"No one's tried to attack me all year."
-- Harry Potter
NOTES:
Creating a reliable calendar of Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts is
possible if one allows for some vaguenesses and inconsistencies.
Overall, it is clear that Rowling did work out a class schedule and calendar for the year, since the vast majority of dates, days of the week, and intervals are consistent with each other. However, she certainly was not attempting to conform to the actual 1994-1995 calendar, since the dates are explicitly contradicted (e.g. Halloween fell on a Monday in 1994, but JKR places it on a Saturday). Therefore, although Easter fell on April 16 in 1995, this is not a reliable piece of evidence for deciding when "the Easter holidays" fall in GF; Easter could be anywhere between the third week of March and the fourth week of April, as in any year. As a result, I have not tried to make this calendar consistent with Real Life 1994-95.
Instead, the calendar that follows is as nearly as possible internally consistent. In a few places, which are noted, adjustments such as extra or omitted days are necessary.
Course Schedule
The course schedule is quite consistent and follows a pattern Americans
associate with college schedules: three, possibly four class periods
per day, two before and two after lunch, with a break between the two morning
classes (there is only documentation of break on Fridays, but I have assumed
it would take place every day). "Double" classes are twice the length
of other lessons. A particular subject may meet once or twice per
week.
There are a few glitches. For example, the days History of Magic are held are clearly Tuesday and Friday (History and Double Potions on the same day--what an ordeal), but the time of day is not clear. In chapter 29 it is the first class on Friday, but an earlier passage implies that it takes place after lunch: "every time he glimpsed Cho that day--during break, and then lunchtime, and once on the way to History of Magic--she was surrounded by friends" (22). (It is possible, though unlikely, that it is Cho, not Harry, who is on the way to History of Magic.)
It is also possible that the schedule is more complex than the simple grid given below and that classes are not always in the same slot. The general consistency elsewhere suggests that the schedule is quite fixed, however.
Harry's course schedule
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with the Hufflepuffs |
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with the Slytherins |
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with the Slytherins |
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There is no mention of Astronomy, whether of continuing it or dropping it.
Ron's schedule, as far as we know, is the same as Harry's
Hermione's differs in that she has Arithmancy on Monday afternoons
(13)
Fred, George, and Lee have DADA on Monday afternoons (13)
Cedric has Charms in the first block on Monday mornings (20)
Cho has DADA last thing on Friday afternoons (22).
Inconsistencies
Time was behaving in a more peculiar fashion than
ever.
-- Chapter 20
There are several internal inconsistencies in the GF calendar, mostly around intervals that are described as longer or shorter than they really are. Occasionally intervals are implied that are not borne out by the facts: e.g., Harry worries a great deal about Sirius when Hedwig takes 12 days to return with a letter (August 23-September 4), but later replies take much longer and meet with much less worry; his very next letter, sent to dissuade Sirius from returning north, doesn't get a reply for eight weeks.
Events in blue are approximate dates. The lettered items in the calendar have corresponding notes below.
July "1994" - July "1995"
and mid-1940s
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c. 1945, summer: Tom Riddle, Sr., and his parents die mysteriously |
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Harry's 14th birthday receives cakes from Ron, Hermione, Sirius, and Hagrid |
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Aunt Petunia catches Dudley smuggling donuts; he throws his PlayStation out the window |
Voldemort kills Frank Bryce Harry wakes up in the early morning hours (a) writes to Sirius receives the Weasleys' invitation |
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Mr. Weasley, Ron, and the twins pick Harry up |
the Quidditch World Cup Riot, late p.m. 25th or early a.m. 26th |
Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys return to the Burrow |
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except for one night at the World Cup, Harry spends the week at the Burrow |
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Med-Eye Moody kidnapped last night at the Burrow |
Amos Diggory calls on Mr. Weasley to help Moody Hogwarts Express back to Hogwarts, arrives in a violent downpour DAY OMITTED TO MAKE CALENDAR
AGREE:
Bubotubers in Herbology,
Rita's article about Mr. Weasley/Moody appears in the Daily Prophet Moody transforms Malfoy into a ferret |
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first DADA class: Unforgivable Curses Moody lends Neville Herbology book Ron and Harry get creative with their Divination homework Hermione founds S.P.E.W. Hedwig returns with Sirius's note |
Harry writes to Sirius, using Hedwig |
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Imperius Curse in DADA sometime between now and October 27 |
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Hermione's birthday (passes without comment) |
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they begin studying Summoning Charms |
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notice of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students' upcoming arrival is posted (c) |
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Switching Spells in Transfiguration |
breakfast: Sirius's reply arrives Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students arrive, 6 p.m. (d) |
breakfast: Goblet of Fire is in the Entrance Hall H-R-H visit Hagrid dinner: Harry's name comes out of the Goblet Ron and Harry argue |
castle is spiffed up, teachers very tense |
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Harry writes to Sirius about Goblet, using barn owl; Hedwig now very irritated |
Bouncing Bulbs in Herbology |
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Harry shunned by most of the school |
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Support Cedric Diggory/Potter Stinks badges appear Draco and Harry duel; Hermione's teeth hexed Antidotes in Potions Weighing of the Wands; Rita interviews Harry Sirius's letter arrives, arranging Nov. 22 conversation (e) |
Rita's article appears in the DP evening: Ron and Harry serve detention for Snape (pickling rats' brains) |
Summoning Charms in Charms Harry and Hermione come in for a lot of ridicule following Skeeter article |
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Hogsmeade visit; Harry and Hermione talk to Moody and Hagrid at the Three Broomsticks 11:30 p.m. Harry heads to Hagrid's house |
post-article ridicule continues |
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shortly after midnight: Hagrid leads Harry to see the dragons 1 a.m. Harry and Sirius talk via fire in the common room Ron interrupts |
Harry tells Cedric about the dragons Moody gives Harry hints Flutterby Bushes in Herbology |
Harry and Hermione practice Summoning Charms until 2 a.m. after lunch:The First Task Harry and Krum tied for first place with 40 points each Harry and Ron make up evening: Harry writes to Sirius about the First Task, using Pig |
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Dobby and Winky come to Hogwarts |
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weather windy and sleeting |
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Rita Skeeter shows up at Care of Magical Creatures Hermione discovers Dobby, leads Harry and Ron to kitchens |
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McGonagall announces Yule Ball in Transfiguration Cross-Species Swtiches in Transfiguration |
Rita Skeeter interviews Hagrid |
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Last day of term Antidotes test in Potions Harry asks Cho, and Ron Fleur, to the Ball unsuccessfully |
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Christmas 8 p.m.- midnight: Yule Ball |
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Sometime between the 18th and 25th, Sirius's reply about the First Task arrives |
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Harry begins opening egg each time he goes to his room |
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first day of term Rita's article about Hagrid appears in the Daily Prophet Prof. Grubbly-Plank takes over Care of Magical Creatures (unicorns) |
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Hogsmeade visit H-R-H see Krum diving into lake Run-in with Rita at the Three Broomsticks Dumbledore and H-R-H convince Hagrid to return to work |
Unicorns in Care of Magical Creatures |
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Harry takes egg for a bath, works out clue with Myrtle's help Map shows Crouch in Snape's office; Harry runs into Filch, Snape, and Moody on stairs |
Banishing Charms in Charms Harry writes to Sirius by brown owl about previous night's events |
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Unicorns in Care of Magical Creatures |
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Unicorns in Care of Magical Creatures Harry researching underwater breathing |
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Unicorns in Care of Magical Creatures Harry researching underwater breathing |
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Unicorns in Care of Magical Creatures Harry researching underwater breathing |
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Unicorns in Care of Magical Creatures Harry researching underwater breathing |
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brown owl returns with Sirius's note asking date of next Hogsmeade weekend; Harry sends it off with reply |
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9:30 a.m. The Second Task Harry and Cedric tied for first place with 85 points each |
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Unicorns in Care of Magical Creatures Harry researching underwater breathing |
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Ron's birthday (passes without comment) |
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breakfast: brown owl from Sirius arranging to meet next day Rita's article about Hermione, Krum, Harry appears in Witch Weekly Karakroff shows up in Potions, worried about his arm |
Hogsmeade visit noon: H-R-H leave castle, pick out lurid socks for Dobby at Gladrags 2 p.m.: H-R-H meet Sirius and talk in cave |
weather dry and very windy; owls often blown off course |
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after breakfast: H-R-H write to Percy, using Hedwig; visit kitchens again Harry sends food to Sirius, sees Hagrid digging, eagle owl flying |
breakfast: Hermione gets first hate mail Nifflers in Care of Magical Creatures |
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hex-deflection test in DADA |
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Hermione gets hate mail all week |
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at "end of Easter holidays" Percy responds by owl Mrs. Weasley sends toffee eggs: large to Ron and Harry, small to Hermione |
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Crouch Sr. escapes from Voldemort |
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9 p.m. Bagman explains Third Task to Champions Crouch Sr. appears on grounds, apparently insane |
early a.m. Harry sends owl to Sirius; H-R-H see Fred and George sending one to mystery person break (after History of Magic): H-R-H talk to Moody |
breakfast: owl from Sirius |
Harry practicing for Third Task, with Ron and Hermione's help |
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Harry has dream of Voldemort in Divination goes to Dumbledore's office, looks in Pensieve writes to Sirius |
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weather: sunny Harry practicing for Third Task, with Ron and Hermione's help H-R-H see Malfoy talking into his hand |
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Harry practicing for Third Task, with Ron and Hermione's help |
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Sirius sending daily owls Harry practicing for Third Task, with Ron and Hermione's help |
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breakfast: Rita's article about Harry appears in DP (f) History exam Bill and Mrs. Weasley arrive dusk: The Third Task Cedric killed Voldemort regains his body Crouch Jr. confesses, is Kissed by Dementor Hermione captures Rita |
morning: conversation with Diggorys |
evening: Harry leaves hospital wing |
exams |
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H-R-H visit Hagrid |
end of the year Feast Mad-Eye
Moody out of hospital wing;
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Hogwarts Express back to London |
weather: sunny students avoid Harry in corridors; he avoids Great Hall when it's crowded |
(a) In chapter 10, Harry says "On Sunday morning, I woke up with my scar hurting again." However, the evidence elsewhere is that it is a Saturday. Ron's letter says that Harry will be picked up "at five o'clock on Sunday" (3) and the next chapter says "By twelve o'clock next day, Harry's trunk was packed;" therefore, the day Ron's letter (and Molly's) arrived, the day Harry's scar hurt, was a Saturday. Furthermore, Harry spends one night at the Burrow (5) and the Quidditch World Cup is on a Monday ("Ireland vs. Bulgaria, Monday night") (3). The chronology seems clear: Harry's scar hurts early Saturday morning, the invitation arrives that day, the Weasleys pick him up the next day (Sunday), and the World Cup is the day after that (Monday). The chapter 10 reference is an error.
(b) Rowling seems to have made an error here, placing
both the return to Hogwarts and the first day of lessons on a Monday.
The last night at the Burrow
is a Sunday, and they return to Hogwarts the next day: "'It's been
absolute uproar,' Percy told them importantly, the Sunday evening before
they were due to return to Hogwarts"; later in the same conversation, Fred
says, "If the Hogwarts Express crashed tomorrow, and George and I died,
how would you feel knowing the last thing we ever heard from you was an
unfounded accusation?" (10).
The first day of lessons
is also a Monday. "'Today's not bad . . . outside all morning,' said
Ron, who was running his finger down the Monday column of his timetable"
(13). Later references to Care of Magical Creatures, which they have
that morning, repeatedly place it on a Monday and never on another day.
Furthermore, the two dates
can't be a week apart, as Dumbledore speaks of lessons beginning "tomorrow
morning" at the Welcoming Feast (12). Call it a Flint. I have
proceeded as if the lessons begin on Monday, September 1.
(c) Ernie says the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students' arrival is "only a week away!" (15) Given the choice between making that 4 days (notice posted on October 27) or 11 (notice posted on October 20), I have chosen the former.
(d) Counting from September 1, October 30 should be a Thursday. However, the sign announcing the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students' arrival explicitly states that it is a Friday (15). If one accepts it as a Friday, the calendar is quite consistent from that date on, and I have done so by inserting a blank day (call it Thursday, October 29.5).
(e) "The prospect of talking face to face with Sirius was all that sustained Harry over the next fortnight" (19), though it is in fact only 8 days between the letter and the conversation.
(f) The article refers to Harry's scar paining him in class "Monday last," though it is actually four Mondays previous. Perhaps Rita's editor held onto it for a few weeks and added the bits about the third task being that night?