Chapter 32: Marauder's Map

George stared at Luke in surprise, his mouth forming a little "o" as he sized him up.

He'd watched as Luke's form gradually materialized from thin air, and it had truly startled him.

The Disillusionment Charm was a spell that many adult wizards couldn't master. He and Fred were both interested in it, but it was obscure and challenging, with little benefit if not perfectly executed. A single mistake could lead to strange blotches of discoloration on the body—a side effect that, for some, was just as unpleasant as splinching during Apparition.

In terms of value, it seemed smarter to save up and buy an Invisibility Cloak.

Because they'd tried the charm before, they understood how skilled Luke must be to use it so fluently. He was either exceptionally gifted or incredibly experienced—or perhaps both.

However, if Luke could hear George's thoughts, he'd probably just mutter inwardly;

'It's all thanks to practice, really.'

"So, what's so special about this map?"

Luke dropped the Disillusionment Charm and looked at the map in Fred's hands with a curious expression.

In truth, he already knew about it, but he couldn't let on.

"Oh! This is a magical map!" Fred grinned brightly. "It's our prized possession—a map that shows the names of everyone in the castle."

As he spoke, Fred handed the Marauder's Map to Luke.

Luke was slightly surprised by the gesture but took the map.

It was covered with names, including the three of them, clustered closely in the hall. Apart from them, the only moving name was Filch's, but he was still far enough away that they didn't need to worry about being caught.

The map had numerous winding paths, some even leading beyond the castle grounds, which must be the secret passages of Hogwarts.

Luke considered trying to unlock the map's secrets, but the charms on it were both advanced and intricate. He could only identify traces of the core "Tracking Charm," which was ancient and obscure; he hadn't managed to learn it even after finding it in his family's spellbook.

George shot a puzzled glance at Fred, nudging his brother's shoulder as if to question why he'd handed the map to Luke.

This was a prized item they'd only acquired in their first year, and they weren't tired of it yet.

But Fred winked at George, signaling him to stay calm and wait to see Luke's reaction.

After studying the map for a moment, Luke finally spotted a name in a corner of Gryffindor Tower.

'Peter Pettigrew.'

At the moment, that name was nearly overlapping with "Ron Weasley," but a closer look revealed the distinction.

Luke couldn't help sighing inwardly.

You'd think the twins were careless, but they were actually pretty perceptive in dealing with people—just with a casual appearance.

And yet, despite that, their own brother was sharing a bed with someone of a different name, and they hadn't noticed…

Luke looked up and handed the map back.

"It's a nice gadget. But it's not a simple item; the charms on it are ancient. I can only identify traces of a 'Tracking Charm.' Whoever made this map was at least highly knowledgeable in Charms."

Fred took the map back, checked Filch's position, and then smiled. "What brings you out tonight?"

"Off to raid the kitchen for snacks? Or maybe on a quest to find Slytherin's hidden treasure?"

George's interest was piqued instantly, and he looked at Luke with anticipation.

Everyone knew Hogwarts was founded by the four great wizards, including Slytherin, and the legend of their hidden treasures had circulated among students for years.

Rumors abounded, from tales of a giant squid in the Black Lake supposedly being Gryffindor's transformation to countless other wild stories.

"Trust me," Luke said, shrugging, "if Slytherin really left behind any treasure, I wouldn't dare try to take it lightly."

"Some believe Salazar Slytherin was actually a hater of Muggles, but that's not the whole story. He despised almost all who he saw as weak. Even if I carry his bloodline, without enough skill, I wouldn't stand a chance at claiming his treasure."

He wasn't kidding. He knew exactly where the Chamber of Secrets was, and not just from the movies, but from family records as well.

Of course, claiming that Slytherin didn't discriminate against Muggle-born or mixed-blood wizards would be false. According to records, only a pure-blooded Gaunt could access the treasure in the Chamber.

Luke couldn't help but wonder if Tom Riddle was seething when he discovered that.

"Tonight, I'm planning to take a look in the Forbidden Forest. I've always had an interest in magical creatures," Luke said, glancing at the twins. "Could I borrow your map? I'll return it to you by morning."

"Borrow?" the twins echoed in unison.

George and Fred exchanged a glance, and George saw his brother giving him a look. In perfect sync, he immediately caught Fred's drift.

Though reluctant, he knew they had to take a chance to get what they wanted.

"I'm afraid not, Luke," George said, feigning regret. "You've got to understand, this map is quite precious. We went through so much to find it in the Restricted Section! The effort we put in, the obstacles we overcame, the trials we endured! It's too valuable to lend out easily."

Luke resisted the urge to roll his eyes, appreciating George's earnest performance. If he hadn't known from the movies that they'd swiped it from Filch, he might've actually believed the story.

Turning to Fred, who was about to scold his brother, Luke tilted his head and asked, "What do you need? I mean, you both know this map isn't particularly useful to me, so let's keep the price reasonable."

The twins weren't stingy, but they also weren't exactly close with Luke, especially since he was from Slytherin. If they didn't need something from him, they wouldn't be going out of their way to show him the Marauder's Map.

They were obviously baiting him.

But it was a intriguing bait, so Luke was willing to take it.

Fred's mouth twitched. He was so used to fooling Ron and Ginny that it was rare to encounter a peer who could see through their schemes right away.

But he quickly collected himself.

"Let's make a deal," he said with a grin.

*****

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