[HPforGrownups] Re: Is Dudley adopted?

[Iggy McSnurd]

No: HPFGUIDX 82467

> Ms. Tattersall:
> That's a fascinating theory. It does say that Petunia is Lily's
> *only* living relative. Dudley would be Lily's nephew, wouldn't he?
> The only hole I can see is that perhaps (suspected) squib Petunia's
> union with muggle Vernon has diluted the protective blood by one
> generation and renders Dudley powerless to protect Harry.

It could also, just as easily, be that Vernon is a widower, with Dudley from
a prior marriage... and he married Petunia when Dudley was only a baby as
well.  Since Vernon and Petunia have the same view of the magical world, she
would be a lot more likely to accept Dudley as her own son (even going so
far
as to possibly adopt him legally...) and treat him as she does.

This could explain why Dudley is Petunia's son, but not a blood relative of
Harry's.

>
> I'll be interested to see how the Evans family figures into this,
> especially if the "Mark Evans" mentioned in OoTP is the son of
> another of Lily's and Petunia's heretofore unmentioned siblings.
> Leave it to HP fans to shoot holes in JKR's well-crafted story arc!

I think we'll find out exactly how Mark Evans figures into things as well.

One thing I was thinking is that she doesn't mention Mark or his family, if
they are related to her, because they may be cousins that have some magic in
their line, or possibly that part of Petunia's resentment may be that she
ended up being disowned by her family.  Alternately, she may have
voluntarily separated and broke all ties to her family when she married
Vernon.  When one does this, they're not likely to mention a family member
even if they live across the street.


Iggy McSnurd
the Prankster

"Where are we going?
(And why am I in this handbasket?)"

-- ABS FIRECAT