New thought, old topic

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 21947

Amanda wrote:

> Nothing in Snape's manner indicates he had any
> idea that Lupin was one of those mapmakers

I think something does, though--that "directly from the manufacturers" 
line.  Why would he say this to Lupin if he didn't mean that Lupin 
either *was* one of the manufacturers or knew who they were?  Why 
wouldn't he think it was from Zonko's?

Your interpretation *is* a new one, AFAIK--amazing, I didn't think 
there was anything new to say about this issue--but when the subject 
was revisited recently, I think the problem got resolved (e.g. in the 
way Magda suggests).  I tend toward the explanation that Snape knows 
exactly who M, W, P and P are, myself, but it may well be that he 
knows the names but not the exact identities.

Amy Z