[HPforGrownups] Re: Speculation on the Potters

[eloiseherisson at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 44605

 bugaloo37 writes to Freya:

> This is very interesting.  And given what you said in your next post 
> concerning the fact that the Dursleys's were not necessarily Harry's 
> only living relatives (something apparently the movie added), it adds 
> to the notion that the Dursley's were perhaps Harry's only Muggle 
> relatives.  

IIRC, canon does indeed not say that the Durlsey's are Harry's only living 
relatives, but that, 'They're the only family he has left now'.

Yes, it does. I've just checked (Ch. 1, PS/SS).
What this *means* of course is open to speculation, but given the Dursley's 
treatment of Harry (they are family only in the most basic of senses) then I 
think the interpretation 'only living relatives' is perfectly reasonable. 

If this phrase is used in the CWMNBN (I've only seen it once)  then I would 
hope that it had JKR's approval, particularly as the speculation which 
abounds on the subject is affected profoundly by whether or not it is 
accurate. Could she really sanction the use of a statement which contradicted 
some important plot development in a later book? Or did she not have a say?

Personally, I choose to interpret Dumbledore's words in their most obvious 
sense, that the Dursleys *are* Harry's only living relatives and I reject all 
theories which try to prove that he is related to Snape, or Voldemort or 
Dumbledore, until proved wrong, at which point, as I have had to do before, I 
will eat my pointy black hat.

Yes, it is true that one of Dumbledore's highest priorities was to save Harry 
from the effects of early adulation. But if Snape is his uncle, as some 
speculate, would he really let him grow up with a sense of his own 
importance? No! (The broom cupboard would probably be a kinder option!)

And later we learn of the protection that Harry has from staying with his 
family. Would Dumbledore really let him stay with the Durselys if there was 
another family member with whom he would enjoy the same protection?

If Arabella Figg, as we speculate, has been willing to adopt the life of a 
Muggle, then surely a wizarding relative might do the same in order to 
protect him from both Voldemort and the effects of fame? (That sounds a bit 
'Disney Sleeping Beauty' as opposed to ' A bit Star Wars', but I think it's 
valid.)

I'll take a lot of convincing that there's a strong argument in favour of 
Harry's having other blood relatives.

Eloise


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