Joanne Rowling

"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Summary."

Chapter 1

The Dursleys, a wealthy family in Surrey, England, are highly concerned with their social standing. They feel embarrassed by Mrs. Dursley's peculiar sister, Mrs. Potter, whom Mrs. Dursley has pretended not to know for years. One ordinary morning, as Mr. Dursley is on his way to work, he spots a cat reading a map. This sight unsettles him, but he dismisses it as his imagination. However, while waiting in traffic, Mr. Dursley notices people dressed in colorful cloaks. Later, while passing by a bakery, he overhears excited conversations about his sister-in-law's family, the Potters, and their one-year-old son, Harry. Although disturbed, Mr. Dursley remains unsure if anything is amiss and decides not to mention it to his wife. On his way home, he unexpectedly encounters a peculiarly dressed man who cheerfully announces that someone known as "You-Know-Who" has finally met their end, and even a "Muggle" like Mr. Dursley should rejoice. Meanwhile, the news is filled with unusual reports of shooting stars and daytime owl sightings.

When the Dursleys are about to fall asleep, Albus Dumbledore, a wizard and the head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, appears on their street. He extinguishes all the streetlights and approaches a cat, who is revealed to be Professor McGonagall in disguise, a fellow teacher at Hogwarts. They discuss the disappearance of You-Know-Who, also known as Voldemort. Dumbledore informs McGonagall that Voldemort had killed the Potter parents the previous night and attempted to kill their son, Harry, but failed. He further reveals that Voldemort's power seemed to diminish after his unsuccessful attempt on Harry's life, causing him to retreat. Dumbledore explains that the infant Harry can be left on the Dursleys' doorstep. McGonagall protests, believing that the Dursleys are unfit to raise Harry. However, Dumbledore insists that there

is no one else available to care for the child. He states that when Harry is older, he will learn about his destiny. Suddenly, a giant named Hagrid, carrying a bundle of blankets containing baby Harry, descends from the sky on a motorcycle. Dumbledore takes Harry and places him on the Dursleys' doorstep along with a letter explaining everything, and then the three part ways.

Chapter 2

A decade had elapsed, and Harry, now nearing eleven years old, endured a miserable existence confined to a cupboard beneath the stairs in the Dursley residence. The Dursleys' son, Dudley, a petulant and entitled child, relishedtormenting Harry. One morning, Harry's aunt, Petunia, abruptly woke him up, demanding that he prepare the bacon promptly, as it was Dudley's birthday and everything had to be flawless. Dudley grew incensed upon discovering he received only thirty-seven presents, one fewer than the previous year. To compound matters, a neighbor canceled her plans to watch over Harry for the day, causing Dudley to wail in distress since he despised the idea of bringing Harry along on his birthday outing to the zoo.

Arriving at the zoo, the Dursleys lavished attention on Dudley and his friend Piers, as they habitually ignored Harry. Inside the reptile house, Harry found himself captivated by a boa constrictor, to his astonishment, he discovered he could communicate with it. Piers noticed Harry's peculiar interaction and called Mr. Dursley and Dudley over, resulting in Harry being shoved aside as Dudley sought a better view of the snake. In a bewildering turn of events, the glass barrier of the snake's enclosure vanished, allowing the boa constrictor to slither out onto the floor. Dudley and Piers fabricated a tale, alleging that the snake had attacked them. The Dursleys were left dumbfounded.

Upon returning home, Harry faced punishment for the snake incident, banished to his cupboard without any food, despite his belief that he bore no responsibility for what had transpired.

Chapter 3

Following his punishment for the boa constrictor incident, Harry remains confined to his cupboard until summer. Yearning to escape the torment inflicted by Dudley's gang, he spends most of his time outdoors. Harry eagerly anticipates starting a new school in the upcoming fall, where he will finally be far away from Dudley for the first time in his life. One day, Uncle Vernon instructs Harry to retrieve the mail. Among the letters, Harry notices one adorned with a coat of arms, addressed to him at "The Cupboard under the Stairs." Uncle Vernon snatches the envelope away and shows it to his wife, leaving them both utterly shocked. Dudley and Harry are compelled to leave the kitchen while Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia discuss their course of action.

