.
"Then let's go, maybe we sit in the same place and share a butterbeer like they did?" Penny suggests.
"That actually sounds really good," Harry said.
As they made their way to the pub, a carriage pulled up in front of it, and saw several familiar faces.
Meeting Madam Rosmerta was Prof. McGonagall, Prof. Flitwick, Hagrid, and most surprising of all Cornelius Fudge.
"Hey, I know that guy." Cole points.
"You know Cornelius Fudge?" Penny said surprised.
"Yeah, he came to the Orphanage last summer when Harry stayed over," Cole said.
"Madam Rosemerta, I hope business is well as usual," Fudge said.
"It be a lot better if you the Ministry wasn't sending Dementors through the streets every night." She glares.
"What do you expect? We have a killer in the area." Fudge reminds.
"Sirius Black? What would he want around here?" She scoffs.
"Harry Potter." Fudge whispers.
"Harry Potter?" Rosmerta said out loud before being shushed.
Unfortunately for her, the Hogwarts kids heard that and when they turned to Harry they saw he had already put on his Invisibility cloak and followed them inside.
Running to the door Sam swung it open to see the adults go up the stairs.
"Underage wizards are not allowed in here at the moment." A talking head said.
Growling frustrated, Sam was forced to close the door as he and the others would have to wait on Harry.
Sneaking his way into the room, Harry arrived just in time to see Madam Rosmerta hand out everyone's drinks.
"You know quite a few shop owners here are struggling with those Dementors too. Surprisingly though, the Hog's Head is the only one where the business hasn't changed. But then again he barely had much to being with." Rosemerta shrugs.
"Try having them around at school. How are we supposed to teach with those horrors floating around?" McGonagall asks.
"A necessary precaution. We all know what Black is capable of." Fudge said.
"You know I still have trouble believing it. Of all the people to go to the Dark Lord I never thought it would be him." Rosemerta said.
"You don't know the half of it. The worst of what he did isn't widely known." Fudge said.
"The worst? What could be worse than murdering all those poor people?" Rosemerta asks skeptical.
"You say you remember him from Hogwarts. Do you remember who his best friend was?" McGonagall asks.
"Of course. Never saw one without the other. Sirius Black and James Potter." Rosemerta declares leaving Harry speechless. "Bright duo and then when they met that 3rd boy Leonard Parker their little group just got bigger."
"Those 3 were very close. Practically brothers." Flitwick said.
'That's why Sam's parents wanted mine to be their godparents.' Harry realized.
"Of course they were. Potter trusted those two with everything but Black was special. Black was his best man at his wedding when he married Lily. And even worse Black is to this day Harry Potter's godfather." Fudge declares. "If Harry ever knew it would torment him."
"Because of his siding with You-Know-Who?" Rosmerta assumes.
"Worse than even that my dear," Fudge said.
"You see few people knew that the Dark Lord was after the Potters. After the Parkers were all but wiped out by the Dark Lord's forces. Dumbledore worked tirelessly against the Dark Lord. He even had a spy in his forces who alerted him to the dangers those two were in. When they went into hiding they used a Fidelius Charm." McGonagall explains.
"How does that work?" Rosemerta asks.
"It's a very complex charm that involves concealing a secret inside a chosen person making it impossible to find who you're looking for. You-Know-Who could have searched everywhere and never find them. Not even if he was looking right through their window." Flitwick explains.
"So Black was the Secret keeper?" Rosmerta realized.
"When Potter, said he wanted Black to protect him Dumbledore was worried. He was sure someone close to the Potters had been keeping You-Know-Who informed. And barely a week after that charm was cast…" McGonagall starts.
"Black betrayed them." Rosmerta gasps.
"I met him that night. When I went to retrieve Harry. Black flew in on that flying motorcycle of his. Told me to give Harry to him. But I told him I had my orders from Dumbledore. We argued for a while but he gave in. Told me to take his motorcycle and that he wouldn't need it anymore." Hagrid recalls.
"What would have happened if you hadn't gotten Harry that day?" Flitwick asks horrified at the thought.
"But you caught him the next day, right?" Rosemerta recalls.
"If only we were first. Another went after him first, Peter Pettigrew." Fudge declares.
"Wait that small boy who always followed James, Sirius, and Leonard around? Sirius killed him too?" Rosmerta recalls.
"He didn't kill Pettigrew. Black destroyed him. Along with all those other people. All that was left of Peter was one finger. After that the Ministry showed up and we took him away to Azkaban." Black said.
"Is it true he's mad Minister?" Hagrid asks.
"I thought at first, I met Black on my last inspection of Azkaban. Most of the prisoners there just sit in their cells muttering in the darkness, but when I saw Black he seemed…normal. He said he was bored and asked for the newspaper I was holding. Said he missed doing the crossword. It wasn't until the next day that I remembered what one of the articles was. It was that Sam Snape boy clearing Slytherin's name." Fudge declares surprising the teachers.
"So you think he's after both boys?" Flitwick gasps.
"I daresay he might. He was loyal to the dark lord and when he saw a young boy ruin his master's name. I fear the young Snape has unknowingly become Black's next target alongside Harry." Fudge declares.
Not being able to take this anymore, Harry ran out of the pub as fast as he could.
As everyone waited outside the 3 Broomsticks they noticed a set of footprints running through the snow with no person above them.
"Harry." Sam gasps as they sprinted after them.
Chasing the footprints to the outskirts of Hogsmeade they see they stop by some rocks.
Slowly making her way towards it, Hermione reaches out and pulls off the Invisibility cloak revealing a crying Harry.
"Harry, what happened?" Hermione asks.
"He was their friend. And he betrayed them. He was their friend!" Harry snaps.
"Who? What are you talking about?" Barnaby asks.
"The reason my parents are dead…is because of him! Sirius Black betrayed my parents to Voldemort!" Harry declares horrifying all of them, especially Sam.
As the snow came down, a determined look appeared on Harry's face.
"He's coming for us Sam but when he does, I'm going to be ready. When he does, I'm going to kill him!" Harry declares.
At a loss for words none of them knew how to help their friend but they knew Harry's first trip to Hogsmeade would definitely be on he would NEVER forget.