An Aside on Older Potters (Was: Re: The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black)

[Goddlefrood]

No: HPFGUIDX 166256

> Goddlefrood earlier:
> 
> I may be wrong, and often am, but I recall JKR mentioning 
somewhere that there was a bug or sickness that devastated 
the wizarding population in the late seventies. If I come 
across the quote I will supply. 

Goddlefrood of the present:

I may not be the fastest man alive, but I do get there 
eventually. I looked up the quote I had in mind, here is the
relevant portion:

"MA: What about Harry's family his grandparents were they 
killed?

JKR: No. This takes us into more mundane territory. As a 
writer, it was more interesting, plot-wise, if Harry was 
completely alone. So I rather ruthlessly disposed of his 
entire family apart from Aunt Petunia. I mean, James and 
Lily are massively important to the plot, of course, but 
the grandparents? No. And, because I do like my backstory: 
Petunia and Lily's parents, normal Muggle death. James's 
parents were elderly, were getting on a little when he was 
born, which explains the only child, very pampered, had-
him-late-in-life-so-he's-an-extra-treasure, as often 
happens, I think. They were old in wizarding terms, and 
they died. They succumbed to a wizarding illness. That's 
as far as it goes. There's nothing serious or sinister about 
those deaths. I just needed them out of the way so I killed 
them."

From:

http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2005/0705-tlc_mugglenet-anelli-
3.htm

16 June 2005

Of interest in that JKR had never previously proferred an 
explanation for Harry's grandparents death. Could not, I'm 
afraid find reference to devastation of the WWW, but 
interesting nevertheless.

I drew a partial conclusion in respect of what I said in the 
earlier quote above due to the similarity in dates of death 
in some instances throughout canon and associated material, 
such as the Tapestry.

There may be something further out there somewhere in 
cyberspace regarding this, which I could happen upon during 
the course of my current research relative to our favourite 
books. This catch was incidental to that. "Toad"

JKR has mentioned elsewhere, and this time I'm sure of it, 
but would be open to contrary persuasion, that we will learn 
more of Harry's family background during the course of DH.

This may assist anyone wanting to develop any theories on 
that.

> Goddlefrood earlier:
 
> Again, didn't JKR say that these Potters were James's 
parents and again I will supply the reference if I find it.
 
> As I say I may be wrong, and it would be interesting to 
get as much detail as possible in Deathly Hallows.

Goddlefrood of the present:

Also came across another one, this time not canon as such, 
but interesting speculation, not on my part. It appears 
towards the end of this:

http://www.answers.com/topic/james-and-lily-potter

One possible connection between Charlus and Dorea Potter and 
their namesake James Potter. It may be of interest and will
undoubtedly come up in DH again. In that we should discover 
more background on the more senior Potters and Evans.

This was consequential to what may appear by the weekend. 

Goddlefrood, also contemplating a further analysis in respect 
of the trials in GoF and their mechanics. :)