Harry James Potter

> You are protected, in short, by your ability to love! The only protection that can possibly work against the lure of power like Voldemort's! In spite of all the temptation you have endured, all the suffering, you remain pure of heart, just as pure as you were at the age of eleven, when you stared into a mirror that reflected your heart's desire, and it showed you only the way to thwart Lord Voldemort, and not immortality or riches. Harry, have you any idea how few wizards could have seen what you saw in that mirror?
>
> Albus Dumbledore describing Harry's rare nature, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

**Harry James** **Potter** (b. ***31 July*** 1980) was an ***English*** ***half-blood*** wizard, and one of the most famous wizards of modern times. The only child and son of James and Lily Potter Template:C, Harry's birth was overshadowed by a prophecy, naming either himself or ***Neville Longbottom*** as the one with the power to vanquish Lord Voldemort, the most powerful and feared Dark wizard in the world. After half of the prophecy was reported to Voldemort, courtesy of Severus Snape, Harry was chosen as the target due to his many similarities with the Dark Lord. In turn, this caused the Potter family to go into hiding.

## Biographical information

### Marital status

MarriedCite error: Closing `</ref>` missing for `<ref>` tag* The Chosen One
* Undesirable No. 1
* Lightning Template:C
* Gregory Goyle Template:C
* Barny Weasley Template:C

### Place of birth

Godric's Hollow, West Country, England, Great Britain

## Physical description

### Eye color

Bright blue

Voldemort made his first attempt to circumvent the prophecy when Harry was a year and three months old. During this attempt, he murdered Harry's parents as they tried to protect him, but this unsuccessful attempt to kill Harry led to Voldemort's first downfall. This downfall marked the end of the First Wizarding War, and to Harry henceforth being known as "The Boy Who Lived", as he was the only known survivor of the Killing Curse due to being magically protected by his mother's loving sacrifice. In accordance with the terms of the prophecy, this attempt on his life also established him, not Neville, as Voldemort's nemesis.

One consequence of Lily's sacrifice was that her orphaned son had to be raised by her only remaining blood relative, his ***Muggle*** aunt ***Petunia Dursley***, and her husband, uncle Vernon Dursley. While in their care, he would be protected from Lord Voldemort due to the Bond of Blood charm that Albus Dumbledore placed upon him. This powerful charm would protect him until he either came of age, or no longer called his aunt's house home. Due to Petunia's resentment of her sister and her magical abilities, Harry grew up abused and neglected.

Shortly before Harry's eleventh birthday, there were several attempts from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to send him a letter inviting him to not only come to Hogwarts, but also to explain his magical heritage. Though Vernon Dursley ultimately made the decision to leave their residence at ***4 Privet Drive*** temporarily to evade the letters, his attempts were ultimately for naught. On his eleventh birthday, Harry learned from Rubeus Hagrid that he was a wizard. Rubeus Hagrid took Harry from the ***Dursley family*** the next day to Diagon Alley. This is where Harry withdrew some of his money from Gringotts Wizarding Bank, where Hagrid bought Harry's snow-white owl, Hedwig. While he was in Diagon Alley, Harry also got his school supplies (i.e., books from ***Flourish and Blotts***, his robes from ***Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions***, and his potion equipment from ***Slug & Jiggers Apothecary***). Harry began attending Hogwarts in 1991. The Sorting Hat told Harry that he would do well in Slytherin House, but Harry pleaded "*not Slytherin*". The Hat heeded this plea and sorted the young wizard into Gryffindor House. At school, Harry became best friends with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. He was also the youngest ***Seeker*** in a century, making the house team in his first year when Minerva McGonagall introduced him to ***Oliver Wood***, Gryffindor's Quidditch captain at the time. He later became the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. While in school, Harry also demonstrated an extraordinary talent for Defence Against the Dark Arts.

He became even better-known in his early years for protecting the Philosopher's Stone from Voldemort, saving Ron's sister Ginny Weasley, solving the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets, slaying Salazar Slytherin's basilisk, and learning how to conjure a corporeal Patronus at the age of thirteen, which took the form of a stag. Harry was initially reluctant to the idea, but he gradually came to like it and eventually agreed to start the group. He also fought in the ***Battle of the Department of Mysteries***, during which he lost his godfather, Sirius Black, and the prophecy was destroyed.

Harry was also noted for being the only known ***Master of Death***, having united the three ***Deathly Hallows*** at the mere age of seventeen.

## Biography

### Family lineage

> The Potter family is a very old one, but it was never (until the birth of Harry James Potter) at the very forefront of wizarding history, contenting itself with a solid and comfortable existence in the backwaters.
>
> Early description of the Potters

The Potters were an old and wealthy ***pure-blood*** family, dating back to their founding patriarch ***Linfred of Stinchcombe***. Linfred was given the nickname "Potterer", which was changed simply to "Potter" over the years. The family took on the simplified nickname as a surname, thus leading to future generations calling themselves Potter.

The Potters were also descended from the ***Peverell family***, via ***Hardwin Potter***'s marriage to ***Iolanthe Peverell***. As such, they are related to ***Ignotus Peverell***, one of the three brothers that created the ***Deathly Hallows***, who passed the Cloak of Invisibility down to his descendants as a family heirloom. The ***Gaunt family*** were also descended from the Peverells through ***Cadmus Peverell***, who passed the ***Resurrection Stone*** as an heirloom, set in a ***signet ring***. The Potters were thus indirectly related to the Gaunts as well, and by extension, Lord Voldemort.

Before the start of the ***17th century***, some of Harry's ancestors migrated to the ***United States***, and held strong ties with the ***Magical Congress of the United States of America***. These ties developed as a result of ***Abraham Potter*** being one of the original twelve ***Aurors*** of MACUSA. This distant relation of Harry's was uncovered by genealogists centuries after Abraham's death.

The Potters were related to many other wizarding families in Britain, largely through the marriage of ***Charlus Potter*** to ***Dorea Black***, who was, in fact, the great-aunt of Sirius Black, Harry's godfather and best friend of his father, James Potter. It is very likely that both Charlus and Dorea were closely related to Harry.

Two members of the Potter family had held positions on the ***Wizengamot***. The first was ***Ralston Potter*** and the second ***Henry Potter***. Harry inherited much wealth from his grandparents ***Fleamont*** and ***Euphemia***, as Fleamont invented ***Sleekeazy's Hair Potion***, which quadrupled the family gold. Harry's father James Potter was born late in the couple's lives. By that time, his parents were both elderly (even by wizarding standards), and he grew up in a doting household to the point where he became a proud yet arrogant boy. But deep down, James was a good person.

Conversely, Harry's mother Lily J. Evans was a ***Muggle-born***, who was introduced to the wizarding world via her friendship with Severus Snape, who lived nearby. The discovery of Lily being a witch caused a rift between her and her older sister ***Petunia***, who envied her abilities.

James and Lily first met when they attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry together in ***1971***. Their relationship was a rocky one; while James was a popular student and talented Quidditch player, Lily was unimpressed with him. This had to do with James' hostile relationship with Snape, who was falling in with a gang of Slytherins aspiring to join the ***Death Eaters***.

By their seventh year, James lost the less savoury aspects of his personality and was even appointed Head Boy, despite the fact that he had not been a prefect. This impressed Lily, who was appointed Head Girl, and the two began dating.

The couple eventually married after graduation in ***1978***, and served as members of the original Order of the Phoenix at the height of the First Wizarding War. They personally defied Voldemort on three occasions, the first being when they refused to join his cause when he tried to recruit them (possibly at Snape's request).

### Early life Template:C

Template:Dialogue a-b

Harry James Potter was born on ***31 July*** 1980, at Godric's Hollow in the ***West Country***, ***England***, only hours after his future classmatee ***Neville Longbottom***. Around this time, a prophecy regarding a boy born at the end of ***July*** with the power to defeat Voldemort was stated to wizards. Harry's ***christening*** was quiet and quick, with only mother, father, and Sirius Black in attendance. Harry spent his infancy in hiding with his parents in the Potter cottage.
For Harry's first birthday, Sirius bought him a ***toy broomstick***. ***Lily's letter to Sirius*** mentioned that this broomstick had been Harry's favourite present and that he had smashed a horrible vase that had been a gift from Petunia and nearly killed their cat. In the letter, Lily also included a picture of Harry flying around on the broom and James chasing after him. Lily also stated in the letter that Harry looked pleased with himself while flying around on the toy broom. Lily and James also hosted a very quiet birthday tea. The only ones in attendance were them, Harry, and ***Bathilda Bagshot*** also used to dote on infant Harry. The Potters owned a cat, but what happened to it after Voldemort's attack it remains unknown.

When it became clear that Voldemort marked the Potters for death in regards to the prophecy, Albus Dumbledore suggested that they use the Fidelius Charm to keep them safe. He even offered to be the Potter's Secret Keeper, but the Potters had already planned to make Sirius their Secret Keeper instead. On Sirius's advice, they changed this designation to Peter Pettigrew, who they thought would be less suspicious. In a terrible turn of fate, Pettigrew was a ***Death Eater*** spy, and betrayed the Potters' whereabouts barely a week later.

#### Attack at Godric's Hollow (1981)

Main article: Attack at Godric's Hollow (1981)

> This boy will be famous, a legend. I wouldn't be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter day in future. There will be books written about Harry, every child in our world will know his name!
>
> Minerva McGonagall regarding Harry's future in the wizarding world, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

On the evening of Hallowe'en in 1981, Lord Voldemort arrived at Godric's Hollow and murdered James and Lily. He murdered James first, who tried to distract the Dark Lord; unfortunately, he did not have his wand with him and was killed immediately. Voldemort then advanced on Lily, who died trying to protect Harry. Her sacrifice prevented the Killing Curse from working on Harry, resulting in her love for Harry becoming a barrier to protecting him. When Voldemort attempted the curse on Harry, it backfired on the caster and instead of murdering Harry, Voldemort lost all his powers and his physical form was obliterated.

Voldemort was saved from death by the five Horcruxes he had made up to that point, including his diary, ***Gaunt's ring***, ***Slytherin's locket***, ***Hufflepuff's cup***, and ***Ravenclaw's diadem***. This later included Harry himself also, because a piece of Voldemort's unstable soul latched onto the only living being present. This gave him some of Voldemort's abilities such as the ability to speak Parseltongue. This event made Harry the only person to have survived the Killing Curse, thus giving him the title the "Boy Who Lived". The failed curse left a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, marking him as Voldemort's equal. The scar would be both a bane and a blessing to Harry in the years to come, as it opened a telepathic link between Lord Voldemort and himself, giving each some awareness of each other's thoughts.

 File:Hagrid delivers Harry.jpg
Rubeus Hagrid rescued Harry from the house, partially destroyed by Voldemort's faulty killing curse, and was given specific orders from Albus Dumbledore to take him to his ***aunt*** and ***uncle***. As Hagrid left, he was intercepted by Sirius Black, a close friend of the Potters, who pleaded for Hagrid to give the baby to him, as he was the chosen guardian in the event of James and Lily's death. Hagrid refused, saying that he was under orders from Dumbledore to take Harry to his relatives. Sirius reluctantly relented and gave Hagrid his flying motorcycle to take Harry to ***Privet Drive***, and left to find Pettigrew, who subsequently faked his death and framed Sirius for his death and that of ***twelve*** ***Muggles***.
Hagrid delivered Harry to Dumbledore late on the evening of ***1 November*** 1981. Dumbledore left ***a letter of explanation*** to the family living in the house, the Dursleys, who did not want to take care of Harry.
On ***1 September*** ***1984***, Albus Dumbledore mentioned Harry Potter's name at the Start-of-Term Feast to the residents of Hogwarts, telling them that he was safe, and that when old enough, he too would attend Hogwarts.

#### Life at Privet Drive

> I'm not having one in the house, Petunia! Didn't we swear when we took him in we'd stamp out that dangerous nonsense?
>
> Vernon Dursley refusing that Harry was a wizard, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

As the Dursleys were ***Muggles***, they could not use magic. They knew about its existence, but refused to associate with witches and wizards. They ***proudly considered themselves a "normal" family*** and despised anything out of the ordinary, even if it had nothing to do with witches, wizards, and magic. They lied to Harry about his parents' death, claiming they had died in a car crash. They also claimed that the lightning-bolt scar on Harry's forehead was from the same crash. Whenever Harry tried to remember it, all that he could vaguely recall (as if he 'strained his memory') was a green flash of light and a high, cold laugh. He tried to understand what it was, or if it was from the car crash, but he simply could not. Petunia and Vernon Dursley, Harry's new guardians, forbade him from asking questions, particularly those regarding his parents. In addition, the Dursleys refused to have pictures of Lily and James, and did their best to avoid the subject of Harry's parents altogether.

They resented Harry for his magic, which was sporadic but evident, and strongly discouraged any sort of imagination. They neglected Harry, verbally and emotionally abused him, and inflicted cruel punishments, like depriving him of meals and locking him into the cupboard under the stairs on him whenever something "unusual" occurred. Their behaviour was left unreported to authorities. In his youth, Harry could make strange things happen without understanding why he could, as no one had told him that he was a wizard.

For instance, after Petunia had sheared off all of his messy hair using a pair of kitchen scissors in her fury that it would not lay flat, leaving him almost completely bald with only the fringe at the front, it had grown all the way back, and to its previous messy state at that, by the next morning. Harry was punished, even though he had not done anything on purpose. Another time, ***Dedalus Diggle*** bowed to him in a shop, and Petunia furiously interrogated Harry as to know how he knew the man before leaving the shop hastily.

 File:Cupboard under the stairs GIF..gif
The Dursleys spoiled and pampered their son, ***Dudley***, and paid almost no attention to Harry with what little attention they did pay to him being negative in its entirety. All his clothes were hand-me-downs from Dudley and were far too large for Harry. He was forced to sleep in the ***Cupboard Under the Stairs***, while his cousin got two bedrooms to himself (one for sleeping in and one for storing all his toys). They also made Harry do household chores for them, such as making food and getting the post. In time, Dudley started bullying Harry. The Dursleys took Dudley and his friend ***Piers Polkiss*** to someplace spectacular every year for his birthday, but the only thing Harry ever got for his birthday was one of ***Vernon's old socks*** or a ***coat-hanger***.

The Dursleys always hid evidence of Harry's existence by not having pictures of him in the house. Among the few people who did know about Harry were Petunia's friend ***Yvonne*** and Vernon's sister Marge, the latter of whom the boy was forced to consider an aunt to him, despite not being a relative of his. Aunt Marge showed the most dislike for the frail boy while visiting ***Privet Drive*** during ***Dudley Dursley's fifth birthday***, when she whacked Harry around the shins to stop him from beating Dudley at ***musical statues***, and on holidays like Christmas, when she brought a computerised robot for Dudley and a box of dog biscuits for Harry to apparently eat. She eventually made a fool out of the young Potter during Dudley's tenth birthday, when Harry accidentally stepped on the paw of her favourite pet bulldog ***Ripper***, causing the enraged dog to chase him out into the garden and up a tree. ***Dudley*** laughed himself silly at the sight of his cousin then, and to the Dursleys' delight, Marge refused to call Ripper off until past midnight.

 File:Harry privet drive.jpg
Harry's hardship, however, was highly necessary as by returning to live with his mother's only living blood relative, the protection that Lily gave Harry would continue. While Harry could call that place home he could not be harmed. However, the Bond of blood charm would be broken when Harry turned seventeen years old, or when he no longer called ***4 Privet Drive*** his home.

Unknown to Harry, one of his neighbours, ***Arabella Figg***, was a ***Squib*** who had been ordered by Albus Dumbledore to keep an eye on Harry but to not reveal anything of the wizarding world to him. Unfortunately for Harry, to maintain favour with the Dursleys, she was forced to give him a lousy time whenever she had to look after him, as the Dursleys would never have let him go if they knew Harry was enjoying himself, a possibility that infuriated them. Harry discovered her connection to the wizarding world when it was revealed during the summer before his fifth year that she worked undercover for the Order of the Phoenix to keep tabs on Harry for his safety.

 File:HarryParseltongue.png
On ***23 June*** 1991, Dudley's eleventh birthday, the Dursleys went to the ***zoo*** with Dudley and Piers. Unfortunately for the Dursleys, they had to take Harry with them, as Mrs Figg had broken her leg and there was no one to take Harry, and they refused to leave him alone in their house. At the zoo, Harry spoke with a ***boa constrictor*** and unintentionally made the glass of its enclosure disappear. This allowed the snake to slither out of his cage which scared Dudley into thinking it was after him. Harry was able to communicate in Parseltongue with the freed boa, which thanked Harry briefly, then slithered out of the reptile house calmly. After this incident, the enraged ***Dursleys*** sentenced Harry to his cupboard until the beginning of the summer holidays.

#### St. Grogory's Primary School

> At school, Harry had no one. Everybody knew that Dudley's gang hated that odd Harry Potter in his baggy old clothes and broken glasses, and nobody liked to disagree with Dudley's gang.
>
> The reason Harry had no friends at school, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry attended ***St. Grogory's Primary School***, a Muggle primary school, with Dudley. He had no friends there, since all the students were afraid of Dudley's tough friends, who hated Harry simply because Dudley did. Dudley and his friends liked to play a unique game — '***Harry Hunting***' — which involved chasing Harry for hours on end. Although Harry was good at sports, he was always the last picked for a team because no one wanted to admit to Dudley that they liked him, rather than because he was no good.

Harry got decent, if not good grades at school. On one occasion, Harry accidentally ***turned his teacher's wig blue***; on another, he accidentally apparated onto the school kitchen roof when escaping from Dudley's gang; and on a third, he made Dudley's old jumper shrink as ***Aunt Petunia*** tried to shove it over his head. These incidents always enraged the Dursleys, and after each, they would punish Harry by throwing him into the cupboard — except for after the jumper incident because Aunt Petunia thought that the jumper had shrunk in the wash.

If Harry had not gone to Hogwarts, then he would have attended ***Stonewall High***, a Muggle secondary school that Harry dreaded attending.

#### Discovery of being a wizard

Template:Dialogue a-b-a

 File:Hogwarts letter.gif
Harry had no birthday celebrations until the day he turned 11, which was the same day that he discovered the exceptional reality about his identity. On the week of Harry's birthday, hundreds of ***letters*** began arriving at the Dursleys' home, addressed to him from a place called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When the Dursleys saw the first letter was addressed as "*cupboard under the stairs*", they panicked at the thought of Harry's ill treatment being observed and transferred him to Dudley's second bedroom out of fear of being arrested for child abuse, which soon appeared on letters as the ***smallest bedroom.***

When ***Uncle Vernon*** first read the letter, he turned a pale porridge grey out of fear that witches and wizards were trying to contact Harry. Because of this, Vernon tried to destroy the letters in a futile attempt to keep Harry from his destiny. But the letters kept coming in increasingly larger quantities, to the point where they started flying out of the fireplace by the dozens, and as they did, the ***Dursleys*** saw no alternative, but to flee from them. This was not enough to let the Dursleys avoid the letters, however, as the owls carrying these letters followed them wherever they went. On ***30 July*** 1991, In a final desperate move on, the Dursleys moved to a ***shack*** on a rocky island at the edge of the sea.

