# Quick Harry Potter Q: Hermione's parents are both Muggles? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 29, 2004, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721 "2004-06-29T16:21:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/21 "2004-06-30T06:15:34Z")
> [@Lathe of Heaven](#): > > It’s an inborn talent that sometimes crops up in Muggles. It seems to be a dominant trait, as: > > 1. Muggle-born wizards are apparently not unusual (e.g. Lily Potter, Hermione Granger, the sisters Patil and the brothers Creevy), while Squibs are very rare, and > 2. all the Muggle-magical couples we’ve seen seem to produce magical children (e.g. Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas, Voldy) rather than Muggles. There’s also Ron’s statement in book 2 to the effect that “if we hadn’t intermarried with Muggles we’d have died out”. About eighteen months ago I came up with the following: > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > As to the issue of genetics: It seems that there is a more complex mechanism at work here than a simple dominant/recessive duality. It appears that offspring of witch/wizard-Muggle pairings are predominantly magical (although I make that assertion without a shred of canonical evidence). This would tend to suggest that the magic-use gene is dominant. Why, then do not more witches and wizards spontaneously arise from Muggle families? I would like to posit a second gene, this one recessive, but also so widespread as to be nearly universal. This second gene would assert itself in all subjects who carry two copies of it, which would be nearly everybody (more on this later). In my hypothesis, the gene for magic use is utterly incapacitated by some hormone that accompanies the onset of puberty. The second, recessive gene enables this hormone to operate in this way only when it occurs twice. If the gene occurs only once, the operation of the hormone on the magic-use gene is suppressed. > > In most populations of Muggles, the second, recessive gene pair expresses predominantly, and the domminant magic-use gene is usually incapacitated. However, in a few rare instances, a Muggle will appear without a second copy of the gene. If that Muggle is also carrying the (more common that is generally understood) dominant magic-use gene, the subject will be a witch or wizard. In the more genetically isolated population of the magical community, the magic-suppression gene is less likely to appear even once. But when it appears twice in a single subject, the result is a Squib. > > Clearly, further study is necessary. [From this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=148022&highlight=recessive) As to **avabeth** ’s speculation, I came up with one of my own, which I will place in a spoiler box, in deference to her example: My speculation is that Petunia Evans had been a Hogwarts student, but due either to attitude, aptitude, or a combination of the two, was sent down before learning anything of consequence. As a result, she was resentful of Lily’s success, a resentment that was transferred to Harry. This could still allow for Dudley to be a “late-bloomer,” such as Ms. Rowling has spoken of. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/22 "2004-06-30T08:20:52Z")
Just finished my latest re-read. I too had the speculation that Petunia was a Squib, logged on intending to wow everyone with my insight, and discovered that it has been debated all round the web already. Oh Well. As to terminology, mudblood seems to be used for a wizard/witch born of 2 muggle parents, and half blood seems to be used for a wizard/witch born of a pure blood and a non pure blood (be it a muggle or a mudblood). Bellatrix Lestrange called Harry a half blood and he was born of an (excuse me) mud blood and a pure blood. Voldemort is also a half blood and he was born of a muggle and a (presumably) pure blood. As to who the ‘Half-Blood’ Prince could be, I have no idea unless it is Harry or Voldemort ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/23 "2004-06-30T13:39:42Z")
I thought I saw somewhere, maybe in the CNN article, that the title refers neither to Harry or Voldy. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/24 "2004-06-30T14:06:15Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > I thought I saw somewhere, maybe in the CNN article, that the title refers neither to Harry or Voldy. Just read at [this](http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/MTarchives/004849.html) site that Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince was the working title for Chamber of Secrets. If this is indeed the title of book 6, and given that it could also apply to book 2, who else other than Voldemort could it be? ---
**Author:** ![karomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@karomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/karomon)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/25 "2004-06-30T14:31:27Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > This could still allow for Dudley to be a “late-bloomer,” such as Ms. Rowling has spoken of. I’m sorry if this is something that has been mentioned in this thread already and I glossed over it, but did JK actually make any references to a “late-bloomer”? What exactly did she say? ---
**Author:** ![Bean\_Counter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/db5fbb/32.png) [@Bean\_Counter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bean_Counter)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/26 "2004-06-30T16:21:48Z")
> [@One And Only Wanderers](#): > > If this is indeed the title of book 6, and given that it could also apply to book 2, who else other than Voldemort could it be? Except that on J.K. Rowlings personal site she specifically says it refers to neither Harry nor Voldy. [Site](http://www.jkrowling.com) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/27 "2004-06-30T19:33:42Z")
> [@karomon](#): > > I’m sorry if this is something that has been mentioned in this thread already and I glossed over it, but did JK actually make any references to a “late-bloomer”? What exactly did she say? Sorry, I have no quote at hand. I believe I took that from post #96 in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=192420&page=2&pp=50&highlight=Petunia) thread. Anyway, I’ve decided that Dudley having magical ability or even being a Squib is ruled out. Remember, according to Arabella Figg’s testimony, Squibs can see dementors, and Dudley couldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Avenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Avenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avenger)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/28 "2004-06-30T22:08:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Anyway, I’ve decided that Dudley having magical ability or even being a Squib is ruled out. Remember, according to Arabella Figg’s testimony, Squibs can see dementors, and Dudley couldn’t. IIRC, Mrs Figg was adamant that squibs could see dementors, but her actual testimony seemed to indicate that she had actually not seen more than descriptions and pictures of them. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/29 "2004-07-01T00:31:38Z")
> [@Avenger](#): > > IIRC, Mrs Figg was adamant that squibs could see dementors, but her actual testimony seemed to indicate that she had actually not seen more than descriptions and pictures of them. It’s pretty well established that she did not see the dementors in Wisteria Walk; nevertheless, her indignation at having her ability to see dementors questioned convinced me that she was telling the truth on this point. ---
**Author:** ![LordVor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90ced4/32.png) [@LordVor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LordVor)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/30 "2004-07-01T04:47:12Z")
I’m just popping in to say that I find it amusing that people are placing possible future plot points that they’re **GUESSING** at in spoiler boxes, while actual plot points (like Mrs. Fig and the dementors) are in plain text. -lv ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/31 "2004-07-01T13:27:26Z")
Not having read the books, I don’t actually find it all that amusing. Thanks, guys. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/32 "2004-07-01T16:31:28Z")
So read the books already! They’ve been out for ages. 😉 Anyway, you can’t get the whole story from the movies. They have to leave out so much…and not all of it is trivial. ---
**Author:** ![Humble\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/47e85d/32.png) [@Humble\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humble_Servant)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/33 "2004-07-01T17:00:59Z")
Speculation only in this spoiler box:Is Pansy Parkinson maybe related to Harry? That’s the only other flower name I can remember other than Lily and Petunia. Since they’re in the same grade at Hogwart’s maybe she was Dudley’s twin?? I won’t suggest that she could be Harry’s twin. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/34 "2004-07-01T17:03:58Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > So read the books already! They’ve been out for ages. 😉 > > Anyway, you can’t get the whole story from the movies. They have to leave out so much…and not all of it is trivial. I saw the first movie without reading the book first. Then I read the book. It didn’t add much. I then read the second book before seeing the second movie. The movie didn’t leave out much, but having read the book spoiled the ending of the movie for me. So from here on in, I’ll be watching the movies, then reading the books, and hoping people use spoiler tags when referencing things that are going to happen in the 4th and greater movies. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/35 "2004-07-01T17:35:57Z")
I don’t mean this to sound snide in anyway, but when the OP starts off asking questions about the _books_, you gotta expect that people are going to be using quotes from the books to answer the question. ---
**Author:** ![NotQuiteAYinzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/73ab20/32.png) [@NotQuiteAYinzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotQuiteAYinzer)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/36 "2004-07-01T17:46:55Z")
> [@Humble Servant](#): > > Is Pansy Parkinson maybe related to Harry? That’s the only other flower name I can remember other than Lily and Petunia. Since they’re in the same grade at Hogwart’s maybe she was Dudley’s twin?? I won’t suggest that she could be Harry’s twin. Spoiler box, just for kicks:“That boy was our last hope.” “No. There is another.” 😃 Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/37 "2004-07-01T17:49:40Z")
**Max** : True. I didn’t explain fully in my previous post, but I don’t read all the threads–I opened this one because the hover text looked like it was something I figured wouldn’t be too earth-shattering, not like the “Why didn’t they use blah from book 3? It’s supposed to foreshadow blah blah blah from books 4-7, and it’s absolutely critical to the story!” I’m not really upset here, just a wiseass (my remark was meant like saying “Nice, thanks” when somebody farts…). ---
**Author:** ![Humble\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/47e85d/32.png) [@Humble\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humble_Servant)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/38 "2004-07-01T18:00:44Z")
> [@Humble Servant](#): > > Speculation only in this spoiler box: That’s the only other flower name I can remember other than Lily and Petunia. I gotta correct my speculation because I thought of another one:Madame Poppy Pomfrey is also named after a flower, and one that begins with a P! Do we know Professor Sprout’s first name?Must stop speculatin–could hurt myself. ---
**Author:** ![Jenny\_Haniver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Jenny\_Haniver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenny_Haniver)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/39 "2004-07-01T18:02:22Z")
> [@Humble Servant](#): > > Speculation only in this spoiler box:Is Pansy Parkinson maybe related to Harry? That’s the only other flower name I can remember other than Lily and Petunia. Since they’re in the same grade at Hogwart’s maybe she was Dudley’s twin?? I won’t suggest that she could be Harry’s twin. I’m responding also in a box: [spoiler]Although I also think we’re going to see more of Pansy Parkinson than just “mean girl,” I doubt she’s related to Harry in any way. Mostly, this is because JKR has laughed off any suggestions that Harry and Voldemort are related by saying, “You’ve watched too much Star Wars.” She’s been pretty vehement in denying that any of the surprises to come will be of that nature, in the vien of Voldemort/Snape/Dumbledore is Harry’s Father! Petunia’s of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black!! Voldemort is a future version of Harry!!! And if she was Harry’s twin, well, geez, then Rowling will have really made herself into an ass, because that’s totally Star Wars.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Jenny\_Haniver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Jenny\_Haniver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenny_Haniver)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/40 "2004-07-01T18:14:24Z")
> [@NotQuiteAYinzer](#): > > Spoiler box, just for kicks:“That boy was our last hope.” > “No. There is another.” > 😃 I’m going to burn for this: “Wand size matters not. Judge me by my wand, do you?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721.md?page=3)