HPL: Timeline

The 10th century BC

before 1000 BC(Y-2979)

Ancient Egyptian MagicMagic is integrated into society and wizards are held in esteem. Egyptian wizards put curses on tombs; nowadays curse-breakers for [Gringotts] try to regain the treasure locked in those tombs. One pyramid has mutant skeletons of Muggles who'd broken in and "grown extra heads and stuff" (as Ron puts it).
(PA1)

The 8th century BC

c. 753 BC(Y-2732)

In the Muggle world:

Romulus founds Rome

Europe | Italy | Rome

Additional information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Rome

The 4th century BC

382 BC (Y-2361)

[Ollivanders] opens for business, selling fine wands.The location of Ollivanders is uncertain, since [Diagon Alley] didn't exist in 382 BC.
(PS5)

The 1st century BC

c. 4 BC(Y-1983)

In the Muggle world:

Jesus Christ bornAccording to the Bible, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, near Jerusalem.
Scholars are uncertain of the exact year, but from historical references (and astronomical ones), place Jesus' birth somewhere between 9 and 4 BC.

The 10th century
Events of this century:

Annual Swedish broom race begins

Europe | [Sweden]

A broom race is run in Sweden from Kopparberg to Arjeplog, a distance of about 300 miles. The race is so popular it is made an annual tradition - one which still continues today, over 1000 years later.
(QA2)

962 (Y-1018)

German illuminated manuscript created

Europe | Germany

Witches and wizards were using primitive [broomsticks] for transportation, but these broomsticks were far from perfect; this German illuminated manuscript shows wizards dismounting early flying broomsticks in pain.
(QA1)

before 993 (Y-987)

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is Founded

Europe | Great Britain | Scotland

Growing distrust on the part of Muggles for wizards and witches compels the four greatest witches and wizards of the age - Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin - to found Hogwarts. Slytherin builds the Chamber of Secrets after his idea that only pure-blood wizards should be allowed into Hogwarts was dismissed. The Wizarding World begins to withdraw and hide itself from the Muggle World (CS9).
The official timeline ([CS/DVD]) lists this year as "before 993" because it is based on Y0 = 1980. Canon states that this happened "over a thousand years ago" (CS9, GF12).

The 11th century
Events of this century:

early 1000s

The Chamber of Secrets is created

Great Britian | Scotland | Hogwarts

Growing friction between Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin erupts into violence, with the result that Slytherin leaves Hogwarts after creating the Chamber of Secrets.
(CS9)

the beginnings of [Quidditch]

Britain | Queerditch Marsh

[Gertie Keddle], living near [Queerditch Marsh], writes about some local witches and wizards playing a new game on [broomsticks]; over the next few centuries this game evolves into [Quidditch].
(QA3)

Tragic Gaelic poem written about the game of Creaothceann

Europe | Britain | Scotland

The poem tells of twelve men playing a round of Creaothceann during which "...ten of their number were fated to die."
(QA2)

1014 (Y-966)

[Fulbert the Fearful] born (fw)

1066 (Y-914)

In the Muggle world:

Battle of Hastings; the Norman Conquest of Britain

Britain | England | Hastings

This famous battle actually took place near the town of Hastings on Selnac Hill. The defeat of Harold II by William the Conqueror marked the last time that England was conquered by foreign forces.
Additional information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_hastings

1097 (Y-883)

[Fulbert the Fearful] diesDespite never leaving his house, he is killed when a [Defensive Charm] he casts backfires.
(fw)

The 12th century

1105 (Y-875)

Stichstock Painting Created

Europe | Germany

The famous painting Günther der Gewlttätige is der Gewinner is drawn, depicting a game of [Stichstock]. (QA2)
(QA2)

1107 (Y-873)

[Guthrie Lochrin] of Scotland writes of the discomfort of riding broomsticks

Britain | Scotland

(QA2)
(QA1)

1112 (Y-868)

Wilfred Elphick born (fw)

1163 (Y-817)

[Puddlemere United] formed

Britain | Puddlemere

The [Quidditch] team would later become the oldest team in the [British and Irish Quidditch League].
(QA7)

1199 (Y-781)

Wilfred Elphick is gored to death by an [Erumpet] (fw)

The 13th century

1202 (Y-778)

[Bridget Wenlock], a famous Arithmancer, is born (fw)

1203 (Y-777)

The [Holyhead Harpies] are formed

Britain | Wales | Anglesey | Holyhead

The [Quidditch] team would go on to keep an 800+ year tradition of hiring only witches.
(QA7)

1227 (Y-753)

[Ignatia Wildsmith], inventor of Floo powder, is born (fw)

before 1269 (Y-711)

Barberus Bragge becomes Chief of the [Wizards' Council] (QA4)

1269 (Y-711)

Snidget Introduced into QuidditchAt a [Quidditch] match, Chief Barberus Bragge of the [Wizards' Council] releases a Golden Snidget and offers 150 [Galleons] to whichever player catches it first; this eventually proves so popular that a new position is added to Quidditch teams, the "Hunter," whose sole task is to catch a Golden Snidget released onto the pitch during the game.
(QA4)

1285 (Y-695)

Famous Arithmancer [Bridget Wenlock] dies (fw)

1289 (Y-691)

International Warlock ConventionThis convention is part of the second-year History of Magic curriculum; Professor Binns is in the middle of a lecture on it when Hermione interrupts to ask about the Chamber of Secrets.
(CS9)

1291 (Y-689)

The [Kenmare Kestrels] [Quidditch] team is founded

Ireland | Kenmare

(QA7)

1292 (Y-688)

The [Pride of Portree] [Quidditch] team is founded

Britain | Scotland | Isle of Skye | Portree

(QA7)

c. 1294 (Y-686)

The [Triwizard Tournament] is establishedThe tradition begins with the three European Wizarding schools: [Beauxbatons Academy], [Durmstrang Institute], and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It will continue off and on for many centuries.
(GF12)

1296 (Y-684)

A Manticore savages someone but is let off because no one dares go near it (PA11)

The 14th century
Events of this century:

Witch BurningsAs the magical world separates itself more and more from Muggle society, Muggles are particularly afraid of magic but not very good at recognizing it, leading to persecution of suspected witches. [Wendelin the Weird] is burned at the stake 47 times in various disguises (using a [Flame-Freezing Charm] to protect herself from the fire) (PA1, [fw]).

The German broom game [Stichstock] dies out

Europe | Germany

(QA2)

[Burdock Muldoon] is Chief of the [Wizards' Council] (FB3)

The Golden Snidget population begins to fall rapidly in BritainThe population of Snidgets drops due to hunting and its use in [Quidditch].
(QA3)

Elfrida Clagg becomes Chief of the [Wizards' Council]She succeeds [Burdock Muldoon] ([FB]) and declares the Golden Snidget to be a protected species, forbidding its use in [Quidditch] ([QA3]). Clagg also tries to establish a standard by which creatures will be given legal rights as "beings," but her attempt fails ([FB]).

[Bowman Wright] invents the Golden SnitchIt is invented as a substitute for the Golden Snidget in [Quidditch], as the Snidget is now a protected species and can no longer legally be used in matches.
This date is given in [Quidditch Through the Ages], although the [Famous Wizard Cards] give [Bowman Wright]'s date of birth as 1492.

original artwork © 2001 [Steve Vander Ark]
(QA3)

1312 (Y-668)

The [Wimbourne Wasps] [Quidditch] team is formed

Britain | Wimbourne

(QA7)

[Quidditch] referee [Cyprian Youdle] is born (fw)

1320 (Y-660)

Floo powder inventor [Ignatia Wildsmith] dies (fw)

c. 1326 (Y-654)

Nicholas Flamel is bornThe year is based on the fact that, in 1991, Nicholas Flamel was said to have "celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year." However, this was written in an "enormous old book," so we can't be completely sure.
(PS13)

c. 1333 (Y-647)

Perenelle Flamel is born (PS13)

1342 (Y-638)

[Chauncey Oldridge] is born (fw)

1357 (Y-623)

[Cyprian Youdle] is killed during a [Quidditch] matchA referee from Norfolk, [Youdle] is killed by a curse from an angry spectator during a match ([QA6], [fw]).

1362 (Y-618)

The [Wizards' Council] bans all [Quidditch] matches within 50 miles of a town or village (QA5)

1368 (Y-612)

The [Wizards' Council] bans all [Quidditch] matches within 100 miles of a town or village (QA5)

1379 (Y-601)

[Chauncey Oldridge], the first victim of [dragon pox], dies (fw)

1385 (Y-595)

First recorded [Quidditch] match in IrelandThe match occurs between Irish warlocks and a team from Lancashire; we know of it thanks to an account from [Zacharias Mumps].
(QA8)

1390 (Y-590)

[Gifford Ollerton], a famous giant slayer, is born (fw)

1391 (Y-589)

Famous Wizarding Duellist [Alberta Toothill] is born (fw)

1398 (Y-582)

[Zacharias Mumps] writes a description of [Quidditch]It is the earliest known full description of the game, which already closely resembled modern [Quidditch]([QA5], [QA6]).

The 15th century
Events of this century:

early 1400s

[Quidditch] spreads to Europe[Ingolfr the Iambic] from Norway and [Malécrit] from France write of [Quidditch] matches taking place in their countries, by which we see that the game was spreading across Europe in the early 1400s
(QA8)

Beater Bats are enchanted for the first timeThis makes Bludgers, which in the 15th century are rocks cut into the shape of balls, even more dangerous. When smashed by the now-magical bats, the Bludgers become flying gravel.
(QA6)

1402 (Y-578)

The [Caerphilly Catapaults] [Quidditch] team is formed (QA7)

1419 (Y-561)

More [Quidditch] legislation enactedThe [Wizards' Council] declares that [Quidditch] should not be played "anywhere near anyplace where there is the slightest chance that a Muggle might be watching or we'll see how well you can play whilst chained to a dungeon wall."
(QA5)

1422 (Y-558)

The [Wigtown Wanderers] [Quidditch] team is formedIt consists of the seven children of a butcher, [Walter Parkin].
(QA7)

1429 (Y-551)

[Burdock Muldoon] bornThere is a conflict here: according to [Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them],Muldoon was Chief of the [Wizards' Council] in the 1300s, but according to his [Famous Wizard Card], he was born in 1429. This is an error.
(fw)

1430 (Y-550)

All-England Wizarding Duelling CompetitionThe competition is won by [Alberta Toothill]. She defeats the favorite, [Samson Wiblin], by using a [Blasting Curse].
(fw)

before 1441 (Y-539)

[Gifford Ollerton] kills the giant Hengist of Upper Barnton (fw)

1441 (Y-539)

[Gifford Ollerton], the famous giant slayer, dies (fw)

1443 (Y-537)

Renowned Liondragon expert [Quong Po] of China is born

Asia | China

(fw)

1447 (Y-533)

[Yardley Platt], a famous serial goblin-killer, is born (fw)

[Cheering Charm] inventor Felix Summerbee is born (fw)

1448 (Y-532)

[Burdock Muldoon] becomes Chief of the [Wizards' Council]He holds the position until 1450.
[FB] claims that [Muldoon] held this position a century sooner; this was either a different [Burdock Muldoon], or, more likely, it is an error.
(fw)

1467 (Y-513)

Daisy Dodderidge, eventual founder of the [Leaky Cauldron], is born (fw)

1473 (Y-507)

The First [Quidditch World Cup]The final match pitted Transylvania against Flanders. The game has gone down in history as one of the most violent of all time, as it involved every one of the 700 ways to commit a [Quidditch foul].
(QA8)

1483 (Y-497)

Famous Wizarding Duellist [Alberta Toothill] dies (fw)

1486 (Y-494)

Famous author Cornelius Agrippa is born (fw)

1490 (Y-490)

[Burdock Muldoon], former Chief of the [Wizards' Council], dies (fw)

1492 (Y-488)

[Bowman Wright] is bornAlthough the [Famous Wizard Card] indicates that [Wright] was born in 1492, the book [Quidditch Through the Ages] tells us that he invented the Golden Snitch in the 1300s. Both can't be correct, of course, but both dates are given on this timeline.
(fw)

October 31

Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington is beheaded (nearly)original animated artwork © 2001 [F.W. Arbacette], used by permission
(CS8)

The 16th century
Events of this century:

early 1500s

[Quidditch] [Beaters] experiment with metal BludgersThey first try using lead Bludgers, then eventually progress to making the balls of iron - the material still used today.
(QA6)

1506 (Y-474)

[Montague Knightley], [wizard chess] champion, is born (fw)

1508 (Y-472)

[Cheering Charms] inventor Felix Summerbee dies (fw)

1520 (Y-460)

Composer Musidora Barkwith is born (fw)

The [Tutshill Tornados] [Quidditch] team is formed

Britain | Tutshill

(QA7)

1533 (Y-447)

September 7
Elizabeth Tudor (later Elizabeth I, Queen of England), is born

1535 (Y-445)

Cornelius Agrippa, the famous author, diesHe was imprisoned by Muggles who believed his writings to be evil.
(fw)

1538 (Y-442)

A ban is imposed on using a wand against opposing players in [Quidditch] (QA6)

1539 (Y-441)

[Quong Po], expert on Liondragons, dies (fw)

1555 (Y-425)

Daisy Dodderidge, the witch who built the [Leaky Cauldron], dies (fw)

1556 (Y-424)

[Gunhilda of Gorsemoor] bornShe was a famous Healer who developed the cure for [dragon pox].
(fw)

1557 (Y-423)

Serial goblin-killer [Yardley Platt] dies (fw)

1558 (Y-422)

November 17
Elizabeth Tudor QueenedShe becomes Elizabeth I, Queen of England upon the death of her half-sister Mary

1560 (Y-420)

Golden Snitch inventor [Bowman Wright] dies (fw)

Mungo Bonham, founder of [St. Mungo's Hospital], is born (fw)

1564 (Y-416)

In the Muggle world:
William Shakespeare, English playwright and poet, is born

1566 (Y-414)

Balfour Blane is bornHe goes on to establish the [Committee on Experimental Charms].
(fw)

1568 (Y-412)

Archibald Alderton, is bornHe later becomes famous for blowing up the hamlet of Little Dropping while trying to mix a birthday cake.
(fw)

1588 (Y-392)

[Montague Knightley], [wizard chess] champion, dies (fw)

July
The Spanish Armada, attempting to invade England, is destroyed at sea

The 17th century
Events of this century:

early 1600s

[St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries] is founded by Mungo BonhamIts location is unknown, since presumably Purge and Dowse Ltd., the abandoned [London] department store that now houses the hospital, did not exist in the seventeenth century.
(fw)

early 1600s

[Quidditch] is introduced to North AmericaUnfortunately its introduction also breeds a lot of anti-wizard sentiment.
(QA8)

[Quidditch] is introduced in New ZealandIt is brought to the country by a team of British herbologists who are studying native plants. They play [Quidditch] for recreation and the game catches on.
(QA8)

1602 (Y-378)

[Almerick Sawbridge], famous troll conqueror, is born (fw)

1603 (Y-377)

In the Muggle world:
Elizabeth I, Queen of England, diesJames Stuart, King of Scotland, becomes James I of England.

