[HPforGrownups] Dates and calendars in Potterverse

[Silverthorne]

No: HPFGUIDX 97513

{Tammy}

With all these people trying to discern exactly when things happened by what
the night sky
looked like, and whether or not Lupin's full moon was on schedule for 1995,
and just what
date was the Forbidden Forest detention (Mars is bright tonight), and all
that, I have just one
question for you.  I hope it doesn't sound offensive -- I'm really not
trying to insult anyone,
I'm just really, truly, honestly, and thoroughly curious!

How do you expect to reconcile literary astronomical indicators to real
world dates when, for
five years now, September first has been a Sunday?  Doesn't that just scream
out that JKR
is not using a real world calendar?

{Silverthorne}

Hey, Tammy!

Honestly,  I *don't* expect writers to use a 'real time' calandar for their
works (although I am prone to at least giving it a try if only to have at
least *Some* authenticity to what I'm writing)--if every author researched
every little piece of information pertinent to making their story fit into
the "real world", they'd never get the book itself written. I think our
discussions (IMH, and personal, O), are more just a bunch of fans kicking
around interesting ideas--nothing wrong with that--at least not until you
*expect* the author herself to somehow come across all this *wisdom* herself
and change all of her facts to match, or take it so seriously that it
becomes more of a shouting match to prove who's 'right' and who's 'wrong'.

When something like moon phases and their effects, or folkloric information
on creatures comes up, its more of a fun thing for me to examine, compare,
and see if I can figure out where the author got her ideas from--but it
doesn't mean that I expect the author to 'conform' to what *I* think should
have happened. Like my question about the full moon being up during the day.
Obviously, that was not a factor Rowling thought about (and most authors
don't think about when writing on werewolves). So, in regards to HP, it's
sort of a moot point...even though *I* find it an interesting
possibility--it's not likely to happen in HP, nor do I expect it to.

But, since we're discussing what sources she *may* have used to come up with
in her writing...it was something interesting to throw in as a side thought,
and see what could be commented on. You see? Just a bit of fun on the
side--a little exercise for the old noggin.

As far as Rowling's works go--I'm quite content to let them unfold as they
will---I don't necassarily think that, say Sev and Harry *should* reconcile
(although it would be nice to see)...or that Harry has to get rid of
Voldemort in any particular way (I have my preferences based on personal
beliefs, but I'm not, after all, Rowling)....or that any character should or
should not come back. They either will or they won't. The fun for me is in
analysis in possibilities...and then seeing which possibility Rowling
actually lands on once she gets there...

After all, it is her work...she'll do with it what she wants after all is
said and done, with no imput from us here...Although it *is* fun to
theorize!....;)

Silverthorne.