Chronology of the Harry Potter series

The chronology is a general timeline of events derived from information provided in the series of "Harry Potter" novels written by J. K. Rowling, along with additional materials posted on her web site and published in various interviews. The timeline covers events referred to and occurring within the novels. It appears in other media, such as the DVD copies of the films produced by Warner Bros. She has now finished her seventh book called "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".

The timeline contains flaws, which Rowling has on occasion acknowledged, and sometimes contradicts itself or does not agree with real calendar days and dates for events being described. [http://www.redhen-publications.com/Times.html Redhen on Chronology] ] [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/exp-years.html The Years in Which the Stories Take Place] at Harry Potter Lexicon] Nonetheless, it has become a generally accepted timeline for the events within the novels.

The dates provided in the timeline are derived from bits of information provided by Rowling, either directly in her books, on her website, during published interviews, or from other published materials. For example the Black Family Tree, first mentioned in the fifth book of the series "The Order of the Phoenix" was extended and donated for a charity auction. That extended version included birthdates and death years for several key characters.

Warner Bros. is the producer of the "Harry Potter" films, and holds the associated copyrights and trademarks related to Harry Potter media. DVD editions of the Harry Potter films "Chamber of Secrets", "Prisoner of Azkaban" and "Goblet of Fire", contain the timeline of events, which take place over the course of the films and in the narrative of the novels. Warner Bros. originally developed the timeline as part of the special features package for the "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2002) DVD. Rowling reviewed the timelines and made several changes before approving them as "official".

The timeline followed in the novels is not strictly enforced in the films. In the film series, London and the suburbs of Surrey reflect a more modern, 21st century setting. This is demonstrated by the inclusion of recent British cars and certain other objects, such as the flat panel TV in the Dursley home. In addition, the use of Westminster Station in the fifth film is inconsistent, since it was completely changed for the Jubilee Line extension, which opened in 1998, three years after the event.

Timeline basis

The official timeline is rooted in a date cited in Rowling’s second book, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", set in Harry’s second year at Hogwarts. During the Halloween celebrations at the school, a long dead ghost called Nearly Headless Nick celebrates the anniversary of his death, which took place on a long ago 31 October, with a "five hundredth deathday" party. A central feature of this party is an "enormous grey cake in the shape of a tombstone", stating "Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington (the real name of Nearly Headless Nick) died 31st October 1492". Thus, Rowling sets the date on which the event takes place in the book as 31 October 1992.HPref|book=2|chapter=8] This means that Harry became a student at Hogwarts in 1991,HPref|book=1|chapter=7] and so must have been born in 1980, since his 11th birthday occurs at the beginning of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" the summer before he becomes a Hogwarts student. [ [http://www.jkrowling.co.uk/textonly/en/faq_view.cfm?id=90 JK Rowling Website Statement] ] HPref|book=1|chapter=3]

In using the life and death of Nearly Headless Nick to express the chronology of her novels, Rowling initially contradicted herself. In the original printing of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", Nearly-Headless Nick claimed to Harry that "I haven't eaten for nearly four hundred years".HPref|book=1|chapter=7 — older editions only] Had Rowling left this statement unchanged, it would have created an inconsistency in her timeline. However, she corrected the statement in later editions to read, "I haven't eaten for nearly five hundred years"—making it consistent with what she had disclosed in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets".

Rowling later gave further confirmation of this original timeline anchor when in early 2006, she donated a hand-drawn copy of the Black family tree to a charity auction for [http://www.bookaid.org Book Aid International] . [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4739474.stm Potter star buys Rowling document] , BBC News, 22 February 2006.] In that document, she included the birth year of one of Harry's classmates, Draco Malfoy, as 1980. [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/blackfamilytree.html "Black Family Tree"] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] She had previously, in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", revealed Draco's birthday to be (like that of Harry) late in the school year and past January.HPref|book=6|chapter=22] By means of these two devices, she thus also clearly sets the birthdate of her main character as 31 July 1980, and thus, by extension, reinforced the original implication that the Sorting Ceremony that takes place on 1 September in her first book was envisioned by her as taking place in the chronological year 1991.

Harry's 1980 birth-year is confirmed in Rowling's "Wizard of the Month" entry for Harry at her web site. [ [http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/wotm.cfm JKRowling.com - "Wizard of the Month" page] ]

Rowling's manuscript depiction of The Black Family Tree was shown as being similar to that which she had described in the form of a tapestry, appearing in "Order of the Phoenix" on the wall of the Black family home. In her manuscript copy, Rowling drew several lacunae (which had been explained by her in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" as burns in the Tapestry Tree featuring in the novel), which she noted as obscuring the names and birthdates of a number of disowned members of the Black family, including a major character of the novels, Sirius Black.HPref|book=5|chapter=6]

Black, Harry's parents James and Lily Potter, Severus Snape, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew were all in the same Hogwarts school year (i.e. between September of one year and August of the next).HPref|book=5|chapter=28] Prior to the publication of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", fans were able to use chronological references in the text to estimate that these characters were born between 1957 and 1960. Rowling reveals the exact birthdates of the Potters in Chapter 16 of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", "Godric's Hollow", when Harry visits his parents' grave. The marble headstone lists James Potter's date of birth as 27 March 1960, and Lily Potter's as 30 January 1960. They and the other students in their year at school attended Hogwarts from 1971 to 1978, and their classmates must have been born between September 1959 and August 1960.

The "Harry Potter" films have included dates extrapolated from this dating system, such as the years on the gravestone seen in the fourth film.

