Lifespans?... Wizard, Muggle, & Phoenix

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 131586

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Chys Lattes" <maliksthong at y...>
wrote:
> Ok so DD is like 150 right? (But Harry doesn't know this yet.) 
> 
> And is this possibility of lifespan different for those who are half-
> blooded, or is it all wizards that have this longevity?
> 

bboyminn:

I've always speculated that the maximum lifespan of a wizard was about
double that of a human, which would make it about 250 years. Keep in
mind that's /maximum lifespan/ not /average lifetime/. The typical
wizard or witch would probable 'kick the bucket' between 150 and 200
(muggle 75 to 100) years with some but very few of them living to ages
past 200. I think anything beyond 225 (muggle age 112) would be
extremely unusual.

In a past discussion with another person in this group, they thought
the age ratio should be adjusted by 18 years since muggle and wizard
develop roughly the same up to that age. It's only after they become
adults that the aging process slows. So ((Wizard_years - 18)/2)+18 =
(Equavalent_Muggle_Years); which means a 200 year old wizard is
equivalent to a ((200-18)/2)+18) = 109 year old muggle. That would
make Dumbledore ((150-18)/2)+18) = 84 in muggle years, and McGongall
who is about 70 would be the equivalent of ((70-18)/2)+18) = 44 in
muggle years.

PERSONALLY, I think those estimates are too old. I go with a simple
divide by two. So 150 year old Dumbledore is about 75, and 70 year old
McGonagall is about 35. The difference between the two is minor, so I
think either method is a fair estimation of a wizards lifespan
relative to a muggle lifespan.

As far as the lifespan of TRUE half-bloods, that is, the off-spring of
the marriage of a muggle and a wizard, I don't think there is a
difference. It's the magic that enhances your lifespan not genetics.
Either you have the magic or you don't; so magic-born, muggle-born, or
half-blood, it doesn't matter. If you are a magical person, you get
the enhancement.

> Chry:
>
> Also, can a phoenix ever die? I just got that newt scamander book
> and it said they have (i'm not quoting) an extensive lifespan so do 
> they  ever die, or do they just keep existing?
> 
> 
> Chys

bboyminn:

This last question is almost impossible to answer, JKR simply doesn't
give us enough information. Further, general mythology is mixed. In
some legends of the Phoenix, the creatures are immortal, in others,
they  may live for many centuries, in still other cases, their
lifespans may be measure in a thousand or more years. Within these
legendary lifespans, it's never indicated whether that is the time
between regenerations or if it is the sum total of all regenerations.
We really don't know which specific of the Phoenix legend JKR latch on
to, and further we don't know to what extent she modified the legend
to suit her own needs.

Personally, I believe a Phoenix can truly and completely die, but the
circumstances that could cause that would be exceptionally rare. Also,
that the span between natural regenerations is probably 100 to 200
years, and that those regeneration would certainly allow a Phoenix to
live for a few thousand years (1,000 to maybe 3,000 years). Relative
to even a wizard's lifespan, that is as good as immortal.

Can't prove a thing, but there it is.

Steve/bboyminn