# 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:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/61 "2004-07-09T04:04:56Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > 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. I think not, based on [spoiler]Petunia’s remarks in SS: “How could you not be, my dratted sister being what she was? Oh, she got a letter just like that and disappeared off to that — that _school_…I was the only one who saw her for what she was — a freak!” Doesn’t sound like someone who had magical aspirations herself. Much more likely she just wanted to be valued for what she was. Which would explain why, as an adult, she’s so fiercely borgeouis and conservative: if she can only be ordinary, she’ll be the champion of ordinariness. And why doesn’t Harry know his maternal grandparents, anyway? Did Voldy kill them too, or did they die of non-magical causes?[/spoiler] ---
**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 9, 2004, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/62 "2004-07-09T07:39:26Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > I think not, based on Petunia’s remarks in SS: “How could you not be, my dratted sister being what she was? Oh, she got a letter just like that and disappeared off to that — that _school_…I was the only one who saw her for what she was — a freak!” Doesn’t sound like someone who had magical aspirations herself. Much more likely she just wanted to be valued for what she was. Which would explain why, as an adult, she’s so fiercely borgeouis and conservative: if she can only be ordinary, she’ll be the champion of ordinariness. Sour grapes over an abortive magical matriculation could result in just such an attitude, methinks > [@Rilchiam](#): > > And why doesn’t Harry know his maternal grandparents, anyway? Did Voldy kill them too, or did they die of non-magical causes? Gotta admit I’m completely stumped on that one. Oops. Did I say that with my out loud voice? ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/63 "2004-07-09T09:55:08Z")
Well, we’ll just have to agree to disagree on the first point. On the second, either Rowling will let us know at some point, or she overlooked the matter entirely. At any rate, the senior Evanses must be dead, or they would be in contact with the Dursleys. First of all, Dudley is their grandson too, even if he is a brat, and second, they wouldn’t turn their backs on Harry, because he’s the last link to Lily. They might have agreed to go along with Dumbledore’s plan to give Harry an underprivileged childhood, but complete absence must mean they’re no longer living. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/64 "2004-07-09T13:58:01Z")
Harry’s grandparents must be dead or else Petunia wouldn’t be his only living relative. I don’t know why I’m going to bother to use a spoiler for this BUT Elaborating on the earlier theory that Petunia and Lily had a brother who was the father of Mark Evans, then Petunia could have been Harry’s only living relative if Mark’s father died while Mark’s mother was pregnant ---
**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:** [July 9, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721/65 "2004-07-09T16:34:11Z")
Newsflash! The “Mark Evans” mentioned in Order of the Phoenix is absolutely no relation to Lily Evans or Harry or anyone. He’s a nobody. Check out the results of the F.A.Q. poll in the F.A.Q. section > **[Home - J.K. Rowling](https://www.jkrowling.com/)** > > J.K. Rowling is the author of the much-loved series of seven Harry Potter novels, originally published between 1997 and 2007. Along with the three companion books written for charity, the series has sold over 500 million copies, been translated into... > [@](#): > > Mark Evans is… nobody. He’s nobody in the sense that Mr. Prentice, Madam Marsh and Gordon-Dudley’s-gang-member are nobodies, just background people who need names, but who have no role other than the walk-on parts assigned to them. Straight from the author’s mouth. Speculation about the identity of the Half-Blood Prince will have to explore a different avenue. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-harry-potter-q-hermiones-parents-are-both-muggles/252721.md?page=3)