Almost irresolvable time problem (Weasleys)

[aiz24 at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 8988

Here's another problem with Weasley ages, and it exists whether or not 
Charlie's Gryffindor team ever won the cup.

Okay, sticking with 1980 as the year Harry & Ron were born (like 
Steve, creator-god of the Lexicon, I take Nick's Deathday date as the 
clearest sign that JKR is placing the books in a definite, real-world 
time frame, namely the 1990's).  When were all the Weasleys born?

1981 Ginny--not yet at Hogwarts when PS/SS begins in 1991
1980 Ron--a first-year in 1991
1978 Fred and George--third-years in 1991 (proof, GoF)
1976 Percy--fifth-year in 1991 (proof throughout--he graduates in PoA)

Even setting aside the hope that Charlie was on a champion Quidditch 
team (which Griffindor hasn't had since 1983), we know he wasn't in 
school in 1991--i.e., he's at least 3 years older than Percy.  Even 
so, that puts him on the disastrous 1990-91 team McGonagall talks 
about (PS/SS, p152 US, chapter 9), which is possible but unlikely.  
But stick with me for a minute--for reasons that will shortly become 
clear let's make Charlie as young as possible and say he DID graduate 
just before PS begins:

1973 Charlie--graduated Hogwarts 1991
1972 Bill (again, making him as young as possible)--graduated Hogwarts 
1990

Here's the problem:  Ginny says flat out that she can remember when 
Bill went to Hogwarts:  "I've looked forward to coming to Hogwarts 
ever since B-Bill came and n-now I'll have to leave . . ." (CoS 323 in 
US ed, chapter 17).  If Bill is 9 years older than her that seems 
impossible.  If Bill is older still, which he would have to be to put 
poor Charlie on a champion team, it's definitely impossible.

This timeline does have the advantage of placing Bill's graduation 5 
years before the third task of GoF ("It's great being back here . . . 
Haven't seen this place for five years," GoF 616 US, ch. 31).  For the 
record, however, I think that line isn't very indicative.  There's 
lots of reasons someone comes back to his alma mater long after 
graduation, e.g. his brothers' graduations for one.

But the Ginny-Bill age gap seems tough to argue with.

Amy Z