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Reader Comments: (Page 4)

JK Rowling answered this in an interview.

Fred and George did infact figure it out by trial and error. The map of course giving them some help. So those are the real incantations...

Posted by Carla from Washington, DC on December 25, 2006 12:56 PM

i think they found out how to use it beause the map knows they are mischief makers, so the map allowed itself to be reaveled infront of them, because the real marauders would want to pass the map on to someone who would use it for mischief, because if the map knew snape was snape and told him a message from the marauders because they didnt like him so the map might know thier feelings towards certain people.

Posted by huzaifah from london on December 26, 2006 09:27 AM

I think the map was handed down to other students from the original makers along with the correct commands. It most likely became some type of legend that was whispered about by those who knew of it but never saw it and just d out after Filch got hold of it and it wasn't in use anymore. Also rember that Dumbledore told Harry that what happened to him in the chamber of secrets was a secret which meant that the whole school knew about it. Filtch was not able to do magic himself he was trying to increase his powers, remember the pamplet in his office? He may have written down instructions so he could practice using it and the instructions could be what caught F&G;'s eye instead of the blank parchment itself. F&G; could have even overheard their parents tell stories of the map along with its instructions. Another possibility is that Lupin was close behind snape when he caught Harry with the map. Something made Snape ask Harry to turn out his pockets. Maybe both Snape and Lupin heard Harry say "mischief managed" causing Snape's curiosity and Lupin to know the new incantation. I'm just guessing of course but this is an intersting topic in my opinion.

Posted by Sandy from Atlanta, Ga. on December 30, 2006 12:59 PM

maybe there are different codes or something...

Posted by Jessica from Los Angeles, CA on December 30, 2006 6:10 PM

I've already stated my mind on the matter, but nevertheless I have to add.

I'm surprised that the author of the article doesn't take in account the fact that the map recognizes the person who's holding it. Wormtail even says something along the lines of "washing his hair", something that James and Sirius bullied Severus for alot when they were in school.

The map recognized Fred and George as equals and probably accepted them as mischief makers.

Posted by Rane on December 31, 2006 10:45 AM

"I think the map, like the original marauders, would have seen in Fred and George not only kindred spirits, but perhaps even worthy apprentices. Imagin what Fred and George could have learned had they been in school at the same time as James and Sirius. How would Hogwarts be if the marauder's legacy had to be passed down by upper classmen to "new recruits", hand picked of cource, every few years?

I also don't remember any one saying from whom Filch took the map. If he had taken it from one of the Marauders, wouldn't Lupin have known and wouldn't he have immediatly attempted to secure it upon arriving at Hogwarts?"

Ok, sure, I posted these thoughts a while ago,(Rane reminded me) but think about this, now that Fred & George have all but guaranteed that they become a part of Hogwarts myth, lore and legend, between thier egress and the swamp that was allowed to remain, 100 years in the future, when people did mention the Mauraders, it would only be in reference to the Weasleys... perhaps that day could even become a school holiday.....

Posted by Kevin from Wisconsin on January 3, 2007 12:41 PM

It does say that Fred and George took the map from Filch's office in their first year and JKR has confirned that they worked out how to use it by trial and error. As for Lupin, the map opens and says 'Messers Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs' etc etc. Obviously Lupin is Moony and we all know who the others are. So if he was one of the wizards who made it he's obviously going to know how to use it isn't he.

Posted by Maddy from Hampshire, England on January 7, 2007 1:55 PM

Wow I never thought about that much. Maybe that is just a error or maybe the map works for you if you say those word AND are a true trouble-maker. When Snape puts his wand on the map it shows him absolutly nothing but insult, but what if Fred and George did the same thing and instead of insults the map new they were trouble makers and gave them the words.

Posted by Racquel Jones from Greensboro, North Carolina on January 13, 2007 1:16 PM

I would presume they put specific insults in for Snape, because they thought he might make some attempt to steal it. Any other commands are probably quite broad, as Crouch was able to use it despite the fact that he was evil and not very playful. It might have some basic commands, such as one to detect what house the user was in, but probably not a lot more than that.

I would agree with Rowling, that the boys did it by trial and error, as she is the writer. They probably tried a number of spells, had them countered, and then spent some time working out the map.

Posted by Ytaker from SE England on January 14, 2007 4:11 PM

It's really amazing. If I would not have read it here then I would not have known it. I think that this map is nothing but a trouble-maker and it works according to its . But I also agree with Rowling as she is the writer.

Posted by Deepshikha Chakraborty from Ranchi,Jharkhand on January 17, 2007 02:30 AM

My guess is that the Marauders gave the map a little personality. That's why it "likes" Fred and George and...is not so fond of Snape.

Posted by Kevin from Wisconsin on January 17, 2007 07:04 AM

I think the map would insult teachers if they tried to use it, especially Snape, given the history between him and the Marauders. Since Crouch Jr was acting the part of Moody the teacher, the map recognized a mischief-maker, but it is not sophisticated enough to recognize the difference between true evil and mere mischief.
The Marauders would have delighted in providing for future mischief makers being able to figure out the incantations, so I am sure they made it easy for someone like the twins to figure them out.
Also, the twins are better wizards than is generally acknowledged. Flitwick leaves their swamp as it is very good magic. (The vanishing step was probably someone else's example of good magic in the past.) Even though the twins barely managed to scrape by with some OWLs, they are a success in their shop, and with the magical diversions they created in Umbridge's day. Similar to other geniuses, the twins rebelled against traditional success as defined in school, but are brilliant wizards anyway. Maybe they have the ability to figure out the map's incantations the way they do everything else, by trial and error because of their talent. They are extremely clever.
Regarding an earlier post about the tendency of certain Weasleys to trust things that think for themselves, since Ginny and the twins were 11 years old when the each encountered the diary and the map, they had not lost the innate trust that comes from growing up in a caring family. Besides, the twins are risk-takers, while Ginny was besotted with Harry, and obviously not thinking straight. And what teenager listens to advice from parents or other authority figures, when they figure they can handle it themselves? Mr.Weasley's exasperation when he talks about not trusting things when you can't see where they keep their brains is very familiar to any parent whose kids have selective hearing.

Posted by Patty from Quincy MA on January 24, 2007 07:48 AM

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