Ages

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 56114

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Taryn Kimel" <amani at c...> wrote:
> Kelly:
> Lots of discussion has been made about Hermione's age and just when
a person gets to enter Hogwarts.  ....
> 
> Me:
> How is it "as far as we know" that they turn 11 that year? Harry
turned 11 /after/ everyone else in the year did. .... He'll be one of
the youngest of his class. Everyone will be turning 12 throughout
their first year at Hogwarts, Harry just only gets to turn 12 /after/
his first year. (I know the feeling. I never get my birthday on the
announcements. ^_~)
> 
> --Taryn

bboy_mn:

I think you've nailed it down. There has been all kinds of speculation
about Hermione having to miss a year of school to get in sync with the
wizard school etc....

But it is as simple as this, they are all 11 when they start the
wizards school year, and most of them will turn 12 during that same
school year. As you pointed out, Harry's birthday is during the summer
holiday, and doesn't turn 12 until after the end of school. Hermione
on the other hand, turns 12 a few weeks after the start of the first
school year.

They are all 11 when they start, and before the beginning of the next
year of school, they will all be 12.

This same sequence occurs when Hermione starts muggle school. All the
kids are 5 (or whatever) when they first start school. Hermione turns
6 a few weeks later, and most, but not all, of those muggle kids also
turn 6 during the school year.

Hermoine isn't at all out of sync with the other kids, she just has
her birthday earlier in the year.

I really don't see any controversy here; it all seems pretty straight
forward.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn