What will we learn about Petunia in Deathly Hallows? v.2

[Beerchick]

Originally Posted by chemJohn

If Lilly and Snape were blood relatives, then Petunia and Snape are also blood relatives.
Also, if Snape, a wizard was a blood relative of Harry through Lilly, then wouldn't Dumbles put Harry with Snape (a blood relative so the protection is there) instead of with Muggles?

Dumbledore also told Professor McGonagall that it was best that Harry grew up away from all the fame he would receive if he were to grow up among wizards.

Originally Posted by winkysmajic

This is the best theory I have heard yet! Yes Petunia and Lily could have had a squib as a parent, because all JKR says about them in interviews is that they died regular muggle deaths, and that Petunia herself is not a squib, but that would mean she is muggle. My only question is if a muggle and a squib have children, does that make their non-magical offspring Muggles?

Yes I do believe this would make the "non-magical offspring" muggles.

Originally Posted by winkysmajic

Definitely Petunia and Lily have the same parents! Where have people been getting this tie of Petunia to Snape? I can not see any facts to back this up and Snape was not so close to Lily that he would have ever been invited to the Evan's home. All we know is that Lily was kind to Snape until he called her a "mudblood" . Sure Snape may have loved Lily, but there was no other connection between the two made.

There is speculation surrounding "that awful boy" that Petunia refers to in OOTP, as to whether she means James or possibly Snape. Why would Petunia say James was an awful boy? I didn't think he carried that kind of appearance or personality....perhaps she is just being over dramatic.

[Sly2000]

i think Petunia'll just tell Harry what her letter(s) with Dumbledore said, and if there were others besides the one left with Harry, she'll give them to him. that's probably it, since the "huge revelation" about Lily and her eyes will probably come from someone magical, like Dumbledore's portrait or McGonnagal, and thats really the only other thing that she could tell Harry, unless it has something to do with that "awful boy" who could be James or Snape or pretty much any wizard

[LoveWeasleys]

I don't know if it has been said before in the first version or on the last few pages. But I know that there is a theory going around that Petunia and Lily had a Squib as a parent or further back in their line, because Lily had gotten the magical powers then her parents were so happy and proud of her. That I could see where they might have neglected Petunia a bit
I am rereading the books and it occured to me that this could be why Petunia spoils Dudley so emensly. She never got that from her parents and so she is overly making it up to Dudley. We see this happen in the muggle world and I just thought it would be an interpretatio of canon that would support the theory stated above...

[Beerchick]

I think that is pretty much right on the money. Lily had a squib and or a magical relative somewhere down the line, why else would they be so ecstatic about having a witch in the family then? I am inclined to think that a family that does not know witches/wizards exist would at first be scared/puzzled not joyful and proud. Just my two cents....

[RWeasleysgirl]

I think it would depend, really. Some people might be scared by it, but you’ll always find people who find it interesting, I’d think.

[IMissPadfoot]

I don't believe that Petunia was ever left out by her parents. I think she just felt this way because it's possible that they gave Lily extra attention when she was at home during the holidays, which I suppose is understandable when they hadn't seen her for most of the year.

I think there is some truth in the idea about the way Petunia treats Dudley though. If she had felt unloved as a child, I can see why she wouldn't want her own child to grow up feeling the same way.

[feetoffthetable]

