A slight problem with 1983

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 186055

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "capndad1" <capndad1 at ...> wrote:
>
>  I've noticed a slight...difficulty...with the date of Harry's parents deaths, something only our favorite brown-haired young lady might notice. I haven't found any mention of it in past posts, and fervently hope this is not one of those "anomalies-not-to-be-named" that one sometimes finds in groups like this. If it is I have no problem ignoring it, and apologize for bringing it up.
> 
>   Harry's parents died in:
> 
> 1983.
> 
>   This makes Harry one year old at that time. Add ten years to that date and we find Harry is eleven years old and starting Hogwarts in:
> 
> 1993.
> 
>   Since this whole thing wrapped up in what would have been Harry's seventh and last year at Hogwarts, adding seven years to that date brings us to:
> 
> 2000.
> 
>   That means that in 2009 we are only about halfway through the 19 year interval before the epilogue.
> 
>   Personally, I think it would have been much much nicer to have made the original date of Voldemorts' attack 1973, and thus finished the whole story this year.
> 
>   Opinions?

Geoff:
The dating for Harry is based on canon evidence from COS:

'"Well, this Hallowe'en will be my five hundredth deathday," 
said Nearly Headless Nick, drawing himself up amd looking dignified.'
(COS "The Deathday Party" p.99 UK Edition)

'...an enormous grey cake in the shape of a tombstone, with 
tar-like icing forming the words.

                   Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington
                             died 31st October 1492'
(ibid. p.102)

This therefore sets the year as 1992, when Harry is in his 
second year at Hogwarts, hence he would have celebrated 
his 12th birthday on 31st July of that year setting his birth 
year as 1980.

We know that Voldemort killed James and Lily when Harry 
was a year old; that sets the date as 31st October 1981.

I'm not sure from where you get the date of 1983? Perhaps 
you could provide your source.