Timeline

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SPOILER WARNING: this page contains book 5 content

As JK makes clear in the Harry Potter books, time is a very difficult thing to capture and make sense of. In this timeline, we've tried to capture the major events in Harry's and the main character's lives in a timeframe. We've worked out the dates from clues given to us in the HP books and most of the birthdates of characters, from interviews with JKR - and then worked backwards.

For example, we know Harry's second year was set in 1992, because the date on Nearly-Headless Nick's 500th deathday cake is: 1492. This means that since he turned 12 in 1992, he was born in 1980 (this is confirmed on the 'Hogwarts Timeline' to be found on the film 2 and 3 DVDs. JK has stated in interviews that Dumbledore is 150 years old, McGonagal 70 and Snape (and therefore the Marauders) are all 35 at the end of book 4 (1995). This time frame of Harry beginning Hogwarts in the early 90's makes sense seeing that JK conceived of the idea of Harry Potter in 1990.

The dates below match those of the Harry Potter Lexicon - the definitive Harry Potter fact base, one that JK herself uses. And as JK has yet to disprove these dates, we take them as cannon.

Note: a date in this font means it is important to Harry's life

Quick links: JUMP TO:
- Voldemort at Hogwarts
- Marauders at Hogwarts
- Harry is born
- Harry at Hogwarts