 File:Harry birthday.gif
At midnight on ***Harry's birthday***, Rubeus Hagrid appeared in person to find out why Harry had not received his letter. He was infuriated by the Dursleys and explained to Harry, in spite of Vernon's obstinate protests, that he was a wizard, how his parents died, that Dumbledore demanded him to take Harry from the ruined house to his hated relatives, and that he was to be sent to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

This would be Harry's first birthday celebration and Hagrid gave him a small homemade birthday cake and later, a snowy owl. Harry named her Hedwig, a name he had found from his textbook (***A History of Magic*** by **Bathilda Bagshot**). This was the first birthday present Harry ever received. Hagrid took Harry to the ***Leaky Cauldron***, where he learned that he was famous. He met Quirinus Quirrell, his soon-to-be Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts, the Inn-keeper ***Tom***, a witch named ***Doris Crockford***, and ***Dedalus Diggle*** — the man who had bowed to Harry several years earlier. Hagrid then took Harry to Diagon Alley, where he learned more about his fame in the wizarding world and that his parents had left him a small fortune in a ***vault*** at Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

 File:00Wand shopPM.png
Harry bought his first wand from Ollivander's that very day. The wand that chose Harry was made of holly wood and had a ***phoenix feather*** core; it was 11", nice and supple. The phoenix feather at its core came from Dumbledore's phoenix ***Fawkes***. It was crafted by Garrick Ollivander, who had also created a twin wand. This wand had been made from ***yew***, and contained the only other feather supplied by ***Fawkes***. This twin wand had chosen Tom Riddle as its master long ago. But after turning to evil and assumed the alias of Lord Voldemort, Riddle ended up using this wand to attack Harry and his parents. Sharing the same phoenix origin, the two wands had a unique connection that would prevent them from successfully duelling against each other in the years to come.

### Hogwarts years Template:C

##### Aboard the Hogwarts Express

Harry was guided further to his destiny on ***1 September***, 1991, when he was dropped off by the Dursleys at ***King's Cross Station***. Vernon helped Harry wheel his things to the platforms and left laughing about how ***Platform Nine and Three-Quarters*** had not yet been built. The family then drove off, leaving Harry at the busy station all alone. With only ten minutes left until the train's departure at eleven a.m., Harry was panicking when he overheard a red-headed family complaining about the station being packed with Muggles, and he noticed that they had an owl with their belongings.

 File:Harry meeting the Weasleys..jpg
Harry watched as the older boys magically passed through the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Harry nervously interrupted them and was introduced to their youngest son Ron, who was starting his first year as well. Molly (Ron's mother) kindly gave him instructions on how to board the platform. Harry quickly ran through the barrier, followed by Ron, and arrived on the Platform, catching his first sight of the ***Hogwarts Express***. As most of the compartments were full, Harry pushed his things to near the end of the train, and with some help from twins from the red-headed family, was able to get his things aboard.

While helping, the twins noticed his scar and recognised that he must be Harry Potter. While Harry sat near the window in his compartment watching the family, the twins ***Fred*** and ***George Weasley*** reported this discovery to the amazement of their little sister Ginny and their older brother Percy who was a Prefect and had already changed into his robes. After boarding, the train soon departed and Ron asked if he could sit with Harry, who agreed. Ron asked Harry about his scar, and Harry asked if Ron's ***whole family*** were wizards, which they are except for his mother's ***second cousin***, who was an accountant. When the ***trolley witch*** came by around half-past twelve, Harry bought some of all the treats from the cart and shared them with Ron.

 File:Trio meet.jpg
***Neville Longbottom*** soon came by searching for his lost ***toad***, ***Trevor***. While Ron was attempting a ***magic spell*** to change his rat Scabbers, Hermione Granger interrupted trying to help find Trevor. After Ron's spell failed, Hermione introduced herself and upon learning Harry's name, informed him that he was in several books on magical history. While speculating which house they might be in, Harry and Ron were interrupted by Draco Malfoy, ***Vincent Crabbe***, and ***Gregory Goyle***. Although Draco attempted to ingratiate himself, Harry refused to shake his hand after he insulted Ron and his family. When Goyle attempted to take some of their ***Chocolate Frog Cards***, Scabbers bit his finger and helped drive them off. Ron afterwards explained that the ***Malfoy family*** were on Voldemort's side, but came back saying they had been bewitched, although his father did not believe it.

Upon arriving, Hagrid gathered all the first years together and they followed a path down to the edge of a ***Great Lake***. In groups of no more than four, they climbed aboard a little fleet of small boats, and sailed across the lake to an underground harbour. Helping to remind Neville to take his toad, Hagrid took them up a passageway to the gates of the castle.

##### The Sorting Ceremony

> It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
>
> Harry's choice to be sorted into Gryffindor, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The new students were greeted at the castle door by Professor Minerva McGonagall, who explained the four houses of Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, as well as the rules of the ***House Cup***. McGonagall led the first years into a small room off the Entrance Hall and told them to wait until she returned. When she did, they were led into the Great Hall, where they were greeted by the rest of the students, and more importantly, a shabby wizard's hat on a small stool.

 File:Harry Potter being sorted PSF.jpg
Harry was particularly anxious, as he did not feel that any of the Houses as they were described in the Hat's song were right for him. Harry noted that Draco Malfoy, whom Harry had met in Diagon Alley, was instantly placed in Slytherin, and remembered what Hagrid and Ron had told him about Slytherin's reputation for turning out Dark wizards, and that Voldemort had been in Slytherin. When Harry put on the Hat, it slipped down past his eyes, and the hat told him that he "would do well in Slytherin". Thinking of Voldemort, Harry desperately repeated the phrase "not Slytherin". The Hat heeded Harry's request and placed Harry in Gryffindor along with Ron and Hermione Granger. In his second year during a visit to Dumbledore's office, the Sorting Hat re-emphasised the idea that Harry "would do well in Slytherin".

The Sorting Ceremony was followed by the Start-of-Term Feast. Having previously never been allowed to eat as much as he wanted, Harry was overwhelmed by the sheer variety of foods in front of him. Dessert arrived, and talk turned to the first-years' families. ***Neville Longbottom*** told the others how his family thought he was a ***Squib*** until his ***great-uncle*** accidentally dropped him out of a window, and he bounced.

 File:HP1-1294.jpg
It was during the feast that Harry's scar hurt for the first time: Harry was looking up at the staff table at Professor Quirrell when the hook-nosed teacher Quirrell was talking to looked past Quirrell at Harry, who immediately felt a sharp pain in his scar. This was because Lord Voldemort was inhabiting Quirrell's body as anytime Voldemort was near Harry's scar hurt. After the last morsels melted from the golden plates and goblets, Dumbledore gave a speech welcoming the new students to the school and the old students back. He added a few warnings about staying away from the ***Forbidden Forest***, and avoiding the third-floor corridor before leading the school in singing the ***school song*** and sending everyone off to their dormitories.

##### First-years' lessons/classes

Template:Dialogue a-b-aIn his first ever ***Potions*** class, Harry discovered that Professor Snape hated him, mocking him as the school's "new celebrity" before teaching the class how to brew a **Boil-Cure Potion**. Harry and Ron went down to Hagrid's hut for tea, where they met Hagrid's huge and fierce-looking dog, Fang. Hagrid told Harry that he was overreacting to Snape's treatment, asserting that he would have no reason to hate him. Hagrid and Ron began to talk about Ron's older brother ***Charlie Weasley***. While they were talking, Harry picked up a cutting from the *Daily Prophet* that was lying on the table. The article detailed a break-in that occurred on Harry's birthday at Gringotts. The vault that was broken into was number 713, the same vault Hagrid visited with Harry on their trip to Diagon Alley.

 File:Flying class in 1991.jpg
One of the things that Harry had been looking forward to was ***learning to fly*** until he found out that the Gryffindors would be taking flying lessons with the Slytherins. Malfoy had been bragging about his skill to anyone who would listen. ***Madam Rolanda Hooch*** taught the class by starting with basic broom control. After learning the theory, the students were told to hover gently off the ground on Madam Hooch's go-ahead. Terrified of being left behind, Neville panicked and kicked off before anyone else, rising fifty feet in the air before falling off and breaking his wrist. Madam Hooch took Neville to the ***Hospital Wing*** after warning the other students to stay on the ground until she got back.

Draco Malfoy nicked Neville's ***Remembrall*** from off the ground and was told to give it to Harry, jeering that he would leave it "up a tree" unless Harry stopped him and took off on his broom. Harry mounted his broom and kicked off after him. As much to his surprise as everyone else's, he discovered that he could not only fly, but that it was something he did not need to be taught. Bending low on the broom handle, he shot toward Draco, who realised that Harry was a better flyer and threw the Remembrall into the air, daring the famous boy to catch it. Harry raced the ball towards the ground, catching it and coming out of his dive a foot from the ground. He toppled lightly onto the grass amidst the cheers of the Gryffindors, grinning wildly.

 File:Harry-potter1-seeker harry.jpg
His euphoria did not last long, however, as Professor McGonagall quickly arrived on the scene. Having seen the dive, she ordered Harry to follow her. Expecting punishment, Harry was instead introduced to ***Oliver Wood***, whom she pulled out of a ***Charms*** class. Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Wood's confusion at being introduced to a first year quickly turned to excitement and ecstasy upon hearing McGonagall recount the dive. He told her that Harry would need a decent broom if they were to compete, and explained to Harry that he would make an excellent ***Seeker***, perhaps rivalling the legendary ***Charlie Weasley***.

##### The midnight duel

> **Harry**You're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground and you've got your little friends with you.**Draco Malfoy**I'd take you on anytime on my own. Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only — no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel before, I suppose?**Malfoy challenging Harry to a one-on-one duel**Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry told Ron about everything that happened after he left with McGonagall over dinner that night, but warned him that Wood wanted to keep it a secret. Much calmer on the ground, and with his cronies ***Vincent Crabbe*** and ***Gregory Goyle*** flanking him, Draco came over to taunt Harry about getting in trouble earlier. Enraged that Harry not only escaped trouble, but was instead rewarded, he challenged Harry to a wizard's duel. In spite of Hermione's attempt to dissuade them from breaking the school rules, (or perhaps because of it), Harry accepted the challenge.

 File:Trio third floor.jpg
As they left the tower, the trio found Neville (whose wrist had been fixed by Madam Pomfrey) waiting outside, having forgotten the password. Neville decided to go with them and the four arrived at the ***Trophy Room*** (the site of the duel), but Malfoy was nowhere to be found. They speculated that he may have chickened out and were deciding what to do next when they heard the school caretaker Argus Filch and his cat, Mrs Norris, enter the room. Realising that Draco tricked them and informed Filch of their location, they attempted to quietly exit the room. A nearby doorknob rattled and ***Peeves***, Hogwarts' resident ***poltergeist***, burst into the hallway, threatening to expose them.

 File:Fluffy PM B1C9M3 ForbiddenCorridorFluffy Moment.jpg
Growing desperate, Ron took a swipe at Peeves, who began to bellow their whereabouts as loud as he could, attracting Filch. The four kids ran right to the end of the corridor, where they found themselves stopped by a locked door, which Hermione opened with the Unlocking Charm using Harry's wand. They hurried inside, thinking themselves out of danger until turning around and coming face-to-face with a monstrous sight: ***a giant three-headed dog***. Choosing Filch over death, the children ran for it, somehow managing to get back to their dormitory without running into anyone along the way. Though shaken by the night's events, Harry's interest in exploring was piqued by Hermione's pointing out that the dog was standing on a trapdoor.

##### The Nimbus 2000

> Wood — I've found you a Seeker. The boy's a natural. I've never seen anything like it. Was that your first time on a broomstick, Potter?
>
> Harry becoming Gryffindor's new Seeker, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

 File:Broomstick PS.jpg
Over breakfast the next morning, Harry and Ron were discussing what Fluffy could be guarding when the mail arrived. Harry, who had received no mail apart from Hagrid's letter, was intrigued as everyone else by the long, oddly-shaped package in the mail that morning, and was even more surprised than the others when he discovered what was inside: a Nimbus 2000, and with a note from Professor McGonagall warning him not to open the package at the table, and that he was to meet Wood that night for Quidditch practice. Taking the broom up to their dormitory, Harry and Ron were stopped by Malfoy, who seized the package and told Harry that first-year students are not allowed their own brooms. When ***Professor Flitwick*** walked up to them, he tried to report Harry, but Flitwick, who had been told of Harry's special permission, just expressed admiration for Harry's talent.

##### Hallowe'en

> But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. 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.
>
> Harry and Ron forming a friendship with Hermione, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

 File:Harry-potter1-harry seamus charm lesson.jpg
On Hallowe'en, Professor Flitwick began teaching his students how to perform the Levitation Charm. Only Hermione succeeded; offended by her air of superiority, Ron later made a nasty comment that she overheard. The comment was about her lack of friends, causing her to run off to lock herself in the girl's bathroom in tears and making him and Harry feel slightly guilty. When the two went down to the Hallowe'en feast later, their guilt was forgotten amidst the splendour of the decorations.

Partway into the feast, Quirrell arrived to announce that there was a twelve-foot ***Mountain Troll*** in the dungeons before fainting where he stood. The prefects led the students back to their dorms, but Harry realised that Hermione did not know about the troll and convinced Ron to help save her, since they were responsible. They sneaked off to the girl's bathroom to warn Hermione, locking the troll inside. However, they did not realise their mistake until they heard Hermione's terrified scream emanate from the bathroom. A horrified Harry and Ron ran back into the bathroom to rescue her. After a brief skirmish, during which Harry stuck his wand up the troll's nose, Ron finally knocked the troll out, by levitating the troll's own club to smash into its head.

 File:B1C10M3 Troll in First-Floor Girls' Toilets.jpg
Attracted by the troll's yells, the teachers arrived to find Harry, Ron, and Hermione covered in dust, and the bathroom in disarray. Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor, began scolding the boys for not going straight to their dormitories with the rest of their house, but instead putting themselves in grave danger. Much to Harry and Ron's surprise, Hermione lied to McGonagall and told her that she had gone looking for the troll, as she thought she could handle them. She claimed that Harry and Ron were looking for her, (which was true), and she would most likely be dead if the boys had failed to rescue her (also true). The three bonded over the shared experience, and were friends thereafter.

##### Quidditch

> **Harry**I've got the Snitch!**Marcus Flint**He didn't catch it, he nearly swallowed it!**Harry catching the Golden Snitch with his mouth**Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

As the Quidditch season began, Harry became increasingly nervous. The first match of the season was against Slytherin. Harry was under increasing pressure to show that he was not just a famous name.

 File:Harry-potter1-snape limp.jpg
Snape noticed their guilty faces, and looking for a reason to punish them, confiscated Harry's book on the feeble pretext that library books were not be taken outside. Harry noticed that Snape was limping, as though his leg was injured, strengthening his suspicions that the ***Potions Master*** was after whatever it was that Fluffy was guarding. Nervous about the next day's match, Harry decided to ask Snape for the book back; realising that he would most likely be in the ***staffroom*** and that it would be harder for Snape to bully him if there were other teachers around, Harry decided to confront him. Approaching the door, Harry overheard Snape complaining to Filch about Fluffy. After opening the door, Harry saw Filch helping Snape to bandage his leg. He returned to the Common Room and then told his two friends everything he had seen.

Main article: Gryffindor vs Slytherin Quidditch match (1991)
 File:B1C11M2 Gryffindor vs Slytherin Quidditch match.jpg
Harry had little time to dwell on Snape's injury as the first Quidditch match began the very next morning. Harry's job as being the Gryffindor ***Seeker*** was to catch the Golden Snitch. The snitch is a walnut-sized gold ball, that is extremely fast and difficult to see. The entire match rested upon the retrieval of the Snitch. Harry's first attempt to catch the Snitch was foiled when the Slytherin ***Seeker*** ***blatched*** him. Though the Seeker was penalised, the move succeeded in stopping Harry from getting to the Snitch.

Soon after, Harry's broom began bucking uncontrollably as if trying to unseat him. The bucking became even more violent with each passing second, until Harry was hanging from the broom with just one hand. As the crowd looked on with horror, some of the professors had their wands at the ready should he fall. Ron and Hermione began to wonder if the other was at fault. That is until Hagrid, who had arrived to watch the game, noted that it would take powerful dark magic to make a broomstick so hard to manage, magic that powerful was well above the level of a second year and therefore had to have been cast by a qualified wizard. This announcement did nothing to help the worried friends.

 File:Harry catches the snitch.gif
Hermione, who had turned her gaze away from Harry, and was scanning the stands, noticed that Snape was staring unblinkingly at Harry and muttering non-stop under his breath. Thinking quickly, Hermione took advantage of the fact that everyone's attention was now focused on Harry (and the Weasley twins' attempts to rescue him) to run around the entire stadium, knocking over Professor Quirrell, and ending up behind Snape. Muttering a few "well-chosen words" Hermione lit Snape's robes on fire with ***Bluebell Flames***; a yell of shock told her she had done her job and she scooped the fire into a jar. Suddenly, up in the air, the spell on Harry's broomstick was broken and he was once again able to control his broom. The spectators watched in confusion as Harry dove towards the ground, only to clasp his hand to his mouth as if he was being violently sick the instant he landed. In actuality, Harry had caught the Snitch in his mouth. His capture of the Snitch ended the match, resulting in Gryffindor's victory.

After the match, Hagrid took the three back to his ***hut***. Ron and Hermione told Harry and Hagrid about what was happening on the other side of the stands, and how Snape was cursing his broomstick. Hagrid, however, did not believe them, asking why Snape would try to kill Harry; Harry told Hagrid about Snape being bitten by ***the dog in the third-floor corridor***. Surprised by their knowledge, Hagrid involuntarily revealed that the dog belonged to him, and that what the dog was guarding did not concern them, as it was a secret known only to Albus Dumbledore and a man named ***Nicolas Flamel***.

##### Christmas season

> It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that.
>
> Albus Dumbledore warning Harry about the Mirror, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Impressed as they were with the fact that Harry had managed to hold onto a ***bucking*** broomstick, Malfoy soon found that the rest of the school no longer found his taunts that Harry was to be replaced amusing, and so reverted to teasing Harry about having to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays. Harry, however, was looking forward to spending Christmas away from the ***Dursleys***, especially in light of the fact that Ron was also staying at Hogwarts, but also because it would give them some time to look up ***Nicolas Flamel***; they were certain that ***the librarian*** would be able to find a book on Flamel in an instant, but were worried that it might be suspicious, and were thus forced to search for themselves.

 File:Invisibility Cloak GIF.gif
On Christmas day, Harry and Ron awoke to a pile of presents, each at the foot of their beds. At the bottom of the pile, he found a package containing an Invisibility Cloak and an anonymous note telling him only that the cloak once belonged to his father, and to "use it well". That night, Harry thought on the Cloak and decided to try it out. Realising he could go anywhere, he snuck back to the library and headed straight for the Restricted Section. Knowing he had to start somewhere, Harry pulled down one of the heavier books, and let it fall open on his knee. To his shock and horror, the silence was rent by a blood-curdling scream that issued from the book in front of him. He stuffed the book back in its place and ran for the door, knocking over the lantern he brought with him in his haste. Ducking under Filch's outstretched arms, Harry ran down the dark corridors, away from the library, and away from Filch.

Thinking he had escaped, Harry was scared to hear Filch's voice approaching, and horrified when he realised whom Filch was talking to: Snape. As Snape and Filch rounded the corner, Harry realised that although his father's cloak made him invisible, it did not stop him from being solid, and that he had no chance of sneaking past them, as the corridor was particularly narrow. Thinking quickly, (and panicking slightly), Harry noticed a door to his left; slipping inside, he found himself in an abandoned classroom. After Filch and Snape passed his hiding place, Harry relaxed and took in more details about the room he was in.

