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+
+THE BOY WHO LIVED 
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, 
+were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, 
+thank you very much. They were the last people you’d 
+expect to be involved in anything strange or 
+mysterious, because they just didn’t hold with such 
+nonsense. 
+
+Mr. Dursley was the director of a firm called 
+Grunnings, which made drills. He was a big, beefy 
+man with hardly any neck, although he did have a 
+very large mustache. Mrs. Dursley was thin and 
+blonde and had nearly twice the usual amount of 
+neck, which came in very useful as she spent so 
+much of her time craning over garden fences, spying 
+on the neighbors. The Dursley s had a small son 
+called Dudley and in their opinion there was no finer 
+boy anywhere. 
+
+The Dursleys had everything they wanted, but they 
+also had a secret, and their greatest fear was that 
+somebody would discover it. They didn’t think they 
+could bear it if anyone found out about the Potters. 
+Mrs. Potter was Mrs. Dursley’s sister, but they hadn’t 
+
+Page | 2 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+met for several years; in fact, Mrs. Dursley pretended 
+she didn’t have a sister, because her sister and her 
+good-for-nothing husband were as unDursleyish as it 
+was possible to be. The Dursleys shuddered to think 
+what the neighbors would say if the Potters arrived in 
+the street. The Dursleys knew that the Potters had a 
+small son, too, but they had never even seen him. 
+
+This boy was another good reason for keeping the 
+Potters away; they didn’t want Dudley mixing with a 
+child like that. 
+
+When Mr. and Mrs. Dursley woke up on the dull, gray 
+Tuesday our story starts, there was nothing about the 
+cloudy sky outside to suggest that strange and 
+mysterious things would soon be happening all over 
+the country. Mr. Dursley hummed as he picked out 
+his most boring tie for work, and Mrs. Dursley 
+gossiped away happily as she wrestled a screaming 
+Dudley into his high chair. 
+
+None of them noticed a large, tawny owl flutter past 
+the window. 
+
+At half past eight, Mr. Dursley picked up his 
+briefcase, pecked Mrs. Dursley on the cheek, and 
+tried to kiss Dudley good-bye but missed, because 
+Dudley was now having a tantrum and throwing his 
+cereal at the walls. “Little tyke,” chortled Mr. Dursley 
+as he left the house. He got into his car and backed 
+out of number four’s drive. 
+
+It was on the corner of the street that he noticed the 
+first sign of something peculiar — a cat reading a 
+map. For a second, Mr. Dursley didn’t realize what he 
+had seen — then he jerked his head around to look 
+again. There was a tabby cat standing on the corner 
+of Privet Drive, but there wasn’t a map in sight. What 
+could he have been thinking of? It must have been a 
+trick of the light. Mr. Dursley blinked and stared at 
+Page | 3 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+the cat. It stared back. As Mr. Dursley drove around 
+the corner and up the road, he watched the cat in his 
+mirror. It was now reading the sign that said Privet 
+Drive — no, looking at the sign; cats couldn’t read 
+maps or signs. Mr. Dursley gave himself a little shake 
+and put the cat out of his mind. As he drove toward 
+town he thought of nothing except a large order of 
+drills he was hoping to get that day. 
+
+But on the edge of town, drills were driven out of his 
+mind by something else. As he sat in the usual 
+morning traffic jam, he couldn’t help noticing that 
+there seemed to be a lot of strangely dressed people 
+about. People in cloaks. Mr. Dursley couldn’t bear 
+people who dressed in funny clothes — the getups 
+you saw on young people! He supposed this was some 
+stupid new fashion. He drummed his fingers on the 
+steering wheel and his eyes fell on a huddle of these 
+weirdos standing quite close by. They were whispering 
+excitedly together. Mr. Dursley was enraged to see 
+that a couple of them weren’t young at all; why, that 
+man had to be older than he was, and wearing an 
+emerald-green cloak! The nerve of him! But then it 
+struck Mr. Dursley that this was probably some silly 
+stunt — these people were obviously collecting for 
+something ... yes, that would be it. The traffic moved 
+on and a few minutes later, Mr. Dursley arrived in the 
+Grunnings parking lot, his mind back on drills. 
+
+Mr. Dursley always sat with his back to the window in 
+his office on the ninth floor. If he hadn’t, he might 
+have found it harder to concentrate on drills that 
+morning. He didn’t see the owls swooping past in 
+broad daylight, though people down in the street did; 
+they pointed and gazed open-mouthed as owl after 
+owl sped overhead. Most of them had never seen an 
+owl even at nighttime. Mr. Dursley, however, had a 
+perfectly normal, owl-free morning. He yelled at five 
+different people. He made several important telephone 
+Page | 4 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+calls and shouted a bit more. He was in a very good 
+mood until lunchtime, when he thought he’d stretch 
+his legs and walk across the road to buy himself a 
+bun from the bakery. 
+
+He’d forgotten all about the people in cloaks until he 
+passed a group of them next to the baker’s. He eyed 
+them angrily as he passed. He didn’t know why, but 
+they made him uneasy. This bunch were whispering 
+excitedly, too, and he couldn’t see a single collecting 
+tin. It was on his way back past them, clutching a 
+large doughnut in a bag, that he caught a few words 
+of what they were saying. 
+
+“The Potters, that’s right, that’s what I heard — ” 
+
+“ — yes, their son, Harry — ” 
+
+Mr. Dursley stopped dead. Fear flooded him. He 
+looked back at the whisperers as if he wanted to say 
+something to them, but thought better of it. 
+
+He dashed back across the road, hurried up to his 
+office, snapped at his secretary not to disturb him, 
+seized his telephone, and had almost finished dialing 
+his home number when he changed his mind. He put 
+the receiver back down and stroked his mustache, 
+thinking ... no, he was being stupid. Potter wasn’t 
+such an unusual name. He was sure there were lots 
+of people called Potter who had a son called Harry. 
+Come to think of it, he wasn’t even sure his nephew 
+was called Harry. He’d never even seen the boy. It 
+might have been Harvey. Or Harold. There was no 
+point in worrying Mrs. Dursley; she always got so 
+upset at any mention of her sister. He didn’t blame 
+her — if he’d had a sister like that ... but all the 
+same, those people in cloaks ... 
+
+
+
+Page | 5 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+He found it a lot harder to concentrate on drills that 
+afternoon and when he left the building at five o’clock, 
+he was still so worried that he walked straight into 
+someone just outside the door. 
+
+“Sorry,” he grunted, as the tiny old man stumbled 
+and almost fell. It was a few seconds before Mr. 
+Dursley realized that the man was wearing a violet 
+cloak. He didn’t seem at all upset at being almost 
+knocked to the ground. On the contrary, his face split 
+into a wide smile and he said in a squeaky voice that 
+made passersby stare, “Don’t be sorry, my dear sir, 
+for nothing could upset me today! Rejoice, for You- 
+Know-Who has gone at last! Even Muggles like 
+yourself should be celebrating, this happy, happy 
+day!” 
+
+And the old man hugged Mr. Dursley around the 
+middle and walked off. 
+
+Mr. Dursley stood rooted to the spot. He had been 
+hugged by a complete stranger. He also thought he 
+had been called a Muggle, whatever that was. He was 
+rattled. He hurried to his car and set off for home, 
+hoping he was imagining things, which he had never 
+hoped before, because he didn’t approve of 
+imagination. 
+
+As he pulled into the driveway of number four, the 
+first thing he saw — and it didn’t improve his mood — 
+was the tabby cat he’d spotted that morning. It was 
+now sitting on his garden wall. He was sure it was the 
+same one; it had the same markings around its eyes. 
+
+“Shoo!” said Mr. Dursley loudly. 
