Why Harry Potter "cannot" be set in 1991 (Question)

[samnanya]

No: HPFGUIDX 79518

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, alex fox <trinity61us at y...> 
wrote:
> Ok, this is a silly thing to ask, but my friend wants to know just 
exactly how everyone KNOWS that HP started in 1991. I would look in 
the archives, but i haven't the ability to do that right now, as I am 
using someone else's computer, and barely getting my mail. Thank you, 
for understanding. If I could get an answer quickly, it would avoid a 
fight. I, personally, know that fact.
>  
> Thanks again,
> Alex Fox 
> 



Samnanya replies - 
Here is the clearest argument I can present - 
All references to the us trade paperback editions - 
 
1. CoS Chapter 8 - Deathday Party for Nearly Headless Nick
pg 129 "Well this Halloween will be my 500th deathday" said Nearly 
Headles Nick
pg 133  description on the cake  "Sir Nicholas ..... Died 31st 
October, 1492"
 
from those two clues Harry's second year at Hogwarts is [1492+500] or 
1992
Harry's first year of hogwarts is thus 1991, and the summer of 1991 is 
when Harry meets Hagrid for the first time
 
2. SS Chapter 4 - The Keeper of the Keys
pg 55 Hagrid says about Voldemort "he turned up in your village where 
you was all living on Halloween ten years ago. You was just a year 
old.
 
from this we know that Voldemort killed Harry's parents in [1991-10] 
or 1981 and therefore Harry was born in 1980.
 
In addition, 

3. PoA Chapter 21 - Hermione's Secret
pg 392 Dumbledore tells Harry and Hermione that "there is not a shred 
of proof to support Black's story, except your word, and the word of 
two thirteen year old wizards will not convince anybody ...."
 
since PoA was in year 3, and year 3 was 1993 from the above argument, 
this is further proof that Dumbledore as well says that Harry was born 
in 1980.
 
To refute this argument is to say that Dumbledore and Hagrid are lying 
[or uninformed] and the cake decorator for Nick cleverly put on the 
wrong date without anybody knowing ...... 
 
I think this carries a little more weight in "canon"  than a 
playstation ...... 
Hope this  clears it up for you.... 
Sam