The timeline on the DVD *confirms* canon.

[Susan Fox-Davis]

No: HPFGUIDX 55556

Ebony writes:

<<Hermione's birthday *has been* confirmed in the books already, in
PoA.  Dumbledore calls Hermione and Harry "two thirteen year old
wizards".  But many fandomers (esp. those educated under the UK
system) protested because in England, *no one* born on September 19
is *ever* admitted to school early.  Ever.  No exceptions, etc.  (It
should also be noted that Hogwarts is from every indication in
Scotland, not England, and that JKR taught in Portugal, whose cut-off
date and admissions process is not generally discussed.) >>

It should also be noted that privately run schools are not necessarily
subject to the same restrictions.  I was educated in the US not the UK
but I entered formal education at a private school, Barnard School
For Girls, having likewise missed the formal state-designated
birthdate deadline.  However, I was judged and found ready
for school so off I went, which was a good thing intellectually
but maybe not emotionally, being smaller and younger than my
classmates put me at a social disadvantage all my school days.

Hermione was obviously mentally,
physically and emotionally ready to enter Hogwarts, so
Dumbledore [who has total control over Hogwarts admissions]
could perfectly well decide to let her in in Harry's class rather
than wait a year.  Can't you just see it now, Dumbledore
doing an Obi-Wan Kenobi treatment on the inspector from
the Ministry of Education?  "You don't need to see our
student records... these are not the children you're looking for..."

Alternately, the theory that Hogwarts' cutoff date is 31 October
appeals to me on a totally witchly basis.

Susan Fox-Davis
selene at earthlink.net