+
+The cat didn’t move. It just gave him a stern look. 
+
+Was this normal cat behavior? Mr. Dursley wondered. 
+Trying to pull himself together, he let himself into the 
+
+Page | 6 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+house. He was still determined not to mention 
+anything to his wife. 
+
+Mrs. Dursley had had a nice, normal day. She told 
+him over dinner all about Mrs. Next Door’s problems 
+with her daughter and how Dudley had learned a new 
+word (“Won’t!”). Mr. Dursley tried to act normally. 
+When Dudley had been put to bed, he went into the 
+living room in time to catch the last report on the 
+evening news: 
+
+“And finally, bird-watchers everywhere have reported 
+that the nation’s owls have been behaving very 
+unusually today. Although owls normally hunt at 
+night and are hardly ever seen in daylight, there have 
+been hundreds of sightings of these birds flying in 
+every direction since sunrise. Experts are unable to 
+explain why the owls have suddenly changed their 
+sleeping pattern.” The newscaster allowed himself a 
+grin. “Most mysterious. And now, over to Jim 
+McGuffin with the weather. Going to be any more 
+showers of owls tonight, Jim?” 
+
+“Well, Ted,” said the weatherman, “I don’t know about 
+that, but it’s not only the owls that have been acting 
+oddly today. Viewers as far apart as Kent, Yorkshire, 
+and Dundee have been phoning in to tell me that 
+instead of the rain I promised yesterday, they’ve had a 
+downpour of shooting stars! Perhaps people have 
+been celebrating Bonfire Night early — it’s not until 
+next week, folks! But I can promise a wet night 
+tonight.” 
+
+Mr. Dursley sat frozen in his armchair. Shooting stars 
+all over Britain? Owls flying by daylight? Mysterious 
+people in cloaks all over the place? And a whisper, a 
+whisper about the Potters . . . 
+
+
+
+Page | 7 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Mrs. Dursley came into the living room carrying two 
+cups of tea. It was no good. He’d have to say 
+something to her. He cleared his throat nervously. “Er 
+— Petunia, dear — you haven’t heard from your sister 
+lately, have you?” 
+
+As he had expected, Mrs. Dursley looked shocked and 
+angry. After all, they normally pretended she didn’t 
+have a sister. 
+
+“No,” she said sharply. “Why?” 
+
+“Funny stuff on the news,” Mr. Dursley mumbled. 
+“Owls . . . shooting stars . . . and there were a lot of 
+funny-looking people in town today ...” 
+
+“So?” snapped Mrs. Dursley. 
+
+“Well, I just thought ... maybe ... it was something to 
+do with ... you know ... her crowd.” 
+
+Mrs. Dursley sipped her tea through pursed lips. Mr. 
+Dursley wondered whether he dared tell her he’d 
+heard the name “Potter.” He decided he didn’t dare. 
+Instead he said, as casually as he could, “Their son — 
+he’d be about Dudley’s age now, wouldn’t he?” 
+
+“I suppose so,” said Mrs. Dursley stiffly. 
+
+“What’s his name again? Howard, isn’t it?” 
+
+“Harry. Nasty, common name, if you ask me.” 
+
+“Oh, yes,” said Mr. Dursley, his heart sinking 
+horribly. “Yes, I quite agree.” 
+
+He didn’t say another word on the subject as they 
+went upstairs to bed. While Mrs. Dursley was in the 
+bathroom, Mr. Dursley crept to the bedroom window 
+
+Page | 8 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+and peered down into the front garden. The cat was 
+still there. It was staring down Privet Drive as though 
+it were waiting for something. 
+
+Was he imagining things? Could all this have 
+anything to do with the Potters? If it did ... if it got out 
+that they were related to a pair of — well, he didn’t 
+think he could bear it. 
+
+The Dursleys got into bed. Mrs. Dursley fell asleep 
+quickly but Mr. Dursley lay awake, turning it all over 
+in his mind. His last, comforting thought before he fell 
+asleep was that even if the Potters were involved, 
+there was no reason for them to come near him and 
+Mrs. Dursley. The Potters knew very well what he and 
+Petunia thought about them and their kind. ... He 
+couldn’t see how he and Petunia could get mixed up 
+in anything that might be going on — he yawned and 
+turned over — it couldn’t affect them. ... 
+
+How very wrong he was. 
+
+Mr. Dursley might have been drifting into an uneasy 
+sleep, but the cat on the wall outside was showing no 
+sign of sleepiness. It was sitting as still as a statue, 
+its eyes fixed unblinkingly on the far corner of Privet 
+Drive. It didn’t so much as quiver when a car door 
+slammed on the next street, nor when two owls 
+swooped overhead. In fact, it was nearly midnight 
+before the cat moved at all. 
+
+A man appeared on the corner the cat had been 
+watching, appeared so suddenly and silently you’d 
+have thought he’d just popped out of the ground. The 
+cat’s tail twitched and its eyes narrowed. 
+
+Nothing like this man had ever been seen on Privet 
+Drive. He was tall, thin, and very old, judging by the 
+silver of his hair and beard, which were both long 
+
+Page | 9 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+enough to tuck into his belt. He was wearing long 
+robes, a purple cloak that swept the ground, and 
+high-heeled, buckled boots. His blue eyes were light, 
+bright, and sparkling behind half-moon spectacles 
+and his nose was very long and crooked, as though it 
+had been broken at least twice. This man’s name was 
+Albus Dumbledore. 
+
+Albus Dumbledore didn’t seem to realize that he had 
+just arrived in a street where everything from his 
+name to his boots was unwelcome. He was busy 
+rummaging in his cloak, looking for something. But 
+he did seem to realize he was being watched, because 
+he looked up suddenly at the cat, which was still 
+staring at him from the other end of the street. For 
+some reason, the sight of the cat seemed to amuse 
+him. He chuckled and muttered, “I should have 
+known.” 
+
+He found what he was looking for in his inside 
+pocket. It seemed to be a silver cigarette lighter. He 
+flicked it open, held it up in the air, and clicked it. 
+The nearest street lamp went out with a little pop. He 
+clicked it again — the next lamp flickered into 
+darkness. Twelve times he clicked the Put-Outer, 
+until the only lights left on the whole street were two 
+tiny pinpricks in the distance, which were the eyes of 
+the cat watching him. If anyone looked out of their 
+window now, even beady-eyed Mrs. Dursley, they 
+wouldn’t be able to see anything that was happening 
+down on the pavement. Dumbledore slipped the Put- 
+Outer back inside his cloak and set off down the 
+street toward number four, where he sat down on the 
+wall next to the cat. He didn’t look at it, but after a 
+moment he spoke to it. 
+
+“Fancy seeing you here, Professor McGonagall.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 10 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+He turned to smile at the tabby, but it had gone. 
+Instead he was smiling at a rather severe-looking 
+woman who was wearing square glasses exactly the 
+shape of the markings the cat had had around its 
+eyes. She, too, was wearing a cloak, an emerald one. 
+Her black hair was drawn into a tight bun. She 
+looked distinctly ruffled. 
+
+“How did you know it was me?” she asked. 
+
+“My dear Professor, I’ve never seen a cat sit so stiffly.” 
+
+“You’d be stiff if you’d been sitting on a brick wall all 
+day,” said Professor McGonagall. 
+
+“All day? When you could have been celebrating? I 
+must have passed a dozen feasts and parties on my 
+way here.” 
+
+Professor McGonagall sniffed angrily. 
+
+“Oh yes, everyone’s celebrating, all right,” she said 
+impatiently. “You’d think they’d be a bit more careful, 
+but no — even the Muggles have noticed something’s 
+going on. It was on their news.” She jerked her head 
+back at the Dursleys’ dark living-room window. “I 
+heard it. Flocks of owls ... shooting stars. ... Well, 
+they’re not completely stupid. They were bound to 
+notice something. Shooting stars down in Kent — I’ll 
+bet that was Dedalus Diggle. He never had much 
+sense.” 
