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The 1960s
Events of this decade:

early 1960s
Creatures witches and wizards Remus Lupin, as a small boy, is bitten by the werewolf [Fenrir Greyback] (HBP16)
Quidditch [Magnus "Dent-Head" Macdonald] tries to reintroduce [Creaothceann], to no avail(which is probably a good thing)
(QA2)
Quidditch [Catriona McCormack] is Captain and [Chaser] for the [Pride of Portree]They win the league twice under her leadership
(QA7)

1960 (Y-20) AD = 79  MM = 35  TR = 34  RH = 32  M = 2  

books and authors Famous Wizard Cards Greta Catchlove, author of [Charm Your Own Cheese], is born (fw)

1961 (Y-19) AD = 80  MM = 36  TR = 35  RH = 33  M = 3  


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Regulus Black is born (BFT)

c. 1962 (Y-18)

[Bartemius Crouch Jr.] is born[Crouch Jr.] was imprisoned for taking part in the torture of Frank and Alice Longbottom, which we know from GF30 happened shortly after Voldemort's downfall - in late 1981 [[Y1]] or early 1982 [[Y2]]. Sirius estimates in GF27 that {Crouch Jr.] was nineteen at the time - placing his birth year most likely in 1962 [[Y-18]].

1962 (Y-18) AD = 81  MM = 37  TR = 36  RH = 34  M = 4  

Belvina Black dies at age 76 (BFT)

1963 (Y-17) AD = 82  MM = 38  TR = 37  RH = 35  M = 5  

books and authors [The Philosophy of the Mundane: Why Muggles Prefer Not to Know] is publishedThe book, written by Professor Mordicus Egg, is published by [Dust and Mildewe].
(FB)

1965 (Y-15) AD = 84  MM = 40  TR = 39  RH = 37  M = 7  

Creatures Ministry of Magic The [Ban on Experimental Breeding] is passed (FB)

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Lycoris Black dies at age 61 (BFT)
July 31
[Jo Rowling] is born (JKR)
September 1
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Slytherin 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  


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[Beautifying Potions] inventor [Sacharissa Tugwood] dies (fw)

1967 (Y-13) AD = 86  MM = 42  TR = 41  RH = 39  M = 9  

Broomsticks Merchant Quidditch The Nimbus Racing Broom Company is foundedThe company's first release is the Nimbus 1000.
(QA9)

1968 (Y-12) AD = 87  MM = 43  TR = 42  RH = 40  M = 10  

Famous Wizard Cards Quidditch Gwenog Jones, famous Captain and [Beater] for the [Holyhead Harpies], is born (fw)
Famous Wizard Cards Quidditch [Dunbar Oglethorpe], Chief of [Q.U.A.B.B.L.E.], is born (fw)
Ministry of Magic Quidditch [Hamish MacFarlan] becomes Head of the [Department of Magical Games and Sports] (QA7)
September 1
[Sturgis Podmore] starts his first year at HogwartsThis follows from his birthday in 1957 [[Y-23]].

c. 1969 (Y-11)

witches and wizards Arthur Weasley and Molly Prewett elope and quickly get marriedAs Voldemort is becoming more powerful and life becomes more uncertain in the Wizarding World, many young couples, facing the uncertainty, get married quickly.
(HBP5)

The 1970s
Events of this decade:

Death Eaters herbology history & timelines witches and wizards The 1970s - OverviewThe Years of Terror
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

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The [Moose Jaw Meteorites] are threatened with disbandmentThis step is finally taken because of their habit of celebrating a victory by flying over villages trailing sparks from their brooms.
(QA8)
late 1970s
Creatures A rogue Antipodean Opaleye dragon kills several kangaroos in Australia (FB)

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1970 (Y-10) AD = 89  MM = 45  TR = 44  RH = 42  M = 12  BW = 0  

Death Eaters witches and wizards Lord Voldemort rises to powerWith his band of Death Eaters, Voldemort's first reign of terror begins. His ascent to power is marked by strange disappearances.
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.
Famous Wizard Cards [Myron Wagtail], lead singer of the [Weird Sisters], is born (fw)
November 29
witches and wizards 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  

Famous Wizard Cards Kirley Duke, lead guitarist of the [Weird Sisters], is born (fw)
In the Muggle world:
[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  

