Discussion: Aging in the Wizarding World

[hpgoldenage_mod]

Time for our first discussion post. :)

What does canon tell us about aging in the wizarding world and what is your own head canon on the topic? Feel free to cite canon examples as well as reference fanworks, perhaps a favorite fic that matches your head canon or made you see aging in a whole new way.

Comments

[capitu]

Sometimes, in fanfic, there is this notion that "purebloods" live longer than "half-bloods".

I remember reading a story... it was Harry/Draco, Hermione/Severus, in which both Harry and Hermione were aging faster than their husbands.

I remember thinking something like, 'yeah, I suppose that makes sense.' As a theory, but my personal headcanon is more like, you know, with Muggles, I don't think it'd only depend on how powerful they are. I rather thing it's the way they live, too. Like, if a person dives into the Dark Arts, it corrupts them in a way, and so their bodies/wealth, eventually suffer. But I have no canon evidence to support my theory.

[birdsofshore]

if a person dives into the Dark Arts, it corrupts them in a way, and so their bodies/wealth, eventually suffer

OK, so is that why you look about 12? Your purity, your upstanding morals and your love of rimming? ;-)

This would actually explain why I look like an old boot, though ;-)

[capitu]

Pss, it's the rimming. ;) It's rejuvenating.

[torino10154]

That must have been an oldie, since Severus was a pureblood in it.

I do like the idea that the Dark Arts and that sort of thing could have a physical effect even on aging. Like a two pack a day habit would damage your body, so would Dark magic. (I mean we know it does somewhat from Voldemort but he goes above and beyond really.)

[capitu]

No, Snape wasn't a pure-blood on this fic, but he aged more slowly than Hermione because she's Muggle-born. :)

Like a two pack a day habit would damage your body, so would Dark magic.

Yes, I mean something like that. Yes!

[torino10154]

Ah, I see what you mean. More slowly than Hermione did but probably more like Harry than Draco. Makes sense. (There was a time, back in the day, that Snape was always pureblood since he was a Slytherin so that's why I assumed it was what you meant.)

[vaysh]

I rather thing it's the way they live, too. Like, if a person dives into the Dark Arts, it corrupts them in a way, and so their bodies/wealth, eventually suffer.

Dorian Grey-like, you mean? That's fascinating; I'd love to read a story based on that. But - I could never make it my headcanon. It presupposes that "nature" has morals and punishes those who behave amorally. And well, nature has no morals. Morality is man-made, or part of a spiritual or religious belief. I'd love to know more, though, about why Voldemort looked the way he did, after his return.

[capitu]

Not quite like Dorian Grey, more like, if you indulge in something damaging, it takes its toll, eventually. I suppose I see it more like, if I do drugs, then my body will suffer, you know?

I guess it is one of the reasons why Voldemort looked the way he did, because his body was created in a dark ritual.

Okay, I have a prompt for darkarts next horror fest. :D