The 10th century BC
before 1000 BC(Y-2979)
(PA1)
The 8th century BC
c. 753 BC(Y-2732)
Romulus founds Rome
The 4th century BC
382 BC (Y-2361)
(PS5)
The 1st century BC
c. 4 BC(Y-1983)
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Scholars are uncertain of the exact year, but from historical references (and astronomical ones), place Jesus' birth somewhere between 9 and 4 BC.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:
(QA2)
962 (Y-1018)
(QA1)
before 993 (Y-987)
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:
The Chamber of Secrets is created
(CS9)
(QA3)
(QA2)
1014 (Y-966)
1066 (Y-914)
Battle of Hastings; the Norman Conquest of Britain
Additional information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_hastings
1097 (Y-883)
(fw)
The 12th century
1105 (Y-875)
(QA2)
1107 (Y-873)
(QA1)
1112 (Y-868)
1163 (Y-817)
(QA7)
1199 (Y-781)
The 13th century
1202 (Y-778)
1203 (Y-777)
(QA7)
1227 (Y-753)
before 1269 (Y-711)
1269 (Y-711)
(QA4)
1285 (Y-695)
1289 (Y-691)
(CS9)
1291 (Y-689)
1292 (Y-688)
c. 1294 (Y-686)
(GF12)
1296 (Y-684)
The 14th century
Events of this century:
(QA3)

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)
1320 (Y-660)
c. 1326 (Y-654)
(PS13)
c. 1333 (Y-647)
1342 (Y-638)
1357 (Y-623)
1362 (Y-618)
1368 (Y-612)
1379 (Y-601)
1385 (Y-595)
(QA8)
1390 (Y-590)
1391 (Y-589)
1398 (Y-582)
The 15th century
Events of this century:
[Quidditch] spreads to Europe[Ingolfr the Iambic] from Norway and [MalÈcrit] 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)
(QA6)
1402 (Y-578)
1419 (Y-561)
(QA5)
1422 (Y-558)
(QA7)
1429 (Y-551)
(fw)
1430 (Y-550)
(fw)
before 1441 (Y-539)
1441 (Y-539)
1443 (Y-537)
1447 (Y-533)
1448 (Y-532)
[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)
1473 (Y-507)
(QA8)
1483 (Y-497)
1486 (Y-494)
1490 (Y-490)
1492 (Y-488)
(fw)

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:
[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)
1508 (Y-472)
1520 (Y-460)
1533 (Y-447)
1535 (Y-445)
(fw)
1538 (Y-442)
1539 (Y-441)
1555 (Y-425)
1556 (Y-424)
1557 (Y-423)
1558 (Y-422)
Elizabeth Tudor QueenedShe becomes Elizabeth I, Queen of England upon the death of her half-sister Mary
1560 (Y-420)
1564 (Y-416)
1566 (Y-414)
(fw)
1568 (Y-412)
(fw)
1588 (Y-392)
The 17th century
Events of this century:
[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)
[Quidditch] is introduced to North AmericaUnfortunately its introduction also breeds a lot of anti-wizard sentiment.
(QA8)
(QA8)
1602 (Y-378)
1603 (Y-377)
Elizabeth I, Queen of England, diesJames Stuart, King of Scotland, becomes James I of England.
1612 (Y-368)
(fw)
1616 (Y-364)
1620 (Y-360)
1623 (Y-357)
1629 (Y-351)
1632 (Y-348)
1634 (Y-346)
1637 (Y-343)
1639 (Y-341)
(fw)
1642 (Y-338)
1652 (Y-328)
(QA8)
1656 (Y-324)
1659 (Y-321)
1665 (Y-315)
1666 (Y-314)
(fw)
1674 (Y-306)
(QA7)
1677 (Y-303)
1687 (Y-293)
1692 (Y-288)
(FB)
1698 (Y-282)
(fw)
1699 (Y-281)
(fw)
The 18th century
Events of this century:
(QA8)
1703 (Y-277)
1709 (Y-271)

(PS14)
1711 (Y-269)
1720 (Y-260)
1722 (Y-258)
1729 (Y-251)
1741 (Y-239)
(OP22)
1742 (Y-238)
1743 (Y-237)
1749 (Y-231)
(OP31)
1750 (Y-230)
(FB)
1754 (Y-226)
(fw)
1761 (Y-219)
1762 (Y-218)
1768 (Y-212)
1769 (Y-211)
1770 (Y-210)
1782 (Y-198)
(FB)
1791 (Y-189)
1792 (Y-188)
(GF15)
1794 (Y-186)
1795 (Y-185)
1798 (Y-182)
1799 (Y-181)
(fw)
(FB)
The 19th century
Events of this century:
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)
(FB)
1803 (Y-177)
1805 (Y-175)
1810 (Y-170)
(fw)
1811 (Y-169)
(FB)
1812 (Y-168)
1820 (Y-160)
1823 (Y-157)
1824 (Y-156)
(FB)
1825 (Y-155)
1829 (Y-151)
The similarity of names and the year of her birth suggest that [Leopoldina] may be the daughter of [Elliot Smethwyck].