The following day, Uncle Vernon pays a visit to Harry in the cupboard. He refuses to discuss the contents of the letter but instructs Harry to move into Dudley's second room, which had been used as a storage space for Dudley's toys.

The next day, another letter arrives for Harry, this time addressed to him at "The Smallest Bedroom." Uncle Vernon grows increasingly alarmed. Harry attempts to retrieve the letter, but Uncle Vernon manages to keep it out of his reach. Determined, Harry wakes up early the following morning to intercept the mail before anyone else wakes up. However, Uncle Vernon has stationed himself near the mail slot and thwarts Harry's efforts. Despite Uncle Vernon nailing the mail slot shut, twelve letters make their way to Harry the next day, slipping under the door or finding their way through cracks. Soon, an onslaught of letters inundates the house, entering through impossible means. Uncle Vernon persistently prevents Harry from reading any of them. Fueled by anger, Uncle Vernon decides to relocate the family, but even at the hotel they retreat to, a barrage of a hundred letters arrives specifically for Harry. Determined to achieve greater isolation, Uncle Vernon takes the family to a desolate island with only a single shack. Once inside, Vernon securely bolts the door. As midnight approaches, heralding the arrival of Harry's birthday, a resounding thump echoes at the door.

Chapter 4

The resounding thump reverberates once more, followed by the shattering of the door. A colossal figure bursts into the room. Uncle Vernon brandishes a gun in a feeble attempt to assert dominance, but the giant effortlessly disarms him, twisting the weapon into a knot. Offering Harry a chocolate birthday cake, the giant introduces himself as Hagrid, the "Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts." Hagrid is appalled to discover that the Dursleys have deliberately kept Harry in the dark about Hogwarts. Uncle Vernon futilely tries to prevent Hagrid from revealing the truth to Harry.

Undeterred by Uncle Vernon's resistance, Hagrid divulges that Harry is, in fact, a wizard and presents him with an acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Defiantly, Vernon declares that he will not allow Harry to attend Hogwarts. However, Hagrid enlightens Harry about the Dursleys' long-standing deception regarding the circumstances of his parents' demise. Contrary to the car crash narrative Harry had been led to believe, his parents were murdered by the malevolent wizard, Voldemort. Initially skeptical about his wizarding abilities, Harry gradually realizes that his encounter with the boa constrictor was an act of magic. Ignoring Uncle Vernon's protests, Hagrid escorts Harry away from the shack.

Chapter 5

As Harry awakens in the company of Hagrid, he realizes that the events of the previous night were not a mere figment of his imagination. Together, they embark on a journey to London to procure Harry's school supplies. Apprehensive about the financial aspect, Harry expresses his concerns to Hagrid. However, Hagrid assures him that his parents left behind a substantial amount of money at Gringotts, the wizards' bank managed by goblins. Their first stop in London is the Leaky Cauldron, a pub where Harry's presence garners both nervousness and admiration from the patrons. Leaving the establishment, they approach a brick wall, which Hagrid taps on, unveiling Diagon Alley, a bustling street where Harry will acquire all the necessities for his schooling. Their expedition

leads them to Gringotts, where they descend to Harry's vault and witness the abundance of silver and gold left by his parents. Hagrid acquaints Harry with the intricacies of the wizarding currency system, comprising Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts. Hagrid fills a small bag with money before guiding Harry to another vault, number 713, which houses a grimy package that Hagrid discreetly conceals, cautioning Harry against inquiring about its contents.

Subsequently, Hagrid escorts Harry to be fitted for his school uniform. Inside the store, they encounter a haughty and disagreeable boy who will also commence his education at Hogwarts. The conceited boy extols the virtues of esteemed wizarding families, causing Harry to question his own suitability for the wizarding world. However, Hagrid reassures him, affirming that he will learn everything necessary and emphasizing the presence of numerous Muggle-born students at Hogwarts. After procuring the required books and potion ingredients, Hagrid accompanies Harry to the wand shop. There, Mr. Ollivander, the proprietor, guides Harry through a series of wand trials, assuring him that the right wand will become apparent. After attempting several wands, Harry's hand grasps one crafted from holly and phoenix feather, causing sparks to emanate from it - clearly indicating the perfect match. Ollivander reveals that the only other wand with feathers from the same phoenix once belonged to Voldemort and was responsible for giving Harry his distinctive lightning-bolt scar.

Chapter 6

Harry's final month with the Dursleys proves to be unpleasant. On the day before his departure, Harry implores Uncle Vernon to accompany him to the train station. Although Uncle Vernon agrees, he mocks Harry's claim that he will depart from platform nine and three quarters, as indicated on the ticket given by Hagrid. The following day, Harry arrives at the station and finds himself bewildered, standing between platforms nine and ten, contemplating how to locate the elusive platform nine and three quarters. Eventually, he overhears a family of red-haired children discussing Hogwarts, and he approaches the mother for assistance. She advises him to walk through the barrier dividing platforms nine and ten.

Acting upon her advice, Harry takes a leap of faith and is astonished to discover the Hogwarts train awaiting him on the other side. With a sense of anticipation, he boards the train.

During the journey, Harry is introduced to Fred and George Weasley, mischievous twins returning to school, as well as their brother Ron, who will also commence his studies at Hogwarts. Ron acquaints Harry with various aspects of the wizarding world, including the game of Quidditch, reminiscent of soccer but played on broomsticks, Famous Witches and Wizards cards, similar to collectible baseball cards, and Every Flavor Beans. Among the cards, one bears the image of Albus Dumbledore. Since Ron hails from a modest background, he cannot afford the pastries sold

Chapter 7

At the entrance of the castle, Professor McGonagall greets the new students and informs them that they will soon be sorted into their respective houses. Hogwarts students belong to one of four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. Each house has its own Quidditch team, a broomstick-based game similar to soccer. The houses compete throughout the year to earn points, which are awarded for Quidditch success and deducted for rule violations. Inside Hogwarts, the students encounter ethereal ghosts in the corridors. Led by the ghosts, they make their way to the Great Hall, where the entire school awaits them. A pointed hat rests on a stool, and as each student dons the hat, it announces their assigned house. Harry grows anxious, having developed a distaste for Slytherin due to its association with unpleasant individuals and Voldemort. Finally, it is Harry's turn to wear the hat. Following a brief mental exchange, during which the hat suggests Slytherin, it places Harry in Gryffindor. He is thrilled to discover that Ron and Hermione also belong to Gryffindor, while Draco Malfoy is sorted into Slytherin.

The students settle down for a lavish feast to commence the school year, with Harry marveling at the abundance of delectable food. Sir Nicolas de Mimsy-Porpington, the Gryffindor ghost also known as Nearly Headless Nick, introduces himself to the first-year students, expressing

his hopes for Gryffindor to win the house championship. Duringdessert, conversations revolve around the students' backgrounds. Neville shares his experience of being mistakenly thought of as a Muggle until he survived a fall from a window. Harry scans the room and notices some teachers engaged in conversation. One of them, Professor Snape, gazes at Harry with malevolence, causing him to feel a sharp pain in his forehead scar. Harry learns that Snape teaches Potions. Following dessert, Albus Dumbledore, the Hogwarts headmaster, delivers a welcome speech, issuing warnings about the Forbidden Forest and the third-floor corridor on the right side of the school. The students sing the school song before retiring to their respective houses.

Chapter 8

Harry finds life at Hogwarts to be unfamiliar and strange. He becomes the subject of constant discussion, and there always seems to be an adult present whenever he does something wrong. Harry finds all of his classes intriguing, except for History of Magic. In their first Transfiguration class, where they learn to transform objects, only Hermione manages to make progress by turning a match into a needle. Harry feels relieved to see that others are just as uncertain as he is.

During breakfast on the first Friday, Harry's owl, Hedwig, delivers an invitation from Hagrid for tea. In his Potions class, Harry experiences firsthand the disdain Professor Snape holds for him, mocking him as the "new celebrity" and humiliating him for his lack of knowledge about herbs. Harry invites Ron to accompany him to Hagrid's hut for tea. Initially intimidated by Hagrid's large and intimidating dog, Fang, they soon realize his gentle nature. Over tea, Hagrid reassures Harry that he may be overreacting to Snape's treatment, emphasizing that there seems to be no reason for Snape to harbor animosity towards him. Harry's attention is drawn to an article in the wizard newspaper detailing a break-in at Gringotts bank, which occurred on his birthday, the same day he and Hagrid visited the bank. Additionally, he recalls Hagrid retrieving a small package from vault 713 during their visit. With numerous questions swirling in his mind, Harry departs from Hagrid's, eager for answers.

Chapter 9

Harry feels dismayed upon learning that the Gryffindors will have flying lessons alongside the Slytherins, as it means spending more time with his nemesis, Draco Malfoy. Under the guidance of Madam Hooch, the class begins their flying exercises, with the aim of taking off from the ground. Unfortunately, Neville suffers an accident and breakshis wrist. Madam Hooch escorts him to the hospital wing, instructing the rest of the students to remain on the ground in her absence. Seizing the opportunity, Malfoy notices a magical ball belonging to Neville and begins flying around with it. Harry pursues Malfoy, who tosses the ball into the air. In a stunning display, Harry catches the ball mid-air and safely lands back on the ground. Just then, Professor McGonagall arrives, chastising Harry and beckoning him to follow her. However, instead of reprimanding him, McGonagall introduces Harry to Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor Quidditch team captain, declaring Harry's potential as an excellent Quidditch player.

During dinner, Harry excitedly shares his secret Quidditch team membership with Ron, stressing the importance of keeping it confidential. Malfoy interrupts their conversation, accompanied by his sidekicks, Crabbe and Goyle, taunting Harry about his earlier mishap. Tensions escalate, and Malfoy challenges Harry to a wizard's duel. Despite Hermione's attempts to dissuade them from breaking school rules, Harry accepts the challenge. Later that night, Harry and Ron sneak out, with Hermione inadvertently joining them after being locked out of the dormitory. Neville, lost and wandering, also ends up accompanying them. They rendezvous at the trophy room, the designated location for the duel, but find Malfoy conspicuously absent. Suddenly, they hear the approaching footsteps of Argus Filch, the school caretaker, accompanied by his cat, Mrs. Norris. Panicking, the group scurries to hide and eventually flees the scene. Uncertain of their destination, they unintentionally venture into the forbidden area on the third floor, where they encounter a large and intimidating three-headed dog. Fearful yet determined, they manage to return to the safety of their dormitory. Hermione reprimands Harry while piquing his curiosity by pointing out

that the dog was standing on a trapdoor.

Chapter 10

The following morning, Harry and Ron engage in a discussion about the mysterious dog guarding something when the mail arrives. Harry receives a first-class broomstick and a note from Professor McGonagall, summoning him to Quidditch practice. Malfoy taunts Harry, informing him that first-year students are not permitted to have broomsticks. When Malfoy attempts to report Harry to Professor Flitwick, the professor instead expresses admiration for Harry's skill. Later, Harry meets with Oliver Wood, the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, who teaches him the fundamentals of the sport. On Halloween, Professor Flitwick commences a lesson on levitation, but only Hermione succeeds in making objects fly. Ron,feeling offended by Hermione's air of superiority, makes a spiteful comment that she overhears, causing her to run off in tears.

Harry and Ron arrive at the Halloween feast to hear Professor Quirrell, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, deliver a frightening announcement about a twelve-foot troll roaming the building. As the prefects lead the students back to their dormitories, Harry realizes that Hermione is unaware of the danger. They rush off to warn her and stumble upon the troll. Unintentionally, they manage to trap the troll in the girls' bathroom, only to discover that Hermione is trapped inside with it. Employing teamwork and magic, the trio successfully incapacitates the troll. Professor McGonagall finds them and begins to reprimand Harry and Ron, but Hermione interrupts, asserting that they were actually looking for her. She fabricates a story, claiming that she bravely confronted the troll on her own, and Harry and Ron had come to her rescue. In that moment, Hermione becomes their friend.

Chapter 11

The Quidditch season commences, and Harry eagerly prepares for his first match against Slytherin. To enhance his knowledge of the sport, he

borrows a book called Quidditch Through the Ages from Hermione. One evening, Professor Snape catches Harry, Ron, and Hermione with the book and confiscates it, using the flimsy excuse that library books cannot be taken outside. Harry's suspicion of Snape intensifies, especially when he notices Snape's limp. Determined to retrieve the book from Snape, Harry overhears a conversation between Snape and Argus Filch regarding the three-headed dog, further fueling his suspicions.

