Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban discussion

What MY question is, and which has been gnawing at me since when I first read POA, is how, how in the name of Merlin's pants did Fred and George figure out how to open and close the Map?

It seems fairly obvious to me. They must have tried all sorts of passwords to get it to work, some serious ones, others more tongue-in-cheek. And to their surprise, one of the tongue-in-cheek ones worked!

Also, the map is a magical object - it seems to sense who the people are who are trying to use it. For example, it insulted Snape when he tried various serious passwords. When the Weasley twins found it, the map probably sensed that it was in the presence of pranksters like its makers, and opened more willingly for them than it would have for others. For instance, I doubt that "I solemnly swear I am up to no good" is exactly the password the Marauders programmed into it. But its general gist is what they were looking for in kindred spirits: a sense of mischief, a willingness to bend the rules, etc.

That is the greatest possibility, yes. And I think that it must be right. I do not think the obvious, obviously.

Anyway,thanks!

o.O I never even thought of that, that they had to figure it out on their own. Dang. Mitali probably has the right of it though, they probably had to just get close and the map adjusted to them.

"In the name of Merlin's pants"? ...I need to use that one.