 File:MirrorOfErised PM.jpg
In doing so, he noticed something he had missed the first time: an old, gilded mirror bearing the inscription “*Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi*”. Stepping in front of the mirror, Harry very nearly cried out in shock: inside the mirror he saw a large crowd of people standing behind him. Shocked, Harry turned around to look at the room, but saw no one there. Turning back to the mirror and looking more closely, Harry realised that the man and woman in the front looked oddly like him. The man looked just like him, from his untidy hair to his glasses, and the woman, Harry saw, had the same eyes he had. Understanding, Harry focused on other members of the crowd, and saw others who had his untidy hair, his eyes, and even an old man who had Harry's knees; Harry was looking at his family, for the first time in his life.

The next night, Harry brought Ron with him to the mirror room. Ron did not see Harry's family in the mirror, but instead saw himself standing alone, tall, holding the ***House Cup***, wearing badges indicating he was Head Boy and Quidditch Captain. The two began arguing over who would be allowed to look in the mirror; Mrs Norris, Filch's prowling cat, entered the room, attracted by the sounds of their argument. The next day, Ron, worried about being caught and about his friend's obsession with the mirror, warned Harry not to return; Harry, however, was not to be dissuaded.

 File:Dumbledore talking to Harry about the Mirror of Erised.jpg
Going to the ***room*** that evening, Harry was ready to stay there all night, staring at the family he lost. However, in his haste, he failed to notice Professor Dumbledore standing by the door until after he removed his cloak. Dumbledore, who had been waiting for Harry, explained that the mirror, which was known as the “Mirror of Erised”, displayed the deepest, most desperate desire of whoever looked into it. Harry, who had never known his family, saw them standing around him; Ron, ever overshadowed by his older brothers, saw himself standing alone, the best of them all.

Before sending Harry back to bed, however, Dumbledore warned him that the mirror was a dangerous object; men had been driven mad by what they saw in the mirror, not knowing if what they saw was real, or even possible. He told Harry that the mirror was to be moved to a new location, and warned Harry to not go looking for it. Before he left, Harry asked the headmaster what he saw in the mirror. Much to his surprise, Dumbledore told Harry that he saw himself with a pair of woollen socks. Despite his promise to Dumbledore, Harry found it difficult to forget the image of his parents, until ***Wood*** told the team that Snape would be refereeing the next Quidditch match against Hufflepuff.

 File:Neville got a Leg-Locker Curse (1991).JPG
Shortly before the match, Malfoy, ever eager to pick on ***Neville***, used the Leg-Locker Curse on Neville, forcing him to bunny hop his way back to the Common Room. Harry told Neville he was "worth twelve of Malfoy" and gave him a ***Chocolate Frog***. Thanking Harry, Neville handed the card back to Harry for his collection. Looking down, Harry noted it was Dumbledore's card, the first he ever got. He turned the card over and suddenly remembered where he read the name Nicolas Flamel before: on the ***train on the way to school***.

As the Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff Quidditch match drew nearer, tensions mounted in the school; Gryffindor had failed to overtake Slytherin in the ***Inter-House Quidditch Cup*** for seven years, and Harry was worried that it would be impossible with Snape as a referee. Unknown to Harry, Ron and Hermione had been practising the Leg-Locker Curse to use on Snape, should he show any signs of wanting to harm Harry. Before the match began, Wood took Harry aside and reminded him that he needed to catch the Snitch as soon as he could, before Snape could favour Hufflepuff too much. Harry performed his role as ***Seeker*** phenomenally, catching the Snitch within five minutes of the game starting, putting Gryffindor in first place for the ***Quidditch Cup***.

##### Detention

> **Firenze**It will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenceless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips.**Harry**But — who would choose such a life?**Firenze explaining the properties of unicorn blood**Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

 File:Egg hatching ps.gif
Having realised how much Harry, Ron, and Hermione had worked out about the Stone after running into them in the library, Rubeus Hagrid told them to meet him in his ***hut*** later. When the trio arrived later, they noticed that the fire was lit, despite the heat of the day. Although he was reluctant to answer their questions, Hermione managed to manipulate him into talking about the various protections used to guard it: ***Fluffy***, the three headed dog, was Hagrid's, along with enchantments from Professors Sprout, ***Flitwick***, McGonagall, Quirrell, and Snape. Growing uncomfortable in the heat, Harry asked Hagrid to open a window, something Hagrid refused to do as he had a dragon egg in the fire. Unfortunately, Draco Malfoy discovered the ***dragon***, and decided to use the knowledge to get revenge by getting them into trouble for possessing an illegal dragon. So Malfoy in turn, tried to tell McGonagall of the trio's activities.

 File:WB F1 Fang HarryMalfoyFangInForest 11428.jpg
Filch took them to McGonagall's office, where they found Ron Weasley, who had attempted to warn them about Malfoy. Minerva McGonagall, who was very disappointed in them, took fifty points each from Harry, Hermione, and Neville and gave the three detention, which they were to serve along with Malfoy. Riding high on his Quidditch wins, Harry's popularity plummeted: no one wanted to talk to the "stupid first year" who, along with two others, had lost Gryffindor their chance of defeating Slytherin, and winning the ***House Cup***. A week or so before exams, Harry's new determination to not meddle in others' business was tested when he heard Professor Quirrell, whimpering as if he was being threatened. Believing that Snape was the one threatening Quirrell, and that he was going after the Stone, Hermione suggested that they go talk to Professor Dumbledore, but Harry dismissed the idea, as they had no proof.

The next morning, Harry, Hermione, and Neville received notes from Professor McGonagall informing them their detention would begin at eleven that night. Argus Filch took them out to the ***Forbidden Forest***, where Hagrid was waiting for them. Hagrid led them into the Forbidden Forest and showed them a pool of ***unicorn*** blood on the ground. They split up, Hagrid taking Harry and Hermione, while Neville and Malfoy went off with ***Fang***. After Malfoy scared Neville into sending up red sparks, Hagrid sent Harry off with Malfoy, deciding that Malfoy would be less likely to scare Harry.

 File:Harry Potter and Firenze in the Forbidden Forest.jpg
As they continued, Harry noticed the pools of unicorn blood they were following seemed to be growing larger and larger, as if the animal had been thrashing around. Eventually, they came to a clearing and found the laying on the ground, and very dead. As they watched, a hooded figure emerged from the bushes and began to drink the unicorn's blood. Malfoy screamed and bolted away with ***Fang***, leaving Harry, half blinded by the pain in his scar to stumble away from the advancing figure. Harry was saved by ***Firenze***, a palamino ***centaur***, who allowed Harry to ride on his back out of the forest. Firenze told Harry the properties of unicorn blood. Harry realised that there would only be one person who would be so desperate as to kill a unicorn: Lord Voldemort.

##### The Philosopher's Stone

> **Harry**"Professor, I think — I know — that someone's going to try and steal the Stone. I've got to talk to Professor Dumbledore.**Minerva McGonagall**Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow. I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected.**The trio warning McGonagall of the plot to steal the stone**Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

While talking to Ron and Hermione after finishing their exams, Harry realised the strange coincidence that had occurred: Hagrid wanted a ***dragon*** more than anything else, only to meet a stranger who had one to give him. They ran down to ask Hagrid more about the man who gave him Norbert, only to find out that the stranger never lowered his hood, something of a fashion in the ***Hogs head***. Hagrid explained that he could not remember much, as the man kept buying him drinks, but said that he thought they talked about Hogwarts and the kinds of creatures Hagrid looks after there.

 File:Transfiguration homework.jpg
Focused on remembering what had happened that night, Hagrid accidentally let slip that ***Fluffy*** fell asleep when played music. Now convinced that Snape had all the information he needed to get past Fluffy,Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided to go see Professor Dumbledore and tell him their suspicions. While walking across the Entrance Hall, they were stopped by Professor McGonagall, and decided to tell her what they had found out. She insisted that no one could steal the Stone, and told them that Dumbledore was in London for the day.

Main article: Skirmish in the Underground Chambers
As the trio set off that night to stop Snape, they were stopped themselves by ***Neville***, who believed that they were sneaking out without reason again, and was worried that they would loose Gryffindor even more points. Desperate as they were for time, Hermione paralysed Neville. When they arrived the third-floor corridor, it was to find ***Fluffy*** awake, but a harp by his feet. Remembering what Hagrid told them, The Harp's Playing. From the first notes, Fluffy's eyes began to droop, and he quickly fell asleep. Jumping through the trapdoor, they found themselves in Professor Sprout's room, filled with Devil's Snare, which almost smothered them.

 File:Harry-Potter and the winged-keys PS.png
The next room, Professor Flitwick's, held a bunch of ***flying keys*** and some broomsticks. Harry found the correct key, caught it, and unlocked the next door with it. The next room was Professor McGonagall's, and had a large chessboard, for a game of ***Wizard's Chess*** which Ron won at the cost of sacrificing himself. Harry and Hermione continued to the next room (leaving an unconscious Ron where they could return for him).

 File:B1C17M1 Quirrell and Harry by the Mirror of Erised.png
Once inside the room, Harry's attention was drawn to two things: the Mirror of Erised, and Quirrell. Quirrell bound Harry before explaining that the Mirror was the key to finding the Stone. Desperate to distract him from the Mirror, Harry questioned Quirrell, who revealed that he was serving Lord Voldemort, and although Snape hated Harry (because Snape allegedly loathed his father in their time at school), he never wanted him dead. Unable to locate the Stone, Quirrell asked Voldemort for help; much to Harry's surprise, a voice which seemed to issue from Quirrell himself said "to use the boy".

Looking in the Mirror, Harry saw his reflection pull the Stone out of his pocket and replace it, at which point he felt the real Stone drop his real pocket. He told Quirrell that he saw himself winning the House Cup, but Voldemort, an accomplished Legilimens, informed Quirrell that Harry was lying, and ordered Quirrell to allow him to speak "to the boy". Quirrell unwrapped his turban, and turned away from Harry. Sticking out of the back of Quirrell's head, Voldemort demanded that Harry give him the Stone. Harry refused, and Quirrell tried to kill him, causing Harry's scar to sear with pain; but contact with Harry's skin burned Quirrell's hands by touched his hand, after Harry touches him, forcing him to release Harry. Realising that contact caused Quirrell pain, Quirrell's hand turned to stone and crumbled. Harry kills Quirrell by grabbing his face, causing him to turn to dust. Also, when Harry grabbed his face, it made his whole body demolish and Voldemort escaped until He blacked out

 File:B1C17M2 Harry's first Hospital Wing stay.png
He woke in the ***Hospital Wing***, where Albus Dumbledore reassured him that Quirrell did not succeed at getting the Stone, and that the Stone had in fact, been destroyed. Dumbledore then explained the reason why Quirrell could not touch him was that because Harry's mother had died to save him, granting him protection against Voldemort.

At the End-of-Term Feast, after seemingly congratulating Slytherin on winning the ***House Cup***, Dumbledore awarded Ron and Hermione fifty points, Harry sixty points, and Neville ten, which allowed them to win the cup.

#### Second year

> You see? It was a name I was already using at Hogwarts, to my most intimate friends only, of course. You think I was going to use my filthy Muggle father's name forever? I, in whose veins runs the blood of Salazar Slytherin himself, through my mother's side? I, keep the name of a foul, common Muggle, who abandoned me even before I was born, just because he found out his wife was a witch? No, Harry — I fashioned myself a new name, a name I knew wizards everywhere would one day fear to speak, when I had become the greatest sorcerer in the world!
>
> Harry meeting Tom Riddle in the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

##### Meeting Dobby

Harry's second year in 1992 started out badly and gradually got worse. Throughout the preceding summer, the Dursleys became so fearful of his newly discovered magical abilities that they locked away all of his school supplies immediately after his return home to them. They even went as far as to ban him from saying words pertaining or related to magic in general, as evident to Harry getting reprimanded by ***Uncle Vernon*** for saying the word "magic" at the breakfast table one day.

This, however, did not stop Harry from exploiting their paranoia in order to have quiet time alone, such as taunting ***Dudley*** with made-up magical incantations (like ***Jiggery Pokery***, ***Hocus Pocus***, and ***Squiggly wiggly***) whenever the latter teased him. Furthermore, he had no contact with any of his friends nor any news from the wizarding world, and Hedwig took to making noise out of boredom from being padlocked in her cage.

 File:B2C1M2 Dursley's garden.png
On ***31 July*** (Harry's twelfth birthday), Harry felt very lonely from receiving no letters from his friends. Dudley taunted him stating "*Who would want to be friends with you?*" The Dursleys seemed to have forgotten his birthday too, for they were too busy preparing for a dinner party with ***a client*** of Vernon's at work. The sight of the hedge supposedly staring back startled Harry, but ***Dudley Dursley*** came over to bother him as the eyes vanished. Harry tried to scare his cousin away by pretending the use of incantations would set the hedge on fire. Petunia then threatened him with a soapy pan and tasked him with a list of chores to keep him out of her way until Vernon and Dudley returned home from buying dinner jackets.

 File:Dobby 1992.jpeg
When he was sent up to his bedroom later that evening for the dinner party, he found a house-elf named Dobby waited on his bed to warn him against returning to Hogwarts, as it meant putting himself in great danger. He tried to tell Dobby that Hogwarts was his home and where he belonged. The elf then revealed that he prevented the direct deliverance of the mail from Harry's friends and promised to give the letters back when Harry complied with the warning.

This bargain failed as well, so Dobby crashed the dinner party downstairs via a Hover Charm on Petunia's homemade masterpiece of ***pudding***, which splattered everywhere when the spell was lifted, and disappeared. The mess left behind was thus blamed on Harry, who received an official warning from the ***Ministry of Magic*** about using magic outside school. Taking advantage of this incident and using it as a means to suppress the magical blood in their nephew, the Dursleys locked him in his room with bars on his window to prevent him from returning to Hogwarts as punishment.

##### Escape to the Burrow

Template:Dialogue a-b

 File:Harry escaping privet drive.jpg
Three nights later, Harry was rescued from his imprisonment by Ron, who was worried about not hearing from him all summer and flew with his older brothers ***Fred*** and ***George Weasley*** in a flying Ford Anglia belonging to their father Arthur Weasley, the Head of the Ministry's ***Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office***, to break off the bars on Harry's window and help him retrieve his school things. Hedwig's screeches soon alerted the Dursleys of the getaway, but they were unable to do anything as the car flew off with Harry in tow. During the flight to the ***Weasley family***'s home ***the Burrow***, Harry told Ron and the twins about Dobby's warning, which Fred and George concluded must have been part of a joke from Draco Malfoy, whose ***family*** was of great wealth.

They arrived at their destination early the next morning to find a worried-sick Molly Weasley waiting in the kitchen to punish her three sons for taking the vehicle without permission by having them and Harry (who volunteered) ***de-gnome*** the garden. Mr Weasley came home to discuss the results of his proposed ***Muggle Protection Act*** to the Ministry with his family, and was glad to meet Harry once introduced to him, despite his wife berating him for bewitching their car. As a generous measure, the Weasleys welcomed the young wizard into the family fold for the rest of the summer, though this made Ron's younger sister Ginny Weasley spend the entire day hiding in Harry's presence.

##### Welcoming at Flourish and Blotts

Template:Dialogue a-b-c

 File:Harry-potter2-borgin & burkes.jpg
When a ***Hogwarts acceptance letter*** for Ginny arrived a week later, the Weasleys set out for Diagon Alley using the ***Floo Network*** eight days afterwards to buy some school supplies. Harry ended up at ***Borgin and Burkes*** in the adjacent Knockturn Alley. While inside the shop he was forced to hide in a ***Crushing Cabinet***, as Draco Malfoy and his father Lucius Malfoy entered. Draco made many sulky remarks regarding Harry's talent in Quidditch.

The shopkeeper, ***Mr Borgin***, was surprised that Mr Malfoy was only selling dark and illegally enchanted artefacts and not buying. Mr Malfoy was sealing the items before they could be confiscated by the raids on wizarding households that Mr Weasley was conducting as part of the Muggle Protection Act. Borgin expressed pity to the current decline of blood purity. Draco, on the other hand, had interest in a few of the items already on sale, including the ***Hand of Glory*** and a ***cursed opal necklace***, and was stopped from approaching Harry's hiding place by his father.

 File:Harr Potter takes image with Lockhart.jpg
As soon as the ***Malfoys*** left, Harry was found leaving the shop himself by Rubeus Hagrid, who brought him out of Knockturn and into Diagon Ally's Flourish and Blotts, where the Weasleys were in line with Hermione and her parents for a book signing for the arrival of flamboyant but incompetent celebrity author Gilderoy Lockhart, who was recently appointed the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. When Lockhart saw Harry for the first time, he got excited and beckoned him up to the front, allowing the audience to take pictures of them together before giving Harry a ***set of his books***.

Harry was too embarrassed by this publicity stunt, and gave the books to Ginny since he could afford a set of his own. Draco went over to congratulate him for being unable to avoid making the front page when walking into a bookstore, but then his father moved him aside to have a one-on-one argument with Mr Weasley over the latter's obsession with Muggles (finding an example of which in Hermione's parents, both Muggle dentists), provoking Weasley into lunging at him. Hagrid broke up the fight just in time, but not before the senior Malfoy slipped a diary into Ginny's ***cauldron*** of school books.

##### Car flight alongside the Hogwarts Express

> Brilliant! Inspired! What an entrance! Flying a car right into the Whomping Willow, people'll be talking about that one for years —
>
> The impressed inhabitants of Gryffindor Tower, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

 File:Blocked Barrier GIF.gif
When Harry and Ron tried to get onto ***Platform 9¾*** to join Hermione and the rest of the Weasleys, the barrier mysteriously sealed, and they hit the wall. They missed the ***Hogwarts Express*** as a result, and decided to fly the car to Hogwarts, reasoning that they would not be seen due to the ***Invisibility Booster*** that Mr Weasley installed. However, the booster failed shortly after takeoff, and the car was spotted by several Muggles as they flew northward alongside the train.

Their day-long flight ended with them crashing into the ***Whomping Willow***, instead of with the graceful landing they imagined. ***Ron's wand*** was inadvertently broken by the resulting impact as the gigantic tree started pounding the car in anger of being hit, but luckily for them, the battered Angila broke free from the branches to eject Harry and Ron out of the front seat with their belongings before driving off into the ***Forbidden Forest***. Both boys were found by Professor Snape watching the ***Sorting Ceremony*** from the window. They were taken to ***his office***, where they were given separate detentions by Albus Dumbledore and professor Minerva McGonagall. Ginny Weasley, meanwhile, was sorted into Gryffindor.

 File:B2C7M2 Harry replying to Lockhart's fan mail.png
The next day at breakfast, Ron received a ***Howler*** from his mother, who told him that he would be brought home if he broke another rule. The day only got worse when the Gryffindors attended their first Defence Against the Dark Arts class. Lockhart's teaching was a disaster, since the first thing he did was give them a pop quiz on himself and claimed the answers could be found in his books. He then let a cage of "*freshly caught*" Cornish ***Pixies*** loose and struggled to round them up, but ran to hide from them leaving his young pupils to save the day.

As the DADA lessons continued, Harry found himself having to act out scenes from Lockhart's books as he read them in class. Lockhart was in love with fame and kept bothering Harry, who had to help him answer his fan-mail while Ron had to polish the school's prizes and trophies. But he was not the only one who paid him extra attention: many first-year Gryffindors like Colin Creevey were star-struck by Harry, and Ginny had a huge crush on him that developed over the summer since she first saw the famous Potter on Platform 9¾ at the start and end of his first year. After hours of tedious work, Harry heard a disembodied, sinister voice, which Lockhart was unable to hear.

