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     HARRY WAS IN THE HOSPITAL WING for the rest of the weekend. While Lisa spent her days in the infirmary at Harry's bedside, keeping him updated on the goings-on of the rest of the school, Robyn had nestled herself away in a corner of the library. Though she was determined to find out who this 'Amber' was, her ever-growing pile of homework was becoming more and more intimidating, and she really couldn't ignore it for much longer. Her compromise, then, was to split the table where she worked in two: one half was completely hidden by mounds of parchment and open textbooks, the other with birth records dating back all the way to the 1940s.

     As she pored over a list of names of people born in 1947, hunting for any sign of the name 'Amber,' Robyn felt someone walk around behind her. No doubt it was Madam Pince, the librarian, who had a tendency to lurk close by students in the library, always watching to make sure no one defaced any of her precious books.

     Robyn paid the presence no mind, instead scouring the pages she was bent over. Callum, Alyssa....Doreen, Arabella....Ewing, Adam....Gayheart, Ariana....Moody, Alastor....

     "You're ignoring your Transfiguration homework again."

     Robyn paid the voice no mind, instead reaching for the birth record for 1948. She immediately began scanning that one as well. Atkinson, Andrew....Dresden, Allison....Killian, Aldrich....

     "You haven't done your Potions homework, either? Snape's not going to be happy to see his star student shirking her responsibilities."

     No luck. Robyn grabbed the records for 1949. Bones, Amelia....Dumbledore, Abraham....Weasley, Arthur....

     "It's your O.W.L. year, Robyn. This stuff is actually important now."

     Finally, Robyn looked up to see Rose standing behind her shoulder, staring down at the half of the table covered in Robyn's neglected schoolwork. So she had been the presence Robyn had felt, and not Madam Pince. Rose turned her head, now looking Robyn straight in the eye, her gaze soft but reprimanding.

     Robyn sighed. Rose was right. There would be plenty of time to sort out her mother's identity; there would be significantly less time to prepare for her O.W.L.s. Robyn gathered together all the birth records, stacked them up in descending order, and set them on the far corner of the table. Rose took a seat next to Robyn at the table and slid over a piece of parchment, a quill, an ink bottle, and Robyn's Transfiguration textbook.

     Robyn looked at Rose. "So...are you here to help me with my homework? This essay's supposed to be on Vanishing, McGonagall said it'll probably be on our O.W.L.," she asked.

     Rose scoffed. "Oh, dear heavens, no. I only got five O.W.L.s last year, and Transfiguration was not one of them. You're on your own for that," she said. "No, I'm here because I figured you needed someone to keep you company, and, as it seems, to make sure you actually do your homework."

     It was Robyn's turn to scoff, as she rolled her eyes. "Fine."

     But Rose turned out to be right; her presence proved to be motivation enough for Robyn to work through both her Transfiguration and Potions essays relatively quickly. Rose was even able to help Robyn on her Herbology homework. The two stayed in the library late into the night, and only when Madam Pince circled around to tell them the library was closed did they finally leave.

     As they walked back through the dark, empty corridors, illuminated only by the flickering braziers that hung above them on the walls, Robyn shared with Rose the new revelation she'd learned about her mother. For a while, Rose didn't respond, instead staring straight ahead down the corridor in thought.

     "I don't think I know anyone named 'Amber,'" Rose finally said after several seconds of silence, "but I could ask my aunt Mariana if she does. She'd know if she or my dad went to school with anyone by that name."

     "Thanks, Rose," said Robyn. The two rounded the corner to the entrance hall where they parted ways, Rose heading down to the Hufflepuff common room by the kitchens, and Robyn starting up the stairs to Gryffindor Tower, excitement building up in her chest. She was so close to learning the truth; it was almost palpable.

◇◇◇

THE WEEKS PASSED, and November transitioned into December. The colorful leaves that once decorated the Hogwarts grounds faded away, replaced by a thin, hard layer of frost. The crisp but comfortable autumn air was forced away by the biting cold, and the smell of snow lingered in the corridors with the excited anticipation of Christmas right around the corner.

