Who came to magic late in life?

[carodave92]

No: HPFGUIDX 172729

Carodave:

I believe this means Merope.  She began to do magic late in *her* 
life (she died only a year or two later) and the desperate 
circumstances refer to her desperate love for someone who didn't 
return her feelings.

Carodave

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Kristen" <jkscherme at ...> 
wrote:
>
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jmwcfo" <jmwcfo@> 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? 
> >
>