##### Deathday Party

> The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir Beware.
>
> A grim message from the Heir of Slytherin, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

 File:Deathday Party Pottermore.png
In return for distracting Argus Filch just when he was about to give Harry severe punishment for something he did not do, Harry promised he would attend Nearly Headless Nick's Death-day Party on Hallowe'en. He did this as a favour in order to help boost Nick's reputation, so that he might achieve his desire of joining the Headless Hunt. He brought Ron and Hermione along, as well. Hermione was excited at the prospect of attending the event, as most living beings have not been to a ***Deathday Party***. Ron on the other hand was not excited at attending the event.

 File:Writting on the wall.jpg
The event was dismal and dreary. The party entailed a candlelit dinner of rancid, mouldy food, the smell of which caused all three to gag. Harry knew the reason for this was the claim that a ghost can "almost taste" seriously spoiled food. Sir Nicolas was deeply touched that the three students put in an appearance, in part because it gave him a certain status in the eyes of his fellow deceased. But the three of them quickly grew tired of the ghostly party and returned to the Great Hall. Before they got to the Hallowe'en feast, Harry heard the voice (which Ron and Hermione also could not hear). He followed it to the second floor where he found the bathroom flooded and Mrs Norris, Filch's cat, petrified — coupled with a message on the wall.

Filch became distraught and threatened Harry, as he mistakenly believed Harry to be the culprit. Filch and Snape then tried to get Harry in trouble for this, but Dumbledore said that it was powerful dark magic that no second year student could perform. They decided that ***Sprout***'s ***mandrakes*** would be used, once they were mature enough, to create a draught capable of reviving Mrs Norris. This occurrence left the students and staff with a sense of dread and worry, as many believed that the writing on the wall was just the beginning.

##### History of Magic

> **Hermione Granger**I was wondering if you could tell us anything about the Chamber of Secrets?**Cuthbert Binns**The story goes that Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in the castle, of which the other founders knew nothing. Slytherin, according to the legend, sealed the Chamber of Secrets so that none would be able to open it until his own true heir arrived at the school. The heir alone would be able to unseal the Chamber of Secrets, unleash the horror within, and use it to purge the school of all who were unworthy to study magic.**The legend of the Chamber of Secrets**Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

 File:Cuthbert Binns on the Chamber of Secrets.png
Hermione wanted to research the Chamber of Secrets, so she talked ***History of Magic*** Professor Cuthbert Binns into telling the class about its origin. To begin the story, Binns explained that it all started with the founding of Hogwarts itself around ***990 A.D.***, at the hands of two of the greatest wizards and two of the greatest witches of the age: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. But Slytherin got into an argument with the other founders about whether Muggle-borns should be admitted and, when the rift grew too large between him and Gryffindor, he left the school.

According to legend, he built a going-away present to the school in the form of a secret chamber that could only be opened by his true heir. This "Chamber of Secrets" allegedly contained a monster that, once released, would purge the school of all Muggle-borns. Professor Binns unsuccessfully tried to assure the class that the Chamber did not actually exist and that the school had been searched many times in vain.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided that the heir was probably Draco Malfoy. To try to prove it, Hermione proposed to use the ***Polyjuice Potion***, which can change one's appearance into somebody else's for an hour. Hermione warned that the potion would take a month to brew, supposing they gathered all the necessary ingredients (one of which could only be found in Professor Snape's private inventory) and managed to keep it a secret.

##### Quidditch

> **Harry**So there is a Chamber of Secrets? And did you say it's been opened before? Tell me, Dobby!**Dobby**Ah, sir, ask no more, ask no more of poor Dobby. Dark deeds are planned in this place, but Harry Potter must not be here when they happen — go home, Harry Potter, go home. Harry Potter must not meddle in this, sir, 'tis too dangerous —**A midnight visitor and a serious conversation about the Chamber of Secrets**Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

 File:QuiddithAnimation.gif
During the month that it took the ***Polyjuice Potion*** to brew, a Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin took place. Draco Malfoy had been made Slytherin's new ***Seeker***, on the merit of his father's generous contribution to the team: a set of Nimbus 2001 brooms. During the match one of the Bludgers took after Harry and focused completely on him. Malfoy lost no time in making fun of the manoeuvres Harry had to perform in order to avoid the Bludger. Since ***Bludgers*** were supposed to attack each and every player, the crowd soon realised that this Bludger had been tampered with.

Harry still managed to catch the Snitch and Gryffindor won. He caught it right out from under Malfoy's nose, who was more focused on taunting Harry then looking for the Snitch. However, the Bludger broke his arm, and Lockhart, in his attempt to fix it, removed all of the bones instead. Madam Pomfrey gave Harry a potion called ***Skele-Gro*** to counter this, and he was forced to stay in the ***Hospital Wing*** overnight.

 File:Harry-potter-and-dobby-gallery.jpg
During that night, Dobby visited Harry and revealed that it was he who made the Bludger chase after Harry and was also responsible for the barrier of ***platform 9¾*** not letting him in. Dobby did this in hopes of Harry leaving or never arriving at Hogwarts. This was a misguided attempt to protect Harry from the monster inside the chamber. Dobby proceeded to ask Harry to leave the school, something he refused to do. He also revealed that the Chamber of Secrets had been opened before and immediately punished himself, as he was not supposed to reveal anything. After Dobby disappeared, Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Madam Pomfrey entered with Colin Creevey, who had apparently been petrified. He was found with a camera containing film that had been burnt to the melting point.

##### Duelling Club

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 File:Duel harry draco.gif
Harry signed up for a ***Duelling Club***, which was (to Harry's great displeasure) taught by his two least favourite teachers: Lockhart and Snape. The event was scheduled to take place in the Great Hall. During the club's first meeting Lockhart demonstrated an ineptitude. He was successfully disarmed by Snape and floundered throughout the entire practice duel. Also during a practice battle in the first meeting, Draco Malfoy conjured a snake to attack Harry. Malfoy conjured this snake via instructions from Snape. Lockhart tried to banish it, but all he managed was to set it loose on the students.

Harry saw that the snake was rapidly advancing on a Muggle-born student and Hufflepuff named Justin Finch-Fletchley (who had introduced himself to Harry before this incident) and instinctively told it to stop, which — to Harry's great surprise — it did. The others students were less than ecstatic about this development, however. All they saw was Harry speaking Parseltongue, the language of snakes, and became afraid. Since they could not understand it, it seemed to them that he was egging the snake on.

It turned out that Parseltongue was a very rare gift that was closely associated with Salazar Slytherin. This was something Slytherin was famous for, hence why the symbol of Slytherin house is a serpent. Due to this, Harry became the number one suspect among students for being the heir of Slytherin. Hermione even told him that since Salazar Slytherin lived so long ago, he might actually be. His ability to speak Parseltongue also caused the student body to spread vicious rumours about him. They claimed that he could not be a decent wizard, since he could speak to snakes.

 File:Chamber-of-secrets-fawkes.jpg
Seconds after leaving a conversation with Hagrid, Harry ran into a petrified Justin Finch-Fletchley and a black, smoking Nearly-Headless Nick. ***Mr. Filch*** claimed that Harry had been caught red-handed. For the first time, Harry was taken to Dumbledore's office, and there he witnessed Fawkes — Dumbledore's ***phoenix*** — bursting into ashes and being reborn. Dumbledore says that he did not believe Harry to be behind the attacks, a belief reinforced by Hagrid backing Harry's alibi, but a large portion of the school was sure that Harry was Slytherin's heir.

##### Disguised as Slytherins

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 File:HarryRonHermione PolyjuicePotionMyrtlesBathroom.jpg
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all signed up to remain at the school during Christmas, since Malfoy, ***Crabbe***, and ***Goyle*** had done so as well. This gave them the perfect opportunity to use their Polyjuice potion. When Christmas arrived they drugged Crabbe and Goyle via ***chocolate cakes***, took their hairs and assumed their forms. Hermione tried to use a hair she thought belonged to ***Millicent Bulstrode***, but it was actually her cat's and Hermione was transformed into a hybrid. Hermione was forced to spend a few weeks in the ***Hospital Wing***.

Posing as Crabbe and Goyle, Harry and Ron interrogated an unsuspecting Malfoy and discovered that Draco was not the Heir of Slytherin. They also heard that the last time the Chamber was opened, a ***Muggle-born*** girl died and whoever was responsible was expelled. During the interrogation Malfoy also mentioned Dumbledore and Harry. He relayed his negative opinion of them, stating that Dumbledore was the worst thing to happen to Hogwarts. Malfoy also mentioned his father's secret stash of illegal artefacts that was kept within Malfoy Manor.

 File:Harry-Potter-and-the-Chamber-of-Secrets-2002-books-male-characters-29996396-500-375.jpg
Weeks later, Ron and Harry overheard Argus Filch complaining about his workload and leaving. They arrive at Myrtle Warren's bathroom to find it flooded. A sulking ghost, Myrtle explained that she had flooded it because somebody threw a diary at her. Harry picked it up; it turned out to have belonged to a T.M. Riddle and appeared to be completely blank. Ron remembered from his detention that Riddle had won an award for special service to the school fifty years before. Hermione deduced that since this coincided with the last time the Chamber was opened, Tom Riddle might have received his prize for catching whoever was responsible for the attacks back then. Even though all attempts to extract information from the diary failed, Harry felt a strange compulsion to keep it.

On ***Valentine's Day***, Ron and Harry were dismayed to learn that Lockhart had spread dwarves dressed as cupids throughout the school to receive and deliver Valentines. One cupid-dwarf managed to deliver one to Harry. While struggling to avoid him, the embarrassed Harry tripped and fell, spilling ink all over the contents of his bag. Ginny noticed the diary and assumed a horrified expression.

##### The secret diary

> Harry saw at once that it was a diary, and the faded year on the cover told him it was fifty years old. He opened it eagerly. On the first page he could just make out the name "T M. Riddle" in smudged ink.
>
> Harry coming across the diary of Tom Riddle, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Later, Harry realised that even though the ink was spilled all over the diary, it was not stained at all. He tried writing to the diary and, to his surprise, the diary — or rather T.M. Riddle — began to write back. Riddle explained that he was the one who caught the person who opened the Chamber of Secrets the last time, and he could show Harry what happened. Harry agreed and got sucked into a "recording" of Riddle's memory in 1942.

 File:Harry-potter2-movie-screencaps.com-12239.jpg  Harry witnessed the school's previous headmaster, ***Armando Dippet***, informing Riddle that the school would be closed and Riddle, apprehensive of this, catching Rubeus Hagrid fiddling with a large spider in a box. Riddle reported Hagrid to Dippet. During the memory, Harry also learned that Riddle was an orphan that did not want to go back to the orphanage, and his full name was Tom Marvolo Riddle. Having seen this, Harry wondered whether Hagrid was the one who opened the Chamber fifty years before and whether he was responsible this time. This was exactly what Riddle wanted.

 File:Harry-potter2-movie-dorm.jpg
Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided not to ask Hagrid about it, hoping that the attacks had stopped — and indeed, almost four months after the attack on Justin and Nearly-Headless Nick, the disembodied voice kept quiet and the attacks seemed to have ceased. However, odd things kept happening: Harry returned to his dormitory one day to find it a mess. Ron deduced that somebody had been looking for something, and Harry eventually noticed that Tom Riddle's diary was gone. This greatly befuddled them, seeing as only a Gryffindor could know the password to enter the dormitory.

##### Cornelius Fudge

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The next day, the scheduled Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff was cancelled due to yet another attack and Harry heard the voice again. This time, Minerva McGonagall called for Harry and Ron personally, and led them to the ***Hospital Wing***, where they saw Hermione petrified. She was found near the ***library*** with, inexplicably holding a small, circular mirror. This removed Harry as a suspect in the eyes of many of the students, as they knew he would never harm Hermione. Some students even offered him an apology, such as ***Ernie Macmillan***.

 File:Cloak of Invisibility 1992.gif
Harry and Ron decided they now must talk to Hagrid. With the now constant supervision on students, this was not easy, but they managed to do it by using Harry's Invisibility Cloak. When they reach ***Hagrid's cabin***, Harry and Ron managed to hide just before Dumbledore and ***Minister for Magic*** Cornelius Fudge arrived at the scene. Fudge announced that Hagrid, who to the best of his knowledge opened the Chamber of Secrets the last time, would be sent to wizard prison Azkaban as a precaution.

They were shortly joined by Lucius Malfoy, who declared that he and the other Hogwarts governors unanimously voted to suspend Dumbledore, despite the obvious logic that this would only worsen the situation. Both Hagrid and Dumbledore gave last words, but Hagrid covertly suggested to Harry and Ron that if they want the truth, they should "follow the spiders", and Dumbledore said that he would only truly have left the school when none there remained loyal to him. He also stressed that if anybody at Hogwarts needed help, it would always be available.

##### Visit to Aragog's lair

Template:Dialogue a-b-aHarry and Ron decided to follow the spiders as per Hagrid's advice. Walking along the trails of the spiders, which were strangely all fleeing Hogwarts, they went into the ***Forbidden Forest***. Even though Ron was deeply arachnophobic, the fact that Hermione had been petrified and that they may be able to help through this investigation gave him the willpower to go along anyway. There, they encountered the ***Ford Anglia***, which had apparently taken to driving through the forest like some sort of wild animal.

 File:Harry-potter2-movie-spider aragog.jpg
They eventually meet Aragog, a giant spider which had been the monster that Hagrid had been "caught" setting on other students fifty years ago. Aragog explained that Hagrid was innocent, but rather than letting Harry and Ron go, he decided to leave them as dinner for his children. Mr Weasley's Ford Anglia came blasting through the layers of spiders, however, and assisted the boys' escape.

After this, Harry and Ron felt that they had reached dead ends everywhere, until one possible last hope occurred to them. Aragog said the monster's last victim died in a bathroom, and it occurred to Harry that Myrtle Warren might have been that victim. Of course, with the school under such security, it would be almost impossible to sneak in the girls' bathroom near where the first attack occurred.

##### The last attack

> HER SKELETON WILL LIE IN THE CHAMBER FOREVER
>
> The final message on the wall, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Later that same day, Harry and Ron managed to trick Lockhart — who was leading them to their next class — into letting them go by stroking his ego. Just as they patted themselves on the back, they were caught by Professor McGonagall, and Harry had to make up an excuse — they were going to see Hermione in the ***Hospital Wing***, where visitors were now barred. They now had to go along to make their story appear convincing, but rather than simply hanging around Hermione's petrified form, this time Harry noticed a piece of paper tightly clutched in her hand.

 File:Petrification.jpg  This piece of paper revealed what Hermione had found out before she was attacked. She discovered, based on strong circumstantial evidence, that the monster in the Chamber of Secrets was a Basilisk (a giant slithering serpent capable of feeding on human and animal aura to cause petrifaction and death to anyone near it via direct eye contact), which explained why only Harry could hear it. But none of its victims died because they did not look directly at its gaze: Colin Creevey saw it through his camera, Justin Finch-Fletchley saw it through Nearly-Headless Nick (who was already dead), Mrs Norris saw its reflection in the waters from the flooded bathroom, and Hermione used a mirror to look around corners after figuring things out. There was also a note about how spiders feared the Basilisk (which explained them fleeing Hogwarts) and the rooster's call being potentially fatal to it (which explained Hagrid's roosters having been mysteriously killed during the year). This summed up the year's events.

 File:Writing on the Wall.png
On the note was also scribbled a single word, "***pipes***", which meant that the serpent moved around through the plumbing. Having solved the mystery, Harry and Ron decided to go to the staff room and report to the teachers. When they got there, they overheard the teachers talking about another attack that had occurred. Harry and Ron decided to hide to hear more details, and learning that Ginny had been kidnapped and the heir of Slytherin had left another message under the previous one: Harry and Ron also heard that Hogwarts would be closed the following day. The teachers then forced Lockhart to deal with the monster, as he had been claiming that he could handle whatever was responsible for the attacks, irritating the rest of the staff to no end. Looking very crestfallen, he left for his room.

##### Discovery in the bathroom

Template:Dialogue a-b-aThat night, Harry and Ron felt utterly useless and helpless, until it occurred to Harry that if the serpent used the plumbing to get around and the last time the chamber was opened a girl died, then the chamber entrance must be in the bathroom that Myrtle Warren haunted. Harry and Ron decided that if Lockhart was going to deal with the monster, they might as well tell him what they knew. They went to his room, only to find him frantically packing, having decided to run away. When questioned on why such a talented wizard as himself was leaving, Lockhart admitted that he was a fraud and that he put Memory Charms on the people who really did the things that he claimed to have done in his books.

 File:Harry-potter2-chamber entrance.jpg
He then attempted to put a memory charm on Harry and Ron as well. They managed to disarm him and under ***wand*** threats took him to Myrtle Warren's bathroom. Harry then asked Moaning Myrtle about her death, which she happily explained. She stated that the last thing she saw was a pair of enormous eyes by one of the sinks. This sink incidentally had a tap that had never worked. Harry came to the conclusion that the tap can only be opened by the use of Parseltongue. He found a snake carved on the tap and then opened the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.

 File:B2C16M3 Snake entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.png
Harry, Ron, and Lockhart slid down a large pipe and found themselves in maze-like tunnels far under the school. Down there, they encountered a snake skin left by the Basilisk. Just then, Lockhart feigned fainting and stole Ron's wand. Victoriously proclaiming that he would erase Harry and Ron's memories and tell everybody that they lost their sanity at the sight of Ginny's mangled body, Lockhart attempted a spell. ***Ron's broken wand*** caused the charm to backfire, erasing Lockhart's memory and causing a portion of the ceiling to cave in. This trapped Harry in the direction of the chamber and Ron in the direction of the castle. Ron had no choice but to stay behind and clear a path through the rocks while Harry continued in search of Ginny. Harry then encountered a wall with stone snakes on it, opened it by speaking Parseltongue, and entered the Chamber itself.

##### The Chamber of Secrets

Main article: Skirmish in the Chamber of Secrets

> **Harry**Why do you care how I escaped? Voldemort was after your time...**Tom Riddle**Voldemort is my past, present, and future, Harry Potter...**Tom Riddle revealing that he was in fact Lord Voldemort**Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

 File:B2C16M3 Chamber of Secrets revealed.jpg
Inside, he found Ginny lying on the ground, pale and cold. He dropped his wand and ran to her, trying to get a response from her, but to no avail. He then saw Tom Riddle smiling at him and holding Harry's wand. Riddle explained his presence in the present by revealing that he was a memory, which had been preserved in his diary for fifty years.

He then explained what had happened. Riddle had opened the Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago and planned to purge the school of ***Muggle-borns*** and half-bloods; however, when he learned that the school was going to close down due to the attacks and that Dumbledore (then the ***Transfiguration*** teacher) was keeping a closer and closer watch on him, he had no choice but to cease the attacks and frame Hagrid for doing it. Not wanting to waste all the years he had spent on figuring out where the Chamber was and how to get to it, he left behind a diary containing the memory of his sixteen-year-old self in hopes that it would, one day, fall into the hands of an unsuspecting victim who would help him finish his work.

 File:B2C17M1 Harry Ginny Tom Chamber of Secrets.jpg
Ginny had been writing in the diary all year. Riddle had written back sympathetically and Ginny grew to confess her fears, hopes, and feelings to him. She essentially poured some of her soul into him, which was exactly what he wanted. He gradually grew more powerful and eventually managed to pour some of his soul back into her, possessing her and using her body to open the chamber and launch the new series of attacks.

However, Ginny eventually became suspicious of the diary and decided to get rid of it by flushing it down the toilet in Myrtle Warren's bathroom. This is when Harry found it. When Ginny saw Harry with the diary on Valentine's Day, she panicked and worried that Riddle had told all of her secrets to Harry, so she stole it back from Harry's dormitory. It began taking control of her again, but this time with the intention of killing Harry, so he had Ginny write her own farewell on the wall and come down to wait, luring Harry to the rescue and, consequently, his doom.

