Harry Potter Question! Voldemort's and Death Eater's age?

Question

Okay,
So I've been thinking A LOT about this.

First let's figure our Voldemort's age.
In the 2nd book, it is mentioned that the Chamber of Secrets was last opened 50 years ago. And it was Voldemort.
In the diary he is his 16 year old self. So at that time, his real age (even though he doesn't have a body) is 66. Four years go by, Harry is 16, Voldemort is 70.
That seems all right.

But than,
In the sixth book, in Slughorn's memory, we see Voldemort again, in his school years, with his friends. One of them called "Lestrange", Bellatrix's future husband. But Bellatrix can't be much older than 40-45, can't she? 30 years between her husband, and her?

Have I made a mistake?
Or do you think this is meant to be this way?

you are right people, it must be her husband's father. sorry.. but still Dumbledore has to be more than a 100!! OMG!

Dumbledore was born around 1845 according to the Harry Potter Wiki.

Answer 1

It was Lestrange's father, and Voldemort should be really, really old. Also, the death eaters that we now know are probably the second generation of Death Eaters

Answer 2

Its suggested that Bellatrix Black and Rodolphus Lestrange attended the school together at some time, along with Snape, Avery, Rosier. so the age difference cannot be more than 6 or 7.

But, you are correct that there is a Lestrange mentioned in Slughorn's memory as a classmate of Riddle, which could be the other Lestrange - Rabastan. Or the best guess would be that the Lestrange mentioned in the memory could be the father of Rabastan and Rodolphus which will make the age difference correct.

Cheers, Aski

Answer 3

J.K.Rowling must not have thought this through. I mean, you're probably about the only person that picked up on that. You're calculations are correct though...hey, maybe Nicholas Flamel gave Dumbledore some of his elixir of life. They were friends weren't they? Oh wait, if that was the case then Dumbledore would have died when the stone was destroyed. You know, this isn't the only mistake J.K.Rowling made. In HP no.2 Percy takes 5 points away from Ron when they come out of Myrtle's bathroom. But then in no.5 Ernie says to Malfoy that prefects can't deduct house points! You know, we're probably the only people that pick up on these things:)

Answer 4

It's more than likely a mathematical error on JKR's part. She's stressed many times that math was never her subject, so, you got the ages right.

=D

(this is my own question, here) Are you sure that the Lestrange was Bellatrix's husband? Not her father? (Sorry, I haven't read HBP in a while...I need to get on that.)

Answer 5

Try checking the Harry Potter Lexicon. They do have an idea on when some of the Death Eaters may have been born. But not on all.

Answer 6

voldemort is probably 70..omg how old is dumbledore cuz in the second movie in tom's memory he looked very old...maybe bellatrix is older....are you sure they are married? it is confusing..bellatrix is serius cousin & they had to be the same age...around 40...lol it is confusing i think this is meant to be this way!

Answer 7

well it could be that she is older than that. If you pay attention to the 2nd book hagrid was in school with voldemort. so hagrid would also have to be 70, but he doesnt look to be older than 45. so maybe wizards age differently.

Answer 8

You are assuming that the Lestrange mentioned in the book is Bella's husband. It isn't, it is her husband's father.

Answer 9

I guess in the wizard world, they don't need botox. But you have done everything correct, JKR did mess things up.

Answer 10

interesting question.. I never thought of this before... now I'm all trying to figure out ages. ☺