1612 (Y-368)

Goblin RebellionThe inn at [Hogsmeade] serves as headquarters
(PA5)

Elfrida Clagg, Chieftainess of the [Warlocks' Council], is bornAccording to [Quidditch Through the Ages], Clagg was [Wizards' Council] Chief in the 1300s, but her [Famous Wizard Card] gives this date, so both are on the timeline.
(fw)

Famous pixie hater Dymphna Furmage is born (fw)

The [Appleby Arrows] [Quidditch] team is founded (QA7)

1616 (Y-364)

In the Muggle world:
English playwright and poet William Shakespeare dies

1620 (Y-360)

[Quintius Umfraville] writes [The Noble Sport of Warlocks] (QA6)

1623 (Y-357)

Archibald Alderton, who blew up the hamlet of Little Dropping, dies (fw)

1629 (Y-351)

Balfour Blane, who established the [Committee on Experimental Charms], dies (fw)

1632 (Y-348)

[Thaddeus Thurkell], father of seven [Squib] sons, is born (fw)

1634 (Y-346)

[Havelock Sweeting], unicorn expert, is born (fw)

1637 (Y-343)

The [Werewolf Code of Conduct] is written (PS16)

1639 (Y-341)

[Gunhilda of Gorsemoor], inventor of the cure for [dragon pox], diesHer passing is mourned by the Wizarding community
(fw)

1642 (Y-338)

[Lord Stoddard Withers], breeder of flying horses, is born (fw)

1652 (Y-328)

The [European Cup] is establishedThis happens in response to the fact that the [Quidditch World Cup] has now become an international event, with non-European nations competing.
(QA8)

1656 (Y-324)

[Elladora Ketteridge], discoverer of the properties of [Gillyweed], is born (fw)

1659 (Y-321)

[St. Mungo's Hospital] founder Mungo Bonham dies (fw)

1665 (Y-315)

[Honoria Nutcombe], founder of the [Society for the Reformation of Hags], is born (fw)

1666 (Y-314)

Composer Musidora Barkwith diesShe is most famous for composing the unfinished "Wizarding Suite," which features an exploding tuba.
(fw)

1674 (Y-306)

The [British and Irish Quidditch League] is FormedThe thirteen best [Quidditch] teams are asked to join the league; all other teams are asked to disband.
(QA7)

1677 (Y-303)

[Glanmore Peakes], slayer of the sea serpent of [Cromer], is born (fw)

1687 (Y-293)

[Warlocks' Council] chieftainess Elfrida Clagg dies (fw)

1692 (Y-288)

The [International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy] goes into effectA summit meeting of the [International Confederation of Wizards] takes place. The discussion about magical creatures lasts seven weeks and includes delegations of goblins, centaurs, and merpeople. The result of this summit is the [International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy], which effectively hid the Wizarding community away from the Muggles.
(FB)

[Thaddeus Thurkell], father of seven [Squib] sons, dies (fw)

1698 (Y-282)

Dymphna Furmage dies in mortal fear of pixiesHer fears are not entirely unfounded, as she had been abducted by pixies while vacationing in Cornwall.
(fw)

1699 (Y-281)

[Almerick Sawbridge] diesHe became famous for conquering the River Troll of the Wye River.
(fw)

The 18th century
Events of this century:

[Quidditch] is introduced to AustraliaThe introduction of the game comes possibly from New Zealand and possibly from European influences.
(QA8)

The game of [Quodpot] is created by American wizard [Abraham Peasegood] (QA8)

1703 (Y-277)

[Edgar Stroulger], inventor of the Sneakoscope, is born (fw)

1709 (Y-271)

The Warlocks' Convention outlaws dragon breedingoriginal artwork by [Mary GrandPré] © Warner Bros., used by permission
(PS14)

1711 (Y-269)

Quaffles are first colored red during a particularly muddy winter (QA6)

1720 (Y-260)

[Gondoline Oliphant], troll expert, is born (fw)

1722 (Y-258)

Dilys Derwent starts her career as a [St. Mungo's] Healer (OP22)

1729 (Y-251)

[Elladora Ketteridge], discoverer of the properties of [Gillyweed], dies (fw)

1741 (Y-239)

Dilys Derwent becomes headmistress of Hogwarts SchoolIn doing so she leaves her previous job as a Healer at [St. Mungo's Hospital].
(OP22)

1742 (Y-238)

[Glover Hipworth], inventor of [Pepperup Potion], is born (fw)

Herbology specialist [Beaumont Marjoribanks] is born (fw)

1743 (Y-237)

[Honoria Nutcombe], founder of the [Society for the Reformation of Hags], dies (fw)

1749 (Y-231)

The [Statute of Secrecy] is breachedThe international agreement is breached in an incident involving vampires. Legislation follows to make another such breach less likely. There was a question about this incident on Harry's History of Magic [O.W.L.] exam.
(OP31)

1750 (Y-230)

The [Department of Magical Games and Sports] is established (QA6)

The [International Code of Wizarding Secrecy] is amendedClause 73 is added to the code, making it the responsibility of each nation's Ministry of Magic to work to conceal the magical creatures living within their borders.
(FB)

[Gulliver Pokeby], expert on magical birds, is born (fw)

Famous wizard entertainer [Xavier Rastrick] is born (fw)

1754 (Y-226)

[Artemisia Lufkin], the first witch to become [Minister for Magic], is bornThis is an interesting claim, since we know Elfrida Clagg was the Chieftainess of the [Wizards' Council] (the precursor to the [Ministry of Magic]) some four hundred years previously. Maybe everyone just forgot about her by now, or [Lufkin] is just the first female to hold this specific title.
(fw)

1761 (Y-219)

[Glanmore Peakes], slayer of the sea serpent of [Cromer], dies (fw)

1762 (Y-218)

The extremely dangerous Scottish game of [Creaothceann] is outlawed (QA2)

1768 (Y-212)

Dilys Derwent retires as headmistress of Hogwarts (OP22)

1769 (Y-211)

[Lord Stoddard Withers], breeder of flying horses, dies (fw)

1770 (Y-210)

[Grogan Stump], a very popular [Minister for Magic], is born (fw)

1782 (Y-198)

Flavius Belby survives a Lethifold attackThe attack comes while he is while holidaying in Papua New Guinea.
(FB)

1791 (Y-189)

Flavius Belby, the only known survivor of a Lethifold attack, dies (fw)

1792 (Y-188)

[Triwizard Tournament] disasterThe heads of Hogwarts, [Beauxbatons], and [Durmstrang] all are injured when, during a [Triwizard Tournament] event, a cockatrice goes on a rampage.
(GF15)

1794 (Y-186)

Beatrix Bloxam, author of [Toadstool Tales], is born (fw)

The first reported sighting of an Acromantula is recorded, presumably in Borneo (FB)

1795 (Y-185)

Crispin Cronk, keeper of illegal sphinxes, is born (fw)

1798 (Y-182)

Sneakoscope inventor [Edgar Stroulger] dies (fw)

1799 (Y-181)

[Gondoline Oliphant] is clubbed to death by trollsShe was sketching in the Cotswolds at the time.
(fw)

A Ukranian Ironbelly dragon carries off a Muggle sailing shipFortunately there was no one aboard the ship at the time.
(FB)

The 19th century
Events of this century:

early 1800s

Shrake createdAfter being insulted by a group of Muggle fisherfolk, a group of wizards create a new magical fish, the Shrake. It is entirely covered with spines, intended to rip the nets of the Muggles.
(FB)

1802 (Y-178)

A Norwegian Ridgeback dragon (supposedly) carries off a whale calfThis is according to an unsubstantiated report off the coast of Norway.
(FB)

1803 (Y-177)

Dungbomb inventor [Alberic Grunnion] is born (fw)

1805 (Y-175)

[Glover Hipworth], inventor of [Pepperup Potion], dies (fw)

1810 (Y-170)

Beatrix Bloxam diesThe author of [Toadstool Tales] was only sixteen years old.
(fw)

1811 (Y-169)

[Grogan Stump] is appointed [Minister for Magic]He soon comes up with several important improvements to the governance of the Wizarding World, including a workable definition of "Beast" and "Being" and a special division for ghosts in the [Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures].
(FB)

1812 (Y-168)

[Dorcas Wellbeloved], founder of the [Society for Distressed Witches], is born (fw)

1820 (Y-160)

[Elliot Smethwyk] invents the [Cushioning Charm] for flying [broomsticks]. (QA9)

1823 (Y-157)

[love potions] inventor [Laverne de Montmorency] is born (fw)

1824 (Y-156)

[Why I Didn't Die When the Augurey Cried], is publishedThe book was written by [Gulliver Pokeby] and published by [Little Red Books].
(FB)

1825 (Y-155)

[Artemisia Lufkin], first witch to become [Minister for Magic], dies (fw)

1829 (Y-151)

[Leopoldina Smethwyck] is bornShe later becomes the first witch to referee a [Quidditch] match.
The similarity of names and the year of her birth suggest that [Leopoldina] may be the daughter of [Elliot Smethwyck].
(fw)

1836 (Y-144)

[Xavier Rastrick] vanishesThe famous wizard entertainer vanishes unexpectedly while tap dancing to a crowd of 300 in Painswick and is never seen again.
(fw)

1839 (Y-141)

[Gulliver Pokeby], expert on magical birds, dies (fw)

[Mirabella Plunkett] is bornShe later becomes famous for falling in love with a merman while vacationing near Loch Lomond.
(fw)

c. 1844 (Y-136)

[Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore] is bornJKR said in an interview that [Dumbledore] was 150 years old. Using that information, we can determine the year in which he was born by subtracting 150 years. The trick, of course, is knowing what year to subtract 150 from. If we assume that Rowling was saying that [Dumbledore] was 150 years old at that point in the stories, which was summer of 1994 [[Y14]], then he was born in 1994-150, which is 1844 [[Y-136]], according to the official timeline.

original artwork © 2001 [Alice Wack], used by permission
(BN)

1845 (Y-135)

Herbology specialist [Beaumont Marjoribanks] dies (fw)

Sirius Black, older sibling of Phineas Nigellus Black, is bornThis is not the Sirius Black that is Harry's godfather, but rather one of his ancestors.
(fw)

1847 (Y-133)

Phineas Nigellus Black is born (fw)

1850 (Y-130)

Goblin rights pioneer Oswald Beamish is born (fw)

Elladora Black, sister of Phineas Nigellus Black, is born (fw)

1853 (Y-127)

Sirius Black, older sibling of Phineas Nigellus Black, dies at a very young age (fw)

c. 1855 (Y-125)

[Albus Dumbledore] starts at HogwartsHe is sorted into Gryffindor.
Determined by adding eleven years to [Dumbledore]'s birthyear
(BN)

1862 (Y-118)

[Justus Pilliwickle], celebrated head of the [Department of Magical Law Enforcement], is born (fw)

circa June

[Albus Dumbledore] sits his [N.E.W.T.s]He is examined by [Griselda Marchbanks], who later says that he did things with a wand she'd never seen before
(OP31)

1872 (Y-108)

[Idris Oakby] is born (JKR)

Illegal sphinx keeper Crispin Cronk dies (fw)

1874 (Y-106)

[Sacharissa Tugwood], inventor of [Beautifying Potions], is born (fw)

1875 (Y-105)

[Gripping Charms] are discovered, revolutionizing the design of the Quaffle (QA6)

1877 (Y-103)

Sirius Black, son of Phineas Nigellus Black, is bornThis is the second Sirius in the [Black] family line, and might have been named for Phineas's brother who died at a very young age. It is not the Sirius Black that we know to be Harry's godfather.
(fw)

1879 (Y-101)

The Oakshaft 79 broom is introducedIt is produced by [Elias Grimstone] of Portsmouth.
(QA8)

1881 (Y-99) AD = 0

[Hesper Starkey], who studied the use of moon phases in [potion] making, is born (fw)

[Harvey Ridgebit], famous Dragonologist, is born

1882 (Y-98) AD = 1

Dungbomb inventor [Alberic Grunnion] dies (fw)

1883 (Y-97) AD = 2

Hoops replace baskets as [Quidditch] goals (QA6)

1884 (Y-96) AD = 3

[Grogan Stump], very popular [Minister for Magic], dies (fw)

A Snitch escapes during a [Quidditch] gameThe Snitch evades capture on [Bodmin Moor]; some say it is still out there somewhere, living wild on the moor
(QA6)

"[Stooging]" is outlawed in [Quidditch]This happens with the introduction of the rule that only one [Chaser] at a time may be within the scoring area
(QA6)

Arcturus Black, son of Phineas Nigellus Black, is born (BFT)

1886 (Y-94) AD = 5

Belvina Black, only daughter of Phineas Nigellus, is bornShe marries Herbert Burke and has two sons and a daughter.
(BFT)

1888 (Y-92) AD = 7

[Norvel Twonk], famous for saving a Muggle child from a manticore, is bornNorvel Twonk, famous for saving a Muggle child from a manticore, is born
(fw)

1889 (Y-91) AD = 8

Famous [Seeker] [Roderick Plumpton] is born (fw)

Cygnus Black, youngest son of Phineas Nigellus Black, is born (fw)

1892 (Y-88) AD = 11

The [Chudley Cannons] win the Cup in the [British and Irish Quidditch League]This is the last Cup the [Cannons] have won; they are currently in the midst of a 100+ year losing streak.
(QA7)

1893 (Y-87) AD = 12

[Laverne de Montmorency], inventor of [love potions], dies (fw)

1894 (Y-86) AD = 13

Celebrated Seer [Cassandra Vablatsky] is born (fw)

Shooting arrows into the air to celebrate an [Appleby Arrows] goal is bannedThe tradition is banned after [Nugent Potts], a referee, is pierced through the nose by an arrow
(QA7)

1897 (Y-83) AD = 16

[Newt Scamander], author of [Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them], is born (FB)

1899 (Y-81) AD = 18

[Adalbert Waffling], magical theoretician, is born (fw)

The 1900s
Events of this decade:

early 1900s

The [Tutshill Tornados] win five consecutive [British and Irish Quidditch League] titlesThey are captained to all five by the famous [Roderick Plumpton].
(QA7)

