Description
The Second Wizarding War was the conflict between Voldemort’s forces and the wizarding world, spanning approximately 1995 to 1998. It began with Voldemort’s return to physical form and ended with his final defeat at the Battle of Hogwarts. The war was marked by the Ministry’s initial denial of Voldemort’s return, the fall of the Ministry to Death Eater control, widespread persecution of Muggle-borns, and the heroic efforts of the Order of the Phoenix and their allies.
Timeline
- June 1995 - Voldemort returns to physical form using a dark ritual in the Little Hangleton graveyard. Harry Potter witnesses the return and escapes. The Ministry of Magic refuses to acknowledge the threat, launching a smear campaign against Harry and Albus Dumbledore.
- 1995-1996 - Albus Dumbledore reforms the Order of the Phoenix to oppose Voldemort in secret. The Ministry installs Dolores Umbridge at Hogwarts, who undermines Defense Against the Dark Arts education. Harry forms Dumbledore’s Army to train students.
- June 1996 - The Battle of the Department of Mysteries. Death Eaters led by Lucius Malfoy attempt to retrieve a prophecy concerning Harry Potter and Voldemort. The Order of the Phoenix intervenes. Sirius Black is killed by Bellatrix Lestrange. Voldemort appears in person and duels Albus Dumbledore. The Ministry finally acknowledges Voldemort’s return.
- 1996-1997 - Open war. Death Eaters carry out attacks on both the wizarding and Muggle worlds. Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter work together to uncover the secret of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Severus Snape, acting as a double agent under Dumbledore’s orders, maintains his cover among the Death Eaters.
- June 1997 - Albus Dumbledore is killed atop the Astronomy Tower at Hogwarts by Severus Snape, fulfilling a plan the two had arranged to protect Draco Malfoy and preserve Snape’s position as a spy. Hogwarts is left without its greatest protector.
- August 1997 - The Ministry of Magic falls to Voldemort’s forces. Minister Rufus Scrimgeour is killed and replaced by Pius Thicknesse, who is controlled via the Imperius Curse. The Muggle-Born Registration Commission is established under Dolores Umbridge, systematically persecuting Muggle-born witches and wizards.
- 1997-1998 - Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger go on the run, hunting and destroying Horcruxes. The resistance at Hogwarts continues under the brutal regime of the Carrow siblings. Underground resistance networks, including Potterwatch radio, keep hope alive.
- May 2, 1998 - The Battle of Hogwarts. The final confrontation between Voldemort’s forces and the defenders of Hogwarts. Voldemort is defeated and killed when his own Killing Curse rebounds upon him. The war ends.
- Post-War - Kingsley Shacklebolt becomes Minister of Magic and oversees reconstruction. Death Eaters are captured and tried; many, including Lucius Malfoy, are sentenced to Azkaban. Dementors are permanently removed from Azkaban. All anti-Muggle-born legislation is repealed. Hogwarts is rebuilt under Headmistress McGonagall. Pius Thicknesse is allowed to walk free since he was under the Imperius Curse, though his tenure as Minister is wiped from the official record.