Snape's Grudge

Calendar and Dates

The chapter picks up at the end of the preceding chapter (late Saturday / very early Sunday) on the night of the Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw match) and ends on the Saturday of the school year's third Hogsmeade weekend.

Interesting facts and notes

Although the chapter is entitle Snape's Grudge, what exactly is his grudge at this moment - against Harry, Lupin or Messrs Moony, Prongs, Padfoot and Wormtail?

"Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony, and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git."

One of the Frequently Asked Questions at JKR.com is, 'When the Marauder's Map is insulting Snape, how did Prongs write his insult as he's dead?' JKR's answer was, "Wizards have ways of making sure their voices are heard after their death[s] - think of Bertha Jorkins rising out of the Pensieve in [GF30], the Sorting Hat continuing to spout the wisdom of the Founders hundreds of years after their deaths, the ghosts walking around Hogwarts, the portraits of dead headmasters and mistresses in Dumbledore's office, not to mention Mrs. Black's portrait in number twelve, Grimmauld Place...there are other examples, too, of which the Marauder's Map is merely one. It is not really Prongs writing the insult to Snape, it is as though he left a magical recording of his voice within the map."

"Indeed?" said Snape. His jaw had gone rigid with anger. "You think a joke-shop could supply him with such a thing? You don’t think it more likely that he got it directly from the manufacturers?"

So, does Professor Snape really think Harry got the map from Sirius Black? It seems unlikely that Harry would give it to someone who is attacking his dormitory. Is Snape being unreasonable? He implies that he knows who made the map.

"Why did Snape think I’d got it from the manufacturers?"
"Because …" Lupin hesitated, "because these mapmakers would have wanted to lure you out of school. They’d think it extremely entertaining."
"Do you know them?" said Harry, impressed.
"We’ve met," he said shortly.

Professor Lupin isn't going to give any extra information away about the Marauder's Map to Professor Snape, or much more either to Harry and Ron. Lupin knows it is a map, he knows it got confiscated by Filch and he knows the "manufacturers". He doesn't give it back.

Exceptional character moments

Ron, enjoying all the attention he gets after being attacked.

Hagrid, giving Harry and Ron a talking-to about their priorities in how they've been treating Hermione.

Harry, being silly enough to throw mud at Draco, Crabbe and Goyle - he's supposed to be staying invisible.

Lupin, who is very careful about what he says about the Marauder's Map (and the Marauders).

Memorable lines

"- but I gotta tell yeh, I thought you two'd value yer friend more'n broomsticks or rats."

"Ah, well, people can be a bit stupid abou' their pets," said Hagrid wisely.

"What would your head have been doing in Hogsmeade, Potter?" sand Snape softly. "Your head is not allowed in Hogsmeade. No part of your body has permission to be in Hogsmeade."

"If your head was in Hogsmeade, so was the rest of you."

Words and phrases

• Git
• Noticeboard
• Bath buns
• Scarpered