McGonagall a Muggle? (Was: Did I Miss Something?)

[Missy]

No: HPFGUIDX 81377

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Matt" <hpfanmatt at g...> wrote:
> --- Responding to Pip's theory that McGonagall
> is Muggle-born, Wendy wrote: 
>  
> > I've never heard this theory ... and I'd like 
> > to know how you think it fits with a bit of 
> > canon that's been bothering me (from the first 
> > chapter of the first book). When Minerva meets 
> > Dumbledore at the Dursleys, during their 
> > conversation she says:
> > 
> > "'You'd think they'd be a bit more careful, 
> > but no -- even the Muggles have noticed 
> > something's going on. It was on their news.' 
> > She jerked her head back at the Dursleys' dark 
> > living-room window. 'I heard it. Flocks of 
> > owls...shooting stars...Well, they're not 
> > completely stupid.'"
> 
> Along the same lines, in the same conversation,
> McGonagall strongly objects to DD's placing 
> Harry with the Dursleys on the ground (and I 
> paraphrase only slightly) that "you couldn't 
> find a bunch of Muggles more unlike *us*."
> 
I want to address these two comments in relation to Wendy's original 
post.  The first comment can be taken to mean that she is anti-
muggle, and that her remark is unkind.  However, there are several 
things that could be happening during this conversation.  DD could be 
giving her a look of disbelief about this being on the news.  
McGonagall's response is actually aimed at him.  However, since this 
is not specicially said to be the case in the canon, it can not be 
assumed.  The comment should also be taken in the full view of the 
magical world's context.  Muggles tend to brush off everything they 
see as strange with some sort of explaination.  Therefore, it is 
likely that the story about the owls, shooting stars, etc. if each 
was happening by itself would be given some sort of muggle like spin 
that wizards would see as stupid.  For example, a muggle upon 
noticing that all of the lights on Privet Drive went out would 
probably attribute it to a power failure.  Wizards would laugh, 
because they know it's the put-outter.  Normally, owls and shooting 
stars would probably recieve no news coverage, or would be followed 
by something other than "Very strange".  But this time the muggles 
could find no other explanation, and have to leave it at that.  
Therefore eliciting the "Well they're not completely stupid," 
comment.  Which also leads to the implication that with this one, the 
Muggles can not continue to bury their heads in the sand.


As for the Dursley's and her comment about how Muggle like they are, 
and how unlike Wizards they are, she is concerned for Harry.  Harry 
has the potential to be very powerful.  But this will not be fostered 
in this home.  She probably can see that.  She has seen Dudley-
diddums kicking his mother down the street.  And she does not want 
Harry to grow up in a household like this.
Missy