Dark Devices: the Marauder’s Map

[terri-testing.livejournal.com]

I’m checking a potential theory, all ye commanders of canon. Help me out here.

In the first books, Harry really doesn’t use his father’s cloak much at all. Does he?



If I’m correct in my count, Harry uses the cloak exactly four times in PS. The first time, Christmas night, he intends to research Flamel in the Restricted Section but instead ends up in front of Erised. The second, he takes Ron to see the Mirror; the third (over Ron’s objections) to visit the Mirror yet again. The last, if I’m correct, is when he and Hermione use it to smuggle Norberta to the top of the Astronomy Tower.

In CoS, I only count one use—to get Ron and Harry out of the castle to Hagrid’s hut at the start of their Spider Quest (set by Hagrid) to figure out the monster that has been petrifying students.

It’s only in PoA that we start to see Harry use the Cloak for purely selfish, reckless rule-breaking (going to Honeydukes) and to ambush his enemies (Draco, Vince, and Greg at the Shrieking Shack, frightened and disoriented by a physical assault that comes from nowhere).

After Harry’s exposure to Dementors. And to his father’s Map.

Am I right in this? Have I missed any map uses in books 1,2, & beginning of 3?

And exactly where/when/why did Harry use the cloak after this in canon?

Well, in book six he uses it to stalk the enemy who’s the current target of his obsessive hatred….

I’m wondering whether exposure to multiple Dark objects/creatures that have negative emotional effects might be synergistic….

Comments

[detritius.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting theory. It might also be notable that Harry starts using the cloak more after he starts 'hearing' his father more in Dementor memory form, and hearing more about him from Lupin. Maybe expose to memories of James subconsciously makes Harry want to be more like him, and no necessarily in the best ways?

[oryx_leucoryx]

In CoS, I only count one use—to get Ron and Harry out of the castle to Hagrid’s hut at the start of their Spider Quest (set by Hagrid) to figure out the monster that has been petrifying students.

Twice. Before that Harry and Ron used the cloak to get to Hagrid's hut when they finally decided to ask Hagrid if he was the one taking the monster on walkies - and ended up seeing Fudge arresting Hagrid and Lucius ousting Albus.

[oryx_leucoryx]

In GOF he uses the cloak to go to Hogsmeade without being seen by the student-body at the height of the 'Potter stinks' campaign, a second time at hagrid's behest - when Hagrid wants to show him the dragons and a third time when he goes to the prefects' bathroom to solve the riddle of the egg.

Of course before HBP the cloak was being kept in Harry's trunk, he had to go and take it out deliberately. In HBP Albus told him to keep it on him at all times, so it was always available for any whim to go sneaking around.

[oryx_leucoryx]

The first time Harry uses the cloak outside of Hogwarts-Hogsmeade is in chapter 6 of HBP, when he spots Draco going to Knockturn Alley. Even in OOTP, when he was sneaking from the Dursleys to try to listen to the news he didn't think of using the cloak. So I tend to think availability was the main factor. If there was any magical influence increasing Harry's use of the cloak in HBP it was the cloak itself (just like the Elder Wand).

The Elder Wand responds to the cloak. Does the cloak respond to the Elder Wand in any way? James was less trusting of Albus after Albus took the cloak. In the forest Harry was under the cloak as he made his way to Tom who was holding the Elder Wand. Did the cloak direct him? Did the shades?

Hmm. If the Elder Wand senses the cloak then it helps explain how Albus returned Harry the cloak from the Astronomy Tower, but then in POA the cloak was lying in the tunnel to Hogsmeade for months. Perhaps Albus thought it best not to encourage Harry's wanderings, considering the danger of Sirius and the dementors, but still wanted Harry to have access to it when he had an important enough reason.

[oryx_leucoryx]

In DH Harry starts using the map to stalk Ginny's dot while Ron was away. This did not make him reckless, he remained passive as during the previous weeks since the Ministry raid.

breaking the rules....

[terri-testing.livejournal.com]

But you're leaving out the clear example of the fact that ENFORCING THE STATED RULES WORKS (even on snotty-nosed little brats like Harry)

When McGonnagall catches HArrry and Hermione in (she thinks) a scheme to lure Draco into wrongdoing over that utterly nonexistent dragon, she throws the book at them.

Fifty points EACH, and a chance to taste real danger!

And it works--Harry, facing his housemates' united disapprobation, is totally uninterested in anything but covering his arse.

Until he thinks he has to choose between house points and Voldemort's direct return.

And then Albus makes it clear, there's no choice to be made. Make osme splashy gesture against LV, and I'll reward you with as many points as you want!

[charlottehywd.livejournal.com]

Wow, this explains a lot.

You know, even when I was a huge fan of the series I wondered why Hogwarts bothers with having rules at all. It isn't like they are enforced regularly, and the one teacher who does is branded as evil, vicious and having it in for the students.

One wonders if Rowling has ever actually tried to run a school.