Calendars was Re: biggest SPOILER

[Bex]

No: HPFGUIDX 109746

Eustace_Scrubb wrote:
> We have no evidence that the wizarding world, at least in the UK as 
> JKR has described it, follows a calendar that differs in any 
> significant way from that of the surrounding muggles (except of 
> course that September 1 is always a Sunday).

Yb:
GAAAAHHHH! Where does everyone get that? Someone PLEASE tell me where 
Sept. 1 is always a Sunday!

ES:
> Now, I agree that JKR knows her Latin and also her Celtic mythology
> and she has and will make use of elements of both in weaving her
> story.  However, I don't think she will hang a major plot twist on 
> an archaic Latin meaning of a modern English proper noun.

Yb:
Agreed. Another point: getting plot points out of JK in 
conversation/on-website is like pulling teeth from a moving victim.

Examples:
What did that gleam in DD's eye at the end of GoF mean?
JK: Can't tell you!

Are cats important, and if so, how?
JK: Can't tell you!

Why is it important that Harry has his mother's eyes?
JK: Can't tell you!

*However*, she lets go of minor points or points that don't/won't 
come up in canon rather easily:

-Ginny's given name is Ginerva.
-Harry went up to "Mad-Eye's" office (BC, Jr.) and retrieved his
-Marauder's Map before he left for King's Cross at the end of GoF. It 
was sort of implied.
-Fred and George Weasley were born on April Fools' Day.

Granted, she lets some other things slip, like Lily was in 
Gryffindor, and Crookshanks is half Kneazle, but MAJOR plot points 
stay under wraps until she puts them in text. She refuses to tell us 
point blank who Hermione likes, for crying out loud ("The hints are 
all there!"). 

Sooo... why would she give us Hermione's birthday on the website and 
in-chat if it was a major plot point? She would at least have hinted 
that Hermione's birthday is in September if it was at all relevant to 
the plot, not just handed it to us. Giving us something like that, 
especially with no hints in canon, implies that it will probably 
never even make it into the books.  She wouldn't just 

ES wraps up:
> That's not to say that there aren't a number of interesting
> suggestions  that were included in the original post that may play a
> role in the conclusion of the series--surely Peter Pettigrew will 
> turn out to be crucial. Maybe Harry will be unable to succeed in his
> appointed task without Pettigrew fufilling his life debt to Harry
> first. If we do indeed find out more about "our rat-like friend" in
> the 6th book as promised by JKR, it may be that Peter will have done
> his part and suffered his fate before we get to book 7.

Yb wrapping up her thoughts (and frustrated screams):
DEFINITELY. Peter's little life-debt to Harry will probably save 
Harry's life, and probably cost the little rat /his/. That's the only 
way to make him even somewhat redeemable. I see him being a pivotal 
character/creature in Book 7. Killing him in HBP would just be too 
soon. I smell a rat in the final showdown...

~Yb