Harry Potter is among the most popular children’s books. The series is known for its passionate following, where fans have scrutinized every detail of the story, down to the height of the characters that appear in the book. That includes figuring out how old Harry Potter is throughout the series.
Harry Potter is between eleven and seventeen years old in each book of the series. He then ages one year in each novel afterward, except for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which takes place many years later. This latter part of the story begins when Harry is 37 years old.
Curious what age Harry Potter is during each entry in this beloved series? Read on and I’ll go into detail about his age in each book.
How Old Is Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone?
Harry Potter is eleven years old in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. In fact, the story begins on the day of his eleventh birthday. This is the age when he first arrives at Hogwarts to begin his education as a wizard.
Since this is the age that first-year students at Hogwarts begin their education, many of the other main characters of the series are also eleven at the beginning of the story. Hermoine Granger, Ron Weasley, and many other well-known characters from the series are also eleven-year-old first-year students at this point in the story.
How Old Is Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets?
Harry Potter is now twelve years old in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. After an eventful first year, Harry Potter and his friends return to Hogwarts for a second year of school in this second installment of the series.
How Old Is Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban?
Harry Potter is thirteen years old in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This novel begins during Harry’s third year of studies at Hogwarts.
In this part of the series, Harry meets Sirius Black, who is the titular Prisoner of Azkaban. This meeting is an important coming-of-age moment for Harry, as Sirius becomes his mentor and legal guardian.
How Old Is Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire?
Harry Potter is fourteen years old in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Harry and his friends continue into their fourth year at Hogwarts in this entry into the series.
The age progression is notable at this point in the story because this is the first story in the series where themes of infatuation and romance come into play, reflecting the puberty-age main characters. One plot point is which characters will be attending the Yule Ball together, showing the changing priorities of the characters as they age.
How Old Is Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix?
Harry Potter is fifteen years old in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Hermoine, Ron, and many of the other major characters who started school together are the same age, facing new difficulties both with their personal lives and the growing danger in the Wizarding World.
Another important milestone in Harry’s coming of age occurs in this book, with the death of Sirius Black. Losing his father figure forces Harry to learn how to stand on his own two feet.
How Old Is Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince?
Harry Potter is sixteen years old in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. This penultimate entry into the main Harry Potter saga features more emotional themes such as redemption or death included in this part of the story. The teenage characters face greater challenges and growth that fits with their rise to adulthood.
These struggles continue as Harry and his friends prepare for their final showdown with Voldemort and his minions. These coming-of-age struggles are undoubtedly part of what makes this series resonate with adolescent readers grappling with their own issues that arise as they grow up.
How Old Is Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows?
Harry potter is seventeen years old in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This finale of the primary series focuses on the clash between Harry Potter with Dumbledore’s Army and Voldemort and his evil forces to determine the fate of both Hogwarts and the wider world.
As is fitting with the character’s age progression, this climactic struggle forces Harry Potter to become an adult who is responsible for protecting others. This watershed moment signifies to the reader that the boy to who they were introduced at the start of the series has become a fully-grown man.
How Old Is Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?
While the other stories in this series follow a year-by-year progression of the story, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the exception to this rule. A separate story from the main saga, this sequel takes place long after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, centering around the cast of characters from the previous books at a more mature age as well as some of their children.
We’re told Harry Potter is thirty-seven years old at the onset of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The story continues through the first few years of his son’s wizarding education, continuing through into Harry Potter’s forties.
Other Ways to Determine Harry’s Age
As well as following the progression of the story, we can also determine Harry’s age by working out his birthday in relation to other events in the book. The series begins on Harry’s eleventh birthday, which we’re told is the last day of July. That tells us that he was born on July 31st, 1980.
Using other dates given in the novel, we’re able to determine the years that the story takes place. For example, in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, we’re told that the ghost Nearly-Headless Nick died on Halloween in 1492 and is going to be celebrating the 500th anniversary of his death date. Working with these numbers, we can determine that the year is 1992, making Harry twelve years old at this point.
Conclusion
The struggles that Harry Potter goes through in his teenage years make his story mirror the conflicts that readers themselves go through. Knowing his exact age makes the story even more relatable, helping to make this timeless story even more relevant.