1900 (Y-80) AD = 19

Perpetua Fancourt, inventor of the lunascope, is born (fw)

1901 (Y-79) AD = 20

Gladys Boothby invents the Moontrimmer broom (QA9)

Arcturus Black, grandfather of Sirius and Regulus, is born (BFT)

1902 (Y-78) AD = 21

The "Wizarding Suite" is banned from performancesDuring a performance of the famous unfinished piece by Musidora Barkwith, its trademark exploding tuba blows the roof off of the Ackerly Town Hall, and the piece is subsequently banned from performance.
(fw)

1903 (Y-77) AD = 22

[Roland Kegg] is bornHe is known for being the president of the English [Gobstones] team.
(fw)

[Tilly Toke], hero of the Ilfracombe Incident of 1932, is born (fw)

1904 (Y-76) AD = 23

[Dorcas Wellbeloved], founder of the [Society for Distressed Witches], dies (fw)

Lycoris Black is born (BFT)

1906 (Y-74) AD = 25

Regulus Black is bornThis is not Sirius Black's brother Regulus, but rather a great uncle to both of them.
(BFT)

1907 (Y-73) AD = 26

Merope Gaunt is born to Marvolo Gaunt and an unknown, [pure-blood] motherWe know her birth year because at the end of 1925 [[Y-55]], when she plots to marry Tom Riddle, she is eighteen years old.
(HBP13)

The 1910s

1910 (Y-70) AD = 29

[Quidditch] referree [Leopoldina Smethwyck] dies (fw)

1911 (Y-69) AD = 30

Famous [Chaser] [Joscelind Wadcock] is bornShe would become known for her play with the [Puddlemere United].
(fw)

1912 (Y-68) AD = 31

Comedian and famously purple wizard [Derwent Shimpling] is born (fw)

Pollux Black is bornHe is the grandfather of Sirius, Regulus, Bellatrix, Narcissa, and [Andromeda Black].
(BFT)

1915 (Y-65) AD = 34

Cassiopeia Black is born (BFT)

[Jocunda Sykes] is bornShe later becomes the first person to cross the Atlantic on a [broomstick].
(fw)

Callidora Black Longbottom is bornCallidora is still alive today. Any relation to Neville is unknown.
(BFT)

1917 (Y-63) AD = 36

In the Muggle world:
[Frank Bryce] is bornFrank was about to celebrate his 77th birthday at the beginning of GF, which is 1994 [[Y14]]. He was born, then, 77 years before this, which is 1917 [[Y-63]].
(GF1)

[Celestina Warbeck], the "Singing Sorceress," is born (fw)

1918 (Y-62) AD = 37

[Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them] is commissioned[Augustus Worme] of [Obscurus Books] commissions the young [Newt Scamander] to write a guide of magical beasts. The result is [Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them], first published in 1927, a book which has since gone into 52 editions.
(FB)

1919 (Y-61) AD = 38

Charis Black Crouch is born (BFT)

The 1920s

1920 (Y-60) AD = 39

Dorea Black Potter, wife of Charlus Potter, is bornThis is unlikely to be James Potter's mother, as [Rowling] has told us that James's mother was old in wizarding terms when she died - and Dorea only lived to be 57. Also, James's parents took in Sirius Black after he ran away from home, and therefore would almost certainly have been blasted off the [Black Family Tree].
(BFT)

1921 (Y-59) AD = 40

Famous spell book writer Miranda Goshawk is born (fw)

Snitch record set[Roderick Plumpton] of the [Tutshill Tornados] makes the fastest-ever capture of the Snitch: three and a half seconds, in a match against the [Caerphilly Catapaults].
(QA7)

1922 (Y-58) AD = 41

[Carlotta Pinkstone], famous for wanting to lift the [Statute of Secrecy], is born (fw)

c. 1925 (Y-55)

October 4

Minerva McGonagall is bornJKR said in Sch2 that McGonagall was "a sprightly 70" years old. Using that information, we can determine the year in which she was born by subtracting 70 years. As with [Dumbledore]'s birthyear, the trick, of course, is knowing what year to subtract that 70 years from. If we assume that Rowling was saying that McGonagall was 70 years old at that point in the stories, which was summer of 1995 [[Y15]], then she was born in [Y-55] ([Y15] minus 70 years). According to the official timeline, [Y-55] is 1925. Interestingly, that would make McGonagall a contemporary of Tom Marvolo Riddle at Hogwarts...

October 4 comes from JKR.

original artwork © 2001 [Laura Freeman], used by permission

1925 (Y-55) AD = 44 MM = 0

Sirius Black's mother, Walburga, is born (BFT)

Lucretia Black Prewett is bornThis is almost certainly not Molly Weasley's mother, as this would make Molly and Sirius cousins - not "cousins by marriage" as Sirius describes (OP6). More likely is that [Ignatius Prewett], who married Lucretia, is Molly's uncle.
(BFT)

Phineas Nigellus Black dies ([BFT])He is the least popular Heamaster Hogwarts ever had, at least according to his great-great-grandson, Sirius (OP6).

circa September

[Bob Ogden] visits the Gaunt house on a routine follow-upThere he encounters the irate Marvolo Gaunt who, along with his son Morfin, refuse to admit Morfin has done anything wrong. When [Bob Ogden] steps in to stop them injuring Morfin's sister, Merope, he is driven from the house. He returns later with reinforcements, and Marvolo and Morfin are each sent to [Azkaban].
This happens "a few months" before Merope marries Tom Riddle.
(HBP10)

circa December

Merope Gaunt fools Tom Riddle into marrying herShe most likely does so by giving him a [love potion].
[Dumbledore] says that Merope and Riddle were married about a year before Tom Marvolo Riddle was born, on December 31, 1926 [[Y-54]].
(HBP10)

1926 (Y-54) AD = 45 MM = 1 TR = 0

[Bob, Bill, and Barnaby Ollerton] start the Cleansweep Broom CompanyTheir first broom, the Cleansweep One, revolutionizes the game of [Quidditch].
(QA9)

circa March
Marvolo Gaunt returns from [Azkaban] to find Merope goneHe had been given a six-month sentence. Forced to live alone, he withers away and dies sometime within the next two and a half years.
(HBP10)

circa March 31

Merope Gaunt gets pregnant with Tom Marvolo RiddleHer husband, Tom Riddle, leaves her very soon afterward - [Dumbledore] suspects because she stops giving him [love potion].
The date is deduced from being nine months before Voldemort's birth date. We know Riddle leaves her soon afterward because they were only married for "a few months."
(HBP10)

December
Merope Gaunt sells Slytherin's locket to [Borgin and Burkes]Pregnant and desperate for money, she has no idea what it's worth and is only given ten [Galleons] for it. The locket is later sold to [Hepzibah Smith].
According to Caractacus Burke, this happened "just before Christmas."
(HBP13)

late December 31

Tom Marvolo Riddle is bornHe is born in a Muggle [orphanage] to a witch mother, Merope Gaunt, and Muggle father, Tom Riddle. His mother Merope dies an hour later, living just long enough to name her son after his father, Tom, and her father, Marvolo Gaunt (HBP13). She is nineteen years old.

The older Tom Riddle had previously left Merope when he realized that she was a witch (HBP10), and the child is raised in the [orphanage] (HBP13).

Tom Marvolo Riddle said that he was sixteen years old at the time of Hagrid's expulsion from Hogwarts ([CS17]). Hagrid was expelled in his third year, which was fifty years ago from June of 1993 [[Y13]]. Tom was therefore 16 in 1943 [[Y-37]] - meaning his sixteenth birthday was New Year's Eve, 1942 [[Y-38]], and his date of birth was in 1926 [[Y-54]]. However, according to the official timeline ([CS/DVD]), Hagrid's expulsion was in June of 1942, not 1943, which means that Hagrid's expulsion from Hogwarts was actually fifty-ONE years before June of 1993 [[Y13]]. Riddle was 16, then, in June of 1942 [[Y-38]], and therefore was born in 1925 [[Y-55]]. Either date may be considered correct. However, since the Lexicon follows what is directly given in the books over other sources, the dates in this timeline are derived from a literal interpretation of fifty years.

New Year's Eve is given in HBP13. Depending on exactly when Merope Gaunt arrived at the orphanage, Tom may have been born on New Year's Eve or just after midnight, on New Year's Day. Since the book says New Year's Eve, however, that's what we go with here.

1927 (Y-53) AD = 46 MM = 2 TR = 1

[Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them] is first published (FB)

1928 (Y-52) AD = 47 MM = 3 TR = 2 RH = 0

circa September
Morfin Gaunt returns from [Azkaban]He returns after a three-year sentence to find both his father and sister, Marvolo and Merope, dead. He lives alone in the Gaunt house for many years, until Tom Riddle returns and frames him for murdering the Riddle family.
(HBP10)

December 6

Rubeus Hagrid is bornHe is born to a human father and Fridwulfa, a giantess.

1929 (Y-51) AD = 48 MM = 4 TR = 3 RH = 1

[Randolph Keitch] and [Basil Horton] found the Comet Trading CompanyTheir first model is the Comet 140.
(QA9)

Cygnus Black, father of [Bellatrix], [Narcissa], and [Andromeda], is born (BFT)

Orion Black, father of Sirius and Regulus, is born (BFT)

October
The stock market crashes in the U.S., beginning the Great Depression

The 1930s

c. 1931 (Y-49)

Fridwulfa abandons Hagrid and his father, her human family"Course, I can' remember her too well... she left, see. When I was abou' three. She wasn' really the maternal sort."
(GF34)

1931 (Y-49) AD = 50 MM = 6 TR = 5 RH = 3

Elladora Black, younger sister of Phineas Nigellus, diesShe is 81 years old.
(BFT)

1932 (Y-48) AD = 51 MM = 7 TR = 6 RH = 4

The Ilfracombe Incident

Great Britain | Ilfracombe

A rogue Welsh Green dragon descends on a beach full of Muggle holidaymakers ([FB]). [Tilly Toke] and her family happen to be there ([fw]), and her family casts the largest Mass [Memory Charm] of this century on all the Muggles of Ilfracombe. She is later awarded the [Order of Merlin] First Class for her quick action ([FB]). The Muggles later remember nothing of the incident, with the exception of an old fellow known as [Dodgy Dirk], who still claims that a "dirty great flying lizard" attacked him on the beach. People think he's crazy, of course ([fw]).
(FB)

The [Appleby Arrows]' finest hourIn what is considered by many fans to be the team's finest hour, the [Appleby Arrows] defeat the [Vrasta Vultures] in a [Quidditch] match that lasts sixteen days.
(QA7)

1934 (Y-46) AD = 53 MM = 9 TR = 8 RH = 6

The Cleansweep Two is released (QA9)

1935 (Y-45) AD = 54 MM = 10 TR = 9 RH = 7

[Jocunda Sykes] crosses the Atlantic by [broom]Riding an Oakshaft 79, she becomes the first witch or wizard in history to accomplish the feat.
(QA9)

Goblin rights pioneer Oswald Beamish dies (fw)

Bertie Bott, inventor of [Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans], is born (fw)

c. 1937 (Y-43)

September 1

Minerva McGonagall starts her first year at Hogwarts (Sch2)She is subsequently sorted into Gryffindor (JKR).
We know this because [Rowling] has stated on her website that Heads of Houses were members of those Houses when they were students at Hogwarts.

1937 (Y-43) AD = 56 MM = 12 TR = 11 RH = 9

The Cleansweep Three is released (QA9)

1938 (Y-42) AD = 57 MM = 13 TR = 12 RH = 10

The Comet 180 is released (QA9)

before September

[Dumbledore] visits Tom Riddle in the [orphanage] and offers him a place at Hogwarts (HBP13)

September 1

Tom Marvolo Riddle starts his first year at Hogwarts and is sorted into SlytherinMinerva McGonagall is starting her second year.
This is based on Riddle's birthday of New Year's Eve, 1926 [[Y-54]].

1939 (Y-41) AD = 58 MM = 14 TR = 13 RH = 11

circa September

Tom Riddle learns about the Chamber of Secrets and decides to find and open itHe is in his second year at Hogwarts.
(CS17)

The 1940s
Events of this decade:

early 1940s

[Albus Dumbledore] is the Transfiguration teacher at HogwartsArmando Dippet is the Headmaster.
We don't know exactly when [Dumbledore] took the Transfiguration post (except that it was before 1938 [[Y-42]]), but we do know that he taught Transfiguration while Tom Marvolo Riddle was a student (HBP13, HBP20).

early 1940s
[Frank Bryce] returns from fighting in World War Two.He "had a hard war," according to the barkeep at the pub in Little Hangleton. He was wounded and walks with a limp. He takes up as gardener for the Riddles and avoids people for the most part.
[Bryce] came home quite a few years before the end of the war in 1945, undoubtedly because he was wounded.
(GF1)

1940 (Y-40) AD = 59 MM = 15 TR = 14 RH = 12

The Tinderblast [broom] is released by Ellerby and Spudmore of the Black Forest (QA9)

September 1

Rubeus Hagrid starts his first year at Hogwarts and is sorted into GryffindorHis birthday is December 6 (JKR), so he turns 12 a couple of months after starting Hogwarts.

Meanwhile, Tom Riddle is starting his third year, and Minerva McGonagall her fourth.
The year is based on Hagrid's birthdate of December 6, 1928 [[Y-52]].

c. 1941 (Y-39)

Hagrid acquires an Acromantula egg and hatches Aragog in a Hogwarts cupboard"I was not born in the castle. I come from a distant land. A traveler gave me to Hagrid when I was an egg. Hagrid was only a boy, but he cared for me, hidden in a cupboard in the castle, feeding me on scraps from the table."
This happened somewhere between Hagrid starting at Hogwarts in the fall of 1940, and his expulsion in the spring of 1943.
(CS)

Hagrid's father dies"Course, I never was great shakes at magic, really... but at least he never saw me expelled. Died, see, in me second year..."
All we know is that Hagrid's father died during his second year, so it's equally possible that his death was in fall of 1941 or spring of 1942.
(GF24)

1941 (Y-39) AD = 60 MM = 16 TR = 15 RH = 13

December 7
Attack on Pearl Harbor

1942 (Y-38) AD = 61 MM = 17 TR = 16 RH = 14

Famous [Montrose Magpies] [Seeker] [Eunice Murray] dies (QA7)

September 1

Tom Riddle starts his fifth year at Hogwarts and is made a [Prefect] ([CS17])McGonagall is starting her sixth year and Hagrid his third.
The dates are based on birthdays from 1925-1928 [[Y-55]-[Y-52]].

