Calendar of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

The calendars which follow were carefully researched and are based on various references in the canon. Harry Potter was born on July 31, 1980. Therefore the events of the first chapter of this book take place on November 1, 1981, the day after Harry’s parents were killed. The second chapter takes place on a Saturday, approximately one month and one week before Harry’s 11th birthday, which is June 22, 1991. The events of chapter three take place in the week leading up to Harry’s eleventh birthday, which we know is July 31, 1991.

Unfortunately, the information in the books does not match the calendar of 1991 exactly. The book says that Harry’s birthday is on a Tuesday, while July 31, 1991, is actually on a Wednesday. To stay true to the books, we will remove a day before Harry’s birthday, place the events on the days listed, then adjust the calendar by adding a day to get things back on track.

The Official Timeline of Hogwarts (CS/dvd) was derived from this timeline. September 7 is listed on the Official Timeline as being when Harry and Ron visit Hagrid in his hut. This was an error which also appeared on this calendar until I caught the error and corrected it. The DVD timeline reproduced this error from the Lexicon timeline. However, the 7th is a Saturday, while the book states that they visited Hagrid on the afternoon of the Friday of their first week. This calendar now places that visit on Friday, September 6, which is correct. Events which are actually listed on the official timeline are indicated on this calendar in red.

The dates given on this calendar are either stated specifically in the books or can be deduced with a fair degree of certainty. On the calendars, blue indicates a birthday. The darker the shade of yellow, the more important the events are on that date.

July 1991 – July 1992

June 17 – 23

• Saturday, June 23 – Dudley’s 11th birthday, the trip to the zoo, Uncle Vernon locks Harry in his cupboard (PS2)

Date is determined from the reference to the cine-camera Dudley received as a gift. On July 24, it is referred to as being a month old and we know that July 31 was a Tuesday. Given that calendar, and that we know Dudley’s birthday was a Saturday, we can determine that the trip to the zoo happened on June 23.

June 24 – July 21

• Tuesday, June 24 – A letter arrives for Harry Potter; Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia burn it but move Harry from the cupboard to Dudley’s second bedroom.
• Wednesday, June 25 – Another letter arrives for Harry but Uncle Vernon gets it first and destroys it.
• Thursday, June 26 – Harry gets up at 6 to get the mail but steps on Uncle Vernon who is sleeping in the hall to catch him. Three letters arrive.
• Friday, June 27 – Twelve letters arrive; Uncle Vernon boards up every crack around every door and window.
• Saturday, June 28 – Twenty-four letters arrive, rolled up inside eggs delivered to the house; Aunt Petunia shreds the letters in her food processor.

Dates are deduced from given date: July 31, Harry’s birthday, a Tuesday.

• Sunday, July 29 – Thirty or forty letters come pouring out of the kitchen chimney. Uncle Vernon packs everyone into the car and drives around a lot; they stay overnight in the Railview Hotel, Cokeworth (PS3).
• Monday, July 30 – About a hundred letters arrive for Harry at the front desk of the hotel. Uncle Vernon drives them around again and finally discovers the Hut On The Rock and brings the family out to stay in it. A tremendous storm blows up but at midnight, Hagrid appears at the door (PS3).
• Tuesday, July 31 – Harry’s 11th birthday. Hagrid gives Harry his letter from Hogwarts (PS4). In the morning, Hagrid takes Harry to Diagon Alley to buy his things for Hogwarts. At the end of the day, Harry takes the train back to the Dursleys (PS5).

The days of the week are derived from this statement:

September 1991

• Sunday, September 1 – Harry travels to Hogwarts on the Hogwarts Express. Harry meets Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. All three are sorted into Gryffindor. Dudley in London having his tail removed (PS7).
• Monday, September 2 – First day of term. Harry and Ron get into trouble with Filch, who thinks they’re trying to break into the forbidden third floor corridor (PS8).
• Wednesday, September 4 – Astronomy classes at midnight. This continues throughout the year, as far as we can tell.
• Thursday, September 5 – Transfiguration class
• Friday, September 6 – Hedwig delivers her first message to Harry: an invitation to visit Hagrid that afternoon; he responds “Yes, please!” In the morning, the Gryffindor first years have their first potions class: double Potions wth Slytherin. Harry gets on Snape’s bad side and loses Gryffindor five points. The students have the afternoon off, so Harry and Ron got for tea with Hagrid at 3 o’clock (PS8).

• Wednesday, September 11 – Midnight astronomy class
• Thursday, September 12 – During breakfast, Neville receives a Remembrall. That afternoon at 3:30, the Gryffindors and Slytherins have their first flying lesson, during which Neville breaks his wrist. Harry is made a Seeker and later, Malfoy challenges him to a duel at midnight. Hermione and Neville annoyingly tag along as they go face Malfoy, and the four of them discover what lives on the other side of the door to the forbidden Third Floor corridor (PS9).

Quidditch trials are held this week, but Harry is not included. 

Week 3

• Thursday, September 19 – Hermione’s 12th birthday (not mentioned in the book).
• Friday, September 20 – Harry received his Nimbus 2000 at breakfast. At 7 pm he meets Oliver Wood on the Quidditch pitch to learn the basics of the game (PS10).

Since sunset in Scotland on September 20th is at 7:20 pm, they only had at most an hour to practice.

Week 4

Regular Quidditch practices are held three times a week (PS10).

October 1991

Weeks 1-4

Harry has Quidditch practice three times a week, which added to his schoolwork makes this second month go by quickly. Harry and Ron find Hermione to be annoying and avoid her as much as they can.

Week 5

Thursday October 31 – Hallowe’en. The class finally gets to learn a real spell in Charms: Wingardium Leviosa. Ron offends Hermione, who runs off to cry in the girls’ bathroom. That evening, the feast is interrupted by a troll wandering the castle. Harry and Ron go looking for Hermione and end up rescuing her from the troll. The three become friends.