     Despite this, classes continued on as usual. Every one of Robyn's teachers was determined to fit in as much curricula as they could before the Christmas holiday. The extra amount of coursework all came under the pretense that everything they learned had a likely chance of being on the O.W.L.s, but Robyn was starting to think her professors just used that as an excuse to assign more homework.

     Rose did, in fact, send a letter to her aunt asking about whether or not she knew an Amber during her time at school. Mariana's response came one morning during breakfast, when all the owls swooped down to deliver the students' mail. Unfortunately, Mariana didn't know anyone named Amber during her years at Hogwarts, but she and Arabella, Rose's mother and Mariana's sister-in-law, were travelling to France for the holidays, leaving Rose to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas.

     Robyn's owl, Eira, was nowhere to be found during those weeks, as the Frays still hadn't attempted to make any sort of contact with Robyn. It seemed she, too, would be staying at Hogwarts for the holidays.

     Robyn also told Flynn and Lisa about the new information Lupin had given her, which Flynn believed was only further proof of her theory that Lupin was Robyn's father.

     "How else would he know her name? And you said he sounded like he didn't want to say it, like it hurt him to mention it, right?" She had said, as though there was no other explanation. "He must have lost her in a really tragic way—maybe she died in the war, and it's too painful to talk about."

     "If that's the case, why hasn't he just told me that he's my father?" Robyn had shot back. For that, Flynn didn't have an answer.

     The final Hogsmeade trip of the term was announced two weeks before break, and was to be that coming Saturday. As the date loomed closer, more and more students around the school were found carrying holiday magazines, planning the gifts they would buy for their friends and family during the trip down to the cozy little village.

     Robyn was one of those many students, walking from Ancient Runes to Herbology with her own magazine open in her hands, looking at the red-and-green lined pages littered with moving photos of witches wearing hats adorned with new golden brooches and wizards showing off robes that, for the holidays, were marked down a full five galleons from the original price.

     Her eyes scanned the advertisements for something to get the twins; while she'd been able to find presents for Rose, Flynn, Lisa, and even Lee, nothing there spoke to her as a gift for Fred and George. Not the robes, nor the golden watches, nor the dragonskin shoes. She had to find something, maybe she'd just wait until Saturday and try to pick something on a whim...

     "ROBYN!" A loud voice echoed down the corridor. Robyn spun around on her heel, stuffing the magazine into her bag as Flynn hurtled down the hall towards her, accompanied by the thuds of the contents of Flynn's bookbag slamming against her hip and the amused stares of the other students in the corridor as they narrowly avoided being plowed over by the thundering Gryffindor.

     She slid to a halt in front of Robyn, her brown eyes wide and dark hair frazzled. Robyn's eyebrows shot up in amusement, though questions began to emerge as she continued to look around. Lisa, Fred, and George should all be with Flynn. They all had Divination together during their last class; why, then, was Flynn alone?

     Before Robyn could open her mouth, Flynn answered her question for her. "Fred and George need to talk to you. They're waiting in their dormitory. Lisa's...somewhere, I'm not sure. I left her outside Gryffindor Tower, she was trying to take care of Sir Cadogan. I'm pretty sure he's back to speaking in reverse again."

     Robyn blinked.

     "It doesn't matter. Fred and George are waiting for you."

     "What about Herbology?" Robyn asked. She didn't really care about Herbology, it wasn't like it was Potions or anything, but Rose had helped her with her homework, and Robyn felt like it would be a bit rude to completely undermine that assistance by skipping class.

     "Oh, forget Herbology, I'll make up some excuse for you. Now go!" Flynn grabbed Robyn's arm and yanked her back towards the stairs leading away from the greenhouses and back towards the main castle before she had a chance to object.

     Robyn trudged back the way she came, up the stairs and through the corridors back towards Gryffindor Tower. When she reached the portrait of Sir Cadogan, Robyn discovered that the painted knight was indeed speaking in reverse again.

     "Yadot emad ylevol siht tsissa Nagodac Ris nac woh? Ssim, yad doog!" the portrait exclaimed.

     "Dragon's breath," Robyn said, and the portrait swung open as Sir Cadogan continued to ramble on, his words entire unintelligible. She cut straight through the common room and climbed the stairs up to the boys' dormitories, and as she neared the fifth years' dormitory, the sounds of Fred and George's voices echoed into the hall.