+
+“You can’t blame them,” said Dumbledore gently. 
+“We’ve had precious little to celebrate for eleven 
+years.” 
+
+“I know that,” said Professor McGonagall irritably. 
+
+“But that’s no reason to lose our heads. People are 
+being downright careless, out on the streets in broad 
+
+Page | 11 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+daylight, not even dressed in Muggle clothes, 
+swapping rumors.” 
+
+She threw a sharp, sideways glance at Dumbledore 
+here, as though hoping he was going to tell her 
+something, but he didn’t, so she went on. “A fine 
+thing it would be if, on the very day You-Know-Who 
+seems to have disappeared at last, the Muggles found 
+out about us all. I suppose he really has gone, 
+Dumbledore?” 
+
+“It certainly seems so,” said Dumbledore. “We have 
+much to be thankful for. Would you care for a lemon 
+drop?” 
+
+“A what?” 
+
+“A lemon drop. They’re a kind of Muggle sweet I’m 
+rather fond of.” 
+
+“No, thank you,” said Professor McGonagall coldly, as 
+though she didn’t think this was the moment for 
+lemon drops. “As I say, even if You-Know-Who has 
+gone — ” 
+
+“My dear Professor, surely a sensible person like 
+yourself can call him by his name? All this You- 
+Know-Who’ nonsense — for eleven years I have been 
+trying to persuade people to call him by his proper 
+name: Voldemort.” Professor McGonagall flinched, but 
+Dumbledore, who was unsticking two lemon drops, 
+seemed not to notice. “It all gets so confusing if we 
+keep saying You-Know-Who.’ I have never seen any 
+reason to be frightened of saying Voldemort’s name.” 
+
+“I know you haven’t,” said Professor McGonagall, 
+sounding half exasperated, half admiring. “But you’re 
+different. Everyone knows you’re the only one You- 
+Know- oh, all right, Voldemort, was frightened of.” 
+
+Page | 12 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“You flatter me,” said Dumbledore calmly. “Voldemort 
+had powers I will never have.” 
+
+
+
+“Only because you’re too — well — noble to use 
+them.” 
+
+“It’s lucky it’s dark. I haven’t blushed so much since 
+Madam Pomfrey told me she liked my new earmuffs.” 
+
+Professor McGonagall shot a sharp look at 
+Dumbledore and said, “The owls are nothing next to 
+the rumors that are flying around. You know what 
+everyone’s saying? About why he’s disappeared? 
+
+About what finally stopped him?” 
+
+It seemed that Professor McGonagall had reached the 
+point she was most anxious to discuss, the real 
+reason she had been waiting on a cold, hard wall all 
+day, for neither as a cat nor as a woman had she 
+fixed Dumbledore with such a piercing stare as she 
+did now. It was plain that whatever “everyone” was 
+saying, she was not going to believe it until 
+Dumbledore told her it was true. Dumbledore, 
+however, was choosing another lemon drop and did 
+not answer. 
+
+“What they’re saying,” she pressed on, “is that last 
+night Voldemort turned up in Godric’s Hollow. He 
+went to find the Potters. The rumor is that Lily and 
+James Potter are — are — that they’re — dead.” 
+
+Dumbledore bowed his head. Professor McGonagall 
+gasped. 
+
+“Lily and James ... I can’t believe it ... I didn’t want to 
+believe it ... Oh, Albus ...” 
+
+Dumbledore reached out and patted her on the 
+shoulder. “I know ... I know ...” he said heavily. 
+
+Page | 13 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Professor McGonagall’s voice trembled as she went 
+on. “That’s not all. They’re saying he tried to kill the 
+Potters’ son, Harry. But — he couldn’t. He couldn’t 
+kill that little boy. No one knows why, or how, but 
+they’re saying that when he couldn’t kill Harry Potter, 
+Voldemort’s power somehow broke — and that’s why 
+he’s gone.” 
+
+Dumbledore nodded glumly. 
+
+“It’s — it’s true?” faltered Professor McGonagall. “After 
+all he’s done ... all the people he’s killed ... he couldn’t 
+kill a little boy? It’s just astounding ... of all the 
+things to stop him . . . but how in the name of heaven 
+did Harry survive?” 
+
+“We can only guess,” said Dumbledore. “We may 
+never know.” 
+
+Professor McGonagall pulled out a lace handkerchief 
+and dabbed at her eyes beneath her spectacles. 
+Dumbledore gave a great sniff as he took a golden 
+watch from his pocket and examined it. It was a very 
+odd watch. It had twelve hands but no numbers; 
+instead, little planets were moving around the edge. It 
+must have made sense to Dumbledore, though, 
+because he put it back in his pocket and said, 
+“Hagrid’s late. I suppose it was he who told you I’d be 
+here, by the way?” 
+
+“Yes,” said Professor McGonagall. “And I don’t 
+suppose you’re going to tell me why you’re here, of all 
+places?” 
+
+“I’ve come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle. 
+They’re the only family he has left now.” 
+
+“You don’t mean — you can’t mean the people who 
+live here?” cried Professor McGonagall, jumping to her 
+
+Page | 14 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone -J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+feet and pointing at number four. “Dumbledore — you 
+can’t. I’ve been watching them all day. You couldn’t 
+find two people who are less like us. And they’ve got 
+this son — I saw him kicking his mother all the way 
+up the street, screaming for sweets. Harry Potter 
+come and live here!” 
+
+“It’s the best place for him,” said Dumbledore firmly. 
+“His aunt and uncle will be able to explain everything 
+to him when he’s older. I’ve written them a letter.” 
+
+“A letter?” repeated Professor McGonagall faintly, 
+sitting back down on the wall. “Really, Dumbledore, 
+you think you can explain all this in a letter? These 
+people will never understand him! He’ll be famous — 
+a legend — I wouldn’t be surprised if today was 
+known as Harry Potter Day in the future — there will 
+be books written about Harry — every child in our 
+world will know his name!” 
+
+“Exactly,” said Dumbledore, looking very seriously 
+over the top of his half-moon glasses. “It would be 
+enough to turn any boy’s head. Famous before he can 
+walk and talk! Famous for something he won’t even 
+remember! Can’t you see how much better off he’ll be, 
+growing up away from all that until he’s ready to take 
+it?” 
+
+
+
+Professor McGonagall opened her mouth, changed her 
+mind, swallowed, and then said, “Yes — yes, you’re 
+right, of course. But how is the boy getting here, 
+Dumbledore?” She eyed his cloak suddenly as though 
+she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it. 
+
+“Hagrid’s bringing him.” 
+
+“You think it — wise — to trust Hagrid with 
+something as important as this?” 
+
+
+
+Page | 15 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“I would trust Hagrid with my life,” said Dumbledore. 
+
+“I’m not saying his heart isn’t in the right place,” said 
+Professor McGonagall grudgingly, “but you can’t 
+pretend he’s not careless. He does tend to — what 
+was that?” 
+
+A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around 
+them. It grew steadily louder as they looked up and 
+down the street for some sign of a headlight; it 
+swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky — 
+and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed 
+on the road in front of them. 
+
+If the motorcycle was huge, it was nothing to the man 
+sitting astride it. He was almost twice as tall as a 
+normal man and at least five times as wide. He looked 
+simply too big to be allowed, and so wild — long 
+tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his 
+face, he had hands the size of trash can lids, and his 
+feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins. In 
+his vast, muscular arms he was holding a bundle of 
+blankets. 
