That Dratted Map

[foxmoth at qnet.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 20572

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Amy Z" <aiz24 at h...> wrote:

> 
>
> Pippin wrote:
> 
> >When Snape finds the parchment on Harry, he suspects that Sirius
> >has given Harry the parchment in hopes of luring him out of bounds.


snip Magda's equally intriguing theory
> 

> Both of these theories appeal to me, but depend upon Snape's knowing 
> that it's a map.  Do you think he does?  How?

Actually, I don't think that Snape knew it was a map, but I do think 
it's possible that the square, creased parchment itself rang a bell. I 
get the impression that ordinary classwork is done on rectangular 
parchment which is rolled into scrolls, not folded.  Suppose Snape got 
a glimpse of James &Co consulting a square parchment, wand in hand, 
more than once during his school days. He never found out just what it 
was, but he knew it was important and had something to do with their 
exploits. Now it turns up again, he remembers the parchment square that 
MWPP had, and when it insults him in all too familiar terms (good point 
Rita!), that's the clincher for him and he pages Lupin.

Pippin