Thought i’d stick it in here rather than GQ. Anyone know? I’m building a dramatic pause theory.
According to the Harry Potter Lexicon, it’s June 5, 1980. In book 6, Harry and Draco were some of the only sixth years who weren’t old enough to take their apparition tests in the spring.
Rowling has made a point of indicating the birthday months of a lot of the characters… and a lot of the Gryffindors are fire signs (Harry is a Leo; Ron Fred and George are all sometime in April, which is likely Aries; Hermione is sometime in the Autumn–maybe or maybe not Sagittarius, though probably not).
Yes, that’s what prompted the question; I was re-reading HBP and read that and thought “Hey, maybe Draco is the person referred to in the prophecy” - but his birthday’s too early. Ah well. Thanks anyway. 
Fred and George’s birthday is April 1st; Ron’s is March 1st; Hemione’s is September 19.
What’s it to you, mudblood?
And of course, Harry’s is July 31- same as J.K. Rowling’s.
Is this a typo? Do you mean 1990?
If it is 1980, then I’m at a loss, as I never considered the Potter series to be set in the past.
It’s 1980 - the HP series is indeed set in the past (that is, HBP is not set in 2006 but 1996-7.
Wow, I must have really poor reading retention skills. In which book do they peg the year?
The only direct reference to the year I noticed was in the second book, where they attend Nearly Headless Nick’s deathday anniversary; it’s the 500th anniversary of his death in 1492, which means the second book is covering the 1992-93 school year.
If I recall the first book came out a year or two after the chronological time it is in the book, and since each book is in a succeeding year but takes more than 1 year to release we’ve grown further and further behind.
– IG