Cousins by marriage ?

[scoutmom21113]

No: HPFGUIDX 106684

> According to Mutt's explanation of genealogical terminology, then, 
> Molly's cousin could have married a cousin of Sirius, thus making 
> them cousins by marriage without reference to Arthur Weasley, 
right?
> 
> "dcgmck"

Correct. As I interpret genealogy, Ted Tonks is Sirius' "cousin-in-
law", usually shortened to just "cousin", because Ted married 
Sirius' first cousin.  Ted Tonks' brother, if he has one, would be 
Sirius' "cousin by marriage".

What the "by marriage" means is that there is no blood relationship 
between you. Two people are part of the same extended family only 
because two other people in that family got married some time in the 
past; you both share relatives but aren't related youselves.  It 
makes that "by marriage" relation an honorary member of your family, 
but there is no legal or blood relationship.

I think that Sirius was telling Harry that he was related to Arthur 
and "connected" to Molly even before those two married each other.

Hope this helps reduce the confusion.

Ravenclaw Bookworm