The 1960s
Events of this decade:
(QA2)
(QA7)
1960 (Y-20) AD = 79 MM = 35 TR = 34 RH = 32 M = 2
1961 (Y-19) AD = 80 MM = 36 TR = 35 RH = 33 M = 3
Warning: mysql_fetch_assoc(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL result resource in /home/hplexico/public_html/timelines/timefuncs.php on line 51
Regulus Black is born (BFT)
c. 1962 (Y-18)
1962 (Y-18) AD = 81 MM = 37 TR = 36 RH = 34 M = 4
1963 (Y-17) AD = 82 MM = 38 TR = 37 RH = 35 M = 5
(FB)
1965 (Y-15) AD = 84 MM = 40 TR = 39 RH = 37 M = 7
Warning: mysql_fetch_assoc(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL result resource in /home/hplexico/public_html/timelines/timefuncs.php on line 51
Lycoris Black dies at age 61 (BFT)
1966 (Y-14) AD = 85 MM = 41 TR = 40 RH = 38 M = 8
Warning: mysql_fetch_assoc(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL result resource in /home/hplexico/public_html/timelines/timefuncs.php on line 51
[Beautifying Potions] inventor [Sacharissa Tugwood] dies (fw)
1967 (Y-13) AD = 86 MM = 42 TR = 41 RH = 39 M = 9
1968 (Y-12) AD = 87 MM = 43 TR = 42 RH = 40 M = 10
[Sturgis Podmore] starts his first year at HogwartsThis follows from his birthday in 1957 [[Y-23]].
c. 1969 (Y-11)
(HBP5)
The 1970s
Events of this decade:
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
Warning: mysql_fetch_assoc(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL result resource in /home/hplexico/public_html/timelines/timefuncs.php on line 51
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)
Warning: mysql_num_rows(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL result resource in /home/hplexico/public_html/timelines/timeline.php on line 302
1970 (Y-10) AD = 89 MM = 45 TR = 44 RH = 42 M = 12 BW = 0
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.
(JKR)
1971 (Y-9) AD = 90 MM = 46 TR = 45 RH = 43 M = 13 BW = 1
[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
(QA7)
(JKR)
c. 1973 (Y-7)
1973 (Y-7) AD = 92 MM = 48 TR = 47 RH = 45 M = 15 BW = 3 CW = 1
(FB)
c. 1974 (Y-6)
Sirius says in OP6 that ran away from home when he was about sixteen.
(OP6)
(PA18)
1974 (Y-6) AD = 93 MM = 49 TR = 48 RH = 46 M = 16 BW = 4 CW = 2
c. 1975 (Y-5)
(OP28)
(PA18)
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
c. 1976 (Y-4)
(PS9)
1976 (Y-4) AD = 95 MM = 51 TR = 50 RH = 48 M = 18 BW = 6 CW = 4 PW = 0
(JKR)
c. 1977 (Y-3)
Deduced from their birth years.
1977 (Y-3) AD = 96 MM = 52 TR = 51 RH = 49 M = 19 BW = 7 CW = 5 PW = 1
(GF16)
[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)
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
(QA9)
c. 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
"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)
(BFT)
(FB)
(HBP6)
The 1980s
Events of this decade:
c. 1980 (Y0)
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
It is stated in [Karkaroff]'s scene in the Pensieve that he was apprehended just before [Rosier]'s death.
(GF30)
We know from Sirius Black that this happened "the year before Voldemort fell" (GF27).
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.
[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.

