Chapter 99 - 100
"Think about it, Hermione. It is the duty of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures to deal with and to punish them." Evan continued, "We can't prove that Buckbeak is innocent, it did attack Malfoy, even if it had justifiable reasons. But what we can prove, is that Hippogriffs are not dangerous."
"You mean…" Hermione was immersed into thinking.
"According to the classification of dangerous creatures in the book "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them", Hippogriffs are not that risky. They can be tamed by Wizards. Such docile animals should not be within the scope of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures." Evan opened the book and turned to the page of the author's introduction. "Moreover, we can go around this problem from the perspective of protecting rare species. Mr. Scamander may give us some help."
"Mr. Scamander?!"
Hermione took the book. She frowned as she saw the author's introduction:
The author of the book, Mr. Newt Scamander, is currently the most prestigious Magizoologist in the Magic World. He graduated from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1915, and served as an office clerk of the Ministry of Magic, a researcher at the Ministry's Dragon Research and Restraint Bureau and in the Office for House-Elf Relocation, the Director and inceptor of the Werewolf Registry, and the Director of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
Mr. Newt Scamander spent 30 years traveling around the world and recorded the forms and habits of the 75 magical creatures currently known in the Magic World. This is his best-selling work world-wide, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them", the book has been revised to print fifty-two times.
Under his leadership, the Ministry of Magic established the Werewolf Registry in 1947; in 1965 it amended the "Ban on Experimental Breeding" Act, which effectively suppressed the prevalence of new untameable animals in British territory.
Thanks to his contributions to magical animal research and Magizoology, Newt Scamander was awarded the Order of Merlin, Second Class in 1979. Later on, that year, he founded an organization for the conservation of magical species and was engaged in the protection of magical creatures.
"As the former Director of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Mr. Scamander's influence on the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures is very large, and is definitely much larger than that of Lucius Malfoy." Evan explained, "And he is The President of the Magical Creatures Protection Association, we just need to write him a letter to tell him about Buckbeak, and I believe he would help us."
Evan's idea sounded great. He and Hermione sent a letter to Mr. Newt Scamander on the same evening and received a reply the following morning.
"Evan, see what's written." said Hermione excitedly. "Mr. Scamander said in his reply that he was very supportive of our ideas. He was willing to save Buckbeak. He said his mother was once a hippogriffs' breeder, so he was often exposed to these animals when he was a child."
Evan took the letter and saw that Newt Scamander wrote that he had been worried about the sharp decrease in the number of hippogriffs over the last hundred years due to excessive hunting. Therefore, he promised to modify and perfect the article written by Evan to protect the hippogriff. In addition to that, he also promised to contact the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures to get them to handle the case as carefully as possible.
After that, things started to look brighter.
Thanks to the ties of Mr. Newt Scamander, the Daily Prophet finally published the articles on the introduction and protection of Hippogriffs that were written by Evan and Hermione.
They provided detailed description of the habits of hippogriffs, their current living conditions, and the people's comprehension of this animal, etc.
They also told the whole story about Buckbeak's attack on Malfoy.
In the following days, many readers wrote to them and Hagrid and expressed willingness to support them. They even launched a "Save Buckbeak" campaign, officially making a petition to the Ministry of Magic on this incident, asking them to pardon the hippogriff. Many people participated.
Public opinion continued to develop, making great pressure on the Ministry of Magic.
The governors and the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures wrote three letters to Hagrid. They stated that they were cautious. Before the hearing was held, the incident of attacking students by Buckbeak will be re-investigated.
The way things were developing, there was a high probability that Buckbeak would be spared.
With so much attention, Lucius Malfoy was looking like the bad guy, and for that he felt concerned.
Hagrid gradually recovered, he appeared more and more in the castle, feeling more cheerful every day.
Evan and Hermione felt more at ease. With the continuous efforts of Harry, the tension between them and Ron was also a bit relieved.
At the very least, Ron went back to sitting down with them, rather than just wondering around the castle with Scabbers.
Two weeks before the semester's end, the sky cleared up suddenly, showing a dazzling opalescence. The muddy grounds were covered by a thin beautiful layer frost.
As Christmas approached, the festive atmosphere in the castle was getting stronger.