Quidditch The [Chudley Cannons] adopt a new mottoThe [Quidditch] team famous for its 80 years of futility changes its motto from "We shall conquer!" to "Let's all just keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best."
(QA7)
books and authors [Muggles Who Notice], by [Blenheim Stalk], is published (FB)
December 12
witches and wizards 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)

Nymphadora Tonks is bornWe know this because in August 1995 [[Y15]], Tonks tells Harry she's only one year out of [Auror] training (OP3). Since this training takes three years (OP29), she must have finished school in 1991 - putting her date of birth in 1972 or 1973 [[Y-8] or [Y-7]], and putting her in the same class at Hogwarts as Charlie Weasley.

1973 (Y-7) AD = 92  MM = 48  TR = 47  RH = 45  M = 15  BW = 3  CW = 1  

Famous Wizard Cards [Hesper Starkey] dies (fw)
Creatures [Janus Thickey] pretends to be killed by a LethifoldHe leaves a note behind for his distraught wife, only to turn up some time later living with the [landlady of the Green Dragon].
(FB)
Charis Black Crouch dies at age 54 (BFT)
Creatures Famous Wizard Cards Gazetteer [Harvey Ridgebit], founder of the largest dragon sanctuary in Romania, dies

c. 1974 (Y-6)

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards Remus Lupin, at the start of his fifth year, becomes a Hogwarts [Prefect] (OP9)
witches and wizards Sirius Black runs away from home and is disowned by his familyHe subsequently goes to live with James Potter and his parents, who treat Sirius as a second son.
Sirius says in OP6 that ran away from home when he was about sixteen.
(OP6)
Animagi witches and wizards The Marauders finally learn the complex spells necessary to become AnimagiSirius Black, James Potter, and Peter Pettigrew then begin to accompany Remus Lupin when he transforms into a werewolf, affecting his ability to maintain some semblence of humanity during his otherwise terrible transformations.
(PA18)

1974 (Y-6) AD = 93  MM = 49  TR = 48  RH = 46  M = 16  BW = 4  CW = 2  

Famous Wizard Cards Heathcote Barbary, rhythm guitarist for the [Weird Sisters], is born (fw)
Famous Wizard Cards [Herman Wintringham], lute player for the [Weird Sisters], is born (fw)
[Knight Bus] conductor [Stan Shunpike] is born (HBP10)

c. 1975 (Y-5)

Mundungus Fletcher is banned from the [Hog's Head] (OP17)
June
Blood Status Spells witches and wizards 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)
September
witches and wizards 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)
Animagi Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards The Marauder's Map is writtenSirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and James Potter explore the castle and grounds in their Animagus forms and learn more about the secrets of the place than anyone, even Filch. They then create the Marauder's Map, signing it with their nicknames: Moony (Lupin), Wormtail (Pettigrew), Padfoot (Sirius), and Prongs (James).
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  

Famous Wizard Cards [Weird Sisters] bagpipe player Gideon Crumb is born (fw)
books and authors Creatures [Hairy Snout, Human Heart], by an anonymous author, is published by [WhizzHard Books] (FB)

c. 1976 (Y-4)

Gryffindor Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Slug Club witches and wizards James Potter and Lily Evans are made [Head Boy] and [Head Girl] of Hogwarts (PS4)
Death Eaters Sirius Black sees his cousin Bellatrix for the last time - until they're both in [Azkaban] (OP6)
[Oliver Wood] is bornWe know [Wood] was probably born in 1976 [[Y-4]] because he was four years above Harry, who was born in 1980 [[Y0]]. It's also possible he was born in 1975 [[Y-5]].
(PS9)

1976 (Y-4) AD = 95  MM = 51  TR = 50  RH = 48  M = 18  BW = 6  CW = 4  PW = 0  

Famous Wizard Cards [Weird Sisters] drummer [Orsino Thruston] is born (fw)
August 22
witches and wizards 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)

June
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards 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.
September
witches and wizards Sirius Black gets his own place, having inherited money from his uncle Alphard (OP6)

1977 (Y-3) AD = 96  MM = 52  TR = 51  RH = 49  M = 19  BW = 7  CW = 5  PW = 1  

circa September
witches and wizards 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)
late October
[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)

