[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape & the Map (was The Worst of Severus Snape)

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 32694

virtualworldofhp wrote:

>  What I've never understood is how Snape suspects what Harry is
> holding is the Map.  Well, granted he may not know exactly that the
> piece of parchment was the Marauder's Map, but something about it
> obviously drew his suspicions.

It was (a) in Harry's pocket, (b) old, dirty, and *blank,* and (c) Harry
rather desperately stopped him when he offered to toss it in the fire.
Snape was going over all the stuff Harry had; the stuff in the bag was
not unusual, and a blank, old, dirty parchment that Harry wants to keep,
*is.*

>  What was the "direct from the manufacturers" comment?  Lupin always
> gave me the impression that absolutely *NO
> ONE*, save the Marauders themselves, knows/knew about the Map, so why
> does Snape have suspicions.

Here's been my thought. I think Snape knows those names quite
well--Moony, Padfoot, Wormtail, and Prongs. Those names were the
Marauders' aliases while in school, and I think it more than likely that
Snape had a trick or two played upon him by those four (or at least, Mr.
Padfoot). So he is acquainted with those names and is alarmed that Harry
has a magical parchment that they are involved with.

That said, I have always thought it odd that Snape summoned Lupin and
asked him about "the manufacturers" with, to me, no overtones of knowing
that Lupin *was* one of them. So, I think that Snape is not aware of the
true identies of the bearers of those names.

[Nor does he hear, by the way, that part of the explanation in the
Shrieking Shack; I don't remember if he's not there yet, or is out cold
yet, but he hears only that they were animagi, not their forms or their
names for themselves.]

Anyway, such has been my analysis of the scene. It always stood out to
me that Snape twigged on those manufacturers as something to be
concerned about, yet did not confront Lupin as one of them, rather
treating him as a resource to consult about it. I think the nature of
the prank(s) played upon Snape under those names might well have given
him some cause for concern, given the following:
(a) Snape knows there is a dangerous murderer on the loose
(b) Snape believes Harry to be in particular danger from this murderer
(c) The influence of this object, whatever it is, will either be to
enchant Harry or induce him to bypass the rules and strictures set up to
protect him

So, does this make any sense to you, or help the scene flow better?

--Amanda


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