1943 (Y-37) AD = 62 MM = 18 TR = 17 RH = 15

Cygnus Black, son of Phineas Nigellus Black, dies at age 54He is the great-grandfather to Sirius and Regulus Black, as well as Bellatrix, Narcissa, and [Andromeda Black].
(BFT)

circa May

Tom Riddle learns to open the Chamber of Secrets and releases the Basilisk"It had taken me five whole years to find out everything I could about the Chamber of Secrets and discover the secret entrance."
(CS17)

circa May

Myrtle, a Hogwarts student, dies in a second floor bathroom after seeing the Basilisk (CS16)

June 13

Hagrid is falsely accused of opening the Chamber of SecretsHe is so accused because Tom Riddle catches him raising an Acromantula in the castle.
(CS17)

June 13

Aragog the Acromantula is released into the Forbidden Forest (CS13)Hagrid will later find him a wife, Mosag, and together they will establish a colony (CS15).

after June 13

Rubeus Hagrid is expelled from HogwartsHe is expelled after being accused of opening the Chamber of Secrets.
(CS17)

after June 13

Tom Riddle is given an [Award for Special Services to the School]He receives it for helping "catch" Hagrid and accusing him (falsely) of opening the Chamber of Secrets (CS13, [CS17]).

after June 13

Hagrid remains at Hogwarts and is trained as gamekeeper, thanks to [Dumbledore]"Only the Transfiguration teacher, [Dumbledore], seemed to think Hagrid was innocent. He persuaded Dippet to keep Hagrid and train him as gamekeeper."
(CS17)

circa July

Tom Riddle commits his first murders: his father and grandparents in their Little Hangleton mansionHe first visits his uncle, Morfin Gaunt, and uses magic to steal Marvolo's ring and frame Morfin for the murders of the Muggles in the Riddle house.

The next day, Morfin is taken to [Azkaban], where he remains until his death.
"In the summer of his sixteenth year, he left the [orphanage] to which he returned annually and set off to find his Gaunt relatives... Meanwhile, in the village of Little Hangleton, a maid was running along the high street, screaming that there were three bodies lying in the drawing room of the big house: Tom Riddle Senior and his mother and father."
(HBP17)

circa September

Tom Riddle meets with Professor Slughorn and asks him about HorcruxesHe is now wearing the ring he stole from his uncle Morfin during the summer, and is accompanied by his group of friends which includes Avery and [Lestrange].
(HBP23)

circa September

Tom Marvolo Riddle creates his first Horcrux: the diaryHe uses the recent murders and the knowledge he gained from Slughorn to work the Dark Magic required to turn the diary into a Horcrux (HBP23).
"I knew it wouldn't be safe to open the Chamber again while I was still at school. But I wasn't going to waste those long years I'd spent searching for it. I decided to leave behind a diary, preserving my sixteen-year-old self in its pages, so that one day, with luck, I would be able to lead another in my footsteps, and finish Salazar Slytherin's noble work" ([CS17]).
Tom says that he placed his "sixteen-year-old self" into the diary ([CS17]), so he must have done it in the fall after the summer when he killed the Riddles and before he turned 17 at the end of December. His conversation with Slughorn where he learned about Horcruxes must have taken place after school started that September, so the timeframe for the creation of the diary Horcrux is between September and December, 1943 [[Y-37]]. All along, Tom realized that [Dumbledore] was watching him closely (HBP23).

1944 (Y-36) AD = 63 MM = 19 TR = 18 RH = 16

September 1

Tom Riddle begins his seventh year at Hogwarts and is made [Head Boy]He is dabbling in the Dark Arts, having already created a Horcrux, and some of his closest friends are already referring to him as Lord Voldemort; outwardly, however, he is a model student ([CS17], HBP23).

1945 (Y-35) AD = 64 MM = 20 TR = 19 RH = 17

[Albus Dumbledore] defeats the dark wizard [Grindelwald] (PS6)

[Devlin Whitehorn], founder of the Nimbus Racing Broom company, is born (fw)

circa June

Tom Riddle graduates and applies for a job teaching at HogwartsHeadmaster Armando Dippet turns him down, saying that at eighteen he is too young. He then goes to work for [Borgin and Burkes] instead.
We don't know when this happened exactly, except that it was almost certainly within a few weeks of the end of school. Riddle gets the job at [Borgin and Burkes] "the next thing the staff knew," according to [Dumbledore].
(HBP20)

August
World War Two ends

c. 1947 (Y-33)

Tom Riddle kills [Hepzibah Smith], framing her house-elf, HokeyAfter doing so, he steals Slytherin's locket and Hufflepuff's cup - items he later uses to make Horcruxes.
We don't know exactly when this happened, but it is probably within a couple of years of Voldemort's leaving Hogwarts. It's possible this happened later than 1946 or 1947 [[Y-34] or [Y-33]], but unlikely that it happened sooner.

original artwork © [Makani] 2004, used by permission
(HBP20)

Tom Marvolo Riddle disappearsAfter the death of [Hepzibah Smith], Riddle vanishes for ten years. He travels far and wide, sinking deeply into the Dark Arts, consorting with the very worst of wizard-kind. He undergoes so many dangerous, magical transformations that when he resurfaces years later as Lord Voldemort, he is barely recognizable.
(HBP20)

1947 (Y-33) AD = 66 MM = 22 TR = 21 RH = 19

[Darren O'Hare] begins his illustrious career with the [Kenmare Kestrels]He would go on to play for them until 1960.
(QA7)

[Newt Scamander] creates the [Werewolf Register]He does so while working for the [Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures].
(FB)

[A History of Magic], by Bathilda Bagshot, is published by [Little Red Books] (FB)

1949 (Y-31) AD = 68 MM = 24 TR = 23 RH = 21

A blue roan hippocampus is caught by merpeople off the coast of Scotland, and domesticated (FB)

The 1950s
Events of this decade:

1950-60s - overviewAfter Tom Riddle disappeared, twenty years passed and life went on in relative peace and quiet. It is in this time that Molly and Arthur attend Hogwarts. We don't know the years for sure, but since Bill was born in 1971, we can make some general deductions. They probably were students during the 1960s. During these years a number of people were born who would play an important part in the story of Harry Potter, including Lucius Malfoy, Rita Skeeter, and Bertha Jorkins...and of course, his parents and their contemporaries.

All this time, Tom Riddle was becoming the evil Dark Lord Voldemort, consorting with the worst of Wizardkind and learning secrets and dark magic that would change him forever from the handsome, talented boy of the 1940s into a twisted, horrible person who would be known as the most evil wizard of his age. One can only imagine that [Dumbledore] kept watch for all those years, waiting and wondering what happened to the boy he knew as Tom Riddle...

1951 (Y-29) AD = 70 MM = 26 TR = 25 RH = 23

Rita Skeeter is born"Attractive blonde Rita Skeeter, forty-three, whose savage quill has punctured many inflated reputations..."

This was written in November of 1994 [[Y14]], which would make Rita's birth year 1951 [[Y-29]] on the official time line ([CS/DVD]). Of course, Rita could very well have been lying about her age...
(GF18)

Bellatrix Black is born (BFT)

1952 (Y-28) AD = 71 MM = 27 TR = 26 RH = 24

The Swiftstick broom] is released by Ellerby and Spudmore of the Black Forest (QA9)

[Quidditch Through the Ages] is published by [WhizzHard Books]The book has undergone a number of revisions since that time, of course.
(QA)

Sirius Black, son of Phineas Nigellus Black, dies at age 75 (BFT)

1953 (Y-27) AD = 72 MM = 28 TR = 27 RH = 25

Celebrated [Magical Law Enforcement] head [Justus Pilliwickle] dies (fw)

One of the finest [Quidditch] games ever seenThe [Holyhead Harpies] defeat the [Heidelberg Harriers] in what is widely agreed to be one of the finest [Quidditch] games ever seen. The game lasted for seven days, at the end of which Harriers captain Rudolf Brand proposed marriage to the captain of the Harpies, [Gwendolyn Morgan]. She hit him with her [broom].
(QA7)

1954 (Y-26) AD = 73 MM = 29 TR = 28 RH = 26

Lucius Malfoy is born"...said Mr Lucius Malfoy, 41, speaking from his Wiltshire mansion last night..."

He was born 41 years before 1995 [[Y15]], which would be 1954 [[Y-26]].
(OP15)

1955 (Y-25) AD = 74 MM = 30 TR = 29 RH = 27

Narcissa Black is born (BFT)

Universal Brooms Ltd. introduces the Shooting Star [broomstick] (QA9)

c. 1956 (Y-24)

[Albus Dumbledore] becomes Headmaster of Hogwarts SchoolAccording to PA18, [Dumbledore] apparently became headmaster shortly before Lupin came to Hogwarts - which would be sometime around 1969. However, text from OP and HBP has since strongly suggested that he actually became headmaster in 1956 [[Y-24]].
(PA18)

Bertha Jorkins is born"Listen, I knew Bertha Jorkins," said Sirius grimly. "She was at Hogwarts when I was, a few years above your dad and me."
(GF27)

1956 (Y-24) AD = 75 MM = 31 TR = 30 RH = 28

The [Caerphilly Catapaults] defeat the [Karasjok Kites] to win the [European Cup] (QA7)

December

Minerva McGonagall begins teaching at Hogwarts"How long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?" Professor Umbridge asked.
"Thirty-nine years this December," said Professor McGonagall brusquely, snapping her bag shut."
She started teaching 39 years before the December of 1995 [[Y15]], so it was 1956 [[Y-24]] on the official timeline ([CS/DVD]).
(OP15)

c. 1957 (Y-23)

Voldemort resurfaces and applies to teach Defence Against the Dark ArtsTen years after the death of [Hepzibah Smith], Voldemort returns to Hogwarts, where [Dumbledore] refuses to grant him a teaching job. He then curses the Defence Against the Dark Arts position, and since that day, no professor has stayed for more than one year in that post.
Again we don't know exactly when this happened, but since most evidence points to [Dumbledore] becoming headmaster in 1956 [[Y-24]], Voldemort couldn't have come looking for a job much sooner than this.
(HBP20)

1957 (Y-23) AD = 76 MM = 32 TR = 31 RH = 29

[Sturgis Podmore] is born"[Sturgis Podmore], 38, of number two, Laburnum Gardens, Clapham..."

So he was born 38 years before 1995 [[Y15]]. This corresponds to 1957 [[Y-23]] on the official timeline. That means he's my age... ([SVA])
(OP14)

[Norvel Twonk] dies saving a Muggle child from a runaway manticore (fw)

[Hamish MacFarlan] becomes captain of the [Montrose Magpies]He will hold that position until 1968.
(QA7)

1958 (Y-22) AD = 77 MM = 33 TR = 32 RH = 30 M = 0

World-famous [Beaters] Kevin and Karl Broadmoor join the [Falmouth Falcons]The brothers are known for being particularly violent; they will stay with the team until 1969.
(QA7)

c. 1959 (Y-21)

James Potter is bornJames could also have been born in 1957 or 1958 - see [Marauders' birth year explained].

Lily Evans is bornLily could also have been born in 1957 or 1958 - see [Marauders' birth year explained].

Sirius Black is bornSirius could also have been born in 1957 or 1958 - see [Marauders' birth year explained].

Peter Pettigrew is bornPettigrew could also have been born in 1957 or 1958 - see [Marauders' birth year explained].

January 9

Severus Snape is born[Snape's birth year explained]

March 10

Remus Lupin is bornWe know March 10 from JKR.
For more on the year, see [Marauders' birth year explained].

1959 (Y-21) AD = 78 MM = 34 TR = 33 RH = 31 M = 1

[Gaspard Shingleton], inventor of the [self-stirring cauldron], is born (fw)

Regulus Black diesThis is not Sirius Black's brother Regulus, but rather a great uncle to both of them.
(BFT)

Arcturus Black, youngest son of Phineas Nigellus Black, dies at age 75 (BFT)

The 1960s
Events of this decade:

early 1960s

Remus Lupin, as a small boy, is bitten by the werewolf [Fenrir Greyback] (HBP16)

[Magnus "Dent-Head" Macdonald] tries to reintroduce [Creaothceann], to no avail(which is probably a good thing)
(QA2)

[Catriona McCormack] is Captain and [Chaser] for the [Pride of Portree]They win the league twice under her leadership
(QA7)

1960 (Y-20) AD = 79 MM = 35 TR = 34 RH = 32 M = 2

Greta Catchlove, author of [Charm Your Own Cheese], is born (fw)

1961 (Y-19) AD = 80 MM = 36 TR = 35 RH = 33 M = 3

Regulus Black is born (BFT)

c. 1962 (Y-18)

[Bartemius Crouch Jr.] is born[Crouch Jr.] was imprisoned for taking part in the torture of Frank and Alice Longbottom, which we know from GF30 happened shortly after Voldemort's downfall - in late 1981 [[Y1]] or early 1982 [[Y2]]. Sirius estimates in GF27 that {Crouch Jr.] was nineteen at the time - placing his birth year most likely in 1962 [[Y-18]].

1962 (Y-18) AD = 81 MM = 37 TR = 36 RH = 34 M = 4

Belvina Black dies at age 76 (BFT)

1963 (Y-17) AD = 82 MM = 38 TR = 37 RH = 35 M = 5

[The Philosophy of the Mundane: Why Muggles Prefer Not to Know] is publishedThe book, written by Professor Mordicus Egg, is published by [Dust and Mildewe].
(FB)

1965 (Y-15) AD = 84 MM = 40 TR = 39 RH = 37 M = 7

The [Ban on Experimental Breeding] is passed (FB)

Lycoris Black dies at age 61 (BFT)

July 31
[Jo Rowling] is born (JKR)

September 1

Lucius Malfoy starts his first year at Hogwarts and is sorted into SlytherinThis follows from his birth date in 1954 [[Y-26]] (OP15). We know he was sorted into Slytherin thanks to Draco, who told us so in PS5.

