Inconsistancy about the time of going into Hiding?

[Inge]

No: HPFGUIDX 173230

I wrote myself:

> Wrong time for this post, I guess, since I do not have the books 
at 
> hand right now and can't look things up. Will post anyway and hope 
> somebody can clear up if I'm mistaken or not :)
> 
> We've been told earlier (dont even remeber in which book) that 
Lily 
> and James went into hiding only about a week (or few weeks?) 
before 
> the actual attack took place.
> But I'm certain that "somewhere" in DH it is described that 
they "have 
> now been in hiding for some 3 months" (or close to that).
> 
> Am I wrong about that?



Now me again, after getting hold of DH:

Ok, so I found the "somewhere" in DH from where I read, that Lily 
and James may have been in hiding for much longer than a few weeks 
before the attack.

It's in the chapter "Kreacher's Tale", in Lily's letter to Sirius.
It states:

"James is a getting a bit frustrated shut up here, he tries not to 
show it but I can tell...."

Lily sends this letter to Sirius to thank him for the birthday 
present Sirius sent to Harry.
Harry's birthday is July 31st...
The attack was on October 31st...

Would Lily wait some 2½ months to send a *thank-you* letter to 
Sirius?
Or do I read her statement about James getting frustrated about 
being shut up, wrong?

Inge