OoP - Wizard's Ages

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 67118

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Claire" <Cfitz812 at a...> wrote:
> ...  The OWL examiner, Professor Marchbanks, says she examined 
> Dumbledore ....  Since DD is around 150 years old, that would make 
> Marchbanks considerably older, ....
> 
> 
> ... just wondering why some wizards/witches have great longevity.  Or 
> is this normal in the WW and those who die at, say, 80 or so don't die
> of natural causes?
> 
> Just a random thought.
> 
> Claire

bboy_mn:

The story so far has demostrated to us that wizard are more resilient
than normal people. Neville's Uncle Algie drops him out of a second
story window when Neville is a little boy; instead of dying, Neville
bounces down the driveway. Hagrid is outraged at the idea that a car
crash could have killed Lily and James. Neville falls of his broom
during flying leason and should be dead or mangled pretty bad, but
only breaks his wrist. Harry falls from his broom and people get hit
by bludges which are said to resemble a speeding cannonball, and they
all come away in very good shape considering the circumstances. Plus
they have a system of health care that is it's own quaint way is
exceptional; regrowing bones overnight, etc....

There is someone here who has a more elaborate formula than mine, but
were are pretty close at predicting maximum wizard's lifespan, or
predicting a wizard's age in equivalent muggle years. My simple method
say that wizard's have a potential lifespan about double that of
muggles. It is possible for muggles to live over 100 years, so I pick
125 years as the maximum lifespan of a muggle under current modern
medicine. That would mean that the maximum lifespan of a wizard would
be about 250 years. 

Dumbledore is about 150; divide by two and that make his equivalant
muggle age about 75. He's old and wrinkled, but still has his wits and
vitality, as does my mother who is the same age. So, about 75 for
Dumbledore equivalent muggle age seem reasonable.

McGonagall is about 75; divide by two and that makes her about 37 in
functional muggle years. Although based on her description, I would
have place here physical appears at mid- to late 40's. Keep in mind,
people don't age at the same rate. I remember people in highschool who
seemed middle aged and I have a friend who is mid-50's who you would
swear is mid- to late 30's

Overal, I think this general 'divide or multiply by two' rule hits it
pretty close.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn