Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

From ArticleWorld

Published in the UK as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the first of seven novels about a young wizard, Harry Potter, written by British author JK Rowling. Scholastic Inc. decide to change the word philosopher to sorcerer because it was felt that it gave more of an impression or magic.

Beginning

When Harry Potter was little over one year old, Lord Voldemort, an evil wizard, murdered his parents. Harry's mother was killed protecting little Harry and when Voldemort turned his evil Avada Kedavra spell on him it backfired. Lord Voldemort instilled some of his powers onto Harry and a small lightning bolt scar formed on Harry's forehead. Voldemort disappeared and Harry seems to have retained some protection against further Voldemort attacks. After the death of his parents, Harry is sent by friends of his parents to live with his mother's sister and her family, the Dursley's. The Dursley family wants to have no part of Harry, as they do not condone magic. For the next eleven years, they keep Harry locked up under the stairs, feeding him scars and allowing him to wear the oversized hand-me-downs of his extra large cousin Dudley; all the while not telling him who he really is.

Invitation to Hogwarts

A week before his eleventh birthday, Harry begins receiving letters that are dropped off by owls. The letters are inviting him to attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Of course Harry has no idea what this is. The Dursley's decide to run and hide Harry away but they are followed and Hagrid, the grounds keeper of the school, rescues Harry. He fills Harry in on some of his past; his parents, his magical ability, and the school. Harry is both nervous and excited as he arrives at Hogwarts. All first year students at Hogwarts are sorted into houses. These houses are represent the four founders of the school, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Griffindor and Hufflepuff - all of which highlight different character traits. Harry is sorted into Griffindor along with his new friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. His new enemy, Draco Malfoy, is sorted into the sinister Slytherin House.

Adventure

The Sorcerer's (Philosopher's) Stone has been stolen. Harry and his new friends believe that their potions master, Severus Snape, is involved somehow. They decide that they must try to retrieve the stone because if it falls into the wrong hands, Lord Voldemort can be brought back to power. Harry, Ron and Hermione pass through several challenges before Harry must proceed alone. He comes face to face with a broken Voldemort and must prove his allegiance to himself, the headmaster (Albus Dumbledore), the legacy of his parents and the school. He must retrieve the stone before Voldemort. Throughout the novel, the battle between good and evil is prevalent through its climax and conclusion.