1966 (Y-14) AD = 85 MM = 41 TR = 40 RH = 38 M = 8

[Beautifying Potions] inventor [Sacharissa Tugwood] dies (fw)

1967 (Y-13) AD = 86 MM = 42 TR = 41 RH = 39 M = 9

The Nimbus Racing Broom Company is foundedThe company's first release is the Nimbus 1000.
(QA9)

1968 (Y-12) AD = 87 MM = 43 TR = 42 RH = 40 M = 10

Gwenog Jones, famous Captain and [Beater] for the [Holyhead Harpies], is born (fw)

[Dunbar Oglethorpe], Chief of [Q.U.A.B.B.L.E.], is born (fw)

[Hamish MacFarlan] becomes Head of the [Department of Magical Games and Sports] (QA7)

September 1
[Sturgis Podmore] starts his first year at HogwartsThis follows from his birthday in 1957 [[Y-23]].

c. 1969 (Y-11)

Arthur Weasley and Molly Prewett elope and quickly get marriedAs Voldemort is becoming more powerful and life becomes more uncertain in the Wizarding World, many young couples, facing the uncertainty, get married quickly.
(HBP5)

The 1970s
Events of this decade:

The 1970s - OverviewThe Years of Terror
During the 1970s, Voldemort began to gather followers who were eager for a share of his power. The closest followers of Voldemort were known as the Death Eaters. These years got progressively more dangerous and violent. As Voldemort's influence grew, some witches and wizards were controlled by the Imperius Curse and forced to commit atrocities, including the torture and murder of Muggles. Voldemort capitalized on the prejudice and distrust between the giants and the Wizarding World; the giants became Voldemort's followers and killed and tortured many people. The Dark Mark is used by Death Eaters to indicate a house where they have committed murder. No one dared to become friendly with strange witches and wizards, not knowing if they were Voldemort supporters. Hogwarts became one of the few safe places in the Wizarding World. Bartemius Crouch is head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; the Aurors are authorized to use drastic methods not differing greatly from the tactics used by the Death Eaters they fight

The [Moose Jaw Meteorites] are threatened with disbandmentThis step is finally taken because of their habit of celebrating a victory by flying over villages trailing sparks from their brooms.
(QA8)

late 1970s

A rogue Antipodean Opaleye dragon kills several kangaroos in Australia (FB)

c. 1970 (Y-10)

Remus Lupin is accepted to begin his first year at HogwartsIt is arranged that he will go to the Shrieking Shack every month when he transforms into a werewolf. The Shrieking Shack then becomes known as the most haunted building in Britain.
(PA18)

The Whomping Willow is planted at HogwartsIt conceals the entrance to a secret passage to the Shrieking Shack. It is planted here so that when Lupin arrives as a student, he can be taken to the Shrieking Shack once a month when he transforms into a werewolf.
This is based on Lupin's birthyear.
(PA18)

Remus Lupin's friends discover he is a werewolf, explaining his monthly disappearancesJames Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew then resolve to learn how to become Animagi to help Remus out, though it will be several years until they master the magic required.
"It took them the best part of three years to work out how to do it.... Finally, in our fifth year, they managed it."
(PA18)

September 1

The Marauders start at HogwartsSirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, James Potter, Lily Evans, and Severus Snape start their first year at Hogwarts; all are sorted into Gryffindor except Snape, who is made a Slytherin
From OP28, we know that Snape, Black, Lupin, Pettigrew, and Potter were all in the same year.

For more on the year, see [Marauders' birth year explained]

original artwork © [Jeannine Delleré], used by permission

1970 (Y-10) AD = 89 MM = 45 TR = 44 RH = 42 M = 12 BW = 0

Lord Voldemort rises to powerWith his band of Death Eaters, Voldemort's first reign of terror begins. His ascent to power is marked by strange disappearances.
This comes from [Dumbledore]'s statement in PS1 that "we've had precious little to celebrate for eleven years." At that time it is November, 1981. Though we don't know exactly how Voldemort's ascent to power happened, it is probably safe to assume that it somehow took a big leap in 1970.

[Myron Wagtail], lead singer of the [Weird Sisters], is born (fw)

November 29

Bill Weasley is bornDetermined from Rowling's statement on her website that Bill is two years older than Charlie, who is three years older than Percy. We know that Charlie was born December 12 two years later - 1972 [[Y-8]]. They will have started school, however, the year they turned 12.
(JKR)

1971 (Y-9) AD = 90 MM = 46 TR = 45 RH = 43 M = 13 BW = 1

Kirley Duke, lead guitarist of the [Weird Sisters], is born (fw)

In the Muggle world:
[Jo Rowling] meets Ian and Vicki PotterPeter Rowling moved his family to the from Chipping Sodbury to the nearby town of Winterbourne. During the family's residence in Winterbourne, Jo and Di Rowling were friends with neighborhood children, Ian and Vikki Potter.

1972 (Y-8) AD = 91 MM = 47 TR = 46 RH = 44 M = 14 BW = 2 CW = 0

The [Chudley Cannons] adopt a new mottoThe [Quidditch] team famous for its 80 years of futility changes its motto from "We shall conquer!" to "Let's all just keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best."
(QA7)

[Muggles Who Notice], by [Blenheim Stalk], is published (FB)

December 12

Charlie Weasley is bornDetermined from [Rowling]'s statement on her website that Bill is two years older than Charlie, who is three years older than Percy; the actual month and day are also from Jo's site
(JKR)

c. 1973 (Y-7)

Nymphadora Tonks is bornWe know this because in August 1995 [[Y15]], Tonks tells Harry she's only one year out of [Auror] training (OP3). Since this training takes three years (OP29), she must have finished school in 1991 - putting her date of birth in 1972 or 1973 [[Y-8] or [Y-7]], and putting her in the same class at Hogwarts as Charlie Weasley.

1973 (Y-7) AD = 92 MM = 48 TR = 47 RH = 45 M = 15 BW = 3 CW = 1

[Hesper Starkey] dies (fw)

[Janus Thickey] pretends to be killed by a LethifoldHe leaves a note behind for his distraught wife, only to turn up some time later living with the [landlady of the Green Dragon].
(FB)

Charis Black Crouch dies at age 54 (BFT)

[Harvey Ridgebit], founder of the largest dragon sanctuary in Romania, dies

c. 1974 (Y-6)

Remus Lupin, at the start of his fifth year, becomes a Hogwarts [Prefect] (OP9)

Sirius Black runs away from home and is disowned by his familyHe subsequently goes to live with James Potter and his parents, who treat Sirius as a second son.
Sirius says in OP6 that ran away from home when he was about sixteen.
(OP6)

The Marauders finally learn the complex spells necessary to become AnimagiSirius Black, James Potter, and Peter Pettigrew then begin to accompany Remus Lupin when he transforms into a werewolf, affecting his ability to maintain some semblence of humanity during his otherwise terrible transformations.
(PA18)

1974 (Y-6) AD = 93 MM = 49 TR = 48 RH = 46 M = 16 BW = 4 CW = 2

Heathcote Barbary, rhythm guitarist for the [Weird Sisters], is born (fw)

[Herman Wintringham], lute player for the [Weird Sisters], is born (fw)

[Knight Bus] conductor [Stan Shunpike] is born (HBP10)

c. 1975 (Y-5)

Mundungus Fletcher is banned from the [Hog's Head] (OP17)

June

James Potter publicly humiliates Severus Snape for Sirius Black's amusementThis happens on the afternoon of their Defence Against the Dark Arts [O.W.L.], a scene which Harry views in a Pensieve some twenty-two years later.
(OP28)

September

Sirius Black plays a fateful practical joke on Severus SnapeSnape is intensely curious about where Remus Lupin goes each month. Sirius jokingly suggests that Snape follow Lupin through the passage beneath the Whomping Willow. James Potter, realizing that Snape would encounter a full-blown and very dangerous werewolf at the end of the passage, stops Snape from going through, thereby waving his life. Snape, much to his disgust, is indebted to James because of this.
(PA18)

The Marauder's Map is writtenSirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and James Potter explore the castle and grounds in their Animagus forms and learn more about the secrets of the place than anyone, even Filch. They then create the Marauder's Map, signing it with their nicknames: Moony (Lupin), Wormtail (Pettigrew), Padfoot (Sirius), and Prongs (James).
We don't know exactly when this happened, but it was around the beginning of the Marauders' sixth year.
(PA18)

1975 (Y-5) AD = 94 MM = 50 TR = 49 RH = 47 M = 17 BW = 5 CW = 3

[Weird Sisters] bagpipe player Gideon Crumb is born (fw)

[Hairy Snout, Human Heart], by an anonymous author, is published by [WhizzHard Books] (FB)

c. 1976 (Y-4)

James Potter and Lily Evans are made [Head Boy] and [Head Girl] of Hogwarts (PS4)

Sirius Black sees his cousin Bellatrix for the last time - until they're both in [Azkaban] (OP6)

[Oliver Wood] is bornWe know [Wood] was probably born in 1976 [[Y-4]] because he was four years above Harry, who was born in 1980 [[Y0]]. It's also possible he was born in 1975 [[Y-5]].
(PS9)

1976 (Y-4) AD = 95 MM = 51 TR = 50 RH = 48 M = 18 BW = 6 CW = 4 PW = 0

[Weird Sisters] drummer [Orsino Thruston] is born (fw)

August 22

Percy Weasley is bornWe know the day from Jo's website, and can determine the year based on the fact that Percy is four years above Harry at school.
(JKR)

c. 1977 (Y-3)

June

The Marauders sit their [N.E.W.T.s] and leave HogwartsSirius Black, Lily Evans, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, James Potter, and Severus Snape sit their N.E.W.T.s and leave Hogwarts.
Deduced from their birth years.

September

Sirius Black gets his own place, having inherited money from his uncle Alphard (OP6)

1977 (Y-3) AD = 96 MM = 52 TR = 51 RH = 49 M = 19 BW = 7 CW = 5 PW = 1

Dorea Black Potter dies (BFT)

circa September

Cedric Diggory is bornCedric is a fifth-year in PA, which takes place in 1993-1994 [[Y13]-[Y14]]. In GF, then, he's a sixth year student, but he's old enough to participate in the Triwizard Tournament, just like Angelina Johnson. Like her, his birthday must be in the early fall, between the beginning of school and October 31.
(GF16)

late October
[Angelina Johnson] is bornOn October 31, 1994 [[Y14]], [Angelina] says her seventeenth birthday was "last week." This puts her date of birth sometime in late October, 1977 [[Y-3]].
(GF16)

c. 1978 (Y-2)

Lily Evans and James Potter are marriedSirius Black is their best man.
We don't know exactly when this happened, except that it was sometime between James and Lily leaving Hogwarts (c. 1977 [[Y-3]]) and Harry's birth (July 1980 [[Y0]]). Though, Molly Weasley tells us in HBP5 that couples at this time were getting married very quickly, so it's likely James and Lily were married in 1977 or 1978 [[Y-3] or [Y-2]].

For more on their ages, see [Marauders' birth year explained].

1978 (Y-2) AD = 97 MM = 53 TR = 52 RH = 50 M = 20 BW = 8 CW = 6 PW = 2 FGW = 0

Merton Graves, cello player for the [Weird Sisters], is born (fw)

Universal Brooms Ltd. goes out of businessThey were most well known as the producers of the Shooting Star broomstick.
(QA9)

April 1

Fred and George Weasley are bornTheir date of birth is given on Jo's website, and the year can be deduced from the fact that they are two years ahead of Harry in school, among other reasons.

c. 1979 (Y-1)

Cho Chang is bornWe know Cho was a year above Harry, so she was born sometime between September 1978 [[Y-2]] and August 1979 [[Y-1]].
(PA13)

1979 (Y-1) AD = 98 MM = 54 TR = 53 RH = 51 M = 21 BW = 9 CW = 7 PW = 3 FGW = 1 HG = 0

Peter Pettigrew starts passing information to Voldemort[Dumbledore] and his allies begin to realize that there is a spy in their midst but Peter is not suspected.
"DON'T LIE!" bellowed Black. "YOU'D BEEN PASSING INFORMATION TO HIM FOR A YEAR BEFORE LILY AND JAMES DIED! YOU WERE HIS SPY!"
(PA19)

Regulus Black attempts to back out of being a Death Eater and is killed on Voldemort's orders (OP6, HBP6)We don't know exactly what events led up to the death of Regulus Black, although fan speculation is running wild that he might be the infamous R.A.B.
(BFT)

[Newt Scamander] is awarded the [Order of Merlin], Second ClassHe receives the honor for his contributions to the field of Magizoology
(FB)

Orion Black, father of Sirius and Regulus, dies at age 50 (BFT)

September 1

Gwenog Jones starts her first year at HogwartsShe soon becomes a favorite of Horace Slughorn, the Potions Master
(HBP6)

September 19

Hermione Granger is born (JKR)

The 1980s
Events of this decade:

Ludo Bagman plays [Beater] for the [Wimbourne Wasps] (GF30)

c. 1980 (Y0)

[Albus Dumbledore] interviews Sibyll Trelawney for the post of Divination teacher at HogwartsHe meets her at the [Hog's Head] about taking the position, although he is disinclined to continue offering Divination at all. Trelawney then makes a [prophecy] about a baby who will be born at the end of July, a baby who will be able to defeat the Dark Lord - and the prophecy is overheard by Severus Snape. Though [Dumbledore] claims Snape heard only the first half of the [prophecy] (OP37), Trelawney later reports that he was there at the end of it as well (HBP25).

This interview had to have taken place sometime after July of 1979 in order for it to apply to Harry's birth in 1980 [[Y0]], and [Dumbledore] describes it as a "cold, wet night" (OP37). So it was likely made in the winter or early spring of 1979-1980 [[Y-1]-[Y0]].

We also know that Trelawney, in early September of 1995 [[Y15]], claimed she had held her post for "nearly sixteen years" (OP15), which would imply that she was hired in the middle of a school year. And then, [Dumbledore] says in June of 1996 [[Y16]] that the interview was "sixteen years ago" (OP37). So unless [Dumbledore] is wrong, the interview must have been in the first few months of 1980 [[Y0]] - sixteen years before [Dumbledore]'s statement, a slightly exaggerated 'nearly sixteen years' before Trelawney's, and during the time of year most likely to have a "cold, wet night."

1980 (Y0) AD = 99 MM = 55 TR = 54 RH = 52 M = 22 BW = 10 CW = 8 PW = 4 FGW = 2 HG = 1 H&R = 0

[Igor Karkaroff] is captured by Mad-Eye Moody and sent to [Azkaban]His apprehension is followed shortly thereafter by that of Antonin Dolohov, who had worked with [Karkaroff] when they were both Death Eaters. It had taken Moody six months to track him down.
It is stated in [Karkaroff]'s scene in the Pensieve that he was apprehended just before [Rosier]'s death.
(GF30)

[Rosier] and [Wilkes], both known Death Eaters, are killed by [Aurors] (GF27)In the battle for his capture, [Evan Rosier] takes off a piece of Mad-Eye Moody's nose (GF30).
We know from Sirius Black that this happened "the year before Voldemort fell" (GF27).

[Ernie Macmillan] is bornAlong with many other students of Harry's year, although some, like Hermione, would have been born in 1979 [[Y-1]].
We know Ernie was born in 1980 because he, Harry, and Draco Malfoy are the only students who are not yet old enough to [Apparate] on the day of the test in HBP22.

