[HPforGrownups] Re: questions about HP (Evans?)

[Robert Shaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 82611

 "Phil Boswell"  wrote:
>>
>> Having said which, you've then got to wonder where Petunia Evans
> (as was) got to know quite so much about Azkaban and Dementors, etc.
> The Grangers don't seem to be so aware of the ins-and-outs of the
> wizarding world; I'm sure Hermione remarks on this at some point (?).
>
> ---
> That's why I've been theorizing that there are squibs/wizards
> somewhere in the Evans' background. Petunia's knowledge and the
> introduction of Mark Evans have bright flashing lights saying Big
> Hint.

Marks Evans is unlikely to be a close relative, perhaps a second or
third cousin. Otherwise the Dursley's wouldn't have been the only
choice.

If he's a distant relative that doesn't explain Petunia's knowledge.
Magical Evanses would be too thinly scattered through the family tree
for the family as a whole to have such knowledge.

There is a very different group of possibilities which would also
explain Petunia's knowledge.

Suppose Petunia had a close encounter with the wizarding world when
she was younger.

Maybe marauders visited Lily one summer, but weren't very discreet.
Petunia can be very nosy.

Maybe death eaters attacked the Evans house because James was
there, an encounter which could well leave Petunia terrified of magic
and adequately informed about its darker side.

Maybe, if Voldemort targeted the muggle relatives of wizards, Petunia
had to spend a few months in protective custody, either at Hogwarts or
the Ministry of Magic, so Voldemort couldn't get at Lily and James by
threatening Petunia.

There are several other options along this general line.

I'm not aware of any firm canonical support for this possibility, other
than Petunia's knowledge, but the same applies to the Evanses being
a semimagical family.

In the absence of further evidence I'd judge these two theories
(Magic in the Family, and A Magical Encounter) equally likely.

Does anyone else know any good evidence for either theory?

-- 
Robert