Who came to magic late in life?

[jmwcfo]

No: HPFGUIDX 172787

> > JW:
> > 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.  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.
> > 
> > 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? 


JW:
An interesting idea!  Granny Longbottom is "late in life."  However, 
IIRC we do not witness her actually partaking in battle.  It is 
possible that she merely assisted Madam Pomfrey with the wounded, or 
provided some other non-combative but valuable service.  Clearly I do 
not recall her eliminating an adversary as talented and ruthless as 
Bella.