Charlie Weasley's age (Was: JKR update re: Colin)

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 115170


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Alina Chimanovitch
<mysticowl at g...> wrote:
> > "I tell you, we're going to win that Quidditch cup for sure this
year,"
> > said Fred. "We haven't won since Charlie left, but this year's team is
> > going to be brilliant. You must be good, Harry, Wood was almost
skipping
> > when he told us."

Alina: 

> I'm reaching here, but the chronology would still fit if we say that
> Fred meant they haven't won a quidditch match since Charlie left,
> rather than the Quidditch Cup. That way, the last time a Gryffindor
> team won could still be seven years ago.

Finwitch:

Indeed. Charlie was in his last year the year before Harry & Ron came
along. That was also Fred&George's second year, and the FIRST YEAR
they were in the team! And one point: indeed they haven't won a
Quidditch match 'since Charlie left', particularly if there wasn't a
game to be won! (A joke, but this IS Fred Weasley saying that, and
when ever did a Weasley twin pass an opportunity for a joke?) In part,
Fred was also raising Harry into the winning team spirit.

Charlie *may* have left the team to study for his NEWTS before last
match, or even school to study dragons (maybe he had to leave early to
get that position of his chosen career? Why wouldn't he give priority
to his new job?).

Sure, Molly wouldn't like that sort of thing - but I doubt she liked
Bill moving into Egypt after school, either. (I think Bill gave his
old wand to the other twin just starting school partly to sooth her -
and Charlie followed his example when Ron began at Hogwarts.).

Finwitch