I believe that we must look at all the information we have been given. Let me start by giving a short timeline of some basic facts and then maybe you can understand my theory on how Petunia will play a role in DH. The night that DD hears the prophecy the wizarding world is deep in war. LV is as strong as he has ever been. DD is trying hard to keep him at bay and has even started the OoTP to undercoverly fight LV and his gaining of power. What should happen next, but a prophecy. A true foretelling of the future. This is the golden ticket of information that DD has been hoping for. A way to take down LV. DD wisks Trelawny away with her new job to keep her safe and then him and Snape have either one good heart to heart, or several over the next year or so. Now remember, for some reason, Snape didn't immediately run to LV and give him this new information. For some strange reasons that we don't know about, can only speculate, he hid this information for his so called master. Hmmmm...
Anyway, with that being said, Lily is already pregnant with Harry at that time. This is were DD being one of the greatest minds on earth sets up a plan that may take up to 30 years or more to totally play out. I mean, come on... the one with the power to vanquish the dark lord will be born as the seventh month dies....... Doesn't take much thinking to realize, that regardless of who the kid is, its not even born yet. Here is were DD sets out on this very long and precise plan of his. There are many quotes where DD himself even discusses he does have such a plan, but thats for another discussion. Somewhere down the line, Petunia goes and visits her sister. I say this because its clear that Vernon never even saw Harry before the morning of the doorstep incident, so either the two pregnant sisters met up, or could it be that after Harry was born, Petunia comes to visit.. either or I don't think it makes much of a difference in my scenario. I believe while this visit was taking place, Snape shows up telling Lily of the great danger that she is in. Maybe Lily listens, maybe she doesn't, but here is where I think Petunia is eavesdropping on them. I think Petunia hears of the Dark Lord this and Voldemort that, not really clear on what she is hearing... I mean, that "awful boy" has to be Snape, he is always described as being greasy looking. Petunia must have already had her nose in a pinch at the mere sight of Snape. Somewhere along the line he must of spouted off about a few things to try and scare her. Things such as dementors and azkaban and of course, there is Aunt Petunia just listening away. For if she doesn't know much about the Dark side of the wizarding world, I'm sure she does by this time... She probably left and went home to Vernon and was so fearful of the wizarding world at the time, for either Dudley or her unborn child <depending on when this all took place> and I don't think Vernon much cared for it to begin with, but that must of been the moment where Petunia has decided to rid her life of anything to do with Magic. Actually forbidding the talking about her sister. Because if such things exist, to have her sister part of her life, would mean she would be exposing her child to that sort of thing too. Maybe its that DD letter not only explained what had happened, but told Petunia that as long as she keeps Harry, she and her family would be protected too, since I'm sure DD knew that she overheard some really important stuff. This scenerio also brings me to believe that James became part of this conversation at some point too. I think he did the thing he did most with Snape. He became arrogant and foolhardy. James probably didn't believe a word from Snape and even if he did he probably told Snape off and laughed if off just because it was Snape who told him of the warning. This would explain why Snape hated Harry right off the bat without even thinking twice. It would be because Snapes last encounter with his father would be to try and save his and Lily's life, and all James did was play the arrogant, cocky know it all. The hatred that Snape feels towards James would be too great to ever see Harry not as another James. Here is where I think just maybe, the eye opening real revelation of Petunia is, she overheard Snape tell Lily the WHOLE prophecy. Yep I said it. Snape heard the entire prophecy and when Petunia tells Harry this, Harry is going to have to be forced to realize that Snape was trusted by DD because he only told LV part of the prophecy when infact Snape knew the entire thing from beginning to end and he was on DD orders to only give LV partial. It would explain the reason when DD stands up in court and said, that Snape turned to the good side before LVs downfall. He did what DD needed him to do to make this entire plan of his start to work! Snape could of at any moment from before Harry was born, and for the past 3 years given LV the last part of the prophecy, but because he hasn't still.. Even after killing DD it will make Harry know for sure, no doubt about it that Snape is the best alias Harry has. That is the key to Petunia... she holds the "I trust Severus" DD reasons for all these years without DD ever wavering from his trust, because Snape never spilled the beans on the whole prophecy..
Well thats my belief.

Oh and p.s. sort of thing. I think its going to be Hermoine who will have Petunia finally let go of all she knows and tell Harry. Hermoine will be the pleasant, normal type of muggle who will remind Petunia of Lily and make her break down and tell all she knows.

