Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, written by J.K. Rowling in 1997, is the first novel in the series centered around the young wizard protagonist, Harry Potter. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone introduces readers to the magical world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where Harry, an orphan living with his neglectful aunt, uncle, and cousin, discovers on his eleventh birthday that he is a wizard.
In the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone story follows Harry as he embarks on his journey to Hogwarts, makes new friends like Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, and begins to uncover the mysteries of his past, including the truth about his parents’ deaths and the dark wizard Voldemort who is responsible. This initial installment lays the foundation for the epic saga that follows, exploring themes of friendship, bravery, and the battle between good and evil.
Summary Of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Mr. Dursley, a wealthy Englishman, witnesses strange events one day while going to work. That night, the head of a wizarding school called Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, meets with Professor McGonagall, who also teaches at Hogwarts, and a giant man named Hagrid outside the Dursley family’s house. Dumbledore tells McGonagall that a man named Voldemort has killed Mr. and Mrs. Potter and unsuccessfully tried to kill their baby, Harry. Dumbledore leaves Harry in a basket with a note of explanation in front of the Dursley house and departs.
Ten years later, Dudley, the son of the Dursley family, has established dominance in the house, bullying and tormenting Harry. Dudley is spoiled, while Harry Potter is forced to sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. On Dudley’s birthday at the zoo, the glass in front of a boa constrictor exhibit disappears, frightening everyone. Harry is later punished for this incident.
Mysterious letters start arriving for Harry. Mr. Dursley, worried about these letters, tries to keep them from Harry, but the letters keep coming through every crack in the house. Eventually, on Harry’s eleventh birthday, the family escapes to a hut on a distant island. At midnight, they hear a loud noise at the door, and Hagrid enters. Hagrid gives Harry his acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry learns that the Dursleys have been trying to deny his magical heritage for years.
The next day, Hagrid takes Harry to London to shop for school supplies. First, they visit the wizarding bank, Gringotts, where Harry learns that his parents have left him a generous amount of money. They go to Diagon Alley, a shopping street for wizards, where Harry gets his school uniform. Harry buys books, potion ingredients, and finally, the wand that matches Voldemort’s.
A month later, Harry goes to the train station to board the train to Hogwarts at platform nine and three-quarters. On the train, Harry befriends other first-year students like Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger; Hermione is a Muggle-born girl who earned her place at Hogwarts. At school, the first-years take turns wearing the “Sorting Hat” to determine which house they will live in. Harry fears being placed in the notorious Slytherin house, but he, Ron, and Hermione are sorted into the noble Gryffindor house.
As the school year begins, Harry discovers that Potions professor Snape dislikes him. Hagrid reassures Harry that Snape has no reason to dislike him. During a flying lesson, the instructor leaves the students on the ground while taking an injured student, Neville, to the hospital. Draco Malfoy, a bully from Slytherin, grabs Neville’s precious toy and flies to the top of a tree. Harry flies after him. Malfoy throws the toy into the air, and Harry dives to catch it brilliantly. Professor McGonagall witnesses this.
Instead of punishing Harry, McGonagall suggests he play Quidditch, a beloved sport played on broomsticks, for Gryffindor. Later that day, Malfoy challenges Harry to a wizard’s duel at midnight. Malfoy does not show up at the appointed place, and Harry nearly gets into trouble. While trying to hide, Harry discovers a terrifying three-headed dog guarding a trapdoor in the forbidden third-floor corridor.
On Halloween, a troll is found in the building. All the students are escorted back to their dormitories, but Harry and Ron sneak off to find Hermione and end up locking the troll in the girls’ bathroom by accident. Together with Hermione, they defeat the troll. Hermione lies to prevent Harry and Ron from being punished. In Harry Potter’s first Quidditch match, his broom goes out of control. Hermione notices Snape staring at Harry and muttering a spell. She sets Snape’s robes on fire. Harry regains control of his broom and makes a spectacular play to win the Quidditch match.
For Christmas, Harry receives his father’s invisibility cloak and uses it to explore the school at night. He discovers the Mirror of Erised, which shows the deepest desire of the person looking into it. When Harry looks into it, he sees his parents alive. After Christmas, Harry, Ron, and Hermione begin to solve the mysterious connection between a robbery at Gringotts and the three-headed guard dog. They learn that the dog is guarding the Sorcerer’s Stone, which can grant immortality and unlimited wealth to its owner, Nicholas Flamel, Dumbledore’s old partner.
Long Synopsis Of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
A few weeks later, Hagrid wins a dragon egg in a poker game. Since owning a dragon is illegal, Harry, Ron, and Hermione contact Ron’s older brother, who studies dragons. They decide to get rid of the dragon but are caught. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are heavily punished, and Gryffindor loses 150 points. As part of their punishment, they must accompany Hagrid into the enchanted forest to find out who has been killing unicorns. In the forest, Harry encounters a hooded man drinking unicorn blood. The man tries to attack Harry, but he is saved by a friendly centaur, who reveals that the attacker is Voldemort. Harry also learns that Voldemort is trying to steal the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Harry decides he must find the stone before Voldemort does. That night, he, Ron, and Hermione sneak into the forbidden third-floor corridor. They get past the guard dog and encounter various magical challenges as they get closer to the stone. Harry eventually finds himself face-to-face with Quirrell, who declares that Harry must die.
Knowing Harry’s desire to find the stone, Quirrell places him in front of the Mirror of Erised and asks him to tell what he sees. Harry sees the stone in his pocket and feels it there at the same time. However, he tells Quirrell he sees something else. A voice tells Quirrell that the boy is lying and demands to speak to Harry face-to-face. Quirrell removes his turban to reveal Voldemort’s face on the back of his head. Voldemort has possessed Quirrell’s body and orders him to kill Harry, but Quirrell burns when he touches the boy. A struggle ensues, and Harry faints.
When Harry regains consciousness, he finds himself in the hospital with Dumbledore. Dumbledore explains that he saved Harry from Quirrell just in time and that they have decided to destroy the stone. Harry goes down to the year-end feast, where the Slytherin house is celebrating their seventh house championship. Dumbledore rises and awards last-minute points to Gryffindor based on Harry and his friends’ achievements, allowing Gryffindor to win the house cup. Harry returns to London to spend the summer with the Dursleys.