Charlie Weasley's age

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 76386

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "scoutmom21113" 
<navarro198 at h...> wrote:
> Okay, here is what I have:
  (snip a most excellent set of data)

> Somewhere I remember Ginny saying she has wanted to go to Hogwarts 
> since Bill got his letter?  But since Charlie was already in school 
> before HRH were born, Bill would have been in school before Ginny 
> was born.  Possible FLINT?  Who has anything else to add?
> 
> Ravenclaw Bookworm 

Ginger replies:

I had the same problem.  The exact quote from Ginny (CoS US paperback 
p.323)  "I've looked forward to coming to Hogwarts since B-Bill came 
and n-now I'll have to leave and- *w-what'll Mum and Dad say?*"
Note: *=italics

I had this problem before joining the group and I e-mailed the 
Lexicon.  Steve was kind enough to e-mail me back saying that this 
was something that he had noticed as well, and thought that it was 
just an expression she had used.

Unfortunately, I don't remember exactly how he put it.  So as not to 
put words in his mouth, but not wanting to withhold credit where it 
is due, I'll give you my own follow-up thoughts, which may or may not 
be original, and you can credit the good ones to Steve ;-)

Ginny was under stress.  She was not in a frame of mind to sit and 
remember exactly how long she had wanted to go to Hogwarts.  The 
first person in her family to go was Bill.  That is the farthest back 
Hogwarts exists in her generation.  It's more like an expression than 
an accurate fact.  Kind of like saying "since Hector was a pup" 
or "since Moses was a kid" or "since Grandpa was knee-high to a 
grasshopper" whatever colloquialism you wish to put in to indicate 
that it has been a very, very long time.  She may as well have 
said "since forever",  The meaning would have been the same.

I realize that this is just an opinion, but it works for me!
Pax et lux, 
Ginger