:It’s a beautiful morning, Hermione thought, humming to herself, as she entered the common room. She looked around, trying to find her two best chums.
She was amazed, however, when she saw the red and ebony heads bending over what seemed like a book. She marched over to them. Something was definitely wrong. How could they could concentrate on a book and that too on a Sunday morning?
“What’re you two up to?” she asked, intrigued, pulling a chair and the book to herself.
“It’s something very interesting I found while I was looking for a book in the library” Harry said, smiling. He was obviously excited. “I was looking for some Quidditch book, but this one grabbed my attention. See what the cover says.”
Hermione, careful not to lose the page they had been reading, closed the book to see what the cover said. Mysteries of Magical Maps. was written in golden letters on a black background.
“Do you mean the Marauder’s Map?” asked Hermione, after a moment. “Did you find anything written about it?”
“Not exactly about the Marauder’s Map, but the procedure to make one,” spoke Ron for the first time, “which means, probably, that the same Marauder’s Map which we use now was created by Harry’s father and his friends using this book, while they were in this school!”
Hermione opened the page they had been reading. It said Modus operandi to prepare a map showing people in a dwelling as dots: A very useful tool for mischief makers!
Under it was written the procedure, and then its advantages.
Skipping the procedure, Hermione looked at the advantages.
Advantages of the map
You can know where your friends, teachers and enemies are and stay near, away and away from them respectively. Besides this, a spell, namely ‘Revlon’, will enable the user to get advices from the manufacturers of the map whenever they wish. This spell will also facilitate the user to read what the manufacturers advise each other. Also, the map will insult the enemies of the manufacturers if they happen to hold it.
The chapter on the map ended there, and another ‘Creating a highly advantageous map for intellectual persons’ began (which Hermione secretly swore to read later on).
“So what?” she asked the boys, feeling a little cheated. “We know all that.”
“Oh no, we don’t Hermione. Remember that ‘Revlon’ spell?” Ron asked, adding
“You’re going to do that now, and see what the map says.”
“Why's it always me?” Hermione retorted, but agreed to do it anyway. It was going to be fun, but she was nervous, too.
The trio went to the boys’ dormitory, which was empty, and Harry pulled out the map from his trunk.
“Here you are, Hermione. All the best!” Harry wished her while handing over the map.
Hermione took the map, startled to find how it shook in her hands. She sure was nervous. Taking out her wand, she pointed it to the map, muttering ‘Revlon’.
Words appeared on the map…
Kindly spell your name, miss.
“Hermione Granger” said the bearer of the name.
Nothing happened.
“Gosh, Hermione, spell it, don’t pronounce!” Ron corrected, as Hermione blushed. I don’t want Ron to correct me she thought bitterly.
“H-E-R-M-I-O-N-E G-R-A-N-G-E-R,” Hermione said each letter clearly.
The effect was immediate. The trio noticed the following sentences being written by an invisible hand.
Mr. Moony would like to wish Miss Granger a very good morning, a fine morning as it is. Being an insufferable know-it-all himself, Moony would love to encourage Miss. Granger to carry on the hard work that she puts in her studies. After all, one should move with the belief in life that studies are everything. Moony would also like to appreciate Miss Granger for not including his name in the remarkably well written essay about Wolfsbane Potion that she had written yesterday. Slimeball’s given you a ten, I know because I can. Also, I…,
But before he could say anything else, the map became blank. Almost immediately, new words appeared…
Mr. Padfoot would like to request Mr. Moony, most humbly, to shut his mouth up now, and advise him not to go all hyper when he sees know-it-alls like himself. It’s my turn now.
Good morning, Miss Granger. Pleased though I am in the company of two extremely sharp people, I would like to advise you to take studies a bit lightly. There are other things in life, too, such as friends. Why don’t you take your bushy head out of those boring books and try to be a little social? As a matter of fact, that Ronald Weasley fancies you, did you know that?
Hermione flushed scarlet, and so did Ron. Harry wolf-whistled and got smacked in the face with a pillow thrown by a very embarrassed Ron.
These words too, disappeared, as new ones came into view…
Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Padfoot, and advises Moony not to become too frenzied when he meets extra-intelligent people. Good morning, Miss Granger. Like Padfoot, I would advise you to take part in some social activities. You can join the Quidditch team of your house. It’s a wonderful game, Miss Granger. The feeling you get when you mount on the broomstick is almost indescribable…the way the wind ruffles your hair…the exotic feeling of holding the Snitch…that cool sensation…you can see for miles and miles...and miles and miles…and miles and miles… Ah well. Sorry about that. (Note to myself: Don’t get too frenzied when it comes to Quidditch). You can play any other game too, though I don’t know if there is anything else in the Wizarding Community except Quidditch.
Smiling, Hermione waited for the last paragraph to emerge…She waited…waited…waited…Just when Harry was about to voice out his fear that Wormtail would not speak in front of Ron…something appeared, evidently, from the last marauder.
Hey mates… um … which of us is Wormtail?
The map then became blank.
The trio looked at each other, evidently unable to say anything.
“Bloody hell,” said Ron, fascinated.
“Yeah...I never knew I had such an amazing map with me...” said Harry, but as Hermione raised her eyebrows, quickly added “I mean this power, of course.”
For the first time, Hermione appreciated the Marauder's Map. “This sure is the work of geniuses.”
But then, she thought about what the things she had heard from the marauders.
“Am I insufferable?” she asked, folding the map to give it to Harry.
“No.” said Ron and Harry together.
“Look, Moony said he himself was an insufferable-know-it-all. All like him, so they can’t not like you.” Harry said, keeping the map back in its place marching towards the door, the other two following.
“Besides, everybody knows that everybody likes you except Malfoy,” Ron chimed in, adding, “and Snape, but he doesn’t count as he hates every one.”
Then she thought what Padfoot had said…she must have friends. “That I have” she said, thinking about Harry and Ron.
And Prongs had told her to play Quidditch, or some other sport. “Nah…Quidditch isn’t for me”. She thought about the muggle sports that she played”Badminton and Tennis.
“Wormtail’s so stupid,” Ron said. “I can’t believe he was Scabbers.”
“Well. Tomorrow, it’ll be your turn, Ron,” said Hermione, as Harry nodded excitedly.
“Sure,” Ron said boldly, though inside he was feeling very much like a cat on a hot tin roof…
***
A/N: That's it. Future chapters are loads better because I've grown up a lot since I wrote this :P
Thanks for reading and please review =)
The Marauder's Map's Secret Power! by Bookwormy
Chapter Notes: Very sadly enough, I don't own any of the characters about which you are going to read. They belong to Miss J.K. Genius Rowling.