March 1

Ron Weasley is born (JKR)

June 5

Draco Malfoy is born (JKR, [BFT])

June 23
[Dudley Dursley] is bornHow do we know when [Dudley]'s birthday is? Well, we know that Harry's is July 31. A week before his birthday in 1991 [[Y11]], on July 24, Harry begins getting letters from Hogwarts. At this point, Harry is given [Dudley]'s second bedroom, where he discovers Dudley's "month-old" video camera, broken (PS3). That camera was given to Dudley for a birthday present (PS2) on Dudley's birthday, which must therefore be about a month before July 24.

No, wait, there's more. We know that in the year Harry turned 11, Harry's birthday was on a Tuesday (PS3) and [Dudley]'s was on a Saturday (PS2). Counting back a month from Tuesday, July 24, we find that the nearest Saturday is the 23rd. So regardless of the year in which this is taking place, Dudley's birthday is almost certainly on June 23.

July 30

Neville Longbottom is born to famous [Aurors] Frank and Alice Longbottom (OP37)

July 31

1981 (Y1) AD = 100 MM = 56 TR = 55 RH = 53 M = 23 BW = 11 CW = 9 PW = 5 FGW = 3 HG = 2 H&R = 1 GW = 0

Famous theoretician [Adalbert Waffling] dies (fw)

August 11

Ginny Weasley is born (JKR)

circa September

Severus Snape is hired by [Dumbledore] to teach Potions at HogwartsSnape had applied for the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts, but [Dumbledore] refused.
In October of 1995 [[Y15]], Snape told [Umbridge] that he had been teaching at Hogwarts for 14 years, but unlike McGonagall, he did not specify the month (OP17). He later says that he took up the post on Voldemort's orders (HBP2), so it's almost certain he began teaching at the start of the school year.

circa October 24

The [Fidelius Charm] is cast to hide the Potters, with Peter Pettigrew acting as Secret Keeper[Dumbledore] had offered to be secret keeper, but James and Lily had refused, planning to go with Sirius Black instead - but switching to Pettigrew at the last minute.
Fudge says that the [Fidelius Charm] was cast "barely a week" before Voldemort came after the Potters.
(PA10)

October 31

Defeat of Voldemort; James and Lily Potter are killedVoldemort attempts to kill Harry Potter after murdering his parents, but the spell rebounds onto him.

Voldemort, nearly dead and without physical form, retreats into the forests of Albania where he possess the bodies of various animals to survive for the next decade, waiting. Hagrid, on [Dumbledore]'s orders, goes to [Godric's Hollow] to rescue baby Harry from the ruins of the house.
(PS1)

circa November 1

Peter Pettigrew fakes his own death, killing twelve Muggles in the processSirius Black is arrested and at some point in the next few weeks is sent to [Azkaban] without a trial. He is 22 years old.
It's about 90% certain this happened on November 1, but it's also possible it was November 2.
(PA10)

late November 1

Hagrid delivers baby Harry to [Dumbledore][Dumbledore] is waiting in Privet Drive to leave the baby with the [Dursleys].
but there are [twenty-four hours missing] from the chronology of events of these two days...
(PS1)

after November 1

Sirius Black is framed for the murders of Peter Pettigrew and twelve Muggles on November 1, 1981He is sent by [Bartemius Crouch Sr.] to [Azkaban] without a trial.
This almost certainly happened immediately following Sirius's capture on November 1, but we have no way of knowing for sure.
(GF27)

circa December

Bellatrix, [Rodolphus], and [Rabastan] Lestrange, along with [Bartemius Crouch Jr.], are arrestedThey are charged with using the [Cruciatus Curse] on Frank and Alice Longbottom in an attempt to discover the whereabouts of Voldemort; all of the accused are convicted and sent to [Azkaban]. Frank and Alice Longbottom are committed to [St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries], driven permanently insane from the [Cruciatus Curse].
We know that this happened shortly after Voldemort's downfall, as [Dumbledore] says it was "just when everyone thought they were safe." They likely happened sometime between November 1981 [[Y1]] and very early 1982 [[Y2]].
(GF30)

after 1981 (Y1)

In disguise as a rat, Peter Pettigrew becomes a pet of Percy WeasleyHe chooses Percy, a member of a solid wizarding family, in order to stay aware of what was going on in the magical world and perhaps hear word of his former master, Voldemort.
(PA18)

c. 1982 (Y2)

[Igor Karkaroff] is released from [Azkaban] in return for turning in [Rookwood] (GF30)This unquestionably happened after Voldemort's downfall - and we also know it probably happened within a year of when the [Lestranges] and [Barty Crouch Jr.] were caught for torturing the Longbottoms. This comes from Sirius's statement in GF27 that [Crouch Jr.] died a year later, and [Barty Crouch Sr.] lost his popularity and changed jobs. Since he was still running the [Wizengamot] during this incident, it couldn't have been long after Voldemort's downfall. No doubt [Karkaroff] was eager to get away from the Dementors.

Ludo Bagman is acquitted of being a Death EaterLike [Karkaroff]'s trial, this one was almost certainly within a year or so of Voldemort's downfall, as [Barty Crouch] was presiding.
(GF30)

1982 (Y2) AD = 101 MM = 57 TR = 56 RH = 54 M = 24 BW = 12 CW = 10 PW = 6 FGW = 4 HG = 3 H&R = 2 GW = 1

September 1

Bill Weasley starts his first year at Hogwarts (JKR) - he is sorted into Gryffindor (PS6)

circa November

[Barty Crouch Jr.] is secretly rescued from [Azkaban]His mother uses [Polyjuice Potion] to take his place there, where she dies within a year (GF27). [Crouch Jr.] is kept a virtual prisoner in his father's home, tended by Winky, a loyal house-elf (GF35).
We know from Sirius Black in GF27 that the escape was "about a year" after [Crouch Jr.] had been sent to [Azkaban], so it was probably sometime around November or December of 1982 [[Y2]].

c. 1983 (Y3)

Fred turns Ron's teddy bear into a spiderHe does it because Ron broke his toy [broomstick]. From now on, Ron is deadly afraid of spiders.
"If you must know, when I was three, Fred turned my - my teddy bear into a great big filthy spider because I broke his toy broomstick.... You wouldn't like them either if you'd been holding your bear and suddenly it had too many legs and..."
This is a pretty complex bit of Transfiguration for a five-year-old, considering eleven-year-olds struggle to turn matches into needles. Maybe Ron just dreamed the whole thing.
(CS9)

1983 (Y3) AD = 102 MM = 58 TR = 57 RH = 55 M = 25 BW = 13 CW = 11 PW = 7 FGW = 5 HG = 4 H&R = 3 GW = 2

In the Muggle world:
[Jo Rowling] leaves for school at the University of [Exeter] (JKR)

September 1

Charlie Weasley starts his first year at Hogwarts (JKR) and is sorted into Gryffindor (PS6)Bill is starting his third year.

1984 (Y4) AD = 103 MM = 59 TR = 58 RH = 56 M = 26 BW = 14 CW = 12 PW = 8 FGW = 6 HG = 5 H&R = 4 GW = 3

June

Gryffindor wins the [Quidditch Cup]It is the last time Gryffindor will win until 1993-94. We don't know who wins the [House Cup].
"The idea of overtaking Slytherin in the house championship was wonderful, no one had done it for seven years..." (PS13)

This statement refers to school years, not actual years. The 1983-84 [[Y3]-[Y4]] school year is seven school years before that statement was made in the fall of 1991 [[Y11]] (and yes, from the context we can be almost 100% sure that it's talking about the [Quidditch Cup], not the [House Cup]). Charlie HAD to have been on the team this year, since "Gryffindor hadn't won the [Quidditch Cup] since the legendary Charlie Weasley...had been seeker." However, according to [Rowling]'s age statement for Charlie, he wasn't, as he was only a first year at the time. This is an error in the text.
(PS13)

c. 1985 (Y5)

Sirius Black's mother, Walburga Black, dies ([BFT])Her likeness is captured in a huge portrait which hangs in the entrance hall of her home at [number twelve, Grimmauld Place]. The house is left vacant except for Kreacher. The house deteriorates dramatically (OP5).
"No one's lived here for ten years, not since my dear mother died, unless you count her old house-elf, and he's gone round the twist -- hasn't cleaned anything in ages." -- Sirius Black (OP5)

1985 (Y5) AD = 104 MM = 60 TR = 59 RH = 57 M = 27 BW = 15 CW = 13 PW = 9 FGW = 7 HG = 6 H&R = 5 GW = 4

[Idris Oakby] Founder of the S.S.S. (Society for the Support of Squibs) dies (JKR)

June

Slytherin wins the [Quidditch Cup] (PS13) but not the [House Cup] (PS7)

June
[Aunt Marge] comes to [Dudley]'s fifth birthday partyShe whacks Harry around the shins to keep him from beating [Dudley] at musical statues.
(PA2)

September

Charlie Weasley starts his second year at HogwartsMaking this the first year that he could conceivably be on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
(JKR)

1986 (Y6) AD = 105 MM = 61 TR = 60 RH = 58 M = 28 BW = 16 CW = 14 PW = 10 FGW = 8 HG = 7 H&R = 6 GW = 5

The Ugandan [Quidditch] team, the [Patonga Proudsticks], holds the [Montrose Magpies] to a drawThe outcome comes as a shock to [Quidditch] fans everywhere.
(QA8)

June

Slytherin wins both the [Quidditch Cup] and the [House Cup] (PS7, PS13)

September

Bill Weasley starts his fifth year at Hogwarts and is made a [Prefect] (OP9)

1987 (Y7) AD = 106 MM = 62 TR = 61 RH = 59 M = 29 BW = 17 CW = 15 PW = 11 FGW = 9 HG = 8 H&R = 7 GW = 6

[Roderick Plumpton] diesHe dies still claiming that his record three and a half second capture of the Snitch was intentional, and not pure dumb luck.
(fw)

[Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles], by [Wilhelm Wigworthy], is publishedThe publisher is [Little Red Books].
(FB)

June

Slytherin wins both the [Quidditch Cup] and the [House Cup] (PS7, PS13)

September 1

Percy Weasley starts his first year at Hogwarts and is sorted into GryffindorBill is in his sixth year and Charlie his fourth.
(JKR)

c. 1988 (Y8)

Neville Longbottom is accidentally dropped from an upstairs window by his Great Uncle AlgieInstead of falling to his death, he bounces, demonstrating his natural magical ability. His family is ecstatic.
This happened when Neville was eight, so it could just have easily been in 1989 [[Y9]].
(PS7)

1988 (Y8) AD = 107 MM = 63 TR = 62 RH = 60 M = 30 BW = 18 CW = 16 PW = 12 FGW = 10 HG = 9 H&R = 8 GW = 7

June

Slytherin wins both the [Quidditch Cup] and the [House Cup] (PS7, PS13)

June
[Aunt Marge] comes to [Dudley]'s eighth birthday partyShe brings a computerized robot for [Dudley] and a box of dog biscuits for Harry.
(PA2)

September 1

Bill Weasley becomes [Head Boy] and Charlie is made a [Prefect]Percy, meanwhile, is starting his second year at Hogwarts.
(OP9)

1989 (Y9) AD = 108 MM = 64 TR = 63 RH = 61 M = 31 BW = 19 CW = 17 PW = 13 FGW = 11 HG = 10 H&R = 9 GW = 8

June

Slytherin wins both the [Quidditch Cup] and the [House Cup] (PS7, PS13)

September

The Gryffindor [Quidditch] team prepares for the 1989-1990 seasonThe team includes Charlie Weasley, sixth year [Seeker], and [Oliver Wood], third year [Keeper].
While these are conjectures, it seems logical that both of these players would have been on the team. Charlie may have been Quidditch Captain at this point.

September

Quirrell begins teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts at HogwartsHe has not yet met Voldemort, so is a perfectly competent teacher. He teaches for a year, then takes a year off to study in Albania.
See entry below (1990 [[Y10]]) for an explanation of when Quirrell taught.

September 1

Fred and George Weasley start their first year at Hogwarts and are sorted into Gryffindor (PS6)[Angelina Johnson] also becomes a new Gryffindor, while Cedric Diggory also starts his first year and is sorted into Hufflepuff. Both [Angelina] and Cedric turn twelve shortly after the beginning of the school year (GF16).

The 1990s
Events of this decade:

The 1990s - OverviewThe Nineties
The events of the 1990s comprise the stories of the Harry Potter novels themselves. The years in which these stories take place are not stated specifically in the books but can be deduced from clues. The official timeline of the stories, as found on the Chamber of Secrets DVD second disk, uses the dates of the 1990s for these events, and it is from the "real" calendars of those years that I have derived many of the dates and days of the week indicated here. Some days and dates are specified in the books, others are approximated or deduced. However, the days and dates given in the books do not match any existing "real" calendar -- in fact, some dates are simply impossible, such as books where two Mondays happen in a row.

1990 (Y10) AD = 109 MM = 65 TR = 64 RH = 62 M = 32 BW = 20 CW = 18 PW = 14 FGW = 12 HG = 11 H&R = 10 GW = 9

The Flyte and Barker company introduces the Twigger 90 broomstick (QA9)

Pollux Black dies at age 78He is the grandfather of Sirius, Regulus, Bellatrix, Narcissa, and [Andromeda Black].
(BFT)

June

Slytherin wins both the [Quidditch Cup] and the [House Cup] (PS7, PS13)

June
[Aunt Marge] comes to [Dudley]'s tenth birthday partyShe brings Ripper, her favorite bulldog. Harry accidentally steps on Ripper's tail and the dog "trees" him. [Marge] finally calls the dog off around midnight. When [Marge] comes to visit during the summer of Y13, Harry remembers past incidents:
"On her last visit, the year before Harry started at Hogwarts, Harry had accidentally trodden on the tail of her favorite dog. Ripper had chased Harry out into the garden and up a tree, and [Aunt Marge] had refused to call him off until past midnight. The memory of this incident still brought tears of laughter to [Dudley]'s eyes" (PA2).

Harry also recalls this event in his Occlumency lessons.
"He was nine, and Ripper the bulldog was chasing him up a tree and the [Dursleys] were laughing below on the lawn..." (OP24).
He was nine because his own tenth birthday was still a month away.

July 31
Harry Potter's 10th birthday

September

Quirrell takes a year off and encounters VoldemortQuirrell takes a year off from Hogwarts for some first hand experience fighting the Dark Arts. He will be gone from September 1990 [[Y10]] through June of 1991 [[Y11]]. While in Albania, he encounters Voldemort and brings him back.
There is no specific canon reference to indicate which year Quirrell took off from teaching. However, [Dumbledore] specifically says in HBP20, "we have never been able to keep a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher for longer than a year since I refused the post to Lord Voldemort." Therefore, since we know Quirrell taught in 1991-1992 [[Y11]-[Y12]], he could not have taught from 1990-1991 [[Y10]-[Y11]]. This, then, was almost certainly his year off.

