Tom at Hogwarts with James' Parents

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 177246


> On 9/20/07, Hagrid wrote:
> > Did James' parents go to Hogwarts at the same time as Tom Riddle?
> > How likely is that?
> 
> 
> Meann:
> Tom Riddle was born 31 Dec.1926 based on the usual formula used to 
> calculate most years in the HP world - Nick's deathday. If that's 
> accurate, he was at Hogwarts in 1938.
> 
> Lily, James, and their contemporaries, were born around 1960, give 
> or take a year, so they would've entered Hogwarts in 1971. That's 
> a 33-year difference.  =)
snip  


Potioncat who just realized she snipped the wrong part:
Oh dear! Maths!
For what it's worth, the Lexicon lists Riddle's birth year as 1927 
and McGonagall's as 1924. I worked it out that Eileen was born in 
1931 or '32 but I could push it down to '28 if I tried real hard. I 
may need to look at it again, because at the time, we didn't have a 
firm year for Severus's birth.

On the other hand, it's a good idea to keep in mind that within the 
story, math is very fluid. If JKR wanted these three to be class 
mates---they were. But I don't think we have anything firm that says 
they were. At least, not for the point of anything we see in the 
story.

As to James's parents, yes, they could have been in school with 
Riddle. We know they were rather advanced in years when James was 
born---which could mean anything. But if they were around 40, it 
gives us birthdates around 1920. Of course if they were 25 (old to be 
starting in the WW) The birthdates would be 35. 

Now, I kind of like the idea of Eileen Snape being classmates with 
Senior-Most Potter and perhaps warning Severus to watch out for 
anyone by that name....