Lily Evans and James Potter are marriedSirius Black is their best man.
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  

Famous Wizard Cards Merton Graves, cello player for the [Weird Sisters], is born (fw)
Broomsticks Merchant Quidditch Universal Brooms Ltd. goes out of businessThey were most well known as the producers of the Shooting Star broomstick.
(QA9)
April 1
witches and wizards 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)

witches and wizards Cho Chang is bornWe know Cho was a year above Harry, so she was born sometime between September 1978 [[Y-2]] and August 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  

Death Eaters witches and wizards Peter Pettigrew starts passing information to Voldemort[Dumbledore] and his allies begin to realize that there is a spy in their midst but Peter is not suspected.
"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)
Creatures Dark Magic Death Eaters Regulus Black attempts to back out of being a Death Eater and is killed on Voldemort's orders (OP6, HBP6)We don't know exactly what events led up to the death of Regulus Black, although fan speculation is running wild that he might be the infamous R.A.B.
(BFT)
Creatures Ministry of Magic [Newt Scamander] is awarded the [Order of Merlin], Second ClassHe receives the honor for his contributions to the field of Magizoology
(FB)
Orion Black, father of Sirius and Regulus, dies at age 50 (BFT)
September 1
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch Slug Club Gwenog Jones starts her first year at HogwartsShe soon becomes a favorite of Horace Slughorn, the Potions Master
(HBP6)
September 19
witches and wizards Hermione Granger is born (JKR)

The 1980s
Events of this decade:

Quidditch Ludo Bagman plays [Beater] for the [Wimbourne Wasps] (GF30)

c. 1980 (Y0)

history & timelines Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards [Albus Dumbledore] interviews Sibyll Trelawney for the post of Divination teacher at HogwartsHe meets her at the [Hog's Head] about taking the position, although he is disinclined to continue offering Divination at all. Trelawney then makes a [prophecy] about a baby who will be born at the end of July, a baby who will be able to defeat the Dark Lord - and the prophecy is overheard by Severus Snape. Though [Dumbledore] claims Snape heard only the first half of the [prophecy] (OP37), Trelawney later reports that he was there at the end of it as well (HBP25).

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  

Death Eaters [Igor Karkaroff] is captured by Mad-Eye Moody and sent to [Azkaban]His apprehension is followed shortly thereafter by that of Antonin Dolohov, who had worked with [Karkaroff] when they were both Death Eaters. It had taken Moody six months to track him down.
It is stated in [Karkaroff]'s scene in the Pensieve that he was apprehended just before [Rosier]'s death.
(GF30)
Death Eaters [Rosier] and [Wilkes], both known Death Eaters, are killed by [Aurors] (GF27)In the battle for his capture, [Evan Rosier] takes off a piece of Mad-Eye Moody's nose (GF30).
We know from Sirius Black that this happened "the year before Voldemort fell" (GF27).
[Ernie Macmillan] is bornAlong with many other students of Harry's year, although some, like Hermione, would have been born in 1979 [[Y-1]].
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.
March 1
witches and wizards Ron Weasley is born (JKR)
June 5
witches and wizards Draco Malfoy is born (JKR, [BFT])
June 23
[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.
July 30
witches and wizards Neville Longbottom is born to famous [Aurors] Frank and Alice Longbottom (OP37)
July 31
history & timelines witches and wizards 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  

Famous Wizard Cards Famous theoretician [Adalbert Waffling] dies (fw)
August 11
witches and wizards Ginny Weasley is born (JKR)
circa September
Death Eaters Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards 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.
circa October 24
Death Eaters witches and wizards 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)
October 31
Death Eaters history & timelines witches and wizards 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)
circa November 1
Death Eaters witches and wizards 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)
late November 1
witches and wizards 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)
after November 1
Death Eaters Ministry of Magic witches and wizards 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)
circa December
Death Eaters history & timelines Ministry of Magic witches and wizards 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)

Animagi Death Eaters witches and wizards In disguise as a rat, Peter Pettigrew becomes a pet of Percy WeasleyHe chooses Percy, a member of a solid wizarding family, in order to stay aware of what was going on in the magical world and perhaps hear word of his former master, Voldemort.
(PA18)

c. 1982 (Y2)

