The Dursleys

[va32h]

No: HPFGUIDX 167707

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboyminn at ...> wrote:
> bboyminn:
> 
> But did she /literally/ say "She is a Muggle". It seems
> to me that the books very much imply that Petunia is
> as muggle as they come, but that is colored by Harry's
> perception.
> 
> Do, you by chance have a direct quote of JKR saying that?
> Because from the two critical sources of information we
> have about that, it seems that JKR specifically avoided
> say it directly.
> 
> If by chance you can find a direct quote, I sense a 
> context to it. As I said, what we are lead to believe is
> colored by Harry's perception. Which means that JKR is
> likely going to try and re-enforce Harry perception
> until such time as a change needs to take place in the 
> story line. So, unless JKR gives a no-context unqualified
> statement, I'm afraid I can't accept it.


va32h here:

The quote most people use is this one:

"Is Aunt Petunia a Squib?

Good question. No, she is not, but—[Laughter]. No, she is not a 
Squib. She is a Muggle, but—[Laughter]. You will have to read the 
other books. You might have got the impression that there is a little 
bit more to Aunt Petunia than meets the eye, and you will find out 
what it is. She is not a squib, although that is a very good guess. 
Oh, I am giving a lot away here. I am being shockingly indiscreet."

from the 2004 Edinburgh Book Festival.

So that is her /literally/ saying "she is a Muggle", although I 
suspect you are going to say that the "but" equals the context you 
are talking about. 

Personally I don't find the statement that there is more than meets 
the eye enough to base an elaborate theory about Petunia being a spy 
for Dumbledore, but then, there are people who think that when JKR 
said "We now know that it's Ron and Hermione" she *really* meant "we 
know for now" which of course means that Hermione will dump Ron as 
soon as Harry realizes that he's been in love with her all along. So 
I have learned not to be surprised when readers disregard the words 
of the author because it interferes with a pet theory. 

JKR also says on her own website that Petunia has never performed 
magic and never will.(Rumors section) If Petunia ever *was* a witch, 
she would have had to perform magic, even accidental magic, or else 
how would she know she had any magic to renounce?

va32h