The Evans Theory

[phoenixmum]

No: HPFGUIDX 85340

Agreeing with Geoff:

I, too, thought the Evans name was too great a coincidence to be 
insignificant. I assummed that we would find out in a later book that 
Mark was some distant relative of Harry's through his mother, like a 
second or third cousin ( I never have understood how these degrees of 
relatedness were calculated).  But I've just now begun to wonder if 
Dudley knows of this relatedness.  Petunia seems to be totally cut 
off from her own family, or it is all deceased.  Does Dudley even 
know that his mother's maiden name is Evans, or does he just assume 
that the Evans name is common enough that there is no connection. 
Does he in fact pick on Mark *because* he is a relation? If he is a 
wizarding but squib relation, that would explain his particular 
hostility to Mark.  But I'm inclined to believe that it's just Mark's 
small size that makes him a target.

I also agree with the theory that any other relation besides Petunia 
was not close enough in blood for Dumbledore's protective charm to 
work, but can see the possibility that DD just was unaware of these 
distant relatives. Perhaps Mark, if of wizarding descent, was also  
orphaned and placed with non-wizarding relatives, or is the child of 
a deceased wizard/witch and a muggle parent. If the latter, that 
would explain the ministry having no record of his presence: he 
hasn't shown signs of magic, and his living parent is a muggle (or 
squib).


Phoenix