The Charms Master, Professor Flitwick, decorated his classroom with glimmering light sources. Those light sources were actually real fairies constantly fluttering their wings.
The students were happily discussing their vacation plans. Most of them were getting ready to go home for Christmas because of the presence Sirius Black.
In fact, with the exception of Evan, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, all other Gryffindor students were about ready to go home.
Evan was preparing to implement his plan. Ron said that he could not stand spending two weeks with Percy. Hermione wanted to spent more time in the library.
Although all three of them had their own reasons, it really made Harry feel moved. He thought that they wanted to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas to be with him.
In the last week of the semester, students from the third years and above could go to Hogsmeade again.
Everyone was happy. The whole chat around the breakfast table revolved about buying Christmas gifts.
"Ron, where is Harry? Why hasn't he come to breakfast yet?" asked Hermione.
"He's still in his bedroom. You know, he can't go to Hogsmeade." Ron said to her, his voice was a bit dull. "He borrowed a "Clean sweep Broom" from Wood and he's spending all his time on it."
"That's a shame!" Evan remembered Harry's disappointment in the Common room before going to bed last night. He wasn't sure. "Maybe I could take Harry to Hogsmeade through the secret passage. I have gone through it many times last year, and there should be no problem."
"It won't work, Evan!" Hermione put jam on her bread, and said firmly, "This year is not the same as last year. There are so many Dementors at the entrance. Besides, what if Sirius Black knew the secret passage?"
"But…"
"Relax, Ron and I will buy you Christmas gifts. Which kind of sweets did you like last time?" Hermione said with a smile, "My dad and mom loved Toothflossing Stringmints from Honeydukes!"
"If it's possible, you can bring me some Orange…"
Evan had not finished his words yet, when he saw Harry hurrying into the Common room with his schoolbag. He ignored Malfoy in the doorway as he fell from his broomstick and didn't laugh at him. He walked straight toward them looking very happy.
"Guys, look at this, Fred and George have just given it to me…"
Harry cautiously pulled out a large, square-looking, old parchment from under the cloak with nothing written on it.
"Harry, what is this?" asked Hermione oddly.
Before Harry could answer, he heard Ron whispering, "Marauder's Map!"
Evan wasn't sure, but despite his dull and monotonous voice, Ron seemed to be pleasantly surprised.
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Evan suddenly raised his head. Harry hadn't mentioned it yet. How could Ron know that this old parchment was the Marauder's Map? This sounded really suspicious.
"How did you know, Ron?" Harry looked surprised, and said, "Oh, Fred and George told you, didn't they?!"
Ron nodded hastily looking a bit strange.
"Well, you two, who can explain to me and Evan what this tattered parchment is?" said Hermione impatiently.
"Hermione, this Marauder's Map was found by Fred and George in Filch's office. It can reveal all the details of Hogwarts Castle and all its venues, including every secret passage. It can also identify the location of every person in the grounds." Harry looked up cautiously, checked out the surroundings, and then whispered, "As long as I have its help, I can wear the invisibility cloak and avoid other people to join you in Hogsmeade."
"What?!" Hermione stood up in surprise.
"Don't get too excited, Hermione!" Harry hurriedly pulled her down.
"If it's really like you said, you should give this map to Professor McGonagall, Harry!" Hermione said with an anxious voice.
"No, I won't hand it to her!" Harry said sharply. "If I do that, I'll have to explain where I got it from, and Filch will know Fred and George took it!"
"But, what about Black?!" Hermione said, biting her teeth. "With this Map, the Professors will know if he uses any of these secret passages to enter the castle…"
"He can't come in from these passages." Harry said quickly. "Fred and George said that Filch knew most of them, and the remaining entrances and exits are also well hidden. It's impossible for Black to know them."
"You are taking a risk. What if he knew them? "
"Black can't go to Hogsmeade, Hermione!" said Harry stubbornly. "You told me when you came back last time that there were Dementors patrolling in the evening. If Black appeared, they would discover him."
"But…" Hermione bit her lip and looked worried.
"Ok, Hermione, are you going to report me?" Harry asked, grinning.
"Oh, of course not! But honestly, Harry…"
"It's almost Christmas Herm, let me relax." Harry took out his wand from underneath the cloak and looked excited. "I'll show you the map later. If Black appears on it, we'll be the first to discover him."
