Fleur Delacour & Half Blood Prince

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 121808


SSSusan wrote:
> "I thought the correct spelling of Fleur's last name was Delacoeur
> [note the "e"].  That would mean "flower of the *heart,*" not
"flower of the court," would it not?"
> 
> Del replies:
> This is apparently a common HP myth, and I wonder where it comes
from. I guess that's because "Flower of the heart" would be immensely
more romantic than "Flower of the court". But unfortunately "Flower of
the heart" would have been Fleur Ducoeur :-)
> 
> Oh, by the way, don't let JKR fool you : "cour" doesn't mean only
"court" as in royal court. It can also mean "court" as in courtyard,
as in court of law. Just because, IIRC, JKR hinted at the first
possible meaning doesn't necessarily mean that's the meaning she used
(if any!) in her books.

Carol notes:
SSS, you're not the only one who's made this mistake. JKR addresses it
in one of her interviews:

Q: Is there a reason Fleur's name means "flower of the heart"?

JKR: Ah, Narri, you're nearly there... in fact, it means "flower of
the court," like a noblewoman. Heart is "coeur." (I used to be a
French teacher, sorry.) 

http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2000/1000-livechat-aol.html

Re the meaning of "court," I do think it suggests a royal court rather
than a court of law. Fleur certainly expects to be treated like
royalty, at least before Harry rescues little Gabrielle in the Second
Task. Also note the description of Draco in OoP (I think) "holding
court" at the Slytherin table. I think we can pretty much infer that
he's behaving like a prince or king rather than a judge--as befits a
descendant of "nature's nobility," the Black family. And of course
Fleur is a descendant of a Veela. (Still don't understand how you can
be "part" Veela if the father has to be human. Wouldn't all Veelas
marry wizards and have only full-blooded Veela children? Unless there
are male Veelas, which doesn't fit the mythological background.)

And Del, I know this is OT, but can you explain (maybe offlist) why it
would be "du" instead of "de la" if her name meant "of the heart"
instead of "of the court"?

Carol, who has a remote ancestor named de la Motte (of the moat)?