Timelines
Harry Potter's Fifth Year
1995-1996 – The year of Umbridge and the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.
Cleansweep Eleven is released
Ron Weasley learns that this broomstick has come on the market. He later asks for and receives one as a gift for being made Prefect. Read MoreHarry Potter's 15th birthday
He receives Honeydukes chocolate from Ron and Hermione, but throws it away unopened out of frustration with the situation… Read More
Dementors attack Dudley and Harry
Two Dementors attack Harry and Dudley in an alley in Little Whinging. The Dementors show up just as Harry is frightening Dudley by pretending to perform magic. The Dementors, we find out later, had been sent by Dolores Umbridge (OP32). After Harry saves his cousin and himself (he successfully conjures… Read MoreReaction 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. Read More
Tonks and the Advanced Guard escort Harry
Tonks arrives with the other members of the Guard in Privet Drive and remarks about the “unnatural” cleanliness of the Dursley’s house. When the group travels from Little Whinging to Grimmauld Place, Tonks flies with Harry’s trunk suspended under her broom. Read More
The Advance Guard escort Harry to No 12 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… Read MoreMundungus Fletcher brings stolen cauldrons to Grimmauld Place
Mundungus shows up at number 12, Grimmauld Place, with a stack of cauldrons of suspicious origin. Molly Weasley loses her temper and hollers at Mundungus, much to the amusement of Fred and George. The cauldrons were possibly the same ones that had tempted Dung away from his post watching over Harry… Read MoreWilly Widdershins enchants Muggle toilets
In a spate of Muggle-baiting, Widdershins enchanted the toilets to spew out their contents all over unsuspecting Muggles (OP7). Widdershins was injured and captured when one of the toilets exploded (OP23). Read More
Harry's disciplinary hearing
Harry attends his hearing for underage magic in front of a Muggle in defending himself and Dudley from Dementors. Fudge continues to disbelieve him about Voldemort’s return, and Dumbledore arrives to assist Harry. Mrs. Figg testifies and Harry is cleared of all charges.He sees the Department of Mysteries corridor in… Read More
The Ministry of Magic passes Educational Decree 22
This decree allows the Ministry to appoint a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor – Dolores Umbridge – since Dumbledore has not yet found one. Read MoreHannah and Ernie become prefects
Just before they begin their fifth year at Hogwarts, Hannah Abbott and Ernie MacMillan learn that they have been chosen as the two Hufflepuff prefects for their year (OP10). Read More
Ron and Hermione become 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. Read More
First day of Harry's fifth year
At 11 am, the 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). Read MoreSturgis Podmore arrested
He can’t explain to Eric Munch, the Ministry guard on duty, why he’s sneaking around the Ministry of Magic headquarters at 1 am and is arrested. He had been ordered by the Order of the Phoenix to guard the Hall of Prophecy from any attempt by Death Eaters to steal… Read MoreClasses begin for Harry's fifth year
Ron 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… Read More
Second day of class and Harry's first detention with Umbridge
Harry 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. Read MoreHarry's third detention with Umbridge
Harry then encounters Ron, who learns the full truth about the detentions as Harry learns about Ron’s private Keeper practices. Read MoreAt 5 p.m., both the Gryffindor Keeper tryouts and Harry's fourth detention with Umbridge begin
Harry’s detention lasts until after nightfall. Ron Weasley is selected as Gryffindor’s Keeper. Read MoreEducaitonal Decree 23 creates Hogwarts High Inquisitor
The Daily Prophet reports that this position was offered to Dolores Umbridge, who happily accepted the post in addition to her teaching duties. Read More
Umbridge torments teachers with questions
Umbridge visits classrooms and asks pointed, humiliating questions of the teachers in front of their classes. Trelawney gets the worst of it, while McGonagall tells her off and Flitwick doesn’t seem ruffled at all. Read More
Harry and Hermione found the D.A.