Contradictions

There are several minor contradictions in the timeline, both internal and compared with the real-world timeline. For example, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" opens on Tuesday 1 November, despite 1 November 1981 having been a Sunday.HPref|book=1|chapter=1] [http://www.redhen-publications.com/Times.html Redhen on Chronology] ] Rowling herself has admitted having difficulty with managing mathematics in the FAQ section of her website. [ [http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/faq_view.cfm?id=63 Rowling on her FAQ section] ] Also in "Philosopher's Stone" Hermione states that Nicolas Flamel "celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year." The historic Flamel was born in 1330, placing the events of "Philosopher's Stone" during 1995/1996, while on the other hand, Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday Anniversary was celebrated in 1992 during Harry's second year, implying that his first year was in 1991.

The birthdates of Harry's parents are also somewhat inconsistent with other chronological references in the text. James Potter in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is referred to as being fifteen years old in the summer of his fifth year at Hogwarts. Yet, his birthdate in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is shown to be March. Unless one literally translates "summer of his fifth year" as applying to the opening months of his first term, rather than the summer after the fifth year concluded, the Hogwarts admission cutoff date of 31 August for eleven years olds implies James would have turned sixteen before the summer of his fifth year.

At the beginning of the sixth book (set in 1996, but "rewinding" temporarily to 1990/1991 to see the first 5-6 books from the "Muggle Prime Minister's" point of view), the Muggle prime minister is visited by Cornelius Fudge. During their first conversation, Fudge says of the previous prime minister, 'He tried to throw me out of the window'. In 1996, the prime minister was John Major, and his predecessor was a woman, Margaret Thatcher.

At the beginning of the fourth book (set in 1994), judging from what the text says in early August (2 months after the discovery of Sirius's innocence, and after Harry's birthday), Harry writes to Sirius claiming that his cousin Dudley has thrown his PlayStation out of the window. However, the PlayStation was not released anywhere until December 1994 and not until September 1995 in Europe. It could be noted however, that Vernon Dursley's wealth may have allowed him to acquire a unit used for testing purposes prior to commercial release.

In book one to six (presumably book seven as well), 2 September (the first day of school) is a Monday, though this has only occurred in 1985, 1991, 1996 and 2002 in recent years.

