Dudley & Late Magic

[Cathy Drolet]

No: HPFGUIDX 107961

JKR said  "In my books, magic almost always shows itself in a person before age 11; however, there is a character who does manage in desperate circumstances to do magic quite late in life, but that is very rare in the world I am writing about." 

For me this rules out Dudders.  I don't think 16/17 can be considered *quite* late in life even when most kids start before the age of eleven.  I was trying to think of any time he *saw* magic being performed and came up with very few instances that he could copy even in *desperate circumstances.*  

PS - he is given a pig's tail by Hagrid but no incantation is spoken
CoS - he hears Harry muttering nonsense words - nothing of value there
PoA - Harry blew up his aunt and a wine goblet - again no incantation spoken; Dudley may have seen the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad performing a Memory Charm on Marge.  Could come in handy if he did see it and had Harry's wand close at hand
GoF - Mr. Weasly blew open the fireplace - no incantation; Dudley dear was too overcome with his tongue to have heard any other incantations if there were any (there must have been unless Mr. W does spells without incantations, like Hagrid did)
OotP - May have heard Harry's Expecto Patronum but couldn't possibly be expected to produce a patronus himself even in desperate circumstances

Also, if Dudley became magical at 16, how would he fit into Hogwarts or would they even take him?  He'd be six years behind everyone of his age in magical learning so he couldn't go in with the sixth years.  Dumping him in with first years would make him an outcast (at least he'd get a glimpse of how Harry has felt living with the Durlseys but I can't imagine JKR starting up a storyline like that this late in the series) and I can't see Draco and his gang having anything to do then.  Besides we get enough Harry Hunting/Bashing/Bullying from Dudders at Privet Drive.

>From JKRs statement, I'm thinking this is a one shot deal...performed in desperate circumstances.  Those who come to mind as possibilities are:

Mrs. Figg was raised by magical people.  Quite likely tried magic before she found out she was a Squib.  She would at least know some spells from living with magic.  No, she didn't do anything in the alley when the Dementors showed up, she wasn't actually *on the spot* so to speak.  She was also wandless.  Desperate circumstances or not, she was helpless at that moment.  Which is not to say she couldn't come in handy in a tight spot in one of the next two books. 

Aunt Petunia has seen the spells Mr. Weasley performed (if indeed he used incantations) if she wasn't so hysterical over Dudders that she missed them, which is quite likely.  However, we also know she saw Lily 'turning teacups into rats.'  She may be able to call up that incantation in a pinch, desperate circumstances, if she is protecting Dudley/Vernon and Harry's wand is handy.  Certainly would be a shock for Vernon wouldn't it?  (I'm believing the books which so far seem to indicate that Petunia is a Muggle not a Squib and her parents were Muggles.)

Mr. Filch, another Squib, has seen more than his share of spells and incantations, I'm sure.  He's also, at least considered a Kwikspell course, whether he took it or not, we don't know.  I think he'd come in handy in a sticky situation although I think he'd be a horror with a wand if it came down to developing magic late in life and keeping the ability.  Talk about amazing bouncing ferrets!  (Just a side thought.  Since Filch sided with Umbridge in OotP will he still be around Hogwarts in HBP? DD would know by now that Filch is not loyal to him.)

Sorry this is so long...just trying to relieve my mind of some of the stuff rolling (hehe Rowling) around in there! ;)


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