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
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.
Fudge says that the [Fidelius Charm] was cast "barely a week" before Voldemort came after the Potters.
(PA10)
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)
It's about 90% certain this happened on November 1, but it's also possible it was November 2.
(PA10)
but there are [twenty-four hours missing] from the chronology of events of these two days...
(PS1)
This almost certainly happened immediately following Sirius's capture on November 1, but we have no way of knowing for sure.
(GF27)
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)
(PA18)
c. 1982 (Y2)
(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
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)
"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
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
"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)
"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
[Aunt Marge] comes to [Dudley]'s fifth birthday partyShe whacks Harry around the shins to keep him from beating [Dudley] at musical statues.
(PA2)
(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
(QA8)
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
(fw)
(FB)
(JKR)
c. 1988 (Y8)
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
[Aunt Marge] comes to [Dudley]'s eighth birthday partyShe brings a computerized robot for [Dudley] and a box of dog biscuits for Harry.
(PA2)
(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
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.
See entry below (1990 [[Y10]]) for an explanation of when Quirrell taught.
The 1990s
Events of this decade:
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
(BFT)
[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.
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.
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)
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
(PS5)
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)
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)
"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)
Just after midnight, Hagrid arrives at the hut-on-the-rockHe brings Harry a birthday cake and invites him to Hogwarts.
(PS4)

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)
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.
(PS17)
[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)

(PS6)
"Taking [Dudley] to the hospital," growled [Uncle Vernon]. "Got to have that ruddy tail removed before he goes to Smeltings."
(PS5)
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.
Harry discovers that Professor Snape actively dislikes him when he embarrasses Harry in front of the rest of the class.
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)
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)
(PS11)
(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
(PS14)
Derived from the estimated date of Norbert's hatching.
(PS14)
We have no indication of when this date might be, except that it is shortly before final exams.
(PS15)
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)
(PS17)
(CS7)
(CS2)
(CS6)
(CS5)
(CS5)
This is about a week into the school year, so it didn't take Riddle long to force Ginny to open the Chamber.
(CS7)
If we go by the calendar of this year according to the official timeline, Halloween is on a Saturday.
(CS8)
(CS10)
(CS11)
(CS11)
(CS12)
(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
(QA8)
(OP14)
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)
(CS13)
(CS14)
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)

Later that night, the [Petrified] people are restored using [Mandrake Draught].
original artwork © [Agata Matteucci], used by permission
(CS17)
(CS18)
(CS18)
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)
[Jo Rowling]'s first daughter, [Jessica Isabel Rowling], is born
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)
(PA2)
(PA2)
(PA4)
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)
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
"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)
(PA5)
(PA5)
(PA8)
(PA9)
(PA10)
(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
(PA13)
(PA15)
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).
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)
(PA22)
Harry's 14th birthdayHe receives loads of food - and four birthday cakes - to help combat [Dudley]'s diet.
(GF2)
(GF1)
That night, Death Eaters raid the campsite and are driven away when [Barty Crouch Jr.] casts the [Dark Mark].
(GF8)
(GF9)
"'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)
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)
(GF14)
(GF16)
(GF19)
(GF19)
(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
(GF24)
(GF26)
(GF31)
Back at Hogwarts, it is revealed that [Barty Crouch Jr.], impersonating Moody all year, led Harry to Voldemort (GF35).
(GF36)
(OP9)
Harry Potter's 15th birthdayHe receives [Honeydukes] chocolate from Ron and Hermione, but throws it away unopened out of frustration with the situation
(OP1)
(OP2)
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).
Mundungus Fletcher attempts to stash some dodgy [cauldrons] at [number twelve, Grimmauld Place] (OP6)
- 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).
(OP12)
(OP9)
- 0100 [Sturgis Podmore] arrested at the [Ministry] by [Eric Munch] (OP14).
- 1100 Hogwarts Express departs King's Cross Station. Ginny introduces Harry and Neville to Luna Lovegood (OP10).
- After the train arrives at Hogwarts, Harry sees Thestrals for the first time (OP10).
- At the feast, the Sorting Hat sings a song of warning, and [Dolores Umbridge] is introduced (OP11).
- Seamus Finnigan admits he believes Harry is lying (OP11).
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).
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)
(OP13)
(OP13)

(OP16)
(OP18)
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)
(OP21)
(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
(OP25)
"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)
(OP30)
- 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].
[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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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."
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)

During the party, Harry follows Snape and Malfoy and overhears them talking about the [Unbreakable Vow].
(HBP17)
(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
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)
(HBP18)
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)
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.
(HBP24)
(JKR)
(HBP26)
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]).
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)
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].
[Fleur Delacour] and [Bill Weasley] get married. The reception is broken up by a [Death Eater] attack.
(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