Timeline of the "Harry Potter" series

Events

*382 BC:According to the entrance sign described in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", Ollivander's – a family of magic wand producers – has been in business since this date.HPref|book=1|chapter=5]
*AD 962:Rowling dated the first use of broomsticks for transport very precisely, dating it "as early as AD 962".HPref|book=q|chapter=1]
*Late 900s:Although the precise date is unknown to those within the novels, Rowling envisioned (in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", set in 1992–1993) Hogwarts, the magical centrepiece of her novels, as having been built "over a thousand years ago" by the four 'Founders', two witches and two wizards (named Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin) whom she portrays as revered figures through the novels. According to Rowling, the education of magical children began at the school at the same time; although, following the standard pattern of creation myths, she depicts this endeavour as becoming lessened due to internal dissent: two of the founders, Slytherin and Gryffindor, quarrel over their creation (Slytherin demanding that they not teach magical students whose families are not magical), resulting in Slytherin rebelling and abandoning the endeavour. At the same time, before leaving, he builds the Chamber of Secrets, a hidden chamber containing a deadly basilisk.HPref|book=2|chapter=9] The Chamber can only be opened, and the basilisk controlled, by the 'heir' or descendants of Slytherin.
*1203: The all-female Quidditch team the Holyhead Harpies is organized.
*1296: A Manticore savages a human and gets away with it, as everyone is too scared to approach the dangerous monster.
*c. 1300:The Triwizard Tournament, a competition Rowling uses as a major feature in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", is dated by her in that book (taking place in the year 1994–1995) as having been established "some seven hundred years ago". Rowling writes that, although a friendly competition, it was ended at an unknown point due to the mounting death toll. She noted, however, that there were several intervening centuries between the cancellation and the novel in which it becomes relevant, since "there have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament."HPref|book=4|chapter=12]
*1362:The Wizarding Council bans playing Quidditch within 50 miles of Muggle towns.
*1368:The ban is extended to 100 miles.
*1473:Rowling considered this a particularly important date in the history of the major sport of her novels, Quidditch: not only does she envision it as the year of the first Quidditch World Cup (a major sporting event in her novels, as seen in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"), but she also humorously stated in "Quidditch Through the Ages" that, of the 700 fouls she writes of as existing in the game, "all of them are known to have occurred during the final of the first ever World Cup" in this year.HPref|book=q|chapter=6]
*1492Nearly Headless Nick dies on October 31^st
*1689:The International Statute of Secrecy is signed. This was a year after the Glorious Revolution in Britain.
*1692:The International Confederation of Wizards meets in this year, and makes a number of important decisions, including establishing the right for wizards to carry wands at all times and deciding to begin hiding magical creatures from Muggles. This year, as confirmed in the seventh book, was the year when the wizarding world entirely split from the Muggle world. This is also the same year that the Salem witch trials took place.
*1749:The Statute of Secrecy is breached. HPref|book=5|chapter=31]
*1762:The very dangerous, often fatal, game of Creaothceann is banned by the Wizarding Council.
*1792:A Hippogriff is executed for attacking a human. A rampaging Cockatrice injures the heads of the schools Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, during yet another failed attempt to reinstate the Triwizard Tournament.
*1881:The birth of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore to Kendra and Percival Dumbledore
*1918:Rowling cites this year as that in which Newt Scamander (who, within the context of her novels, is the "real" author of her book "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them") is asked to write a compendium of magical beasts – which, she explains, eventually became the book she herself wrote for "Comic Relief".HPref|book=f|chapter=1]
*Late 1925:Rowling used this as an important year in the plot development of her sixth novel, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince": she depicts this year as seeing the marriage of Tom Riddle Sr. and Merope Gaunt, the parents of Lord Voldemort (the main antagonist of the novels), and the conception of Voldemort himself, facilitated. Rowling depicts the events leading to this facilitation in flashbacks in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince": an attack by the family of Merope Gaunt (Voldemort's eventual mother) on Tom Riddle Sr. (Voldemort's eventual father) leads to Gaunt's family being arrested and imprisoned. As Rowling describes it (via the narrative of Albus Dumbledore), Gaunt reacts to her family's imprisonment by enchanting Riddle (with whom she has fallen in love) into loving her; and the two, again according to Rowling by means of Dumbledore's explanation, are married roughly a year before the birth of their child.HPref|book=6|chapter=10] 4 October, Minerva McGonagall is born.
*1926:31 December: The birth of Tom Marvolo Riddle, who, the author has already demonstrated (in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets") will eventually become "Lord Voldemort". She records this in expository dialogue in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", also noting that the baby's father had abandoned his wife, Merope Gaunt, some months before the birth; Merope herself dies an hour after the birth of her son, leaving the young Riddle entirely alone and unloved, to grow up in an orphanage, where – Rowling makes clear – he will gradually become the monstrous and terrifying figure who stalks through her novels. HPref|book=6|chapter=13]
*1927:The fictional publication year of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" – which, in reality, was written and published by Rowling herself in 2001.
*1928:6 December, Rubeus Hagrid is born.
*1935:Jocunda Sykes flies over the Atlantic Ocean on her broom - the first such transoceanic crossing by magical means.
*September 1937:Minerva McGonagall begins studying at Hogwarts.
*September 1938:Tom Riddle begins studying at Hogwarts.
*September 1940:Rubeus Hagrid begins studying at Hogwarts.HPref|book=1|chapter=4] HPref|book=2|chapter=13]
