Hogwarts: Rise of the Dark Legacy

"The ability to predict!"

"Merlin's beard!"

Fred and George exclaimed together, their voices filled with a mix of excitement and disbelief.

They didn't entirely believe what they were saying, but deep down, they were half-convinced—about 50%, to be precise.

After all, there was no other way to explain it. The Marauder's Map was a secret known only to the two of them, something they had never shared with anyone else. Yet here was Toby, who somehow knew all about it.

"Hey, Toby, can you give us a glimpse of our future?" Fred asked eagerly, his tone both playful and curious.

"Yeah, this could be the most important request of our lives!" George added, leaning in with wide, sparkling eyes.

Fred and George were always up for some fun, but deep down, like anyone else, they were curious about what lay ahead. They couldn't resist the temptation to know their own future.

Toby simply smiled, but before he could answer, Jamie, who had been quietly standing nearby, spoke up. His voice carried a serious tone, and his expression made it seem like he had just uncovered something profound.

"Fred, George," Jamie said, looking at the twins with a mysterious glint in his eye, "I've seen your future."

Fred and George turned to him instantly, their excitement bubbling over.

"What? Really? You've seen our future?" Fred asked, barely able to contain himself.

"What's it like? Tell us!" George added, leaning in even closer.

Jamie nodded solemnly, his gaze shifting as if he were looking into a distant vision. "In your future," he began, "the two of you will become the proud owners of a prank shop. A shop that sells mischief and magic supplies. And not just any shop—you'll be wildly successful. Your business will thrive, and you'll both become incredibly wealthy."

His voice was steady, and his eyes seemed to look far beyond the present, as if he were truly seeing what was yet to come.

Fred and George froze for a moment, their mouths hanging open. Then, as the words sank in, they turned to each other in pure astonishment.

"My God, Merlin's beard!" Fred exclaimed, grabbing George by the shoulders.

"George, did you hear that? We'll succeed!"

"Fred, it's incredible! We're actually going to make it happen!"

The twins were over the moon with excitement. They didn't even question Jamie's ability to predict the future—they believed it completely. After all, what he said wasn't just any random prediction. He had spoken directly to their hearts, to a dream they had never shared with anyone, not even their family.

For as long as they could remember, Fred and George had dreamed of opening their own shop. Not just any shop, but a store filled with pranks, tricks, and magical mischief—a place where their creativity and love for fun could come to life. It was a dream they had quietly nurtured, working toward it with determination and hope.

And now, Jamie had confirmed it. Their dream would come true. There could be no other explanation for how he knew—he must truly have the ability to predict the future.

But then Jamie's tone shifted slightly, becoming more serious. He looked at them with a hint of caution in his eyes.

"However," he said slowly, "there's one thing you absolutely must keep in mind..."

Toby suddenly interrupted Fred and George's excited chatter, his expression turning serious.

"Wait a moment," Toby said firmly, his tone cutting through their enthusiasm.

The twins immediately stopped talking, their smiles fading as they turned to look at him. His seriousness was unusual, and it made them nervous.

"What is it?" Fred asked, his voice quieter now.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" George added, glancing between Toby and Jamie.

By now, the twins were fully convinced that Toby and Jamie had some kind of predictive magic. The things they had revealed—the Marauder's Map, the dream the twins had never shared with anyone—were proof enough.

Toby took a deep breath and looked at them intently. "Listen carefully," he began. "Before you turn twenty, you must stay together—inseparable. No matter what happens, you cannot be apart, or your lives will be in grave danger."

Fred and George exchanged uncertain glances, their playful expressions replaced by concern.

"I'm not joking," Toby continued, his voice firm and unwavering. "Before the age of twenty, the two of you will face a life-threatening calamity. The only way to survive it is to stay together. If you separate, even for a short time, you'll be putting yourselves at serious risk."

His words hung heavily in the air. Toby's serious demeanor made it clear that he wasn't teasing or exaggerating.

Fred and George had started to think he might be joking, but the intensity of his gaze erased any doubts. They realized he was completely serious.

"Alright," Fred said after a long pause, nodding solemnly. "We'll remember that."

"Yeah," George agreed, his tone just as serious. "We won't forget. We'll stick together, no matter what."

But as always, it didn't take long for the twins' natural humor to break through. Fred turned to George with a mischievous grin.

"George, looks like from now on, we'll have to eat, sleep, bathe, and even go to the toilet together," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

George chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, Fred, don't say it like that. People will get the wrong idea about us!"

The twins burst into laughter, their spirits lifting as they joked around. It was just like them to bounce back so quickly, using humor to ease even the most serious moments.

Toby smiled faintly, relieved that they had taken his warning to heart, even if they were masking their unease with jokes.

"Alright," Jamie interjected, steering the conversation back. "Now that we've got that sorted, let's get back to the real topic. Are you two planning to sell the Marauder's Map?"