(fw)
1836 (Y-144)
(fw)
1839 (Y-141)
(fw)
c. 1844 (Y-136)

original artwork © 2001 [Alice Wack], used by permission
(BN)
1845 (Y-135)
(fw)
1847 (Y-133)
1850 (Y-130)
1853 (Y-127)
c. 1855 (Y-125)
Determined by adding eleven years to [Dumbledore]'s birthyear
(BN)
1862 (Y-118)
[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)
1874 (Y-106)
1875 (Y-105)
1877 (Y-103)
(fw)
1879 (Y-101)
(QA8)
1881 (Y-99) AD = 0
1882 (Y-98) AD = 1
1883 (Y-97) AD = 2
1884 (Y-96) AD = 3
(QA6)
(QA6)
1886 (Y-94) AD = 5
(BFT)
1888 (Y-92) AD = 7
(fw)
1889 (Y-91) AD = 8
1892 (Y-88) AD = 11
(QA7)
1893 (Y-87) AD = 12
1894 (Y-86) AD = 13
(QA7)
1897 (Y-83) AD = 16
1899 (Y-81) AD = 18
The 1900s
Events of this decade:
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
1901 (Y-79) AD = 20
1902 (Y-78) AD = 21
(fw)
1903 (Y-77) AD = 22
1904 (Y-76) AD = 23
1906 (Y-74) AD = 25
(BFT)
1907 (Y-73) AD = 26
(HBP13)
The 1910s
1910 (Y-70) AD = 29
1911 (Y-69) AD = 30
(fw)
1912 (Y-68) AD = 31
(BFT)
1915 (Y-65) AD = 34
(fw)
(BFT)
1917 (Y-63) AD = 36
[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)
1918 (Y-62) AD = 37
(FB)
1919 (Y-61) AD = 38
The 1920s
1920 (Y-60) AD = 39
(BFT)
1921 (Y-59) AD = 40
(QA7)
1922 (Y-58) AD = 41
c. 1925 (Y-55)

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
(BFT)
[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)
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
(QA9)
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)
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)
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)
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
1928 (Y-52) AD = 47 MM = 3 TR = 2 RH = 0
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)
1929 (Y-51) AD = 48 MM = 4 TR = 3 RH = 1
(QA9)
The 1930s
c. 1931 (Y-49)
(GF34)
1931 (Y-49) AD = 50 MM = 6 TR = 5 RH = 3
1932 (Y-48) AD = 51 MM = 7 TR = 6 RH = 4
(FB)
(QA7)
1934 (Y-46) AD = 53 MM = 9 TR = 8 RH = 6
1935 (Y-45) AD = 54 MM = 10 TR = 9 RH = 7
(QA9)
c. 1937 (Y-43)
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
1938 (Y-42) AD = 57 MM = 13 TR = 12 RH = 10
[Dumbledore] visits Tom Riddle in the [orphanage] and offers him a place at Hogwarts (HBP13)
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
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:
[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).
[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
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)
This happened somewhere between Hagrid starting at Hogwarts in the fall of 1940, and his expulsion in the spring of 1943.
(CS)
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
Attack on Pearl Harbor
1942 (Y-38) AD = 61 MM = 17 TR = 16 RH = 14
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
(BFT)
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)
Myrtle, a Hogwarts student, dies in a second floor bathroom after seeing the Basilisk (CS16)
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)
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).
Rubeus Hagrid is expelled from HogwartsHe is expelled after being accused of opening the Chamber of Secrets.
(CS17)
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]).
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)
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)
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)
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
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
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)
World War Two ends
c. 1947 (Y-33)

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)
(HBP20)
1947 (Y-33) AD = 66 MM = 22 TR = 21 RH = 19
(QA7)
(FB)
1949 (Y-31) AD = 68 MM = 24 TR = 23 RH = 21
The 1950s
Events of this decade:
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
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)
1952 (Y-28) AD = 71 MM = 27 TR = 26 RH = 24
(QA)
1953 (Y-27) AD = 72 MM = 28 TR = 27 RH = 25
(QA7)
1954 (Y-26) AD = 73 MM = 29 TR = 28 RH = 26
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
c. 1956 (Y-24)
(PA18)
(GF27)
1956 (Y-24) AD = 75 MM = 31 TR = 30 RH = 28
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)
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
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)
(QA7)
1958 (Y-22) AD = 77 MM = 33 TR = 32 RH = 30 M = 0
(QA7)
c. 1959 (Y-21)
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
(BFT)
The 1960s
Events of this decade:
(QA2)
(QA7)
1960 (Y-20) AD = 79 MM = 35 TR = 34 RH = 32 M = 2
1961 (Y-19) AD = 80 MM = 36 TR = 35 RH = 33 M = 3
c. 1962 (Y-18)
1962 (Y-18) AD = 81 MM = 37 TR = 36 RH = 34 M = 4
1963 (Y-17) AD = 82 MM = 38 TR = 37 RH = 35 M = 5
(FB)
1965 (Y-15) AD = 84 MM = 40 TR = 39 RH = 37 M = 7
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
1967 (Y-13) AD = 86 MM = 42 TR = 41 RH = 39 M = 9
(QA9)
1968 (Y-12) AD = 87 MM = 43 TR = 42 RH = 40 M = 10
[Sturgis Podmore] starts his first year at HogwartsThis follows from his birthday in 1957 [[Y-23]].
c. 1969 (Y-11)
(HBP5)
The 1970s
Events of this decade:
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
(QA8)
c. 1970 (Y-10)
(PA18)
This is based on Lupin's birthyear.
(PA18)
"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)

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 DellerÈ], used by permission
1970 (Y-10) AD = 89 MM = 45 TR = 44 RH = 42 M = 12 BW = 0
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.
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
[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
(QA7)
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)
1973 (Y-7) AD = 92 MM = 48 TR = 47 RH = 45 M = 15 BW = 3 CW = 1
(FB)
c. 1974 (Y-6)
Sirius says in OP6 that ran away from home when he was about sixteen.
(OP6)
(PA18)
1974 (Y-6) AD = 93 MM = 49 TR = 48 RH = 46 M = 16 BW = 4 CW = 2
c. 1975 (Y-5)
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)
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)
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
c. 1976 (Y-4)
(PS9)
1976 (Y-4) AD = 95 MM = 51 TR = 50 RH = 48 M = 18 BW = 6 CW = 4 PW = 0
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)
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.
