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

[gehayi]

With regard to "The Lestranges" Perhaps the reference was to the two brothers and not the married couple?

No, sorry. Here's the quote:

"Snape knew more curses when he arrived at school than half the kids in seventh year, and he was part of a gang of Slytherins who nearly all turned out to be Death Eaters."

Sirius held up his fingers and began ticking off names.

"Rosier and Wilkes--they were both killed by Aurors the year before Voldemort fell. The Lestranges--they're a married couple--they're in Azkaban. Avery--from what I've heard he wormed his way out of trouble by saying he'd been acting under the Imperius Curse--he's still at large. But as far as I know, Snape was never even accused of being a Death Eater--not that that means much. Plenty of them were never caught. And Snape's certainly clever and cunning enough to keep himself out of trouble."

I don't think she mentions Lucius as part of the 'gang of Slytherins' he ran with, but we know they became friends.

Well, no, but Lucius would have been in seventh year when Snape was in first. Remember, it's stated in OotP that Lucius is 41 in the fall of 1995--he's interviewed by the Prophet shortly after Harry and his friends return to school. This would mean that Lucius was born in 1954, six years before Snape, MWPP and Lily. So it's not likely that he and Snape would have spent much time together at school, though they could have become friends afterwards.

Also, Snape was all alone after his DADA O.W.L and, it seemed, friendless. I get the feeling that many of his 'closer' friends had either already left school.

I suspect that's true. Snape might well have been the youngest member of the "gang."

[midnitemaraud_r]

She really is god-awful with ages, isn't she! She did the same thing with regard to Charlie's age, too.

*sigh*

I suppose we'll see when Tonks' birthday is - maybe that will give us a clue.

[gehayi]

She really is god-awful with ages, isn't she! She did the same thing with regard to Charlie's age, too.

What annoys me is that she KNOWS damned well that she can't figure out anything mathematical, and yet she doesn't--or at least doesn't seem to, judging by the books--get someone who is good at math to beta-read for her to keep her from fouling up her own timeline. I'd expect at least that much care from a fanfic writer, let alone a professional. After all, "I SUCK AT MATH LOLZ!!" wouldn't fly with me if I were reviewing the story of a thirteen-year-old fanbrat at the Pit of Voles. I don't see that sloppiness with canon becomes any more acceptable when it's done by the canonical writer. (And yes, I AM looking at you, Orson Scott Card and Terry Goodkind.)

[midnitemaraud_r]

I don't see that sloppiness with canon becomes any more acceptable when it's done by the canonical writer.

It doesn't. And that's why we 'fix' it in fanfic, don't we?

I'm curious - what was OSC's gaffe? Was it in the Ender books?