Missing Weasley Children

[Linda C. McCabe]

No: HPFGUIDX 40570






Grey Wolf says : "I know we've had quite a bit of discussion
regarding the likelihood
of this naming scheme and theory since I brought it up a few weeks
ago. After reading everyone else's thoughts I've adapted what I
think is likely. I think they started with the alphabet scheme as
follows: Arthur, Bill, Charlie, ?David?, (Edward) Percy, Fred, George
-----Death of David and/or Weasley Grandparents who were watching him
w/Dark Mark over the Burrow leading to the re-examination of naming
scheme. Maybe it's bad luck, so they abandon it ---- Ron, Ginny"


ODAWN1965 was perplexed by this and asked:

Is there a specific reference to Percy being called Edward, or
is "Percy" a nickname for "Edward" in the UK? That is a new one on
me!


Athena:

As the person who brought forward this theory known by two different
acronyms as

H.A.G.R.I.D. W.A.N.T.S. B.R.A.S.S. D.R.A.G.O.N.S. A.S. P.E.T.S.
(Harry's All-seing Groupie Ron Is Demonstrated: Weasleys Alphabetically
Naming Their Sons Brings Ron As Seventh Son, David (Really A Good
Offspring) Never Survived Although Still Positionating Exactly Third
Son)

or

W.A.N.D.S. C.R.I.S.S.-C.R.O.S.S.

(Weasleys Alphabetically Named Dead Son; Consequently, Ron Is Seventh Son,
Covert Recipient Of Second Sight)

the Edward Percival thing is my attempt to reconcile a small little wrinkle
in an alphabetic naming scheme.  It's something I've noticed that some
families decide that cutesy naming schemes for kids.  One example is that
they are all named with the same first letter, Jenny, Jeremey, James, Jill,
etc.

I had noticed the B, C, F, G with the names with the Bill, Charlie, Fred and
George.  Somewhat alphabetical.  Add Arthur to the beginning and it's even
more alphabetical.  Some don't like this because they think Bill is short
for William.  However, in PoA when talking about the Grim, Ron mentioned an
Uncle Bilious that died after seeing one.  I think Bill was named after his
uncle and is commonly called Bill rather than Bilious.  (heck that would be
my preference!)

The gap between Charlie and Percy could be filled with a dead brother which
I named David.  Then I needed to make Percy into an E name.  Since many,
many people do not like their first names and are called by their middle
names I thought this might occur here too.  "My real name is Edward, but
everyone calls Percy" thing.

JKR has such a talent for slightly obscuring things such as Scabbers being
old and missing a finger that one glosses over it.  I think she wanted to do
the Seventh Son legend, but was afraid of making it obvious.  So rather than
do a strict alphabetical name scheme with a gap for David she slightly
obscured it with Percy's name.

We also don't really know what Ron or Ginny's formal names are.  The CTTMNBN
had McGonagall say his name out loud, but in canon - his name is not called.
He might have a different first name other than Ronald - possibly starting
with the letter H.  Maybe, but not necessary.  The Weasleys might have
abandoned that cutesy naming scheme after David was killed thinking it was
bad luck.  (And there's lots of speculation as to what Ginny is short for.
Maybe Ginny is short for Iphigenia. Ugh!, but we'll never know for sure
because Harry missed her sorting!)

Anyway, it's more than just speculating that Ron is a Seventh Son because
heck it sounds good and maybe we can squeeze in another child in the big gap
between Charlie and Percy.  It's trying to extract wispy clues that might be
intentionally muddied by the high priestess of plot diversion.



ODAWN1965 asked further:

Is there a website that explains the meaning of all the names?
Also, looking for a comprehensive list of the foods named in the
books. (The WW foods, "Bertie Botts EFB", etc.)

Athena:

Check out Arabella Figg's Hogwart's Express:
http://www.angelfire.com/mi3/cookarama/namemean.html

She also has some nice dictionaries to check out.
and you can always check the HP Lexicon

http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/



Hope that helps,

Athena