1977 (Y-3) AD = 96 MM = 52 TR = 51 RH = 49 M = 19 BW = 7 CW = 5 PW = 1
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)
[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)
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
(QA9)
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)
(PA13)
1979 (Y-1) AD = 98 MM = 54 TR = 53 RH = 51 M = 21 BW = 9 CW = 7 PW = 3 FGW = 1 HG = 0
"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)
(BFT)
(FB)
Gwenog Jones starts her first year at HogwartsShe soon becomes a favorite of Horace Slughorn, the Potions Master
(HBP6)
The 1980s
Events of this decade:
c. 1980 (Y0)
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
It is stated in [Karkaroff]'s scene in the Pensieve that he was apprehended just before [Rosier]'s death.
(GF30)
We know from Sirius Black that this happened "the year before Voldemort fell" (GF27).
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.
[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.

Harry Potter is bornSirius Black becomes his godfather.
original artwork © [Clio Chiang], used by permission
(PS2)
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
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.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
(PA18)
c. 1982 (Y2)
(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
Bill Weasley starts his first year at Hogwarts (JKR) - he is sorted into Gryffindor (PS6)
[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)
"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
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
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)
"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
[Aunt Marge] comes to [Dudley]'s fifth birthday partyShe whacks Harry around the shins to keep him from beating [Dudley] at musical statues.
(PA2)
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
(QA8)
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
(fw)
(FB)
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)
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
[Aunt Marge] comes to [Dudley]'s eighth birthday partyShe brings a computerized robot for [Dudley] and a box of dog biscuits for Harry.
(PA2)
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
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.
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.
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 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
(BFT)
[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.
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.
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)
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
The Nimbus 2000 [broomstick] is releasedA display model appears in the window of [Quality Quidditch Supplies].
(PS5)
Slytherin wins both the [Quidditch Cup] and the [House Cup] (PS7, PS13)They "flatten" Gryffindor in the final [Quidditch] match, according to McGonagall (PS9).
[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)
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)
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)
Just after midnight, Hagrid arrives at the hut-on-the-rockHe brings Harry a birthday cake and invites him to Hogwarts.
(PS4)

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)
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.
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)
[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)

Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Draco Malfoy, and their classmates travel by way of the Hogwarts Express to Hogwarts.
(PS6)
[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)
Harry begins his classes at Hogwarts
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.
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.
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)
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)
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)
Harry receives James Potter's Invisibility Cloak as a Christmas present from [Dumbledore] (PS12)
[Harry] discovers the [Mirror of Erised] and sees his family for the first timeOn the official timeline, this is 1991. 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
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)
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)
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)
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)
End of Term FeastGryffindor wins the [House Cup], but not the [Quidditch Cup], which goes to Slytherin.
(PS17)
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)
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).
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Colin Creevey is Petrified by the BasiliskThe next morning, Ron and Hermione start working on brewing [Polyjuice Potion].
(CS10)
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)
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)
Mr and Mrs Weasley visit Bill in Egypt
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)
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
(QA8)
(OP14)
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)
The Basilisk petrifies Hermione Granger and Penelope ClearwaterThe Hogwarts [Quidditch Cup] is cancelled.
(CS13)
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)
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)

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)
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)
Lucius Malfoy is removed from the Board of Governors of HogwartsHagrid and [Dumbledore] return to Hogwarts
(CS18)
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)
[Jo Rowling]'s first daughter, [Jessica Isabel Rowling], is born
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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
"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)
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)
Remus Lupin and Rubeus Hagrid begin their professorships at HogwartsLupin teaches Defence Against the Dark Arts; Hagrid, Care of Magical Creatures.
(PA5)
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)
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)
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)
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
Sirius Black sneaks into Gryffindor Tower in search of Pettigrew
(PA13)
Buckbeak's hearingThe [Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures] considers the fate of the Hippogriff and sentences him to death.
(PA15)
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).
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)
Remus Lupin resigns from Hogwarts after it becomes known he is a werewolfSnape "accidentally" lets it slip, the morning after Sirius Black escapes.
(PA22)
Bertha Jorkins, on holiday in Albania, is tortured and then murdered by Pettigrew and Voldemort (GF1)
Harry's 14th birthdayHe receives loads of food - and four birthday cakes - to help combat [Dudley]'s diet.
(GF2)
Voldemort and Wormtail take up residence in the old Riddle house in Little Hangleton[Frank Bryce] is killed, shortly before his 77th birthday.
(GF1)
Harry Potter wakes up with his scar hurting after seeing [Frank Bryce]'s death in a dream (GF1)
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)
[Bartemius Crouch] sacks his house-elf, WinkyHe does so after she is found holding the wand which had cast a [Dark Mark].
(GF9)
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)
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)
In Defence Against the Dark Arts, Moody shows the [Unforgivable Curses]Neville Longbottom is particularly upset after watching Moody [Crucio] a spider.
(GF14)
Delegations from [Durmstrang] and [Beauxbatons] arrive at Hogwarts for the [Triwizard Tournament] (GF15)
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)
[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)
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)
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
Rita Skeeter's article about Hagrid appears in the [Daily Prophet]Hagrid, revealed to be half-giant, is distraught for days.
(GF24)
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)
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)
Voldemort kidnaps Harry Potter and Cedric DiggoryCedric is killed by Wormtail using Voldemort's wand. Voldemort is restored to his body in an ancient ceremony (GF32). The Death Eaters are called back to him and they gather (GF33). Voldemort and Harry then duel, and Harry manages to escape with Cedric's body (GF34).
