Chapter 78
At the stroke of midnight, as the dormitory lay enveloped in an ethereal silence, Fred slipped out from under the sheets, his movements as silent as a wisp of smoke. He tiptoed across the room, approaching George's bed with gentle determination. With two subtle nudges and a conspiratorial shushing gesture, he roused his equally mischievous brother from his slumber.
George, ever the willing partner in crime, donned his robe once more, clutching his wand in his hand. Together, they ventured out of the dormitory, taking cautious steps up the spiral staircase and into the Gryffindor common room. The room, empty and dimly lit, revealed the remnants of a fading fire in the hearth. However, the twins didn't leave. Instead, they settled into a pair of armchairs, their eyes gleaming with mischief.
Fred retrieved an old parchment from the depths of his robe, tapping it with his wand as he whispered the marauder's oath: "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." George echoed his brother's words, and with a flick of his illuminated wand, the intricate map unfolded before them, revealing the secrets of Hogwarts.
Within the Marauder's Map's intricate cartography, Filch's name was marked, denoting his tiresome presence in a room next to his office on the first floor. Mrs. Norris, his feline companion, patrolled the fifth floor, her watchful eyes always alert. Peeves wreaked havoc on the second floor, while Professor Dumbledore paced restlessly in his office.
Curiosity piqued, George inquired, his voice barely above a whisper, "And where is Percy?"
Fred raised a finger, pointing towards Percy's dormitory. "He's sleeping in his room," he replied with a mischievous grin.
"Very well, let the Weasley Brothers' first night tour of the year begin!" The twins jubilantly exchanged a high-five, carefully concealing the live map once more as they prepared to embark on their escapade.
As they navigated through the portrait passage, their presence did not go unnoticed by the Fat Lady, who queried, "Where do you think you're going?"
"A little night time exploration, ma'am," Fred replied with a sly grin.
"If you do not mind, could you open the doors?" George said, oozing confidence.
The Fat Lady, taken aback by their sheer audacity, momentarily hesitated before conceding their request.
"Don't mention me when you get caught," the Fat Lady said as she stood up and disappeared from the frame. Not a moment later, they heard a click, and the door opened. "Now hurry; I want to get some sleep."
In the dimly lit corridors, their spirits soared. Armed with the Marauders' Map, the entirety of Hogwarts Castle lay open before them, a vast playground of secrets waiting to be discovered. The absence of fellow students and professors under the cloak of night provided the perfect opportunity for their exploits.
"Albert and Lee will regret missing out on this adventure," Fred mused, his voice brimming with delight.
"Albert said he'll join us when he learns the disillusionment charm properly and casts it on people with no side effects. Lee will come when the three of us go," George replied, his excitement barely contained. "But for now, it's just us two and this marauder's map. Come on, let's go."
The twins were selective in sharing the intricacies of the marauders' map. Some secrets were best kept amongst themselves until they had unravelled and memorised every hidden passage within the castle's ancient walls. The time for them to amaze their friends with their newfound knowledge will come soon enough.
"Once we've learned all the castle's secret passages, they'll be in for quite a shock," Fred exclaimed, his anticipation palpable.
In the daylight hours, certain secret pathways remained elusive, their investigation curtailed by prying eyes. But the darkness of night granted them the freedom to explore without fear of detection. It was an opportunity too exquisite to pass up.
Fred, taking the lead with the map in hand, traversed the corridors, his heart fluttering with excitement at every turn. The thrill of the unknown coursed through his veins.
"Stop!" Fred abruptly halted, holding up his wand to caution George behind him.
"What's wrong?" George whispered, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"Nearly Headless Nick," Fred replied, his voice barely taking a breath. They waited in silence for thirty seconds until Fred determined the ghost was distant enough for them to move without being caught. He signalled it was safe to proceed.
Continuing down the stairs, they arrived at a statue of a knight adorned in gleaming armour on the seventh floor. As they studied the parchment, a name caught their eye—Sir Cadogan, the valiant knight whose portrait hung nearby.
