Theory on Petunia

[laurawkids]

No: HPFGUIDX 156482

Wow!  I guess I now know what Yahoomort does...he kills your post if
you try to preview and then edit it...I saw a flash of green light...

> Laurawkids wrote:
> > I have finally put together a theory that hits close to home
> > (I hope I am not just redoing someone else's idea)...
> >
> > Petunia has House Elf in her blood, which would qualify for
> > having *more* to her (humanness).  She keeps a suspiciously
> > clean home, and identifies her self worth too closely with it.
> > She also really seems to obey the master of the house.  She has
> > her own kind of magic ; )  !
> > She would not know about it though

New comment by Laurawkids:   I am proposing that she had a great
grandma or pa elf, but has no ability to use elfin magic.  She does
have a deep, driving need to keep a clean house, and make the men
(sans Harry) very good or at least copious food.  This drive is what
is left of the effects of the elf blood.  She happens to be on the
thin side, despite all the food that must be made to keep the
Dudders and old Vern so well rounded.  Maybe it's hereditary.

> Laurawkids:
> > and could discover it as follows:
> >
> > With JKR's remarks tonight about wand use, it got me to
> > thinking. If a Half-Blood-Elf-Petunia were to try to wield
> > Harry's wand in an emergency, she would be sent an owl
> > informing her that she had broken the ban on wand use by
> > non-wizards.  <snip>
>
> hpfan_mom now:
> <snip>
> But I am a little concerned about how JKR responded to the rumor
> that Petunia "will start exhibiting magical tendencies:"
>
> "No, she won't.  Aunt Petunia has never performed magic, nor will
> she ever be able to do so."
>
> http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/rumours_view.cfm?id=37

Laurawkids:  Right, Petunia will only be holding Harry's wand, which
will do some sort of magic, and cause some sort of "nasty accident".
Now we would know it was Harry's wand doing the magic, but if he
were out of range for some reason, the Winky-inspired-elf-doing-
magic-with-a-wand-detector would dispatch an owl.  The letter would
be clearly labeled for Petunia, and accuse her.  Harry being caught
for Dobby's magic can parallel Petunia being caught for Harry's
wand's magic.
Here are what I'm taking this from:

"She also said that people had wondered what would happen if a
Muggle got his/her hands on a wand. I think she said that there
would probably be an accident, but I don't seem to have gotten that
down in my notes." Fan report of NY reading event from Miriam for
Mugglenet

"JKR did say that a Muggle would probably have a nasty accident if
he came into contact with a wand. She explained this being due to
the fact that she views a wand as an extension of its wizard owner,
or a focus of the wizard's powers (or something along those lines)."
by Josh, on Mugglenet at bottom of Miriam's report

> hpfan_mom:
> I'm at work and don't have my books with me but maybe there's an
> out for JKR in that explanation we get about a house-elf's brand
> of magic and how they can disapparate within Hogwarts to perform
> their work.  However, stating categorically that Petunia will
> never perform magic, then making her part-elf and gleefully
> crying, "I meant wizard magic, not house-elf magic!" seems a bit
> tricky, even for her.

Laurawkids:
Right, she should not get to let Petunia do magic of her own after
saying these things.

> hpfan_mom, trying SO hard not to picture the union that would
> result in a half-blood elf . . .

You already have canon to help you picture a little: Hagrid's Dad
and his really really big boned Wife.  ; )  I mean c'mon...what's
the point?!!

Laura