Contradictions

[Mike]

No: HPFGUIDX 156578

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "potioncat" wrote:
>
<snip>
> 
> PoA, chapter 18 Lupin is speaking:
> It seemed impossible that I would be able to come to Hogwarts.  
> Other parents weren't likely to want their children exposed to me. 
> But then DD became headmaster, and he was sympathetic."
<snip>
> 
> DD shows Harry 2 memories. The first is Hokey's memory and IIRC it 
> happens shortly after Riddle graduated. Then DD shows Harry one of 
> his memories and says it happens 10 years after the first one.
<snip>
> Tom Riddle says, "I heard you had become headmaster."
<snip>
>
> So first: When did DD become headmaster?
> 
> It seems very clear. Right there in book 3 Lupin says DD became 
> headmaster just before the Marauders went to Hogwarts. That must  
> have been early 70s?
> 
> It seems very clear. Right there in book 6. DD became headmaster 
> about 10 years after Riddle graduated. That must be mid 50s?

Mike here:

I don't know how many folks on this list have read Red_Hen but she 
does a pretty good analysis of time lines and the charactors that 
relate them to us. It was her conclusion that DD becomes headmaster 
in December '56 or January '57, which was the same time that 
McGonnagal becomes the new Transfiguration teacher. That would be 
about 11-1/2 years after Tom Riddle graduated. I could give you the 
timeline, but trust me she worked it out correctly.

She also analyzes Lupin and Sirius' timeline statements. Neither of 
which are any too reliable. But then again, DD says in ch. 1 of 
PS/SS that the WW has little to celebrate for 11 years. That would 
put Voldwar I starting around 1970, 13 years after LV's return to 
Britain and the aforementioned meeting in the New Headmaster's 
office.

Personally, I think timelines fall under JKR's self-professed 
being_terrible with numbers. There are a lot of contradictions in 
her timelines. Take a look at the Black Family Tapestry and compare 
it to canon about Regulus' death. For that matter, the Tapestry has 
two males becoming fathers at age 13, in the twentieth century.
>
<snip> 
> Potioncat again:
> 
> Second, Aging gracefully:
> 
> Harry and a 16-year-old Riddle come in contact with an auburn  
> haired DD. Was he 100 years old then? Eleven or 12 years later   
> (40 years ago?) DD looks much like he does now. That's a lot of 
> aging in 12 years, with not much more in the next 40.
> 
Mike again:

Yeah, DD has auburn hair when he goes to the orphanage in 1938, to 
deliver Tom's Hogwart letter. Kind of makes you wonder if DD is 
really 150 years old, doesn't it? DD's hair stays auburn until until 
he's 100, then goes gray (okay silver) by the time he's 110. As a 
fellow redhead, I can tell you that we tend to go gray prematurely 
and it usually happens very fast compared to non-readhead's 
transition.

JKR never supports that 150 year-old figure in canon, iirc. If you 
take about 40 years off that figure DD's aging makes much more 
sense. Furthermore, her interview statement that wizards and witches 
live much longer than muggles isn't supported by her dates on the 
Tapestry. So far, we only know of 3 centenarians+, Albus, Griselda 
Marchbanks, and Aberforth (unless he was 50 years younger than his 
brother)

<snip> 
> Last Potionncat:
>
> Third: What's up with portraits? DD talks about Dippet and Riddle. 
> The portrait never comments. Does anyone know if Dippet's portrait 
> has ever spoken in any of the books? <snip the rest>

Last Mike:

The only time I recall Dippet speaking was as one of the Phineas 
chastisers in OotP after Harry sees Aurthurs attack, p.473 US.

I guess this goes along with JKR's statement that the paintings 
aren't really a lot of help to the living when it comes to advice. I 
guess DD's painting isn't going to be of much help to Harry in book 
7 either. He's really gone, dangit!