However, Hagrid speaks of Quirrell's nervousness as the result of his year off, and if that year off had been the 1990-1991 [[Y10]-[Y11]] school year (the one immediately before Harry comes to Hogwarts), Hagrid seemingly wouldn't have known about Quirrell's altered behavior:
"Poor bloke. Brilliant mind. He was fine while he was studyin' outta books but then he took a year off ter get some firsthand experience...They say he met vampires in the Black Forest, and there was a nasty bit o' trouble with a hag--never been the same since. Scared of the students, scared of his own subject now..." (PS5)

This doesn't seem to align, but it is possible that Hagrid is just talking about the month or two since Quirrell has returned from Albania. And if we take [Dumbledore] at his word, nothing else really makes sense.

September

The Gryffindor Quidditch team is particularly poor this year[Oliver Wood] is in his fourth year, while Charlie Weasley is in his seventh and is Quidditch Captain. On the other hand, the rest of the team are second years, so perhaps it's just a matter of their being inexperienced. The team consisted of:
Charlie Weasley - seventh year, [Seeker], Captain
[Oliver Wood] - fourth year, [Keeper]
[Angelina Johnson] - second year, [Chaser]
[Alicia Spinnet] - second year, [Chaser]
unknown third Chaser - possibly seventh year since she isn't back in the 1991-1992 season
Fred Weasley - second year, [Beater]
George Weasley - second year, [Beater]
We don't know for sure which years Charlie was Captain of Quidditch, but it seems likely that we was Captain in his seventh year and possibly one or two years before that as well. We aren't told why this team was so poor, since they have a superb [Keeper] and a [Seeker] who could have played for England, but McGonagall says of them a year later:
"Heaven knows, we need a better team than last year. Flattened in that last match by Slytherin, I couldn't look Severus Snape in the face for weeks..." (PS9)

We are also not told why Fred and George would have been familiar with [Wood]'s pre-game speeches at the beginning of the 1991-1992 [[Y11]-[Y12]] season when he wasn't the Captain this year. While this isn't an error exactly, it does suggest that [Rowling] wrote these passages without realizing that the facts wouldn't fit together very well.
(PS9)

December 30
[Jo Rowling]'s mother dies (JKR)

1991 (Y11) AD = 110 MM = 66 TR = 65 RH = 63 M = 33 BW = 21 CW = 19 PW = 15 FGW = 13 HG = 12 H&R = 11 GW = 10

Arcturus Black, grandfather of Sirius and Regulus, dies (BFT)

circa June

The Nimbus 2000 [broomstick] is releasedA display model appears in the window of [Quality Quidditch Supplies].
(PS5)

June

Slytherin wins both the [Quidditch Cup] and the [House Cup] (PS7, PS13)They "flatten" Gryffindor in the final [Quidditch] match, according to McGonagall (PS9).

June 23

[Dudley]'s eleventh birthdayHarry accompanies [Dudley], [Piers Polkiss], [Aunt Petunia], and [Uncle Vernon] to the zoo, where he first exercises his gift of being a Parselmouth to speak with a boa constrictor.
This is a Saturday according to the book. It comes approximately one month before Harry's birthday. That morning, Dudley receives a video camera for his birthday:
"At that moment the telephone rang and [Aunt Petunia] went to answer it while Harry and [Uncle Vernon] watched [Dudley] unwrap the racing bike, a video camera..." (PS2)

After the zoo incident on Dudley's birthday, Harry is confined to his cupboard for a few weeks. By the end of that period, the video camera is broken:
"By the time he was allowed out of his cupboard again, the summer holidays had started and Dudley had already broken his new video camera..." (PS3)

Then, a week before Harry's birthday, on the 24th of July, Harry receives a letter addressed to him in his cupboard under the stairs. [Uncle Vernon] moves Harry to [Dudley]'s second bedroom upstairs, where Harry sees the video camera and we learn that [Dudley]'s birthday was a month ago:
"Nearly everything in here was broken. The month-old video camera was lying on top of a small, working tank..." (PS3)

We know from the book that July the 24th was a Tuesday. The Saturday approximately one month before Tuesday, July 24, would be Saturday, June 23. So we know that [Dudley]'s birthday is June 23. Like most dates in the books, this doesn't correspond to the dates in any particular "real life" calendar.
(PS2)

July 24

Letters begin arriving, via owl post, to invite Harry Potter to HogwartsThe dates are determined by counting back from the established date of July 31 for Harry's birthday.

We are told the days on which these dates fall:
Monday. This reminded Harry of something. If it was Monday -- and you could usually count on [Dudley] to know the days the week, because of television -- then tomorrow, Tuesday, was Harry's eleventh birthday.

In the "real" 1991, however, July 31 fell on a Wednesday.
(PS3)

July 31

Harry's 11th birthdayHow do we know that Harry was born on July 31? This has been established in many places in the books, perhaps most importantly in [Dumbledore]'s discussion of the [prophecy] in OP37. However, we can first determine this from PS8. In the Daily Prophet, Harry reads:
"GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST -- Investigations continue into the break-in at [Gringotts] on 31 July..."

He reacts in surprise:
"Hagrid!" said Harry, "that Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! It might've been happening while we were there!"
(PS8)

July 31
Just after midnight, Hagrid arrives at the hut-on-the-rockHe brings Harry a birthday cake and invites him to Hogwarts.
(PS4)

July 31

Hagrid and Harry visit [Diagon Alley]While there:
Hagrid retrieves the Philosopher's Stone from the [Gringotts]' high security vaults.
Harry meets Draco Malfoy for the first time in [Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions].
Hagrid buys Hedwig as a birthday present for Harry.

original artwork © 2001 [Laura Freeman], used by permission
(PS5)

July 31

Quirrell attempts to steal the Philosopher's Stone from [Gringotts] but fails (PS8)

circa August

Percy Weasley gives his pet rat, Scabbers, to his younger brother RonLike nearly everything Ron owns, Scabbers is secondhand and a bit battered (PA4).

Scabbers is later revealed to be Peter Pettigrew in disguise (PA17).
"His name's Scabbers and he's useless, he hardly ever wakes up. Percy got an owl from my dad for being made a prefect, but they couldn't aff -- I mean, I got Scabbers instead" (PS6).
From the comments made by Ron on the Hogwarts Express that September, it would seem that Ron received Scabbers from Percy when Percy was given his owl upon being made [Prefect]. Assuming that Ron and his brothers received their Hogwarts letters at the same time that Harry would have received his, had [Uncle Vernon] not intervened, then we know that Percy was made [Prefect] on July 24. Sometime after that, Molly and Arthur bought Percy his new owl, Hermes. This may very well have been when the Weasleys came to [Diagon Alley] to buy their school things.

August

Voldemort, disappointed by Quirrell's inability to steal the Philosopher's Stone, decides to inhabit himQuirrell begins wearing a turban to hide Voldemort's face, which is sticking out of the back of Quirrell's head.
(PS17)

August
[Uncle Vernon] and [Aunt Petunia] treat Harry as if he doesn't exist"Harry's last month with the Dursleys wasn't fun. True, Dudley was now so scared of Harry he wouldn't stay in the same room, while Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon didn't shut Harry in his cupboard, force him to do anything, or shout at him -- in fact, they didn't speak to him at all. Half terrified, half furious, they acted as though any chair with Harry in it were empty."
(PS6)

September 1

Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Draco Malfoy, and their classmates travel by way of the Hogwarts Express to Hogwarts.

Hogwarts Express

They catch the Hogwarts Express at 11am at King's Cross Station, then travel until evening to Hogwarts. Harry meets Ron and Hermione on the train; he and Ron immediately become friends. Once at Hogwarts, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville are sorted into Gryffindor, and Draco into Slytherin.
(PS6)

September 1

[Dudley Dursley] undergoes surgery for the removal of a pig's tail from his rather large behind"Why are you going to [London]?" Harry asked, trying to keep things friendly.
"Taking [Dudley] to the hospital," growled [Uncle Vernon]. "Got to have that ruddy tail removed before he goes to Smeltings."
(PS5)

September 2

Harry begins his classes at Hogwarts

Hogwarts School

Harr's classes begin at Hogwarts and he spends his first week learning his way around the school and about his classes and teachers.

September 6

Harry and Ron visit Hagrid

Harry takes Ron to visit Hagrid in his hut near the forbidden forest. While Fang slobbers all over Ron, Harry tells Hagrid about his classes and that he thinks Snape hates him. Harry reads a Daily Prophet article about the break-in at Gringotts which had happened on July 31.

September 6

Harry's first potions class

Harry discovers that Professor Snape actively dislikes him when he embarrasses Harry in front of the rest of the class.

September 12

Gryffindors and Slytherins have their first flying lessonHarry is subsequently made [Seeker] on the [Gryffindor Quidditch team] by Professor McGonagall.
This happens on the second Thursday of the school term.
"...they spotted a notice pinned up in the Gryffindor common room that made them all groan. Flying lessons would be starting on Thursday..."

The date can be determined from the fact that this is the Thursday of the second week of school, it must logically be the 12th, since classes started on the 2nd.
How do we know that this is the Thursday of the second week? Because when Harry is following McGonagall away from his flying lesson, he is afraid that he will be expelled. He thinks to himself:
"Now he'd done it. He hadn't even lasted two weeks."

However, when Fred and George hear about this, they say:
"I tell you, we're going to win that [Quidditch Cup] for sure this year...We haven't won since Charlie left, but this year's team is going to be brilliant."
According to Rowling's statement that Charlie is three years older than Percy, Charlie just left two months before. There's been no time for them not to have won "since Charlie left." They haven't PLAYED since Charlie left. Again, this is an error in the text.
(PS9)

October 31

The Halloween FeastThe feast is interrupted by a Mountain Troll who almost kills Hermione Granger; she is saved by Harry and Ron, after which they become friends.

Meanwhile, Quirrell, who let the troll in, heads for the Philosopher's Stone - but is stopped by Snape.
We have already seen that we can't trust the "real" calendar to give us the days of the week when we know the date, but just for interest sake, Halloween in 1991 was on a Thursday. The Gryffindor first years had Charms that morning and learned the [Wingardium Leviosa] spell.
(PS10)

November

Harry's first [Quidditch] matchQuirrell tries to knock Harry off his broom during the match but is thwarted by Severus Snape - not to mention some pretty cool acrobatics by Harry. The match ends soon afterward when Harry catches the Snitch in his mouth for a Gryffindor victory.
(PS11)

December 25

Harry receives James Potter's Invisibility Cloak as a Christmas present from [Dumbledore] (PS12)

December 25

Harry discovers the Mirror of Erised and sees his family for the first timeOn the official timeline, this is 1991 [[Y11]]. Christmas in 1991 was on a Wednesday.
(PS12)

1992 (Y12) AD = 111 MM = 67 TR = 66 RH = 64 M = 34 BW = 22 CW = 20 PW = 16 FGW = 14 HG = 13 H&R = 12 GW = 11

Cassiopeia Black dies at age 77 (BFT)

Cygnus Black, father of Bellatrix, Narcissa, and [Andromeda], dies at age 54 (BFT)

Lucretia Black Prewett dies at age 67 (BFT)

circa April

Norbert hatchesThe calendar lists this date as April 24, but all we really know is that it is a few weeks before exams and that the weather gave the first hint of summer coming.
(PS14)

circa May 9

Charlie's friends take Norbert from Harry and Hermione on top of the Astronomy TowerUnfortunately, they are caught by Filch - and given detentions by McGonagall.
Derived from the estimated date of Norbert's hatching.
(PS14)

May 26

Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Malfoy serve their detentions in the Forbidden ForestWith Hagrid supervising, they track down a dead unicorn. Harry encounters Voldemort for the first time, and is saved by Firenze.
We have no indication of when this date might be, except that it is shortly before final exams.
(PS15)

early June

Harry, Hermione, and Ron follow Quirrell after the Philosopher's StoneThey overcome the various protections, and defeat Quirrell/Voldemort's attempt to steal the Stone.
The dates of this event are contingent on the dates of exams in Harry's first year. We are given dates for exams in books two and three--the first week of June--but that doesn't seem to be a hard and fast rule. The calendar for this book gives the date as June 4, based on the exam dates in the other books, but here on the timeline we'll play it a bit safer and just go with "early June."
(PS16)

June

End of Term FeastGryffindor wins the [House Cup], but not the [Quidditch Cup], which goes to Slytherin.
(PS17)

circa June

The Nimbus 2001 broomstick is releasedLucius Malfoy soon buys them for the Slytherin Quidditch team. As it happens, Draco is made [Seeker] during the upcoming school term.
(CS7)

after June

Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel die after a long, long life (PS17)

July 31

Harry's 12th BirthdayDobby the house-elf visits Harry in Privet Drive. Meanwhile, the [Dursleys] are holding a dinner party for the [Masons], which is then disrupted when Dobby drops a violet pudding on [Mrs. Mason]'s head. Harry is sent a warning letter from the [Ministry], reminding him that he is not allowed to do magic outside of school (CS1, CS2).

circa August 3

Fred, George, and Ron rescue Harry from the [Dursleys] in their father's Ford AngliaThis is very likely the night of August 3, three days after Harry's birthday. He arrives at the [Burrow], then, on the morning of August 4.
(CS2)

circa August 13

Gilderoy Lockhart announces that he is the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at HogwartsHarry, who arrives at [Flourish and Blotts] just in time for the announcement, accidentally (and unwillingly) gets caught up in the publicity. Not long afterward, Lucius Malfoy and Arthur Weasley get into a scuffle, and Lucius drops Voldemort's diary into Ginny Weasley's [cauldron].
(CS6)

September 1

Harry and Ron miss the Hogwarts Express and fly Mr. Weasley's bewitched car to HogwartsThey are spotted by several Muggles along the way and land, at school, in the Whomping Willow - subsequently landing them in a fair amount of trouble as well.
(CS5)

September 1

Ginny Weasley, Luna Lovegood, and Colin Creevey start their first year at HogwartsGinny and Colin are sorted into Gryffindor and Luna becomes a Ravenclaw. Harry and his friends, meanwhile, start their second year.
(CS5)

circa September 8

The Chamber of Secrets is reopenedThis time the Chamber is opened by Ginny Weasley, under the influence of Tom Riddle, by means of his diary. Harry first hears the voice of the Basilisk during his detention with Lockhart.
This is about a week into the school year, so it didn't take Riddle long to force Ginny to open the Chamber.
(CS7)

October 31

The Halloween Feast and 500th Deathday for Nearly Headless Nick (CS8)

late October 31

The Basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets attacks its first victim: Filch's cat, Mrs. NorrisHarry is discovered at the scene of the crime, and students start suspecting him to be the heir of Salazar Slytherin. Harry and his friends, meanwhile, begin to suspect Draco Malfoy.
If we go by the calendar of this year according to the official timeline, Halloween is on a Saturday.
(CS8)

November 8

Colin Creevey is Petrified by the BasiliskThe next morning, Ron and Hermione start working on brewing [Polyjuice Potion].
(CS10)

December 17

The [Duelling] ClubHarry unwittingly uses Parseltongue to talk to a snake in front of the whole school; the Hufflepuffs in particular are now entirely convinced he's the heir of Salazar Slytherin.
(CS11)

December 18

Justin Finch-Fletchley and Nearly Headless Nick are petrified by the BasiliskHarry is taken to Dumbledore's office by McGonagall, but when [Dumbledore] asks if Harry has anything to tell him, Harry says he doesn't.
(CS11)

circa December 20

Mr and Mrs Weasley visit Bill in Egypt

Egypt

The Weasley children stayed on at Hogwarts over the holidays rather than visit Bill in Egypt with their parents. They would all visit Egypt the following summer.