*1942:As Rowling relates in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", precisely 50 years before the events of that book, Riddle secretly opens the Chamber of Secrets (introduced by Rowling in this book, a legendary hidden chamber under the castle, built by the rebellious founder Slytherin), and releases the monstrous serpent (a basilisk) hidden within. As a result, a young student, Myrtle, was killed. Riddle – who, like Harry, is depicted as hating his home in the mundane world, and enjoying life in the school – being shown by Rowling to fear that the school will be closed because of his actions, is then shown to frame Rubeus Hagrid (who, Rowling has already shown in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", will later become Harry's friend) for the crime. As a result, Hagrid is expelled, and Riddle – whose culpability in the matter is unknown – is rewarded; however, Rowling also ensures that the matter is reversed by the end of the same novel.HPref|book=2|chapter=17]
*July-August 1942:Rowling uses this point to mark a milestone in the transformation of Tom Riddle into Lord Voldemort: as told in retrospect in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", Riddle, aged 15 ("In the summer of his sixteenth year" - the 16th year immediately follows the 15th birthday), visits his estranged uncle Morfin who has returned from Azkaban and now lives alone following the deaths of his sister and father. Riddle seeks out and murders his father and paternal grandparents, then frames his uncle Morfin Gaunt for the crimes by implanting false memories into his mind.HPref|book=6|chapter=17]
*1944:Minerva McGonagall finalizes her studies at Hogwarts.
*1945:Albus Dumbledore defeats the notorious Dark Wizard Grindelwald in this year, at the age of 64 and takes the Elder Wand from him.HPref|book=1|chapter=6] Historically, it was the year in which the Second World War ended, with the defeat of Nazi Germany in May, and the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan in August. These two facts, according to Rowling, are not a coincidence. [ [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2005/0705-tlc_mugglenet-anelli-3.htm Anelli, Melissa and Emerson Spartz. "The Leaky Cauldron and Mugglenet interview Joanne Kathleen Rowling: Part Three," The Leaky Cauldron, 16 July 2005] ] :The same year has also been shown by Rowling as being Tom Riddle's final year at Hogwarts. As she revealed in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", he requests of the headmaster, Armando Dippet, that he be employed by the school as a teacher; significantly to the plot of the novels, this request is refused on the basis that Tom was too young to teach yet. Then Rowling notes that Riddle instead found work in Borgin and Burkes, shown in the novels to be a purveyor of cursed and Dark objects.HPref|book=6|chapter=20] [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/timelines/timeline_50yearsago.html Fifty Years Ago] at Harry Potter Lexicon ]
*c.1945-1947:Around these years, Rowling notes in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", Tom Riddle – having discovered in the course of his work at Borgin and Burkes two treasures, formerly the property of Salazar Slytherin and Helga Hufflepuff (that of Slytherin, Rowling is careful to note, was a hereditary possession of Riddle's maternal family) – facilitates the murder of the objects' legal owner Hepzibah Smith and disappears. This marks the final chronological stage in the novels when he appears as Tom Riddle; when he next appears, he has become in appearance and nature "Lord Voldemort".
*c. 1948:Harry Potter's used copy of "Advanced Potion-Making", marked with "This Book is the Property of the Half-Blood Prince", is dated as published in this time frame - being "nearly fifty years old" during Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts.HPref|book=6|chapter=16] The textbook previously belonged to Severus Snape, and his mother Eileen Prince before him.HPref|book=6|chapter=30]
*1956:Rowling revealed in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" that Minerva McGonagall, the firm but fair Deputy Headmistress who plays a major role in the novels, had in the autumn term of that novel (and thus the chronological year of 1995) been teaching "Thirty-nine years this December": thus, since the December of 1956.HPref|book=5|chapter=15] She probably replaces Dumbledore as the school's Transfiguration professor.:The year in which Albus Dumbledore became Headmaster is not certain. However, Rowling's plot exposition in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" made it clear that he became Headmaster around 10 years after Rowling implies Riddle disappeared - and thus, somewhere between 1955 and 1957. [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/timelines/timeline_dumbledore.html Albus Dumbledore Timeline] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] :It is also implied in the same novel that, shortly after Dumbledore became Headmaster, Riddle returned to Britain – fully in the name and disguise now of "Lord Voldemort" – and requested the Defence Against the Dark Arts teaching position. When refused this by Dumbledore, Rowling explains, Voldemort – who had already recruited followers, including Rosier, Nott, Mulciber, and Dolohov, 'jinxed' the post he had requested – an explanation given by Rowling for the regular change on the school staff to that position each year in the novels. It is also said in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" that Voldemort hid the Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw in the Room of Requirement on the night that he asked for the position, before meeting Dumbledore.
*1960:Lily Evans, mother of Harry Potter, is born on 30 January; her future husband, James Potter, is born on 27 March. This information is taken from "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", on the tombstone of Harry's parents in the wizarding community of Godric's Hollow. As revealed on J. K. Rowling's official site, Severus Snape was born on 9 January, and Remus Lupin on 10 March. Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew were born around this year.
*c. 1966:As noted by Rowling, through a comment of the 'Minister for Magic' in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (in the chronological year 1996), Voldemort, becoming more powerful, is supposed to have begun his campaign of fear against the Wizarding World around this time.HPref|book=6|chapter=1]
*c. 1968-1970:Arthur Weasley and Molly Prewett, the parents of Ron Weasley (the best friend of Harry Potter), who are known to have eloped, are presumed to have done so around this period. [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/molly.html Molly Weasley] at Harry Potter Lexicon ]
*1970:Beginning of the first war against Lord Voldemort and his followers. As stated by Albus Dumbledore in the first chapter of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" - "We have had precious little to celebrate for eleven years."
