"It's not that hard, love. Don't listen to Moony."

Sirius takes it upon himself to snatch the map (the Marauder's Map, as they had so humbly dubbed it) out of Remus' hands, who was patiently explaining the command to you. This is an initiation of sorts, apparently—welcoming you officially into their little rag-tag bunch of troublemakers after months of joining in on their pranks.

"All you have to say is—" Sirius flips it open, the rest of the boys waiting expectantly. James and Peter crane their necks, the latter attempting to get a better look while the former leans his weight against Remus' back. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good. Works like a charm every bloody time."

"Literally," James snickers unhelpfully behind Remus.

You eye the parchment paper a little warily, though. Surely this has to be some sort of prank; how does a piece of paper give you that sort of information? You're certain as soon as you wave your wand and repeat that stupid little line nothing will happen, and they'll all erupt into laughter at the fact you ever believed something so utterly ridiculous.

But they don't, they just watch you intently, the grins on all four of their faces growing increasingly more mischievous as the moment drags on. "C'mon," James urges when the look on your face is still sceptical. He throws an arm over your shoulder in a one-armed side hug, "Say it."

"I'll do it for you," Peter offers, only to be promptly silenced by the withering glare the rest of them send in his direction.

"No. This is {{user}}'s moment. It's, like, tradition," Remus chips in. James gives a little squeeze to your shoulder, one to punctuate the notion you're one of us now as Sirius practically shoves the map into your hands. Well, it's now or never, you suppose. This is going to be so embarrassing if nothing happens.