Two Wormtails was Re: Plot in OotP (wand confusion)

[khinterberg]

No: HPFGUIDX 118391



> 
> -Nora notes that she does not have books with her, and would 
> appreciate some filled-in (as in, non-selectively excerpted :) canon 
> for Lupin's reactions to the Map

"Lupin!" Snape called into the fire.  "I want a word!"
Utterly bewildered, Harry stared at the fire.  A large shape had
appeared in it, revolving very fast.  Seconds later, Professor Lupin
was clambering out of the fireplace, brushing ash off his shabby robes.
"You called, Severus?" said Lupin mildly.
"I certainly did," said Snape, his face contorted with fury as he
strode back to his desk.  "I have just asked Potter to empty his
pockets.  He was carrying this."
Snape pointed at the parchment, on which the words of Messrs. Moony,
Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs were still shining.  An odd, closed
expression appeared on Lupin's face.
"Well?" said Snape.
Lupin continued to stare at the map.  Harry had the impression that
Lupin was doing some very quick thinking.
"*Well*?" said Snape again.  "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?"
Lupin looked up and, by the merest half-glance in Harry's direction,
warned him not to interrupt.
"Full of Dark Magic?" he repeated mildly.  "Do you really think so,
Severus?  It looks to me as though it is merely a piece of parchment
that insults anybody who reads it.  Childish, but surely not
dangerous?  I imagine Harry got it from a joke shop--"
"Indeed?" said Snape.  His jaw had gone rigid with anger.  "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*?"
Harry didn't understand what Snape was talking about.  Nor,
apparently, did Lupin.
"You mean, by Mr. Wormtail or one of these people?" he said.  "Harry,
do you know any of these men?"
"No," said Harry quickly.
"You see, Severus?" said Lupin, turning back to Snape.  "It looks like
a Zonko product to me--"
Right on cue, Ron came bursting into the office.  He was completely
out of breath, and stopped just short of Snape's desk, clutching the
stitch in his chest and trying to speak.
"I--gave--Harry--that--stuff," he choked.  "Bought--it...in
Zonko's...ages--ago..."
"Well!" said Lupion, 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--"
Harry didn't dare look at Snape as they left his office.  He, Ron, and
Lupin walked all the way back into the entrance hall before speaking.
 Then Harry turned to Lupin.
"Professor, I--"
"I don't want to hear explanations," said Lupin shortly.  He glanced
around the empty entrance hall and lowered his voice.  "I happen to
know that this map was confiscated by Mr. Filch many years ago.  Yes,
I know it's a map," he said as Harry and Ron looked amazed.  "I don't
want to know how it fell into your possession.  I am, however,
*astounded* that you didn't hand it in.  Particularly after what
happened the last time a student left information about the castle
lying around.  And I can't let you have it back, Harry."
Harry had expected that, and was too keen for explanations to protest.
"Why did Snape think I'd got it from the manufacturers?"
"Because...," Lupin hesitated,"because these mapmakers would have
wanted to lure you out of school.  They'd think it extremely
entertaining."
"Do you *know* them?" said Harry, impressed.
"We've met," he said shortly.  He was looking at Harry more seriously
than ever before.  
"Don't expect me to cover up for you again, Harry.  I cannot make you
take Sirius Black seriously.  But I would have thought that what you
have heard when the dementors draw near you would have had more of an
effect on you.  Your parents gave their lives to keep you alive,
Harry.  A poor way to repay them--gambling their sacrifice for a bag
of magic tricks."

Let me just comment that this is one of my favorite, but also one of
the most confusing bits of canon there is.  It gives rise to several
questions and obserations for me.  I still can't fully understand the
"directly from the manufacturers" interchange, and don't know if I
really will if I haven't got it fully by now. Also, I do love how
Remus says "I'll  take this back, shall I?"  That "back" should have
set off warning bells.  But it surprises me how easily Snape lets one
of the said manufacturers have it back, although that could be due
simply to there being students around, and we wouldn't want them to
get too suspicious.  Also though, I wonder why Lupin was so surprised
that Harry did not want to turn the map in straightaway.  Lupin was a
teenager who helped write this map, he surely knows how it feels to be
young boy getting into mischief?  Harry has never been too concerned
with a threat over his own life, at thirteen years old I don't think
keeping the map would have bothered him at all.  However, I think
Lupin might be putting many of his frustrations and mixed emotions
about the past into this speech.  I have always loved that last
paragraph, with Lupin reminding Harry of his parents, I think it's
beautiful coming from a once-friend of someone to their son, perhaps
also with the frustration that he couldn't protect James from death,
but perhaps he can help protect Harry.  I simply love it.  

khinterberg, who feels sorry for whoever really types up novels, it is
a long and bothersome process