Snape, Lupin, and the map

[laylalast]

No: HPFGUIDX 96151

Dumbledad wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
<snip>
> I don't get why Snape lets Lupin leave his office with the 
> Marauder's Map.
 
<snip> 

> Why is Snape summoning Lupin? The reason he gives is
> 
> <quote>
> "This parchment is plainly full of Dark Magic. This is supposed to 
> be your area of expertise, Lupin. Where do you imagine Potter got 
> such a thing?"
> </quote>
> 
> But I got the impression that this was a bluff for Harry, and that 
> Snape was aware of the marauders' nicknames. Is this true?
> 

Lilian: 
My guess is the same as yours, Snape did at least suspect that the 
map used to belong to MWPP, maybe not because of the nicknames but 
because of the insults the map threw at him - reminded him of 
insults in his Hogwarts years?

<snip>
Dumbledad wrote:
> "You think a joke shop could supply him with such a thing? You 
> don't think it more likely that he got it directly from the 
> manufacturers?"

<snip>

> "Well!" said Lupin, clapping his hands together and looking around 
> cheerfully. "That seems to clear that up! Severus, I'll take this 
> back, shall I?" He folded the map and tucked it inside his 
> robes. "Harry, Ron, come with me, I need a word about my vampire 
> essay -- excuse us, Severus --"

Lilian:
When reading the above part from the book, I suddenly noticed Lupin 
saying that he will take it *back*. Take back? How can you take 
something *back* when you first stated that it probably came from 
Zonko's?
Is this a slip-up by Lupin, who of course recognised the map and 
unintentionally admits it? Or did he say it on purpose?

Personally I think it is a slip-up -and clue given by JKR - later in 
the books we find out that Lupin was Moony of MWPP.
 
Dumbledad wrote:
> Now, why doesn't Snape reply "No Lupin, I think I'll investigate
> the parchment further"? 
<snip>

Lilian:

My first thought is that Snape did catch the meaning of Lupin's slip-
up. Finding out that the map originally belonged to MWPP was perhaps 
satisfactory enough.
OTOH, what with Ron and Harry witnessing everything, Snape was not 
about to make a scene? What if Lupin had insisted to take it back 
and Snape had insisted on keeping it? Could have ended in: 'It's 
mine!', 'No, it was mine first!' etc.
Snape admitted defeat ... for the moment. But he did keep an eye on 
Lupin after that, that's why -later in the book- he brought the 
potion to Lupin when Lupin didn't come for it. Innocently helping a 
colleague? Snape hardly ever does anything without a reason.

Just my thoughts.

Lilian