Back at Hogwarts, it is revealed that [Barty Crouch Jr.], impersonating Moody all year, led Harry to Voldemort (GF35).
Cornelius Fudge and [Albus Dumbledore] choose different pathsFudge hides his head in the sand, while [Dumbledore] begins to call together those he can trust to fight Voldemort.
(GF36)
No [Quidditch Cup] is awarded this year; there is no mention of who wins the [House Cup] (GF37)
The Cleansweep Eleven is releasedRon Weasley learns that this [broomstick] has come on the market. He later asks for and receives one as a gift for being made [Prefect].
(OP9)
Harry Potter's 15th birthdayHe receives [Honeydukes] chocolate from Ron and Hermione, but throws it away unopened out of frustration with the situation
(OP1)
At some point during the day, [Dudley Dursley] beats up 10-year-old neighbour [Mark Evans] for "cheek" (OP1)
Dementors attack [Dudley] and Harry; Harry drives them off with a [Patronus Charm] (OP1)The Dementors, we find out later, had been sent by [Dolores Umbridge] (OP32).
The [Ministry of Magic] - and the Order of the Phoenix - react to Harry's [Patronus Charm]Mrs. Figg reveals her identity to Harry; Mundungus Fletcher arrives and is sent to report to [Dumbledore]. The [Improper Use of Magic Office] atttempts to expel Harry from Hogwarts, but [Dumbledore] arrives at the [Ministry] and forces them to comply with the letter of the law.
(OP2)
Harry leaves Privet Drive and flies to [number twelve, Grimmauld Place]The [Dursleys] depart for what they believe to be the prize-giving of the All-England Best-Kept Suburban Lawn Competition.
The Advance Guard - "Mad-Eye" Moody, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, [Kingsley Shacklebolt], Elphias Doge, Dedalus Diggle, [Emmeline Vance], [Sturgis Podmore], and [Hestia Jones] - arrive at [number four, Privet Drive] to escort Harry to [number twelve, Grimmauld Place] (OP3). Once there, Harry learns about the Order of the Phoenix, and Voldemort's current actions.
Later that night, Harry dreams about studying weapons in Care of Magical Creatures (OP6).
Mundungus Fletcher attempts to stash some dodgy [cauldrons] at [number twelve, Grimmauld Place] (OP6)
Harry's disciplinary hearing in old [Courtroom Ten]He sees the [Department of Mysteries] corridor in the waking world for the first time (OP7).
- 0530 Harry wakes up (OP7).
- 0600 [Dumbledore] 'by a lucky mistake' arrives at the [Ministry], three hours before the scheduled time of 0900 (OP8).
- 0800 Harry's disciplinary hearing begins in old [Courtroom Ten], the time and venue having been changed without his receiving notification (OP8).
- Harry empties his moneybag into the [Fountain of Magical Brethren] after his acquittal (OP9).
The [Ministry of Magic] passes [Educational Decree] 22This decree allows the [Ministry] to appoint a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor - [Dolores Umbridge] - since [Dumbledore] has not yet found one.
(OP12)
Ron and Hermione receive notification about their appointment as new [Prefects]Molly Weasley buys Ron's Cleansweep Eleven. That night, Harry first sees Moody's old photograph of the 1970s Order of the Phoenix and Harry, Lupin, and Moody learn about Molly's Boggart.
(OP9)
A busy day as students make their way to Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts
- 0100 [Sturgis Podmore] arrested at the [Ministry] by [Eric Munch] (OP14).
- 1100 Hogwarts Express departs King's Cross Station. Ginny introduces Harry and Neville to Luna Lovegood (OP10).
- After the train arrives at Hogwarts, Harry sees Thestrals for the first time (OP10).
- At the feast, the Sorting Hat sings a song of warning, and [Dolores Umbridge] is introduced (OP11).
- Seamus Finnigan admits he believes Harry is lying (OP11).
Classes beginRon confronts Cho Chang about the [Tutshill Tornados], after which Hermione tells him off (OP12). From this point on, Hermione tends to drag Ron out of the way when Cho wants to talk with Harry.
Harry is given a week's worth of detentions by [Umbridge] and a biscuit by McGonagall (OP12).
Hermione stops most of Fred and George's testing by putting them on notice that she'll report them to their mother otherwise. She also starts planting clothes in Gryffindor Tower for house-elves (OP13).
Second day of classHarry gets public support from Luna Lovegood and [Ernie Macmillan], while [Angelina] appears to be channeling [Oliver Wood]'s spirit. At 5 p.m., Harry's first detention with [Umbridge] begins.
(OP13)
At 5 p.m., Harry's third detention with [Umbridge] begins, ending about 2 hours laterHarry then encounters Ron, who learns the full truth about the detentions as Harry learns about Ron's private [Keeper] practices.
(OP13)
At 5 p.m., both the Gryffindor [Keeper] tryouts and Harry's fourth detention with [Umbridge] beginHarry's detention lasts until after nightfall. Ron Weasley is selected as Gryffindor's [Keeper].
(OP13)

On the first [Hogsmeade] weekend, Harry and Hermione found the D.A.Hermione invites interested students to the [Hog's Head], and twenty-eight people show up.
(OP16)
The first meeting of Dumbledore's ArmyThanks to a tip from Dobby, they find a place to meet - the Room of Requirement - and spend the first lesson working on [Expelliarmus].
(OP18)
The first [Quidditch] match of the season: Gryffindor vs. SlytherinThe Slytherins invent a song, "Weasley is Our King," to unnerve Ron, who promptly falls apart during the match. Gryffindor still wins when Harry beats Malfoy to the Snitch.