The next morning, the Quidditch match begins, with Harry assuming the role of Seeker, tasked with capturing the elusive Golden Snitch. During the game, Harry spots the Snitch and begins pursuing it when the Slytherin Seeker pushes him aside and incurs a penalty. Later, Harry's broom starts behaving erratically. Hagrid remarks that such difficulty in managing a broomstick can only result from dark magic. Hermione notices Snape staring at Harry and muttering to himself. As the Weasley twins attempt to help Harry, Hermione acts swiftly, sneaking behind Snape and setting his robe on fire. Instantly, the spell on Harry's broom is broken, and he regains control. He dives toward the ground and successfully catches the Snitch.

Hagrid accompanies Harry, Hermione, and Ron back to his hut. Ron reveals to Harry that Snape had placed a curse on his broomstick. However, Hagrid refuses to believe the accusation, questioning why Snape would want to harm Harry. Harry then discloses the incident of Snape's injury from the third-floor corridor's dog to Hagrid. Inadvertently, Hagrid confesses that the three-headed dog, Fluffy, belongs to him and that the secret it guards is known only to Albus Dumbledore and a man named Nicolas Flamel.

Chapter 12

As Christmas approaches, Malfoy taunts Harry about having to stay at Hogwarts while he doesn't have parents to celebrate with. However, Harry is relieved to spend Christmas away from the Dursleys, especially with Ron staying at Hogwarts too. The day before the holiday break, Hermione interrupts Harry and Ron's conversation with Hagrid to search

for information about Nicolas Flamel in the library. While Harry ventures into the restricted-books section, he gets caught by the librarian and is promptly kicked out.

On Christmas morning, Harry and Ron wake up to find presents, although Harry's gifts are fewer. He receives candy and a knitted sweater from Ron's mother. The most intriguing present is an invisibility cloak accompanied by an anonymous note revealing that it once belonged to Harry's father. That night, after a satisfying Christmas dinner and with Ron already asleep, Harry tries on the invisibility cloak. Undetectable, he sneaks into the restricted-books section of the library. However, a screaming book startles him, forcing him to leave quickly. While evading Filch, the caretaker, he takes refuge in an old classroom marked with the word "Erised." Inside the room, an ancient mirror stands. Harry gazes into the mirror and sees a multitude of people standing behind him, but when he turns around, he finds no one there. Suddenly, he recognizes his deceased parents among the figures. Desperate to communicate with them, Harry waves, but they can only wave back. Harry lingers in front of the mirror before eventually returning to his room. The following night, Harry brings Ron to the mirror room. However, Ron does not see Harry's parents in the mirror. Instead, he sees himself holding a Quidditch cup. Their presence doesn't go unnoticed, as Mrs. Norris, Filch's cat, catches sight of them. On the third night, Ron decides not to join Harry out of fear of getting caught. Harry ventures alone and encounters Albus Dumbledore in the room. Dumbledore explains that the mirror reflects the deepest desires of those who gaze into it. Harry feels relieved that Dumbledore is not angry with him.

Chapter 13

Taking Dumbledore's advice, Harryrefrains from visiting the Mirror of Erised. After the Christmas break, Harry, Ron, and Hermione resume their quest for information about Nicolas Flamel, although Harry's time is increasingly occupied by Quidditch practice. During one practice session, Harry learns that Snape will be refereeing the next game. Concerns arise among him and his friends about Snape's potential ill intentions. As they discuss, they encounter Neville, who has fallen victim to Malfoy's spell,

leaving his legs locked together. Harry encourages Neville to stand up to Malfoy, and before leaving, Neville gives Harry a Famous Wizard card for his collection. Suddenly, it dawns on Harry that he has seen the name Nicolas Flamel before - it was on the back of the Famous Wizard card featuring Albus Dumbledore that Ron gave him on their train journey to Hogwarts. Hermione rushes to her room to retrieve a book that explains Flamel's connection to Dumbledore. They discover that Flamel was once Dumbledore's partner and the only wizard to create a Sorcerer's Stone. The stone has the power to transform metals into gold and produce an elixir that grants everlasting life. Harry and his friends deduce that the ferocious dog guarding the third floor must be protecting Flamel's stone.

