Petunia's Eyes

[anne_t_squires]

No: HPFGUIDX 169805

 Karen wrote:
> 
> <SNIP>
> 
> > "you might have got the impression that there is a little bit
> > more to Aunt Petunia than meets the eye <SNIP>
> 
> > http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/#book:7
> 
> <SNIP>
> 
> > This reminds me again about that sentence in book 5 saying
> > Lily and Petunia's eyes were "very different"...  any ideas?
> 
> 
> 
Anne Squires:
This topic interests me.  I looked up the quote about Petunia's eyes
in OotP.  It's in chapter two, "A Peck of Owls," page 38 (US
paperback): "Her large, pale eyes (so unlike her sister's)were not
narrowed in dislike or anger."

JKR definitely emphasizes that the eyes of the two sisters are very
different from each other.  It seems she wants the reader to remember
Lily's eyes and focus on the fact that the eyes are "unlike" each
other.  I don't know what this means though.  In the RW brothers and
sisters often have different colored eyes.  I just don't know what
significance this has in JKR's world.  

S. R. wrote:

The only thing I can think of is that maybe Lily and Petunia
> aren't sisters by blood. Is it possible that one or the other
> was actually adopted? Or, perhaps they're only half sisters
> and don't share the same father or the same mother.

<snip>

Anne Squires again:
Lily and Petunia have to be related by blood.  If they weren't Harry
wouldn't have to think of no. 4 as home and return each year to where
his mother's blood dwells. There wouldn't be any blood protection if
they weren't related by blood.  S. R.'s comment has got me wondering
if maybe Lily and Petunia aren't sisters.  Cousins?  But, I don't see
the point really.  Why would the fact that Petunia is some other
relative to Harry be important plot wise?  

Let's see, hmmm.  

1.  She has to be related by blood or no blood protection.
2.  Her eyes are not like her sister's. 
3.  JKR said, "She is not a squib, although that is a very good guess. 
Oh, I am giving a lot away here. I am being shockingly indiscreet."  

If she's not a squib (but, that's a good guess), and she's not a
witch, then she's....what? A Muggle, right?  What's surprising about
that?  So, she's not a Muggle?  Then she must be......I've got
nothing.  Some kind of ocd creature who has to clean. 

I definitely think there is a clue here.  I just can't figure it out.

Wait, wait, wait.  This just occurred to me as I was writing this
post.  Maybe S. R. is absolutely correct.  Maybe point no. 1 is not
true.  Maybe Lily and Petunia aren't sisters by blood after all. 
Maybe one or the other was indeed adopted.  Perhaps DD just assumed
that Petunia and Lily were blood sisters.  Would DD have had reason to
suspect otherwise?  Maybe DD had assumed all these years that the
blood protection was in place at no. 4 when in actuality it wasn't. 
What if there isn't any blood protection and there never has been? 
When DD makes mistakes, he makes BIG mistakes.  And the eyes have been
the clue.  Also, Petunia looks nothing,absolutely nothing like Lily. 
In the universe of JKR siblings and other family members almost always
look like each other.  Plot wise this would be crucially important
because everyone assumes Harry is safe at no. 4 until his birthday. 
What if he isn't?

Anne