*Autumn, 1971:As noted above, the six notable characters (James Potter, Lily Evans, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and Severus Snape) of the generation prior to that of the children who feature in Rowling's novels begin school at Hogwarts at this time. (See above). [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/exp-ages.html The Ages of Snape and the Marauders] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/snape.html Severus Snape] at Harry Potter Lexicon ]
*June, 1976:Severus Snape is tormented and humiliated by James Potter and Sirius Black, and Lily Evans saves Snape (both currently best friends), but this infuriates Snape once everyone starts taunting him about Lily saving him. Snape says he does not need help from a Mudblood. This ends Lily and Snape's friendship, and it devastates Snape. Snape looks at this moment as one of the worst in his life.
*1978:Fred and George Weasley born 1 April 1978 (we know the twins were born on 1 April and that they were two years ahead of Ron in Hogwarts)
*c. 1978-1979:Rowling has not made clear when James Potter and Lily Evans – the parents of the main character – were married. Accordingly, no firm date exists; since it is known, through various pieces of information given by Rowling, that they were married by the time Harry was conceived, the range of marriage possibilities is thus from around 1978 to Autumn 1979, when Rowling has made clear Harry was conceived. [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/james.html#dates James Potter] at Harry Potter Lexicon]
*1979:The year in which Regulus Black, the brother of Sirius Black, is shown as having died on the Black Family Tree. In "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", it is discovered that he was, in fact, surrendering himself to the Inferi guarding Slytherin's locket. Before he dies, however, he entrusts the locket to his house-elf, Kreacher. He gives final orders to the elf to destroy the locket by any means and not to tell his family how he died.
*c. late 1979 - early 1980:Rowling explained in first "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and then "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" that Sybill Trelawney, the semi-competent Seer of the novels, makes her first real Prophecy at some point in the year before the birth of Harry and Neville Longbottom in late July. Both Potter and Longbottom are referenced by the Prophecy in relating a substantial issue of the novels, the issue of who is 'destined' to destroy Lord Voldemort. This successful prophecy earns Trelawney a position at Hogwarts, teaching Divination, which allows Rowling to use her in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" to make another real Prophecy.HPref|book=5|chapter=37] HPref|book=6|chapter=25] HPref|book=3|chapter=16] . Hermione Granger is born on September 19, 1979.
*1980:Ron Weasley is born on 1 March to Arthur Weasley and Molly Weasley. Neville Longbottom born on 30 July to Frank and Alice Longbottom. Harry Potter is born on 31 July to James and Lily Potter.:Severus Snape comes to Dumbledore and warns him that Voldemort is hunting Lily Potter and her son in order to make sure the prophecy does not come to pass. Snape vows to Dumbledore that he will do anything he asks if he would take measures to protect her.
*1981:In Rowling's novels, the period from September-November 1981 is very important. The September sees Severus Snape – Harry's classroom enemy – hired as Potions teacher at Hogwarts. Shortly after this, on 31 October 1981, comes the beginning of the first novel, and a seminal moment in Rowling's work: Voldemort, the enemy of Harry Potter, kills Lily and James Potter, but when attempting to kill the young Harry, is prevented from doing so by Lily, whose sacrifice to save Harry instills an inborn protection in her son. Voldemort's curse therefore backfires onto him and he is reduced to a terrible state of existence. However the general public considers him dead. Harry, left with the scar he is distinctive for throughout the novels, is then sent to live with his maternal relatives, the Dursleys.HPref|book=1|chapter=17] :Rowling allocates to the next day, 1 November, the back story of "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban": Sirius Black, the misjudged villain of that novel, is arrested for the murder of Peter Pettigrew; Pettigrew, in fact, is not dead, but has fled into hiding, as will prove significant in "Prisoner of Azkaban".HPref|book=3|chapter=10] HPref|book=3|chapter=19] :Snape vows to Dumbledore to always protect Harry and swears his loyalty to Dumbledore, both almost solely because that is what Lily died for.:Ginny Weasley was born on 11 August to Arthur Weasley and Molly Weasley
*1991:The chronological year in which most of the first novel, "'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", takes place, Rowling writes July as being the month in which Harry Potter receives his invitation to attend Hogwarts. He, and the two characters whom Rowling places constantly at his side throughout the novels (Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger), begin attending the school in what Rowling demonstrates to be the September of that year.
*1992:In the course of the first novel, June of this year sees Harry defeat Lord Voldemort for a second time (although the first time shown to the readers by Rowling).HPref|book=1|chapter=16] :The same chronological year, although the second novel, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", is also set up by Rowling as seeing the beginning of the main plot of the second novel, when the Chamber of Secrets is reopened.
*1993:The ending of the second novel and the beginning of the third: Rowling places the climax of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" – in which Harry destroys an incarnate memory of Tom Riddle (a.k.a. Lord Voldemort), rescues Ginny Weasley (who, it emerges, was indirectly responsible for the previous events) and, crucially to the plot of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", destroys a Horcrux of Lord Voldemort – in the June 1993. The event which begins the next novel, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", comes shortly after, when the major character of that novel – Sirius Black – escapes from Azkaban.HPref|book=3|chapter=3]
*1994:Professor Trelawney gives her second prophecy to Harry Potter, regarding the return of the Dark Lord to power.:6 June - Harry learns of Sirius' innocence regarding the betrayal of his parents. Peter Pettigrew, guilt now established, flees and rejoins Voldemort.HPref|book=3|chapter=20] : Lord Voldemort murders Bertha Jorkins.HPref|book=4|chapter=1] :Voldemort murders Frank Bryce.:Summer - Ireland wins the 422nd Quidditch World Cup (but Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian Seeker, gets the Snitch).HPref|book=4|chapter=8] :Autumn - Hogwarts hosts the Triwizard Tournament for the first time in over a century:Saturday 31 October - The names of the champions for the Triwizard Tournament are revealed to the students. (This is controversial because 31 October is on a Monday in 1994)HPref|book=4|chapter=16] :24 November - The first task of the Triwizard Tournament - Viktor Krum and Harry Potter tie for the lead with 40 points each.HPref|book=4|chapter=20]
