Genetics, descent and Re: Mark Evans

[bluesqueak]

No: HPFGUIDX 86148

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dj_bagshaw" <kate_bag at h...> 
wrote:
> > Pip!Squeak:
> > The 'Evan' who gave his name to Mark's 
> > family line could well be a completely different person from 
> > the 'Evan' who gave his name to Lily's family line.
> <huge snip>
> 
> 
> Now Kate:  
> 
> There may be no canon evidence that Mark Evans isn't Harry's 
> relative, but there certainly isn't any evidence that he isn't, 
> either.  The point is, JKR *rarely* puts information like this in 
> her books just for it's own sake.  
> 
> Take book one for instance:  there is one very quick mention of 
> old Mrs. Figg, and an even *briefer* mention later in book 
> four...but neither of these were mistakes.  Mrs. Figg is turning 
> into an important character in the series...I expect we'll see 
> much more of her in the future.

Pip!Squeak:
Mrs Figg's screen time in book one is considerably more than Mark 
Evan's screen time. She breaks her leg, she gets knocked down by 
Dudley, she later gives Harry odd tasting chocolate cake. We know 
she lives two streets away, has lots of cats, and is regarded as mad.

Mark Evans gets one paragraph in OOP. The closer comparison is 
Sirius Black and his flying motorbike; but in that case there was no 
obvious connection to Harry. The use of 'Mark' and 'Evans' 
positively invites a comparison, especially since JKR later 
emphasises that 'Evans' was Harry's mother's surname.

> Kate:
> I would also like to add (as I am sure people before me have) that 
> JKR loves her names...and Mark Evans just seems like too common of 
> a name for it to be just a coincidence.  Why would she re-use the 
> Evans surname?  <Snip>
> I don't believe there have been any other instances of 
> reusing names in the Potter series unless a family relationship  
> was present).

Pip!Squeak:
Ummm.... I could be wrong about this, but I think in every other 
case we find out the relationship *before or at the same time* that 
we find the common surname? It's also been heavily emphasised that 
the *wizarding world* is very inbred; a common surname means a 
relationship. This is not the case in the *muggle world* (to which 
Mark Evans currently belongs).

<Snip>
> Kate:
> Reusing such a common surname just isn't like Rowling...she did it 
> for a reason.  This is just too inconsistant with her past writing 
> style to be a coincidence.  I believe JKR left us this hint on 
> purpose...whether it was a red herring or not will remain to be 
> seen.  

Pip!Squeak:
I agree that the name 'Mark Evans' is no co-incidence. The dead give-
away is the use of 'Mark', which is a very clear correspondence with 
Harry being 'marked'.

What I'm not sure of is whether JKR has *already* given us the 
parallel; and it's nothing to do with Mark getting a Hogwarts 
letter. 

At the start of PS/SS, Harry is ten years old, makes cheeky comments 
to Dudley, and is bullied by him. At the start of OOP, Mark Evans is 
ten years old, makes cheeky comments to Dudley, and gets bullied by 
him.

Dudley is still bullying 'Harry Potter'. He can't beat up the real 
one, but he's making do with imitations.

As to whether Mark would get a Hogwarts letter - we meet him in 
early August. If he turned eleven any time between then and late 
September, he should *already* be at Hogwarts.

Mark could turn up next year. Still doesn't mean he's a long lost or 
distant relative. There is the potential for a very nice plot line 
where Harry is fooled by the *wizarding* assumption that a common 
surname means a relationship. Then he finds that Mark is no relation 
to him, and he (Harry) truly has no family left besides the 
Dursley's [I can feel the tears coming to my eyes now ;-)]

Rowling (to date) isn't giving us happy endings. For Harry to find 
out he does have some family after all, and that he has things in 
common with that family? Too happy an ending. Unless, of course, 
Mark dies.

Let's hope for Mark's sake that he *isn't* related to Harry. Because 
if he is, he's doomed.

Pip!Squeak