Literal interpretations?

[Jim Flanagan]

No: HPFGUIDX 2962

Just to throw another monkey wrench into the dating business:  has 
anyone considered the effect of the Julian/Gregorian calendar change 
on some of the back-dating that has been done?  Over here in the 
colonies, the calendar changed in the year 1752.  In that year 11 
days were dropped from September, and New Years Day changed from 
March 25 to January 1.  This makes it difficult to figure out what 
the 500th "Anniversary" of Nick's execution actually refers to -- is 
it exactly 365.25 X 500 days, or just the same calendar date, which 
could be off by at least 11 days from exactly 500 years?  (Eastern 
Orthodox churches still follow the old calendar.)  

Another thing that has been bugging me is the too-literal 
interpretation of offhand statements in the books.  For example, 
Hagrid says that *all* the wizards who have turned out bad have come 
from Slitherin (sorry, I couldn't find the exact quote).  Is that to 
be taken literally?  If Hagrid were from Texas (like myself) I'd have 
to take this statement with a grain of salt, since we Texans are 
inclined to exaggerate *just a tad* for effect. Different 
nationalities have reputations for exaggeration: the Irish are widely 
known for "blarney," but the Scots and Germans are considered more 
strait-laced. Do the people from rural south-west England (presumably 
where Hagrid is from) have a reputation for hyperbole?  If so, then 
we should not look only to Slitherin for potential Death Eaters.

-Jim Flanagan

"When you're in Odessa, Texas, check out The World's Largest 
Jackrabbit."