Quiet. Serious. Having a secret, traumatic past. Clever beyond measure. Manipulative, but not outright evil. A daring will to prove oneself. Willing to go to any length to get something. And… a dark disposition.
These were the qualities Kai had considered for Black before joining Hogwarts — if the Item meant to become a Slytherin.
Those qualities would have taken Black on the same path as Tom Marvolo Riddle.
It would have given him immense benefits, with a strong possibility of associating himself with Lord Voldemort later.
The Side Missions and Hidden Missions given by the Dark Lord himself would have met all the standards of Kai.
It was just…
It would have worked, or, better to say, it would have been desirable, if Kai weren't leading the Dark Alliance as Lord Yellow Warlock.
With Darcie being a storyline Character, unable to get Missions and Rewards from other original Characters, what Kai needed was a… safe bet.
Funny — to draw people in. Loyal and friendly — to keep them around. Brave and Clever — to make them trust him when facing the odds. Nonchalant but genius when needed — to make the people drop their guards and confide in him.
These traits would let Black reap the greatest benefits, once he became a Gryffindor.
Not everything had gone according to his plan, of course, with Hermione becoming a Slytherin and Draco becoming a Gryffindor.
Still, to not let boys and girls stray from each other, he could use love, hate, and a touch of jealousy to bind them together.
Kai's life had been driven by nothing but the pursuit of benefits.
He could act like anyone, as long as he knew greater benefits were waiting for him… benefits like the Dark Scroll, the Philosopher's Stone, Tom Riddle's Diary, Ollivander's Wandlore, a centuries-old tree sprouting from a legendary Wand, the Marauder's Map…
The Marauder's Map would be a game-changing Item for him, Kai had always known, especially after he had received the Daily Prophet as a gift from the Timeline.
The Daily Prophet let Kai know all and everything that was going on in a celestial body, no matter which planet of which timeline he went to.
With his ability to Switch timelines and his natural scheming, manipulating, and conspiring traits, Kai considered the Daily Prophet one of his greatest Items. It was such a broken Item that it had all but ignored even Angra Mainyu's authority, letting Black know about the secret ritual the Overlord had performed on Dark Sakura.
There was a caveat, though — the Daily Prophet couldn't be controlled.
There was no telling what news it would consider a headline, or even news worthy.
The Daily Prophet wasn't like Jack Sparrow's Compass, which automatically considered its Master's best interests.
But… it could be improved.
The Marauder's Map was one of those improvements; almost impeccable in nature.
Kai not only desired it, but he needed it.
And, just for this single Item alone, he had let himself assume Black personality traits that would bring him closer to the Weasley twins.
Defiance.
Mischievous.
Humorous, but not demeaning.
All qualities that made the Weasley twins consider Black their successor.
It wasn't like Kai had any other choice, either, as Black would be fighting against the likes of Harry Potter, the Prime Character of a Bubble, to gain the twins' favor.
So, no matter what kind of act he would need to build up over the years to make that happen, Kai would do it.
And three years were not nearly enough to make him even wince.
So, presently, as the Weasley twins finally took them to a corner under the stairs, Black knew the time had come.
"We need to give something to our top student," George said, eyeing Black.
"We also need to take care of our greatest supporter," Fred added, looking at Harry.
"And, so…" George said, beaming at the two third years, "… we have decided to pass on our greatest treasure to you two."
Fred took something out of his cloak and showed it to them.
It was a large, worn piece of parchment. Absolutely blank.
"That's your greatest treasure?" Harry asked. "Parchment? It looks like it'll get shredded into pieces even before I finish writing a sentence."
Fred smirked.
George looked at Black. "What do you think, our prodigy?"
Black's eyes narrowed. "… Maybe… we're not supposed to write anything on it, then?"
"See?" George said.
Fred nodded. "I see it…"
"What?" Harry asked. "What do you see?"
"A hidden talent, Harry," George grinned. "Always knew you had it in you, Black."
"That we did…" Fred added. "This is not some old parchment. When we were young — in our first year — we got into trouble with Filch."
"So, he took us to his office and began threatening us with his usual…" George said.
"Detention? Disembowelment?" Black asked, scoffing.
"Exactly!" Fred said. "It was then we noticed a drawer in one of his filing cabinets, marked Confiscated and Highly Dangerous."
"You didn't…" Harry grinned.
"We certainly did," George said. "We think Filch never found out how to use it."
"And you know?" Black asked.
In reply, George took his wand, touched the parchment, and said, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Ink lines began to surface on the parchment.
Soon, large letters appeared on the parchment — Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present—THE MARAUDER'S MAP!
It was a map of Hogwarts!
And there were tiny ink dots, with names written over them.
Astounded, Harry and Black bent over it, and saw Snape's footsteps in the dungeons, Madam Villanelle and Hagrid at his hut, and…
"What's that?" Harry pointed at a blurred name on the Headmaster's office.
"That's Professor Dumbledore," Fred said. "It used to show his name, but recently, it's getting blurry. Anyway, he's an exception. What you need to focus on are the secret passages."
Fred pointed out several passages that led directly to Hogsmeade.
Harry looked at them when they had stopped explaining. "Thanks…"
The Weasleys grinned.
"Right," George said. "Don't forget to wipe it after you've used it—"
"— or anyone can read it," Fred said warningly.
"Just tap it again and say—" George took the Marauder's Map from Fred and… gave it to Black, tapping it with his wand. "—Mischief Managed!"
And, the ink lines on the map vanished, a dull gray Notification flashing in Black's eyes!