The 1980s
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 theoretician [Adalbert Waffling] dies (fw)circa September
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.
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
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)
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
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)
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
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)
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
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)
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
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)
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
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)
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)
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)
[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. 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
Bill Weasley starts his first year at Hogwarts (JKR) - he is sorted into Gryffindor (PS6)
Bill Weasley starts his first year at Hogwarts (JKR) - he is sorted into Gryffindor (PS6)circa November
[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]].
[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)
"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
September 1
Charlie Weasley starts his first year at Hogwarts (JKR) and is sorted into Gryffindor (PS6)Bill is starting his third year.
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
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)
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)
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
[Aunt Marge] comes to [Dudley]'s fifth birthday partyShe whacks Harry around the shins to keep him from beating [Dudley] at musical statues.
(PA2)
[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
Charlie Weasley starts his second year at HogwartsMaking this the first year that he could conceivably be on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
(JKR)
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
The Ugandan [Quidditch] team, the [Patonga Proudsticks], holds the [Montrose Magpies] to a drawThe outcome comes as a shock to [Quidditch] fans everywhere.(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
[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)
[Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles], by [Wilhelm Wigworthy], is publishedThe publisher is [Little Red Books].(FB)
September 1
Percy Weasley starts his first year at Hogwarts and is sorted into GryffindorBill is in his sixth year and Charlie his fourth.
(JKR)
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)
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
[Aunt Marge] comes to [Dudley]'s eighth birthday partyShe brings a computerized robot for [Dudley] and a box of dog biscuits for Harry.
(PA2)
[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
Bill Weasley becomes [Head Boy] and Charlie is made a [Prefect]Percy, meanwhile, is starting his second year at Hogwarts.
(OP9)
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
September
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.
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
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.
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
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).
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:
The 1990s - OverviewThe NinetiesThe 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
Pollux Black dies at age 78He is the grandfather of Sirius, Regulus, Bellatrix, Narcissa, and [Andromeda Black].
(BFT)
(BFT)
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.
[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.
September
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.
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
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)
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)
