The Whole Evans Theory

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 85070

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, nymphadoraotonks at a... wrote:

> Intrigued by recent posts on the Evanses and Petunia, ...edited...
> 
> In the Chapter 'The Boy Who Lived', when Dumbledore and McGonagall 
> are discussing whether or not it is wise to leave Harry with the 
> Dursleys, DD says that they are the only family he has. In canon, 
> wouldn't this negate any possibility of there being more Evanses or 
> Potters out there?
> 
> -Tonks


There are several places where the Dursley are referred to as the only
family Harry has, his only remaining relatives, and assorted other
phrase to the same affect.

But, from a practical point of view, what are the actual chances that
there is not another living person on the face of the earth who has
not even so much as a single drop of Potter or Evans blood in them? 

You're free to see it as you will, but for me, that is as close to
impossible as you can get.

As, I've pointed out many times, it is reasonably logical to think
that there are people on this earth who have a common ancestral link
to the Potters or Evans, but that relationship is so thin and distant
as to be insignificant.

As a result, many of us have re-interpreted these statements as
meaning Harry has no other *immediate* family. In addition, there
would really be no need for Dumbledore to look deeply into either the
Potter or Evans family trees because Petunia, Lily's sister, was right
there in England, and was of an age, and in a situation, where it was
possible for her to take care of a baby, and she was aware of the
existance of the wizard world. 

My position is that Durleys being Harry only remaining family and Mark
Evans being a very distant cousin are not irreconcilable circumstances.

However, if you try to speculate any close family ties between them 
(Harry and Mark), you are going against multiple direct statements in
the book to the contrary.

Most of our speculation is based on us obsessed readers finding it odd
that JKR would re-use the name Evans. 

I'll be the first to admit, that coming up with character names is a
difficult task. Much more difficult than the average person would
realize. I'm (temporarily stalled) writing an Adult HP story where I
have one character named James Dunhill, and two Freds and two Sams.
The name Dunhill came from a pack of cigarettes. How unoriginal was
James as a name? 

I tried to create memebers of the Chudley Cannons who will appear at
Ron's birthday party. I went through countless name and countless
hours before coming up with a set of names and personalities to go
with them. Not an easy task.

BUT STILL, JKR is much much much much better at this than I am, and I
find it hard to believe she couldn't come up with another last name.
If he is just a generic kid doomed to stay in the background, then why
not Mark Smith, or Mark Jones? So I conclude that this must be a
significant person.

The next clue is that he is 10 years old, one year short of Hogwarts.
If he is insignificant, then why make him 10? Why not 9 or 12? 

Too big a coincidence to not be significant, if you ask me.

But then, that's just my opinion.

bboy_mn