[HPforGrownups] What will happen to Harry at 16?

[manawydan]

No: HPFGUIDX 72367

Angel:
>Hi, the factual information about UK arouse my interests. You know,
>I'm an Asian and not familiar with the Western customs. I wonder what
>most kids will do when they are 16 in UK. Are they legally an adult?
>Can they choose to live away from their parents or guardians?
>
>At OOP, Vernon wanted to throw Harry out for fear that his family
>would be endangered because of the very existence of Harry. I'm
>wondering,

It appears to me that there's a difference in the age of adulthood in the WW
and in ours (presumably by extension in the muggle world). Fred and George
are considered to be of age even though they are 16/17 in OoP whereas of
course in the non-magical world they'd have to wait until they were 18.

So if Vernon was to put his foot down and throw Harry out (and that's not
unknown in our own world of course, many of the kids ending up on the
streets as a result because most of them aren't entitled to state benefits),
then he would still have the privileges of an adult in the WW if we assume
that the age of majority there is 16.

It's also interesting to note that despite the fact that wizards have
approximately double the life span of muggles, thereby meaning that the WW
population is weighted towards the elders, the age of majority is younger.

Another day, another paradox...

Cheers

Ffred

O Benryn wleth hyd Luch Reon
Cymru yn unfryd gerhyd Wrion
Gwret dy Cymry yghymeiri