Mark Evans vs. Dudley Dursley (was Mark Evans - evans, Evans, EVANS

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No: HPFGUIDX 86303

<lots of snipping>:
Pipsqueak: But she didn't pick that type of surname for Lily. With all
the possibilities - the place names where everyone is from the same 
small area, the names derived from famous families, the names 
derived from one small family who immigrated to England centuries 
ago ... she picked 'Evans'...And one thing we know about JKR - she
picks character names with great care.

Carol: Mark is either a Muggle-born wizard presumably related to Lily
because of the coincidence of names and exactly the right age to
attend Hogwarts next year or a Muggle red herring with whom JKR has
chosen to tease us. I know I can't convince you, but IMO the first
option is much more likely.

Pipsqueak: Dumbledore refers to the Dursley's as Harry's only family.



Now me: 

Perhaps Dumbledore referred to the Dursleys as Harry's only living
family, but meant his only living *magical* family.  Could there be
someone in this dismal family who actually has any magical ability? 
Vernon Dursley? Yuck. Definitely not. Petunia? Perhaps...but after her
speech regarding her her "special" sister, Lily, it's kind of
doubtful. She's far too jealous of Lily's magical ability to have any
of her own. But Dudley? Hmmm...

Let's think about how awful it would be for Petunia, who has come to
hate the entire magical world and everyone in it, to give birth to a
magical little Duddykins.  What would she do?  Well, for starters, she
would make sure that no one, even Dudley, found out about that magical
ability.  How would she do this?  Think about all of the times that
Harry's magical ability accidently "popped out" and showed itself. It
was always during times when he was angry, frustrated, and furious.
(Petunia may have experienced similar "accidents" from her sister
while the two girls were growing up). So, in order to keep Dudley's
little secret, she will simply have to make sure that he is never,
ever unhappy. That is, give him every single thing he ever wants.
Cater to his every wish. Allow him every opportunity to behave in
whatever foul, selfish, gluttonous way he wishes.  If he's never
unhappy, his magic will never "pop out." Problem solved.

As for Mark Evans? Could be a distant cousin. Could be a *magical*
distant cousin born to the Muggle Evans family.  I agree that the age
of ten is a very significant one.  For one thing, he wasn't born
during the first war, when Dumbledore was looking for a home for
Harry. If this other magical cousin had been alive at the time, Harry
may have ended up with a far nicer adoptive family. For another thing,
he's just coming upon the age of Hogwarts eligibility.  Seems very
JKR-ish to name a character in one book, then reveal him (by showing
up under next year's Sorting Hat, perhaps?) in the next book.

:: Entropy ::