Death Eaters [Igor Karkaroff] is released from [Azkaban] in return for turning in [Rookwood] (GF30)This unquestionably happened after Voldemort's downfall - and we also know it probably happened within a year of when the [Lestranges] and [Barty Crouch Jr.] were caught for torturing the Longbottoms. This comes from Sirius's statement in GF27 that [Crouch Jr.] died a year later, and [Barty Crouch Sr.] lost his popularity and changed jobs. Since he was still running the [Wizengamot] during this incident, it couldn't have been long after Voldemort's downfall. No doubt [Karkaroff] was eager to get away from the Dementors.
Death Eaters Ludo Bagman is acquitted of being a Death EaterLike [Karkaroff]'s trial, this one was almost certainly within a year or so of Voldemort's downfall, as [Barty Crouch] was presiding.
(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  

September 1
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards Bill Weasley starts his first year at Hogwarts (JKR) - he is sorted into Gryffindor (PS6)
circa November
Death Eaters Ministry of Magic [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)

Fred turns Ron's teddy bear into a spiderHe does it because Ron broke his toy [broomstick]. From now on, Ron is deadly afraid of spiders.
"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  

In the Muggle world:
[Jo Rowling] leaves for school at the University of [Exeter] (JKR)
September 1
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards 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  

June
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch 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)

portrait, tapestry, sculpture Sirius Black's mother, Walburga Black, dies ([BFT])Her likeness is captured in a huge portrait which hangs in the entrance hall of her home at [number twelve, Grimmauld Place]. The house is left vacant except for Kreacher. The house deteriorates dramatically (OP5).
"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  

[Idris Oakby] Founder of the S.S.S. (Society for the Support of Squibs) dies (JKR)
June
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch Slytherin wins the [Quidditch Cup] (PS13) but not the [House Cup] (PS7)
June
[Aunt Marge] comes to [Dudley]'s fifth birthday partyShe whacks Harry around the shins to keep him from beating [Dudley] at musical statues.
(PA2)
September
Quidditch 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  

Gazetteer Quidditch The Ugandan [Quidditch] team, the [Patonga Proudsticks], holds the [Montrose Magpies] to a drawThe outcome comes as a shock to [Quidditch] fans everywhere.
(QA8)
June
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch Slytherin wins both the [Quidditch Cup] and the [House Cup] (PS7, PS13)
September
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards Bill Weasley starts his fifth year at Hogwarts and is made a [Prefect] (OP9)

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  

Famous Wizard Cards Quidditch [Roderick Plumpton] diesHe dies still claiming that his record three and a half second capture of the Snitch was intentional, and not pure dumb luck.
(fw)
books and authors [Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles], by [Wilhelm Wigworthy], is publishedThe publisher is [Little Red Books].
(FB)
June
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch Slytherin wins both the [Quidditch Cup] and the [House Cup] (PS7, PS13)
September 1
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards 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)

witches and wizards Neville Longbottom is accidentally dropped from an upstairs window by his Great Uncle AlgieInstead of falling to his death, he bounces, demonstrating his natural magical ability. His family is ecstatic.
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  

June
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch Slytherin wins both the [Quidditch Cup] and the [House Cup] (PS7, PS13)
June
[Aunt Marge] comes to [Dudley]'s eighth birthday partyShe brings a computerized robot for [Dudley] and a box of dog biscuits for Harry.
(PA2)
September 1
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards 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  

June
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Slytherin wins both the [Quidditch Cup] and the [House Cup] (PS7, PS13)
September
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch 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.
September
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry 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.
September 1
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards 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:

history & timelines The 1990s - OverviewThe Nineties
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  

Broomsticks Merchant Quidditch The Flyte and Barker company introduces the Twigger 90 broomstick (QA9)
Pollux Black dies at age 78He is the grandfather of Sirius, Regulus, Bellatrix, Narcissa, and [Andromeda Black].
(BFT)
June
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch Slytherin wins both the [Quidditch Cup] and the [House Cup] (PS7, PS13)
June
[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.
July 31
Harry Potter's 10th birthday
September
Creatures Death Eaters Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry 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.
September
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch 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)
December 30
[Jo Rowling]'s mother dies (JKR)

