Percy's B/day & new FLINT? (was New B-day on JKR's site )

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 110919

Carolyn wrote :
"The books are dated from Nick's death day, 31st October in CoS. He 
has been dead 500 years and died in 1492. This means CoS is set in 
(1492+500) 1992/1993.

In POA (1993/4), Percy is in his 7th and final year and sitting his 
NEWTS. In GOF, Ch 6 (1994/5), he had passed his apparition test 'two
weeks ago', which you can't do until you are a WW 'adult', ie 17. 

If he was 17 in the summer of 1995, this means he was born in August 
1977."

Del replies :
Technically, your last sentence is wrong : someone turning 17 in 1995
would be born in 1978, not 1977.

However your result is right if you take into consideration that Percy
didn't turn 17 during the summer of 1995, but right after the end of
PoA, hence during the summer of 1994, according to your calculations. 

Carolyn wrote :
"For JKR's own dating to work, Harry must have been having his dream 
on the night of Friday/Saturday 18/19th August (I'm using the real 
dates here, but they are about 2 weeks before the end of the month). 
He is then collected by the Weasley's on Sunday 20th August, and they
go to the QWC overnight on Monday/Tuesday 21st/22nd. However, the 
22nd is now supposed to be Percy's birthday - so this dating must be 
wrong. The events relating to the QWC have to be taking place on 
22nd+2 weeks, ie 4th/5th September, if the comments about Percy 
passing his apparition test 'two weeks ago' are also true."

Del replies :
One solution is that Percy turned 17 the year before, but was too busy
starting work during the QWC summer to take his Apparition exam right
away.

Or maybe JKR just forgot about Percy's birthday and said "2 weeks" in
order to emphasize Percy's pompousness : he took his Apparition test
as soon as he turned 17 and has been Apparating every day ever since.
How much more pompous can you get ? The answer being twice, when Fred
and George do exactly the same thing the very next year ;-)

Del, who doesn't remember percy making as loud a crack when Apparating
as the twins do. If the loudness of the crack is a sign of how well
the wizard masters the spell, it's a compliment to Percy.