Is V the descendent or the ancestor?

[Katze]

No: HPFGUIDX 33743

judyserenity wrote:

> ...this would
> make Harry the *last* remaining descendent of Gryffindor, as Voldy is
> the last descendent of Slytherin.

<munch>

>...Dumbledore very clearly ruled this out, saying that Voldemort
> was the last descendent of Salazar Slytherin. (Other than that
> Dumbledore said "ancestor" instead of descendent, which presumably
> was a mistake.)

I'm not meaning to be nitpicky, but there is controversy over whether V
is the last ancestor or last descendent of Slytherin. We aren't sure
which is the mistake as both have been used.

This is discussed in the Mysteries and Inconsistencies at the Lexicon:
http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/faq/mysteries.html
The Lexicon also gives pointers to message on the groups where this has
been discussed (which I need to go back through)

Rowling also answered a question from HPFGU during an interview in
October 2000:
--
Question: Harry Potter for grownups again! Is Voldemort the last
remaining ancestor of Slytherin, or the last remaining descendent of
Slytherin?

Answer: Ah, you spotted the deliberate error. Yes, it should read
"descendent." That's been changed in subsequent editions. (Keep hold of
the "ancestor" one, maybe it'll be valuable one day!)
--

Rowling is intentionally misleading us, and that just opens a whole
bunch of new doors. If V is the last ancestor (would that just make him
the oldest of the living heirs?), then it is quite possible for someone
else in the HP books to be an heir of Slytherin. If he is the last
descendent, it's impossible for any living characters (Harry) to be
related.

-Katze