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  

Arcturus Black, grandfather of Sirius and Regulus, dies (BFT)
circa June
Quidditch The Nimbus 2000 [broomstick] is releasedA display model appears in the window of [Quality Quidditch Supplies].
(PS5)
June
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch Slytherin wins both the [Quidditch Cup] and the [House Cup] (PS7, PS13)They "flatten" Gryffindor in the final [Quidditch] match, according to McGonagall (PS9).
June 23
Creatures witches and wizards [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)
July 24
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards 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)
July 31
witches and wizards 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)
July 31
Just after midnight, Hagrid arrives at the hut-on-the-rockHe brings Harry a birthday cake and invites him to Hogwarts.
(PS4)
July 31
witches and wizards 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)
July 31
Death Eaters Quirrell attempts to steal the Philosopher's Stone from [Gringotts] but fails (PS8)
circa August
Animagi witches and wizards 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.
August
Death Eaters 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)
August
[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)
September 1
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Draco Malfoy, and their classmates travel by way of the Hogwarts Express to Hogwarts.
Hogwarts Express
They catch the Hogwarts Express at 11am at King's Cross Station, then travel until evening to Hogwarts. Harry meets Ron and Hermione on the train; he and Ron immediately become friends. Once at Hogwarts, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville are sorted into Gryffindor, and Draco into Slytherin.
(PS6)
September 1
Creatures [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)
September 2
Spells Dark Magic herbology Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Harry begins his classes at Hogwarts
Hogwarts School
Harr's classes begin at Hogwarts and he spends his first week learning his way around the school and about his classes and teachers.
September 6
Birthdays Creatures food and drink history & timelines 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.
September 6
potions witches and wizards 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.
September 12
Quidditch witches and wizards 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)
October 31
Creatures Death Eaters Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards 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)
November
Quidditch witches and wizards 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)
December 25
witches and wizards Harry receives James Potter's Invisibility Cloak as a Christmas present from [Dumbledore] (PS12)
December 25
witches and wizards [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  

Cassiopeia Black dies at age 77 (BFT)
Cygnus Black, father of Bellatrix, Narcissa, and [Andromeda], dies at age 54 (BFT)
Lucretia Black Prewett dies at age 67 (BFT)
circa April
Creatures witches and wizards 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)
circa May 9
Creatures 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)
May 26
Creatures Death Eaters witches and wizards 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)
early June
Death Eaters history & timelines witches and wizards 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)
June
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch End of Term FeastGryffindor wins the [House Cup], but not the [Quidditch Cup], which goes to Slytherin.
(PS17)
circa June
Quidditch 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)
after June
herbology Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel die after a long, long life (PS17)
July 31
Creatures Ministry of Magic witches and wizards 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).
circa August 3
witches and wizards 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)
circa August 13
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry 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)
September 1
witches and wizards 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)
September 1
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards 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)
circa September 8
Creatures history & timelines Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry 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)
October 31
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry The Halloween Feast and 500th Deathday for Nearly Headless Nick (CS8)
late October 31
Creatures Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry 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)
November 8
Creatures herbology Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards Colin Creevey is Petrified by the BasiliskThe next morning, Ron and Hermione start working on brewing [Polyjuice Potion].
(CS10)
December 17
Creatures witches and wizards 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)
December 18
Creatures Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry 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)
circa December 20
Gazetteer Merchant Mr and Mrs Weasley visit Bill in Egypt
Egypt
The Weasley children stayed on at Hogwarts over the holidays rather than visit Bill in Egypt with their parents. They would all visit Egypt the following summer.
December 25
herbology witches and wizards 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)
December 25
Creatures herbology witches and wizards 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  