*1995:24 February - The second task of the Triwizard Tournament is held - Harry and Cedric Diggory end up tied for the lead with 85 points each.HPref|book=4|chapter=26] :24 June - The third task of the Triwizard Tournament is held.HPref|book=4|chapter=31] :24 June - Peter Pettigrew murders Cedric Diggory in Harry's presence, on Lord Voldemort's orders, and using the Dark Lord's wand. Voldemort is restored to full power.HPref|book=4|chapter=32] : 25 June - The Order of the Phoenix is re-established by Albus Dumbledore.HPref|book=4|chapter=36] HPref|book=5|chapter=4] : 2 August - Harry saves his cousin Dudley from two Dementors sent by Dolores Umbridge in Little Whinging.HPref|book=5|chapter=1] HPref|book=5|chapter=32] : 12 August - Harry is put on trial for breach of underage wizardry act and secrecy act. But following a vote, he is cleared of all charges and allowed to go back to study in Hogwarts.: 5 October - In Hogsmeade, at the Hog's Head, Dumbledore's Army is created by Hermione Granger and Harry Potter.HPref|book=5|chapter=16]
*1996:There is a mass breakout of ten Death Eaters from Azkaban. Ministry officials continue denying Voldemort's return and instead pin the blame on Sirius Black, claiming he helped the prisoners escape.:Voldemort does not recover the Prophecy from the Department of Mysteries, due to the efforts of Harry and company. Harry learns of Professor Trelawney's first prediction and the wizarding world is finally alerted to Voldemort's return. Sirius Black dies in The Death Chamber of the Department of Mysteries. Lucius Malfoy and other Death Eaters are arrested and taken to Azkaban.HPref|book=5|chapter=36] HPref|book=5|chapter=38] :After leaving Hogwarts, Fred and George Weasley open in Diagon Alley Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, a popular and successful joke and gag shop. HPref|book=6|chapter=5] HPref|book=6|chapter=6] :Rufus Scrimgeour replaces Cornelius Fudge as Minister for Magic.:Albus Dumbledore destroys another of Voldemort's Horcruxes, formerly encased in Marvolo Gaunt's ring.HPref|book=6|chapter=23] Albus Dumbledore is cursed in the process; with the help of Severus Snape this curse is trapped in his right hand. He is told by Snape he has around a year to live. It is also at this time he asks Snape to kill him within the year before Draco Malfoy or any Death Eaters get the opportunity. Albus wishes that Draco's soul remains whole and to be spared from the pain and embarrassment of torture under the Death Eaters.HPref|book=7|chapter=33] :Harry, Ron, and Hermione start their sixth year at Hogwarts. Draco Malfoy sneaks off to Knockturn Alley to go to Borgin and Burkes to reserve a vanishing cabinet to get the Death Eaters into Hogwarts.HPref|book=6|chapter=8]
*1997:June - Albus Dumbledore is killed by Severus Snape. Harry Potter decides upon his quest to destroy the remaining four (actually five) Horcruxes in which Lord Voldemort has sealed fragments of his soul.HPref|book=6|chapter=27] :27 July - Harry Potter leaves Privet Drive for the last time, accompanied by six fake Harry Potters and a crew of Order of the Phoenix members; group narrowly escapes the Death Eaters. Alastor Moody and Harry's pet owl Hedwig are killed during this flight. HPref|book=7|chapter=4] HPref|book=7|chapter=5] George Weasley has his ear cursed by Snape; this, however, turns out to be an accident following the revelations of the seventh book.:31 July - Harry turns 17 and becomes of age in the wizarding world. :1 August - The wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour.HPref|book=7|chapter=7] HPref|book=7|chapter=8] :1 August - Voldemort seizes power in the ministry, kills Rufus Scrimgeour and places a henchman as New Minister for Magic, starting a regime of masked terror. :Late August - Severus Snape appointed Headmaster of Hogwarts under Voldemort's orders, replacing Minerva McGonagallHPref|book=7|chapter=12] :2 September - Hermione Granger obtains Slytherin's locket, a Horcrux, from Dolores Umbridge.HPref|book=7|chapter=13] :24 December - Harry Potter and Hermione Granger visit James and Lily Potter's grave at Godric's Hollow. There, they meet Bathilda Bagshot, who is in fact possessed by Voldemort's snake. Hermione accidentally breaks Harry's wand as they are escaping.HPref|book=7|chapter=16] :26 December - Ron Weasley destroys Slytherin's locket with Gryffindor's sword. HPref|book=7|chapter=19] :28 December - Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger visit Xenophilius Lovegood and learn about the Deathly Hallows.
*1998:7 March - Harry, Ron, and Hermione are captured and taken to Malfoy Manor, but they are saved by Dobby who dies in the fray via Bellatrix Lestrange's knife.:2 May- the Battle of Hogwarts, at which the four remaining Horcruxes (Ravenclaw's diadem, Hufflepuff's cup, the snake Nagini and Harry Potter) are destroyed. Professor Minerva McGonagall ousts Severus Snape and leads Hogwarts and Order of the Phoenix forces against Voldemort and the Death Eaters; however, Harry discovers Snape's true allegiance shortly after Snape's death, with the help of his memories. Many characters die in this battle, including Lupin, Tonks, Colin Creevey, Fred Weasley, and Bellatrix Lestrange. After the Horcrux inside him is destroyed, Harry returns to the living world through his own free will after being presented with a choice by Dumbledore, who appears before him. Voldemort is finally killed by a backfiring curse cast with the Elder wand, which refuses to kill Harry seeing as the latter was its master.:Sometime before his eighteenth birthday, Harry joins the Auror Department, as does Ron.
*2007:Harry is appointed Head of the Auror Department at the Ministry of Magic.
*2017:September - Neville Longbottom is the Herbology professor at Hogwarts; Ginny and Harry drop off their two sons, James and Albus, at the Hogwarts Express while their daughter, Lily, watches; Hermione and Ron drop off one of their children, Rose, while Hugo watches; Draco and his wife drop off their son, named Scorpius. Remus and Tonks' son Teddy go to see Fleur and Bill's daughter, Victoire, off to Hogwarts, the two having just been caught kissing by James. HPref|book=7|chapter=37] :The Defence Against the Dark Arts position is no longer jinxed, due to Voldemort's death. Kingsley Shacklebolt is the Minister of Magic. [Interview with JK Rowling. Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19959323/]

