Fixing the Future

5.0

Harry stood watching his classmates from behind the window.
'Last call for Hogsmeade! Come on, now! Hogwarts or Hogsmeade! Make your bloody minds up!'

'It's so unfair he can't go.' James complained.

Visible, were a set of footprints in the snow, heading straight for Fred and George who were making a snowman.

The ginger twins noticed the footprints, and stepped in front of the invisible Harry, both intertwining their arms with his.
'Guys, let me go!'
'Oh, clever, Harry.'
'But not clever enough.'
'Besides, we've got a better way.'
'I'm trying to get to Hogsmeade!'
'We know.'
'Don't worry.'
'We'll get you there.'
'Well, show you a quicker way.'
'If you both pipe down.'
'Aw, bless him.'
'Let me go! Come on, guys. Don't...'
'Now, Harry.'
'Come and join the big boys.'
'What are you doing?'

'This is worrying.'
'Are they kidnapping him?'

Harry took off the cloak, looking disgruntled.
'What are you doing?'
'Shh!'
'What's this rubbish?'

All the marauders grinned at each other at the sight of the familiar parchment before frowning,
'These memories are exposing all of secrets.' Sirius sighed.
'Tell me about it.' James grumbled.

'What's this rubbish, he says. That there is the secret to our success.'
'It's a wrench giving it to you, believe me.'
'But, we've decided, your needs are greater than ours. George, if you will.'
'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.'

The supposedly blank parchment started to reveal hidden ink.
'"Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs are proud to present The Marauder's Map."'
'We owe them so much.'

Everyone turned to the marauder in disbelief.
'That's you.' Evan asked for confirmation and the four boys nodded.
'Guess the secret's out.' Peter muttered.
'Secret? What secret? What is the paper? Or map?' Bella demanded.

Harry opened the map.
'Hang on. This is Hogwarts.'
'And that... No. Is that really...'
'Dumbledore.'
'In his study.'
'Pacing.'
'Does that a lot.'
'So you mean, this map shows...'
'Everyone.'
'Everyone?'
'Everyone.'
'Where they are.'
'What they're doing.'
'Every minute.'
'Of every day.'

Everyone's jaws dropped as they stared at the marauders.
'You have a map showing everyone in Hogwarts?' Regulus said in disbelief.
'How on earth did you make that?' Lily said, staring at them with intrigue.
'Believe me, it took ages, there were so many charms and we had to map out the whole castle and school grounds.' Remus said.
'That's so clever.' Andy exclaimed.
'I want one!' Marlene grinned.

'Brilliant! Where'd you get it?'
'Nicked it from Filch's office, of course. First year.'
'You should count yourself lucky Harry,
Your the only one we've told about this...'
'well except Lyss but that's because she's a fellow prankster.'
'And also because she walked in on us using it.'

'They literally had it right out on the table- idiots.' Alyssa laughed.

'How did they manage to work it? That's a pretty obscure thing to say to open it, not the sort of thing you'd just guess.' Regulus asked.
'We probably realised they were fellow pranksters worthy of the map and helped them figure the password out.' James shrugged.
'You're dead though.' Marlene deadpanned.
'Yes, thank you so much for the reminder Marlene, I actually forgot.' James replied sarcastically, 'I meant, we charmed the paper so we can, in effect, write to the people using it.'
'Like Tom Riddle did last year?' Marlene raised an eyebrow.
'What?! No! Don't compare us to Voldemort! It's nothing like that!' Sirius exclaimed.
'Sounds like it.' Marlene shrugged.