Timeline Description: J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter is a children's series that changed the nature of young adult literature. Harry was an accessible and likable character, surrounded by a cast of well-created supporting characters. This timeline lays out the key events in the seven Harry Potter books.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 31, 1980 | Harry Potter Was Born Harry Potter was born to James and Lily Potter on July 31, 1980. His father was from a wizarding family, and his mother muggle-born. |
| October 31, 1981 | Lily and James Potter Were Killed On October 31, 1981, when Harry was one, Lily and James were killed in an attack by Voldemort. Harry survived, with only a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. Hagrid took the baby, meeting Dumbledore outside the Dursley's home. Young Harry was left with the Dursleys. |
| July 24, 1991 | Letters Began Arriving from Hogwart's(July 24 to July 30, 1991) Immediately before Harry's 11th birthday, letters began arriving via Owl Post. The Dursleys were horrified and went into hiding. Hagrid rode his flying motorcycle, rescuing Harry and taking him to Diagon Alley for his school supplies. |
| September 1, 1991 | Harry Left for Hogwarts On September 1, 1991, Harry went to Platform 9 3/4 to catch the train to Hogwart's. He met Ron and Hermione for the first time. |
| June 1992 | Harry Defeated Quirrell/Voldemort At the end of his first year at Hogwart's, Harry defeated Voldemort, in the guise of the Defense of the Dark Arts professor, Quirrell. This was Harry's first encounter with He-who-shall-not-be-named. |
| August 1992 | Ron, Fred and George Picked Up Harry In August 1992, Ron, Fred, and George picked up Harry in their father's flying car. Harry and Ron later used the car to get to Hogwart's when Dobby blocked their access to Platform 9 3/4. |
| September 1992 | Second Year Began The students began their second year at the beginning of September 1992. Dobby feared for their lives and blocked their access to Platform 9 3/4; however, the students took the flying car, crashing in the woods. They would later serve a detention in the woods. |
| February 14, 1993 | Defeated Tom Riddle In February 1993, Harry defeated Tom Riddle and the basilisk in the tunnels beneath Hogwarts. He destroyed Tom Riddle, later to become Voldemort's diary. Readers will later learn this was one of Voldemort's horcruxes. |
| July 1993 | Fled the Dursleys(July to August 1993) In the summer of 1993, Harry fled the Dursleys. He learned, for the first time, of the existence of Sirius Black, and was later warned away from him by Arthur Weasley. |
| September 1, 1993 | Third Year Began In September 1993, Harry and the others began their third year at Hogwart's. Dementors were on campus because of the escape of Sirius that summer. |
| June 1994 | Freed Sirius Black and Buckbeak In June 1994, using the time-turner Dumbledore gave Hermione, Harry and the others free Sirius, as well as the hippogriff, Buckbeak. Sirius leaves Harry a letter providing permission to go to Hogsmeade. |
| September 1, 1994 | Fourth Year Began Harry's fourth year at Hogwart's began in September 1994. Hogwart's was anxiously awaiting the Tri-Wizard Tournament. |
| October 31, 1994 | Goblet of Fire Chose Harry On October 31, 1994, the Goblet of Fire provided an additional competitor's name, Harry Potter. Harry began to prepare for the competition. |
| June 24, 1995 | Harry Fought Voldemort, Cedric Died At the end of the Tri-wizard Tournament, Harry fought Voldemort. Voldemort ordered the other student from Hogwart's in the Tournament, Cedric Diggory killed by Peter Pettigrew. |
| August 12, 1995 | Harry's Disciplinary Hearing Following Harry's unauthorized use of magic to save his cousin Dudley from dementors, Harry is force to attend a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic. He is cleared of wrongdoing on the basis of Dumbledore's testimony. |
| September 1, 1995 | Fifth Year Began Harry began his fifth year at Hogwarts in 1995. By this time, Dumbledore had re-established the Order of the Phoenix, headquartered in Sirius Black's family home. |
| June 1996 | Battle of Department of Mysteries Harry and the Order of the Phoenix prevent Voldemort and his associates from acquiring the prophecy in the Department of Mysteries. Sirius Black is killed in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. |
| September 1996 | Sixth Year Began Harry began his sixth year at Hogwart's in September 1996. Dumbledore began to prepare for his death and Draco Malfoy supported the Death Eaters. |
| June 1997 | Albus Dumbledore Killed In June 1997, Severus Snape killed Albus Dumbledore. Snape acted at Dumbledore's request, as Dumbledore wanted to preserve Draco's soul. Draco had already been ordered to kill Dumbledore by Voldemore. |
| 1997 | Harry Sought Horcruxes(Summer and Fall 1997) After Dumbledore's death, Harry, Ron and Hermione sought out the horcruxes to destroy Voldemort. Conditions continued to worsen with Voldemort in power. |
| May 2, 1998 | Battle of Hogwarts The Battle of Hogwart's brought conditions in the magical world to a head. There were multiple deaths, including Snape, Lupin, Tonks and Fred Weasley. Hermione returned to complete her education, but many of the others, including Ron and Harry moved on to their professional lives. |
| 2007 | Harry Appointed Head of Aurors' Department In 2007, Harry was appointed head of the Aurors Department in the Ministry of Magic. The other students in his circle at Hogwart's were equally successful. |
| 2016 | The Next Generation Went to Hogwart's Harry and Ginny, Ron and Hermione and others watch their children leave for Hogwart's. |