After the match Harry goes after Malfoy for taunting him and he, along with Fred and George Weasley, are banned from playing again by [Umbridge].
(OP19)
Mr. Weasley is attacked by a snake while guarding the [Department of Mysteries]Harry sees the attack in a dream and he, along with Ron, Fred, George, and Ginny, is transported back to Grimmauld Place. After a long, anxious night, they walk to [St. Mungo's] to visit Arthur the next morning.
(OP21)
Christmas Day - the Order visits Mr. Weasley in [St. Mungo's]There, Harry, Ron, and Hermione also run into Lockhart, along with Neville, who is visiting his parents.
(OP22)
1996 (Y16) AD = 115 MM = 71 TR = 70 RH = 68 M = 38 BW = 26 CW = 24 PW = 20 FGW = 18 HG = 17 H&R = 16 GW = 15
Valentine's DayHarry's first date with Cho Chang (the complete fiasco), followed by Rita's interview of Harry for [The Quibbler].
(OP25)
The D.A. is caughtMarietta Edgecombe squeals on the D.A. to [Umbridge]. Rather than let Harry get expelled,[Dumbledore] takes the fall instead and is removed from Hogwarts. Unwilling to "go quietly," he instead makes a dramatic escape.
"As the door swung closed behind them, Harry heard Phineas Nigellus's voice.
'You know, Minister, I disagree with [Dumbledore] on many counts...but you cannot deny he's got style....'"
(OP27)
Harry takes his [O.W.L.s], but they are interrupted by a vision of Sirius being tortured (OP31)After a delay trying to contact Grimmauld Place and being caught by [Umbridge] (OP32), Harry takes off for the [Ministry of Magic Headquarters] to find Sirius. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Luna come along (OP33). Snape, meanwhile, sends word to the Order of the Phoenix that the kids have gone (OP37).
The Battle of the [Department of Mysteries]A pitched battle is fought between members of the D.A., a group of Death Eaters, and members of the Order of the Phoenix. Sirius Black is killed and many others are wounded (OP35). When Voldemort himself arrives and battles [Dumbledore] in the Atrium, Fudge is forced to admit that Voldemort has indeed returned and remove [Umbridge] from Hogwarts (OP36). [Dumbledore] returns to Hogwarts and reveals to Harry the contents of Trelawney's first [prophecy] (OP37).
Gryffindor wins the [Quidditch Cup]No mention of who wins the [House Cup], but it probably wasn't Gryffindor.
(OP30)
With Voldemort out in the open, the second war beginsIt's a busy two weeks:
- When [Minister for Magic] Cornelius Fudge refuses to step aside for Voldemort, the Brockdale Bridge is destroyed, killing dozens of Muggles.
- Amelia Bones, Head of [Magical Law Enforcement], and [Emmeline Vance], a member of the Order of the Phoenix, are murdered - the former by Voldemort himself.
- Destruction in Somerset is reported; Muggles suspect a hurricane, but it was probably the work of giants working for Voldemort.
- Dementors are breeding, causing cool weather and persistent mist across Britain.
- Cornelius Fudge is sacked and Rufus Scrimgeour, Head of the [Aurors], takes his place.
- A Junior Minister in the Muggle government, [Herbert Chorley], has a bad reaction to an [Imperius Curse] and thinks he's a duck. He is spirited away to St Mungo's] and [Kingsley Shacklebolt] takes a position as a secretary to the Muggle [Prime Minister] to guard him.
- Fudge visits the Muggle [Prime Minister] and introduces the him to Scrimgeour.
- Voldemort is furious with the failure of his Death Eaters to retrieve the [prophecy]. He assigns Draco Malfoy the task of killing [Dumbledore], at least in part to punish Lucius's failure, since Draco will almost certainly be killed.
- Narcissa Malfoy, followed by her sister Bellatrix, visits Severus Snape in his house on Spinner's End and get him to take the [Unbreakable Vow] that he will protect and Draco and, if necessary, kill [Dumbledore] for him.
- Harry spends two weeks at [number four, Privet Drive].
[Dumbledore] visits Privet Drive and takes Harry to the [Burrow]On the way, they stop by Budleigh Babberton and convince Horace Slughorn to return to Hogwarts and teach Potions.
(HBP3)
Harry's 16th birthdayHarry celebrates at the [Burrow], but the celebrations are marred by reports of Dementor attacks and disappearances brought home by Arthur, Bill, and Lupin.
(HBP6)
Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys visit a much-changed [Diagon Alley]There they have a run-in with Draco and Narcissa Malfoy in [Madam Malkin's], visit [Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes], and follow Draco to [Borgin and Burkes], where they overhear him threatening Mr. Borgin.
This happened the Saturday following Harry's birthday. According to the calendar used by the rest of the book, this day would be August 3.
(HBP6)
On Harry's first day of class, he receives the Half-Blood Prince's old Potions bookSnape tries to jinx Harry in Defence Against the Dark Arts, but he excells in Potions and wins a bottle of [Felix Felicis].
The date for the first day of school is never given in this book, but we know from previous books that the Hogwarts Express has every year left for start of term on September 1, so this is probably a safe assumption.
(HBP9)
Harry has his first one-on-one lesson with [Dumbledore]They view [Bob Ogden]'s memory of the Gaunt house, and discuss the circumstances surrounding Voldemort's birth.
Again the exact date is uncertain, but we know that this lesson is the Saturday immediately following the first day of classes (HBP9), so it is most likely September 7.
(HBP10)
Harry's second lesson with [Dumbledore]Together they view [Dumbledore]'s memory of going to meet young Tom Riddle at his [orphanage] (HBP13).
