"This never stops being cool," james said, glancing at the others.
Sirius gave a low whistle. "The Room of Requirement. Honestly, Hogwarts is just showing off at this point."
They stepped inside together.
The space had reshaped itself into a towering, high-ceilinged chamber filled with shelves, dusty trunks, and strange cabinets. Scrolls and glowing vials floated midair. A soft blue light bathed the room, casting everything in a dreamy glow.
"Right then," James said, rubbing his hands. "Let's find ourselves a map. Or at least the stuff to make one."
They fanned out, each pulled toward something different.
Remus stopped in front of a glass case filled with magical stones. He peered closer and called out, "Hey, this one's labeled Moonstone Paper."
Peter blinked. "Paper made of stone?"
Remus opened the case carefully and lifted out the sheaf. It shimmered faintly under the light, like ink waiting to be written. "It says here: For writings not meant to fade, nor burn, nor tear. Secrets shall bind where this parchment is used."
Sirius let out a low whistle. "Sounds indestructible. Bit dramatic. I like it."
James grinned. "Exactly what we need for something... long-term."
Sirius meanwhile had wandered over to a small table piled with broken quills and half-used ink bottles. He picked up a vial that glowed faintly silver. "This ink's labeled Mirrorthought Essence. Claims it can 'reflect intent and reveal hidden paths.' Whatever that means."
Remus looked up sharply. "Sounds like the kind of magic that could show hidden people... or places. Maybe that's how we make the map show where people are in real time."
Peter gave a nervous laugh. "You mean we'll know if someone's sneaking up on us while we're sneaking around?"
"Exactly," James said, eyes alight.
In one dusty drawer, James found a small brass dial that looked like a miniature clock, but instead of numbers, it had shifting words: Classrooms, Dungeons, Library, Headmaster's Office.
"It's a Directional Rune," he said, marveling. "It can track movement through specific areas."
Remus leaned in. "With a bit of charmwork, we could set it to register magical signatures instead of directions."
Sirius smirked. "We're basically building a magical surveillance system. If only we were this clever in Transfiguration."
They kept searching. More treasures revealed themselves: A spool of enchanted silver thread, said to bind enchantments across objects,, A whispering jar, that recorded and replayed sounds when touched—"Could help with passwords," Sirius said. It will become too complicated", james exclaimed. And finally, a leather-bound tome with spells written in an ancient, spidery hand.
James stared at it, vision already forming. "That's it. We'll draw Hogwarts. Every corridor. Every secret passage. Every room. And this book tells us how to link it all together."
Peter looked uncertain. "You really think we can pull this off?"
And the three of them just smiled listening to the panicked peter.
...…..
The hided the objects the thought were necessary for the next time.
Then after they saw that everyone was busy in the triwizard tournament he again sneaked into The Room of Requirement. This time it had reshaped itself into something smaller tonight—a cozy, circular chamber lit by floating candles and a glowing chandelier made of softly clinking glass maps. A table sat in the center of the room, and on it lay the Moonstone Parchment, unrolled and waiting.
The four of them sat cross-legged around it, each with a wand in hand and varying degrees of confidence on their faces.
James twirled his wand between his fingers. "Alright, gentlemen. Tonight, we make history."
"You mean try to make history," Remus corrected, rolling up his sleeves. "Let's not pretend we won't blow something up first."
Sirius grinned. "That's half the fun."
Peter fidgeted. "Do we… start with the spell part or the drawing part?"
"We start," James said, tapping the parchment with his wand, "with this. Cartographorus Revelio."
He glanced around. "I found it in a book on magical mapping. Supposedly it lays down the base layer, like magical gridlines for everything else to sit on."
"Sounds fancy," Sirius said, stretching his back. "Do it, Potter."
James nodded and took a breath. He flicked his wand in a fluid, sweeping arc and said clearly:
"Cartographorus Revelio!"