As the highly anticipated Quidditch match draws nearer, Harry becomes increasingly nervous. A Gryffindor victory would secure first place in the house championship. However, Harry worries about Snape's sinister plans. His fears are eased when he learns that Dumbledore will be present at the game, as Snape would not dare to commit any wrongdoing in front of him. During the match, Harry manages to catch the Golden Snitch within the first five minutes, earning thunderous applause from the crowd. Dumbledore congratulates Harry for his remarkable achievement. Afterward, Harry notices Snape heading towards the forest. Curiosity piqued, he follows Snape on his broomstick and overhears Snape speaking harshly to Professor Quirrell in the forest, mentioning the Sorcerer's Stone.

Chapter 14

With Easter on the horizon, Hermione becomes increasingly concerned about upcoming exams, while Harry and Ron struggle to keep up with their overwhelming workload. One day, while studying in the library, Hagrid stumbles upon them and becomes the target of their inquiries about the Sorcerer's Stone. Although Hagrid invites them to speak with him later, he makes no promises about revealing any information. Later, they visit Hagrid's hut, where he admits his ignorance about the additional guardians of the stone,apart from the three-headed dog. However, he does disclose which teachers have cast spells to protect it, but firmly asserts that he will never disclose how to bypass the dog.

Hagrid proudly displays a dragon egg that he won in a poker game the previous night. Despite dragons being illegal, Hagrid expresses his desire to raise one. Soon after, Harry receives a note informing him that the dragon egg is hatching. Excitedly, he and his friends rush to Hagrid's hut to witness the dragon's birth. They quickly realize that Hagrid must find a way to dispose of the dragon, whom Hagrid names Norbert, before it grows too large. They devise a plan to contact Charlie, Ron's older brother, who studies dragons in Romania. Charlie agrees to assist them and arranges for his friends to meet Harry and his friends to transport Norbert safely away. The rendezvous is scheduled for midnight atop the tallest tower of the castle. Equipped with the invisibility cloak, they secretly transport Norbert to the tower. Charlie's friends arrive and take the dragon away. However, in their haste, they forget to wear the invisibility cloak while descending from the tower, resulting in their capture by Filch.

Chapter 15

Filch escorts Harry, Hermione, and Ron to Professor McGonagall's office, where they face punishment for their actions. McGonagall accuses them of fabricating the dragon incident to provoke Malfoy and get him into trouble. As a consequence, she deducts fifty points from Gryffindor for each of them. Harry is devastated, knowing that his house will lose a total of 150 points. The following day, news of their punishment spreads, and Harry's reputation as a Quidditch star takes a major hit. He contemplates resigning from the Quidditch team, but Wood convinces him that it would be futile to do so.

Determined to steer clear of further trouble, Harry resolves not to involve himself in any more suspicious activities. However, a week later, he overhears a conversation between Quirrell and another person, likely Snape, where it seems that Quirrell is succumbing to pressure. Harry and his friends struggle to come up with a plan of action. Soon after, they are assigned detention and instructed to report to Hagrid that night. To their surprise, the detention takes place in the Forbidden Forest. Malfoy, who also received detention, protests against being treated like a servant.

Hagrid leads the group into the forest, pointing out traces of unicorn blood on the ground and explaining that they are searching for the cause of harm to the animals. They split into two groups, with Harry and Hermione accompanying Hagrid, and Neville and Malfoy accompanied by Hagrid's loyal dog, Fang. They venture deep into the forest, and Harry notices signs indicating that the other group is in trouble. However, Hagrid soon discovers that Malfoy has been playing tricks on Neville. He sends Harry off with Malfoy while taking Neville along with him. Harry and Malfoy stumble upon a mysterious cloaked figure drinking the blood of a freshly slain unicorn. Startled, Malfoy and Fang flee, leaving Harry alone. Fortunately, a centaur named Firenze comes to Harry's rescue, carrying him back to Hagrid. During their journey, Harry learns that the cloaked figure was none other than Voldemort himself, who was drinking unicorn blood to sustain himself until he could acquire the Sorcerer's Stone.