+
+“Hagrid,” said Dumbledore, sounding relieved. “At 
+last. And where did you get that motorcycle?” 
+
+“Borrowed it, Professor Dumbledore, sir,” said the 
+giant, climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he 
+spoke. “Young Sirius Black lent it to me. I’ve got him, 
+sir.” 
+
+“No problems, were there?” 
+
+“No, sir — house was almost destroyed, but I got him 
+out all right before the Muggles started swarmin’ 
+around. He fell asleep as we was flyin’ over Bristol.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 16 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward 
+over the bundle of blankets. Inside, just visible, was a 
+baby boy, fast asleep. Under a tuft of jet-black hair 
+over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped 
+cut, like a bolt of lightning. 
+
+“Is that where — ?” whispered Professor McGonagall. 
+
+“Yes,” said Dumbledore. “Hell have that scar forever.” 
+
+“Couldn’t you do something about it, Dumbledore?” 
+
+“Even if I could, I wouldn’t. Scars can come in handy. 
+
+I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect 
+map of the London Underground. Well — give him 
+here, Hagrid — we’d better get this over with.” 
+
+Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned 
+toward the Dursleys’ house. 
+
+“Could I — could I say good-bye to him, sir?” asked 
+Hagrid. He bent his great, shaggy head over Harry 
+and gave him what must have been a very scratchy, 
+whiskery kiss. Then, suddenly, Hagrid let out a howl 
+like a wounded dog. 
+
+“Shhh!” hissed Professor McGonagall, “you’ll wake the 
+Muggles!” 
+
+“S-s-sorry,” sobbed Hagrid, taking out a large, spotted 
+handkerchief and burying his face in it. “But I c-c- 
+can’t stand it — Lily an’ James dead — an’ poor little 
+Harry off ter live with Muggles — ” 
+
+“Yes, yes, it’s all very sad, but get a grip on yourself, 
+Hagrid, or we’ll be found,” Professor McGonagall 
+whispered, patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as 
+Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and 
+walked to the front door. He laid Harry gently on the 
+Page | 17 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+doorstep, took a letter out of his cloak, tucked it 
+inside Harry’s blankets, and then came back to the 
+other two. For a full minute the three of them stood 
+and looked at the little bundle; Hagrid’s shoulders 
+shook, Professor McGonagall blinked furiously, and 
+the twinkling light that usually shone from 
+Dumbledore’s eyes seemed to have gone out. 
+
+“Well,” said Dumbledore finally, “that’s that. We’ve no 
+business staying here. We may as well go and join the 
+celebrations.” 
+
+“Yeah,” said Hagrid in a very muffled voice, “I’d best 
+get this bike away. G ’night, Professor McGonagall — 
+Professor Dumbledore, sir.” 
+
+Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve, Hagrid 
+swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the 
+engine into life; with a roar it rose into the air and off 
+into the night. 
+
+“I shall see you soon, I expect, Professor McGonagall,” 
+said Dumbledore, nodding to her. Professor 
+McGonagall blew her nose in reply. 
+
+Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street. 
+On the corner he stopped and took out the silver Put- 
+Outer. He clicked it once, and twelve balls of light 
+sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive 
+glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a 
+tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end 
+of the street. He could just see the bundle of blankets 
+on the step of number four. 
+
+“Good luck, Harry,” he murmured. He turned on his 
+heel and with a swish of his cloak, he was gone. 
+
+A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive, which 
+lay silent and tidy under the inky sky, the very last 
+
+Page | 18 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+place you would expect astonishing things to happen. 
+Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without 
+waking up. One small hand closed on the letter 
+beside him and he slept on, not knowing he was 
+special, not knowing he was famous, not knowing he 
+would be woken in a few hours’ time by Mrs. 
+
+Dursley’s scream as she opened the front door to put 
+out the milk bottles, nor that he would spend the next 
+few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin 
+Dudley. ... He couldn’t know that at this very 
+moment, people meeting in secret all over the country 
+were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed 
+voices: “To Harry Potter — the boy who lived!” 
+
+
+
+Page | 19 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE VANASHIG GLASS 
+
+Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had 
+woken up to find their nephew on the front step, but 
+Privet Drive had hardly changed at all. The sun rose 
+on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass 
+number four on the Dursleys’ front door; it crept into 
+their living room, which was almost exactly the same 
+as it had been on the night when Mr. Dursley had 
+seen that fateful news report about the owls. Only the 
+photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how 
+much time had passed. Ten years ago, there had been 
+lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach 
+ball wearing different-colored bonnets — but Dudley 
+Dursley was no longer a baby, and now the 
+photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first 
+bicycle, on a carousel at the fair, playing a computer 
+game with his father, being hugged and kissed by his 
+mother. The room held no sign at all that another boy 
+lived in the house, too. 
+
+Yet Harry Potter was still there, asleep at the moment, 
+but not for long. His Aunt Petunia was awake and it 
+
+
+
+Page | 20 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the 
+day. 
+
+“Up! Get up! Now!” 
+
+Harry woke with a start. His aunt rapped on the door 
+again. 
+
+“Up!” she screeched. Harry heard her walking toward 
+the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan 
+being put on the stove. He rolled onto his back and 
+tried to remember the dream he had been having. It 
+had been a good one. There had been a flying 
+motorcycle in it. He had a funny feeling he’d had the 
+same dream before. 
+
+His aunt was back outside the door. 
+
+“Are you up yet?” she demanded. 
+
+“Nearly,” said Harry. 
+
+“Well, get a move on, I want you to look after the 
+bacon. And don’t you dare let it burn, I want 
+everything perfect on Duddy’s birthday.” 
+
+Harry groaned. 
+
+“What did you say?” his aunt snapped through the 
+door. 
+
+“Nothing, nothing ...” 
+
+Dudley’s birthday — how could he have forgotten? 
+Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for 
+socks. He found a pair under his bed and, after 
+pulling a spider off one of them, put them on. Harry 
+was used to spiders, because the cupboard under the 
+stairs was full of them, and that was where he slept. 
+Page | 21 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+When he was dressed he went down the hall into the 
+kitchen. The table was almost hidden beneath all 
+Dudley’s birthday presents. It looked as though 
+Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted, not 
+to mention the second television and the racing bike. 
+Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a 
+mystery to Harry, as Dudley was very fat and hated 
+exercise — unless of course it involved punching 
+somebody. Dudley’s favorite punching bag was Harry, 
+but he couldn’t often catch him. Harry didn’t look it, 
+but he was very fast. 
+
+Perhaps it had something to do with living in a dark 
+cupboard, but Harry had always been small and 
+skinny for his age. He looked even smaller and 
+skinnier than he really was because all he had to 
+wear were old clothes of Dudley’s, and Dudley was 
+about four times bigger than he was. Harry had a thin 
+face, knobbly knees, black hair, and bright green 
+eyes. He wore round glasses held together with a lot 
+of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had 
+punched him on the nose. The only thing Harry liked 
+about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his 
+forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning. He 
+had had it as long as he could remember, and the 
+first question he could ever remember asking his 
+Aunt Petunia was how he had gotten it. 
+
+“In the car crash when your parents died,” she had 
+said. “And don’t ask questions.” 
+
+Don’t ask questions — that was the first rule for a 
+quiet life with the Dursleys. 
+
+Uncle Vernon entered the kitchen as Harry was 
+turning over the bacon. 
+
+“Comb your hair!” he barked, by way of a morning 
+greeting. 
+
+Page | 22 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+About once a week, Uncle Vernon looked over the top 
+of his newspaper and shouted that Harry needed a 
+haircut. Harry must have had more haircuts than the 
+rest of the boys in his class put together, but it made 
+no difference, his hair simply grew that way — all over 
+the place. 