We know from HBP12 that this lesson falls roughly "halfway through October."
The [Gryffindor Quidditch team] wins its first matchThe team wins largely thanks to Harry, who pretended to give Ron [Felix Felicis] before the game to bolster his confidence.
After the game, Ron and Lavender get together, much to Hermione's dismay.
There is no mention of what day this happened, but it was probably somewhere around early November.
(HBP14)

Slughorn's Christmas partyHarry attends with Luna Lovegood; Hermione brings [Cormac McLaggen] to annoy Ron.
During the party, Harry follows Snape and Malfoy and overhears them talking about the [Unbreakable Vow].
(HBP17)
Rufus Scrimgeour visits the [Burrow] on Christmas DayHe shows up under the pretense of Percy wanting to see his family. It soon becomes apparent, however, that what he actually wants is to ask Harry to support the [Ministry]. Harry refuses to help him and walks away.
(HBP16)
1997 (Y17) AD = 116 MM = 72 TR = 71 RH = 69 M = 39 BW = 27 CW = 25 PW = 21 FGW = 19 HG = 18 H&R = 17 GW = 16
Harry's third lesson with [Dumbledore]Harry and [Dumbledore] together watch the memory of Tom Riddle returning to the Gaunt house and a fuzzy memory of Riddle asking Professor Slughorn about Horcruxes.
This happened the first day back from the Christmas holidays, and a "few days after New Year." On the HBP calendar, this is Monday, January 6.
(HBP17)
Ron's seventeenth birthdayShortly after waking up, Ron accidentally has some of [Romilda Vane]'s [love potion] - and after Slughorn provides him with an antidote, he inadvertently poisons Ron as well. Fortunately, Harry reacts quickly and gives Ron a bezoar, saving his life.
(HBP18)
Harry's fourth lesson with [Dumbledore]Harry arrives at his lesson with [Dumbledore] having forgotten to do his homework and get the full memory from Slughorn. They watch several memories, including Voldemort's applying to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts, and [Dumbledore] warns Harry that further lessons will be useless without the memory from Slughorn.
(HBP20)
Horace Slughorn finally gives up his memory to Harry - thanks to [Felix Felicis] (HBP22)He races to [Dumbledore]'s study at midnight and together they watch the full memory, discussing Voldemort, Horcruxes, and the [prophecy] - along with how Harry is going to react to all three (HBP23).
We know this happens on April 21 because [Apparition] tests were the same day, and the sign posted in the Gryffindor common room in HBP21 specified the date. This works well with our calendar, too; the 21st is a Monday, we already know from HBP9 that Harry has Potions on Mondays, and most of his lessons with [Dumbledore] have happened on Mondays as well.
Harry uses the [Sectumsempra] curse on MalfoySnape quickly arrives to heal Malfoy, but Harry lands in detention every Saturday for the rest of the year.
(HBP24)
Harry serves his first detention with Snape; meanwhile, Gryffindor wins the [Quidditch Cup]Harry returns to Gryffindor Tower after his detention to find a massive celebration - and immediately kisses Ginny in front of everybody.
(JKR)
Harry and [Dumbledore] retrieve the fake Horcrux from inside Voldemort's sea [cave]We are given no indication of the date, except that it's June.
(HBP26)
The Battle of The TowerWhile [Dumbledore] is away, a gang of [Death Eaters], led by [Draco Malfoy], sneaks into [Hogwarts] through the [vanishing cabinet] in the [Room of Requirement]. They battle the [Order of the Phoenix], and when [Dumbledore] and [Harry] return, Dumbledore freezes Harry and [Draco] arrives to [Disarm] [Dumbledore] ([HBP27]).
After a standoff, [Snape] arrives and kills [Dumbledore], and the [Death Eaters] flee the school. [Harry] then discovers that the [locket] is not the real [Horcrux], but rather that it was replaced by a fake one from [R.A.B.] ([HBP28]).
[McGonagall], now acting as headmaster, meets with the [Order] and with the [heads of houses], determining that students will be allowed to stay for [Dumbledore]\'s funeral ([HBP29]).
[Dumbledore]'s funeralMuch of the British Wizarding World comes to Hogwarts to bid farewell to the "greatest headmaster Hogwarts ever had."
After rejecting Scrimgeour again and breaking ties with Ginny, Harry walks off with Ron and Hermione. He pledges to find the Horcruxes himself, and they pledge to stand with him the whole time.
(HBP30)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is publishedIt is published only in Britain until the following year.
Battle of the Seven Potters
The [Order of the Phoenix] attempts to release Harry from [Privet Drive] only to be ambushed by [Death Eaters]. An aerial battle ensues which ranges over the southern counties of England between [Little Whinging] and the [Burrow].
The Wedding
[Fleur Delacour] and [Bill Weasley] get married. The reception is broken up by a [Death Eater] attack.
Story of the Locket Revealed
New Hogwarts Headmaster
With Death Eaters in control of the Ministry, Severus Snape becomes headmaster of Hogwarts.
The Infiltration of the Ministry
Harry, Ron, and Hermione use Polyjuice Potion to impersonate Ministry Employees. They recover a Horcrux and make a narrow escape.
1998 (Y18) AD = 117 MM = 73 TR = 72 RH = 70 M = 40 BW = 28 CW = 26 PW = 22 FGW = 20 HG = 19 H&R = 18 GW = 17
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is publishedIt will not be released in the U.S. until the following year.
1999 (Y19) AD = 118 MM = 74 TR = 73 RH = 71 M = 41 BW = 29 CW = 27 PW = 23 FGW = 21 HG = 20 H&R = 19 GW = 18
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is publishedIt is not released in the U.S. until October.