Births

(Note: Many of the approximate dates in the twentieth century are because Hogwarts accepts students aged eleven as of August 31, so it is possible for any of the students whose birth-month is not given to have been born sometime in the last third of the previous year.)
*1325:Nicolas FlamelHPref|book=1|chapter=13]
*1332:Perenelle Flamel
*1847:Phineas Nigellus Black
*c. 1881 :Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore to Percival and Kendra Dumbledore [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/1000-scholastic-chat.htm Scholastic Chat] ]
*c.1884 :Aberforth Dumbledore to Percival and Kendra Dumbledore.
*c.1885 :Ariana Dumbledore to Percival and Kendra Dumbledore.
*c. 1907:Merope Gaunt to Marvolo Gaunt and an unnamed witch.
*c. 1925:4 October - Minerva McGonagall. [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/1000-scholastic-chat.htm Scholastic Chat] ]
*1925:Lucretia Black to Arcturus Black and Melania Macmillan:Walburga Black to Pollux Black and Irma Crabbe
*1926:31 December - Tom Marvolo Riddle (Lord Voldemort) to Muggle Tom Riddle Sr. and witch Merope Gaunt
*1928:6 December - Rubeus Hagrid to the giantess Fridwulfa and Mr Hagrid (first name unknown) [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/hagrid.html Rubeus Hagrid] at Harry Potter Lexicon]
*1929:Orion Black to Arcturus Black and Melania Macmillan :Cygnus Black to Pollux Black and Irma Crabbe
*1949:30 October - Molly Prewett
*1950:6 February - Arthur Weasley
*1951:Rita Skeeter [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/rita.html Rita Skeeter] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] :Bellatrix Black to Cygnus Black and Druella Rosier
*c. 1953:Andromeda Black to Cygnus Black and Druella Rosier
*c. 1954:Lucius Malfoy to Abraxas Malfoy and an unknown witch
*1955:Narcissa Black to Cygnus Black and Druella Rosier
*c.1954-56:Bertha Jorkins [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/bertha.html Bertha Jorkins] at Harry Potter Lexicon ]
*1960:9 January - Severus Snape to Tobias Snape and Eileen Prince [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/snape.html Severus Snape] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] :30 January - Lily Evans [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/lily.html Lily Potter] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] :10 March - Remus Lupin [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/lupin.html Remus Lupin] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] :27 March - James Potter [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/james.html James Potter] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] :Sirius Black to second cousins Orion Black and Walburga Black [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/sirius.html Sirius Black] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] :Peter Pettigrew [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/pettigrew.html Peter Pettigrew] at Harry Potter Lexicon ]
*1961:Regulus Arcturus Black to second cousins Orion Black and Walburga Black
*1962:Bartemius Crouch Jr to Bartemius Crouch Sr and his wifeHPref|book=4|chapter=27]
*1970:29 November - Bill Weasley to Arthur Weasley and Molly Prewett [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/bill.html Bill Weasley] at Harry Potter Lexicon ]
*1972:12 December - Charlie Weasley to Arthur Weasley and Molly Prewett [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/charlie.html Charlie Weasley] at Harry Potter Lexicon ]
*c. 1972/3:Nymphadora Tonks to Ted Tonks and Andromeda Black [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/tonks.html Nymphadora Tonks] at Harry Potter Lexicon ]
*c. 1975:Stan ShunpikeHPref|book=6|chapter=11]
*1976:22 August - Percy Ignatius Weasley to Arthur Weasley and Molly Prewett [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/percy.html Percy Weasley] at Harry Potter Lexicon ]
*c. 1976:c. - Viktor Krum [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/a-z/k.html 'K'] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] :Oliver Wood [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/a-z/w.html#wood_oliver Oliver Wood] at Harry Potter Lexicon ]
*1977:Cedric Diggory to Amos Diggory and his wife [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/diggory.html#Cedric Cedric Diggory] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] :c. - Fleur Delacour to Monsieur Delacour and Apolline Delacour (a half-Veela) [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/fleur.html Fleur Delacour] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] HPref|book=7|chapter=6]
*1978:1 April - Fred and George Weasley to Arthur Weasley and Molly Prewett [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/twins.html Fred and George Weasley] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] :c. - Katie Bell [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/a-z/b.html 'B'] at Harry Potter Lexicon ]
*1979:c. - Cho Chang [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/cho.html Cho Chang] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] :19 September - Hermione Jean Granger to Mr and Mrs Granger, Muggle dentists [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/granger.html Hermione Granger] at Harry Potter Lexicon ]
*1980:1 March - Ronald Bilius Weasley to Arthur Weasley and Molly Prewett [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/ron.html Ron Weasley] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] :5 June - Draco Malfoy to Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black:22 June - Dudley Dursley to Vernon Dursley and Petunia Evans [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/muggle/dudley.html Dudley Dursley] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] :30 July - Neville Longbottom to Frank and Alice Longbottom [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/neville.html Neville Longbottom] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] :31 July - Harry James Potter to James Potter and Lily Evans [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/harry.html Harry Potter] at Harry Potter Lexicon ]
*1981:c. - Colin Creevey [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/a-z/c.html 'C'] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] :c. - Luna Lovegood to Xenophilius Lovegood, editor of "The Quibbler" and his wife [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/luna.html Luna Lovegood] at Harry Potter Lexicon ] :11 August - Ginevra Molly Weasley to Arthur Weasley and Molly Prewett [ [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/ginny.html Ginny Weasley] at Harry Potter Lexicon ]
*c. 1983:Dennis Creevey [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/a-z/c.html 'C'] from Harry Potter Lexicon ]
*c. 1986:Gabrielle Delacour to Monsieur Delacour and Apolline Delacour (a half-Veela)
*1998:April - Ted Remus Lupin to Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks. HPref|book=7|chapter=25]
*2000: 2 May - Victoire Weasley to Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour
*c. 2005:James Sirius Potter to Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley
*c. 2006:Albus Severus Potter to Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley:Rose Weasley to Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger:Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy to Draco Malfoy and Asteria Greengrass
*c. 2008:Lily Luna Potter to Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley:Hugo Weasley to Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger
*After c. 2008 (exact time unknown):Lorcan and Lysander Scamander to Rolf Scamander and Luna Lovegood