+
+Harry was frying eggs by the time Dudley arrived in 
+the kitchen with his mother. Dudley looked a lot like 
+Uncle Vernon. He had a large pink face, not much 
+neck, small, watery blue eyes, and thick blond hair 
+that lay smoothly on his thick, fat head. Aunt Petunia 
+often said that Dudley looked like a baby angel — 
+Harry often said that Dudley looked like a pig in a 
+wig. 
+
+Harry put the plates of egg and bacon on the table, 
+which was difficult as there wasn’t much room. 
+Dudley, meanwhile, was counting his presents. His 
+face fell. 
+
+“Thirty-six,” he said, looking up at his mother and 
+father. “That’s two less than last year.” 
+
+“Darling, you haven’t counted Auntie Marge’s present, 
+see, it’s here under this big one from Mommy and 
+Daddy.” 
+
+“All right, thirty-seven then,” said Dudley, going red 
+in the face. Harry, who could see a huge Dudley 
+tantrum coming on, began wolfing down his bacon as 
+fast as possible in case Dudley turned the table over. 
+
+Aunt Petunia obviously scented danger, too, because 
+she said quickly, “And we’ll buy you another two 
+presents while we’re out today. How’s that, popkin? 
+Two more presents. Is that all right?” 
+
+
+
+Page | 23 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Dudley thought for a moment. It looked like hard 
+work. Finally he said slowly, “So I’ll have thirty ... 
+thirty ...” 
+
+“Thirty-nine, sweetums,” said Aunt Petunia. 
+
+“Oh.” Dudley sat down heavily and grabbed the 
+nearest parcel. “All right then.” 
+
+Uncle Vernon chuckled. 
+
+“Little tyke wants his money’s worth, just like his 
+father. ’Atta boy, Dudley!” He ruffled Dudley’s hair. 
+
+At that moment the telephone rang and Aunt Petunia 
+went to answer it while Harry and Uncle Vernon 
+watched Dudley unwrap the racing bike, a video 
+camera, a remote control airplane, sixteen new 
+computer games, and a VCR. He was ripping the 
+paper off a gold wristwatch when Aunt Petunia came 
+back from the telephone looking both angry and 
+worried. 
+
+“Bad news, Vernon,” she said. “Mrs. Figg’s broken her 
+leg. She can’t take him.” She jerked her head in 
+Harry’s direction. 
+
+Dudley’s mouth fell open in horror, but Harry’s heart 
+gave a leap. Every year on Dudley’s birthday, his 
+parents took him and a friend out for the day, to 
+adventure parks, hamburger restaurants, or the 
+movies. Every year, Harry was left behind with Mrs. 
+Figg, a mad old lady who lived two streets away. 
+
+Harry hated it there. The whole house smelled of 
+cabbage and Mrs. Figg made him look at photographs 
+of all the cats she’d ever owned. 
+
+“Now what?” said Aunt Petunia, looking furiously at 
+Harry as though he’d planned this. Harry knew he 
+
+Page | 24 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+ought to feel sorry that Mrs. Figg had broken her leg, 
+but it wasn’t easy when he reminded himself it would 
+be a whole year before he had to look at Tibbies, 
+Snowy, Mr. Paws, and Tufty again. 
+
+“We could phone Marge,” Uncle Vernon suggested. 
+
+“Don’t be silly, Vernon, she hates the boy.” 
+
+The Dursleys often spoke about Harry like this, as 
+though he wasn’t there — or rather, as though he was 
+something very nasty that couldn’t understand them, 
+like a slug. 
+
+“What about what’s-her-name, your friend — 
+Yvonne?” 
+
+“On vacation in Majorca,” snapped Aunt Petunia. 
+
+“You could just leave me here,” Harry put in hopefully 
+(he’d be able to watch what he wanted on television 
+for a change and maybe even have a go on Dudley’s 
+computer) . 
+
+Aunt Petunia looked as though she’d just swallowed a 
+lemon. 
+
+“And come back and find the house in ruins?” she 
+snarled. 
+
+“I won’t blow up the house,” said Harry, but they 
+weren’t listening. 
+
+“I suppose we could take him to the zoo,” said Aunt 
+Petunia slowly, "... and leave him in the car. ...” 
+
+“That cars new, he’s not sitting in it alone. ...” 
+
+
+
+Page | 25 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Dudley began to cry loudly. In fact, he wasn’t really 
+crying — it had been years since he’d really cried — 
+but he knew that if he screwed up his face and 
+wailed, his mother would give him anything he 
+wanted. 
+
+“Dinky Duddydums, don’t cry, Mummy won’t let him 
+spoil your special day!” she cried, flinging her arms 
+around him. 
+
+“I ... don’t ... want ... him ... t-t-to come!” Dudley 
+yelled between huge, pretend sobs. “He always sp- 
+spoils everything!” He shot Harry a nasty grin through 
+the gap in his mothers arms. 
+
+Just then, the doorbell rang — “Oh, good Lord, 
+they’re here!” said Aunt Petunia frantically — and a 
+moment later, Dudley’s best friend, Piers Polkiss, 
+walked in with his mother. Piers was a scrawny boy 
+with a face like a rat. He was usually the one who 
+held people’s arms behind their backs while Dudley 
+hit them. Dudley stopped pretending to cry at once. 
+
+Half an hour later, Harry, who couldn’t believe his 
+luck, was sitting in the back of the Dursleys’ car with 
+Piers and Dudley, on the way to the zoo for the first 
+time in his life. His aunt and uncle hadn’t been able 
+to think of anything else to do with him, but before 
+they’d left, Uncle Vernon had taken Harry aside. 
+
+“I’m warning you,” he had said, putting his large 
+purple face right up close to Harry’s, “I’m warning you 
+now, boy — any funny business, anything at all — 
+and you’ll be in that cupboard from now until 
+Christmas.” 
+
+I’m not going to do anything,” said Harry, “honestly 
+
+
+
+Page | 26 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+But Uncle Vernon didn’t believe him. No one ever did. 
+
+
+
+The problem was, strange things often happened 
+around Harry and it was just no good telling the 
+Dursleys he didn’t make them happen. 
+
+Once, Aunt Petunia, tired of Harry coming back from 
+the barbers looking as though he hadn’t been at all, 
+had taken a pair of kitchen scissors and cut his hair 
+so short he was almost bald except for his bangs, 
+which she left “to hide that horrible scar.” Dudley had 
+laughed himself silly at Harry, who spent a sleepless 
+night imagining school the next day, where he was 
+already laughed at for his baggy clothes and taped 
+glasses. Next morning, however, he had gotten up to 
+find his hair exactly as it had been before Aunt 
+Petunia had sheared it off. He had been given a week 
+in his cupboard for this, even though he had tried to 
+explain that he couldn’t explain how it had grown 
+back so quickly. 
+
+Another time, Aunt Petunia had been trying to force 
+him into a revolting old sweater of Dudley’s (brown 
+with orange puff balls). The harder she tried to pull it 
+over his head, the smaller it seemed to become, until 
+finally it might have fitted a hand puppet, but 
+certainly wouldn’t fit Harry. Aunt Petunia had decided 
+it must have shrunk in the wash and, to his great 
+relief, Harry wasn’t punished. 
+
+On the other hand, he’d gotten into terrible trouble 
+for being found on the roof of the school kitchens. 
+Dudley’s gang had been chasing him as usual when, 
+as much to Harry’s surprise as anyone else’s, there he 
+was sitting on the chimney. The Dursleys had 
+received a very angry letter from Harry’s headmistress 
+telling them Harry had been climbing school 
+buildings. But all he’d tried to do (as he shouted at 
+Uncle Vernon through the locked door of his 
+Page | 27 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+cupboard) was jump behind the big trash cans 
+outside the kitchen doors. Harry supposed that the 
+wind must have caught him in mid-jump. 