Mugglenet debutsThe website comes online in the fall of 1999.
The 2000s
2000 (Y20) AD = 119 MM = 75 TR = 74 RH = 72 M = 42 BW = 30 CW = 28 PW = 24 FGW = 22 HG = 21 H&R = 20 GW = 19
The Leaky Cauldron debutsIt appears online shortly before the release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
[The Harry Potter Lexicon] is created[Steve Vander Ark] is the site's only staff member for three years.
Harry Potter for Grown-Ups is foundedThe online group now has over 20,000 members and is well past its 150,000th post.
[The Harry Potter Lexicon] appears on Yahoo! and chosen as a USA Today "featured site"
2001 (Y21) AD = 120 MM = 76 TR = 75 RH = 73 M = 43 BW = 31 CW = 29 PW = 25 FGW = 23 HG = 22 H&R = 21 GW = 20
The Muggle edition of [Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them] is published[Rowling] writes the book as though it is Harry Potter's copy of his class textbook - complete with notes scrawled in the margins. As with [Quidditch Through the Ages], all proceeds go to [Comic Relief U.K.].
The Muggle edition of [Quidditch Through the Ages] is published[Rowling] publishes the book - written as though it is a copy of the Hogwarts library book by the same name - with all proceeds going to [Comic Relief U.K.].
Immeritus debutsThe web site, devoted to the character Sirius Black, first appears online.
[Jo Rowling] marries [Dr. Neil Murray]
2002 (Y22) AD = 121 MM = 77 TR = 76 RH = 74 M = 44 BW = 32 CW = 30 PW = 26 FGW = 24 HG = 23 H&R = 22 GW = 21
HPANA debutsThe Harry Potter Automatic News Aggregator first appears online.
2003 (Y23) AD = 122 MM = 78 TR = 77 RH = 75 M = 45 BW = 33 CW = 31 PW = 27 FGW = 25 HG = 24 H&R = 23 GW = 22
[David Gordon Rowling Murray] is born to [Jo Rowling] and [Neil Murray]
[Steve Vander Ark] appears on the Today showHe appears shortly after the release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Nimbus 2003, the first Harry Potter fan convention, opens in Orlando, FloridaIt lasts four days, through July 20th.
2004 (Y24) AD = 123 MM = 79 TR = 78 RH = 76 M = 46 BW = 34 CW = 32 PW = 28 FGW = 26 HG = 25 H&R = 24 GW = 23
New JKR.com launchesJKRowling.com, Rowling's official website reopens as a new and improved site, with 4 original [Scrapbook] extras, 12 Rumours, 3 News articles
1st FAQ Poll open for voting
Wizard of the Month, May 2004, Felix Summerbee
FanSite Award:
(JKR)
Wizard of the Month, June 2004: Gwenog JonesFan Site Award: Godric's Hollow
This site has since been removed from JKR's archive, and is no longer a functioning website.
(JKR)
JKR.com site updateRowling updates site with 2 News articles, 3 Rumours, several FAQ's.
(JKR)
Site of the DayJKRowling.com wins the Favorite Websites Award Site of the Day for 8 June 2004.
Door opens for the first time.The Do Not Disturb Door opens for the first time: Brick Wall Puzzle, revealing the title to [book six].
Fan Site Award: The Harry Potter [Lexicon] !
2 Rumours
(JKR)
JKR.com Daily News UpdateRowling confirms the title of [book six] in the News section.
(JKR)
1st FAQ Poll answeredRowling reveals that there is nothing particularly interesting about Mark Evans, much to everyone's surprise.
(JKR)
Happy Birthday Neville LongbottomThis was the first birthday wish to appear on the Wizard of the Month calendar.
(JKR)
Convention Alley, the first Canadian fan conference, opens in Ottawa, OntarioIt runs through August 1 at the University of Ottawa.
Door opens for the second timeDoor opens for the second time with dart board and Gringotts safe puzzles revealing HBP excerpt.
Many new things on [ExtraStuff] bulletin board, FAQís answered
(JKR)
JKR.com site update: Marble and Rubbish Bin addedMarble, Gum wrapper Portkey (Rubbish bin) added to desktop,
FAQís answered
3 new [Scrapbook] extras (Marble, Potion #2, phone PEEVES),
(JKR)
2nd FAQ Poll answeredand other FAQs, Minesweeper update in ExtraStuff- Misc., Rubbish
(JKR)
Post Script (P.S.) to previous day's updatea P.S. was added to the FAQ Poll answer posted the day before, and another FAQ as a clarification about Colin's camera.
(JKR)
Door opens for the third timewith flying keys, magnifying glass & riddle puzzles revealing 3 HBP chapter titles.
(JKR)
JKR.com site decorated for ChristmasChristmas decorations appeared around the site.
Wizard of the Month, December 2004: [Ignatia Wildsmith]
(JKR)
3rd FAQ Poll, Site Update, FSA: HPANAMajor Update: Rumours, News, Rubbish, ExtraStuff, FAQ's
3rd FAQ Poll
Fan Site Award:
(JKR)
Door opens for the fourth timewith Christmas trees and "present riddles", revealing a Christmas Card from Jo saying that HBP is finished.
(JKR)
JKR.com site update: News and RumoursUpdate in News and Rumours regarding HBP release date, which was announced previous day.
(JKR)
Glitch: Blue candyFor several hours on Christmas Day a glitch with the Advent Calendar in the [ExtraStuff] screen showed only a giant blue candy.
This was dubbed in the fandom as the "Blue Candy of Doom".
