Otters and weasels (Was: Hermione's Patonus)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 119580


Steve wrote:
> Well that clears up why Hermione's patronus is an otter. But what
about the references to other otter related animals around the Burrow?

Carol (belatedly going upthread) responds:
I don't know how they relate to Hermione's patronus, but it's
interesting that the Weasley (Weasel-ly) family would live near
Otter-y St. Catchpole. There must be some sort of connection. Possibly
JKR wants to partially vindicate weasels, which she sees as having an
undeserved bad reputation? I know that sounds silly, but why give them
the name Weasley and point out the connection so we don't miss it (as
in Draco's reference to "Potty and the Weasel") if it doesn't have
some significance? (Odd, too, that Draco is turned into a white
ferret, rather like an ermine--white having reference to his pale
blond hair, I suppose, rather than to White or Light magic; JKR
clearly avoids associating whiteness with goodness.) Or maybe there's
traditional symbolism attached to those animals, as there is with the
badger (the patron animal of Hufflepuff).

Carol, who finally realized, thanks to this thread, why the Weasels',
erm, Weasleys', house is called the Burrow