The Marauder's Map - it's mine!

As you may or may not know, I *love* maps. I love all the information they hold, how they create a picture of a world and most of all, I love the secrets that are hidden within the folds. (See some of my other posts on maps here and here.)

This weekend we went to the Harry Potter Exhibition at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle and I got the ultimate map:  The Marauder's Map.  (**I assume everyone knows what the Marauder's Map is but if not you can read an explanation at the bottom of this post.) I can't tell you how happy it makes me to hold this map in my hands.  And it is just as delicious as it sounds in the book and looks in the films.  

Pages and pages of secret corridors and classrooms and all the bits and pieces of Hogwarts.

Like the undercover route to the kitchens or places that Peeves may hide.

Remember this:

Unfortunately, the video cuts off before Fred and George show Harry how to hide the map so no one else can read it.  But we all know, don't we?

Mischief Managed.

~Kiki

** The Marauder's Map

The Marauder's Map is a magical map of Hogwarts created by James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew while they were at Hogwarts, during which time they gained extensive knowledge about the school grounds, such as its various hidden passages, from their frequent night-time adventures together.

At first glance, the Map is simply a blank piece of parchment; but when the user points his wand at the Map and says, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!", the message "Messers. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, purveyors of aids to magical mischief-makers, are proud to present the Marauders Map", and a detailed layout of Hogwarts appears, including its occupants, secret passageways (and instructions on how to access them), and other mysteries, though several locations like the Room of Requirement and the Chamber of Secrets do not appear on the map, either because the Marauders did not have any knowledge of them, or—in the case of the former—they are Unplottable. Furthermore, Animagus disguises, Polyjuice Potion or Invisibility Cloaks cannot fool the map, as shown in Goblet of Fire when Barty Crouch, Jr. (disguised as Moody) breaks into Snape's office. Saying, "Mischief managed!" returns the map to its original blank state.