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Chapter 358: Parchment Map!!
"He's crazy. My cauldron was sitting properly, he kicked it himself."
"And then he actually said I tripped him on purpose. I really wanted Sirius to break into his office that moment..."
Harry complained angrily while walking.
"Oh, Darren, don't worry. Maybe Professor Snape is just waiting for Sirius to break into his office so he can get famous again."
"I even heard him saying he had to catch Sirius—he wants the glory for himself!"
Harry's tone was full of resentment.
Darren didn't react at first.
But after a moment, he still said quietly and tactfully,
"Brother… you should still call him Professor Snape."
---
The first class in the afternoon was Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Neither Darren nor Harry nor Ron wrote their essays.
Darren didn't write because he already knew Professor Lupin was teaching today.
As for Harry and Ron…
They simply didn't want to write.
---
"Go check for me," Harry whispered to Darren.
"If it's Snape, tell him I'm sick. Really sick."
"Tell him to go ask Madam Pomfrey."
"But if it's Professor Lupin…"
"I'll come to class straight away."
---
A moment later.
Hermione rushed in happily.
"Professor Lupin is here!"
---
Instantly the whole classroom became excited.
"Great! It's Professor Lupin!"
"At last, not Snape teaching us werewolves!"
"I still don't understand—why werewolves? Are werewolves going to attack the school?!"
"And two pieces of parchment!"
"Yes! Two pieces of parchment!"
Everyone was buzzing.
Everyone…
Except Darren.
The moment Lupin walked in, Darren's expression changed.
Worry appeared clearly on his face.
"Professor," Darren asked softly,
"Are you feeling better?"
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[Ding, Father value +50]
[Ding, Holy Father value +60]
[Ding, Father value +50]
[Ding... ]
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"I'm alright," Lupin replied gently.
"But I'm an old patient, always being ill every month. Don't worry about me."
Then he winked at Darren.
"Come to my office after class. I already know what happened that day."
"You did very well."
---
Darren nodded shyly.
Then he returned to his seat.
---
The lesson that day was about Hinkypunks.
A strange but interesting creature.
When class ended and Darren prepared to go to Lupin's office…
Harry followed him.
"I want to learn the Patronus Charm," Harry said firmly.
"I don't want to be afraid of Dementors anymore."
"I don't want Darren to overdraw his magic to protect me again."
---
When they arrived, Lupin was covering a glass container with a cloth.
Inside it was a Hinkypunk.
"I still use it for teaching other years," Lupin explained.
Then, seeing Darren and Harry, he smiled warmly.
"Come in. Sit."
---
He poured each of them a glass of water.
"I know about that match," Lupin said to Harry quietly.
"The real problem wasn't you… it was the Dementors."
Then he looked toward Darren.
"Dumbledore was furious. He confronted them personally."
"I've never seen him that angry."
"He said he shouldn't have let them guard the grounds from the beginning."
---
Harry still felt uneasy.
He clenched his fists.
"I can't stand them. Every time I see them, I faint. I have nightmares. I feel useless…"
---
"Oh, Harry…"
Lupin's voice was soft.
"You're not weak."
"You've been through things other people never had to face."
"And pain like that leaves marks."
He looked at Darren.
"Even Darren—if he hadn't walked out when he did, he would have collapsed just like you."
"This isn't weakness."
"This is trauma."
"And it doesn't make you any less strong."
---
Harry finally felt lighter.
But he still hesitated before asking:
"Professor… Darren said he learned the Patronus Charm from you."
"Can you teach me too?"
---
Lupin smiled.
"Yes… but we'll need another boggart. The last one was destroyed."
It paused.
Then he smiled even deeper.
"By Darren's Patronus."
"At the time it was only a white glow."
"It wasn't as complete as it is now."
---
Harry felt strange.
Why did Lupin look proud?
This was Darren's Patronus.
Why did he look like his father showing off?
---
The days after the match grew colder.
Cold winds filled Hogwarts.
Darren bundled himself tighter every day.
At times he looked like he wanted to crawl into the fireplace and never come out.
As for the Dementors—
Dumbledore personally sealed them outside the gates.
They were no longer allowed anywhere near the school.
---
Two weeks before Christmas…
The final Hogsmeade visit arrived.
Harry waved goodbye to Darren expertly.
He planned to go find Lupin.
To see if he had found another boggart.
He wanted to learn the Patronus Charm as soon as possible.
---
But halfway—
Fred and George stopped him.
With grins.
---
"Harry," Fred said mysteriously.
"We've decided to give you a Christmas gift early."
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"We were going to give it to Darren," George added.
"But we were afraid…"
"If he found out how we got it, he'd return it immediately."
---
They pulled out a piece of parchment.
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"Look," Fred said proudly.
"This is it."
"You see, when we were in first year…"
"We were young."
"Innocent."
"Pure."
"Just like Darren."
---
Harry almost laughed.
He seriously doubted Fred and George had ever been innocent a day in their lives.
---
"Anyway—watch this."
Fred tapped the parchment with his wand.
And said clearly:
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"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
---
The words appeared instantly.
Then changed.
A drooping signature formed at the bottom.
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Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs
are proud to present the Marauder's Map.
---
The parchment suddenly transformed.
Lines spread across it—
Corridors.
Staircases.
Rooms.
Hidden paths.
Names moved across it.
It was the entire Hogwarts Castle.
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"After you're done," George added seriously,
"Say the phrase to close it."
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"Mischief managed."
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"And Harry… you can give it to Darren if you want."
"But don't tell him where it came from."
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Fred sighed.
"We don't want to see him look at us like that."
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"That face…"
George shuddered.
"Like we disappointed him."
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"We wouldn't survive."
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