Wizards coming of age

[alhewison]

No: HPFGUIDX 37671

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "GulPlum" <plumeski at y...> wrote:
> "alhewison" <Ali at z...> wrote:
> > I've just been idling away a bit of time wondering why wizards 
come 
> > of age at 17 - not 18.
> 
> <snip>
> 
> Is that the case? I'm not so sure. It seems that they come of age 
> when leaving Hogwarts, which assuming all first years are already 
11, 
> means they will leave Hogwarts aged 18, and *that* is when they 
come 
> of age.
> 
> Apparation tests at 17 would mean it's part of Hogwarts final year, 
> which makes a certain sense.
> 
> Then again, I could have all of this upside down....



On p 166 of GoF (British Hardback edition), Dumbledore says: "Only 
students who are of age - that is to say, seventeen years or 
older...". Also, as many students are 17 in the 6th year, this would 
surely mean that they could then practice their magic in the summer 
holidays before their final year at Hogwarts?

Ali
.