 File:I am Lord Voldemort.gif
Riddle then asked how Harry managed to defeat the Dark wizard Lord Voldemort as a mere baby. Harry asks Riddle why he cares, as Voldemort existed after his time. Riddle replies that Voldemort was his *"past, present and future.*" He then wrote his name in the air with Harry's wand: TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE Riddle then waved the wand and the letters rearrange themselves into I AM LORD VOLDEMORT. Needless to say, this meant that Riddle grew up to become Lord Voldemort. Riddle then revealed he was, in fact, a ***half-blood***, and his mother had named him Tom after his Muggle father and Marvolo after his wizard grandfather, a descendant of Salazar Slytherin. He scrambled his "*filthy **Muggle father**'s name*" to create a new one, which he knew that people would fear when he became the most powerful wizard in the world.

##### Battling the Basilisk

> Let's match the power of Lord Voldemort, Heir of Salazar Slytherin, against the famous Harry Potter.
>
> Tom Riddle unleashing the Basilisk, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry retorted that he must be mistaken, because the greatest wizard in the world, as everybody knew, was not Voldemort, but Dumbledore. Even when Voldemort was at the peak of his power, he was afraid of Dumbledore, and now he was barely alive. Riddle angrily answered that Dumbledore had been driven out the castle by the mere memory of him. Harry yelled that Dumbledore was not as gone as Riddle seemed to believe. In this display of loyalty, he summoned ***Fawkes*** the ***phoenix*** to him, who also brought with him the Sorting Hat, both assets that Riddle deems extremely useless.

 File:COS piercing through Serpent of Slytherin.gif
Riddle then summoned the Basilisk and commanded it to kill Harry. However, ***Fawkes*** was not as defenceless as one might initially think, and pecked out the Basilisk's eyes, thus preventing its gaze from killing. The Basilisk could still smell Harry, however, and remained very dangerous; in desperation, Harry put on the Sorting Hat, wishing against hope for help. Instead of an answer, Harry had a heavy sword with a hilt embedded with rubies fall on his head from inside the hat. After several missed strikes from the blinded Basilisk, Harry plunged the sword into the roof of its mouth, killing it. However, one of its poisonous fangs sank into his arm, injecting a deadly poison. While Riddle gloated over his "win", Fawkes proceeded to cry on the wound and Harry was instantly cured.

 File:HarryPotter PM B2C17M3 HarryStabbingDiaryWithBasiliskFang Moment.jpg
Harry then stabbed the diary three times with the Basilisk fang to rid himself of Riddle, unknowingly destroying one of Voldemort's Horcruxes in the process. Riddle's manifestation exploded, therefore foiling his attempt to return to life. Ink began pouring out of the book and the memory of Riddle faded out of existence; Ginny immediately stirred and woke up, quite distraught. Harry and Ginny travelled back through the Chamber to find Ron and Lockhart, who had no idea of who or where he was.

##### Escaping the chamber

> **Ron Weasley**He looks like he wants you to grab hold... But you're much too heavy for a bird to pull up there —**Harry**Fawkes isn't an ordinary bird.**Harry and others escaping the chamber with the aid of Fawkes**Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

His great relief, Dumbledore rightly deduced that Voldemort was the culprit. After Ginny left to get a much-needed rest, Harry and Ron both received 200 house points each for Gryffindor and both got an Award for Special Services to the school. Dumbledore then gave Ron Hagrid's release paper for him to mail and then spoke with Harry alone.

 File:B2C18M1 Sword of Gryffindor engraving.png
Harry expressed his concern that he belonged in Slytherin. Dumbledore revealed that Voldemort transferred some of his powers to Harry when he gave him his scar, explaining his ability to speak Parseltongue. He asked Harry why he thought the Sorting Hat put him in Gryffindor if he had so many Slytherin qualities, and Harry admitted that the only reason it did was because he had asked it to. Dumbledore confirmed this and told Harry that "*it is our choices, rather than our abilities, that reveal who we truly are*". He also commended Harry for showing him real loyalty in the Chamber, for only that could have called Fawkes to his aid. He pointed out to the sword Harry had drawn out of the hat — Harry now noticed it had Godric Gryffindor's name on it. Dumbledore said that only a true Gryffindor would be able to draw it out.

##### Dobby's reward

> **Lucius Malfoy**You lost me my servant!**Dobby**You shall not harm Harry Potter!**Dobby defending Harry after the latter freed him from servitude**Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Lucius Malfoy barged into Dumbledore's office, outraged that Dumbledore had returned to the school after being dismissed. Dumbledore calmly responded that the governors had asked him to return once they heard that Arthur Weasley's daughter was attacked. They apparently had been blackmailed by Lucius to vote for Dumbledore's dismissal in the first place on pain of Lucius cursing their families. Dobby followed Lucius into the room, thus showing that his masters were the ***Malfoys***.

 File:Chamber-of-secrets-lucius harry.jpg
Dumbledore and Malfoy had a calm and venomous interchange (respectively), during which Dumbledore and Harry (with the help of Dobby's unspoken hints) essentially exposed Lucius sneaking Riddle's diary (one of his illegal artefacts) into Ginny's school things during the fight with Arthur at ***Flourish and Blotts***. This was supposed to frame Ginny for the attacks, with heavy implications on the ***Muggle Protection Act*** that Arthur Weasley had been suggesting. Malfoy dared Dumbledore to prove his accusation, and while the Headmaster has insufficient evidence to do that, he cautioned Malfoy against orchestrating further such plots.

Knowing that a master could release his house-elf by giving them some clothes, Harry tricked Malfoy into freeing Dobby by giving Malfoy one of his own socks, which he promptly threw away, and was caught by Dobby. After discovering Harry's trick, Malfoy attempted to kill Harry, only to be stopped by Dobby. Dobby thanked Harry dearly for freeing him and left. At the ending feast, Dumbledore announced his school treat of cancelling all final exams (much to Hermione's dismay) and that Lockhart would not return to Hogwarts.

#### During Hogwarts' Years

##### Memories Of-The Past

 File:Occlumency lessons OOTPF.jpg   File:Christmas at St Mungo's.png
Hermione joined Harry and the Weasleys at Grimmauld Place for Christmas, and Percy sent back his Weasley jumper, which made his mother cry. Hermione, Ron and Ginny discovered that Neville's parents were insane and living at St Mungo's. They were informed of this by Neville's grandmother, who made it known that Frank and Alice were tortured by Death Eaters for information regarding Voldemort. They also saw their former Defence Against the Dark Arts professor Gilderoy Lockhart. Also Harry finally admitted that he knew what happened to Neville's parents.

##### Occlumency

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Lessons were given once a week, under the guise of Remedial ***Potions***, much to Harry's discomfort. Unfortunately, Harry was extremely curious about the door he keep seeing within his dreams. Under Snape's tutelage, Harry repeatedly had his mind broken into in order to train him. Snape also ordered Harry to close his mind every night as practice. Unfortunately, due to the mutual animosity between the teacher and student, Snape was unkind and discouraging in his methods despite his own mastery of the skill, while Harry did not take Snape's lessons too seriously, and neglected to practise.

Coupled with Harry being emotionally open at all times, the lessons did not progress much, with only rare instances where Harry was able to resist, if only briefly. If anything, having his mind repeatedly assaulted forced Harry to leave himself more vulnerable, as he barely tried to close it willingly. During a lesson in Occlumency, Snape stepped out of the room, and Harry's curiosity got the best of him. He looked into the pensieve, which contained Snape's memories, and, to his dismay, Harry found images of his father bullying Snape and of his mother rushing to his defence. Harry found himself siding with his mother, agreeing that James' treatment of Snape was wrong and it bordered on being almost cruel.

The conflict escalated to the point where Snape called Lily a "Mudblood". Snape attempted to apologise for his actions, but this incident cost him her friendship. Snape himself discovered Harry's spying. Snape refused to give him any more Occlumency lessons, something that Harry was not particularly concerned about and something he did not inform anyone of. Uncovering the source behind Snape's hatred for James left Harry seeing his father in a slightly different light. He also found comfort in the fact that at least his mother appeared to be person of strong morals while wondering why she ever agreed to marry James in the first place.

They arrived on ***Christmas Eve***. After seeing the memorial dedicated to his parents and himself, Harry and Hermione searched the graveyard for the Potters's grave and came across the grave of ***Kendra*** and ***Ariana Dumbledore*** and that of ***Ignotus Peverell***.

The trio visited ***Albus Dumbledore's portrait***, and along the way he explained everything to his two best friends. Harry decided to prevent the ***Deathly Hallows*** from ever being reunited again by keeping the Cloak of Invisibility, leaving the ***Resurrection Stone*** where it lay in the Forbidden Forest, and returning the Elder Wand to Dumbledore's grave, but not before using it to fix his wand.

When Voldemort destroyed the piece of his soul residing in Harry, Harry lost the ability to speak Parseltongue. It is possible, however, that he regained the ability later.

### After Hogwarts Template:C

Harry's relationship with Albus had strained increasingly since he had left for Hogwarts. In an effort to mend things, Harry spoke to Albus and tried to give him the old baby blanket he received from his mother Lily. He did this in the hope a reminder of what happened would make him change his behaviour. This was a significant and sentimental gift on Harry's part, as it was the only physical piece of his mother that he had.

     File:Harry-potter-deathly-harry hermione.jpg
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At home, Harry looked at the blanket he had tried to give Albus. He noticed writing on it, and found out it was a message sent by Albus from the past. He and Ginny noticed the date, being 30 October, 1981 — one day before the night that Voldemort murdered Harry's parents.

## Physical description

 File:COS promo Harry Potter Hogwarts uniform cropped.jpg

> Harry has his father's and mother's good looks.
>
> J. K. Rowling's comments on Harry's appearance, Accio Quote!

Harry was a near-spitting image of his father, having inherited his untidy jet-black hair. However, his almond-shaped startlingly green eyes were identical to those of his mother. This strong resemblance was often remarked on by those who had known his parents.

Harry's physique as a boy was described as "small and skinny", with a thin face and knobbly knees. This skinniness was due to his poor quality of life in his childhood. Despite the neglect he suffered, Harry seems to have grown at the same rate as James. When he was fifteen he was within an inch of James at the same age, and when he was seventeen he was exactly the same height his father was, and James was often described as tall. Harry was so much like his father that Harry mistook his future self for him while saving Sirius's life from the Dementors, although his father was then dead.

Harry wore round-rimmed glasses, peculiarly similar to his father's glasses. During his time hunting Voldemort's Horcruxes, Harry's black hair grew shoulder length as was described when he saw his reflection in ***Malfoy Manor***. This was due to his preoccupation with the hunt for the Horcruxes and his lack of interest in his physical appearance, and it was the longest his hair had ever been.

Upon Harry's forehead, covered by his unruly black hair, was a scar shaped like a lightning bolt. The scar was a result of the failed (and famed) Killing Curse cast on him by Lord Voldemort when he was an infant. It burned painfully whenever Voldemort was near Harry or feeling particularly strong emotions, but this stopped after Voldemort's death and was reduced into an ordinary scar.

Harry had "great skin" and never suffered from zits.

## Personality and traits

> I see Harry as someone who is struggling to do the right thing, who is not without faults, who acts impetuously as you would expect someone of his age to act, but who is ultimately a very loyal person, and a very very courageous person. So, in as much as he has qualities that I admire most I would say he is a good role model. That doesn't mean that he is saintly, but then frankly, who is? But I think you do see enough of Harry’s inner life, the workings of his mind in the books to know that he is ultimately human, struggling to do the right thing, which I think is admirable.
>
> J. K. Rowling on why Harry's an excellent role model, Accio Quote!

Harry was an extremely brave, loyal, and selfless person who possessed tremendous strength of character. He willingly went to what he truly believed to be his death, because he believed that this was the only way to defeat the Dark Lord. Harry was also marked by what Lord Voldemort once deemed a "*weakness for heroics*" — he would go to great lengths and take great risks in order to help others, particularly his loved ones. Notably, this was taken advantage of by Voldemort in 1996, when he lured Harry to the ***Department of Mysteries*** by making him believe that his godfather was in danger. Harry was also very strong-willed and unafraid to stand up for himself. The fact that he was capable of repelling the Imperius Curse suggests that he had an unusually strong sense of himself and his morals. Dumbledore once made parallels between Harry's traits and qualities that Salazar Slytherin looked for in his own hand-picked students. He also noted that Harry's choice not to draw on those qualities really defined who he was, rather than the simple fact that he had them.

> Hmm. Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, oh my goodness, yes — and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting... So where shall I put you?
>
> The Sorting Hat looking into Harry's mind, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry was perfectly prepared to put his friends' needs and best interests first, shown by how he ended his relationship with Ginny Weasley, due to his concern for her well being (even though being with her was one of the best things that ever happened to him). The amount of trust that Harry put into his friends was so strong that he absolutely refused to consider that any of them would betray him to Voldemort. Considering that Harry knew a person (Peter Pettigrew) who had betrayed all of his closest friends to Voldemort, this proves Harry's ability to love so unequivocally.

The closeness that Harry felt for many was great enough for him to behave violently if any of them were harmed. When his godfather was murdered by ***Bellatrix Lestrange***, Harry attacked her in a grief-stricken rage of righteous anger and attempted to use the ***Cruciatus Curse*** on her. He also attacked Severus Snape after the latter murdered Dumbledore. Ironically, the only people with whom Harry ever initiated a duel were Snape and Bellatrix and he only desired to do so right after they killed someone he loved. This highlights Harry's bravery even further because Harry was fully aware that Snape and Bellatrix were two very skilled and experienced duellists, but did not hesitate to harm them as soon as he was pushed into it. This can also happen if a loved one of his is, even if it isn't true, insulted in front of him, as he so enraged he was seriously considering attacking Albus Dumbledore himself when he stated he believed Sirius was wrong to have treated Kreacher the way he did and that he was trying to keep Sirius alive by keeping him in 12 Grimmauld Place, as Harry believed that Dumbledore had no right, despite knowing fully well he was completely outmatched by Dumbledore, whom he acknowledged to be the greatest wizard in history, but fortunately for Harry Dumbledore did not resort to such means and calmly levelled with him.

> Listen to me, Harry. You happen to have many qualities Salazar Slytherin prized in his hand-picked students. His own very rare gift, Parseltongue; resourcefulness; determination; a certain disregard for the rules...
>
> Dumbledore discussing some of Harry's personality traits, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

However, Harry was also accused of being arrogant, in particular by Severus Snape (although Snape's perspective was skewed due to his poor relationship with James Potter, and Harry often found being famous and admired very difficult), and could be hot-tempered and impulsive. This could sometimes make him rude to authority figures such as Professor Snape and ***Minister for Magic*** ***Rufus Scrimgeour***. In contrast, Dumbledore stated that "*many teachers report that* [Harry's] *modest, likeable, and reasonably talented*".

 File:Deathly-hallows1-Harry-snitch.jpg
Harry was prone to moodiness and unkind remarks towards even his friends during his adolescence, though this is likely the result of the great emotional stress and trials he endured during this period. Harry displayed many signs of clinical depression throughout his mid-to-late teens, however this extended to his older life. In his mid-to-late teens, Harry showed signs of these symptoms: general discontent, guilt, hopelessness, mood swings, insomnia (nightmares), agitation, irritability, social isolation and even lack of concentration. These symptoms were continued to be well into his mid ages. It was clear that Harry received limited assistance in his depression during his adolescence, although this was possibly improved in his later life.

Harry was also not one to let bygones be bygones. He had a vindictive streak that made him vengeful at best and spiteful at worse towards those who did him wrong. This varied from wanting to murder/torture those who had performed unforgivable acts like: Bellatrix, Voldemort, and ***Dolores Umbridge*** to a desire for pettiness towards: Ron Weasley, Draco Malfoy, Snape, and the Dursley's. Harry even wanted Sirius (before learning of his innocence) and Pettigrew to suffer the ***Dementor's kiss*** for their crimes and spent the entirety of the Horcrux hunt angry at Dumbledore for the latter's lack of trust.

> You're a sharp boy, Potter.
>
> Barty Crouch Jnr's opinion of Harry's intelligence, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry possessed an instinctual, intuitive intelligence. This intelligence allowed him to make intellectual leaps, as opposed to the logical intelligence of Hermione. For example, Harry divined the truth about the ***Deathly Hallows*** well before Hermione would accept it. And although he was clever, Harry lacked intellectual curiosity. He rarely put forth effort into school work; for instance, he relied on the notes of the Half-Blood Prince to get ahead in his sixth year ***Potions*** class rather than devoting time to studying. Although he did study reasonably hard for his ***Ordinary Wizarding Levels***, the only set of wizarding qualifications he sat at Hogwarts. Harry generally did his best magical work when tackling practical exams rather than theoretical ones. This could be a result of the lack of confidence that Harry developed from growing up with the ***Dursleys***.

Barty Crouch Jnr (disguised as Alastor Moody) remarked that Harry possessed a streak of pride and independence that almost cost him the ***Triwizard Tournament***. His pride didn't allow him to ask for help regarding the problem of breathing underwater for an hour, which was required for the Second task that took place in the ***Black Lake***, was what almost cost him the competition. Harry was also known for wanting to tackle challenges and obstacles on his own, without the aid or interference of others. His friends had to frequently remind him that he needed their assistance and that he "*did not always have to go it alone*".

Harry also seemed to have a bit of an obsessive personality, a trait he shared with his arch enemy Lord Voldemort. He could be somewhat nosy and was known for sleuthing around and getting involved in things that did not concern him. For instance, during his sixth year Harry became intensely preoccupied with finding out what Malfoy was doing in his free time. He also developed on unhealthy obsession with the ***Deathly Hallows***, to the point where he was listless with longing for the three artefacts. This period of listlessness lasted for many weeks during the hunt for Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes.

 File:Harry & Ginny kiss.gif
Harry's greatest strength was his ability to feel love, despite having a miserable childhood of neglect. Harry was extremely loyal to and protective of his loved ones and that love was what allowed him to overcome Voldemort. Dumbledore noted that Harry's strength of will at resisting the temptation of the Dark Arts, even when granted a direct insight into Voldemort's mind and methods was due to Harry's ability to love. Harry even claimed that he felt sorry for Voldemort because of his inability to feel or understand love. Ginny, his wife, commented that he was the kindest and most loving man anyone would ever meet.

Albus Dumbledore noted that Harry was unfailingly kind and compassionate. This is shown by how he freed Dobby from the Malfoys and by standing up for ***Muggle-borns***, ***half-bloods***, and ***half-breeds*** (like Hagrid). This is likely attributable to his childhood, during which the Dursleys deprived him of compassion and discriminated against him due to his magical abilities. His compassionate led him to spare the life of ***Delphi***, the daughter of Lord Voldemort, despite the history between himself and the Dark Lord. Also, Harry was not a cruel person and he never wished anyone harm. He rarely initiated duels, instead fighting in self-defence. Even after Bellatrix Lestrange had murdered his godfather, Harry failed to cast the Cruciatus Curse on her. Bellatrix noted the he had failed to cast the curse properly because he had cast it out of righteous anger and not malicious intent. However, he did use the Cruciatus Curse more effectively on ***Amycus Carrow*** after he spat at and insulted Minerva McGonagall. In addition, he saved Peter Pettigrew from being killed by his (Pettigrew's) former friends Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, though this was not done for humanitarian reasons but for the memory of his father.

