Who came to magic late in life?

[jmwcfo]

No: HPFGUIDX 172711

> > >> Eddie
> > >> Who came to magic late in life?  Did I miss it?
> > 
> > 
> > dkewpie:
> > > that person is Merope.  It just seems so obvious to me when JKR 
mention that prior the release of HBP she's referring to Merope.


> > > It's MEROPE, people just accept that and leave it at that!
> > >
> > > Jo



> > Shelley:
> > it's pretty clear to me that a LOT of people 
> > expected her to answer that question in Book 7. 
> > You are the first person I've ever heard say Merope. That doesn't 
> even fit 
> > canon- We see Dumbledore saying "she wasn't at her best" when her 
> dad was belittling her in every way, but once he 
> > lands in jail, she is free to "be herself" and relax. That isn't 
anywhere near "learning to use magic LATE in life".


> Brothergib now:
 She was regarded as a squib, and 
> only really managed to perform any magic after her father was taken 
> from her. However, I seem to remember the quote from JKR stated 
that someone would perform magic late in life under desperate 
> circumstances. Anyway, if it wasn't Merope, I think JKR simply 
forgot to add this to the story


JW:
Apologies if the following is redundant - I have over 500 unread 
messages, and as a first review I am sampling a few from different 
threads.

I do not see how it could POSSIBLY be Merope!  She was young, NOT 
late in life.  She was NOT a squib. My position is that insults 
thrown at her by her deranged father should NOT be taken as truth.  
After all, he thought muggles, muggleborns and half-bloods were 
worthless.  Does anybody except THOSE statements as truth?  If those 
insults are not taken seriously, why treat the insults thrown at his 
daughter seriously?

As for "late in life" and "under desperate circumstances," she was 
young, and the most desperate circumstances she faced were when she 
lay dying after her son's birth.  At that time, pregnant, sick, 
destitute, dying, she chose NOT to use her capabilities.  Therefore, 
Merope is the OPPOSITE of the character that JKR described.

Similarly, it could not be Neville.  Honing magical skills (while 
acquiring the special ingredients of self-confidence and FOCUS) at 
ages 15 thru 17 does not qualify as "late in life."

So, who could it be?

My conclusion is that, *if the character exists at all*, it is her 
Molliness.  Mrs. Weasley was certainly magical throughout her life; 
however, the only magic she practiced was in the course of old-
fashioned motherly duties.  She cooked meals; she laundered clothes; 
she cleaned her home; she cared for her family... And then,after 
nearly losing Ginny, Arthur, Ron, Bill, George, Harry, and actually 
losing Fred, Tonks and Remus (the last two I assume by Bellatrix, who 
had put them on her to-do list at the beginning of the book) Molly 
sees Bella trying to crush Ginny.  What does she do?  Does she call 
for help?  Molly, who has never dueled anything more vicious than 
doxies (and lost to a boggart) takes on one of the most deranged and 
successful fighters in the series, and kicks her cruel and demented 
LV-loving butt.

I think it fits better than Nevvy and Merry.  She is middle-aged (not 
old - she would be younger than I am, and I am CERTAINLY not old!) 
and we witness her doing something we should consider far outside her 
previously demonstrated capabilities, under VERY desperate conditions.

It works for ME!