The christening of Harry Potter took place at the height of the First Wizarding War sometime between Harry's birth on 31 July 1980 and his parents' murders on 31 October 1981. The ceremony was a "very hurried, quiet affair." Because James and Lily Potter were in hiding at the time, they could not risk having lots of guests, and thus the only person they invited was their best friend, Sirius Black. They named him Harry's godfather.