Quidditch The Sweetwater, Texas [Quidditch] team, the [All-Stars], defeats the [Quiberon Quafflepunchers]The match lasts five days.
(QA8)
Creatures Ministry of Magic [Dolores Umbridge] crafts anti-werewolf legislationThe new law makes it almost impossible for Lupin to get a job.
(OP14)
February 14
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards 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)
May 8
Creatures Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch witches and wizards The Basilisk petrifies Hermione Granger and Penelope ClearwaterThe Hogwarts [Quidditch Cup] is cancelled.
(CS13)
late May 8
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Ministry of Magic witches and wizards 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)
May 24
Creatures witches and wizards Harry and Ron enter the Forbidden Forest and meet Aragog (CS15)
May 29
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)
late May 29
Creatures herbology history & timelines witches and wizards 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)
May 30
Creatures witches and wizards 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)
May 30
Death Eaters Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards Lucius Malfoy is removed from the Board of Governors of HogwartsHagrid and [Dumbledore] return to Hogwarts
(CS18)
June
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Gryffindor wins the [House Cup]; no [Quidditch Cup] is awarded (CS18)
circa July
witches and wizards The Granger family vacations in France (PA1)
July
witches and wizards 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)
July 27
[Jo Rowling]'s first daughter, [Jessica Isabel Rowling], is born
circa July 30
Animagi buildings Ministry of Magic witches and wizards 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)
July 31
Birthdays food and drink Muggle world, the witches and wizards 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)
August
Merchant Quidditch [Quality Quidditch Supplies] displays the new [Firebolt] [broomstick] (PA4)
August 7
Spells food and drink items and devices Muggle world, the 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)
after August 7
Quidditch 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)
August 31
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)
September
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch 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
During Harry's first year, the following comment is made:
"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)
September 1
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards 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)
October 31
Animagi Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry portrait, tapestry, sculpture witches and wizards 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)
November
Quidditch 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)
circa December 18
witches and wizards 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)
December 25
Quidditch 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  

Quidditch The [Toyohashi Tengu], the [Quidditch] team from Japan, narrowly misses a win over the [Gorodok Gargoyles]
Toyohashi, Japan, Asia
(QA8)
February
Animagi Gryffindor Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards Sirius Black sneaks into Gryffindor Tower in search of Pettigrew
Hogwarts, Gryffindor Tower, Dormitory
Ron\'s screams drive him out, and Ron becomes an instant celebrity. Neville, meanwhile, is completely disgraced when McGonagall figures out he left the Gryffindor Tower passwords lying around.
(PA13)
April 20
Creatures Ministry of Magic witches and wizards Buckbeak's hearingThe [Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures] considers the fate of the Hippogriff and sentences him to death.
(PA15)
June 6
Animagi Death Eaters witches and wizards 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).
June 6
Creatures Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Ministry of Magic witches and wizards 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)
June 7
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards Remus Lupin resigns from Hogwarts after it becomes known he is a werewolfSnape "accidentally" lets it slip, the morning after Sirius Black escapes.
(PA22)
after June 7
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch Gryffindor wins both the [Quidditch Cup] and [House Cup] (PA22)
circa July
Death Eaters Bertha Jorkins, on holiday in Albania, is tortured and then murdered by Pettigrew and Voldemort (GF1)
circa July
history & timelines Ministry of Magic [International Confederation of Wizards] conference (GF18)
July 31
Harry's 14th birthdayHe receives loads of food - and four birthday cakes - to help combat [Dudley]'s diet.
(GF2)
early August 20
Death Eaters Voldemort and Wormtail take up residence in the old Riddle house in Little Hangleton[Frank Bryce] is killed, shortly before his 77th birthday.
(GF1)
August 20
Death Eaters Harry Potter wakes up with his scar hurting after seeing [Frank Bryce]'s death in a dream (GF1)
August 22
Death Eaters Quidditch witches and wizards 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)
August 23
Death Eaters [Bartemius Crouch] sacks his house-elf, WinkyHe does so after she is found holding the wand which had cast a [Dark Mark].
(GF9)
September 1
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards 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)
September 2
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards 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)
September 4
Creatures Death Eaters witches and wizards In Defence Against the Dark Arts, Moody shows the [Unforgivable Curses]Neville Longbottom is particularly upset after watching Moody [Crucio] a spider.
(GF14)
October 30
history & timelines Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards Delegations from [Durmstrang] and [Beauxbatons] arrive at Hogwarts for the [Triwizard Tournament] (GF15)
October 31
Gryffindor Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Hufflepuff witches and wizards 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)
November 21
witches and wizards [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)
November 24
Creatures Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch witches and wizards 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)
circa December
[Jo Rowling] and her daughter move to Edinburgh, Scotland (JKR)
late December 25
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards 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  

