[HPforGrownups] Come out Petunia (long)

[Vivamus]

No: HPFGUIDX 120856

> charme:
> <snip>
> I keep asking myself what the deal is with
> Petunia: there's a bit more to Petunia, JKR says, but she's a 
> Muggle?  The question of Petunia's relationship to Lily has 
> been called into question on this list many times:  is 
> Petunia *really* Lily's sister?  Is she really a Muggle? Is 
> she a latent Witch? Is she just a cruel twit who was jealous 
> of her sister and displaces all her anger and fears of magic on Harry?

Vivamus:
Whatever else she is -- and I agree with you that these are fascinating
questions -- she must be Lilly's sister, or the blood protection would not
work.

> Notice most of these questions come after it's been revealed 
> in CoS what Lily "looks like," as there are no pictures of 
> the Potters in the Dursley household when the septology 
> starts. (PS/SS)  There are then references to the Petunia's 
> facial characteristics: blonde hair, long horsey face, and 
> pale eyes which almost lead the reader wonder how in hell 
> Lily & Petunia could be sisters, such as:
> 
> OoP/US/pg 38:  "Her large pale eyes (so unlike her sister's) 
> were not narrowed in dislike or anger:...."
> 
> So unlike her sister's, huh? Well, I have a theory:  perhaps 
> Petunia is a Metamorphmagus. 
<snipping some good points about Petunia's treatment of Harry>

Vivamus:
While I like the idea, there is one small and one really gaping hole in it.
The small hole is that I think metamorphmagi being really rare makes it
pretty far-fetched that Lilly's sister would be one -- unless, as you
suggest, BOTH Petunia and Harry are metamorphmagi.

The gaping hole is the description of Petunia as being ugly.  The idea that
a woman who could choose her own appearance would permanently choose
ugliness is pretty hard to swallow.   She very well may not want to be so
curvey that she has men falling all over her, but I doubt that any woman
born would choose to have an ugly face, if she had a choice about it.


> Only JKR knows and it's apparent we don't have the full story 
> about Petunia yet. :)  I can't wait til we do....
> 
> charme

Vivamus:
Me, too.