Hearing his words, Evan had a sudden realization!
Will it just be Sirius Black? He didn't want to say it, but Peter Pettigrew was still in the pocket of Ron's coat. If Harry uses the Marauder's Map at this time, he will find Peter's name among them.
Evan's first intention was to stop Harry, but it immediately came to his mind. This doesn't seem like a bad idea. Why should he stop him?!
He had been tangled and unable to solve this year's problem. The main reason that he could not hand Peter Pettigrew to Dumbledore was that he couldn't explain, without causing doubts, how he knew Peter was an Animagus.
After all, this matter is not known to outsiders.
If he recognized that the rat was no else but Peter Pettigrew, it would be too suspicious.
That was the case for Tom Riddle's diary last year. He actually told Dumbledore unintentionally that he knew it was a Horcrux. Fortunately, he did return to Hogwarts a thousand years before that, so he can always claim that he's been told about that by the Four Founders.
Dumbledore is so terrible. In addition to being the greatest white wizard in the world today, he is also a thorough conspiracist.
Evan didn't want to reveal his own cards, and then wait foolishly to be countered.
His stubbornness didn't give him much progress, so he must be very careful this year. This is why he had not dared to get involved until he got in touch with Sirius Black.
But now with the help of Marauder's maps, this problem can be solved perfectly.
If the four of them found out that Peter Pettigrew was still alive, then he could easily turn him over to Dumbledore.
After the whole truth is revealed, he'll go to the forest to look for Sirius Black and things will probably go smoothly.
"So stupid, why didn't I think of this idea before?"
Evan looked at the teachers' table and Snape and Professor Lupin were there.
He nodded happily and reached with his right hand for the wand on his waist, with his eyes locked tightly on Ron's pocket. He focused on his mind and prepared himself to cast Petrificus Totalus right when Peter's name appears on the map.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Harry gently raised his wand, ready to point to the parchment.
"Wait a minute, we'd better not show it here." Ron hurriedly stopped Harry and said in a frantic voice." There are too many people around us, so if we get caught…"
"It doesn't matter. Just be careful and it will be fine. I want to see if this map is as magical as Harry said." Evan looked at Ron with some insight.
Ron turned his head and looked at Evan's face. He could not dissect the weird look in his eyes, and he quickly looked away from them and focused again on the map.
"Just like Evan said, we only need to be careful and we won't be discovered," said Harry, tapping his wand on the parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
"Oh, my God!" Hermione exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hands
Everyone's eyes were glued to the parchment, and Evan saw thin ink lines began to spread like a spider's web from the point that Harry's wand had touched. They joined each other, they crisscrossed, they fanned into every corner of the parchment; then words began to blossom across the top, great, curly green words, that proclaimed:
Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present:
THE MARAUDER'S MAP
Although he already knew this, Evan was stunned by the transformation on the parchment.
Back in his previous life, he didn't know how Harry's father had made such a map. Now with his current knowledge, he speculated that its creation required on top of a great knowledge of Hogwarts' terrain, an extremely advanced knowledge of magic spells, Transfiguration, ancient magic literature and other magic mechanics.
And this theoretical knowledge is just a required basis for its creation. The more critical thing is that they need a source that provides a great deal of magical power. That's the only way to implement such fine magic into a simple parchment, and breathe life into it just like it was the case for the Sorting Hat.
Needless to say, the makers of the Sorting hat had enough magical power to make such a thing.
Although making the Marauder's Map doesn't require as much magical power, it still requires a good amount that ordinary wizards shouldn't be able to provide.
However, when remembering that James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew all learned Animagus during their school days, having such a map being made by them becomes something that's much less strange. Evan, who has mastered Animagus himself, knows how much magical power it requires during the first transforming; hence he relied on magical potions to complete it.
What did James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew rely on?
Especially Peter Pettigrew, that man is by no means a talented magician. But still; he completed Animagus, and was able to become a Rat with no problems.
Evan initially thought that they had completed this spell by relying on a large number of potions to supplement their magical power, but now it seems that wasn't the case. Simply relying on potions is not enough to make living items like the Marauder's map.
They must have found other ways. Maybe he can later ask Sirius Black.
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