Research Note: Astoria's School Year

Since most readers of this book have read other fanfictions, they have developed misunderstandings about many canon settings—for example, more than ten readers believed Draco was Snape's godson. Another likely misunderstanding concerns Astoria's school year. The author has seen Astoria placed in Ginny's year (one year below Harry) in at least three fanfictions, including the masterpiece Legend of the Top Student.

To prevent readers misled by fanfiction from causing this poor author to get flamed, here is an advance clarification regarding Astoria's official canon setting.

According to Rowling's official Pottercast interview (No. 131, dated January 2, 2008), Rowling said that Astoria was Daphne's younger sister and was two school years below Draco.

The English transcript of the interview is included below:

(SU and MA are the interviewers; JKR is Rowling.)

SU: We have to ask this, or we'll get yelled at: Draco (JKR: Yeah?) did he graduate, and who did he marry? It wasn't Pansy, right? Or was it?

JKR: No! God, it wasn't Pansy Parkinson! I loathe that—I don't love Draco, but I really dislike her. She's every girl who ever teased me at school; she's the anti-Hermione. I loathe her. Yes, sorry, sidetracked there by my latent bitterness...

SU: (laughs) No, it's awesome!

JKR: Yeah, he married Astoria Greengrass in the end.

SU: Really? Check her out—love it!

MA: Greengrass sounds familiar.

JKR: Younger sister of Daphne, so she's two years younger than he was at Hogwarts and you—yeah, anyway, there you are. That's who he married.