Summary
- Fred and George Weasley should have noticed Peter Pettigrew on the Marauder's Map since his name appeared next to Ron, given his significance and the fact that the map includes everyone's real names.
- It is unclear whether Fred and George knew who Peter Pettigrew was, but even if they didn't, it doesn't make sense that his name was always so close to Harry and Ron on the map.
- One possible explanation is that the twins no longer used the map by the time Ron arrived, but this doesn't account for the fact that they would still have used it to ensure the coast was clear with professors and Filch. Another inconsistency involves Percy, as they should have seen Scabbers on the map since he belonged to him.
The Harry Potter saga is not safe from inconsistencies, mysteries, and plot holes, and one that has bothered fans for years is why Fred and George Weasley never noticed Peter Pettigrew on the Marauder’s Map. The Marauder’s Map is a magical map of every corner of Hogwarts, including its secret passages, and which shows the location of every person on the grounds. The map was made in a way that it couldn’t be fooled by animagi, Polyjuice Potions, or invisibility cloaks, so every person appeared with their real name.
The map was created by The Marauders, who were Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black, and James Potter, during their time at Hogwarts, and was stolen by Fred and George Weasley from Filch’s office many years later. The Weasley twins gave the map to Harry in his third year, and it was Harry who noticed Peter Pettigrew on the map and believed it to be a mistake but was proven wrong when it was revealed that Ron’s pet rat was Peter Pettigrew in his animagus form.
Why Fred & George Should've Noticed Peter Pettigrew On The Map
The question became why Fred and George never noticed a man sleeping in their brother's room on the map. Surprisingly, J.K. Rowling has never come up with a solution or answer to this Harry Potter plothole. Since the map includes everyone's real name, they should've noticed that everywhere Ron went, the name Peter Pettigrew appeared next to him. Pettigrew was also a famous name given what Sirius Black had supposedly done to him and considering how Fred and George are older than Harry, Ron, and Hermione, they should've recognized his name. This is a consistent criticism brought up about the Wesley Twins.
The Plotholes Of Fred & George Never Noticing Peter Pettigrew
Some believe that Fred and George weren't aware of who Peter Pettigrew was, so they could've just seen his name and believed he was simply another Hogwarts student. However, as noted, there's a very good chance that Fred and George knew of his name and therefore should've recognized him. Even on the off-chance they didn't realize this, it still doesn't add up that this name was always so close to Harry and Ron, especially in the dorms.
Others believe that the twins never even noticed him, as they mentioned to Harry that they didn’t need the map anymore as they already knew the castle by heart, so by the time Ron arrived, they didn't use the map anymore and thus never saw him sleeping with Peter Pettigrew. That also brings up a Harry Potter plothole though because even if they didn't need the map to find something, they still would've likely used it to make sure professors and Filch weren't around. Most of the time, Harry used it to make sure the coast was clear, not to find a specific location.
There's also the plothole concerning Percy. When the twins got the map, Percy was studying at Hogwarts, and Scabbers previously belonged to him. Unless Scabbers slept far from his bed and Percy didn’t take him with him everywhere, they must have seen him on the map. This might be one of those Harry Potter plot holes that will remain unsolved, so it's up to fans of the books and movies to decide why Fred and George didn’t notice Peter Pettigrew on the Marauder’s Map.