1996

The following events occurred in the year 1996:

Events

 * January:
 * Broderick Bode is strangled to death by a Devil's Snare while in St Mungo's.
 * Fighting Death Eaters.jpg members fighting Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries.]]Ten Death Eaters, including Bellatrix Lestrange, escape from Azkaban prison in a mass breakout.
 * February:
 * 14 February: Harry Potter and Cho Chang have their first date in Hogsmeade. Afterwards, Harry is interviewed by Rita Skeeter for The Quibbler, as arranged by Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood.
 * April:
 * Dumbledore's Army is discovered after Marietta Edgecombe informs Dolores Umbridge about the organisation. Albus Dumbledore takes the fall and leaves Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
 * Fred and George Weasley depart from Hogwarts, jinxing Inquisitorial Squad members on their way and leaving a Portable Swamp behind, and open Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes in Diagon Alley.
 * May:
 * Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw at the last Quidditch match of the school year.
 * Hagrid introduced his half brother, Grawp to Harry and Hermione.
 * June:
 * 16 June:
 * Dolores Umbridge and some Aurors attack and attempt to arrest Rubeus Hagrid, McGonagall attempts to defend Hagrid.
 * Minerva McGonagall is stunned severely by the Aurors, Hagrid defeats the Aurors, outwitts Umbridge and escapes from Hogwarts and forced into hiding.
 * 17 June and 18 June:
 * Umbridge is attacked in the Forbidden Forest by centaurs when she calls them "filthy half-breeds."
 * Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood thwart Lord Voldemort's plans to steal the prophecy and the Battle of the Department of Mysteries ensues.
 * The Order of the Phoenix comes to their assistance; various Death Eaters are captured; the prophecy is destroyed and Sirius Black is murdered by Bellatrix Lestrange.
 * Voldemort duels Dumbledore and possesses Harry, but flees when the Ministry of Magic arrive.
 * Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge is forced to accept Voldemort has returned, Umbridge is removed from Hogwarts and Cornelius resigns from Minister for Magic.
 * The Second Wizarding War officially begins, according to the Ministry of Magic.
 * July:
 * Mr. Ollivander mysteriously disappears. The Brockdale Bridge and the Millennium Bridge are brought down by Death Eaters.
 * Rufus Scrimgeour replaces Fudge as Minister for Magic.
 * Draco Malfoy begins his duties as a Death Eater.
 * Narcissa Malfoy has Severus Snape take an Unbreakable Vow to help her son with the task Lord Voldemort assigned him: to kill Albus Dumbledore
 * Harry Celebrates his 16th Birthday at the Burrow the celebrations are marred by grisly tidings from Remus Lupin of more Dementor Attacks and Igor Karkaroff's body was found in a shack up north.
 * Late Summer
 * Rufus Scrimgeour sends a letter to Albus Dumbledore trying to get him to convince Harry Potter to become the Ministry of Magic's poster boy.
 * September
 * 1 September: the first meeting of the Slug Club takes place on the Hogwarts Express. Harry sneaks into Draco Malfoy's compartment and get's hit with a Full Body Blind Curse. Nymphadora Tonks rescues him and Severus Snape takes him to the Welcoming Feast.
 * December:
 * 20 December: Horace Slughorn, new Potions professor at Hogwarts, holds a Christmas party for his favourite students and other associates.
 * Christmas holidays: Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour tries to convince Harry Potter to work with the Ministry of Magic, but Harry confirms his loyalty to Albus Dumbledore.

Hufflepuff

 * Alys

Individuals that graduated from Hogwarts

 * Roger Davies
 * Angelina Johnson
 * Lee Jordan
 * Alicia Spinnet
 * Patricia Stimpson
 * Kenneth Towler

Deaths

 * Mrs. Abbott
 * Broderick Bode
 * Amelia Bones
 * Sirius Black
 * Igor Karkaroff
 * Emmeline Vance
 * Florean Fortescue
 * Fox near Spinners End