     "I mean, she hasn't really used it much since we got it, maybe you should give it to her instead, as a Christmas present," George said.

     "No, I already got her something," Fred replied.

     "Birthday present then?"

     Robyn swung open the door before Fred could respond. "My birthday's not until February, so anything you want to give me, just give it to me now," she said, laughing as she walked into the room, which reeked of a pungent odor that smelled oddly like dead fish.

     Fred shook his head with a smile. "No, we're not giving it to you for your birthday. We weren't planning on giving it to you at all, actually —"

     "What is 'it'?" Robyn interrupted.

     George held up a large piece of parchment, one that was quite familiar to Robyn. The inky black words titled across the front said it all: The Marauder's Map.

     Robyn raised her eyebrows in surprise. "We're getting rid of the map? Why?"

     "We're not getting rid of it," George said. "We were just thinking —"

     "— It might be time to pass it on, so to speak," Fred finished.

     "Oh." Robyn nodded as she sat down on the end of Fred's bed. "Who do you want to give it to?"

     "We were thinking Harry," said Fred.

     "But we wanted to ask you, since you were there when we found the map first year," George added, handing Robyn the folded piece of parchment.

     Robyn looked down at the familiar inky words that adorned the top of the map. She'd looked at those words hundreds of times over the years, but she'd never really thought about them before. Now that there was a very real discussion about bequeathing the map to someone else, several questions suddenly appeared that Robyn had never considered before. They never even learned who the original creators of the map were and now they were just handing it off, forever ignorant of the true identities of Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs.

     "Are you sure we want to do this?" Robyn asked hesitantly. "We've had this map for five years."

     Fred smiled. "Exactly, Robbie. Five years. We've had our turn with it. I think it's time we pass it on."

     "Besides," said George, "Harry can't go to Hogsmeade. With this, he'll be able to."

     Robyn nodded, looking back at the map sitting in her lap. Over the last five years, they'd memorized every inch of the castle and the locations of every hidden entrance. They really didn't need the map anymore, and while Robyn was curious about the identities of the creators of the map, in truth, it wasn't imperative that she know who they were. The twins were right; the map would be much more well-used in Harry's hands.

     "We shouldn't deny him that opportunity," Robyn said with a wide grin.

◇◇◇

THE REST OF THE WEEK CREPT BY at a snail's pace, and every day Robyn was reminded of another reason to keep the map instead of giving it to Harry. The most jarring of these reasons came to her quite suddenly in the middle of History of Magic on Thursday, as she and Lisa passed notes back and forth about their Hogsmeade plans instead of paying attention to Professor Binns' lesson on the founding and development of the Magical Congress of the United States of America.

     Lisa leaned back in her seat to hand Robyn the piece of parchment they'd been exchanging. Robyn grabbed the note from her outstretched hand and unfolded it, revealing the clusters of scribbled handwriting between the two of them. As Robyn read the newest addition to the mess of swirled letters on the page, she felt her small smile slip from her face:

     Maybe we should bring something back for Harry -- He'll be lonely here all by himself, even though he's safer here

     That was right; Lisa didn't want Harry going to Hogsmeade. She found comfort in the idea that Harry couldn't leave the castle, and by giving him the Marauder's Map, Robyn would be allowing Harry to put himself in danger. Lisa would be devastated.

     Robyn lifted her quill, ready to confess her and the twins' plan to give Harry the map, but before she put the tip to the parchment, she paused. Lisa would never know Harry was going to Hogsmeade as long as he was clever enough not to get caught. She wouldn't be disappointed or upset if she never found out, and Harry knew how to avoid getting into trouble. He'd been doing it for nearly three years now.

     Quickly, Robyn changed her mind, instead scribbling back a reply about how they should pick up some butterbeer for Harry when they go to the Three Broomsticks.

     The last few days passed by quickly, and finally it was Saturday, the day of the Hogsmeade trip. Robyn, Fred, and George planned to wait until everyone was already gone before finding Harry and giving him the map. That way, there's a less likely chance that they'll get caught.

