terrible things tend to happen amid a breakthrough. hardly had I got to the owlery than I met the caretaker Argus filch wrestling a package from some second years from Ravenclaw. having listened to his explanation that all the letters and packages delivered through the owlery had to be inspected by him, I suddenly knew that my plans wouldn't work. if fragrance potions were being confiscated by the caretaker. what would happen to an invisible cloak?

I had planned to ask my mother to purchase me one alongside a decent broomstick. but from the looks of things, that would be a sure way to invite the caretaker's wrath or even an audience with dumbledore whom I couldn't help feeling was monitoring me

as I left the building, I was in deep thoughts that I didn't notice the Weasley twins at the base of the staircase until I stumbled upon one of them. it was really difficult to tell those two apart

"are you blind mal boy oops.. it Malfoy," said the one I had stumbled on

I hastily mumbled an apology

his twin sniggered before chipping in"come to think about it bro, he could be sleepwalking.."

"no no bro...maybe comma walking" he closed his eyes and mimicked a sleepwalker with a very haggard countenance.

I was paying little attention to him. my eyes were fixed on his robe pocket. something was in there. I felt an overwhelming attraction toward it.

Just then the system notification popped up in the corner of my eyes. the rich golden glow indicating the quest map emerged.

The indicator on the map was pointing at the twin I had been staring at with the name Fred at the bottom. I mentally reopened the quest info panel and I couldn't believe my eyes the quest info tab read.

artefact: marauders map

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artefact proximity; 2 meters

artefact description: The Marauder's Map is a magical artefact. It shows people's exact positions in real time everywhere within Hogwarts castle and grounds, even identifying by name individuals who have never been there before. The map sees them by their psyche, thus making it proof against Invisibility Cloaks and Animagi.

I closed the display and stared at Fred's pocket with lust. I couldn't help wondering how they had come in possession of such an important artefact. my heart beat with a thud just thinking of the list of endless things I could do with the map in my possession.

just then George waved his hands in front of my eyes laughing

"holy moly, I think he has a crush on you Fred"

Fred feigned surprise "you don't say, how about we give him a souvenir" Fred reached into his pocket and withdrew a dung bomb.

my mind suddenly came back to reality...hell no, I couldn't let them use that on me. I quickly reached within my robe and withdrew the Gawain wand. I knew there was little I could do with it seeing I was nowhere near level seven. but at least it might scare them into leaving me alone.

Fred threw the dung bomb near my foot but before it could hit the ground a web-like thread shot out of nowhere and suspended it in mid-air.

We all turned to follow the direction of the thread and resting calmly on the rails of the staircase was the tall ,calm imposing figure of Albus dumbledore.

"I thought we talked about this Mr Weasley"

"George stammered for a while before his twin came to his rescue." it's not a real one professor. we were just getting friendly with Draco here"

behind the glasses, the headmaster seemed to roll his eyes in amusement

"So then you wouldn't mind if I dropped it on you huh?"

immediately the dungball rose upwards and levitated on Fred's head

"nooo, we swear it was the last one "Fred yelled

'`your last one huh?", the headmaster said, bringing the ball to its position just above the marble floor.

"And you were going to use it on a first-year student?"...

The twins were now fidgeting with their fingers.

you may go to your class Mr Draco...tell Hagrid you were with me"

a shudder passed through my body, it was the first time the headmaster had used my name. I noted that all the while his eyes had been staring at the Gawain wand.

Taking a final look at Fred's pocket, I tore my eyes from the scene as the twins began to protest against the headmaster.

All I could think as I ran towards the hut at the edge of the forest was how I would get the map from the twins...my soaring thoughts were already forming a plan...

could it be possible to befriend them?