AN: I am really sorry for the really, really late update. I lost my muse and I just couldn't get any creative juices for this fic. Now, I had to force myself to write the next chapter. I think it could be better...but ugh, I just couldn't think of anything. Anyway, here's the the next chapter. Now, suffer with me.
Hermione searched the library for some books regarding magical communication methods. She found many books about it but the only thing that came close to what happened with the Marauder's Map was a spell that allowed two enchanted notebooks to communicate with each other. And as long as you have the right phrase to open the notebooks, then you could write in it afterward. Only in the present time of course.
It was somewhat similar to what occurred in the Marauder's Map. However, instead of the two notebooks, it was a map that allowed Hermione to communicate in the past.
The spell for the enchanted notebooks was 'Geminae Communicare'. The notebooks must be similarly made for the spell to take effect.
Either James Potter or Sirius Black must have gotten the idea for the Marauder's Map from the same book that the spell 'Geminae Communicare' came from. The book was called 'The Different Methods of Magical Communication'.
I wondered how to activate the communication spell again in this map, Hermione thought as she stared at the Marauder's Map in her hand.
She was currently lying down in the bed. It was nearly midnight. She didn't have school tomorrow so Hermione could sleep late and experiment with the Marauder's Map in her possession.
She spent nearly half an hour trying to look for the names of the boys in the map, but couldn't find a glimpse of any of them there.
Still she persisted until late into the night. She waited for more than two hours for something to happen and her patience was soon rewarded.
As her eyes were passing by the location of the Gryffindor Tower in the map, two familiar names suddenly appeared there, alongside two others. Four familiar names of students, who were said to have disappeared around the year 1978. A year from when James Potter and Sirius Black said they were in at the moment.
Now, Hermione was able to talk to them.
Are you there Hermione? The words appeared on top of the name of James Potter.
So he must be the one who was speaking first.
Yes, I am here. She replied and observed as the statement showed up on top of her name.
We currently see your name in the Girl's Dormitory. Are you in there? This time it was Sirius Black, who inquired.
Yes, I am in the Girl's Dormitory... I see all of your names gathered in the common room…so I assume that you are currently there? She asked.
Yes, we are. James confirmed.
Who are the other two with you? She could only see four names currently in the common room. She already knew the first two – James Potter and Sirius Black, but she hadn't met the other two before. Their names were written on the Map.
Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. She mentally read. The other two boys who went missing many years ago alongside James Potter and Sirius Black. I wonder what happened to all four of them.
Oh, they are our friends. Their names are Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew like you probably read in the Marauder's Map. Sirius answered.
It's nice to meet both of you. My name is Hermione Granger, but I believe you already know that, she said out loud and watched as her words appeared on the enchanted map.
It's nice to meet you too, Hermione... James and Sirius told us that you are from the future. Are you really? The question came from Remus Lupin.
Yes, I am. She replied.
Yes, I am.
The Marauders read the words in the parchment.
"I can't believe we are talking to a girl from the future," Remus remarked, looking quite surprised.
They watched as Remus' remark appeared on the enchanted map above his name, which was followed by the girl's reply.
I also can't believe I'm talking to someone from the past.
The way the words came out made them think that the girl was probably amused.
The four of them simply chuckled at that.
Hey, I have a lot of questions regarding the enchanted map. Can you please answer some of them? The girl from the future asked them.
The Marauders glanced at each other before James said, "Ok. What are your questions?"
First, I want to know what spells you used to create the enchanted map. She asked them.
"Should we tell her?" Sirius inquired, looking at his friends.
"I'm not sure, Sirius," was Remus' response. "What do you think James? Peter?"
I can read what you are talking about, you know…
"She can read everything we talk about here while the Marauder's Map is open," James reminded them.
"We can see that, James," Sirius remarked.
"Let's just tell her," Peter was the one who suggested it.
"I agree with Peter," Remus said. "If we tell her, she might even be able to help us solve the current mystery of the map."
