Chapter 123: Magical Travel Notes (Part 1)
After watching George and the others leave the library in the suitcase with the book, Phineas lowered his head and examined the torn pages in his hand.
As he touched the parchment, he sensed a faint magical aura—not particularly strong, but undeniably present.
It was curious. This was just an ordinary travel book. Its only remarkable feature was that its protagonist shared a name with Godric Gryffindor.
Phineas had often wondered whether Gryffindor had been named after the book's hero, or vice versa.
For a book written a thousand years ago, still in print and available today, it wasn't exactly obscure. While not a bestseller, any witch or wizard with an interest in magical history could easily find it.
But for such a common book to carry traces of magic? Odd indeed.
Even more puzzling, the repair charm he had discreetly cast earlier hadn't worked.
Was the book somehow immune to magical effects?
Frowning, Phineas carefully examined the pages. There were no hidden compartments, no concealed scripts—just the same stories and travels of Godric that circulated widely in the magical world. Everything appeared completely ordinary.
Which meant the problem didn't lie with the contents, but with the book itself.
Could it be that the parchment was enchanted to resist magical tampering? Was the text just a cover for something deeper?
Suddenly, the treasure map George and the others had found seemed a lot less like a prank.
If such a map was concealed in a specially charmed book, it might not be so ridiculous after all.
And if that were true, then letting the three of them run off with it—on their usual thrill-seeking impulse—was not only foolish, it was dangerous.
Phineas had a bad feeling. The map could be far more significant than they realized.
Without wasting another moment, he left the suitcase and set off to find George, Fred, and Lee Jordan.
The Gryffindor year group didn't have class that afternoon, so if he knew those three, they'd already be halfway through their so-called "expedition."
Judging by the map, the destination was near Hagrid's hut.
Phineas decided to start there.
Despite his deep trust in Hagrid, Dumbledore's longtime friend and loyal gamekeeper, Phineas knew Hagrid was not particularly fond of him—thanks largely to the lingering resentment over Sirius Black and James Potter.
And it certainly didn't help that Phineas was from Slytherin—Hagrid's least favorite House.
So rather than approach the hut directly, Phineas lingered near the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
Unfortunately, Hagrid spotted him.
"Are yeh tryin' to sneak into the Forest?" Hagrid called out gruffly. "Off with yeh! Yer not welcome here!"
Though Hagrid hadn't used harsh words, his tone made it clear he wanted Phineas gone.
Phineas understood. Hagrid probably knew Sirius's actions had nothing to do with him, but he couldn't shake the prejudice. To Hagrid, Phineas was still a Black—and a Slytherin.
"Aha, Phineas!" came a familiar, cheerful voice.
"I knew you'd end up joining our little adventure!" said George, grinning as he and Fred appeared with Lee Jordan behind them.
Hagrid scowled when he saw the Weasley twins.
"You lot again! I told yeh before—Dumbledore said no students are allowed in the Forest! It's dangerous! Go on—clear off!"
Hagrid's large hands waved animatedly as if shooing off a flock of pesky birds. Phineas suspected this habit came from dealing with the Thestrals.
George and Fred looked ready to bolt into the trees just to irritate him—but Phineas stepped in.
"Let's go back to the castle. I have something important to talk to you about."
The three paused. At the mention of something serious, their playfulness faded. They knew when to focus.
Surprisingly, Phineas's level-headedness softened Hagrid's view of him. Perhaps he wasn't so bad after all—just unlucky to be sorted into Slytherin.
Phineas led the trio back to the unused classroom where his suitcase still sat.
Together, they descended once again into his private library.
"What's up, Phineas?" Lee Jordan asked.
Phineas held up the tattered travel book on the table.
"First, have you returned this book?"
George nodded. "Yeah. After we left you earlier, we put it right back on the shelf—then headed straight for Hagrid's."
Phineas nodded, then drew his wand from within his cane and gave it a small wave. Three soft beanbags appeared in the center of the room.
"Let's sit."
"Blimey," George said, flopping down. "McGonagall would say, 'Excellent use of Transfiguration—ten points to Slytherin!'"
Fred grinned. "And Snape would say, 'Using magic for show, Mr. Black? I'll have to deduct a point.'"
Lee Jordan added with a chuckle, "And Dumbledore would say, 'Let the House Points fall where they may!'"
They all laughed. Even Phineas couldn't help but smile. Snape would absolutely do that.
"Alright, alright," Phineas said, waving them down. "Enough joking. Let me tell you what I found. This book—the one you tore—is just an old travelogue. You've all read it before, haven't you?"
George and Fred nodded. Lee Jordan added enthusiastically, "Of course! My dad used to read stories from it to me as a kid."
Phineas nodded. "But here's the strange thing. This book—well, this parchment—is immune to magic. No matter what spell I try, it has no effect."
Lee Jordan blinked. "Huh. Well, the first time we messed with it, I think I might've spilled something on the page…"