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then a faint shimmer rippled across the parchment—lines began to sketch themselves, vague outlines of the castle's foundation. But just as quickly, the image sputtered, fizzled, and vanished with a tiny pfft, leaving a slight burn mark in the corner.
"Well," Sirius muttered, "I'd call that a promising failure."
James frowned. "I think I didn't mean it hard enough."
"Mean it?" Remus asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Intent matters. That book said the spell draws on your connection to a place. I need to think like I know Hogwarts."
"Well, Try again then…," Remus offered. "Picture every corridor you have ever snuck through."
James closed his eyes. He thought of the moving staircases, the hidden doorways, the smell of the kitchens, the echo of Filch's muttering behind them. Then he opened his eyes and spoke again.
"Cartographorus Revelio."
This time, the parchment glowed bright gold, and crisp, detailed lines unfurled across it, walls, hallways, secret passages. The skeleton of Hogwarts.
"YES!" James whooped. "See? I am brilliant."
"Don't get smug," Sirius said. "I haven't done my spell yet." But before they could rejoice more the skeleton disappeared.
Seeing this everyone got gloomy and then Sirius stood dramatically and cleared his throat. "This one's called Mappa Disclosa. It's supposed to unlock enchanted layers, like hidden rooms, trapdoors, you name it."
"Where'd you find it?" Remus asked, genuinely curious.
"Hidden behind the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room. Old leather book. Probably cursed. Definitely awesome."
He flicked his wand with flair.
"Mappa Disclosa!"
The parchment pulsed, then convulsed. Ink spread in odd zigzags, revealing secret rooms and passageways—then began bleeding off the edges.
"Er—" Sirius watched as part of the parchment curled at the edges, sizzling slightly.
"Counter it!" Remus barked, already waving his wand. "Finite Incantatem!"
The parchment stilled. Everyone exhaled.
Peter gulped. "That… almost went up in flames."
Sirius grinned sheepishly. "Little too much oomph. It'll be fine next time."
Remus moved forward, adjusting his wand grip. "Alright. My turn. This one's called Proximitas Indico. It's meant to detect and track magical signatures… basically, tell us who's where."
"Did you invent it?" James asked.
"Sort of. Pieced it together from bits of advanced Charms and stuff from Magical Creatures. Like how dragons sense intruders in their territory."
"Charming," Sirius said.
Remus focused and tapped the parchment.
"Proximitas Indico."
The ink shimmered again. Slowly, ghostly footprints began appearing, moving dots labeled Professor McGonagall, Nearly Headless Nick, Argus Filch.
Peter gasped. "It's working. Look—that's Filch two floors down!"
"And moving this way," James said, grinning. "God, this is going to be glorious." But just like how it happened with james' spell, this also disappeared, as soon as it came to be seen.
Now it was Peter's turn. He looked nervous.
"Mine's Cartographorus Illustratio. It's supposed to make the map visible to the caster and invisible to anyone else."
"You got that from a Slytherin, didn't you?" Sirius asked.
Peter looked guilty. "Sort of. I overheard one saying it hides messages in love letters from teachers."
"Ugh… Disgusting," Sirius muttered.
Ahhh… my boy want to write love letter to someone? James joked while putting his arm around peter's shoulder.
Peter smiled awkwardly saying No… lifted his wand with a trembling hand. And said,
"Cartographorus Illustratio."
Nothing happened.
Remus came to him, " peter, relax, say it out loud."
Peter said it again, " "Cartographorus Illustratio." This time a little louder.
The parchment went blank.
"Er—Pete?" James said, frowning. "You didn't mean invisible to everyone, did you?"
"NO—I—I meant just—hang on—"
Peter tried again.
"Illustratio Revealum!"
The map returned, now glowing softly, when they looked at it directly. It vanished again when they looked away.
Sirius's jaw dropped. "What is this!?
Peter blinked. "I… I Failed?"
All of them were confused as to what just happened… and what they were supposed to do with it.