+
+But today, nothing was going to go wrong. It was even 
+worth being with Dudley and Piers to be spending the 
+day somewhere that wasn’t school, his cupboard, or 
+Mrs. Figg’s cabbage-smelling living room. 
+
+While he drove, Uncle Vernon complained to Aunt 
+Petunia. He liked to complain about things: people at 
+work, Harry, the council, Harry, the bank, and Harry 
+were just a few of his favorite subjects. This morning, 
+it was motorcycles. 
+
+"... roaring along like maniacs, the young hoodlums,” 
+he said, as a motorcycle overtook them. 
+
+“I had a dream about a motorcycle,” said Harry, 
+remembering suddenly. “It was flying.” 
+
+Uncle Vernon nearly crashed into the car in front. He 
+turned right around in his seat and yelled at Harry, 
+his face like a gigantic beet with a mustache: 
+“MOTORCYCLES DONT FLY!” 
+
+Dudley and Piers sniggered. 
+
+“I know they don’t,” said Harry. “It was only a dream.” 
+
+But he wished he hadn’t said anything. If there was 
+one thing the Dursleys hated even more than his 
+asking questions, it was his talking about anything 
+acting in a way it shouldn’t, no matter if it was in a 
+dream or even a cartoon — they seemed to think he 
+might get dangerous ideas. 
+
+It was a very sunny Saturday and the zoo was 
+crowded with families. The Dursleys bought Dudley 
+
+Page | 28 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+and Piers large chocolate ice creams at the entrance 
+and then, because the smiling lady in the van had 
+asked Harry what he wanted before they could hurry 
+him away, they bought him a cheap lemon ice pop. It 
+wasn’t bad, either, Harry thought, licking it as they 
+watched a gorilla scratching its head who looked 
+remarkably like Dudley, except that it wasn’t blond. 
+
+Harry had the best morning he’d had in a long time. 
+He was careful to walk a little way apart from the 
+Dursleys so that Dudley and Piers, who were starting 
+to get bored with the animals by lunchtime, wouldn’t 
+fall back on their favorite hobby of hitting him. They 
+ate in the zoo restaurant, and when Dudley had a 
+tantrum because his knickerbocker glory didn’t have 
+enough ice cream on top, Uncle Vernon bought him 
+another one and Harry was allowed to finish the first. 
+
+Harry felt, afterward, that he should have known it 
+was all too good to last. 
+
+After lunch they went to the reptile house. It was cool 
+and dark in there, with lit windows all along the 
+walls. Behind the glass, all sorts of lizards and snakes 
+were crawling and slithering over bits of wood and 
+stone. Dudley and Piers wanted to see huge, 
+poisonous cobras and thick, man-crushing pythons. 
+Dudley quickly found the largest snake in the place. It 
+could have wrapped its body twice around Uncle 
+Vernon’s car and crushed it into a trash can — but at 
+the moment it didn’t look in the mood. In fact, it was 
+fast asleep. 
+
+Dudley stood with his nose pressed against the glass, 
+staring at the glistening brown coils. 
+
+“Make it move,” he whined at his father. Uncle Vernon 
+tapped on the glass, but the snake didn’t budge. 
+
+
+
+Page | 29 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Do it again,” Dudley ordered. Uncle Vernon rapped 
+the glass smartly with his knuckles, but the snake 
+just snoozed on. 
+
+“This is boring,” Dudley moaned. He shuffled away. 
+
+Harry moved in front of the tank and looked intently 
+at the snake. He wouldn’t have been surprised if it 
+had died of boredom itself — no company except 
+stupid people drumming their fingers on the glass 
+trying to disturb it all day long. It was worse than 
+having a cupboard as a bedroom, where the only 
+visitor was Aunt Petunia hammering on the door to 
+wake you up; at least he got to visit the rest of the 
+house. 
+
+The snake suddenly opened its beady eyes. Slowly, 
+very slowly, it raised its head until its eyes were on a 
+level with Harry’s. 
+
+It winked. 
+
+Harry stared. Then he looked quickly around to see if 
+anyone was watching. They weren’t. He looked back 
+at the snake and winked, too. 
+
+The snake jerked its head toward Uncle Vernon and 
+Dudley, then raised its eyes to the ceiling. It gave 
+Harry a look that said quite plainly: 
+
+“I get that all the time.” 
+
+“I know,” Harry murmured through the glass, though 
+he wasn’t sure the snake could hear him. “It must be 
+really annoying.” 
+
+The snake nodded vigorously. 
+
+“Where do you come from, anyway?” Harry asked. 
+
+Page | 30 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+The snake jabbed its tail at a little sign next to the 
+glass. Harry peered at it. 
+
+Boa Constrictor, Brazil. 
+
+“Was it nice there?” 
+
+The boa constrictor jabbed its tail at the sign again 
+and Harry read on: This specimen was bred in the 
+zoo. “Oh, I see — so you’ve never been to Brazil?” 
+
+As the snake shook its head, a deafening shout 
+behind Harry made both of them jump. “DUDLEY! 
+MR. DURSLEY! COME AND LOOK AT THIS SNAKE! 
+YOU WONT BELIEVE WHAT IT’S DOING!” 
+
+Dudley came waddling toward them as fast as he 
+could. 
+
+“Out of the way, you,” he said, punching Harry in the 
+ribs. Caught by surprise, Harry fell hard on the 
+concrete floor. What came next happened so fast no 
+one saw how it happened — one second, Piers and 
+Dudley were leaning right up close to the glass, the 
+next, they had leapt back with howls of horror. 
+
+Harry sat up and gasped; the glass front of the boa 
+constrictor’s tank had vanished. The great snake was 
+uncoiling itself rapidly, slithering out onto the floor. 
+People throughout the reptile house screamed and 
+started running for the exits. 
+
+As the snake slid swiftly past him, Harry could have 
+sworn a low, hissing voice said, “Brazil, here I come. 
+... Thanksss, amigo.” 
+
+The keeper of the reptile house was in shock. 
+
+
+
+Page | 31 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“But the glass,” he kept saying, “where did the glass 
+go?” " 
+
+The zoo director himself made Aunt Petunia a cup of 
+strong, sweet tea while he apologized over and over 
+again. Piers and Dudley could only gibber. As far as 
+Harry had seen, the snake hadn’t done anything 
+except snap playfully at their heels as it passed, but 
+by the time they were all back in Uncle Vernon’s car, 
+Dudley was telling them how it had nearly bitten off 
+his leg, while Piers was swearing it had tried to 
+squeeze him to death. But worst of all, for Harry at 
+least, was Piers calming down enough to say, “Harry 
+was talking to it, weren’t you, Harry?” 
+
+Uncle Vernon waited until Piers was safely out of the 
+house before starting on Harry. He was so angry he 
+could hardly speak. He managed to say, “Go — 
+cupboard — stay — no meals,” before he collapsed 
+into a chair, and Aunt Petunia had to run and get 
+him a large brandy. 
+
+Harry lay in his dark cupboard much later, wishing 
+he had a watch. He didn’t know what time it was and 
+he couldn’t be sure the Dursleys were asleep yet. 
+
+Until they were, he couldn’t risk sneaking to the 
+kitchen for some food. 
+
+He’d lived with the Dursleys almost ten years, ten 
+miserable years, as long as he could remember, ever 
+since he’d been a baby and his parents had died in 
+that car crash. He couldn’t remember being in the car 
+when his parents had died. Sometimes, when he 
+strained his memory during long hours in his 
+cupboard, he came up with a strange vision: a 
+blinding flash of green light and a burning pain on his 
+forehead. This, he supposed, was the crash, though 
+he couldn’t imagine where all the green light came 
+from. He couldn’t remember his parents at all. His 
+Page | 32 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+aunt and uncle never spoke about them, and of 
+course he was forbidden to ask questions. There were 
+no photographs of them in the house. 