"Tap the helmet three times," Fred read aloud, his voice above a whisper. The twins exchanged a knowing glance, anticipation shimmering in their eyes. With a shared resolve, they approached the magnificent suit of armour that stood proudly, its helmet gleaming in the dim light.
Taking a deep breath, Fred extended his hand, his fingers grazing the cold metal. In rhythmic succession, he tapped the helmet three times, a spellbinding cadence echoing through the corridor.
To their astonishment, the suit of armour sprang to life, its rigid form bending forward as if bowing to its newfound companions. The knight's helmet turned upward, fixing its gaze upon the twins with a semblance of awareness. Then, with an enchanting flourish, the space that was once occupied by the armour's mouth magically transformed before their eyes, expanding to reveal a narrow passage—a secret passage that seemed tailor-made for their clandestine exploration.
Eyes widening with a mix of awe and trepidation, Fred and George beheld the spectacle unfolding before them. The passage beckoned them forward, but only one person could venture through at a time, as if to test their mettle and commitment to the journey.
"Shall we?" Fred gestured gallantly, deferring to George.
"After you," George said as he followed his brother in. It's been a week since Albert and Lee made a bet about which one of them could cast the wand lighting charm first. A week later, both of them can. Fred raised his wand and cast "Lumos" before stepping inside. After a few minutes inside the passage, George speaks up: "Where does it lead?"
"The fourth floor," Fred said, looking down at the map before coming to a stop. "There are a series of doors here. Some lead to dead ends, while others, I don't know."
The dead ends were there for a multitude of reasons. The main three were: limited funding has led to reduced staff and neglected areas; aftermaths of the war have resulted in a smaller student population, therefore requiring less space; and some corridors have become outdated as educational priorities evolve.
Fred gingerly pushed the wooden door open, revealing a stone barrier (?) ahead. "Let's go," he whispered.
But before they could proceed, a grumble emerged from the portrait next to them, its sleepy occupant voicing his displeasure. "Mind your manners, young ones! We're trying to sleep here."
"Oh, sorry!" George quickly lowered his wand, motioning for them to leave the area.
"Let's make our way out," Fred suggested, guiding them towards a corner on the third floor, where an inconspicuous vase stood. George stepped forward, his wand poised, and tapped the vase twice, intoning softly, "Sinistra vertitur in dextrum. Did I say that right?"
"I think so," George said before being cut off.
A gentle rubbing sound resonated from the vase, causing a landscape painting hanging next to it to reveal a mysterious black spot. Slowly, the black spot expanded, unveiling a hidden door concealed behind the artwork. George reached out, grasping the doorknob, and gently pushed, causing the frame to swing open, revealing the concealed entrance.
With measured steps, the twins entered, finding themselves in a secret passageway that wound its way towards the outskirts of the castle. The exit, nestled along a mountain path leading to the dock, remained concealed beneath a veil of overgrown foliage, shielding its clandestine nature from prying eyes. As they emerged from the passage, the entrance seamlessly melded back into the rocky wall, camouflaging its presence.
"Who would have thought such an entrance existed?" Fred marvelled, his hand grazing the rocky surface in awe.
"How do we get back in? The wall turned into actual stone," George quipped, rubbing his arms to ward off the night's chill.
"Let me check the map," Fred replied, his gaze fixed on the parchment. The solution to their query lay before him. "Tap the raised stone three times," he said, scanning the landscape for the designated stone. "That stone there, open the passage."
In an instant, the stone wall before them transformed, revealing a hidden entrance. Slowly, it swung open, granting them access once more. The twins hurried inside, seeking refuge from the chilly night breeze. George, his sneezes punctuating the silence, clearly felt the onset of a cold.
"Are you alright?" Fred inquired, concern etched across his features.
"I think I've caught a cold," George replied, his nose red from the cold. "Perhaps we should call it a night. We have classes tomorrow."
Fred stifled a yawn. "You're right. I feel sleepy. We should head back now."