What if...you do magic when you're 15?

[Bruce Alan Wilson]

No: HPFGUIDX 177458

Irene:
"As I understand it, all magical children are listed in a book at 
Hogwarts the day they are born. No one probably knows who's in this 
book but the Headmaster - so Neville's family would not have known that he was listed until he got the letter. So, even if a witch or wizard did not show signs of magic at a young age, Hogwarts would know that it was there and offer them a place at the school at age 11."

Or, as a child who could not do magic would be very out of place at Hogwarts,the Magical Education Bureau would keep an eye on the child and when the magical ability did manifest itself arrange for private tutoring.  JKR says that not all Wizardling children in Britain attend Hogwarts; some go abroad to Beaubatons or Durmstrang or elsewhere, and some are homeschooled.  The MoM probably has some supervisory activity over the third class to see that they are properly prepared for OWLs and NEWTS.  JKR doesn't show it, because it isn't relative to the story, but I'm guessing that there are some kids who are homeschooled through OWLS who come to Hogwarts for NEWTS.


Bruce Alan Wilson

"The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man.  Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish.  Only the bicycle remains pure in heart."--Iris Murdoch