[crookshanksfan]

Nice work on the theory, feetoffthetable! (And nice name, by the way ) But I've got a few comments for you nonetheless. Here goes:

Originally Posted by feetoffthetable

Now remember, for some reason, Snape didn't immediately run to LV and give him this new information. For some strange reasons that we don't know about, can only speculate, he hid this information for his so called master. Hmmmm...

Did he? Where does it say that he delayed in giving Voldemort this information? In that case, Voldemort would have known, because he had spies working in the DoM, and the prophecy on the shelf had the date on it. So if Voldemort saw the date, he would realize that Snape didn't tell him right away.

Originally Posted by feetoffthetable

Somewhere down the line, Petunia goes and visits her sister. I say this because its clear that Vernon never even saw Harry before the morning of the doorstep incident, so either the two pregnant sisters met up, or could it be that after Harry was born, Petunia comes to visit..

I think it's stated somewhere in the books that Petunia and Lily had been out of touch for a long time when the Potters died. But I'm not sure about this. Does anyone else know? Quote, anyone?

Originally Posted by feetoffthetable

I mean, that "awful boy" has to be Snape, he is always described as being greasy looking.

Just my personal view here: the use of "boy" has always made me think that Petunia is referring to a very early conversation, meaning something that happened while Lily was still at school. But, as I said, this is just my personal opinion.

Originally Posted by feetoffthetable

This scenerio also brings me to believe that James became part of this conversation at some point too. I think he did the thing he did most with Snape. He became arrogant and foolhardy. James probably didn't believe a word from Snape and even if he did he probably told Snape off and laughed if off just because it was Snape who told him of the warning.

I think Snape must have warned the Potters too. But I wonder whether the Potters knew that Snape was a DE and thus a spy. I guess they must have known something about the company he kept, so I don't see why they would let him into their house so easily.

Originally Posted by feetoffthetable

Here is where I think just maybe, the eye opening real revelation of Petunia is, she overheard Snape tell Lily the WHOLE prophecy. Yep I said it. Snape heard the entire prophecy and when Petunia tells Harry this, Harry is going to have to be forced to realize that Snape was trusted by DD because he only told LV part of the prophecy when infact Snape knew the entire thing from beginning to end and he was on DD orders to only give LV partial.

There's one major problem with this idea: Dumbledore told Harry that they were the only two people in the world who knew the full contents of the prophecy. Dumbledore wouldn't have said that if he knew that Snape knew all of it too.

[dill]

Lots of interesting thoughts, theories, musings glad to see i am not the only one caught in this devils snare of thought (the more we try to sort it out the tighter the hold it has on us). Personally I like the soap opera element of petunia having a yet undislosed wizard romance in her past. I have also scanned the reference materials to see if there is something that will explain a muggle born, paranoid/nosy, clean freek with a long neck. (veela, giant, vampire, i got nothing).

[SeverusLovesUs]

Originally Posted by feetoffthetable

I believe that we must look at all the information we have been given. Let me start by giving a short timeline of some basic facts and then maybe you can understand my theory on how Petunia will play a role in DH. ..... That is the key to Petunia... she holds the "I trust Severus" DD reasons for all these years without DD ever wavering from his trust, because Snape never spilled the beans on the whole prophecy..
Well thats my belief.
knows.

Cheers! I love your whole theory. I also think Snape knew the whole prophesy. The way the text reads it is hard to figure out just how Snape was stopped from hearing the whole thing. It sounds like the interruption happened after she was done speaking. How else would Trelawney remember Snape interrupting?

[ChrisSpivey]

Originally Posted by TDawg_0016

Lily and Petunia are blood relatives so Lily could not have been adopted...
Snape and Lily weren't siblings, seeing as how Snape is pure-blooded (with Eileen Prince as a mother), presumably with a father with a last name of Snape.

Snape isn't pure-blooded. He's the Half-Blood Prince, with a wizard mother and muggle father. Stated pretty clearly in HBP.

[winkysmajic]

Originally Posted by TDawg_0016

Lily and Petunia are blood relatives so Lily could not have been adopted...
Snape and Lily weren't siblings, seeing as how Snape is pure-blooded (with Eileen Prince as a mother), presumably with a father with a last name of Snape.

