Brimming with excitement, Cho and Hermione spent the next hour ascending and descending staircases—until even Filch took notice. Seeing nothing but ordinary strolls with no rule-breaking, he trailed them suspiciously before reluctantly giving up.
What stunned the girls more was that Filch's presence triggered an icon on the map whenever he entered a corridor.
"How does it do that?" Cho marvelled.
"Tracking Charm, dynamic visualisation spells, and some potion knowledge," Wayne explained.
"You put a Tracking Charm on Filch?" Hermione frowned instinctively.
"Don't phrase it so harshly," Wayne protested. "It's not like I'm invading his privacy. Notice how his name only appears in corridors or the Great Hall?"
In truth, his spellwork simply couldn't cover more areas.
The entire map was inspired by the Marauder's Map, though his methods differed slightly. Though Wayne wasn't entirely clear on the exact principles behind the Marauder's Map, after so much study, he'd managed to grasp the basics.
He genuinely admired Harry's father and Sirius Black's group from the bottom of his heart.
Though their character during school days left much to be desired, their talent was undeniable.
The essence of the Marauder's Map was a contract.
These fellows must have found Hogwarts' magical core, or perhaps the Book of Admittance.
Every student who attended here left their mark, which would then appear on the map.
But Wayne was just a novice who'd newly entered the magical world—achieving something like this was beyond him.
His budget version of the Marauder's Map combined the Tracking Charm and Marking Charm, displaying locations in real time on the map.
Though Cho came from Ravenclaw, she had no interest in such things. Hermione, however, pestered Wayne with questions for ages.
Only when she realised she couldn't understand did she finally give up.
"So, you're selling this map?" The young witch toyed with the map, clearly reluctant to put it down.
"Yes, and there's more than one type. There are three versions in total. Yours is the ProMax edition."
As Wayne spoke, he pulled several more maps from his pocket. Both Hermione and Cho stared at that tiny pocket.
From snacks earlier to maps now—just how much could that small space hold?
He must have used an Undetectable Extension Charm.
Both young witches had their suspicions, but neither voiced them, continuing to listen to Wayne's explanation.
"The standard version only has basic map functions and stair movement patterns."
"The Pro version includes tracking and route planning—it can chart the most time-efficient path to your destination."
"As for the version you're holding, that's the ProMax edition. It has all the above features, plus the most important one—tracking Filch and Mrs Norris."
Hermione's small mouth fell open slightly.
Who knew a simple map could have so many variations? Just how did Wayne's brain work?
The two girls tested the other versions. True to Wayne's word, the Pro version only required tapping the destination with a wand to plot the route—incredibly convenient.
Beyond functionality, the three maps differed in presentation, too. The standard version was simple parchment, just slightly thicker. The Pro version bore each house's crest with elegant designs. As for the ProMax, Wayne had crafted it meticulously, applying his Painting Mastery skill to make it look premium and sophisticated.
"Is there an even higher version?"
"Of course." Wayne rubbed his hands together, grinning broadly. "Above this is the custom VIP edition. Interested, Miss Granger?"
"Er..." Hermione hesitated, seeing Wayne's reaction, then ventured, "How much do these maps cost?"
"Five Sickles for standard, one Galleon for Pro, and ten Galleons for ProMax."
"That expensive?" Hermione blurted out, then quickly added, "The standard isn't bad, but the other two seem..."
"I think it's quite reasonable," Cho suddenly said. "If I had to spend one Galleon for a map like this, I'd hesitate, but I'd eventually buy it."
"Why?" Hermione looked puzzled. "You're already in your second year—you should have memorised all the routes by now."
"It's not that simple," Cho replied with a faint, bitter smile. "I was late twice last week. The school staircases' patterns are just too hard to remember. One wrong step and you're lost—it's exhausting."
"Is it really that difficult?" Miss Granger still seemed sceptical.
Wayne gave her a deadpan look.
'Did she think everyone had a memory as sharp as hers?'
Even the older students frequently got lost, and some still didn't know their way around even after graduating.
"Fine. If you both feel that way..." Hermione reluctantly conceded. "How can we help?"
"Simple," Wayne said with a grin. "Tomorrow, when you go to class, take a friend or roommate along and use the map to navigate. Let them see how it works."
"If anyone asks, explain it to them. For every map sold, I'll give you both a thirty per cent cut."
"I don't want your money," Cho shook her head. "You said you were asking for my help—if I took payment, it'd just feel like a business transaction."
"It's just a small favour, really," Hermione added earnestly. "Once we've finished promoting it, I'll return the map to you. Ten Galleons is way out of my budget."
"Don't refuse so quickly," Wayne reassured them. "This is a partnership—sharing the profits is only fair. Hermione, you understand the principle of fair compensation for work, don't you?"
"And Cho, you're the only Ravenclaw I know. Without your help, I'd sell at least a third fewer maps. So you're more than entitled to the money."
Cho still wanted to refuse, but Wayne suddenly covered her mouth. A mischievous smirk played on his lips as he whispered:
"Cho... you wouldn't want your house to lose to Hufflepuff, would you?"
"Just agree, and you can earn enough for a Nimbus 2000~"
Staring at the flawless, handsome face mere inches from hers, Cho's heart raced uncontrollably, her cheeks flushing crimson.
Meanwhile, the know-it-all beside them was practically fuming.
"What are you two doing?!"