+
+When he had been younger, Harry had dreamed and 
+dreamed of some unknown relation coming to take 
+him away, but it had never happened; the Dursleys 
+were his only family. Yet sometimes he thought (or 
+maybe hoped) that strangers in the street seemed to 
+know him. Very strange strangers they were, too. A 
+tiny man in a violet top hat had bowed to him once 
+while out shopping with Aunt Petunia and Dudley. 
+After asking Harry furiously if he knew the man, Aunt 
+Petunia had rushed them out of the shop without 
+buying anything. A wild-looking old woman dressed 
+all in green had waved merrily at him once on a bus. 
+
+A bald man in a very long purple coat had actually 
+shaken his hand in the street the other day and then 
+walked away without a word. The weirdest thing 
+about all these people was the way they seemed to 
+vanish the second Harry tried to get a closer look. 
+
+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. 
+
+
+
+Page | 33 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+3 
+
+
+
+
+THE LETTERS FROM NO ONE 
+
+The escape of the Brazilian boa constrictor earned 
+Harry his longest-ever punishment. By the time he 
+was allowed out of his cupboard again, the summer 
+holidays had started and Dudley had already broken 
+his new video camera, crashed his remote control 
+airplane, and, first time out on his racing bike, 
+knocked down old Mrs. Figg as she crossed Privet 
+Drive on her crutches. 
+
+Harry was glad school was over, but there was no 
+escaping Dudley’s gang, who visited the house every 
+single day. Piers, Dennis, Malcolm, and Gordon were 
+all big and stupid, but as Dudley was the biggest and 
+stupidest of the lot, he was the leader. The rest of 
+them were all quite happy to join in Dudley’s favorite 
+sport: Harry Hunting. 
+
+This was why Harry spent as much time as possible 
+out of the house, wandering around and thinking 
+about the end of the holidays, where he could see a 
+tiny ray of hope. When September came he would be 
+going off to secondary school and, for the first time in 
+Page | 34 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+his life, he wouldn’t be with Dudley. Dudley had been 
+accepted at Uncle Vernon’s old private school, 
+Smeltings. Piers Polkiss was going there too. Harry, 
+on the other hand, was going to Stonewall High, the 
+local public school. Dudley thought this was very 
+funny. 
+
+“They stuff people’s heads down the toilet the first day 
+at Stonewall,” he told Harry. “Want to come upstairs 
+and practice?” 
+
+“No, thanks,” said Harry. “The poor toilet’s never had 
+anything as horrible as your head down it — it might 
+be sick.” Then he ran, before Dudley could work out 
+what he’d said. 
+
+One day in July, Aunt Petunia took Dudley to London 
+to buy his Smeltings uniform, leaving Harry at Mrs. 
+Figg’s. Mrs. Figg wasn’t as bad as usual. It turned out 
+she’d broken her leg tripping over one of her cats, and 
+she didn’t seem quite as fond of them as before. She 
+let Harry watch television and gave him a bit of 
+chocolate cake that tasted as though she’d had it for 
+several years. 
+
+That evening, Dudley paraded around the living room 
+for the family in his brand-new uniform. Smeltings 
+boys wore maroon tailcoats, orange knickerbockers, 
+and flat straw hats called boaters. They also carried 
+knobbly sticks, used for hitting each other while the 
+teachers weren’t looking. This was supposed to be 
+good training for later life. 
+
+As he looked at Dudley in his new knickerbockers, 
+Uncle Vernon said gruffly that it was the proudest 
+moment of his life. Aunt Petunia burst into tears and 
+said she couldn’t believe it was her Ickle Dudleykins, 
+he looked so handsome and grown-up. Harry didn’t 
+
+
+
+Page | 35 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+trust himself to speak. He thought two of his ribs 
+might already have cracked from trying not to laugh. 
+
+
+
+k k k 
+
+
+
+There was a horrible smell in the kitchen the next 
+morning when Harry went in for breakfast. It seemed 
+to be coming from a large metal tub in the sink. He 
+went to have a look. The tub was full of what looked 
+like dirty rags swimming in gray water. 
+
+“What’s this?” he asked Aunt Petunia. Her lips 
+tightened as they always did if he dared to ask a 
+question. 
+
+“Your new school uniform,” she said. 
+
+Harry looked in the bowl again. 
+
+“Oh,” he said, “I didn’t realize it had to be so wet.” 
+
+“Don’t be stupid,” snapped Aunt Petunia. “I’m dyeing 
+some of Dudley’s old things gray for you. It’ll look just 
+like everyone else’s when I’ve finished.” 
+
+Harry seriously doubted this, but thought it best not 
+to argue. He sat down at the table and tried not to 
+think about how he was going to look on his first day 
+at Stonewall High — like he was wearing bits of old 
+elephant skin, probably. 
+
+Dudley and Uncle Vernon came in, both with 
+wrinkled noses because of the smell from Harry’s new 
+uniform. Uncle Vernon opened his newspaper as 
+usual and Dudley banged his Smelting stick, which 
+he carried everywhere, on the table. 
+
+They heard the click of the mail slot and flop of letters 
+on the doormat. 
+
+Page | 36 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Get the mail, Dudley,” said Uncle Vernon from 
+behind his paper. 
+
+“Make Harry get it.” 
+
+“Get the mail, Harry.” 
+
+“Make Dudley get it.” 
+
+“Poke him with your Smelting stick, Dudley.” 
+
+Harry dodged the Smelting stick and went to get the 
+mail. Three things lay on the doormat: a postcard 
+from Uncle Vernon’s sister Marge, who was 
+vacationing on the Isle of Wight, a brown envelope 
+that looked like a bill, and — a letter for Harry. 
+
+Harry picked it up and stared at it, his heart twanging 
+like a giant elastic band. No one, ever, in his whole 
+life, had written to him. Who would? He had no 
+friends, no other relatives — he didn’t belong to the 
+library, so he’d never even got rude notes asking for 
+books back. Yet here it was, a letter, addressed so 
+plainly there could be no mistake: 
+
+Mr. H. Potter 
+
+The Cupboard under the Stairs 
+4 Privet Drive 
+Little Whinging 
+Surrey 
+
+The envelope was thick and heavy, made of yellowish 
+parchment, and the address was written in emerald- 
+green ink. There was no stamp. 
+
+
+
+Page | 37 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Turning the envelope over, his hand trembling, Harry 
+saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, 
+an eagle, a badger, and a snake surrounding a large 
+letter H. 
+
+“Hurry up, boy!” shouted Uncle Vernon from the 
+kitchen. “What are you doing, checking for letter 
+bombs?” He chuckled at his own joke. 
+
+Harry went back to the kitchen, still staring at his 
+letter. He handed Uncle Vernon the bill and the 
+postcard, sat down, and slowly began to open the 
+yellow envelope. 
+
+Uncle Vernon ripped open the bill, snorted in disgust, 
+and flipped over the postcard. 
+
+“Marge’s ill,” he informed Aunt Petunia. “Ate a funny 
+whelk ...” 
+
+“Dad!” said Dudley suddenly. “Dad, Harry’s got 
+something!” 
+
+Harry was on the point of unfolding his letter, which 
+was written on the same heavy parchment as the 
+envelope, when it was jerked sharply out of his hand 
+by Uncle Vernon. 
+
+“That’s mine\” said Harry, trying to snatch it back. 