	~ 993 Hogwarts founded by Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin
	~ 1860 Albus Dumbledore is born
	~ 1871-1878 Albus Dumbledore attends Hogwarts as a Gryffindor
	~ Oct 4, 1925 Minerva McGonagall born
	~ 1926/27 Tom Riddle Jr (Lord Voldemort) born
	~ Dec 6, 1928 Rubeus Hagrid born
	~ 1936 McGonagall starts her first year at Hogwarts as a Gryffindor
	~ 1937 Tom Riddle starts his first year at Hogwarts as a Slytherin
	~ 1939 Hagrid starts his first year at Hogwarts as a Gryffindor
	~ 1942 Tom Riddle opens the Chamber of Secrets and releases the Basilisk; Murtle dies (May/June); Hagrid expelled (June 13)
	~ 1943 McGonagall leaves Hogwarts
	~ 1944 Tom Riddle leaves Hogwarts
	~ 1945 Dumbledore defeats the Dark Wizard Grindelwald
	~ 1951 Rita Skeeter born
	~ 1954 Lucius Malfoy born
	~ 1956, December McGonagall begins teaching at Hogwarts
	~ 1957 Sturgis Podmore born; Bertha Jorkins born
	~ 1960 James Potter, Lily Evans, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Severus Snape born
	~ 1962 Crouch Jr. born
	~ Early 1960's Remus Lupin bitten by werewolf
	~ Nov 29, Mid 1960's Bill Weasley born
	~ 1965 Lucius Malfoy begins his first year at Hogwarts as a Slytherin
	~ 1967 Charlie Weasley born
	~ 1970's The Voldemort Terror years - Voldemort gains followers (Death Eaters) and power, murders, tortures, spies, violent acts everywhere; Crouch Snr. head of Magical Law Enforcement
	~ 1970/71 Dumbledore becomes Headmaster at Hogwarts
	~ 1971 James, Lily, Sirius, Lupin, Pettigrew and Snape begin their first year at Hogwarts (as Gryffindors and Slytherin respectively); Whomping Willow planted for Lupin's benefit
	~ 1975 James, Sirius, Pettigrew become Animagi to accompany Lupin when he transforms into a Werewolf; Lupin made Prefect
	~ 1976 James, Sirius, Lupin and Pettigrew invent the Marauder's Map; Sirius (aged 16) runs away from home and lives with James; Sirius plays the Werewolf practical joke on Snape - James saves him from certain death from werewolf Lupin; Oliver Wood born; Bill Weasley starts at Hogwarts as a Gryffindor
	~ August 22, 1976 Percy Weasley born
	~ 1977 Cedric Diggory born; Marauders in their 7th year at Hogwarts - Lily and James Head Girl and Boy; Angelina Johnson born
	~ 1978 Fred and George Weasley born (April 1); James, Lily, Sirius, Lupin, Pettigrew and Snape leave Hogwarts; Sirius (aged 17), gets his own place; Charlie Weasley starts his first year at Hogwarts as a Gryffindor
	~ 1979 Cho Chang born
	~ September 19, 1979 Hermione Granger born
	~ 1980 Trelawney makes the prophecy about Harry and Voldemort, Dumbledore is witness to it in teh Hog's Head; students in Harry's year born - Draco Malfoy etc.
	~ March 1, 1980 Ron Weasley born
	~ June 22, 1980 Dudley Dursley born
	~ July 30, 1980 Neville Longbottom born
	~ July 31, 1980 Harry Potter born
	~1981 Snape hired as Potions teacher at Hogwarts
	~ August 11, 1981 Ginny Weasley born
	~ October 31, 1981 Pettigrew leads Voldemort to Potters' home in Godric's Hollow; Voldemort murders the Potters; Harry defeats Voldemort; Voldemort, barely alive, retreats into hiding
	~ November, 1981 Pettigrew blows up a street filled with Muggles, fakes own death; Sirius convicted for murders Pettigrew committed, sent to Azkaban without a trial
	~ 1985 Charlie Weasley wins Quidditch Cup for Gryffindor, leaves Hogwarts
	~ 1987 Oliver Wood, Percy Weasley begin at Hogwarts as Gryffindors
	~ 1989 Fred and George Weasley, Angelina Johnson begin at Hogwarts as Gryffindors
	~ 1991 On Harry's 11th birthday, Hagrid tells him he's a wizard and is accepted at Hogwarts; Harry visits Diagon Alley for the first time and buys his wand; Harry starts his first year at Hogwarts as a Gryffindor (September), befriends Ron and Hermione
	~ Early June, 1992 Harry, Ron and Hermione defeat Voldemort and retrieve the Philosopher's Stone; the Stone is destroyed; Quirrel dies
	~ 1992 Harry turns 12, begins his second year at Hogwarts; meets Dobby; Ginny Weasley begins at Hogwarts as a Gryffindor; Chamber of Secrets opened
	~ May/June, 1993 Harry defeats Tom Riddle and the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets; petrified people revived; Harry frees Dobby from the Malfoys
	~ 1993 Sirius Black escapes from Azkaban; Harry blows up Aunt Marge; Harry turns 13, begins his third year at Hogwarts; Remus Lupin appointed D.A.D.A teacher at Hogwarts
	~ June, 1994 Gryffindor win the Quidditch Cup; Harry, Ron and Hermione meet Sirius, Lupin and Pettigrew in the Shrieking Shack; Pettigrew revealed; Lupin transforms into Werewolf, as he forgot to take his potion; Pettigrew escapes, Dementors attempt to administer kiss on Harry and Sirius; Harry casts them away, goes back in time with Hermione, saves Buckbeak and Sirius. Sirius escapes on Buckbeak
	~ 1994 Pettigrew helps Voldemort to regain some strength, set up base in Voldemort's old house in Little Hangleton; Bertha Jorkins, Frank Bryce murdered by Voldemort; Harry watches Quidditch World Cup Final with Weasleys; Harry turns 14, begins his fourth year at Hogwarts; TriWizard Tournament takes place at Hogwarts, Harry selected as one of 5 champions; Harry completes 1st Task and attends Yule Ball.
	~ February, 1995 Harry completes 2nd Task in Tournament with help of Dobby
	~ June, 1995 Crouch Snr. killed by his son; Harry completes Third Task of TriWizard Tournament, wins it with Cedric; Cedric and Harry transported by Portkey Trophy to graveyard where Voldemort waits; Voldemort kills Cedric; Rises again into his own body after taking blood from Harry; Death Eaters arrive and encircle Harry and Voldemort; Harry and Voldemort duel, Priori Incantatem occurs, Harry sees his dead parents forms erupt from Voldemort's wand; Harry escapes and takes Portkey back to Hogwarts where he is confronted by imposter Moody (Crouch Jr.); Dumbledore rescues Harry from Crouch Jr.; Dementors administer their Kiss to Crouch Jr.; Fudge refuses to believe Voldemort has risen again, he and Dumbledore take different paths; Dumbledore begins to recruit the Order of the Phoenix
	~ 1995 Dementors attack Harry and Dudley in Privet Drive (August); Harry taken to Order of the Phoenix Headquarters (Grimmauld Place, Sirius's old house) by a guard of witches and wizards; Harry meets up with Hermione, Weasleys, Lupin, Tonks, Sirius and other Order members. Harry cleared of charges of Underage Magic at Ministry Hearing; Harry turns 15, begins his fifth year at Hogwarts; Ron, Hermione and Draco Malfoy made prefects; Harry struggles against Umbridge's harsh control at Hogwarts, is banned from Quidditch, Ron becomes Gryffindor Keeper, helps them win the Cup; Harry, Ron and Hermione establish Dumbledore's Army, teaching students to defend themselves against Dark Wizards; Harry visits St. Mungo's Hospital; Harry has his first relationship with Cho Chang.
	~ May-June, 1996 Harry breaks up with Cho Chang; sits his OWL exams with his fellow fifth years; Hagrid and Dumbledore have been banished from Hogwarts by Umbridge who has taken over.
	~ June, 1996 Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny and Luna fly to Ministry by Thestral because Harry thinks Voldemort has Sirius there; Harry discovers he's been tricked in the Department of Mysteries, he's surrounded by Death Eaters; The Order members arrive and duel with the Death Eaters; Bellatrix's spell sends Sirius through the veil in the Death Chamber, Sirius dies; Dumbledore duels with Voldemort, Harry resisits Voldemort's attempt to posess him; Fudge concedes that Dumbledore was right: Voldemort has indeed risen again. Harry is gutted by Sirius's death. He returns to Privet Drive, awaits his OWL results and 16th birthday.
	~ The Future More to come when book 6, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is released (no date yet set). Certain events: Harry will receive his OWL results; He will turn 16 on July 31 and have to endure his shortest stay at Privet Drive yet; He, Ron and Hermione will begin their 6th year at Hogwarts. Shortly into the trio's 6th year (on September 19), Hermione will turn 17 come of age - he will be able to do magic outside of school and apparate legally. In March of Harry's 6th year, 1997, Ron will turn 17 and will be also be able to perform magic and apparate. We'll have to wait untill book 7 until Harry is afforded these privilages.

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