     After sending off Rose, Flynn, and Lisa and promising them to meet up at Zonko's, the three left to track down Harry, eventually finding him wandering aimlessly on the third floor. Fred and George hid behind the statue of the one-eyed witch, one of the many secret entrances to the castle, while Robyn crept into a nearby empty classroom, hopping up to sit on one of the desks.

     From outside the room, she heard the twins beckon Harry over and into the abandoned classroom.

     "What is this?" Harry asked as the three boys entered the room. George quietly closed the door behind them before turning to grin widely at Harry.

     "Early Christmas present for you, Harry," he said.

     Robyn reached into her cloak, pulling out the Marauder's Map, which at the moment was only a blank piece of parchment, and set it down on the desk next to her. Harry's eyebrows raised slightly as he stared at it.

     After a moment of silence, he looked up at Robyn. "What's that supposed to be?"

     "This, my dear Harry, is the secret of our success," Robyn replied, laying a gentle hand on the map.

     "It's a wrench, giving it to you," added Fred, sighing, "but we decided, your needs are greater than ours. George, if you will."

     George took out his wand from the sleeve of his cloak, tapped the parchment lightly, and said, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

     Once more, the familiar inky lines spread out across the parchment, forming the walls and passageways of the castle and finally the words that adorned the top of the page: The Marauder's Map.

     "Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs," Fred sighed. "We owe them so much."

     Harry picked up the map and began to rifle through it, and with each new discovery seemed to grow more and more astounded.

     "This is Hogwarts," he breathed. Pointing at one of the small dots on the map, Harry looked up at Robyn, wide-eyed. "Is that—?"

     Robyn nodded. "Dumbledore."

     "In his study," Fred added.

     "Pacing."

     "Does that a lot."

     Harry's eyes grew impossibly wider. "So...you mean this map shows-"

     "Everyone," said George.

     "Everyone?"

     "Where they are, what they're doing, every minute of every day," said Robyn proudly.

     "Where'd you get it?"

     "Well, when we were in our first year, Harry — young, carefree, and innocent —" Fred said, grinning. Robyn rolled her eyes and shook her head.

     "— well, more innocent than we are now — we got into a spot of bother with Filch."

     "We let off a Dungbomb in the corridor and it upset him for some reason —" added George.

     "— even though Robbie was supposed to make sure we didn't get caught —"

     "Hey!" Robyn exclaimed, holding a hand to her heart in an expression of feigned hurt.

     "— but he hauled us off to his office and started threatening us with the usual —"

     "— detention —"

     "— disembowelment —"

     "— and we couldn't help but notice a drawer in one of his filing cabinets marked Confiscated and Highly Dangerous."

     A grin slowly began to spread across Harry's face. "Don't tell me —"

     "Well, what would you have done?" Fred asked, shrugging. "George caused a diversion by dropping another Dungbomb, I whipped the drawer open, grabbed the map —"

     "And we all ran like hell," said Robyn.

     Fred laughed, nodding. "We sure did," he said. "Ah, those were the days."

     "Now, listen, Harry," said George, redirecting the attention back to Harry and the map, "there are seven secret passageways in and out of the castle. We'd recommend this one." He pointed to the little inky drawing of the statue of the one-eyed witch. "It'll take you straight into Honeydukes' cellar."

     "And as you might've noticed," Fred added, "the entrance is right outside this room."

     "Before you go, don't forget to wipe it after you've used it —"

     "Otherwise, anyone can read it."

     "Just tap it again and say, 'Mischief Managed!' And it'll go blank."

     "So, young Harry," said Robyn, hopping down from her seat on the desk, "you best behave yourself."

     "And we hope to see you in Honeydukes," said George with a wink.

     With that, Robyn, Fred, and George left Harry in the classroom with the map. Once they reached the statue of the one-eyed witch, Robyn sighed.

     "I'm going to miss that map," she said.

     "I think we all are," said Fred, "but don't worry, it's in good hands."

     "Now let's go, before the others start wondering why we've been so long," said George.

     And with a sense of finality, Robyn tapped on the statue, whispered, "Dissendium," and the three of them crawled into the hidden passageway, on their way to Hogsmeade and away from the map that started it all.