Remus Lupin once noted that Harry had very good and nearly always right instincts. Harry had a strong awareness of the incalculable power of certain acts, which is never more apparent than when he refused to allow Lupin to accompany him and leave his wife and child at home and realised that Ron Weasley was meant to destroy ***Slytherin's locket***.

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In some ways, Harry could become extremely intimidating toward people, such as Gilderoy Lockhart, ***Mundungus Fletcher***, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley. Harry was seen becoming extremely frightening when pushed to the point of anger or extreme annoyance. When in a bad mood and argumentative, even Harry's closest friends had been wary of him, usually replying to his angry tone in a calm and appeasing voice. The only person who did not appear to be afraid of him when he was angry (other than his teachers and other authority figures in his life) was Ginny Weasley. Dumbledore was a special case, as he acted fatherly towards Harry and had managed to successfully calm him down whenever he got angry with him.

Harry seemed to have good and long memory, as he remembered the motorbike ride to Privet Drive with Hagrid when he was eleven and could remember the deaths of his mother and Voldemort's laughter when the events occurred ten years earlier. Despite needing glasses, Harry possessed a tremendous eyesight as well; he was able to locate the Golden Snitch (which was approximately the size of a golf ball) in a massive Quidditch field. Harry also cared very much for his children. He comforted his daughter, ***Lily Potter***, when she was upset about not going to Hogwarts. He also made sure his younger son ***Albus Potter*** would not be teased a lot by Harry's older son, ***James Potter***.

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Although never as given to sarcasm or humour as his best friend Ron, Harry often displayed a dry wit. For instance, on finding out that Hermione Granger intended to take twelve O.W.Ls, he asked her if she planned to eat or sleep at all that year. This humour often became more cutting when applied to people Harry disliked. When threatened by Draco Malfoy and his cronies after the ***Battle of the Department of Mysteries***, Harry remarked that he supposed that "*Lord Voldemort's just a warm-up act compared to you three?*", responding to Malfoy's threat that he was dead by casually commenting "*funny, you'd think I'd have stopped walking around*". Harry also displayed wittiness when he first encountered ***Crookshanks***, remarking that he was either "*a very large cat or quite a small tiger*".

He was also known to apply his cutting wit to Severus Snape and Dudley Dursley as well. During his first Potions lesson, Snape antagonised Harry with question after question. This was until Harry responded with "*I don't know. I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?*" He also commented that he was surprised that Dudley was intelligent enough to know the days of the week, after Dudley stated he knew what day it was. When Harry was eleven, ***Dudley*** suggested that he and Harry should go upstairs and practise shoving heads down toilets. Harry then stated that the toilet had never had something as disgusting as Dudley's head down it.

Although he never sought power himself and would be content with a normal life, when a situation required him to step up he would do so. Such as when he, Ron, and Hermione discovered Voldemort and Quirrell's attempt to steal the Philosopher's Stone and his time as teacher/leader of ***Dumbledore's Army***. Harry had shown not-inconsiderable leadership abilities, to the point that Dumbledore reflected that Harry was a better leader than him as he never sought power for himself but simply had to assume the mantle of leadership due to circumstances beyond his control and found in the process that he did it well.

Like many non-***pure-blood*** wizards raised by ***Muggles*** and seeing his life spent in the ***Muggle world***, he had a certain lack of culture towards the wizarding world, and many of the characteristic of this he had heard recently and they turned out to be new to him.

During his youth, Harry tended to see things in a rather stark, absolute manner, particularly when it came to the Hogwarts Houses. Harry generally regarded members of Slytherin House as evil and therefore his enemies, while Gryffindors, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuffs were allies. The former part could be due to his own status as a Gryffindor and that many of the Slytherins he encountered, such as Lord Voldemort, Draco Malfoy, and Severus Snape, were significant enemies of his during this period. In addition, many of his friends and allies, such as: Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, and Hagrid, were fellow Gryffindors. However, this mentality eroded as he aged, since he encountered both allies among Slytherin, such as ***Horace Slughorn*** (and later, Snape) and enemies among the other three Houses, such as Peter Pettigrew (a fellow Gryffindor) and Quirinus Quirrell (a Ravenclaw). By 2017, Harry had adopted a more moderate attitude on the Houses, telling his younger son Albus Potter that "*it doesn't matter to us*" if Albus was Sorted in Slytherin or Gryffindor. In addition, Harry named that same son after Severus Snape, whom he recounted as "*the bravest man* [he] *ever knew*".

In the aftermath of the Secondary Wizarding War, Harry was shown to suffer from survivor's guilt and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These two symptoms extended into his childhood and throughout his life at Hogwarts. Because of his depression, he also claimed that he was supposed to die and everyone knew it, but he survived it all. He also claimed that too many people died for the "Boy Who Lived" and that he wasn't worth dying for at all. Harry's depression and trauma were caused by not having removed Voldemort completely from his life, and he feared that he would always allow Voldemort to have some mental and emotional control over him.

Harry also had shown signs of suffering from recurring clinical depression, such as his sullen and withdrawn demeanour during his mid-to-late teens as a result of the tragedies in his life. A particular symptom of this was his outrageous temper during his bouts of depression, which frightened all but Ginny by their sheer force and magnitude alone. Overall, Harry was much the same as any other soldier, struggling to carry on despite the horrors of his past and the brutality he had been a part of for so long.

Harry did have some fears, although he hid them extremely well from his family. In fact, he hid them so well that his younger son considered his father to be utterly fearless. These fears included the dark, pigeons, small spaces, and seeing his family in danger.

It is commented by his son that Harry's personality was complicated, something that was furthered by Ron, who called him intense in terms of his traits and past experiences.

## Magical abilities and skills

 File:Patronus PM SilverStagPatronus MomentIllust.jpg

> Harry.... is becoming exceptionally good at Defence Against the Dark Arts. So that's the one area in which, almost instinctively, he is particularly talented. Apart from Quidditch.
>
> J. K. Rowling regarding Harry's magical talents, Accio Quote!

Harry was seen and had proven himself to be an extremely powerful and talented wizard. His power was evident from the start: he demonstrated immediate command of a broomstick, was able to conjure a corporeal Patronus at an exceptionally young age (a mark of superior magical ability), and even survived numerous encounters with Lord Voldemort. He was top of his class at Defence Against the Dark Arts, even instructing older students in defensive and offensive magic. He mastered a wand made of ***hawthorn***, which one should only ever consider placing in the hands of a witch or wizard of proven talent. Harry was also a very gifted flyer and Quidditch player, the youngest Seeker in a century.

* **Love**: Harry's greatest power of all was his ability to love. In spite of being raised by a family that treated him with anything but affection, Harry remarkably turned out capable of very strong love; for example, Harry's love for his friends caused him to sacrifice himself to Voldemort. This loving sacrifice conferred a certain amount of protection onto his allies, making it so that spells Voldemort tried to place on them quickly wore off. Harry's ability to love has also protected and helped him on several occasions. Those occasions are; when he produced a Patronus that could drive hundreds of ***Dementors*** away, repelled Voldemort when he possessed him, and the times he was able to close the connection between himself and Voldemort. His love was strongest when directed at Ginny Weasley, who was the driving force that kept him going until Voldemort was defeated. Harry also felt strong love toward his three children, such as when he deliberately placed himself between his son ***Albus*** and a Killing Curse. Harry even felt compassion and pity for his enemies, offering Voldemort a chance to feel remorse for his actions.

> Harry, you're the best in the year at Defence Against the Dark Arts.
>
> Hermione Granger emphasising Harry's talent in defensive magic, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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* **Defence Against the Dark Arts**: Harry was extremely adept at Defence Against the Dark Arts, having mastered all manners of spells. Some of the spells include the: Stunning Spell, Disarming Charm, ***Impediment Jinx***, Full Body-Bind Curse, Reductor Curse, and many others. In fact, his Stunning Spell was so strong that opponents would get knocked out if they were hit directly. He was also skilled at defending himself against Dark creatures such as: ***Grindylows***, ***Red Caps***, ***Hinkypunks***, ***Boggarts***, ***Erklings***, and ***Dementors***. In his third year, he was the only student who flawlessly made it through the end-of-the-year exam (an obstacle course containing some of the said creatures). In his fifth year, Professor McGonagall stated that ***Professor Lupin*** said he showed a "*pronounced aptitude*" for the subject. He had also "*achieved high marks on all his Defence Against the Dark Arts tests*". In fact, Harry had beaten Hermione in two of the three Defence Against the Dark Arts exams they had taken together. The only exam she beat him in was their first year exam. Hermione later reflected that it did not count, as Quirrell "*wasn't a particularly good teacher*". Harry also knew things that ***Viktor Krum*** (who was several years older then Harry) did not. Harry improved his skills in this subject significantly during his fourth year, by learning a lot of new spells in order to face the Triwizard Tournament. During his O.W.L. examination, ***Professor Tofty*** (***Wizarding Examinations Authority***) expressed pleasure at Harry's performance of Defence Against the Dark Arts, calling it "*excellent*". During his exams "*he had no problem with any of the written questions*" and "*took particular pleasure, during the practical examination, in performing all the counter-jinxes and defensive spells right in front of Umbridge*". Professor Tofty's statement was later proven true when he achieved an '***Outstanding***' Defence Against the Dark Arts ***O.W.L.*** (something that not even Hermione achieved), a testament of his extraordinary talent in defensive magic. In 1996, Ron stated that it came as no surprise that Harry was top of the class at Defence Against the Dark Arts. Indeed, Harry was so good at DADA that when the ***Ministry of Magic*** prevented the subject from being taught effectively in ***1995***, he set up his own Defence Against the Dark Arts club. He successfully taught club members how to defend themselves against the Dark Arts, some of these club members were even older then him. He immediately became an ***Auror*** after the Second Wizarding War, which also required considerable skill in both defensive and offensive magic. Harry also developed a high level of resistance towards the Imperius Curse. It was cast upon him by ***Barty Crouch Jnr*** (disguised as ***Alastor Moody***) in 1994 and by Lord Voldemort himself in 1995.

> ...there's no point pretending that you're not good at Defence Against the Dark Arts, because you are. You were the only person last year who could throw off the Imperius Curse completely, you can produce a Patronus, you can do all sorts of stuff that full-grown wizards can't, Viktor always said... Harry knew how to do stuff even he didn't, and he was in the final year at Durmstrang.
>
> Hermione Granger regarding Harry's abilities in 1995, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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* **Duelling**: Despite Harry's young age, he was an accomplished and very skilful duellist. He was able to single-handedly defeat some of the most formidable ***Death Eaters***, and even survive numerous encounters with Lord Voldemort. He eventually defeated Voldemort by becoming the master of the Elder Wand. In many battles of the Second Wizarding War, he was able to incapacitate much more experienced Death Eaters. During the ***Battle of the Department of Mysteries***; he, Albus Dumbledore, and ***Remus Lupin*** were the only fighters on the Order's side to emerge from the battle physically unscathed. In that time, he had held off Lucius Malfoy and ***Antonin Dolohov*** twice and was able to hold his own against the extremely powerful ***Bellatrix Lestrange***. In ***1997***, Harry defeated ***Yaxley***, ***Fenrir Greyback***, and one of the two Carrows. He fought off several Death Eaters in the ***Battle of the Seven Potters***. During the ***Skirmish at Malfoy Manor*** he overpowered Lucius Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, and Fenrir Greyback and avoided direct conflict damage all throughout the ***Battle of Hogwarts***. Harry was known to be very quick off the draw and had an aggressive duelling style, even incorporating Unforgivable Curses. He was also known to taunt his opponents and would get them to talk at length, angering them and throwing them mentally off-balance. He did this in order to buy himself time to strategise or to lull them into lowering their guard. Harry was especially skilled in the Disarming Charm and used it so much that it was seen as his "*signature spell*" by many Death Eaters. His most notable uses of the Disarming Charm were when he formed Priori Incantatem with Voldemort and when he finally killed the Dark Lord. At the remarkably young age of seventeen, Harry became an Auror and was promoted to Head of the Auror Office at the age of 26. During a raid, he was able to quite easily defeat (without any injuries to himself) the skilled ***Theodore Nott***. Also, while holding back, he duelled Draco Malfoy to a standstill. This was no easy feat, as Draco similarly improved his duelling skills over the years. Harry was even able to hold his own against ***Delphini***. After his friends came to his aid, they swiftly defeated her. He and Delphini "*fired bolts mercilessly at each other*" during their church duel.

> *Imperio*" Harry said again; his voice echoed through the stone passage as he felt the familiar sense of heady control that flowed from brain to wand.
>
> Harry casting an Unforgivable Curse on Bogrod, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

* **Dark Arts**: Harry was one of the few non-Dark wizards who was highly proficient in the Dark Arts at all levels. On top of being able to cast simple dark charms like the: Leg-Locker Curse, Full Body-Bind Curse, ***Reductor Curse***, ***Pimple Jinx***, ***Knockback Jinx***, ***Revulsion Jinx***, ***Ebublio Jinx***, ***Curse of the Bogies***, and ***Melofors Jinx***, he could cast more powerful dark spells such as the Blasting Curse. He was also able to flawlessly cast the jinxes, ***hexes*** and curses in the ***Half-Blood Prince's copy of Advanced Potion-Making***. This included the ***Toenail-growing hex***, ***Langlock***, and the extremely dangerous curse ***Sectumsempra***, which he cast at Draco Malfoy in 1997. This severely slashed and wounded Malfoy. Harry even used two of the three Unforgivable Curses. He used the Imperius Curse on ***Travers*** and a ***Goblin*** called ***Bogrod*** during the ***1998 Break-in of Gringotts Wizarding Bank***, as well as the Cruciatus Curse on several occasions. However, his first successful attempt was in ***1998*** against ***Amycus Carrow***, but it did not result in the prolonged, excruciating pain that the curse was famous for. Instead, Carrow screamed and was incapacitated. He never used the Killing Curse for obviously moral reasons, even in his final battle with Voldemort.

> The boy's a natural. I've never seen anything like it. Was that your first time on a broomstick, Potter? He caught that thing in his hand after a fifty-foot dive. Didn't even scratch himself. Charlie Weasley couldn't have done it.
>
> Professor McGonagall telling Oliver Wood about Harry's flying abilities, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

 File:Rogue Bludger.gif
* **Flying**: Harry had inherited his father's talent for flying and for Quidditch. Harry showed immediate command of a broomstick in his first year, which made him a naturally good Seeker. This was the first magical skill for which he discovered an aptitude. In fact, at the mere age of eleven, Harry became the youngest Seeker in a century. As a Seeker, Harry was capable of surpassing even far more experienced Seekers, near-always winning the Quidditch matches for Gryffindor. He was considered to be even better than ***Charlie Weasley***. He only ever lost to ***Cedric Diggory***, due to the presence of ***Dementors***. Sirius Black noted that Harry's Quidditch skills were equal to his father's own. His extraordinary flying skills, also aided him when pursuing the ***Winged Keys*** enchanted by ***Professor Flitwick*** in the Philosopher's Stone Chambers. He was the primary leader of the trio's chase of the Keys, and the one who noticed and captured the Key needed to unlock the door. It also helped him in the Triwizard Tournament (where he had to steal a golden egg from a ***Hungarian Horntail***), managing to successfully irritate the dragon into chasing him by dodging all her flame attacks and then outrace her into the egg. This display highly impressed all of the witnesses and earned him the first place among the Triwizard Champions. During the ***Battle of Hogwarts***, he also managed to escape a ***Fiendfyre*** inferno in the ***Room of Requirement***, via broomstick.

Template:Dialogue a-b

* **Parseltongue**: Because Harry carried a piece of Voldemort's soul within himself, he was able to speak and understand Parseltongue from 1981 to ***1998***. After that soul fragment was destroyed, Harry had (seemingly) lost this ability. However, in 2020, Harry had somehow regained the ability to speak Parseltongue again, although it was possible that he never lost it to begin with or that the ability had just simply became Template:C suppressed after the Horcrux was destroyed.
* **Insight into Voldemort's mind**: Due to the piece of Voldemort's soul; Harry was able to look into Voldemort's mind and see through his senses from time to time. He sometimes used this ability to monitor what Voldemort was doing. However, it was a dangerous ability to have as well. Voldemort once used it (along with Legilimency) to plant a false vision in Harry's mind of Sirius Black being tortured. Voldemort used this false vision to lure Harry to the ***Department of Mysteries***. Additionally, because of their connection, Harry felt a burning pain in his scar whenever he and Voldemort were in close proximity or whenever Voldemort felt strong negative emotions. Harry lost this ability when the soul fragment within him was destroyed. Harry also possessed a non-magical insight into Voldemort's mind from the information Dumbledore shared with him during their lessons. This insight allowed Harry to figure out that a Horcrux was stored at Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Ron and Hermoine noted Harry's understanding of Voldemort, considering it impressive that Harry understood Voldemort so well.

> Impressive. A true Patronus at that age... very impressive indeed.
>
> Amelia Bones impressed by Harry's ability to conjure a corporeal Patronus, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

 File:Expecto Patronum at the Ministry.gif
* **Charms**: Harry achieved an '***Exceeds Expectations***' on his O.W.L. exam and advanced to ***N.E.W.T.***-level. He proved to be particularly talented in this subject. Before receivinghis O.W.L. results Harry thought his Charms practical "*went rather well".* Additionally, Harry mastered the Summoning Charm in only one day and often used it successfully. He would also occasionally cast the ***protective enchantments*** that Hermione used during the Horcrux hunt. These enchantments included: ***Salvio Hexia***, ***Protego Totalum***, ***Repello Muggletum***, ***Muffliato***, ***Cave Inimicum***, ***Disillusionment Charms***, and possibly others. Harry was also able to cast the ***Confundus Charm*** and the ***Gouging Spell*** on the first try. He displayed an impressive mastery of the Shield Charm, surpassing that of many Ministry employees; his Shield Charms were so powerful that they were able to deflect curses from Lord Voldemort himself. During the ***Battle of the Seven Potters***, he was able to levitate a side-car with himself in it for a long stretch of time. He could also cast simpler charms such as the: ***Wand-Lighting Charm***, Levitation Charm, ***Colour Change Charm***, ***Banishing Charm***, ***Refilling Charm***, Freezing Spell, Locking Spell, Unlocking Charm, ***Engorgement Charm***, ***Shrinking Charm***, and various others. Under the teaching of ***Remus Lupin***, Harry was able to conjure an extremely powerful corporeal stag Patronus in his third year. This was a remarkable feat and yet another proof of his talent, as the vast majority of witches and wizards were unable to cast this extremely difficult charm successfully. As an Auror, Harry displayed the ability to use charms in combat. He used incapacitating ones such as, the **Tickling Charm**, *Obscuro*, and *Brachiabindo* when duelling Draco Malfoy.

> He had even exceeded expectations at Potions!
>
> Harry reviewing his O.W.L. result, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

 File:Harry N.E.W.T Potions.gif
* **Potions**: Harry's strong dislike for Snape made Potions an adverse subject for him. However, it was later shown that Harry had no problem with potions when Slughorn was his teacher. Harry had even inherited Lily's talent to some extent. When Snape was not pestering him, he was able to brew a reasonably adequate ***Strengthening Solution***. Harry even concocted an ***Invigoration Draught*** that would have earned him an 'Exceeds Expectations' had Hermione not vanished it. His practical O.W.L. exam "*was not as dreadful as he had expected it to be. With Snape absent from the proceedings he found that he was much more relaxed than he usually was while making potions*". He achieved an '***Exceeds Expectations***' on his O.W.L. exam — proof of his proficiency in the subject. He was one of only twelve students able to reach the required level to take ***N.E.W.T.*** potions, although he would not have if Snape was still teaching the subject. His great success during his sixth year, was only after he came into possession of the ***Half-Blood Prince's copy of Advanced Potion-Making***. This textbook contained revised instructions from the Half-Blood Prince (Severus Snape), which allowed Harry to gain the position of best in class. He was able to follow the Prince's instructions so exactly that he even surpassed Hermione. After hiding the book, Harry was still able to do a decent enough job at potion-making that ***Slughorn***'s suspicions were not raised. Harry also had first hand knowledge on the effects of ***Polyjuice Potion***, ***love potions***, ***Felix Felicis***, and ***Veritaserum***. It was probable that he improved his Potions ability during his time as a Auror. He most likely became proficient in poisons and antidotes, as this was required.