January 4
Blood Status witches and wizards Rita Skeeter's article about Hagrid appears in the [Daily Prophet]Hagrid, revealed to be half-giant, is distraught for days.
(GF24)
February 24
Creatures Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards 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)
June 24
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witches and wizards 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)
June 24
battles Dark Magic Death Eaters herbology history & timelines Hufflepuff Medical potions witches and wizards 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).
June 24
history & timelines Ministry of Magic witches and wizards 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)
after June 24
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry No [Quidditch Cup] is awarded this year; there is no mention of who wins the [House Cup] (GF37)
circa July
Quidditch 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)
July 31
Harry Potter's 15th birthdayHe receives [Honeydukes] chocolate from Ron and Hermione, but throws it away unopened out of frustration with the situation
(OP1)
July 31
battles Medical Muggle world, the At some point during the day, [Dudley Dursley] beats up 10-year-old neighbour [Mark Evans] for "cheek" (OP1)
August 2
Creatures Ministry of Magic witches and wizards 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).
August 2
Ministry of Magic witches and wizards 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)
August 6
witches and wizards 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).
August 7
Mundungus Fletcher attempts to stash some dodgy [cauldrons] at [number twelve, Grimmauld Place] (OP6)
August 12
Ministry of Magic witches and wizards 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).

August 30
Ministry of Magic 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)
August 31
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch witches and wizards 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)
September 1
Creatures Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Ministry of Magic witches and wizards A busy day as students make their way to Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts
September 2
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry 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).
September 3
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)
September 4
At 5 p.m., Harry's second detention with [Umbridge] begins (OP13)
September 5
Quidditch 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)
September 6
Quidditch 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)
October 5
D.A. witches and wizards 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)
October 9
D.A. witches and wizards 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)
early November
Quidditch 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)
late December 18
Creatures Death Eaters witches and wizards 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)
December 25
witches and wizards 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  

February 14
witches and wizards Valentine's DayHarry's first date with Cho Chang (the complete fiasco), followed by Rita's interview of Harry for [The Quibbler].
(OP25)
April
D.A. Inquisitorial Squad Ministry of Magic witches and wizards 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)
June
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Inquisitorial Squad 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).
June
D.A. Death Eaters history & timelines Ministry of Magic witches and wizards 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).
June
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Quidditch Gryffindor wins the [Quidditch Cup]No mention of who wins the [House Cup], but it probably wasn't Gryffindor.
(OP30)
early July
Creatures Death Eaters history & timelines Ministry of Magic witches and wizards 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].
(HBP1, HBP2, HBP3)
early July
[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)
July 31
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)
August
Bloomsbury makes an offer to publish the Harry Potter books (JKR)
August 3
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)
circa September 2
herbology 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)
circa September 7
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)
October
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."
circa November
Quidditch 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)
December 20
Death Eaters Slug Club 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)
December 25
Ministry of Magic witches and wizards 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  

January 6
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)
March 1
witches and wizards 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)
March 10
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)
April 21
herbology Slug Club witches and wizards 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.
circa May
Death Eaters witches and wizards 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)
May
witches and wizards 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)
June
Death Eaters herbology witches and wizards 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)
June
battles D.A. Spells Dark Magic Death Eaters history & timelines Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Medical Order of the Phoenix portrait, tapestry, sculpture witches and wizards 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]).
June
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Ministry of Magic witches and wizards [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)
July 1
books and authors Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is publishedIt is published only in Britain until the following year.
late July 27
battles Broomsticks Spells Dark Magic Death Eaters Medical Order of the Phoenix potions 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].
August 1
battles buildings Death Eaters history & timelines music, rhymes, and dance The Wedding
[Fleur Delacour] and [Bill Weasley] get married. The reception is broken up by a [Death Eater] attack.
August 2

(Kreacher) tells (Harry Potter) the tale of how he was told to go with the (Dark Lord)by his master (Regulus Black) and how he failed his master by not destroying the locket.

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  

July
books and authors Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is publishedIt will not be released in the U.S. until the following year.
July 31
[Jo Rowling] publishes the first Daily Prophet newsletter for members of her fan club
September 1
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is published in the U.S.

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