Harry's Coming of Age

[Centaur Lord]

If Harry is going to be 17 years old in the 7th book, that would mean that he will have "come of age" in the wizarding world. The books usually start around the time of his birthday, so he should be 17 right when the book starts out. Now, how do you think this will affect him? He can use magic, because he's not underage anymore....He can go and do his apparation test so he can apparate. Do you think he'll stay at Privet Drive, even though he could apparate to the burrow whenever he wants to?

[Evil Wizard Petting Zoo]

Yes, Harry will be 17 in the 7th book and 16 in the 6th. I think his being able to apparate will have an effect in the battles in the 7th book.

I also had a completely baseless without any kind of proof whatsoever that Harry may learn to apparate in the 6th book, kind of under the MoM's nose. I just now came up with that so I'm sure there's absolutely nothing to back it up. Just my thoughts

[Aberforth]

If 17 is the age, then Harry won't have much time to do his test before returning to school. I don't think that pupils would be allowed time out from school to do it, so the only other way would be to do it during the holidays. Ron and Hermione might be able to do it before Harry because of when their birthdays are.

[Groo]

i think he will stay at Privet drive even though he will learn to apparate. JKR doesnt like to break a pattern.

just a thought, how on earth are the kids going to study with bloodshed happening around Hogwarts? will we see a slight decrease in the amount of lectures that JKR has devoted so many subplots on?

[Nobby]

its gonna be interesting!

harry will probably feel left out in book 6 because hermoine and ron will be able to do magic in the Christmas and Easter holidays whereas harry will not! he will probably be more dependent upon his friends for protection out of school because of voldie!

in the 7th i think that 1.) the Dursleys will have to be nice to harry...or else
2.)i think that harry will use the summer to pratice for the 'Final Battle', where apparation will be conquered as well as other 'useful/powerful' curses or spells

[Athena Appleton]

I think Hermione's younger than Harry... I know there's some confusion about if she was born the September before Harry was born, or the September after, and it's generally assumed that she's younger than both Ron and Harry (I think... might have it backwards, though)

[Athena Appleton]

I think Hermione's younger than Harry... I know there's some confusion about if she was born the September before Harry was born, or the September after, and it's generally assumed that she's younger than both Ron and Harry (I think... might have it backwards, though)

[Nobby]

no, jk has said that hermoine is the older and that harry is one of the youngest in his year

[Aberforth]

I don't remember reading about anyone's birthday other than Harry's. Bit unfair if you ask me. The Weasleys, poor as they are, buying Harry presents and Ron not getting any.

Maybe I just missed it. I doubt Hermione is younger than Ron and Harry if her birthday is in September, she would be in the year below them. I know you can skip grades, but only once you've been to the school first.

[Dumbledores Master]

Not true I am second year instead of first

[Athena Appleton]

okay, nevermind, I got confused. it happens, even to me

i do know of a few people, though, who had the option of starting kindergarten a few days before they turned five, so they wouldn't be the absolute youngest in their class...

[Emma'I'm a real witch']

Just so I'm clear, does it work in America the same way it does in England, the entrance to the school year depends on your age at the beginning of September?
Because if Hermione was born in September then although she would be 11 at the start of the very first term, she would turn 12 very early on. Harry on the other hand would have to wait until the end of the school year to have his birthday and probably be one of the youngest of the year. (Like poor little me, 6th July, by the way, don't forget!)

[Alice I]

Well in America or I should say in NY a child must be five yrs. old by December 1st to start kindergarten.
There are exceptions to this rule but they must be proved.
Our six yr. old has her birthday on December 19th but we wanted her to start school even though she didn't make the cut off date.

There is a test called:
The Weschler Primary and Preschool Scale of Intellegence Revised

It is a little kid's IQ test and can only be administered by a phycologist, but the long and the short of it is we had her tested and her score was high enough to convince the director of the school board to let her start early.

There are no other age requiremnents that I am aware of in the states.
I hope that helps answer your question.

[Athena Appleton]

It does work that way, or at least it did 20 years ago when I was starting kindergarten... don't know if it's changed to be in August instead of September, since the school year starts in August now...

[Athena Appleton]

okay, well, where I live, the date was September 1, and I don't think there was an IQ test that had to be administered, but there may have been... I wouldn't know, I'm a summer baby and one of the youngest in my class