> I was pleased with your Transfiguration mark, Potter, very pleased.
>
> Professor McGonagall complimenting Harry's O.W.L. result, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

 File:P6 Aguamenti.gif
* **Transfiguration**: Harry achieved an 'Exceeds Expectations' on his O.W.L. exam. He showed proficiency in the subject and advanced to ***N.E.W.T.***-level. He was able to perform Conjuration, an advanced type of Transfiguration that was taught only to N.E.W.T students. Harry demonstrated this at various points by conjuring ***ropes***, ***water***, ***blindfolds***, and fire. He could also vanish objects, which is one of the most complicated spells taught at ***Ordinary Wizarding Level***. In ***1996***, Harry vanished a whole iguana with the Vanishing Spell. In ***1997***, he vanished a snake that crossed his path with the Snake-Vanishing Spell. He was also skilled in Transforming Spells. For example, he could cast the ***Avifors Spell*** and the ***Lapifors Spell***. Harry was also skilled enough to perform Human Transfiguration, which is noted to be "*immensely difficult*". He accomplished this during a 1996 Transfiguration lesson, where he succeeded in turning his eyebrow bright yellow. Minerva McGonagall herself complimented him on his talents in transfiguration.

> They had their Herbology exam on Wednesday (other than a small bite from a Fanged Geranium, Harry felt he had done reasonably well).
>
> Harry's confidence after his Herbology practical on his O.W.L. exam, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

 File:Greenhouses.png
* **Herbology**: Harry achieved an '***Exceeds Expectations***' on his O.W.L. exam. He showed proficiency in the subject and advanced to ***N.E.W.T.***-level. In 1998, Harry was able to recognise a ***Snargaluff*** plant at the ***Lovegood House*** and knew to give it a wide berth. He also had knowledge of plants such as: Devil's Snare, Gillyweed, Venomous Tentacula, ***Mandrakes***, ***Dittany***, and ***Fanged Geranium*** from hands-on experience. He could cast plant-related spells such as the Fire-Making Spell, ***Severing Charm***, and the ***Herbivicus Charm***.
* ***Master of Death***: Harry mastered all three Deathly Hallows and accepted his own death. First, he inherited the Cloak of Invisibility from his father, James.

> Harry strode off through the heather, walking in a large circle with the distraught Hermione at its centre, casting the spells she usually performed to ensure their protection.
>
> Harry casting various protective enchantments during the Horcrux hunt, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

* **Healing magic**: Harry was able to effectively cast healing spells; for example, he could perform the ***Reparifors*** spell in his third year. After ***Nymphadora Tonks*** cast ***Episkey*** on his broken nose, he fixed ***Demelza Robins***' broken lip in 1996 with the same spell. This was a spell used to treat mild to moderate injuries. He could also perform a healing spell for clearing up dried blood from a bleeding wound. He was also able to use the Reviving Spell to waken those who have been rendered unconscious.

> Harry waves his wand and the papers and books transform into neat piles.
>
> Harry using nonverbal magic to straighten his work space, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

* **Nonverbal magic**: During ***1997*** and ***1998***, Harry began using spells nonverbally and became quite proficient at it when Snape was not harassing him. On July 31, 1997 Harry was able to light a lamp in the Weasley's sitting room with no words and a flick of his wand. As an adult, Harry displays the ability to consciously use nonverbal magic; shown when he straightened his work-space with the simple wave of his wand. He also demonstrated the use of nonverbal magic during his church duel with ***Delphini***. During the duel the two were mercilessly firing spells at each other. One of the spells he used nonverbally was the Fire-Making Spell.
* **Wandless magic**: In desperation, Harry was able to light the tip his wand, even though it was not in his hand. When enraged he was able to inflate Aunt Marge without a wand, possibly with *Inflatus*. Few other wizards have exhibited this power, although Dumbledore and Voldemort were among them. This further testifies to Harry's skill, as only some of the most powerful wizards of his time were able to do so.

> Feeling that a better reward would have been to back away, Harry moved slowly toward the hippogriff and reached out toward it. He patted the beak several times and the hippogriff closed its eyes lazily, as though enjoying it.
>
> Harry successfully petting Buckbeak in his first Care of Magical Creatures class, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

 File:Harry Potter Buckbeak.jpg
* ***Care of Magical Creatures***: Harry achieved an '***Exceeds Expectations***' on his ***O.W.L.*** exam. He has shown on more than one occasion to have good skill in handling numerous sorts of magical creatures. For example, he was the first in his class to tame a ***hippogriff***, which he did excellently. He befriended the hippogriff to a great extent, which resulted in Buckbeak defending him while he was in danger. Harry has also shown on three occasions that he is quite competent at dealing with dragons. This is shown when he was able to help Hagrid take care of baby ***Norbert*** the dragon, outsmart the ***Hungarian Horntail*** in the ***Triwizard Tournament***, and tamed a half-blind dragon into helping the trio escape Gringotts by flying out on its back. He was also one of very few in his class who was able to see ***Thestrals***, and had no trouble mounting his in June 1996. Harry was also good with House-elves, befriending the house-elf Dobby and eventually freeing him. This act of kindness made the little elf so loyal to him that he gave his life to save him. He also earned the respect and loyalty of ***Kreacher***, a very difficult task. During his O.W.L. practical he correctly identified the ***knarl*** hidden among a dozen hedgehogs, as he knew the trick was to offer them all milk in turn. He was aware that knarls were highly suspicious creatures, who would consider the milk an attempt to poison them. Harry also demonstrated the correct handling of a ***bowtruckle***, was able to feed and clean a ***fire-crab*** without sustaining serious burns, and knew the diet to give a sick ***unicorn***. When his practical was over he gave Hagrid a thumbs-up, indicating that it went well.

* ***Astronomy***: Harry was able to pass his O.W.L. exam with an '***Acceptable***'. He thought the written portion of the O.W.L. exam "*went well enough*". He did not finish his practical exam because he was distracted by ***Dolores Umbridge***'s attempt to arrest Hagrid. However, he was able to complete the constellation ***Orion*** on his star chart. It is unknown if he was able to advance to the N.E.W.T class or not since he did not apply for advancement.

> Look at that, you lot... Potter fought! He fought it, and he damn near beat it! We'll try that again, Potter, and the rest of you, pay attention — watch his eyes, that's where you see it — very good, Potter, very good indeed! They'll have trouble controlling you!
>
> Fourth-year Harry resisting the Imperius Curse, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

* **Indomitable willpower**: Harry appeared to possess an unbreakable spirit and though not above depression, he never truly gave up on any mission. He had been shown to rise from defeat and loss, such as the deaths of many loved ones, even stronger than before. Harry's indomitable will was exemplified by his ability to resist the Imperius Curse. His indomitable will could also be exemplified by his ability to cast powerful Imperius Curses as well. Furthermore, he had never begged for mercy (even in life-and-death situations) and would fight back in defiance of himself, as well as perform nonverbal spells flawlessly. His inability to perform Occlumency (despite possessing the required willpower) was due to his inability to keep his emotions under control.
* **Detective skills**: Harry was a formidably talented investigator. While in school, he and his friends had a knack for solving difficult mysteries and discovering the truth despite all attempts by others to conceal it. Hermione generally finding the background information, while Harry put the pieces together to make a coherent picture. In his first year, Harry uncovered the truth about the Philosopher's Stone and saved it from Voldemort. In his second year, he solved the centuries old mystery of the Chamber of Secrets. During the same year, he understood how the Basilisk's victims were attacked and why they did not die, but more importantly, he located the entrance of the Chamber. Furthermore, he rightly deduced that the victim of the first opening of the Chamber was Moaning Myrtle. In his third year, he understood (with almost no clues) what Dumbledore wanted he and Hermione to do after spinning the Time Turner. In his fifth year, he uncovered the truth about the prophecy. Two years later, he hunted down and destroyed all of Voldemort's Horcruxes using his amazing deductive skills. During his sixth year, he also observed Dumbledore's memories regarding Voldemort and noticed things which would help him later. Harry's deductive skills also allowed him to uncover the mystery of the ***Deathly Hallows***. He discovered that he mastered the three of them, when even Ron and Hermione were initially sceptical of their existence. Harry also had a knack for spotting things that others did not, and had a sharp eye for details. He was able to tell that ***Luna Lovegood*** had not been home in weeks by the state of her room. In 1992, he became suspicious when Dobby revealed that he had known that Harry was not getting any letters. His intelligence also allowed him to intuitively know that Draco Malfoy had been branded with the Dark Mark despite no solid proof, that Malfoy was using the ***Room of Requirement*** as a work shop, and that he was having ***Crabbe*** and ***Goyle*** use ***Polyjuice Potion*** in order to disguise themselves as girls while keeping watch outside the room. He also had an eye for details and a very good memory. For instance, even in an highly stressful situation, such as the ***Battle of Hogwarts***, he was able to remember objects he saw over a year prior in the ***Room of Hidden Things***.

> And you feel that you have exerted your very best efforts in this matter, do you? That you have exercised all of your considerable ingenuity?
>
> Albus Dumbledore commenting on Harry's resourcefulness, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

* **Resourcefulness**: Harry showed resourcefulness in many different situations. In 1992. Harry impersonated the ***Bloody Baron*** in order to keep ***Peeves*** away from the third floor that night. He did not want Peeves to inconvenience the trio on their quest to save the Philosopher's Stone. In his second year, when encountering Professor McGonagall after hours, he lied and said that he and Ron were on their way to see Hermione in the hospital wing. Also in his second year, he used a basilisk fang to destroy Riddle's Diary. In his fourth year, he managed to escape from Voldemort and all the Death Eaters using a Summoning Charm, taking Cedric Diggory's dead body with him. In his fifth year, while under interrogation from ***Umbridge***, he relayed a coded message to Snape. He relayed this coded message in an attempt to warn Snape and by extension, the Order, that Voldemort had Sirius. In the same year, while surrounded by ***Death Eaters***, Harry came up with the plan to smash the shelves in the ***Hall of Prophecy***. The smashed selves were meant to be a distraction, so that he and ***the D.A.*** could try and escape. During the hunt for Horcruxes, he used the Godric Gryffindor's Sword as a way of retrieving ***Helga Hufflepuff's cup*** from the mounds of burning treasure and used a half-blind dragon as a means to escape from Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Harry was also cunning enough that the Sorting Hat heavily considered Sorting him into Slytherin house.

> It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well.
>
> Albus Dumbledore complementing Harry's outstanding leadership skills, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

 File:Dumbledore's Army.jpg
* **Leadership skills**: While Harry never deliberately set out to be a leader to others, he had often taken charge when the situation required it. This began with his impulsive decision to find and warn Hermione about the presence of a troll in the school during the 1991 Hallowe'en feast. It progressed to the point where over thirty students, some of them in their sixth and seventh years — respect him as a teacher in ***Dumbledore's Army***, despite him being younger than they were. Dumbledore later noted that Harry was a superior leader to him. Dumbledore had deliberately sought power in his youth, and subsequently avoided anything more demanding than his role as Hogwarts headmaster, while Harry had leadership thrust upon him. Harry accepted the burden of command, acknowledging his responsibilities towards those who "followed" him. He did this regardless of how uncomfortable he might feel about the prospect. He coordinated his efforts against his enemies well, when left with no option but to take control. Harry's natural talents later served the rest of the wizarding community of Great Britain. In 2007, he was promoted to the Head of the ***Auror Office*** at age 26 and was later made the Head of ***Department of Magical Law Enforcement***. His promotion to these positions of power at relatively young ages demonstrated Harry's natural talent as a commander.

> You're a r-really good teacher, you know. I've never been able to Stun anything before.
>
> Cho Chang regarding Harry's phenomenal teaching ability, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

* **Teaching skills**: Harry demonstrated tremendous skill in teaching others. Having mastered many spells at a young age, Harry successfully taught them to others, even when he was still a student himself. He would give proper instructions and corrections on how to perform many fields of magic, ranging from the relatively simplistic Disarming Charm to the highly advanced Patronus Charm. Harry's effectiveness as a teacher led many, some even older than him, to choose him over the Ministry-installed (but highly incompetent) teacher ***Dolores Umbridge***. He even returned to Hogwarts to give occasional Defence Against the Dark Arts lectures as an adult and professional Auror. He kept his teaching aptitude in his later years and successfully instructed the members of the ***Statute of Secrecy Task Force*** in the use of several formidable spells.

> Sodden and shivering, Dumbledore's weight still upon him, Harry concentrated harder than he had ever done upon his destination: Hogsmeade. Closing his eyes, gripping Dumbledore's arm as tightly as he could, he stepped forward into that feeling of horrible compression. He knew it had worked before he opened his eyes... He and Dumbledore were shivering and dripping in the middle of the dark High Street in Hogsmeade.
>
> Harry Apparated himself and Dumbledore over an incredibly vast distance, Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince

 File:Hermione and Harry apparating.gif
* **Apparition**: Harry had not earned a licence to Apparate, but he used the ability frequently during 1997 and 1998 to great success. He was able to Apparate with only a few seconds' notice or while guiding others. He was also very precise in his Apparition, as he was able to Apparate directly onto ***Grimmauld Place***'s front step under the Cloak of Invisibility. He also used Apparition in his sixth year to a very impressive degree. He used it to get himself and a weakened Albus Dumbledore over an incredibly vast distance even though he was inexperienced.
* **Wand versatility**: Harry was able to use Hermione's wand after his was broken during the ***Attack at Godric's Hollow*** in 1997. He was able to use spells such as: the Wand-Lighting Charm, the Shield Charm, and the ***Severing Charm*** at full strength, despite not having won the wand's allegiance. He also gained the allegiance of Draco Malfoy's wand, the Elder Wand, and quite possibly Voldemort's wand by defeating the previous masters.

## Possessions

> He's been left a house?
>
> Vernon Dursley's shock regarding Harry's inheritance, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry was a wealthy wizard, having inherited the Potter family fortune after his parents were murdered by Lord Voldemort. Harry relied on this gold for his school supplies, clothing, and other expenses. Following the death of his godfather Sirius Black, Harry became the sole heir of the ***Black family*** ***fortune*** as well.

 File:HarryPotterWandNN8415.jpg
* **Wand**: Made of ***holly***, a ***wood*** with the powers to repel evil, Harry's ***wand*** was "brothers" with Voldemort's wand as both had cores with ***feathers*** from the same phoenix, ***Fawkes***. Later he used the Elder Wand to repair it.
* **Hedwig**: Harry's animal companion, Hedwig was vitally helpful in delivering messages and packages for Harry, especially while Sirius was in hiding from the ***Ministry***. Hedwig showed affection by nibbling Harry's ear or fingers, and loyally obeyed his every command (even pecking Ron and Hermione until they answered back). Hedwig was killed during the ***Battle of the Seven Potters***, and Harry was overcome with grief.
* **Nimbus 2000**: This broomstick was gifted to him from ***Professor McGonagall*** after agreeing to join the Gryffindor Quidditch team in 1991. He used it during his first and second years at Hogwarts.
* **Cloak of Invisibility**: Another valued and useful possession is Harry's Cloak of Invisibility. In his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he received it as an anonymous Christmas gift. He later learned the gift came from Albus Dumbledore, who obtained it in turn from Harry's father, James Potter. It was later revealed to be a family heirloom as well as one of the three ***Deathly Hallows***. From this Harry realises he is a direct descendant of Ignotus Peverell, one of the three brothers who created the Deathly Hallows. Harry later gave the Cloak to his eldest son, James Sirius.
* **Photo album**: In June of 1992 Hagrid gave Harry this photo album containing pictures of his parents, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and himself.
* ***Flying with the Cannons***: Harry received a copy of this from Ron Weasley in 1992 as a Christmas present.

 File:Marauder'sMap.png

> We've decided that your need is greater than ours.
>
> Fred and George giving Harry the Marauder's Map, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

* **Marauder's Map**: One of Harry's most treasured possessions. In his third year, ***Fred Weasley*** and ***George Weasley*** gave it to Harry while he was trying to sneak into ***Hogsmeade***. It was confiscated by ***Remus Lupin***, but later returned when Lupin quit his job. Harry kept it with him for a long period of time, keeping it in the ***mokeskin*** wallet he had gotten from Hagrid, until it was finally stolen from his desk by his son, James.

 File:Harry In his New Jumper from Mrs Weasley.jpg
* **Weasley jumpers**: Harry received a homemade jumper every Christmas from Mrs Weasley. His were said to be much more extravagant, as Mrs Weasley "made much more effort" when her presents were not made for actual family members. The known jumpers he has include an emerald green one, a scarlet one, a green one with a ***Hungarian Horntail*** on the front, and one with a Golden Snitch on the front.
* ***Toy broomstick***: this was a gift to him from Sirius Black, it was the first broomstick he had ridden. It's unknown what happened to it after the 1981 attack at Godric's Hollow.

 File:Deathly Hallows.PNG
* **Deathly Hallows**: For a brief time, Harry was master of all three Deathly Hallows: the Cloak of Invisibility, the Resurrection Stone, and the Elder Wand . However, the portrait of Dumbledore that hangs in the Headmaster's office advised Harry to keep the Invisibility Cloak, since it was his father's.

 File:Sir Harry of Gryffindor.png
* **Godric Gryffindor's Sword**: A relic of the ***founder*** of Harry's ***house***, the goblin-made sword of Godric Gryffindor was left to Harry by his former Headmaster Albus Dumbledore in his will. However, the ***Ministry of Magic*** claimed that it was not Dumbledore's to give, and that it truly belonged to Hogwarts. Although the Ministry confiscated a replica of the sword, the true sword found its way into Harry's possession still through the machinations of Severus Snape.
* **Golden Snitch**: This Snitch was caught by Harry during the 1991–1992 school year. It was later left to him in Albus Dumbledore's will, to posthumously ensure that ***Marvolo Gaunt's Ring*** would be safely delivered to him.

## Relationships

Main article: Harry Potter's relationships
Throughout his life, Harry has had many relationships with a variety of people. Because of his upbringing, he had few connections in his early years, the only people he truly interacted with being the abusive ***Dursleys***. With his introduction to the wizarding world, this changed and he built connections with many of the residents of the magical community, both good and bad. His strongest relationships were with: his parents, his children, Hermione Granger, the Weasley family, Sirius Black, Hedwig, Dobby, Albus Dumbledore, Rubeus Hagrid, Minerva McGonagall, ***Remus Lupin***, ***Neville Longbottom***, ***Cho Chang***, ***Luna Lovegood*** and ***Teddy Lupin***.

## Etymology

Template:W is the Middle English form of the name Template:W, derived from the Germanic name *Heinrich,* from the words *heim,* meaning "home", and *ric*, meaning "power, ruler". It has been a very popular name in the English-speaking world for centuries. Harry can also be a diminutive form of the name Harold, from the Old English name *Hereweald*, meaning "leader of the army". It has been the name of five kings of Norway, three kings of Denmark, and two kings of England. In an interview J. K. Rowling stated that 'Harry' had always been one of her favourite boy's names and that if her daughter had been a son she would have named him 'Harry', although then she would have to have come up with a different name for the books as it *"would have been too cruel to name him after my own son".* It is possible that he was named after ***Henry Potter***, nicknamed 'Harry', who was James' grandfather and Harry's great-grandfather.

