Who came to magic late in life?

[Kristen]

No: HPFGUIDX 172728

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jmwcfo" <jmwcfo at ...> wrote:
>
> > > >> 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!

Madeyesgal:

Well if we follow your train of thought, which I like, by the way, 
how about Meville's grandmother? She joined the fight VERY late in 
life. Anyone else like this idea? 
>