Wizard Genetics (Was Re: Lily's Family)

[lifeavantgarde]

No: HPFGUIDX 107884

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jmay_71" <jmay_71 at y...> wrote:
> Stefanie:
> 
> "Therefore Harry would be considered only 'half' wizard, because 
of his MOTHER'S GRANDPARENTS."
> 
> To me this is HUGE. 
> 
> Steve:
> > Until the statement has remained unchallenged on her website for 
> > 30 days, I'm not considering it a fact. Personally, I think she 
> > actually meant to say either 'his mother's PARENTS' or Harry's 
> > grandparents. 
> > 
> > dcgmck:
> > 
> > OK.  Caution duly noted... But... If, in fact, JKR actually 
> > titillated us intentionally instead of accidentally (and not 
just 
> out of the excitement of her recently announced pregnancy), why do 
I 
> have no recollection of anyone ever calling Harry a 'mudblood'?  
> Malfoy exhibits no reticence in using the term on everyone else of 
> evident Muggle heritage, so why stop with Harry, whom he so 
clearly 
> loathes and envies?
> 
> jmay:
> I may be a bit off topic here, but I am gonna go out on a limb and 
> guess that whether or not JKR made a mistake with Lily's parents 
or 
> grandparents doesn't really matter.  The big point she is trying 
to 
> make is that classification by blood is ridiculous.  She shows 
this 
> by comparing the DEs to the Nazis.  The complete and total irony 
> being both groups are/were following a leader who's genetic 
> background included that which they hate.

Stefanie:
I entirely agree that the blood classification is ridiculous, and I 
do think that JKR has been trying to make that clear not only in 
this FAQ but in all of the books. My thinking is that, if this isn't 
merely a slip, this phrase strongly hints that Lily's *parents* 
weren't Muggles, hence were wizards during the first rise of 
Voldemort which, as much speculation has been made, may case 
different light on the blood protection, Petunia's hate of magic, 
interactions between her and Dumbledore, Harry's lineage (possible 
Gryffindor ties through Lily?), etc.

While "blood status" has certainly been touted as ridiculous and 
bigoted in the books, family lineage certainly has not. With Heirs, 
MANY comparisons to parents, and other references to family (*who's* 
in one's past, not *what's* in one's past), the significance of 
choosing one's future either because of, or in spite of one's family 
has been emphasized greatly.