Fred laughed. "Sell it? Jamie, the Marauder's Map is our greatest treasure. There's no way we'd sell it!"

"But," George added with a sly grin, "we might give it to you."

Jamie blinked, surprised by their generosity. Fred and George could have sold the Marauder's Map for a fortune, yet here they were, offering to give it away for free.

"Really?" Jamie asked, raising an eyebrow.

Fred and George nodded in unison.

"Of course," Fred said. "We didn't make the Marauder's Map, after all."

"Yeah," George chimed in. "We found it. Or, more accurately, we liberated it from Filch's office."

"Filch?" Jamie asked, unfamiliar with the name.

"Oh, Filch," Fred said, laughing. "He's the caretaker of Hogwarts—a grumpy old squib with a talent for making life miserable for students."

"Quite a nasty piece of work," George added. "But not sharp enough to keep the map out of our hands."

Fred leaned in conspiratorially. "One day, we were sneaking around and came across this incredible map in his office. It was too good to leave behind."

"And the rest," George said with a grin, "is history."

Fred and George shared a laugh, clearly proud of their mischief. Though they valued the Marauder's Map greatly, their willingness to share it spoke volumes about their generosity—and their trust in Jamie and Toby.

As Fred spoke, he reached into his pocket and carefully pulled out what appeared to be an ordinary, blank piece of parchment.

"You'll understand when you get to Hogwarts," Fred began, his tone almost conspiratorial. "Filch—Hogwarts' ever-grumpy caretaker—has a habit of punishing students for the smallest things. But thanks to him, we stumbled upon the Marauder's Map."

George nodded, his distaste for Filch clear in his expression. "Oh, yes. Filch has a real talent for making life miserable. Always prowling around, looking for any excuse to hand out punishments. But, in a way, we owe him for his terrible personality. If it weren't for his obsessive hoarding, we might never have found this treasure."

Fred grinned and continued, "It wasn't easy, though. It took us a lot of effort to break the spells protecting the map. But, since you've got the ability to predict the future, I'm guessing you already know how to use it?"

Fred unfolded the parchment slowly, his movements deliberate, as though revealing a secret.

"Of course," Toby replied confidently, taking out his wand.

He tapped the parchment gently with the tip of his wand and recited, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

The twins watched with anticipation as ink lines began to appear on the previously blank parchment. At first, they were faint, but they quickly grew clearer and more intricate, weaving together to form a detailed map of Hogwarts.

The map was extraordinary. It showed the entire castle, every hallway, classroom, and secret passage. Tiny moving dots represented the locations of people within the school, but since term had just begun and most students hadn't yet arrived, the map was mostly empty.

Fred and George exchanged satisfied smiles, clearly proud of their discovery.

"Because of this map," Fred explained, "we found all the secret passages in Hogwarts. It was a game-changer for us—an absolute lifesaver when sneaking around or planning pranks."

"But now," George added, "it's not as useful to us as it used to be. We know the castle like the back of our hands, and most of the passages are etched into our memories."

Fred turned to Toby and Jamie, his grin widening. "From what we've seen of you two on the train, it's obvious we're cut from the same cloth. You love pranks and mischief as much as we do."

George chimed in, smiling warmly, "So, we've decided to pass this map on to you. Consider it a gift. Use it well—and, of course, use it often."

Toby and Jamie exchanged surprised glances. They hadn't expected the twins to part with something so valuable so freely.

"Really?" Jamie asked, unable to hide his astonishment.

Fred nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely. You've got the right spirit for it. This map deserves to be in the hands of people who truly appreciate its value."

George added with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, "Besides, it's all part of the prank business. Think of it as us passing the torch to the next generation of troublemakers."

Toby smiled, touched by their generosity but unwilling to take the map for free. "Alright," he said, "we'll accept your kindness. But we can't just take this without offering something in return."

Fred raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What do you have in mind?"

"If you ever decide to open that prank shop you've dreamed about," Toby began, "and you find yourselves short on funds, Jamie and I would be happy to sponsor you."

Jamie nodded in agreement. "Think of it as an investment. We believe in your vision, and we're confident your shop will be a massive success."

The twins were silent for a moment, exchanging a meaningful look. Then, Fred grinned.

"Well, isn't this brilliant, George? Not only do we pass on the map to worthy successors, but we also find potential investors for our future business!"

George laughed. "Exactly, Fred. It's a win-win!"

"Alright, then," Fred said, holding out the map. "Take good care of it. And don't forget—it's not just a map. It's a symbol of mischief and fun."

Toby took the map with both hands, a smile of gratitude on his face. "We'll honor it," he promised. "And we'll make sure it's put to good use."

The twins beamed with satisfaction, feeling that they'd made the right decision. For them, the map wasn't just a tool; it was part of their legacy. Passing it on to Toby and Jamie felt like entrusting it to kindred spirits—people who understood the true joy of a well-executed prank.