[HPforGrownups] Re: Who came to magic late in life?

[k12listmomma]

No: HPFGUIDX 172567

>> Eddie
>> Who came to magic late in life?  Did I miss it?


dkewpie:
> A few of us stressed many times on this list that person is Merope.
> For some reason that seems to be so hard to believe for a lot people and I 
> still don't understand why.
> It just seems so obvious to me when JKR mention that prior the release of 
> HBP in the interview she's referring to Merope.
>
> Just please, I hope no one is wasting time asking her that again in the 
> upcoming live chat...that'll be such a wasted question which could have 
> been other more interseting question.
>
> It's MEROPE, people just accept that and leave it at that!
>
> Jo


Shelley:
No, I won't! I'm sorry- I've seen this question asked on so many lists- 
hundreds of times already since DH came out- not just this one, but also on 
Mugglenet and others, that it's pretty clear to me that a LOT of people 
expected her to answer that question in Book 7. If a lot of the fandom has 
that same question, then it would be a perfect question to ask in the live, 
upcoming chat, because it really is common question.

You are the first person I've ever heard say Merope. That doesn't even fit 
canon- we never see a time when she doesn't use magic, and then is later 
able to. We see Dumbledore saying "she wasn't at her best" when her dad was 
bossing her around every 5 seconds, belittling her in every way, but once he 
lands in jail, she is free to "be herself" and relax, and it's then that she 
shows her true abilities. That isn't anywhere near "learning to use magic 
LATE in life".

It's the same way that Neville would be excluded- he does magic in his early 
years at Hogwarts, even if it's lacking in confidence until he gets Harry as 
a teacher in DA and then starts blooming in confidence and strength.

The reverse process is seen in Tonks during her mourning time when she's 
lovesick over Lupin- a great witch who's powers are diminished for a while. 
I bet the moment Lupin gave in and they started planning their wedding, all 
of her "powers" were returned in full. That theme is echoed in Deathly 
Hallows, even, when Harry finds himself having trouble creating a Patronus 
because that darned Horcrux!Locket was sapping his happiness and strength, 
and he's revived after taking it off.

All those circumstances are really different from "never" doing magic to 
suddenly being able to do magic, which is really what I think the fans were 
searching for. I wonder if perhaps we misunderstood or misinterpreted that 
part of that interview question? In which case, then it's still a perfect 
one for the fandom to ask to get it cleared up for once and all so we are on 
the same page.