Muggle-borns

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 168076

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Tandra" <tkjones9 at ...> wrote:
>
> Is there an explanation anywhere as to why or how Muggleborns come to be?  I'm not 
sure I worded that right but basically if you have no magic parents why do they have kids 
that are magical?  Also is it a hereditary thing?  If one child is will they all be? In the case of 
the Creeveys it seems so.  So that would lead us to believe that Petunia has possible 
powers but refuses to use or acknowledge them?  Any opinions or just information for me 
that I might not have? Thx :-)

Geoff:
I wonder whether this might be one of those ideas which occurred to
JKR as she was developing the stories and which she never fully thought 
through.

On the other hand, if we consider magic to be inherent or genetic, 
there are real world instances which might be considered as evidence. 
Happening to be the father of twins and having my non-twin eldest 
son married to someone who also has twin siblings, there is certainly 
evidence that the occurence of twins will sometimes skip a generation 
or so. There is also one of my sons who is 6'2" tall, about 6" taller 
than any of his siblings or parents. Where did his height come from?

There is another reference in canon which might be interesting in the 
light of the question Tandra has raised. It occurs in the conversation 
between Professor Trelawney and Dolores Umbridge after the latter's 
inspection visit:

'Professor Umbridge made another note.
"And you are a great-great-granddaughter of the celebrated Seer 
Cassandra Trelawney?"
"Yes," said Professor Trelawney, holding her head a little higher.
Another note on the clipboard.
"But I think - correct me if I am mistaken - that you are the first 
in your family since Cassandra to be possessed of Second Sight?"
"These things often skip - er - three generations," said Professor 
Trelawney.
Professor Umbridge's toadlike smile widened.
"Of course," she said sweetly, making yet another note.'
(OOTP "The Hogwarts High Inquisitor" p.281 UK edition)

Umbridge's reation - and maybe some of us reading this - is 
perhaps one of scepticism n believing that Trelawney has got the 
gift. But, even if she is not being truthful about her own gift, is it 
maybe the case that this gift and also the occurence of "Muggleism" 
does skip generations?