Chapter 18

'' Well?'' Athena asked when the two calmed down and her brain decided to take a break from forming plans. The Invisibility Cloak appearance was like a blessing and Athena was pretty sure she was never so happy to see the bloody thing.

'' Huh?'' Xeno said confused before his ears reddened at Rita laugh '' Right. Here.'' he said taking out the blank parchment before seating in one of the rooms armchairs '' There were a lot of Nargles around the room but it seems they were feeling mischievous enough show me where it was so I didn't trigger anything. I should let more bowls with sweet cream at the window from now on.'' he said almost absently making Athena smile at the similarity between the girl in her memories and the boy before her

'' Good job.'' Athena said stroking gently the parchment, marveling silently at how new it looked compared with the Map she hold years from now

'' Are you gonna tell us what it is?'' Rita asked for the first time since Athena know her with a curious look and no weird staring '' Or what you will use it at?'' 

'' True.'' Xeno hummed '' It's empty after all.''

In response Athena smirked '' Is it?'' she said in a low tone before she get on the ground, putting the map down, pointing her wand at it. Maybe she shouldn't've have, not at that time and not ever but Athena couldn't help but think that this mismatched trio they made will help her achieve her goal.

'' I solemnly swear, that I'm up to no good.'' she said, her voice just a little louder in the quiet room, smirking further when the two swore surprised. Familiar words, that brough Athena bitter memories of sneaking out and laughing freely into the night, were companionate with equally familiar drawings of the castle, of moving footsteps and unfamiliar names.

'' Holly shit.'' Rita hissed kneeling beside Athena, on the other side of the map looking wide eyed while following the moving steps and names 

'' That's us.'' Xeno said pointing with his fingers where their names were before he got down on the floor as well '' Potter did this?'' he said surprised

'' He and group worked, made and spelled this map so they could sneak around the castle without anyone knowing of them. It shows everyone that steps into the Castle wards, all the names-'' Athena said before pointing at a name ''- even the ghosts.''

'' This it's incredible.'' Rita said looking at the small runes written on the map edges before she frowned '' Doesn't that mean Dumbledore know of this?'' she asked making Xeno approve

'' That's right.'' he said pointing at her, scooting closer to her side.

Athena couldn't help but eye the two unusual partners.

'' If this it's connected to the wards then he must know, maybe even helped them make it.'' he said eyes sparkling when Rita continued his theory

Athena let the two brainstorm the idea for a while and in that time she was looking at the map. She couldn't help the smile that grown on her face while looking at it and even though the names were a little unfamiliar, the family names were still the same for a good chunk of them. She trailed her finger on her Da name, on Severus and his group of friends, before moving to other students, some of them she didn't even know who they were but the names were too pompous to be anything but pureblood.

'' So-'' Rita voice made her look up ''- who were looking for? I mean, it's a map so you must search for someone.'' she said and Athena shrugged. The Slytherin wasn't exactly wrong.

'' Not really.'' Athena said before giving the two a small smirk '' I just need to destroy this.'' she said enjoying their faces

'' Excuse me?'' Xeno said faintly

'' Athena what the fuck?'' Rita said throwing her hands in the air frustrated

'' You can't.'' Xeno said and Athena made sure her faces wasn't showing any expression before arching an eyebrow

'' He mean-'' Rita quickly backet him up ''- that you shouldn't. Like, Athena, it's a Map of Hogwarts, connected to the grounds itself. It's-'' she tried to continue, popping her fingers towards Xeno

'' Unique.'' the boy with candy floss like hair said nodding

'' Exactly-'' Rita continued ''- I'm sure you can tear it apart with your hands Athena but really, there's no need. We can even help you make a new one.'' she tried to resonate

'' I'm sure you two can help me. It's not about this, I just don't have enough time for it and that's the best I can get at the moment.'' she said leaning forward '' And I take the best I can get over months of work. If it makes you feel better, I can try to put it back together when I'm done.'' she said shrugging already looking through the runes at the edges trying to see which string should be taken down

I won't.

'' I don't feel reassured.'' Xeno said faintly with slumped shoulders looking pitifully at the map

'' What would you do with it anyway?" Rita asked after some time while Athena was inspecting the runes 

'' Well-'' Athena begin humming before unfolding all the map on the floor ''- it would still be a map. A Map of Great Britain.'' she said smirking while she played her fingers on the choker spikes

---

with Xeno and Rita

'' I feel like there's something big here that we shouldn't mess with.'' Xeno said after some time while looking at Athena who was already destroying parts of the Map runes looking too determinate with every strip of runes gone

'' She is trying to find something.'' Skeeter said at his side making him glance at her. He couldn't help but note that she has the same look like an year ago when she would explore the forest with him and make notes about the forest strangeness. He fall in love with her like a fool then she made that article of him at the end of the year and everything fall over.

'' But what?'' he said wincing when she saw Athena slam something on the piece of parchment

'' She is from another time or maybe even a completely different universe.'' Skeeter said making him nod '' At last we know she is Snape relative.''

'' Daughter.'' Xeno corrected her, glancing at the blonde beside him '' She is his daughter.''

'' She sucks at Potions and it's mediocre at best at other subjects beside DADA where she is better than our teacher.'' Skeeter said pursing her lips making Xeno elbow her ribs

'' She doesn't need to be like him to be his daughter.'' 

'' I hate when you are always right.'' she muttered and Xeno wanted to say more, do more but he didn't, so the two of them stayed in silence till they begin to gravitate around Athena purple eyes again.