Template:W is derived from the same Hebrew name as Jacob, meaning “holds the heel” (in the Genesis narrative, Jacob was born grasping Esau′s heel and later bought his birthright). The name came into English language from the French variation of the Late Latin name Iacomus, a dialect variant of Iacobus, from the New Testament Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iakōbos), from Hebrew word יעקב (Yaʻaqov). James is Harry's middle name, James was the name of his father and is also the name of his first son.

Template:W is a very common surname of English origin. It traditionally refers to the occupation of making pottery. Template:W was a well-known English children's author. Template:W is the name for a burial ground for the unknown or unclaimed dead, particularly soldiers and orphans; the Potter family had many members that fit that description. The Template:W is a model for making ethical decisions developed at Harvard University. ***J. K. Rowling*** has also commented that she has liked the name since childhood, as a family that had lived near her carried this surname. The last name "Potter" was also carried by the first successful magician in 1811 in America named Richard Potter who also happened to be African-American, the land that was bought by the magician and where Potter lived was called "Potter Place".

## Behind the scenes

Further information: [[:Behind the scenes of Harry Potter's relationships]]
 File:Harry Potter in cupboard under the stairs - Jim Kay PS IE.jpg
* He often describes various parts of his anatomy as feeling like lead.
* The Marauders believed they discovered more secret places than anyone else in the history of Hogwarts. This is not necessarily true, as unlike Harry and Tom Riddle, they did not discover the Chamber of Secrets or the ***Room of Requirement***. However, as they discovered an untold number of secret passages and hidden rooms, they did discover more numerous secrets than Riddle or Harry, just not the same ones.
* Like his best friend Ron Weasley, Harry got a Muggle driving licence and bought himself a car, but it was never said if they got the Licence to Apparate (although, both of them having been Aurors, most likely they did).
* The only autographs he ever gave out were to Colin Creevey and an unknown man on the Hogwarts Express.
* Harry Potter is still the only wizard to this day that has had all three Unforgivable Curses cast on him and survived.
	+ He also used two out of the three: the ***Cruciatus Curse*** and the ***Imperius Curse***. The only one he never used was the Killing Curse, which, on the contrary, is his nemesis' favourite spell.
* Like his parents, Harry personally defied Voldemort three times before defeating him the fourth time: once in the Underground Chambers, once at the cemetery in Little Hangleton, and once again during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. However, there were five previous encounters, if one counts the events of Harry's second year with Tom Riddle's Diary, though that was a memory instead of the real Voldemort, and the night his parents were killed in Godric's Hollow.
* Harry's initial trouble with ***Potions*** is somewhat ironic as he has famous ***potioneers*** in his family, notably ***Linfred of Stinchcombe*** ("the Potterer") who first established the family fortune with his medicinal potions and ***Fleamont Potter*** who was said to have quadrupled the fortune with his ***Sleekeazy's Hair Potion***. According to ***Horace Slughorn***, Harry's mother Lily was also an accomplished potioneer in her own right. Some of this does come from Harry's enmity with Severus Snape but it is portrayed as his weakness. However, he makes strides in later novels.
* Despite Remus Lupin suggested him not to let the *Expelliarmus* become his signature spell, this was the very spell which Harry used in his last duel against Voldemort.
* The only person Harry ever considered killing by use of curse was Sirius Black and possibly ***Bellatrix Lestrange***, ironically to avenge Sirius. It is, however, unclear if Harry knew how to cast the Avada Kedavra curse since he was not taught the Unforgivable Curses until his fourth year. Furthermore, when Harry found out that Peter Pettigrew was the one who had betrayed his parents to Voldemort, he did not want Sirius and ***Remus Lupin*** to kill Pettigrew in revenge. Even during the ***Battle of Hogwarts***, in which Harry defeated Lord Voldemort, Harry did not do so by use of any curse intended to do harm to his opponent, but rather he used his "trademark", *Expelliarmus*. Harry finished Voldemort by reflecting a curse Harry would never use on another, even his mortal enemy. During that battle, the Death Eaters were masked at the time, so he could not know who was a willing follower and who was a controlled drone. However, in the example with Voldemort, Harry knew Voldemort's Killing Curse would backfire, so rather than use the same curse which would make him look somewhat bad, he instead decided to use the Disarming Charm to gain possession of the wand.
* Harry learns a new mode of transportation in every year since he was introduced to magic:
	+ In his first year, he learns to travel by broomstick.
	+ In his second year, he travels by Floo Powder and Flying Ford Anglia.

* Despite being a talented Quidditch player (and the team Seeker, considered the most important player on the team), Harry never played a full season (every minute of all three matches):
	+ In his first year, he was recuperating in the hospital wing after saving the Philosopher's Stone, and thus missed the final match.
	+ In his second year, the final match of the season was cancelled due to the attack on Hermione
* Harry is portrayed by ***British*** actor ***Daniel Radcliffe*** in the film adaptations of *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, *Chamber of Secrets*, ***Prisoner of Azkaban***, ***Goblet of Fire***, ***Order of the Phoenix***, ***Half-Blood Prince*** and ***Deathly Hallows: Part 1*** and ***Part 2*** and so is one of the 14 characters to appear in all 8 film adaptations. By the time ***Deathly Hallows: Part 2*** was released, Radcliffe had played the role for ten years consecutively.
	+ Harry has green eyes, but in the films he has blue eyes. This is due to the fact that Daniel Radcliffe was allergic to the contact lenses. While his hair is also still black, it is not as messy as it is in the books, and he also has a strong physical body, rather than the slim frame Harry is described as having. However Harry is only described as having an uncommonly 'slim' frame in the earlier instalments, so it is possible that he bulked out a little into a lean frame as he matured.
	+ The first actor to be cast as Harry was actually American actor Liam Aiken,Template:Fact but he lost the part the next day, allegedly because he wasn't British.
	+ Josh Herdman plays Harry when he is disguised as ***Gregory Goyle*** in *Chamber of Secrets,* as does David O'Hara when he is disguised as Albert Runcorn in *Deathly Hallows: Part 1*. The Saunders triplets play Harry as an infant in *Philosopher's Stone* and Toby Papworth plays Harry as an infant in Template:DH.
* The first spell casted on Harry, *Reparo*, used by Hermione Granger on the Hogwarts Express during their first encounter, is also the last spell used by Harry in the novels.
* Harry is right-handed. He tells this to Mr Ollivander in Template:PS. He is also seen writing with this hand throughout the film series.
* Several undisclosed theories suggest that, as per the prophecy, Voldemort was the only one capable of killing Harry. Meaning that, with Voldemort dead, Harry cannot be killed, though he can presumably still die of natural causes.
* While Harry repeatedly states Hermione is the best student in his year in all classes, he likely simply meant she is the best student *overall*, for he has beaten her in two of the three Defence Against the Dark Arts exams they had together, with Hermione only beating him in their first year exam.
* Harry's birthday of 31 July is also the birthday of *Harry Potter* author ***J. K. Rowling*** and actor ***Richard Griffiths***, who played Harry's uncle ***Vernon Dursley*** in the *Harry Potter* films.
	+ In addition to Rowling and Griffiths, Harry's star sign Leo, a lion, also the sign of the Gryffindor house, was shared by Ginny and Harry's portrayer Daniel Radcliffe, who was born on 23 July.
	+ On his famous wizard card shown in Template:PS, Harry's year of birth was not given, instead question marks were shown, indicating his year of birth may not have been made public in the wizarding world.
* In Template:PS, despite Harry's birthday being on July 31st in the books, it seems that it was moved to August 31st, because Hagrid first met Harry in the shack on the day of Harry's birthday, then he took Harry to Diagon Alley and then to King's Cross the next day, where Harry took the Hogwarts Express.
* In the films:
	+ Harry is shown to wear the colour blue in nearly all his clothing. It could possibly connect with the symbolic meanings of the colour to be that of; trust, wisdom, loyalty, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth and heaven. These particular attributes are significantly linked to Harry's personality throughout the series.
	+ Harry's hair grows longer and longer (the longest point was in *Goblet of Fire*) until it was cut for *Order of the Phoenix*. It has since grown to about the same length as it was for *Prisoner of Azkaban*.
	+ Harry's scar is off-centre on his forehead; this was apparently done at J. K. Rowling's request: because of the books' artwork, many fans believe the scar is in the centre of his head. But it is never explicitly mentioned where the scar is located. On all the U.S. book covers (illustrations), the scar on Harry's forehead is located in the centre. The same is definitely true of the last two U.K. instalments; however, on early U.K. book covers, Harry's scar tends to appear slightly off-centre. It is somewhat hard to tell on most of these covers, as Harry's face is only visible in profile. However, on the U.K. cover of *Chamber of Secrets*, Harry's scar is decidedly off-centre. It is perhaps of this book that Rowling was thinking.
* Harry usually has the last line in every *Harry Potter* film. Though it could be debatable on whether he has the last line of the second film since the closed captions say that Dean said, "Yes!", so he may have had the last line.
	+ *"I'm not going home...not really.."* (PS)
	+ *"There's no Hogwarts without you, Hagrid."* (CS)

### Author's comments

> There are quite a few real Harry Potters out there. So far I have heard of a newborn baby who actually has Harry's full name (Harry James Potter), a barrister in London, a grandfather who was very pleased that he had become cool in his grandchildren's eyes, a soldier who died in the second world war (I was sent a picture of his tombstone) and a clockmaker who worked in London in the last century.
>
> J. K. Rowling regarding the name Harry James Potter, J. K. Rowling's official site

* Harry Potter is J. K. Rowling's favourite character, though she feels that she is unusual in this, as she finds that Ron is generally more popular.
* J. K. Rowling has stated:
	+ Because of the demands of his life, Harry has had less sexual experience than boys of his age might have had.
	+ Harry's glasses are a clue to his vulnerability.
	+ The character of Wart from Template:W's *Template:W* is "Harry's spiritual ancestor".
* "*It was not an arbitrary decision: holly has certain connotations that were perfect for Harry, particularly when contrasted with the traditional associations of yew, from which Voldemort's wand is made. European tradition has it that the holly tree (the name comes from 'holy') repels evil, while yew, which can achieve astonishing longevity (there are British yew trees over two thousand years old), can symbolise both death and resurrection; the sap is also poisonous. Some time after I had given Harry his holly-and-phoenix wand I came across a description of how the **Celts** had assigned trees to different parts of the year and discovered that, entirely by coincidence, I had assigned Harry the 'correct' wood for his **day of birth**.*"

## Appearances

Template:Imagecat

* Template:PS Template:1st
* Template:COS
* Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban (film)
* Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire (film)
* Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
* Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
* Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
* Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

## External links

* Harry Potter Lexicon page
* Hogwarts Project - Harry Potter

## Notes and references

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1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 & Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "DH7" defined multiple times with different content
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Template:WW
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Template:COS - Tom Riddle states that there "are strange likenesses between us, after all. Even you must have noticed. Both half-bloods".
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Template:OOTP
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Template:HBP
6. ↑ Template:DH
7. ↑ Template:HBP
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Template:HBP
9. ↑ Template:HBP
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Template:HBP
11. ↑ Template:HBP
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Template:HBP
13. ↑ Template:HBP
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Template:HBP Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "HBP22" defined multiple times with different content
15. ↑ Template:HBP
16. ↑ Template:DHTemplate:DH
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Template:DHTemplate:DH
18. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `reunites`
19. ↑ Template:DHTemplate:DH
20. ↑ Template:DHTemplate:DH
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Template:DH
22. ↑ Template:DH
23. ↑ Template:COS
24. ↑ Template:DHTemplate:DH
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `PS1`
26. ↑ Template:PS - "Under a tuft of jet-black hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut, like a bolt of lightning."
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Template:PS - "Harry had a thin face, knobbly knees, black hair, and bright green eyes."
28. ↑ A drawing by J.K. Rowling Template:See image
29. ↑ A drawing by J.K. Rowling Template:See image clearly has Dean's skin shaded in; but Harry's is not.
30. ↑ Template:PS - "Harry had gone very white"
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 31.6 31.7 31.8 31.9 Template:PS
32. ↑ 32.00 32.01 32.02 32.03 32.04 32.05 32.06 32.07 32.08 32.09 32.10 32.11 32.12 32.13 32.14 32.15 32.16 32.17 32.18 32.19 32.20 32.21 32.22 32.23 32.24 32.25 32.26 32.27 Template:DH
33. ↑ J.K. Rowling MSNBC Interview on Accio! Quote
34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 34.4 34.5 Times Online - The Unwritten Story of Harry's Friends and Their Children
35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Template:PM - New Cursed Child character portraits of Ron, Hermione and Rose Granger-Weasley"
36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 Template:WW
37. ↑ "Harry and Dudley: Future Hope?" on J.K. Rowling's Official Site
38. ↑ The Potters are related to the Blacks through Charlus Potter, who married Dorea Black and with whom he had a son. They are also related through Harry's marriage to Ginny Weasley, who is also descended from the Black's female line, her grandmother being Cedrella Black.
39. ↑ Template:POA
40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 Template:GOF
41. ↑ Template:PS
42. ↑ Template:POA
43. ↑ Template:POA
44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 J.K.Rowling Official Site Wizard of the Month (Archived)
45. ↑ Finished 'Potter'? Rowling tells what happens next at Today (26 Jul 2007)
46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 Template:PS Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "PS7" defined multiple times with different content
47. ↑ Template:HBP
48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 Template:OOTP
49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Template:PS
50. ↑ Template:OOTP - In Harry's fifth year, Professor Umbridge banned him from participations in Quidditch games, along with Fred and George Weasley. Thus, Harry was not on the team when they won the cup that year.
51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 Template:OOTP
52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 52.2 52.3 Template:OOTP
53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 Template:OOTP
54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 54.3 54.4 54.5 54.6 Template:OOTP
55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 55.3 55.4 55.5 Template:HBP
56. ↑ Template:WW
57. ↑ Template:HBP
58. ↑ J.K. Rowling and the Live Chat, Bloomsbury.com, July 30, 2007
59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 Template:WW
60. ↑ Template:WW
61. ↑ Leaky Cauldron: 30 July 2007 Webchat with J.K. Rowling
62. ↑ Template:DH
63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 63.2 63.3 63.4 Template:OOTP
64. ↑ *J. K. Rowling: A Year in the Life*, available at Harry Potter Lexicon under Birthdate
65. ↑ J.K Rowling at Carnegie Hall at The Leaky Cauldron (website)
66. ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (film)
67. ↑ 67.0 67.1 Template:POA
68. ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) - "'He did,' said Fudge heavily. 'And then, barely a week after the Fidelius Charm had been performed —'"
69. ↑ 69.0 69.1 Template:DH
70. ↑ Nagini was not made a Horcrux until Voldemort's return, when he killed the old Muggle caretaker of the Riddle home just before the Triwizard Tournament, and Harry himself did not contain part of Voldemort's soul until the time of the failed Killing Curse.
71. ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
72. ↑ 72.0 72.1 72.2 Template:PS
73. ↑ Template:WW
74. ↑ 74.0 74.1 Template:POA
75. ↑ Template:OOTP
76. ↑ 76.0 76.1 Template:PS
77. ↑ Template:HPPS, p. 403 Template:See image
78. ↑ Rowling never specified the environment within it, but it was presumably even worse than St. Grogory's in terms of what he might have expected as treatment.
79. ↑ 79.0 79.1 79.2 Template:PS
80. ↑ Template:PS - *"They hadn't gone more than a dozen paces when a doorknob rattled and something came shooting out of the classroom in front of them. It was Peeves."*
81. ↑ Template:OOTP
82. ↑ Template:OOTP
83. ↑ *Wizard of the Month*, October 2007
84. ↑ Katie Couric 20 June 2003 Interview with J.K. Rowling, available via Accio Quote
85. ↑ Template:OOTP
86. ↑ 86.0 86.1 86.2 86.3 Template:GOF
87. ↑ 87.0 87.1 Template:COS
88. ↑ Template:HBP
89. ↑ 89.0 89.1 89.2 89.3 Template:OOTP
90. ↑ 90.0 90.1 90.2 Template:DH
91. ↑ 91.0 91.1 91.2 Template:HBP
92. ↑ Template:HBP
93. ↑ Template:POA
94. ↑ Template:CC
95. ↑ 95.0 95.1 Template:WW
96. ↑ Template:WW
97. ↑ 97.0 97.1 Template:DH
98. ↑ 98.0 98.1 98.2 98.3 98.4 98.5 98.6 Template:OOTP
99. ↑ 99.0 99.1 99.2 Template:HBP
100. ↑ 100.0 100.1 100.2 100.3 Template:DH
101. ↑ Template:COS
102. ↑ 102.0 102.1 102.2 Template:COS
103. ↑ 103.0 103.1 Template:DH
104. ↑ 104.0 104.1 104.2 104.3 104.4 Template:HBP
105. ↑ Template:POA
106. ↑ Template:GOF
107. ↑ Template:DH
108. ↑ Template:DH
109. ↑ Harry joined the Aurors at age seventeen in 1998, right after the Battle of Hogwarts. He was promoted in 2007, which is nine years later, making his age when prompted 26.
110. ↑ Template:CC
111. ↑ 111.0 111.1 111.2 Template:HBP
112. ↑ Template:GOF
113. ↑ Template:GOF
114. ↑ 114.0 114.1 114.2 114.3 Template:PS
115. ↑ 115.0 115.1 115.2 Template:COS
116. ↑ 116.0 116.1 116.2 116.3 Template:POA
117. ↑ 117.0 117.1 Template:GOF
118. ↑ 118.0 118.1 118.2 118.3 Template:DH
119. ↑ 119.0 119.1 Template:GOF
120. ↑ Template:HBP
121. ↑ Template:DH
122. ↑ Template:PS
123. ↑ Template:OOTP
124. ↑ Template:DH
125. ↑ Template:HBP
126. ↑ 126.0 126.1 Template:COS
127. ↑ Template:DH
128. ↑ 128.0 128.1 Template:DH
129. ↑ Template:COS
130. ↑ Template:OOTP
131. ↑ 131.0 131.1 Template:PS
132. ↑ Template:COS
133. ↑ Template:HBP
134. ↑ Template:OOTP
135. ↑ Template:DH
136. ↑ Template:HBP
137. ↑ Template:COS
138. ↑ Template:DH
139. ↑ Template:CC - "Go home to your family, Harry, the Hogwarts Express is about to depart for another year"
140. ↑ Template:WU
141. ↑ JKR
142. ↑ Template:COS
143. ↑ Behind the Name: Harry
144. ↑ Behind the Name: Harold
145. ↑ 145.0 145.1 http://accio-quote.org/articles/2000/1000-scholastic-chat.htm
146. ↑ Behind the Name: Rankings for 'Potter'
147. ↑ MuggleNet: Name Origins
148. ↑ Template:Wikilink
149. ↑ http://andoverhistory.org/richard-potter-gravesite/
150. ↑ JK Rowling reveals her favourite Harry Potter character - The Guardian
151. ↑ "J.K. Rowling Hogwarts And All", Time Magazine, 17 July, 2005
152. ↑ "J.K. Rowling: The Wizard Behind Harry Potter", Reader's Digest, December 2000
153. ↑ "JK (JOANNE KATHLEEN) ROWLING" Guardian Unlimited
154. ↑ Extra Stuff: Wands at Template:JKRS via *Internet Archive*