Tentative solution to Marauder's Map problem

[rainy_lilac at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 16890

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., naama_gat at h... wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> While reading PoA, I remebered that there were quite a lot of 
> questions regarding why such and such person was not viewed on the 
> map (why didn't Lupin see the second Harry and Hermione, why didn't 
> Fred and George and then Harry see Peter Pettigrew? etc.). 
> Well, I had what seemed to me like a brilliant idea, but I haven't 
> checked it against all possible evidence: I think that the map only 
> shows people/creatures that are moving. I thought of that when Harry 
> looked at the map for the first time - it showed Dumbledore *pacing* 
> in his room, Mrs. Norris walking somewhere, etc. 
> If this is true, then the map didn't show the second Harry and 
> Hermione because they were sitting under the trees, they weren't 
> moving about. Also Pettigrew - it's quite reasonble to suppose that 
> all the times the map was used, he wasn't moving (Ron did say all he 
> did was sleep and eat, right?). 
> 
>

One problem with this is that Lupin DID see Pettigrew and Ron being 
dragged into the tree by Sirius-- Pettigrew was a rat inside Ron's 
pocket at the time and not moving at all.

I too have mulled about why he would not see two Harrys, etc. If Harry 
were just witnessing the past with no power to change things (ala the 
pensieve) it would make sense. Maybe the map only shows people who 
properly belong to THIS time? In which case I see a major opportunity 
for plot twists. I suspect thought that this was an oversight.

I wonder: Does JKR have ANY idea of some of these things we obsessed 
ones dig up? Sheeeezzz.... 

--Suzanne