HBP and the Ages of the Black Sisters

[gehayi]

Something that occurred to me last night while I was reading over commentary on the early chapters of HBP:

Comments

[musesfool]

But Remus says Tonks was going to her family for Christmas, which implies Andromeda and Ted (and possible siblings?), as we know it wasn't the Malfoys or Lestranges, even if Molly says, no, Tonks was spending it alone. Which, if her mother died between the beginning of OotP (when Tonks speaks of her cheerfully in the present tense) and Christmas in HBP, I think Harry would have heard (disinherited Black daughter dies in Death Eater debacle!). And also, it makes me like Tonks less for leaving her father alone on Christmas if her mother had recently died.

I think, much like Charlie and Bill, Rowling has never bothered to figure out the ages of the Black sisters.

[gehayi]

But Remus says Tonks was going to her family for Christmas, which implies Andromeda and Ted (and possible siblings?), as we know it wasn't the Malfoys or Lestranges, even if Molly says, no, Tonks was spending it alone.

Well, it's entirely possible that the family that Remus thought Tonks was going to spend Christmas with was her father's side--father, paternal grandparents, paternal aunts and uncles, etc. Heaven knows, I spent enough Christmases and Easters with relatives solely from my mother's side of the family.

Which, if her mother died between the beginning of OotP (when Tonks speaks of her cheerfully in the present tense) and Christmas in HBP, I think Harry would have heard (disinherited Black daughter dies in Death Eater debacle!).

Well, Andromeda doesn't have to have died as a casualty of the war. She could have had a heart attack. Or, like Abraxas Malfoy, a bad case of dragon pox.

I think, much like Charlie and Bill, Rowling has never bothered to figure out the ages of the Black sisters.I'm afraid you're right. I was just

[musesfool]

Well, it's entirely possible that the family that Remus thought Tonks was going to spend Christmas with was her father's side

That's possible.

Well, Andromeda doesn't have to have died as a casualty of the war. She could have had a heart attack. Or, like Abraxas Malfoy, a bad case of dragon pox.

Even if she died naturally, I think Harry would have heard. Esp. if Hermione's checking the obituaries every day.

And I still say that if Andromeda did die in between the beginning of OotP and Christmas in HBP, Tonks has no business not being with her Dad on Christmas, since it sounds like she has a perfectly fine relationship with her parents in OotP.

I'm afraid you're right. I was just trying to add up what information there was and make it consistent. Sigh.

True. Bella's the left-most name on the atpestry, though, which would indicate she's the eldest.

[katsaris]

I think, much like Charlie and Bill, Rowling has never bothered to figure out the ages of the Black sisters.

Aye -- I also think that's the simplest and most likely explanation -- and ofcourse Charlie and Bill *are* the most obvious examples of JKR not being good with dates.

[musesfool]

Yeah, we can work around it in fic and try not to think too hard about it in canon. *g*