Twins' age and when they leave Hogwarts

[grey_wolf_c]

No: HPFGUIDX 43219

Christian Stubø wrote:
> I hvae noticed in the recent Fred&George-debate that several refer to 
> Fred&George as being adult, and some also have referred to them as 
> having entered the workforce - I presume that entering the workforce 
> means leaving Hogwarts.  But this puzzles me a bit, as I am under the 
> very distinct impression that Fred and George have not finished their 
> Hogwarts education, and that at the end of GoF, they had only 
> concluded their sixth year at that institution.  The HP-Lexicon does 
> seem to back me up on this.  I also do not think they will just leave 
> Hogwarts now that they have received the 1000 Galleons from Harry - 
> if nothing else, I suspect Molly Weasley would have a thing or two to 
> say about it, and besides, 1000 Galleons would not be able to support 
> them and support a new business.

You're right in almost all acounts. The twins have *not* finished 
Hogawarts: they'll start 7th year in book five. They won't leave 
Hogwarts, and the 1000 Galleons is not supposed to be their only method 
to start bussiness: I'd imagine that selling their trick at Hogwarts is 
also included in his plans. However, They *can* enter the workforce 
(and in fact, already have) when they started developing and 
mass-producing their tricks in book 4, without leaving Hogwarts.
 
> Assuming I am right in that the twins still have one more year at 
> Hogwarts, then I cannot support the assumption that they are adults, 
> either.  Not in the legal way, at least - few countries, if any, have 
> people reaching age of majority before they have finished the level 
> of school they legally must finish.  That they are old enough that 
> they should understand some things and be expected to show a given 
> level of maturity is true, but the term adult to me implies legal 
> adulthood, and I do not think they've come that far yet.
> 
> Best regards
> Christian Stubø

This is were you're wrong: canon tells us that wizards in WW come of 
age and are legally adults at 17. At that point, even most of them are 
still at Hogwarts, they're already adults who can learn to apparate, 
become animagi or start a business officialy.

Hope that helps,

Grey Wolf