December 25

Harry and Ron use [Polyjuice Potion] to "become" Crabbe and Goyle.They go into the Slytherin common room and learn that Malfoy is NOT the heir of Salazar Slytherin.
(CS12)

December 25

Hermione is accidentally changed partially into a catShe spends the next month in the hospital wing.
(CS12)

1993 (Y13) AD = 112 MM = 68 TR = 67 RH = 65 M = 35 BW = 23 CW = 21 PW = 17 FGW = 15 HG = 14 H&R = 13 GW = 12

The Sweetwater, Texas [Quidditch] team, the [All-Stars], defeats the [Quiberon Quafflepunchers]The match lasts five days.
(QA8)

[Dolores Umbridge] crafts anti-werewolf legislationThe new law makes it almost impossible for Lupin to get a job.
(OP14)

February 14

Valentine's DayLockhart takes it upon himself to whip up a celebration; Harry receives an anonymous [singing valentine].

That night, Harry learns how to work Riddle's diary and travels into his memory, which convinces Harry that Hagrid had opened the Chamber of Secrets.
(CS13)

May 8

The Basilisk petrifies Hermione Granger and Penelope ClearwaterThe Hogwarts [Quidditch Cup] is cancelled.
(CS13)

late May 8

Hagrid is sent to [Azkaban]; [Dumbledore] is removed as headmaster of HogwartsHarry and Ron watch from under the invisibility cloak as Cornelius Fudge and Lucius Malfoy serve the orders.
(CS14)

May 24

Harry and Ron enter the Forbidden Forest and meet Aragog (CS15)

May 29
Harry and Ron discover the Chamber of SecretsThey learn that Ginny Weasley has been taken into the Chamber and go to offer their knowledge to Professor Lockhart. When they discover he's trying to take off, they instead force him to join them - and go through Moaning Myrtle's bathroom down into the Chamber of Secrets.
(CS16)

late May 29

The spirit-form of Voldemort is defeated by Harry Potter in the Chamber of SecretsHarry kills the Basilisk and uses its fang to destroy the diary, therefore destroying Riddle and saving Ginny's life. Gilderoy Lockhart's memory is destroyed when he attempts to [Obliviate] Ron and Harry and get out of the Chamber.

Later that night, the [Petrified] people are restored using [Mandrake Draught].
original artwork © [Agata Matteucci], used by permission
(CS17)

May 30

Dobby the house-elf is freed from service to the [Malfoy family]He is freed when Harry tricks Lucius Malfoy into throwing him a sock.
(CS18)

May 30

Lucius Malfoy is removed from the Board of Governors of HogwartsHagrid and [Dumbledore] return to Hogwarts
(CS18)

June

Gryffindor wins the [House Cup]; no [Quidditch Cup] is awarded (CS18)

circa July

The Granger family vacations in France (PA1)

July

Arthur Weasley wins 700 [Galleons] in a [Daily Prophet] drawingThe Weasley family spends a month in Egypt, visiting Bill.

They leave a week before Harry's birthday and stay until the week before the end of the holidays. They are gone the last week of July and the first three weeks of August.
(PA1)

July 27
[Jo Rowling]'s first daughter, [Jessica Isabel Rowling], is born

circa July 30

Sirius Black escapes from [Azkaban]He escapes by changing into his dog form and swimming back to the mainland.
Very likely the escape happened within a day or two of Harry's birthday, since it shows up on the morning news on the 31st. Sirius saw the photo of the Weasleys during that previous week, on a copy of the [Daily Prophet] Fudge had finished reading. This particular photo had appeared a week before Harry's birthday, which would be on the 24th. Fudge wouldn't be carrying a paper more than a day old, so Black would have proabably seen the picture on that actual day. Given reasonable time for all this to occur, it works out logically that he worried frantically about what to do to protect Harry for several days, was heard moaning "He's at Hogwarts" in his sleep as he agonized over the situation, then finally escaped on the 29th or 30th.
(PA1)

July 31

Harry's 13th birthday; [Aunt Marge] comes for a visit with the [Dursleys]"[Aunt Marge] coming for a week-long visit - it was the worst birthday present the [Dursleys] had ever given him, including that pair of [Uncle Vernon]'s old socks."
(PA2)

August

[Quality Quidditch Supplies] displays the new [Firebolt] [broomstick] (PA4)

August 7

On the last day of [Aunt Marge]'s visit, Harry blows her up and runs awayThe [Knight Bus] picks him up in Magnolia Crescent and drops him off at the [Leaky Cauldron].
(PA2)

after August 7

Harry stays at the [Leaky Cauldron] and spends his days in [Diagon Alley]He does his homework out in the open, eats free ice creams, picks up his [books], and repeatedly stops by [Quality Quidditch Supplies] to admire the [Firebolt].
(PA4)

August 31
Harry meets Hermione and Ron in [Diagon Alley]They are all staying at the [Leaky Cauldron]. Hermione buys Crookshanks.

That night, Harry overhears Mr. and Mrs. Weasley in conversation - and learns that Sirius Black is after him.
(PA4)

September

The [Gryffindor Quidditch team] is looking very promising this year[Oliver Wood] says that "Gryffindor hasn't won for seven years now." He is taking into account the fact that no Cup was awarded last year when he says this (so that it agrees with other such comments in the book, quoted below). The last time Gryffindor won the [Quidditch Cup], then was the 1983-1984 season.

This year's team consists of:

[Oliver Wood], seventh year, [Keeper], Captain
[Angelina Johnson], fifth year, [Chaser]
[Alicia Spinnet], fifth year, [Chaser]
Fred Weasley, fifth year, [Beater]
George Weasley, fifth year, [Beater]
Harry Potter, third year, [Seeker]
Katie Bell, fourth year, Chaser

During Harry's first year, the following comment is made:
"If they won their next match, against Hufflepuff, they would overtake Slytherin in the house championship for the first time in seven years...As the match drew nearer, however, Harry became more and more nervous, whatever he told Ron and Hermione. The rest of the team wasn't too calm, either. The idea of overtaking Slytherin in the house championship was wonderful, no one had done it for seven years, but would they be allowed to, with such a biased referee?"
(PA8)

September 1

Harry and his friends begin their third year at Hogwarts, which is now surrounded by DementorsDementors search the Hogwarts Express while students are on their way to school, making Harry collapse.
(PA5)

September 1

Remus Lupin and Rubeus Hagrid begin their professorships at HogwartsLupin teaches Defence Against the Dark Arts; Hagrid, Care of Magical Creatures.
(PA5)

October 31

Sirius Black breaks into Hogwarts and slashes the Fat Lady in an attempt to find PettigrewEveryone thinks he's after Harry; [Dumbledore] sends all of the students to sleep in the Great Hall overnight. Snape thinks Lupin is helping Sirius sneak into the castle.
(PA8)

November

Harry loses his first-ever [Quidditch] matchThe [Gryffindor Quidditch team] loses to Hufflepuff when Dementors cause Harry to fall off his broom, and Cedric Diggory grabs the Snitch. Harry's Nimbus 2000 is blown into the Whomping Willow and smashed to bits.
(PA9)

circa December 18

End-of-Term trip to [Hogsmeade]Fred and George give Harry the Marauder's Map, which allows him to sneak into [Hogsmeade]. Once there he overhears a conversation among [Hogwarts staff] - and learns that Sirius Black, his godfather, betrayed his parents to Voldemort.
(PA10)

December 25

Christmas - Harry receives a [Firebolt], but McGonagall takes it awayRon and Harry are angry with Hermione for weeks over the fact that she told McGonagall about the [Firebolt].
(PA11)

1994 (Y14) AD = 113 MM = 69 TR = 68 RH = 66 M = 36 BW = 24 CW = 22 PW = 18 FGW = 16 HG = 15 H&R = 14 GW = 13

The [Toyohashi Tengu], the [Quidditch] team from Japan, narrowly misses a win over the [Gorodok Gargoyles]

Toyohashi, Japan, Asia

(QA8)

February

Sirius Black sneaks into Gryffindor Tower in search of Pettigrew

Hogwarts, Gryffindor Tower, Dormitory

Ron\'s screams drive him out, and Ron becomes an instant celebrity. Neville, meanwhile, is completely disgraced when McGonagall figures out he left the Gryffindor Tower passwords lying around.
(PA13)

April 20

Buckbeak's hearingThe [Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures] considers the fate of the Hippogriff and sentences him to death.
(PA15)

June 6

Peter Pettigrew, disguised as Scabbers the rat, is cornered and revealed (PA19)In the Shrieking Shack, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin explain the story of Pettigrew - and the story of the Marauders (PA17, PA18)

Outside the shack, though, it's a full moon - and Lupin transforms into a werewolf. In the confusion, Pettigrew escapes ([PA20]) and spends the next months searching for Voldemort in Albania (GF1).

June 6

Sirius Black escapes from Hogwarts on the back of the Hippogriff BuckbeakBuckbeak is scheduled to be executed at sundown; Sirius Black is captured and held to receive the [Dementor's Kiss].

With [Dumbledore]'s guidance, Harry and Hermione use a [time-turner] to travel back three hours and free Buckbeak. Harry then casts a [Patronus Charm] to save himself and Sirius from the Dementors, and he and Hermione ride Buckbeak to Sirius's rescue.
(PA21)

June 7

Remus Lupin resigns from Hogwarts after it becomes known he is a werewolfSnape "accidentally" lets it slip, the morning after Sirius Black escapes.
(PA22)

after June 7

Gryffindor wins both the [Quidditch Cup] and [House Cup] (PA22)

circa July

Bertha Jorkins, on holiday in Albania, is tortured and then murdered by Pettigrew and Voldemort (GF1)

circa July

[International Confederation of Wizards] conference (GF18)

July 31
Harry's 14th birthdayHe receives loads of food - and four birthday cakes - to help combat [Dudley]'s diet.
(GF2)

early August 20

Voldemort and Wormtail take up residence in the old Riddle house in Little Hangleton[Frank Bryce] is killed, shortly before his 77th birthday.
(GF1)

August 20

Harry Potter wakes up with his scar hurting after seeing [Frank Bryce]'s death in a dream (GF1)

August 22

Final of the 422nd [Quidditch World Cup] - Ireland beats Bulgaria, 170 to 160Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys are in attendance.

That night, Death Eaters raid the campsite and are driven away when [Barty Crouch Jr.] casts the [Dark Mark].
(GF8)

August 23

[Bartemius Crouch] sacks his house-elf, WinkyHe does so after she is found holding the wand which had cast a [Dark Mark].
(GF9)

September 1

Harry and his friends travel to Hogwarts aboard the Hogwarts Express, and begin their fourth yearWe know that they travel to Hogwarts on a Monday because the evening before is identified as a Sunday:

"'It's been an absolute uproar,' Percy told them importantly the Sunday evening before they were due to return to Hogwarts." (GF11)

It's clear from the story that the rest of the events described of that night are taking place the evening before they leave.
(GF11)

September 2

Classes beginDraco Malfoy tries to hex Harry, but is turned into a ferret by Moody. Moody gets into a bit of trouble with McGonagall as a result.
We know that this is also a Monday from this reference at breakfast that day:

"'Today's not bad.. . outside all morning,' said Ron, who was running his finger down the Monday column of his schedule."

UPDATE: This error in the text was fixed in later editions (c. 2004).
(GF13)

September 4

In Defence Against the Dark Arts, Moody shows the [Unforgivable Curses]Neville Longbottom is particularly upset after watching Moody [Crucio] a spider.
(GF14)

October 30

Delegations from [Durmstrang] and [Beauxbatons] arrive at Hogwarts for the [Triwizard Tournament] (GF15)

October 31

The [Goblet of Fire] selects the champions for the [Triwizard Tournament]The champions are [Viktor Krum], Fleur Delacour, Cedric Diggory, and - to everyone's surprise - Harry Potter.
(GF16)

November 21

[Hogsmeade] weekend for Hogwarts studentsLate that night (actually very early the next morning), Hagrid shows Harry the dragons for the first task, and Sirius uses the [Floo Network] to tell Harry about [Karkaroff].
(GF19)

November 24

The [First Task] of the [Triwizard Tournament]The champions take it in turn to try to steal a golden egg from the clutches of a dragon. Harry manages to defeat a nasty Hungarian Horntail dragon to claim his golden egg.
(GF19)

circa December
[Jo Rowling] and her daughter move to Edinburgh, Scotland (JKR)

late December 25

The Yule Ball, 8 PM until midnightHarry and Ron don't have much fun - Harry spends the night jealous of Cedric, who brought Cho Chang, and Ron spends it jealous of [Viktor Krum], who asked Hermione. Meanwhile, Neville attends with Ginny.
(GF23)

1995 (Y15) AD = 114 MM = 70 TR = 69 RH = 67 M = 37 BW = 25 CW = 23 PW = 19 FGW = 17 HG = 16 H&R = 15 GW = 14

January 4

Rita Skeeter's article about Hagrid appears in the [Daily Prophet]Hagrid, revealed to be half-giant, is distraught for days.
(GF24)

February 24

The [Second Task] of the [Triwizard Tournament]Harry swims to rescue Ron from the depths of the lake, where he is being held by merpeople. Hermione is rescued by [Viktor Krum].
(GF26)

June 24

The [Third Task] of the [Triwizard Tournament]Harry races through a maze, and finishes in a first-place tie with Cedric Diggory. When they touch the cup, they are transported to Little Hangleton.
(GF31)

June 24