Dark Magic WAS: Re:help with JKR quote/ Children's reactions

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 176559


Potioncat:
For all the plot holes, flints, and major turn-arounds in the HP 
series, there is something that JKR does well. She writes scenes that 
read one way the very first time you read them; take on a deeper 
meaning after the book is finished and you look back or re-read; and 
become very different after the next books are read. 

The Marauders' Map discussion between Snape and Lupin is one such 
scene and it's been discussed a lot!

Here's some recent comments about it:


> > Lizzyben:
> > But, we know that whatever it is, Snape is an
> > > expert in it & the defense against it. So, if the expert says 
that 
> > the  Map is "full of Dark Magic," I'm inclined to take his word 
for it.

> > Alla:
> > That is your right of course. I am most definitely NOT taking 
> > Snape's word for it. 

> Prep0strus:
> 
> With Alla here. I am not taking Snape's word for it.  I think he 
said
> that off the cuff to try to get his hands on something of harry's, 
to
> find out its secret, to make it seem like something he could
> confiscate.  Also, I don't think he can make a 'diagnosis' that
> quickly.  So I trust neither his words and motivation, nor his 
ability
„« in this instance.


Potioncat:
Carol made a very good argument for in the past for this scenario:  
(in my words)

Snape's goal during Harry's 3rd year at Hogwarts is to protect him 
from Sirius Black. Snape has every reason to believe that Black had 
betrayed the Potters and now wants to kill Harry. Snape has just 
found Harry out of bounds and in possession of an enchanted piece of 
parchment which identifies itself with the names of Mooney, Padfoot, 
Prongs and Wormtail. Snape doesn't know what it does, but he knows 
who used those nicknames.

One of the four is currently the DADA professor and has been hired by 
DD to help protect Harry. (I think that's canon.) Snape summons Lupin 
to discuss the parchment. He and Lupin are talking in code. They both 
know who made it, but neither wants Harry to know. 

So, Snape may have said it contained Dark Magic to explain why he was 
calling upon Lupin. As DADA professor, it would be Lupin's job to 
deal with it. Harry is kept in the dark (oh, nice pun.)  Although 
I've wondered about the Dark Magic accusation in the past, I've 
pretty much agreed that Snape only used that as an excuse. After all--
-this is Harry's Dad, who hates Dark Magic. Lupin will go on to give 
it back to Harry. It can't be Dark.

But, now that DH is past us, I'm not so sure, whether it is or not; 
but Snape may very well consider this to be Dark Magic. It seems none 
of us, and especially not Snape, can tell the good guys from the bad 
guys just by their magic.


 
>From a subsequent post:
lizzyben:

Because the Map isn't a Zonko's joke item, like Lupin claims?
Honestly, I don't see how anyone can claim that Lupin isn't lying
about that. He sees the Map he created, w/his nickname on it, and
tells Snape that the parchment is a joke item that Harry bought at
Zonko's. That's a lie. He even glances at Harry to warn him not to
tell Snape the truth about the Map.

Potioncat:
And this was one reason some of thought that James's family owned 
Zonkos.

Potioncat, wishing everyone else would quit posting so fast so she 
could have a chance and knows some of her ideas were posted by others 
even as she typed!