A Mistake and a Question

[buedefixe at netzero.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 23305

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Steve Vander Ark" <vderark at b...> wrote:
> The clincher, though, is going to have to come from our British 
> friends. In my opinion, if they say that parents do get to make 
that 
> kind of a choice in British schools (and in fairly traditional 
> schools, which Hogwarts certainly is), then I'd say Hermione is 
young 
> for her class. That would almost certainly be what would happen in 
> the US. If they say that no, the rule is always Sept 1 and is 
really 
> never broken, then I'd say that Hermione is very old for her grade 
> and turns 12 three weeks after the start of their first term in 
1981.

I don't see why it would matter if parents traditionally have a say 
in such things in Britain.  As I understand it, Hermione's parents 
wouldn't have known that she was a witch or that Hogwarts existed 
until the letter came.  J.K. Rowling explained in an interview how 
letters are sent out:

"In Hogwarts there's a magical quill which detects the birth of a 
magical child, and writes his or her name down in a large parchment 
book. Every year Professor McGonagall checks the book, and sends owls 
to the people who are turning 11." -Scholastic Chat, February 2000

This doesn't leave much room for intervention on the part of the 
Grangers to get Hermione in early.  Just what "people who are turning 
11" means is debatable.  Could letters be sent to people who are 10 
at the time of sending, which is the last week of June?  If that's 
the case, Harry may be the very oldest in his term.