(JKR)
2005 (Y25) AD = 124 MM = 80 TR = 79 RH = 77 M = 47 BW = 35 CW = 33 PW = 29 FGW = 27 HG = 26 H&R = 25 GW = 24
Wizard of the Month, January 2005: [Derwent Shimpling]Date on Biography journal changed to 2005
Archive pages are all blank, a glitch due to the year date change.
(JKR)
[Mackenzie Jean Rowling Murray] is born to [Jo Rowling] and [Neil Murray]
Owls entry editedJo rewrites and changes the Owls entry in [ExtraStuff] - Miscellaneous posted the previous day.
(JKR)
News article editedAn error was corrected in the Daily News article. The mistyped initials HPB were replaced with the full title, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
(JKR)
Wizard of the Month, May 2005, Felix SummerbeeThis is the same WotM that appeared for May the previous year. Some have speculated that it was a glitch and that Elfrida Clagg (WotM for June) should have appeared. But this would have broken the male/female alternation, and perhaps it was a conscious decision, given that old Felix only appeared for half a month when the site launched on the 15th of May the first year.
(JKR)
JKR.com site update, Fansite Award: TLCUpdates in Rumours, News and FAQs.
FanSite Award:
(JKR)
Accio 2005, the first European fan conference, opens in Reading, United KingdomIt runs through July 31 at the University of Reading.
Happy Birthday Harry Potter and Jo's 40th!In honor of Jo's special birthday, the teacup portkey was changed to a champagne glass and a 40th Birthday card appeared in the [ExtraStuff] bulletin board.
(JKR)
40th birthday items removedThe decorations on JKR.com for Jo's 40th birthday are removed.
(JKR)
Wizard of the Month, October 2005: [Fifi LaFolle]This is the first WotM that was not from a Famous Wizard Card. She was also the first completely new canon character.
(JKR)
The Witching Hour fan convention opens in Salem, MassachusettsIt lasts for five days, through October 10.
JKR.com Entry page redesignThe entry screen is redesigned to include multi-language Text Only options
(JKR)
JKR.com Christmas decorationsChristmas decorations appeared around the site, (same as previous year).
(JKR)
[Diary] added, 5th FAQ Poll, site updatesOn Christmas Day Jo gives fans the gift of her new [Diary] blog.
Updates in RubbishBin and Rumours
5th FAQ Poll opens.
(JKR)
2006 (Y26) AD = 125 MM = 81 TR = 80 RH = 78 M = 48 BW = 36 CW = 34 PW = 30 FGW = 28 HG = 27 H&R = 26 GW = 25
Wizard of the Month, January 2006: [Jocunda Sykes]Date on Biography journal changed to reflect new year.
(JKR)
Copyright statement and Lightmaker link movedThe links to Lightmaker's website and the Copyright statement previously appeared inside the flash frame. They were moved to the background area, indicating some behind the scenes work by the designers.
(JKR)
'Cage Beds' Link addedA new book was added to the bookshelf in [Links] titled "Cage Beds" with links to information about the issue and new charity work Jo is championing.
(JKR)
Major site redesign, new [Scrapbook] extrasThe Flash pages of the site are redesigned including:
5 new [Scrapbook] extras, Portkeys changed, one new Rumours advertisement.
No new Text Only content.
(JKR)
[Diary] entry #5, site updates; [W.O.M.B.A.T.] card[Diary] entry #5, one Rumour, one ExtraStuff-Misc.
[W.O.M.B.A.T.] card appears on desktop- link to Student ID# entry screen for retrieving results. PAPER BEING MARKED
(JKR)
[Diary] entry #6, site updatesUpdates in [News], Rumours, Rubbish- Pure Garbage, [Diary] entry #6, and FAQs
(JKR)
Godric's Hollow removed from FSA archiveThis website no longer exists as it was when it received the FanSite Award.
(JKR)
Patronus 2006 begins in Copenhagen, DenmarkIt runs through July 9.
Lumos 2006 opens in Las Vegas, NevadaIt lasts through July 30 and includes a [Lexicon]-run trivia contest between
Book added in [Links]CHLG - The Children's Voice book added in [Links] section with information about the Children's High Level Group charity
(JKR)
JKR.com update Rubbish binJKR quashes rumour that she has written more than 750 pages of Book 7.
(JKR)
JKR.com site updateDaily [News] headline: Book 7 Update, [ExtraStuff]- Miscellaneous: NAQ (Never Asked Question) and [Diary] entry #7.
(JKR)
Door opens for the sixth time: [W.O.M.B.A.T. 2] & MoreDoor opens for the 6th time: Lucky charm puzzle, W.O.M.B.A.T. Grade 2 test.
[Diary] entry #8, 2 [News] articles, 3 Rumours
Fan Site Award: Potterish
(JKR)
Wizard of the Month, October 2006: [Idris Oakby]new canon character and organization
(JKR)
Do Not Disturb sign returns to Door.[W.O.M.B.A.T.] card returns to desktop- PAPER BEING MARKED
Door was open for 5 days.
(JKR)
JKR.com site update on HalloweenSpells Definitions added in [ExtraStuff]- Miscellaneous, [Diary] entry 9
(JKR)
Wizard of the Month, November 2006: [Lorcan d'Eath]new canon character and notable characteristic about vampires
(JKR)
2007 (Y27) AD = 126 MM = 82 TR = 81 RH = 79 M = 49 BW = 37 CW = 35 PW = 31 FGW = 29 HG = 28 H&R = 27 GW = 26
Phoenix Rising is scheduled to begin in New Orleans, Louisiana
Prophecy 2007 is scheduled to begin in Toronto, Canada
2008 (Y28) AD = 127 MM = 83 TR = 82 RH = 80 M = 50 BW = 38 CW = 36 PW = 32 FGW = 30 HG = 29 H&R = 28 GW = 27
