How old is Voldemort?--Two different ages given!

Mon Jan 6 08:14:30 UTC 2003

No: HPFGUIDX 49266

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "noir_l <noir_l at y...>" wrote:

> noir_l/Lindsay:
>
> Hi There,
> 
> ...edited... In Cos, Harry goes back fifty years and the last time 
> the Chamber was open was fifty years ago (US edition  p.233) and Tom 
> was 15 ...edited... So that would make Voldemort 65 in Harry's second 
> year. But in PoA, Harry's third year, > it says that Voldemort has
> been the most feared wizard  for "a hundred years" (US edition p. 6).
> Is this just a mistake made ...?
> 
> -Lindsay

bboy_mn:

You are caught in the turn of a phrase. The reference to 100 years is
not to Voldemort's lifetime, but to the time during which no more evil
wizard has existed. 

Illustration: To say that the transistor was the greatest invention in
a hundred years, does not say that the transitor has been around for a
hundred year. It merely says that no invention during that time period
was as significant as the transistor. The same use and context applies
to the 100 year reference regarding Voldemort.

Your first assessment of his age is correct, plus or minus the one
year in dispute. (V=age 65 or 66).

Just a thought.

bboy_mn