Deaths

*c. 1000:The Bloody Baron commits suicide by stabbing, in remorse for murdering Helena, accounting for the silver blood in which he is covered.:Godric Gryffindor:Helga Hufflepuff:Helena Ravenclaw (the Grey Lady) murdered by the Bloody Baron.:Rowena Ravenclaw of a terminal illness.:Salazar Slytherin
*1492:31 October - Nearly Headless Nick, by being partially decapitated.
*Summer 1899:Kendra Dumbledore dies in the summer because of a magical accident caused by her daughter Ariana.:Ariana Dumbledore is accidentally killed in a three way fight between Albus Dumbledore, Aberforth Dumbledore, and Gellert Grindelwald, shortly before the beginning of the autumn term, two months after the death of her mother.
*1925:Phineas Nigellus Black
*1926:31 December - Merope Gaunt, shortly after childbirth; possibly by loss of the will to live.
*1942:(Summer) - Tom Riddle Sr., father of Tom Marvolo Riddle and his paternal grandparents, murdered by Lord Voldemort/Tom Marvolo Riddle.
*1943:13 June - Myrtle (surname unknown), a female Hogwarts student, who will become known as Moaning Myrtle, is killed by the Basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets under the influence of Tom Riddle.
*1979:Regulus Black, dragged by Inferi into the cave lake after stealing the locket Horcrux and giving it to Kreacher.:Orion Black
*1981:31 October - James and Lily Potter, from an attack by Lord Voldemort.
*c. 1982:Barty Crouch Junior's mother, in Azkaban, transformed by the Polyjuice Potion into the physical form of her son.HPref|book=4|chapter=35]
*1985:Walburga Black
*c. 1990:Luna Lovegood's mother, in an accident when her experimental spell backfires.
*1991:Arcturus Black
*1992:4 June - Quirinus Quirrell (as a result of Lord Voldemort abandoning him).:Nicolas Flamel and wife Perenelle die of old age after the Philosopher's Stone is destroyed.:Lucretia Black:Cygnus Black
*1994:Summer - Bertha Jorkins, murdered by Voldemort after he extracted information on the approaching Triwizard Tournament from her.:August - Frank Bryce, Muggle, murdered by Voldemort for overhearing Voldemort and Pettigrew's plot to kill Harry Potter.
*1995:May - Barty Crouch Senior, by his son posing as Mad-Eye Moody after his attempt to inform Dumbledore of his son's escape.:24 June - Cedric Diggory, murdered by Peter Pettigrew on Voldemort's orders.
*1996:January - Broderick Bode, strangled by Devil's Snare in St Mungo's Hospital of Magical Maladies and Injuries.:June - Sirius Black, from falling through the veil in the Death Chamber in the Department of Mysteries.HPref|book=5|chapter=35] :Summer - Amelia Bones, murdered in the first days of the Second War, probably by Lord Voldemort himself.:Summer - Emmeline Vance, murdered by Death Eaters in the first days of the war, on information from Snape, in the vicinity of 10 Downing Street.:Summer - Igor Karkaroff murdered by Death Eaters because he abandoned them:After Summer - Hannah Abbott's mother
*1997:20 April - Aragog, due to old age after Hagrid makes a valiant attempt to preserve his life.:June - Albus Dumbledore, killed by Snape's Killing Curse on top of the Astronomy Tower after being previously weakened in an attempt to seize a Horcrux.:29 June - Gibbon the Death Eater, hit accidentally with an "Avada Kedavra" curse by one of his own allies, in the corridor leading up to the astronomy tower.HPref|book=6|chapter=29] :26 July - Charity Burbage, Professor of Muggle Studies at Hogwarts, killed by Voldemort at Malfoy Manor, after which her body is fed to Nagini.HPref|book=7|chapter=1] :27 July- Hedwig, hit by a stray "Killing Curse" as Harry and Hagrid escape Privet Drive.:27 July - Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody, as The Order of The Phoenix escape Privet Drive. Mad-Eye Moody is killed by Voldemort himself, after Mundungus Fletcher Disapparates away.:1 August - Rufus Scrimgeour, killed to complete the fall of the Ministry into Voldemort's hands, possibly after being tortured for information as to Harry's whereabouts, which he did not reveal.:2 September - Gregorovitch the wandmaker, murdered by Voldemort in his quest to locate the Elder Wand.:Bathilda Bagshot, murdered (presumably by Voldemort).
*1998:March - Gellert Grindelwald, murdered by Voldemort in his quest to locate the Elder Wand.:5 March - Dirk Cresswell and Ted Tonks, captured on the run from the ministry and killed by Death Eaters. HPref|book=7|chapter=22] :7 March - Peter Pettigrew, strangled to death by the silver hand Voldemort had given him, after showing Harry a brief second of remorse.HPref|book=7|chapter=23] :7 March - Dobby, the Free Elf, killed by a knife thrown by Bellatrix Lestrange.:1 May - Vincent Crabbe, consumed by the fiendfyre he conjured in the Room of Requirement, while in its "hidden objects" state.HPref|book=7|chapter=31] :2 May - Fred Weasley, killed during the battle of Hogwarts.:2 May - Severus Snape, bitten by the snake Nagini in the Shrieking Shack at the command of Voldemort, in the false belief that it would transfer the power of the Elder Wand to him.HPref|book=7|chapter=32] :2 May - Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, killed during the battle by Antonin Dolohov and Bellatrix Lestrange, respectively [ [http://www.hpana.com/news.20137.html Transcript of live web chat from Bloomsbury] ] :2 May - Colin Creevey, killed during the battle. Unknown cause.

:2 May - Nagini, decapitated with the sword of Godric Gryffindor, wielded by Neville Longbottom.:2 May - Fifty unnamed dead out of those who fought at Hogwarts.:2 May - Bellatrix Lestrange is defeated by Molly Weasley.:2 May - Lord Voldemort, killed by his own rebounded "Avada Kedavra" curse.HPref|book=7|chapter=36]

References

External links

*Harry Potter Lexicon timeline [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/timeline.html www.hp-lexicon.org/timeline.html]