Chapter 16

The end-of-year examinations proceed smoothly, although Harry remains on edge, constantly wary of Voldemort's imminent threat. During a visit to Hagrid's, Harry discovers that while intoxicated and playing cards, Hagrid unknowingly divulged to Voldemort the secret of bypassing Fluffy, the three-headed guard dog, by playing music. Alarmed by this revelation, Harry urgently seeks out Dumbledore to inform him. However, they are intercepted by McGonagall, who informs them that Dumbledore has been summoned to London by the Ministry of Magic. Undeterred, Harry convinces Hermione and Ron that they must seize the opportunity to retrieve the Sorcerer's Stone that very night. As they prepare to leave, Neville tries to intervene, but Hermione immobilizes him with a spell, allowing them to proceed.

Upon reaching Fluffy, Harry, Hermione, and Ron notice a harp at the creature's feet, signaling that someone has already passed through. Harry uses a flute he brought along to lull Fluffy to sleep, granting them access to the trapdoor. They descend into darkness and find themselves entangled in a plant with twisting tendrils. Hermione swiftly extricates

herself and employs her wand to fend off the menacing plant. Their next obstacle presents a large locked door within a chamber teeming with birds, each serving as a key. Drawing upon his Quidditch skills, Harry captures the correct bird and unlocks the door. Their path leads them to a life-sized chessboard, where they become players in a perilous game. Ron assumes the role of a strategic leader, sacrificing himself to secure their victory by allowinghimself to be captured and pummeled by the opposing queen. Harry and Hermione progress, reaching a chamber containing a series of potions and a complex logic puzzle. With Hermione's intellect, they decipher the correct sequence of potions to drink. Hermione then returns to assist Ron and Harry as they press onward in their quest to locate the Sorcerer's Stone.

Chapter 17

Harry, in a desperate attempt to protect the Sorcerer's Stone, lies to Quirrell, claiming that he sees himself winning the house cup for Gryffindor in the Mirror of Erised. Voldemort, aware of Harry's deceit, commands Quirrell to unveil his turban, revealing Voldemort's face on the back of Quirrell's head. Harry is stunned to discover that Voldemort has been using Quirrell's body as a vessel. Voldemort tries to persuade Harry to surrender the stone, which he knows is in Harry's possession. He offers Harry a choice to join him or face the same fate as his parents. Refusing to yield, Harry stands his ground, prompting Voldemort to order Quirrell to seize him. However, each attempt by Quirrell to touch Harry results in excruciating pain and blistering burns. In a desperate act of defense, Harry grabs Quirrell, causing intense agony for both of them. As the struggle escalates, Harry feels himself losing grip on Quirrell and losing consciousness.

When Harry awakens, he finds Dumbledore by his side. Eager to inform Dumbledore about Quirrell and the stone, Harry is advised to relax. Realizing he is in the hospital wing, Harry repeats his concerns about the stone, and Dumbledore reassures him that he arrived in time to save him from Quirrell's clutches. Dumbledore discloses that he and Nicolas Flamel have decided to destroy the stone. He further explains that Quirrell was unable to harm Harry due to the protection bestowed upon

him by his mother's love. Dumbledore also reveals that he was the one who left the invisibility cloak for Harry, shedding light on the past animosity between Snape and Harry's father, similar to that of Malfoy and Harry. Furthermore, Dumbledore elucidates how Harry, driven by pure intentions, was the one who ultimately possessed the stone.

Determined to attend the end-of-year feast, Harry leaves his hospital bed. The Great Hall is adorned in Slytherin colors to commemorate their seventh consecutive victory of the house cup. Dumbledore addresses the students and announces the need to award additional points in light of recent events. He bestows fifty points each upon Ron and Hermione for their heroic actions and grants Harry sixty points. This decision propels Gryffindor to a tie with Slytherin. Dumbledore proceeds to award Neville ten points for his display of courage, catapulting Gryffindor into first place and securing their victory of the house cup.

When the final grades are revealed, Harry and Ron achieve satisfactory results, while Hermione excels as the top student. As they prepare to depart for the summer, Harry, Hermione, and Ron bid their farewells at the train station. Harry eagerly anticipates using a bit of magic on Dudley Dursley, ready to revel in a little mischief.