Hermione invites interested students to the Hog’s Head, and twenty-eight people show up. In the dirty, seedy Hog’s Head pub, where many of the more typical patrons keep their faces covered, students gather who are interested in going around Umbridge and learning more than just theory of Defense Against… Read MoreEducation Decree 24 bans student groups
The Decree is in response to a meeting in the Hog’s Head pub involving a number of Hogwarts students. The meeting was set up to organize a study group to learn Defense Against the Dark Arts skills, since Umbridge refused to teach those skills in the classroom. The teacher was… Read More
The first meeting of Dumbledore's Army
Thanks to a tip from Dobby, they find a place to meet – the Room of Requirement – and spend the first lesson working on Expelliarmus. Read More
Harry and the Weasley twins banned from Quidditch
The 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, tempers boil over. Harry goes after Malfoy for taunting him and he, along with Fred and George Weasley,… Read More
Harry's first kiss
After the last DA lesson before Christmas, Cho Chang remains behind in the Room of Requirement with Harry. They talk about the DA and about Cedric’s death, she starts to cry, then they kiss. Later, in the common room, Harry describes the experience as “wet.”… Read More
Mr. Weasley is attacked by Nagini
As a member of the Order of the Phoenix, Mr. Weasley takes a turn standing guard at the Department of Mysteries. Harry sees the snake attack in a dream (OP21). Harry brings his vision to Dumbledore’s attention, and other members of the Order rush to save Mr. Weasley and… Read More
Neville and his Gran visit his parents in St. Mungos
On Christmas day, Neville and his Gran visit Neville’s parents in St Mungos. While there, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione happen to visit the same ward and are surprised to learn the truth about Neville’s parents – that they were tortured to insanity by Bellatrix and her cronies and that… Read More
The Order visits St. Mungo's
Since only a few are allowed in to visit Mr. Weasley at a time, the others wander the hospital. On another floor, Harry, Ron, and Hermione encounter Lockhart, still suffering from the memory charm gone wrong, and, to their surprise, Neville, who is visiting his parents with his Gran. Read More
Sirius Black and Severus Snape Argue at Grimmauld Place
On the last night of winter break, Severus Snape arrives at Grimmauld Place, headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Mrs. Weasley tells Harry to go to the kitchen where he finds Snape and his godfather, Sirius Black, sitting in awkward silence because they are old rivals from school days. Read More
Harry begins Occlumency lessons with Snape
Because of Harry’s vision before Christmas, (involving Mr Weasley being attacked by Nagini) Dumbledore decides that Harry should start taking Occlumency lessons with Snape so that he will be able to close his mind against the Dark Lord. The sessions take place in Snapes office once a week, and Snape… Read More
Ten Death Eaters escape in the first mass breakout from Azkaban
They are freed by Voldemort as he rebuilds his power. The Ministry led by Fudge blames the whole thing on Sirius Black. The Daily Prophet reports: The Ministry of Magic announced late last night that there has been a mass breakout from Azkaban. Speaking to reporters in his private office,… Read MoreValentine's Day
Harry’s first date with Cho Chang (the complete fiasco), followed by Rita’s interview of Harry for The Quibbler. Read MoreTrelawney's sacking
Umbridge uses the power given to her by Educational Decree Number Twenty-three to sack Trelawney from her post as Divination teacher. Crowds of students gather as she attempts to throw a wailing Trelawney out of the castle. Dumbledore intervenes as the power to decide who may live in the castle… Read MoreThe D.A. is caught
Marietta 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. Read More
Umbridge becomes Headmistress
When the D.A. is caught at practice, Dumbledore takes the blame and leaves the school. By order of her own Educational Decree 28, Hogwarts High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge becomes the Headmistress. Unhappy with this development, the students soon revolt (OP28). Read More
Fred and George set off crate of fireworks
The students in general act up in rebellion when Umbridge replaces Dumbledore as the school’s head, but Fred and George’s act of protest – wreaking havoc by setting off a whole crate of their Wildfire Whiz-Bangs fireworks inside the castle – takes the cake. Similarly displeased with Umbridge, the teachers… Read More
Fred and George leave Hogwarts
The twins are caught by Filch turning a Hogwarts corridor into a swamp. Umbridge tells them that they’re going to find out what happens to wrongdoers at Hogwarts, to which they reply “No, I don’t think we will.” They Accio their brooms from her office and fly off into the… Read More
Fred and George open Weasley's Wizard Wheezes
As they stand ready to leave Hogwarts, flying off into the sunset on their brooms, they announce to the awed crowd of students: “If anyone fancies buying a Portable Swamp, as demonstrated upstairs, come to number ninety-three, Diagon Alley – Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes. Our new premises!” Fred and George Weasley worked for… Read MoreMcGonagall and Umbridge give Harry careers advice
McGonagall supports Harry’s ambition to become an Auror over Umbridge’s objections. Read More
Gryffindor wins the Quidditch Cup, 1996
No mention of who wins the House Cup, but it probably wasn’t Gryffindor. The Gryffindor team won the Cup even though Harry Potter was in detention – Ginny Weasley was the Seeker and caught the Snitch (HBP24). Read MoreStudents in Harry's year sit their O.W.L.s
Harry and the others in his year sit their Ordinary Wizarding Level (O.W.L.) examinations. O.W.L.s occurs over the span of two weeks. First week of O.W.L.s: Monday – Charms (written exam in the morning and practical in the afternoon); Tuesday – Transfiguration (written exam in the morning and practical in… Read More
Umbridge attacks Hagrid and McGonagall during Astronomy O.W.L.s
The fifth years take the practical portion of their Astronomy O.W.L. On the grounds below, Umbridge and others go to sack Hagrid, who fights them off and runs out the front gates carrying Fang. McGonagall tries to intervene on his behalf, is Stunned and taken to St. Mungo’s (OP31). Read MoreHarry takes his O.W.L.s, but they are interrupted by a vision of Sirius being tortured
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… Read More
The Battle of the Department of Mysteries
On the evening of June 18, 1996, a running battle is fought between members of the D.A. led by Harry Potter, a group of Death Eaters led by Lucius Malfoy, and members of the Order of the Phoenix. Sirius Black is killed and many others are wounded (OP35). When Voldemort… Read More
Sirius Black is killed by Bellatrix
During the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Bellatrix hits Sirius Black with a Killing Curse. His body, still smiling, falls through the veil in the Death Chamber (OP35). Read More