Hermione's age (was A Mistake and a Question)

[dfrankiswork at netscape.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 23309

Steve Vander Ark 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 am British.

I think there are two issues to be settled.  The first is, what is the British school year.  The answer is 1 September to 31 August.

The second is, how strictly does Hogwarts enforce age limits.  Buedefixe is right when s/he points out that parental choice earlier on has little effect.  If Hermione *is* 10 when she starts, she might just have to miss her final year at Muggle primary school.

The fact that JKR has implied a fairly mechanical process would say to me that, in the absence of any reason to the contrary, McGonagall would write to everybody turning 11 in the current school year.  She knows of no special circumstance in Hermione's case.  There is no mention of parents negotiating (which could only delay entry anyway - the Grangers would not have known of Hogwarts until their letter) entry dates.  People like the Malfoys might try, but unlikely Muggles.

That would make Hermione 11 when she started, and 12 very soon thereafter, and almost a year older than Harry.

The only remaining loophole would be that Hogwarts has a heterodox year.  I would say that, although there is plenty about Hogwarts that disobeys Muggle rules, in this case the fact of a 1st September start and bog-standard school holidays (Christmas, Easter) implies that Hogwarts is traditional.

Having written all the above, I realise I have shown typical English imperialism.  Scotland, where, AFAWK, Hogwarts is situated, has an autonomous education system.  Could a Scot please confirm whether Scotland is part of Britain for the purposes of this debate?

David, hoping that helps



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