Petunia & Family

[abergoat]

No: HPFGUIDX 159699

Welcome to both of you!

Here is what little JKR has given us:

Leaky Cauldron Interview, 2005
<snip>
JKR: They [James' parents] were old in wizarding terms, and they died.
They succumbed to a wizarding illness. That's as far as it goes.
There's nothing serious or sinister about those deaths. I just needed
them out of the way so I killed them.

MA: That sort of shuts down Heir of Gryffindor [theories], as well.

JKR: [Pause.] Yeah. Well - yeah.

MA: Another one bites the dust.
<snip>

JK Rowling's World Book Day Chat - 2004
<snip>
Rita: What happend to Harry's grandparents? Will we ever learn about them?
JK Rowling replies -> They're all dead and not particularly important
to the story, although you will find out a little bit more.
<snip>

Abergoat writes:
There is an earlier quote where she says something similar to the
World Day Book Chat, without the 'they are not particularly important'.

Some posters noticed that James is obsessed with the snitch (doodles
it on his OWL paper and plays with one) even though JKR has said he is
a chaser rather than a seeker. Someone speculated James's 'inherited
wealth' may come from the fact he is descended from the inventor of
the Golden Snitch (600 years ago as described in JKR's charity books).
I thought it was a fun idea.

It is also thought that JKR's hesitation of the 'not the heir of
godric' might mean the James's family had collected the sword even if
they weren't related to him. I thought that was a fun idea too and
would explain why they are 'mentioned' in book seven without being
particularly important.

Abergoat