Snape isn't pure blood, he is half blood "Half blood Prince".The assumption as I have understood it it that some believe Lily, Petunia, and Snape to be half siblings by the same muggle father. I do not believe this theory, but there you are.

Originally Posted by TDawg_0016

As for Petunia... I believe her importance will in fact come in the form of information, with her unusual spying habit becoming relevant. That appears to be the only thing she has to do with the magical world, her being 'close to' a squib is merely Jo showing that Petunia wishes she was a witch, or even a squib, so that she would have some connection to the other half.

Absolutely agreed

[Harrys_wand2]

ChrisSpivey
First Year

: i 'gree with tdawg it could be tht there related though the mugggles

[LikeLuna]

Nice theory, feetoffthetable! Of course it's dependent upon the belief that Snape heard the whole prophecy, but it's definitely possible. I never thought about Petunia's big "revelation" coming in the form of information about Snape, but that's a really good thought.

[feetoffthetable]

Hiya crookshanksfan
I just wanted to respond to your questions.

Did he? Where does it say that he delayed in giving Voldemort this information? In that case, Voldemort would have known, because he had spies working in the DoM, and the prophecy on the shelf had the date on it. So if Voldemort saw the date, he would realize that Snape didn't tell him right away.

My take on this is that Lily and James didn't go into hiding until the earliest of August 1980. Thats about 3-6 months after the prophecy was told. It wasn't until one week prior to their deaths that they actually used higher security measures <fidelius charm> because the threat was so great. That would be almost a year and 7ish months say since the prophecy was told. We sort of have to assume that LV didn't know about the prophecy's record being in the MoM because if he did, he would of tried to get it much sooner, not 16 years later. It just seemed to me that OotP LV's search for the weapon was something of new information to him, not something he was keeping under his belt all these years. Just my opinion though.

As far as Petunia ever seeing Lily we don't know. It has never been mentioned. Like I said, it only says that Vernon had never met Harry prior to him being put on his doorstep. All we do know is that Petunia didn't like discussing her sister. Leaves it up in the air as far as I'm concerned.

I can see what your saying about the "awful boy" part, but in Petunia's eyes this stuff happened 16-17 years prior to this quote by her. When she looks back to the past, it was just a boy freshly out of school. She even says within the same quote. "I heard --- that awful boy ---- telling her about them ---- years ago"

I think Snape must have warned the Potters too. But I wonder whether the Potters knew that Snape was a DE and thus a spy. I guess they must have known something about the company he kept, so I don't see why they would let him into their house so easily.

I don't think Snape was ever a threat to LIly and James for them to fear him, I dont see a problem with him being able to speak to them at anytime.

There's one major problem with this idea: Dumbledore told Harry that they were the only two people in the world who knew the full contents of the prophecy. Dumbledore wouldn't have said that if he knew that Snape knew all of it too.

I believe DD might of been fibbing for the greater good here. I have proof he did this once before when he went and told the MoM that he was the one who set up DD army. That was a straight out lie on his part and nobody thought twice about it cause it was all for the good. So its not like I am grasping at straws here saying that its a possiblity that DD lied to Harry here. Why? cause its the second key to bring down LV is to have Snape so deeply immensed on the other side, that nobody knows if he is good or evil.

[Atomic01]

I just read a very interesting theory on another site, to do with Petunia and Dudley... JKR has said (I can't remember where) about someone coming to magical powers later in life...

Well, the person that wrote this (I don't know if I'm allowed to link to her editorial or name the site - if I am, I'll add the links ) expounded the theory that Dudley will come into powers, and the huge revelation about Petunia is that she knew Good ol' Dudders had magical powers, and instead of encouraging them as her parent did with Lily, she encouraged him to ignore them, and struck a deal with DD that she would take care of Harry as long as Dudley didn't find out or have to go to Hogwarts...

