107 The Map

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Harry's mind raced with possibilities, his intuition telling him there was more to the night's events than met the eye. The puzzle pieces didn't quite fit together, and the inconsistency in Dumbledore's actions nagged at him.

Suddenly, Harry removed the Invisibility Ring from his inventory and slipped it onto his finger, rendering himself invisible. At the same time, the door to the classroom creaked open. In walked Fred and George Weasley, their identical red hair making them easily recognizable even in the dim light of the room.

Peering around the seemingly empty classroom, Fred frowned. "Are you sure he's here?" he asked, his voice laced with doubt.

George scanned the room, his expression mirroring his brother's confusion. "He should have been here," he stated, clearly puzzled. He then produced an old, worn parchment and declared, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The parchment sprang to life, revealing a detailed map of Hogwarts.

Unseen, Harry watched from behind the twins, intrigued by the parchment but aware he couldn't allow them to discover him while invisible. He didn't want to reveal his secret. Choosing his moment, he silently removed the ring, reappearing behind the duo.

"Looking for me?" Harry asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Startled, Fred and George spun around, their eyes wide with surprise. "Blimey, Potter! You scared us to death," Fred exclaimed, his heart racing from the shock.

Harry smirked, his gaze flickering to the magical parchment in George's hands. "What brings you to this distant classroom? A mere coincidence that we all chose the same one?"

Fred and George exchanged a quick glance, clearly caught off guard by Harry's sudden appearance. They quickly stashed the parchment away, deciding to change the subject.

"We thought we heard something, so we came to check," George responded, still recovering from his surprise at Harry's sudden reappearance.

Harry hummed noncommittally, then smiled. "I see. Well, I suppose I'll be on my way then." He turned to leave, but Fred called out to him.

"Potter!" Harry paused and turned back. "Yes?" he inquired, an eyebrow raised in curiosity.

Fred, his expression a mix of confusion and admiration, asked, "How did you do it?"

Harry's grin widened slightly. "You'll have to be a bit more specific, Mr. Weasley."

George jumped in, "How did you know about the potion in the pumpkin juice? And how were you not affected by it after drinking it? Plus, how did you manage to lace our drinks without us noticing? We were watching you the entire time."

Harry smirked, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Oh, that. Simple. Magic," he quipped casually. With a final nod to the Weasley twins, he headed towards the door. Pausing at the threshold, he turned back and added, "This was a warning. Stay away from me and my friends, then we have no problem. But if you decide to turn this into a pranking battle, I am happy to play." His tone held a hint of challenge, leaving the twins to ponder the implications.

Nigel asked, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement, "You knew they would come, didn't you?"

Harry, with a sly smile, responded, "What gave you that idea, Nigel?"

Nigel's voice carried a playful tone, "Well, let's see. First, you chose to wander around at this ungodly hour. Then, you meticulously locked the door to give yourself a heads-up. Not to mention, you picked a classroom conveniently close to the Gryffindor common room. Did I overlook anything?"

Harry's grin broadened. "Just one thing. I suspected they had the map."

Nigel's interest was piqued, "Oh, the map, is it?"

Harry's eyes focused on the space in front of him as a quest notification appeared. [System Message: Quest - Find the Magical Map of Hogwarts. Reward: Upgrading Map to show living beings, their names, their positions, and their current activity.]

Reflecting on his previous encounter with the Weasley twins, Harry said, "When I was in infirmary after I rescued Susan, the twins' timing was too perfect. I theorized they had some means of detecting people's locations. At that time, I wasn't sure if they possessed the map or even if such a map had that capability. But tonight, after realizing our drinks were spiked, it clicked. They must have a way to track people, and that parchment is the key."

Nigel hummed thoughtfully, "Intriguing deduction, Master Harry."

Harry, his gaze still fixed on the system message, contemplated his next move. "This map could be a significant advantage. It's not just about knowing where people are; it's about understanding their movements, predicting their actions."

Nigel, ever the voice of reason, added, "A valuable tool indeed, but acquiring it won't be a walk in the park, especially from those prankster twins."

Harry nodded, considering the situation with the map. "If I get it now, they will know it is me. I will wait for a more opportune time." With that decision made, he returned to his room, feeling the weight of the day's events. As he lay in his bed, the exhaustion of the day's adventures quickly overtook him, and he drifted into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Harry entered the Great Hall for breakfast, half-expecting whispers and stares acknowledging his bravery from the previous night. However, to his mild surprise, the hall was abuzz with the usual chatter, with no apparent focus on him. Neville and Hermione had evidently kept the events of the previous evening to themselves. Clicking his tongue in mild frustration, Harry settled down for breakfast.

"Sullen that no one knows your heroic deeds?" Nigel's voice teased in his mind, a hint of amusement lacing his tone.

Harry responded with a slight shrug, "I was hoping to use the recognition to further my plans. Gaining a reputation would have been useful for securing Ms. Rosier's seat, but it's fine. I have other ventures I can showcase."

Nigel's response was tinged with humor, "Ah, the trials and tribulations of a young mastermind. Do remind me to polish my invisible trophy collection."

Harry rolled his eyes at Nigel's witty remark, focusing on the day ahead. With the onset of November, the landscape of Hogwarts transformed, the surrounding mountains cloaking themselves in shades of grey and white. The chill in the air heralded the arrival of winter and, with it, the excitement of the first Quidditch match. Slytherin's team was buzzing with anticipation, their secret weapon - Harry as their Seeker - still a well-guarded secret. Marcus Flint, the team captain, was adamant about keeping Harry's role under wraps, a strategy only known to a select few.

Professor McGonagall, despite being aware of Harry's position on the Slytherin team, kept it from her Gryffindors. Her pride in her house and a growing fondness for Harry's abilities as a student kept her lips sealed. Over the weeks, Harry's proficiency in classes, especially Transfiguration, had not gone unnoticed. He excelled, often leaving his peers, including Daphne, Tracey, and Hermione, in awe of his knowledge and skill.

In a recent Transfiguration class, Professor McGonagall emphasized the importance of a clear mental image in successful transfiguration. "Remember, the key to Transfiguration is not just picturing the object, but also incorporating its sound, feel, and every other aspect," she instructed. Her words echoed advice Harry had given his friends weeks before, leading Daphne, Tracey, and Hermione to throw him knowing glances, impressed by Harry's foresight and understanding of the subject.

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