Marauder's Map, the Marauders, and Voldemort

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 108966

Josh wrote:
> 
> No, I seriously doubt Snape put the nicknames into play until he 
had 
> the pleasure of dealing with Padfoot and Moony calling each other 
> such in his presence in between Order business.
> 

Potioncat:
As it turns out, the Marauders kept their animagi skills secret.  No 
one knew until after PoA. (and not all the characters knew then.) 
But, the boys did call each other by their nicknames very openly.  
When each of us read PoA for the first time, I'm sure none of us 
heard the 4 names and yes "Oh, Yes, a werewolf, a stag, a rat and a 
dog."

Snape did not know the parchment was a map when he first found it on 
Potter.  But he did recognise the names, and (IMHO) he called Lupin, 
using the excuse of Dark Arts and DADA teacher.  And I think the  
conversation between Lupin and Snape was clearly understood by 
themselves, but not by us. REading it after the fact, with the 
understanding that they know exactly who they are talking about, 
changes the meaning very much.
Potioncat