How did MWPP make the Maunderer's Map?

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 154243

houyhnhnm:
*(snip)*
> So I was wondering if the Marauders tapped into those stores of 
> ancient magic to make the Map.  They could not plot any area that 
> Hogwarts itself would not allow them to plot.  Perhaps they were 
> fooling around with magic whose power they did not fully comprehend.  
> They were in over their heads, so to speak, and did not realize how 
> Dark was the magic they were involved with.  
> 
> 
> Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where 
> it keeps its brain.
> http://lunar-music.livejournal.com/1537.html

Ceridwen:
Thanks for reposting the link.  I didn't have a lot of time the other 
night when it was posted before.  I read down the comments to the 
original, and saw something that got me started thinking.

'Gingersomething' says about the map that it is "Useful, seemingly 
benign, has a clever catchphrase..."

Aside from the clever catchphrase, isn't that just the way Harry 
thought about his visions/dreams in OotP?  He argues with people who 
want him to learn Occlumency by pointing out how his vision saved 
Arthur Weasley's life.  He has a window into Voldemort's world.  It's 
useful, he insists, why would he want to break the connection?

The map is useful even if it doesn't show everything.  It's seemingly 
benign, and has a sense of humor, too.  It's precious to Harry, too, 
for another reason - his father, Sirius and Lupin (yeah, and Pettigrew, 
but three out of four ain't bad) made it.  It's an artifact that is a 
rare connection with his father which, as an orphan, Harry is not 
likely to give up without a struggle.

It could be that the hat and the map really are benign, just another 
example of something that wizards can do that we poor Muggles can't.  I 
tend to think that the Founders, when they put something of themselves 
into the hat, also placed spells to keep it tamper-proof.  Sure, it's 
possbile that a powerful wizard like Tom Riddle could get around them 
or find some way to add his own little quirk to the mix, but to witches 
and wizards in general, the hat would be protected, I think.

Not so sure about the map.  Three kids, not very disciplined in their 
extra-curricular activities if their rule-breaking is an indication, 
and possibly leaving the map open for more modifications later on, 
might have also left it open for Dark Magic, or might have, in their 
zeal to create it, fudged and used some questionable magic.  After all, 
magic is a thing, neither good nor bad, until someone uses it for a 
specific purpose.

Interesting discussion!

Ceridwen.