Chapter One: Wizarding Ages
Have any of you wondered how it is that wizards live so long? Albus Dumbledore was 129 years old when he died , Ronald Weasley's Aunt Muriel was 107 years old and yet looked so sprightly. The answer is that magic automatically enhances a wizards physical age. Wizards age much slower than normal people- so that a Wizard who is a hundred years old –has the physical strength of a 65-70 year old man. The same is true for witches- though wizards are known to have lived longer.
Theoretically- it is calculated that magic begins to enhance age after the age of 55. Until 55, wizards age as normally as human beings. A 55 year old wizard has the same physical strength as a 55 year old man. Typically maturity begins only after 55 years for a wizard (though some wizards mature early). This has nothing to do with magical talents. The magic must reach every inch of your body- and it takes 55 or so years for this to happen. The magic then begins to prolong the age of the wizard rather involuntarily. For instance- a wizard ages 12 months physically for every 15-24 actual months, sometimes even more. Example: A Wizard who is 55 years would in 2 years be 57 years old actually but would have the physical body of a 56 year old. In 20 years time, this wizard would physically be 75 years old but his physical body would be that of a 65 year old.
So how is this age factor decided? Depends on the extent of magic in the wizard. Dumbledore who was one of the greatest wizards of all time had a lot of magic in him. Born in 1869- Dumbledore turned 55 in the year 1924. After this he aged 1 year physically for 3 actual years- this meant that the 74 years he lived after 1924 (until his death in 1998) was the equivalent of only 25 or so years physically- meaning that he had the physical build of a 80 year old man at the time of his death.
The age factor varies from (15:12 to 48:12)- implying that even the most average of wizards age 12 months for every 15 actual months while the most magical of wizards age 12 months in every 48 actual months. The oldest living wizard of all time was Salazar Slytherin who lived from 895 until 1086 for 191 years. He had the body of a 89 year old when he died- meaning that his age factor was 48:12. Horace Slughorn is 100 years old- meaning that he actually has a physical look of a 70 year old man (implying an age factor of around 24:12).
Witches have a lesser age factor than wizards. One theory founded by Professor Pawdgett in 1847 was that in Witches the magical enhancement begins at an age of 60-65, rather than 55. This would be because Witches bear children and pass on magic to the children – consequently the more the children – the later would be the time for the magic to seep through completely. For instance- Molly Weasley who had seven children would begin magically aging after a much longer time than Minerva McGonagall who was childless and hence would begin the process at about the same time as a wizard. Ronalds Aunt Muriel who was unmarried was a 107- assuming a magical factor of 24:12, this would mean that Muriel looked like a 81 year old woman (55 + (52/2)).
Calculation of Age Factor:
A Wizard is 120 years old. Assuming he looked like a 70 year old man and had the physical strength of a 70 year old man- calculate his age factor.
Ans: Until 55- the wizard would age as any normal man would- hence the wizards body has been magically enhanced for (120-55) = 65 years.
Since the wizard looks like a 70 year old man, this would mean the wizard has aged physically from his 55th birthday for = (70 – 55) = 15 years
Actual Time Passed since 55th Birthday = 65 years
Physical Age since 55th Birthday = 15 years
Age factor = 65/15 or roughly 48:12 (closest to 48/12).
Unlike popular blood theories- Purebloods do not have longer lifespan than muggle borns. It all depends entirely on the magic in the wizard.
Minerva McGonagall was born in 1925- making her 73 years old physically at the time of the Epilogue. Of course assuming she began magically aging at the age of 55, this would mean that for 18 actual years, she aged 9 years physically (Assuming an Age Factor of 24:12)- she would resemble a 64 year old woman in physical strength.
There are magical ways of enhancing ones age. Many spells exist to prolong the life of a wizard apart from natural enhancement. Most spells are temporary and can prolong life by less than a six month span. It takes very talented dark wizards to use these spells. The spells are applicable only in situations where a wizard is in physical harm- an example was Albus Dumbledore who had Snape magically prolong his life for a year using spells & potions. The draught of living death is another potion who can prolong the life of a dying man by more than a few hours.
A famous wizard who lives in the 1800's in France- used the fictitious name of the Count of Monte Christo. This wizard prolonged many dying men's lives to get their confessions including one Gaspard Cadderouse. Muggle Alexandre Dumas wrote a book on this wizard's life though without the knowledge that Monte Christo was an actual wizard.
One obvious question would be how is it that with this enhancement- wizards are not overpopulated. One answer is the reluctance of witches to have too many children. You would observe families having only 1 child or at the most 2 children. With the exception of the Weasleys- this is done mainly to avoid the drain of magic causing magical enhancement to be prolonged. Many Purebloods abhor having more than one child- the Malfoys for example to avoid the drain of magic. Usual wizarding families have only 1 child per couple which somewhat regulates the population.
Another reason is that though wizards are immune to muggle infections- (some of them- some infections like Common Cold or the Flu are common to everyone- muggle and wizard), they are susceptible to infections which have no cure- like Spattergoit or Dragon Pox. Wizarding healers have no cures for these. Most other infections are caused by bacteria which are killed by the magic in ones blood – hence wizards are immune from most muggle infections- Harry for instance never once went to a doctor during his years with the Dursleys.
Thus the population of Wizards is regulated well and naturally. Also this explains why the Average Wizard lives for between 85-95 years and an Average Witch 81-86 years.
Of course- Squibs age as normally as human beings do. Magically disturbed wizards like Ariana Dumbledore- would also age in the same way as humans.
Professor Aurelius Anvil
