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

[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.