"You both are right. She might be of help to us. So let's just tell her everything about the map," James replied.
All four of them nodded their heads in agreement.
"We used a lot of spells when creating the map, Hermione. Most of them are even altered," James told the girl.
They watched as James' words appeared on the map above his name.
Please tell me what they are so that I have a better understanding of them.
They read Hermione's response soon after.
Then, the four of them launch into a lecture of the things they did on the enchanted map.
"We use the Imitantur Architectura Membranaceum to imitate the architecture of the castle into a parchment. We placed a lot of rune stones in the castle to reflect an image back on our medium," James began.
What kind of runes did you use?
"We used the runes Uruz, Ansuz, Eihwaz and Mannaz to trace the life force, breath, or half-life like the ghosts or any kind of sentient beings in the castle," Remus said.
Mannaz for humanity, Uruz for life force, and Ansuz for breath. But did you know that Ansuz is used to represent communication as well?
"Yes, we know that, but we mainly use Ansuz for its connection to the Breath of Life. Not communication. However, by using the Ansuz rune, we might have inadvertently opened this method of communication between us," James explained.
Yes, that's probably one of the reasons. I also understand why you use Eihwaz. It's for the representation of the Mystery of Life and Death and passing through a gateway. You guys used Eihwaz to track the ghosts within the castle, am I correct?
"You are right on both counts," Remus replied, smiling.
"She's brilliant!" was Sirius' comment.
"Yes, she is," James agreed, grinning with a hint of admiration in his eyes.
Thanks! Anyway, other than these runes. What else did you add?
"Other than those, the runes Fehu, Thurisaz, Algiz and Othala were used to increase the potency of our spells and the magic within the castle itself, which was added on the parchment," Sirius stated.
I can see why you use these runes. Fehu for mobile property. Thurisaz for defensive force. Algiz to represent luck, protection and sanctuary. Meanwhile, Othala means homecoming. You consider Hogwarts all of these representations. Now, I can understand why this enchanted map is really powerful when it is connected to the entire castle itself…Anything else?
"Yes, we do. Lastly, Kenaz, Naudhiz, Jera, Berkano, Ehwaz and Dagaz were used for the entire map creation process itself. Kenaz for creation and transformation. Naudhiz for stepping into manifestation. Jera for the rewards of past efforts or reaping what you have sown. Berkano for rebirth and a new phase, relationship or project. Ehwaz for partnership and cooperation as well as forward progress. Dagaz for awakening to enlightenment and inspiration."
Overall, you used a lot of runes to create this enchanted map, but what about the spells you cast in it? Other than the Imitantur Architectura Membranaceum?
"We used an altered version of the Geminae Communicare spell that would display and communicate the names of everyone in the enchanted map while they are within the castle grounds," James informed.
An altered version of that spell? It might also be the reason why you are able to communicate with me right now if that is the case.
"She is right. That spell might be another reason behind the cause of our current communication with her," Peter stated.
"Yes, it probably is…and the only reason she is able to communicate with us is because she is using the same map as us," Remus concluded.
You are right. I think the main reason behind our communication is because of the altered Geminae Communicare spell you cast on the map and the Ansuz rune you place all over the castle. However, this communication is only possible after I spilled blood on the map, which might have activated the latent magic within it. It might even be considered blood magic from the way our communication opened up and connected the timelines.
She reads her response on the parchment. She also began to realize something extraordinary.
And the Eihwaz rune is probably the reason all four of you are missing. She thought. With all your magic combined in one map, all four of you must have connected to it and passed through the gateway – in this case, the map – and dropped somewhere or somewhen. Hopefully, you are all still alive once I figure out how to get you out from the place you all are currently in. I can only hope…
AN: I know nothing really happened in this chapter. So sorry about that. You can check for my writing updates on my tumblr. Just search bloomsburry-dhazel. Anyway, please don't hesitate to tell me what you think!