Hermione Granger's birthday

[Matt]

No: HPFGUIDX 109024

--- Kathryn Cawte wrote:
>
> Historically (and I'm talking Ancient History here) 
> September was the seventh month because July and 
> August didn't exist (hence the name for goodness 
> sake! Sept, meaning seven, followed by Oct, 8, Nov, 9 
> (OK I'm a little more shaky on that one - why not 
> Non?) and Dec, 10). July and August being later 
> 'inventions' named after Augustus and Julius Caesar.

Actually, "novem" is Latin for nine; the "non-" root comes from Greek
(e.g. "nonagon" is a nine-sided polygon, just as a seven-sided polygon
is a "heptagon," from the Greek root, not a "septagon," as it would be
using the Latin root).  

Also, the two months that were added to the ten-month ancient Roman
calendar were January and February.  July and August were part of the
original calendar as "Quintilis" and "Sextilis"; the names were later
changed in honor of Julius and Augustus.  

> Since JKR seems to like her classical history/
> mythology/Latin I have to admit I wouldn't be *stunned* 
> if it turned out to be September she was referring to. 
> However since the books are the Harry Potter books it 
> might be somewhat, hmm can't think of the right adjective 
> there, disingenuous? cynical? irritating as heck? to find 
> out that Hermione is our heroine after all and will kill 
> Voldemort. 

I agree.  Also, more specifically, to the extent that Rowling has
thought about the issue at all, it appears that the WW has fully
adopted muggle calendar and time conventions.  Viz. the thread a
couple of days ago about time zones/daylight savings time, and the use
of muggle conventions in all sorts of historical dates (founding of
Ollivander's; dates on Chocolate Frog cards; etc.).  

-- Matt