Black Family Tree *possible spoilers*

[exodusts]

No: HPFGUIDX 147256

Christina:
> If Charlus and Dorea really are James's parents (which I am still 
not
> convinced that they are - the dates are kind of wonky), then James 
and
> Sirius could have been *very* closely related.  James and Sirius 
could
> have been as close as first cousins.  I don't see anything *wrong*
> with that, but I personally dislike it.  The power of the bond 
between
> James and Sirius lies in the fact that they were as close as 
brothers
> even though no blood (supposedly) connected them.  JKR has 
continually
> demonstrated that the bonds of friendship can be just as strong (and
> in many cases, stronger) than the bonds of blood.  If James and 
Sirius
> were blood-related, it weakens the meaning their relationship has, 
for
> me.  If the Potters were related to Sirius, it also lessens the
> meaning (for me) in taking him in as a "second son."  Ditto for 
Harry
> and the Weasleys.  The gift of family that the Weasleys give to 
Harry
> is meaningful because they *aren't* his family (well, now they might
> be, but you know what I mean).  Those are just my personal feelings,
> of course.
> 
> One more thing that's really bothering me - if Dorea and Charlus 
were
> James's parents, wouldn't they be blasted off the tapestry for 
taking
> in blood-traitor!Sirius and treating him as a son?
> 


There's a quote from the 16 July 2005 Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet 
JKR interview that both supports and undermines the idea that Charlus 
and Dorea are Harry's grandparents:

"As a writer, it was more interesting, plot-wise, if Harry was 
completely alone. So I rather ruthlessly disposed of his entire 
family apart from Aunt Petunia. I mean, James and Lily are massively 
important to the plot, of course, but the grandparents? No. And, 
because I do like my backstory: Petunia and Lily's parents, normal 
Muggle death. James's parents were elderly, were getting on a little 
when he was born, which explains the only child, very pampered, had-
him-late-in-life-so-he's-an-extra-treasure, as often happens, I 
think. They were old in wizarding terms, and they died. They 
succumbed to a wizarding illness."

James was supposedly born around 1959 or 1960. Since Dorea was born 
in 1920, that would make her 39 or 40 when he was born, thus a 
relatively "late-in-life" mother. But is 57 (her age of death) "old 
in wizarding terms"? You would think that in wizarding terms, old 
would mean OLD. And what about "I rather ruthlessly disposed of his 
ENTIRE family"?

exodusts