Marauder's Map

[A.E.B.Bevan at open.ac.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 24362

Two (possibly related) thoughts on the Marauderers Map.

Firstly it was made (it is claimed) by a gang of skilled teenage 
magical hackers. Seeing what Muggle teenage software hackers can do 
makes it easy to believe magical hackers can acheive some impressive 
results. However again from experience there can be unexpected 
gliches and crashes if the programme/magical object is pushed beyond 
its limits.

Secondly, I think there is  a serious plot clue in the warning 'never 
trust something that thinks for itself if you can't see where it 
keeps its brains'. JKR flags this for Tom Riddle's diary and for the 
map - though Harry dismisses the warning from his mind once he starts 
using the map. 

But perhaps the map is actually dangerous and wilfully unreliable? In 
short maybe from time to time it has its own agenda, or the agenda of 
some outside power.  

A question for Sirius maybe? 

Anyway, Harry and co are coming up to the age of MWPP when the map 
was devised. Getting perhaps to the level of magical skill where they 
too can hack up original magical objects.  Wonder whether the 
opportunities and dangers of magical hacking come into future 
plots....

Edis