Fred & George - Evil?

[nuriaobradors]

No: HPFGUIDX 132612

:: delurking::

Britt wrote:
<snip> Why, in a drawer full of "confiscated, but highly dangerous" 
objects - objects that (the twins) would no doubt find fascinating - 
would they home in on a folded up piece of old parchment?  Not only 
that, but be able to noodle out how it works?  

POA:
"Well, what would you've done?" said Fred. "George caused a 
diversion by dropping another Dungbomb, I whipped the drawer open, 
and grabbed --this."

>From what the book says, they grabbed the map in a hurried, 
unthought of action. What is more probable, even if it's not 
specifically told, is the twins grabbed everything they could put 
their hands onto in those moments of confusion, map included.
As for how to work it out, well for once we know they're smart 
enough to create their own magical objects/snacks (OT: I would pay 
to see those 2 in Snape's class, as I believe they must be skilled 
at potions to come up with the snacks), and we know the map, while 
unrevealed, reacts to the attempts to open it by back-talking, as it 
did with Snape. So in trying, and using the map's replies to figure 
out what it really was and how to make it work, they must found the 
way. On a personal note I don't believe the "I solemnly swear that I 
am up to no good" has to be worded exactly like that for the map to 
work, but that any phrase of the same significance and, what's most 
important, said with the intention of mischief, would make the map 
work, too.

Britt:
>  Further, since Lupin himself apparently knew the map was hidden 
>in Filch's office (remember where Harry's practice dementor/boggart 
>came from in PoA), it had apparently languished in that drawer for 
>a LONG time.  Probably since the marauders' days at Hogwarts, which 
>means Peter would presumably have known it was there, too.  

Of course Lupin knows where the map was hidden - originally. Most 
probably Filch confiscated it from MWPP, so the 4 of them nkew it 
must be in Filch's office. Why they didn't get it back, we can only 
fathom, but either a) they tried and failed b) it was on the last 
stages of 7th year so it wasn't worth the risk as they, as the 
twins, already knew all the passages by heart. I think, however, 
that he didn't expect it to have remained so many years in that 
place, and was glad to see it back.

Britt:
> Sirius's theory in PoA was that Scabbers!Peter wanted to keep
> perfectly positioned to act when LV made his presence known.  What
> better way to do that this than to have the map, which quite 
> literally shows him where the action is at all times.  <snip>
> Scabbers!Peter was Percy's rat before he was Ron's. <snip>
> The next Weasley to make an appearance at Hogwarts were the twins, 
and lo and behold, one of the first thing they do is snag the map 
from Filch.  

WE know in POA Scabbers has been in the Burrow for 12 years, i.e. he 
got there when Ron was 1. That means the twins were 2 (no pun 
intended)and Percy was 5.  Little could Peter plan to get the map 
then - in fact I believe he, as teh other marauders, would think it 
lost until the twins found it. Besides, from what we've seen, they 
couldn't care less about Scabbers, and Percy would not want them 
around the rat either, so I find it highly unlikely Scabbers had 
taken any part whatsoever in the re-discovery of the map. If 
anything, he must have been happy to know it was still around. Even 
more, I don't even believe Pettigrew ever took human form once since 
he arrived in the Weasley's household until the Shrieking Shack 
episode. 

Britt:
> The timing of the twins' giving of the map to HP is also 
suspicious.  Note that this was when Scabbers!Peter was being chased 
all over the castle by Crookshanks, <snip>  Or maybe they were 
trying to lure Harry out of the castle.  

Of course they are trying to lure Harry out of the castle! But 
that's because they know Harry's miserable by not being allowed to 
go to Hogsmeade, and they, as Harry, don't think it's really that 
dangerous to walk around out of bounds even with Black on the loose 
and Dementors gliding around. 

Britt:
> Fred and George have been morally ambiguous during the entire 
series.

I believe you are wrong here. I don't think they're morally 
ambiguous. They're heavy pranksters, that's true, but they know what 
lines not to cross. They don't play pranks on people like Neville, 
for instance (I'm sure Neville would be very affected by them, and 
I'm also sure Neville would be heavily bullied had he gone to a 
muggle school). Neither do they joke about Percy around Molly, and 
they show truly worried for Ginny in CS and Arthur in OP... 
Moreover, they're *liked* by most people, so that gives you a good 
clue that, while being troublemakers, their hearts must be in the 
right place. 

Britt:
>  They've thought nothing of urging Harry (and Ron, and anyone else
> within earshot) to engage in all manner of dangerous, potentially
> life-threatening activities.  

Both the twins and HRH have given huge evidence of being perfectly 
capable to engage in dangerous, life-threatening activities all by 
themselves. 

Britt:
>As far as I can tell, nowhere in the books has JKR ever indicated 
>the twins' awareness, or lack thereof, of Peter Pettigrew's true 
>nature.  They, of course, know of Sirius's innocence, having shared 
>a house with him, but HRH never once mentioned the Wormtail 
>business in the twins' presence, as far as I've been able to see.

Well, we can't witness ALL that goes on in the HP universe, can we? 
The mere fact they acknowledge Sirius's innocence implies their 
aknowledgement of Scabbers!Peter, as both facts are tightly related. 
We never see Harry or Ron tell Hermione of Umbridge's torture quill, 
but when Harry mentions it in breakfast, Hermione does not react, 
which means she knew it beforehand.

Britt:
> So, maybe it's the twins that are evil. <snip>  PLEASE, someone, 
tell me I'm full of it.  

I am telling you so. I find this a too far-fetched, twisted theory. 
I also believe JKR likes the twins too much to make them evil. If 
she chooses someone of the good side to turn evil, I think it'd be 
someone more endearing than fun.  

Nuri