He found them below one of the trees on the edge of the school grounds. They weren't that far from Hagrid's cabin but were a good distance away from another group.
Magnus assumed that the three needed privacy for whatever they were scheming.
"Took you longer than we expected," George said as Magnus came close enough.
"So how was it… great, huh?" he asked gleefully.
Magnus plopped himself down next to George and breathed out a sigh. "Better than great. You guys are lifesavers," he said, producing the tiny yellow ball. "Completely weightless."
The twins looked quite elated. Magnus couldn't tell whether it was an honest reaction to the compliment or just one of their mocking skills.
"Lee, did you hear that? We are lifesavers," Fred said proudly, and Magnus decided it was a mixture of both.
"Hey, Magnus, do you think you can do us a favor?" George's voice was so serious that Magnus, who had crossed his legs, sat upright.
"Yeah," he said, then quickly added, "If it's anything I can do," remembering who he was dealing with.
"Think you could mention that to Snape when you go for your detention? Dude seems to think we're a danger that should be expelled."
Lee burst out laughing—not because of George's jest, but because of how seriously Magnus had taken the request.
Even Magnus smiled and fell back onto the lush grass in shame. He had been caught flat-footed.
They were silent for a while. Magnus sat, contemplating whether to ask them how they had made the dung ball. He, however, decided not to press the issue at the moment; the twins might assume he wanted to steal their business.
It would be an easy assumption since he was a Ravenclaw and could therefore easily sell them to his fellow housemates, who were the main users of the product.
"Hey… we're staying out tonight to restock those balls. Lee won't come, so we thought we'd ask you… you could learn a few tricks, you know," Fred asked enticingly.
"I got Snape, remember?"
"You'll be done by then, mate," George added.
"You mean way after curfew?" Magnus asked, looking between them uncertainly.
"Is that a problem?" Fred asked.
Magnus hesitated.
He wasn't entirely sure. If they broke curfew and got caught, his fate would be exactly what Edgar had predicted—he would lose every single second of his free time.
Except—
This was a chance to advance his plans in Hogwarts. The twins would be making more dung balls. It wasn't exactly a Poké Ball, but with a little suggestion, who knew? They might actually do some modifications to create the first prototype.
"Where will it be?"
The twins smiled.
"That's the spirit, Magnus. As for where… all I can say is some place safe enough," Fred said.
"Yeah, just wait for us on the seventh floor. We'll come get you," George added.
"How… I mean, how will you know when I'm there?"
The three exchanged a knowing smile.
"They will," Lee said curtly.
Then Magnus almost slapped himself. How could he have forgotten?
'The safest place…'
They definitely meant the Room of Requirement, and when Lee said they would know, it was because the twins had the Marauder's Map—it showed the names of everyone inside Hogwarts and where they were at all times.
"Alright… I'll be there after Snape's detention."
A low growl pulled their attention away from their planning and instead toward the Pokémon battling nearby.
Lee's Rockruff was wrestling with one of the Eevees, rolling on the grass playfully. A short distance from where they sat, the second Eevee lay silent as a shadow beneath the shade of the tree. Its eyes gleamed as it watched its two companions wrestle.
Another thought occurred to Magnus.
Pokémon evolution…
Now was as great a time as he could ever hope for.
Why wait for his egg to hatch when he had three perfect Pokémon to begin his research with?
Magnus got up and walked toward the two wrestling Pokémon.
They still ignored him, even when he was close enough to pull them apart.
"Has anyone of you seen anything… uhh, different in your Pokémon of late?"
His gaze was on the Pokémon, but he could tell the three were looking at him curiously.
"Uhh, mine is getting quite clingy of late. I think it's in love with Ruffy," Fred said.
Magnus turned just to be sure. He was getting better at identifying the twins, but one had to be sure. I mean, if even their mother had trouble, who was he to assume perfection?
It was Fred.
That meant the wrestling Eevee was Fweg, and the one resting was Goj.
"I'm starting to think mine is an introvert," George added.
Magnus smiled.
The Pokémon gods had to be smiling at him.
Why?
If he wasn't very much mistaken, he had just hit the biggest clue he could ever wish for.
He, however, fought to suppress his excitement as he directed his attention toward Goj.
The Pokémon clung to the shade of the tree like its life depended on it. However, Magnus could see that nothing in its body language indicated laxity or laziness. Its ears were perked, and although it was lying on all fours, its body was alert, and its fur seemed to shimmer slightly.
"Why do you say that?" Magnus asked in a calm but curious voice.
"Isn't it obvious?" George began. "I mean, look at him. One might think he wants nothing to do with the others… even Fweg."
Magnus was silent for a few seconds as he internalized what George was saying.
"Which is weird because sometimes he's the most active… mostly when the rest are tired of playing."
And it clicked—everything clicked.
He stood up, barely able to suppress the urgency in his voice.
"It's where they are," Magnus said with newfound certainty.
"What?" George asked, but Magnus didn't bother to answer. He had to be sure.
"George, can you do me a favor?"
George looked uncertain for a moment, as if making sure he wasn't about to be the subject of a joke.
The urgency and excitement in Magnus's voice were, however, too clear. Even Lee and Fred sat up expectantly.
Fred pushed his brother up, who then came to Magnus, confused.
"Sure… what's up, mate?" he said, glancing at his Eevee with an almost worried look.
"Can you get him into the sun?"
***
The pacing will start picking up from here. you can also have a look at how the MC looks like... its totally free on:
p@treon.com/Realmsinus.
you might also get some free chapters... and of course you can read fifteen chapters ahead and get sneak peak of mcs future plans