OoP: Weasley backstory (spoilers)

[andydarley]

No: HPFGUIDX 62955

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...until you've read that...


Apologies if this has been suggested previously. I had a quick look 
via the search and couldn't see it since OoP came out.

Here's a theory that would explain a great chunk of the Weasley 
backstory plus some of the 'blood traitor' stuff in OoP.

What if Arthur Weasley is on his second marriage?

His first marriage was to a Muggle, which is why he is a 'blood 
traitor', and Molly, a pureblood witch herself, is a 'blood traitor' 
for marrying him.

With his first wife, he had at least two children - Bill and Charlie. 
They were born in the run-up to the Voldemort years of terror. The 
first Mrs Weasley was killed by Voldemort or his supporters, possibly 
taking one or more children with her. Particularly poignant if a 
daughter was killed, given that he and Molly went on to have all 
those boys.

This is why Arthur makes those remarks about coming home and seeing 
the Dark Mark hovering over your house and knowing what is waiting 
inside - something we always thought had more to it. It also explains 
that curious age gap between the older and the younger Weasleys.

This explains Arthur's Muggle obsession, and why Sirius' mum keeps 
screaming "Half-breeds!" out of the portrait. She seems to say it as 
a result of behaviour from Fred and George, when they knock Ginny 
down the stairs.

It may also explain why both Bill and Charlie chose to take jobs 
abroad, why they are so keen to join in the fight against Voldemort 
and why their parents make no attempt to stop them. 

It provides excellent backstory for Dumbledore deciding to make Bill 
head boy of Hogwarts and makes Percy (pureblood himself, presumably) 
an even better catch for the Dark Side.

Although I still think he was bad, but not that bad... Imperius 
curse, anyone?

In this scenario, do the younger Weasleys know that their two eldest 
brothers are in fact half-brothers? Have they decided just not to 
mention it to Harry or Hermione?

Candidates for the identity of the first Mrs Weasley?

Also, I wonder who Ma Black really is. She continually talks about 
the 'house of my fathers' and we hear how Kreacher is more dedicated 
to him than to Pa Black. Obviously she's married into the Black 
family, but I would give a lot to know who she was in her own right.

L