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PaperclipPerfector  4d ago (text post)   1547 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for July 3, 2026

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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It is official Harry Potter canon that Lily and James Potter had Harry when they were only 20 years old. This is in my opinion a severe flaw in the worldbuilding. It means that Lily and James had basically no impact post Hogwarts, while the lore otherwise implies that they were pillars of the community. It also makes the complete absense of Harry's grandparents almost nonsensical. Harry's grandmothers would have been 60 years old max when Harry died, yet nothing is ever mentioned of their untimely deaths.

only 20 years old. This is in my opinion a severe flaw in the worldbuilding. It means that Lily and James had basically no impact post Hogwarts,

Wasn't Percy working directly under the Minister of Magic by the time he was that old? Hadn't Bill already explored new ruins and contributed to research? Didn't Fred and George have an innovative, independent, and thriving business? And they all came from a (traditionally) unremarkable family not noted for its successes?

20 years old is plenty if you just do things.

Yes, the wizarding world doesn't seem to have anything like the institution of college; you are considered a full adult when you graduate at 17.

Add to that that education at Hogwarts is surprisingly hands-on; there is some theory ("twelve inches of parchment on the properties of moonstone and its uses in potion-making, to be handed in on Thursday"), but students are casting spells and brewing potions from year one, and it is treated as an outrageous anomaly when Umbridge wants to remove the practical portion of her DADA class. Compare to modern real-world schools, where courses like shop class and home ec are pushed aside to make room for moar uni prep.

And, of course, Lily and James came of age during wartime, which is the best possible circumstance for young people to make a name for themselves and have a real impact. Napoleon was a lieutenant-colonel at 23; Audie Murphy become the most decorated soldier in American history at 20.

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