Marauder's Map and Sirius's "usefulness"

[Goddlefrood]

No: HPFGUIDX 163811

> Louise Wrote:
> I've wondered why, when Sirius was hangin aroun 12 Grimmauld 
feeling so helpless in OOTP, Dumbledore didn't assign him to try to 
create more Marauder's-style maps of Hogwarts or other key locations 
(Ministry of Magic, Hogsmeade?).  Or, for that matter, why not have 
him assist some other Order members in becoming Animagi? It seems 
like both would have been useful weapons in the fight against 
Voldemort.

Goddlefrood says:

Sirius certainly could have done more, at least on the face of it. 
What needs remembering though is that apart from a few brief 
interludes he was off Harry's radar for the larger part of the year 
and it is difficult to ascertain what Sirius was doing, if anything 
other than drinking and feeling generally sorry for himself.

His big disguise had been blown and from what can be garnered in the 
course of PoA it takes a great deal of time and a considerable amount 
of skill to become an animagus. That there are only seven registered 
and four unregistered animagi around according to information in the 
books suggests that it is not a typical bit of magic that any witch 
or wizard could take to. Additionally the Order had access to two or 
more Invisibility Cloaks so no further disguise would be useful 
particularly when you have a Metamorphmagi and a Werewolf to hand 
also, not forgetting a man with a, somewhat misfunctional but still 
useful, magic eye.

As far as creation of any other Map is concerned, firstly there is no 
evidence in the books that Dumbledore knows about the Map although it 
is quite probable he does. Secondly to expand on Louise's thoughts 
what purpose would there be in the creation of a Map? It appears that 
those who do not wish to be seen on such a Map (if any other existed 
for any other location) can make it so that they are not seen. Ergo 
there would be little value in creating such maps.

What the current author is interested in is the other spies within 
the Order that have been alluded to but as yet not uncovered. Anyone 
care to discuss?

Goddlefrood