Marauder's Map

[Steve <bboy_mn@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 48724

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, eloiseherisson at a... wrote:
> In a message dated 23/12/2002 11:00:42 GMT Standard Time, 

> corsa808 writes:
> >
> > Yet another question: How did Crouch Jr-as-Moody know how to
> > operate [the Marauder's Map] That has probably been discussed 
> > before so no need to  answer...
> > 

> eloiseherisson replied:
> 
> I'm not sure that it has, actually. I was wondering the same thing
> myself the other day, until I recalled that the Map was already 
> activated ... edited...
> 
> 
> Like Cheryl, what I *would* like to know, however, is how the twins
> learned to operate it. My theory is that it recognised suitable 
> owners in Fred and George and instructed them in its use.
> 
> When they found it in Filch's filing cabinet was it active, or 
> inactivated? 
> ...edited...
> 
> ~Eloise

bboy_mn responds (although somewhat too late):

1.) Map On/Off - Eloise is right, the map was already turned on when
Fake!Moody got it. He didn't know how to operate it; that is, he
couldn't turn it on or off.

2.) Fred/George and the Map - I have no problem hearing Fred say to
the map as a joke 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good.' That sounds
exactly like something Fred would say. We don't know how long it took
them to get the map working; maybe a year. I could see them stumbling
on to the "ON switch" by accident, then searching out the 'off switch'
by process of elimination; 'turn off', 'it's over', 'we're finished',
'the deed is done', 'mischief managed'. You have to admit that
Fred/George and the map are a perfect match. What that old saying? Ah
yes, "Great minds think alike".

3.) Filch and the Map - someone speculated recently that the map was
in 'insult' mode when Filch found it. The map insulted Filch the way
it insulted Snape. Which would certainly explain why Filch thought it
was dangerous. 

Can't prove a word of this, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

bboy_mn