Partial transcript (was Crookshanks *is* part-Kneazle)

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 17808

Gaynor Thomas wrote:

> JKR has confirmed in an interview with BBC Newsround that Crookshanks
> is part-Kneazle.

HAH!

> Go to:
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/potter/harry_potter25.shtml
>
> Click on "Watch Lizo's latest interview with J.K" to watch the
> interview in RealPlayer.

A quick but nonetheless letter-perfect partial transcript from the audio
of the interview follows, because I'm anal, I'm avoiding doing my
bibliographical work, and I knew Steve vanderArk and Doreen and any
other lesser Lexicon gods would like it in writing. I also love being
right (HAH! to Haggridd....::grins::)

The story date was April 27; I've no idea if this is the actual date the
interview took place.
<begin transcript>
LIZO: And how do you feel about the amazing reaction all over the world
to the two Comic Relief books?

JKR: Oh, that's really fantastic. I don't think I've ever been so,
erm.....It was pure invention, with none of the hardships that are
involved in plot and characterization and so on, so it wasn't like
writing a novel, it was just pure frivolity, and I enjoyed writing so
much. And it was something that....I was able to use all this extra
information I had but I never thought I'd be able to cram into a novel,
because after all you can' t tell the reader absolutely everything, much
as we'd all like to, so it was a way of using that material which
otherwise never would have been published.

LIZO: I mean, there's lots of great bits of information in there...I was
particularly interested in the bit about the Kneazle. Is Crookshanks
possibly, uh, have any Kneazle in him?

JKR: Yes, half Kneazle, yes, he is, yes, well-spotted.

LIZO: Is that important, in....?

JKR: Well, you'll just have to keep reading, won't you, Lizo?

<end transcript>

I listened to this many, many, many times, replaying as I typed and then
re-read, to make sure I got all the phrasing and words correct. So I can
state with some authority that she does indeed say "half." Not "part."
Which makes it pretty clear that one of his parents must have been a
full Kneazle, which begs the question of why he's not registered as
such....? I can see some Kneazle genes making their way into the
population, and I figured he was part Kneazle, but if he's *half,* that
makes it harder to see how his litter slipped through the cracks.

Or *is* he registered? Hermione *was* alone in the pet shop for quite a
while after Ron and Harry fled with Scabbers, she could have been
filling out the paperwork, yes? Is there any good reason she'd have
mentioned this? She's not the bragging sort, just to bring it up in
order to be able to say it. As a Muggle, she might not know all the
characteristics, so that might explain why she didn't defend
Crookshanks' actions toward Scabbers on the basis of his Kneazle
abilities. Whatcha think?

--Amanda



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