MWPP - was Class Origins

[lee_hillman at urmc.rochester.edu]

No: HPFGUIDX 29480

Okay,

I'll try to make these brief. We've been talking about Class Origins,
and while my backstories have been the basis of the timeline I use in
fanfiction, I think they're sufficiently plausible (or as plausible as
anyone else's), that they might be of interest to the list. I should
also acknowledge that the backstories for MWPP I'm about to post were
developed with significant input from my collaborator, A'jes' Blue.

James - We see him as upper middle class, but with lots of money. His
family has money, probably inherited over time, and we believe his
father (or both parents) held a position of some responsbility. We
know that they left him enough money he didn't need to work, and that
Harry has no other relatives than the Dursleys, so we think he's
probably an only child. Of the four (MWPP), James's wealth is the most
conspicuous. Oh, and it's somewhat important to note that we think the
Potter household was rather distant and possibly a little harsh.

Peter Pettigrew - We see Peter's family as more lower middle or middle
middle class. I imagine Peter's mother like Hyacinth Bucket (Bouquet)
from Keeping Up Appearances. Very concerned with the outward
appearance of class and propriety. Unlike Hyacinth, I think she's
better at achieving it. But to put it bluntly, Peter's mother is a
snob. We also created siblings for Peter - a brother about 6 years
older, and a sister 2 years ahead of him - giving Peter more pressure
to perform well in school and a bit of getting ignored at home.

Sirius Black - I find it interesting that many fanfic writers choose
to make Sirius half-Muggle. Well, we did it too. A'jes' is responsible
for most of Sirius's background in our fic, "Between the Lines."
Sirius is the only child of witch Casseopeia and Muggle Jake Black.
They live in Netherend, a manufacturing town where Jake works and
Cassie came to study at the nearby agricultural centre. Cassie had a
fair amount of money, being an only child herself, but it was so
important to Jake that he be a "provider," she never used her Galleons
and left them in Gringotts gathering interest. This is where Sirius's
money comes from--someone mentioned it being a stretch for Sirius to
get the Firebolt. We think it did dent his savings considerably, but
the main problem is how difficult it is for him to get to his money,
going to London and the risk involved. Anyway, Sirius grew up in this
lower-class, Muggle neighbourhood, but was very much part of the gang
of kids in town. His mother was the one who always had a batch of
biscuits baking and who never minded if the kids took over the family
room in the cellar for hours at a time. His dad tinkered and instilled
in Sirius his love for machines. So while he had a pile of gold
waiting for him as an adult, he never knew it as a child.

Remus Lupin - I saved my favourite character history for last. I got
to thinking about his background from the things he says in PoA. He
indicates that his parents were supportive and "tried everything." He
mentions that he can't find paid work as an adult. But he's been a
teacher before, presumably, or else that was his plan when he got the
suitcase (whether he stamped it or it was a gift is unknown). And
there's the business of being a werewolf so young.

I decided that Remus's family is that breed of nobility that is land
rich, but cash poor. Someone else pointed out the medical expenses
associated with years of trials and treatments, and I believe this
leeched a good amount of money, but I rather like the idea that while
his family had status, they had little extra for anything. He grew up
frugal because that was how one did it. It also provides an
explanation for "lie low at Lupin's." The house he lives in now is not
the "big" house he grew up in, but its dower house adjacent to the
grounds. The forest is where he spends his full moons, and the village
nearby all know to avoid going out if at all possible (it's warded as
well for their protection).

Just to add a bit of irony, I made the Lupins the family that married
into the noble one. The Tigworths were the original owners of the
house (assets of which he has sold periodically to pay for his own
living expenses), which was given to the first Lord by King William in
gratitude for his leadership as the Minister of Magic who signed the
International Code of Secrecy in 1692. But over the years, the rents
have barely paid for upkeep on the house and death taxes have led to
near bankruptcy for the Lupins. Remus sold the London house soon after
Sirius went to Azkaban, and gradually sold everything else of value
except for the few pieces of furniture he kept in the cottage and a
few bottles of wine to sell when he needs ready cash.


Okay, so they're wildly outside anything we know about them from
canon. But since we don't really know much, it's as valid as the next
theory!

Gwen (who really _has_ to get some work done)