How does a Muggle-born become a wizard/witch?

[kimmiller1017]

I am going to to start this thread because I haven't seen it addressed on any other site. Hermoine is a fairly talented witch, but the only reference to her ancestors are from Slughorn in HBP when he asks if she is possibly related to Hector-Dagworth Granger who founded the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers.
With all the family ties in these books I thought for sure that would be some magical tie to Hermoine?

[ginnyrocks24]

Yeah... is the magical trait passed on, so Hermione is related to someone magical??? wouldnt it be SO FREAKY if she was related to one of the Death Eaters? And she had a cousin who was newly recruited and looked almost EXACTLY like her? OOO, new story idea!!!

[jftapia88]

the answer to the question in the subject can be found somewhere on these boards, a while back there was a huge discussion about it. you should prolly search it.

its in the "petunia and "remember my last"" thread on the waiting for harry board.

Message Edited by jftapia88 on 06-14-2007 08:53 PM

[dcsbelle]

Unfortunately you have to be born a witch or wizard or else we'd all become one!

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kimmiller1017 wrote:
I am going to to start this thread because I haven't seen it addressed on any other site. Hermoine is a fairly talented witch, but the only reference to her ancestors are from Slughorn in HBP when he asks if she is possibly related to Hector-Dagworth Granger who founded the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers.
With all the family ties in these books I thought for sure that would be some magical tie to Hermoine?

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[scamp5]

In Book 2, Colin says he had no idea what all the "things that happened to him" meant until he recieved his Hogwarts letter, so I assume that once you show magical ability, you are put on the list even if you are a muggle.

[scamp5]

When I said colin, I meant Colin Creevey.

[Psychee]

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scamp5 wrote:
In Book 2, Colin says he had no idea what all the "things that happened to him" meant until he recieved his Hogwarts letter, so I assume that once you show magical ability, you are put on the list even if you are a muggle.

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JKR has said that kids were put on the Hogwarts list at birth by a magical quill that knows when a magical child is born. Invitations are sent to all those children around the time of their 11th birthday but not before so Colin's story is consistent with that. He didn't know until he got the letter, but Hogwarts knew 11 years prior.

[PattyBNUChick]

JKR said in an interview something to the effect that no one knows how it happens that a muggle line of people suddenly produce a witch or wizard. Ive tried to find the quote, but can't seem to.