Not sure if I'm completely in with this one, but it's certainly interesting...

[LoveWeasleys]

Originally Posted by Atomic01

Well, the person that wrote this (I don't know if I'm allowed to link to her editorial or name the site - if I am, I'll add the links ) expounded the theory that Dudley will come into powers, and the huge revelation about Petunia is that she knew Good ol' Dudders had magical powers, and instead of encouraging them as her parent did with Lily, she encouraged him to ignore them, and struck a deal with DD that she would take care of Harry as long as Dudley didn't find out or have to go to Hogwarts...

That would be brillliant! Although, it scares me to think of him with magical powers... So, Petunia carried the gene and passed it to her son
Although, I feel like we would have seen Dudley do more strange things like Harry did before he knew he was a wizard. Like, we wouldn't know it was Dudley and if fact would think it was Harry. Dudley never seems to have done anything odd, that would suggest it...although it would be very funny...and scary...

[Atomic01]

One thing that did strike me from that... can anyone remember if it was said that Dudley actually saw the dementors when they attacked him and Harry? or was is just not mentioned? If he did actually see them, then it confirms some sort of magical ability/squibbness, as muggles aren't supposed to see them, are they? I know Harry was really surprised that Mrs Figg saw them, until she told him she was a squib... Of course the opposite is also true... if he didn't see them at all, then he can't have any abilities...

[LoveWeasleys]

Originally Posted by Atomic01

One thing that did strike me from that... can anyone remember if it was said that Dudley actually saw the dementors when they attacked him and Harry? or was is just not mentioned? If he did actually see them, then it confirms some sort of magical ability/squibbness, as muggles aren't supposed to see them, are they? I know Harry was really surprised that Mrs Figg saw them, until she told him she was a squib... Of course the opposite is also true... if he didn't see them at all, then he can't have any abilities...

I was just thinking this!!! He says that he can't see and that he went blind. He accuses Harry for all that is going on and he almost runs right into one. I know that Jo was asked this question and she wouldn't answer it...So, something "blinded" him...but what? hmmm...

This might be a good new thread...

[Thought]

Originally Posted by LOVEWEASLEYS04

That would be brillliant! Although, it scares me to think of him with magical powers... So, Petunia carried the gene and passed it to her son
Although, I feel like we would have seen Dudley do more strange things like Harry did before he knew he was a wizard. Like, we wouldn't know it was Dudley and if fact would think it was Harry. Dudley never seems to have done anything odd, that would suggest it...although it would be very funny...and scary...

But didn't Rowling say that it is less common for a Magic family to have a squib than it is for a Muggle family to produce a wizard? If I recall right, she said that magic is a dominant trait, so logically if Petunia had that gene, then she would be able to use magic herself (and to this we already know the answer).

Originally Posted by J.K. Rowling

A Squib is almost the opposite of a Muggle-born wizard: he or she is a non-magical person born to at least one magical parent. Squibs are rare; magic is a dominant and resilient gene.

Besides, Dudley is terribly unlikely to ever use magic since he has been put under stresses but didn't show an inkling of magic. Remember his pig tail? The dementor attack? Harry's various threats?

Personally, I think it would be hilarious if Uncle Vernon was the one to show magical powers late in life, but also terribly unlikely (for one, that would be such a waste, but also that would then mean that Dudley would have most likely been magic, but as pointed out above he is most likely not). Whoever displays magic late in life almost necessarily either has a wizarding child (so, Hermy's parents are the only introduced candidates to my knowledge) or he/she would have no children (making Filch, Figgs, or Aunt Marge the only introduced candidates that I can think of at the moment). I can't imagine Rowling giving someone like Marge magic powers, so it would seem that Filch or Figgs are the two most likely candidates for displaying powers late in life.


To summarize this thread, however, it appears that the two most prominent theories thus far are either that Petunia has magical ancestry or that she knows something that Harry will need in order to defeat Voldemort. Have there been any other prominent theories that I have missed?

Just a Thought