Marauder's Map theory and Threepio the house elf

[Allyse at my-deja.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 20107

Sorry for the bizarre subject heading there. :) I post so rarely 
(fifth post in eight months, I think!) that I want to get it all in 
at once.

Regarding the Marauder's Map: A popular argument concerning the map 
is asking why Gred and Forge never noticed someone named Peter 
Pettigrew was hanging around Gryffindor Tower, either in Percy's dorm 
in the old days or Ron's dorm during SS or CoS. An oft mentioned 
theory is that only a fellow Marauder can see MWPP on the map, which 
is why Lupin was able to see Wormtail; but the counter argument is 
that Snape was able to see Moony when he found the map on Lupin's 
desk.

I just wondered if anyone had advanced the theory to include the 
person who first *activated* the map. That is, since Lupin was the 
one who intoned "I solemnly swear I am up to no good" and activiated 
the map, it would still be running in "full Marauder mode" when he 
left it on and hightailed it over the WW to find out what was 
happening. Then, when Snape came into the office with the potion and 
discovered the map, Lupin would be visible, since it was Lupin 
himself who activitated. I think it makes sense, and I don't remember 
anyone making that suggestion in the past. Of course, I could be 
wrong, and I'd be happy to stand corrected if I am. :)

Someone recently mentioned that C-3PO from Star Wars sounds much like 
a house elf when he starts wailing about "my poor master." Actually, 
I think that's an excellent analogy. Droids can be fitted with 
restraining bolts to prevent them from running away; Threepio 
certainly gets tons of verbal of abuse, and Leia and Han actually 
turn him off at one point. Not very nice, is it? Maybe we need to 
start campaigning for droid rights too. :)

Oh, and Milz: I loved your new verb for Crouch Jr. Being "demented" 
indeed!

Allyse