Chapter 64: The Attack (2/2)
”Still worried about them?” Chris asked.
”Yes,” Hermione said with a sigh.
”Relax Hermione, they'll here in a bit. Maybe they are wandering around the castle.”
”No. They went to Hagrid's. I saw them. I'm worried about the Hogsmeade trip. If Harry goes again —” Hermione's voice cracked. ”I hate that map. Do you know what you've to say to open it?”
”No,” Chris said surprised.
”You've to say 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.' and 'Mischief managed!' To close it.” Hermione snorted. ”It's absolute trouble. Why don't they understand.”
”Well that's interesting,” Chris said smiling and Hermione raised an eyebrow. ”Oh Hermione, nothing will happen to Harry. Trust me and if it still bothers you then just tell them not to go. You're really talented in ordering people.”
Hermione smiled a little too, just then Harry and Ron entered the common room and sat in front of them. Thanks to the mountain of Hermione's books, they didn't notice Chris or Hermione.
”Well, Filch hasn't done anything about the passage into Honeydukes —” Harry said, quietly.
”Harry!” Called Hermione. Harry and Ron turned towards them. ”Harry, if you go into Hogsmeade again — I'll tell Professor McGonagall about that map!”
”Can you hear someone talking, Harry?” growled Ron, not looking at Hermione.
”Ron, how can you let him go with you? After what Sirius Black nearly did to you! I mean it, I'll tell —”
”So now you're trying to get Harry expelled!” said Ron furiously. ”Haven't you done enough damage this year?”
”Trust me, Ron, you haven't seen any damage yet and if you don't change your attitude then you'll see what's called actual damage,” Chris said coldly and got up.
Hermione opened her mouth to respond, but with a soft hiss, Crookshanks leapt onto her lap. Hermione took one frightened look at the expression on Ron's face, gathered Crookshanks up and hurried away towards the girls' dormitories with Chris.
”Where do you think Harry keeps the Map, Hermione?” Chris whispered.
Hermione looked up at her, surprised, ”I don't know for sure but I think in his trunk.”
”Thanks,” Chris said smiling.
”What're you trying to do, Chris?” Hermione asked.
”Nothing special. Don't worry.” Chris smirked.
Friday night, after almost one o'clock, Chris sneaked into Boys' Dormitory. Everything inside their room was pitch black.
”Lumos,” she whispered and entered the room.
All curtains were drawn around five beds. Chris knew exactly which was Harry's bed. She tip-toed around the room and bend down near Harry's bed. She was about to open the trunk when a voice came, ”No — No — Please — Don't. I'm sorry. Don't let those spider near me.”
Chris froze, then realized Ron was mumbling in sleep. She ignored his voice and opened Harry's trunk. Harry's trunk was very messy, there was his Firebolt, few clothes, Christmas gifts and at the corner the ragged old bit of parchment. Chris took it and was about to close the trunk when a sock fell out with a thud. Chris stopped again to make sure if anyone heard it. After making sure that there was no sound, she picked the sock to see, why it made such noise and brought out the Sneakoscope. To Chris's surprise, it wasn't lighting or making noise.
'That's weird. Maybe it's really broken.'
She put it back, got up and came face to face with Ron. He was about to scream —
”Silencio!” Chris whispered and Ron looked horrified, then he ran towards Harry, ”Petrificus Totalus!”
Ron's arms snapped to his sides. His legs sprang together. His whole body rigid, he swayed where he stood and then he fell flat on his face, Chris sighed, everyone was still asleep. She saw Ron was unconscious, ”Obliviate.” She removed the silencing spell and left the room carefully.
Next morning, as everyone in Chris's room left for breakfast; Chris took out the blank parchment.
”I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.” She tapped her wand into it.
And at once, thin ink lines began to spread like a spider's web from the point that Chris's wand had touched. They joined each other, they criss-crossed, they fanned into every corner of the parchment; then words began to blossom across the top, great, curly green words, that proclaimed:
Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs
Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present
THE MARAUDER'S MAP
It was a map showing every detail of the Hogwarts castle and grounds. But the truly remarkable thing was the tiny ink dots moving around it, each labelled with a name in minuscule writing. A labelled dot in the top left corner showed that Professor Dumbledore was walking out of the Great Hall; the caretaker's cat, Mrs Norris, was prowling the third floor, and Peeves the poltergeist was currently bouncing around the kitchen.
This map showed a set of passages and many of them seemed to lead right into Hogsmeade.
”Cool.” She studied the map carefully then tapped her wand again and said, ”Mischief managed.” And the ink vanished from the paper as it appeared. She tucked it inside her robes and went towards the Great Hall.
As she walked towards Ginny, Luna and Colin; the second year, Hufflepuff boy, Melvin Catterick came in front of her.
”Hiya Chris.” He said, blushing.
”Hey Melvin,” Chris said, looking as dead as possible.
”So, how are you?” He said still grinning.
”I'm doing great. Have a good day. Bye.” She said and walked past him.
”Sooooo. . .” Ginny said grinning. ”Any progress on our crazy admirer?”
Chris rolled her eyes.
”If you ask me. He really has patience. Chris behave very rudely with him.” Luna said.
”Leave him, I've something. Anyone up for a little adventure and investigation?” Chris asked grinning.
”I'm ready,” Colin said enthusiastically.
”We're going to be break rules, aren't we?” Ginny asked raising her eyebrows.
”Maybe a little. I'll not force you, of course.” Chris said innocently.
Ginny rolled her eyes. ”So what's it?”
”I don't know,” Luna said. ”It can be dangerous, Sirius Black lurking around with the other creatures in school.”
”It's ok Luna. I understand if you don't want to come.” Chris said smiling.
”I love how you every time understood things so easily, Chris,” Luna said smiling back.
Chris glanced at Harry, who was utterly clueless and tensed. Ron had the same expression, Chris understood her memory charm worked. She smirked.