Mark Evans

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 85020

Having just caught up with the last hundred or so messages which 
seemed to appear while I blinked, I have been pondering over our 
friend Mark Evans and felt I could add a few thoughts.

(1) On the question of Petunia being the only living relative, we 
have looked at the possiblity of folk further over on the family 
tree. I mentioned in a message some weeks ago on this very topic that 
I went to Yorkshire earlier this year to meet a distant cousin on my 
father's side of the family. I knew of her existence but never 
realised that she was a family member until after my father's death 
ten years ago. Although I am related to her, if someone were to ask 
me to name my cousins etc., I think I would be inclined to forget to 
include her on the list. She is in fact a relative via my great-
grandparents... and don't ask me which cousin that makes her. Pass. 
If such a situation obtained with Harry and Mark, would Dumbledore 
necessarily be aware of it?

(2) Someone reminded us that Madame Bones commented that there were 
no wizards recorded as being in Little Whinging. This overlooked 
Arabella Figg, who was a squib. It is therefore possible that Mark is 
the child of squibs or a muggle and squib who have evaded the 
surveillance of the Ministry.

(3) On the subject of accidental magic. Harry has performed this on 
various occasions as we know - the hair growing, the roof, the zoo, 
Aunt Marge's wineglass, Aunt Marge herself and so on. We also know 
that on occasions, he has been bullied by Dudley and his sidekicks. 
What triggers off this reaction? Is it just chance? Does his fear or 
anger have to reach a certain point on the dial before his head of 
steam blows?

I do get a feeling that Harry is more aware of accidental magic as 
time goes on:

"Harry got through the next three days by forcing himself to think 
about his 'Handbook of Do-it-Yourself Broomcare' whenever Aunt Marge 
started on him. This worked quite well...." (POA p.25 UK edition)

This implies that he has become more conscious of the possibility of 
something happening.

Geoff