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Description
Say you've spent the first 10 years of your life sleeping under the stairs of a family who loathes you. Then, in an absurd, magical twist of fate you find yourself surrounded by wizards, a caged snowy owl, a phoenix-feather wand and jellybeans that come in every flavour, including strawberry,... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis
Summary
Just before the start of the novel, Voldemort, the most powerful evil wizard in living memory, killed Harry's parents but mysteriously vanished after trying to kill Harry. While the wizarding world is celebrating Voldemort's downfall, Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Hagrid place... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Cast of Characters/Important People
- Harry Potter: The protagonist of the story, loyal and kind hearted
- Hermione Granger: Muggle born, smart, friends with Harry
- Ron Weasley: Harry's bestfriend he meets at Hogwarts, kind but has a temper
- Hagrid: Half-giant who is Games Keeper at Hogwarts
- Albus Dumbledore: The wise headmaster of Hogwarts
- Voldemort: Evil great wizard, who attempted to kill Harry as a infant and was only able to leave a scar
- Draco Malfoy: Harry's nemesis, snob
- Neville Longbottom: Timid friend of Harry's, loyal
- Professor McGonagall: The head of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts, teacher
- Professor Snape: A professor of Potions at Hogwarts, dislikes Harry
- Professor Quirrell: Nervous teacher of Defense Against the Dark Arts, has a very dark secret
- Vernon Dursley: Harry's uncle, cruel and closed minded
- Petunia Dursley: Wife of Mr. Dursley, hateful towards Harry but spoils her own child
- Dudley Dursley: Harry's cousin, who is a fat spoiled bully.
Memorable Quotes
-
“It's lucky it's dark. I haven't blushed so much since Madam Pomfrey told me she liked my new earmuffs.”
Albus Dumbledore -
“This boy will be famous. There won't be a child in our world that won't know his name. There will be books about him, he will be a legend.”
Minerva McGonagall -
“Scars can come in useful. I have one myself above my left knee which is a perfect map of the London Underground.”
Albus Dumbledore -
“Ah, yes,' he said softly, 'Harry Potter. Our new — celebrity.”
Severus Snape -
“You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making,' he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word — like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. 'As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses ... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death — if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach.”
Severus Snape -
“I hope you're pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed — or worse, expelled.”
Hermione Granger -
“There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.”
-
“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that Harry.”
Albus Dumbledore -
“There is no good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak to seek it.”
Lord Voldemort -
“What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows. I believe your friends Misters Fred and George Weasley were responsible for trying to send you a lavatory seat.”
Albus Dumbledore -
“To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”
Albus Dumbledore -
“Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.”
Albus Dumbledore -
“I? I see myself holding a pair of thick woollen socks”
Albus Dumbledore -
“"Me?" said Hermione. "Books and cleverness! There are more important things-friendship and bravery-oh Harry-be careful!"”
Hermione Granger -
“We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat!”
George Weasley -
“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”
Albus Dumbledore -
“Aunt Petunia often said that Dudley looked like a baby angel. Harry often said that Dudley looked like a pig in a wig.”
-
“The poor toilet's never had anything as horrible as your head down it — it might be sick”
Harry -
“The lake froze solid and the Weasley twins were punished for bewitching several snowballs so that they followed Quirrell around, bouncing off the back of his turban.”
-
“No wonder we couldn't find Flamel in that Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry. He's not exactly recent if he's six hundred and sixty-five, is he?”
Ron
First Sentence
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.
Table of Contents
1. The Boy Who Lived
2. The Vanishing Glass
3. The Letters from No One
4. The Keeper of the Keys
5. Diagon Alley
6. The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-quarters
7. The Sorting Hat
8. The Potions Master
9. The Midnight Duel
10. Halloween
11. Quidditch
12. The Mirror of Erised
13. Nicolas Flamel
14. Norbert The Norwegian Ridgeback
15. The Forbidden Forest
16. Through the Trapdoor
17. The Man with Two Faces
Glossary
- Muggle: human
- mudblood: muggle born
- Animagi: Wizards who can turn themselves into animals at will. The singular form is animagus
- Apparate: To transport oneself instantly to any destination. Apparating is difficult and must not be done without a license from the Department of Magical Transportation. There is a danger of splinching
- Aragog: A huge spider that lives in the Forbidden Forest
- Auror: Professional Dark-wizard-catcher
- Azkaban: Prison fortress where wizarding criminals are sent. Guarded day and night by the terrifying Dementors, who drain peace, hope and happiness out of any human who comes too close to them
Series
This is book 1 in the Harry Potter series.
Authors & Contributors
- J. K. Rowling (Author)
Other Contributors:
- Alicia Dellepiane
- Thomas Taylor (Illustrator) - The United Kingdom illustrator
- Mary GrandPré (Illustrator) - An American illustrator, best known for her illustrations in the US editions of the Harry Potter books
Awards
- British Book Awards (1998: The Children's Book of the Year, Winner)
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