1996

The following events occurred in the year 1996:

Events[edit | edit source]

January:
- Broderick Bode is strangled to death by a Devil's Snare while in St Mungo's.^{[citation needed]}
- The D.A. members fighting Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries.
  
  Ten Death Eaters, including Bellatrix Lestrange, escape from Azkaban prison in a mass breakout.^{[citation needed]}
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.^{[citation needed]}
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.^{[citation needed]}
- 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.^{[citation needed]}
May:
- Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw at the last Quidditch match of the school year.^{[citation needed]}
- 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.^{[citation needed]}
  - Minerva McGonagall is stunned severely by the Aurors, Hagrid defeats the Aurors, outwitts Umbridge and escapes from Hogwarts and forced into hiding.^{[citation needed]}
- 17 June and 18 June:
  - Umbridge is attacked in the Forbidden Forest by centaurs when she calls them "filthy half-breeds."^{[citation needed]}
  - 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.^{[citation needed]}
  - 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.^{[citation needed]}
  - Voldemort duels Dumbledore and possesses Harry, but flees when the Ministry of Magic arrive.^{[citation needed]}
  - Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge is forced to accept Voldemort has returned, Umbridge is removed from Hogwarts and Cornelius resigns from Minister for Magic.^{[citation needed]}
  - The Second Wizarding War officially begins, according to the Ministry of Magic.^{[citation needed]}

File:Break vowno.PNG

Severus Snape making the unbreakable vow.

July:
- Mr. Ollivander mysteriously disappears. The Brockdale Bridge and the Millennium Bridge are brought down by Death Eaters.^{[citation needed]}
- Rufus Scrimgeour replaces Fudge as Minister for Magic.^{[citation needed]}
- Draco Malfoy begins his duties as a Death Eater.^{[citation needed]}
- Narcissa Malfoy has Severus Snape take an Unbreakable Vow to help her son with the task Lord Voldemort assigned him: to kill Albus Dumbledore^{[citation needed]}
- 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.^{[citation needed]}
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.^{[citation needed]}
December:
- 20 December: Horace Slughorn, new Potions professor at Hogwarts, holds a Christmas party for his favourite students and other associates.^{[citation needed]}
- 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.^{[citation needed]}