+
+“Who’d be writing to you?” sneered Uncle Vernon, 
+shaking the letter open with one hand and glancing at 
+it. His face went from red to green faster than a set of 
+traffic lights. And it didn’t stop there. Within seconds 
+it was the grayish white of old porridge. 
+
+“P-P-Petunia!” he gasped. 
+
+
+
+Page | 38 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Dudley tried to grab the letter to read it, but Uncle 
+Vernon held it high out of his reach. Aunt Petunia 
+took it curiously and read the first line. For a moment 
+it looked as though she might faint. She clutched her 
+throat and made a choking noise. 
+
+“Vernon! Oh my goodness — Vernon!” 
+
+They stared at each other, seeming to have forgotten 
+that Harry and Dudley were still in the room. Dudley 
+wasn’t used to being ignored. He gave his father a 
+sharp tap on the head with his Smelting stick. 
+
+“I want to read that letter,” he said loudly. 
+
+“I want to read it,” said Harry furiously, “as it’s mine.” 
+
+“Get out, both of you,” croaked Uncle Vernon, stuffing 
+the letter back inside its envelope. 
+
+Harry didn’t move. 
+
+“I WANT MY LETTER!” he shouted. 
+
+“Let me see it!” demanded Dudley. 
+
+“OUT!” roared Uncle Vernon, and he took both Harry 
+and Dudley by the scruffs of their necks and threw 
+them into the hall, slamming the kitchen door behind 
+them. Harry and Dudley promptly had a furious but 
+silent fight over who would listen at the keyhole; 
+Dudley won, so Harry, his glasses dangling from one 
+ear, lay flat on his stomach to listen at the crack 
+between door and floor. 
+
+“Vernon,” Aunt Petunia was saying in a quivering 
+voice, “look at the address — how could they possibly 
+know where he sleeps? You don’t think they’re 
+watching the house?” 
+
+Page | 39 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Watching — spying — might be following us,” 
+muttered Uncle Vernon wildly. 
+
+“But what should we do, Vernon? Should we write 
+back? Tell them we don’t want — ” 
+
+Harry could see Uncle Vernon’s shiny black shoes 
+pacing up and down the kitchen. 
+
+“No,” he said finally. “No, we’ll ignore it. If they don’t 
+get an answer. ... Yes, that’s best ... we won’t do 
+anything. ...” 
+
+“But — ” 
+
+“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?” 
+
+That evening when he got back from work, Uncle 
+Vernon did something he’d never done before; he 
+visited Harry in his cupboard. 
+
+“Where’s my letter?” said Harry, the moment Uncle 
+Vernon had squeezed through the door. “Who’s 
+writing to me?” 
+
+“No one. It was addressed to you by mistake,” said 
+Uncle Vernon shortly. “I have burned it.” 
+
+“It was not a mistake,” said Harry angrily, “it had my 
+cupboard on it.” 
+
+“SILENCE!” yelled Uncle Vernon, and a couple of 
+spiders fell from the ceiling. He took a few deep 
+breaths and then forced his face into a smile, which 
+looked quite painful. 
+
+
+
+Page | 40 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Er — yes, Harry — about this cupboard. Your aunt 
+and I have been thinking ... you’re really getting a bit 
+big for it . . . we think it might be nice if you moved 
+into Dudley’s second bedroom.” 
+
+“Why?” said Harry. 
+
+“Don’t ask questions!” snapped his uncle. “Take this 
+stuff upstairs, now.” 
+
+The Dursleys’ house had four bedrooms: one for 
+Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, one for visitors 
+(usually Uncle Vernon’s sister, Marge), one where 
+Dudley slept, and one where Dudley kept all the toys 
+and things that wouldn’t fit into his first bedroom. It 
+only took Harry one trip upstairs to move everything 
+he owned from the cupboard to this room. He sat 
+down on the bed and stared around him. Nearly 
+everything in here was broken. The month-old video 
+camera was lying on top of a small, working tank 
+Dudley had once driven over the next door neighbor’s 
+dog; in the corner was Dudley’s first-ever television 
+set, which he’d put his foot through when his favorite 
+program had been canceled; there was a large 
+birdcage, which had once held a parrot that Dudley 
+had swapped at school for a real air rifle, which was 
+up on a shelf with the end all bent because Dudley 
+had sat on it. Other shelves were full of books. They 
+were the only things in the room that looked as 
+though they’d never been touched. 
+
+From downstairs came the sound of Dudley bawling 
+at his mother, “I don’t want him in there ... I need 
+that room ... make him get out. ...” 
+
+Harry sighed and stretched out on the bed. Yesterday 
+he’d have given anything to be up here. Today he’d 
+rather be back in his cupboard with that letter than 
+up here without it. 
+
+Page | 41 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Next morning at breakfast, everyone was rather quiet. 
+Dudley was in shock. He’d screamed, whacked his 
+father with his Smelting stick, been sick on purpose, 
+kicked his mother, and thrown his tortoise through 
+the greenhouse roof, and he still didn’t have his room 
+back. Harry was thinking about this time yesterday 
+and bitterly wishing he’d opened the letter in the hall. 
+Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia kept looking at each 
+other darkly. 
+
+When the mail arrived, Uncle Vernon, who seemed to 
+be trying to be nice to Harry, made Dudley go and get 
+it. They heard him banging things with his Smelting 
+stick all the way down the hall. Then he shouted, 
+“There’s another one! ‘Mr. H. Potter, The Smallest 
+Bedroom, 4 Privet Drive — ’ ” 
+
+With a strangled cry, Uncle Vernon leapt from his 
+seat and ran down the hall, Harry right behind him. 
+Uncle Vernon had to wrestle Dudley to the ground to 
+get the letter from him, which was made difficult by 
+the fact that Harry had grabbed Uncle Vernon around 
+the neck from behind. After a minute of confused 
+fighting, in which everyone got hit a lot by the 
+Smelting stick, Uncle Vernon straightened up, 
+gasping for breath, with Harry’s letter clutched in his 
+hand. 
+
+“Go to your cupboard — I mean, your bedroom,” he 
+wheezed at Harry. “Dudley — go — just go.” 
+
+Harry walked round and round his new room. 
+Someone knew he had moved out of his cupboard and 
+they seemed to know he hadn’t received his first 
+letter. Surely that meant they’d try again? And this 
+time he’d make sure they didn’t fail. He had a plan. 
+
+The repaired alarm clock rang at six o’clock the next 
+morning. Harry turned it off quickly and dressed 
+
+Page | 42 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+silently. He mustn’t wake the Dursleys. He stole 
+downstairs without turning on any of the lights. 
+
+He was going to wait for the postman on the corner of 
+Privet Drive and get the letters for number four first. 
+His heart hammered as he crept across the dark hall 
+toward the front door — 
+
+“AAAAARRRGH ! ” 
+
+Harry leapt into the air; he’d trodden on something 
+big and squashy on the doormat — something alive\ 
+
+Lights clicked on upstairs and to his horror Harry 
+realized that the big, squashy something had been his 
+uncle’s face. Uncle Vernon had been lying at the foot 
+of the front door in a sleeping bag, clearly making 
+sure that Harry didn’t do exactly what he’d been 
+trying to do. He shouted at Harry for about half an 
+hour and then told him to go and make a cup of tea. 
+Harry shuffled miserably off into the kitchen and by 
+the time he got back, the mail had arrived, right into 
+Uncle Vernon’s lap. Harry could see three letters 
+addressed in green ink. 
+
+“I want — ” he began, but Uncle Vernon was tearing 
+the letters into pieces before his eyes. 
+
+Uncle Vernon didn’t go to work that day. He stayed at 
+home and nailed up the mail slot. 
+
+“See,” he explained to Aunt Petunia through a 
+mouthful of nails, “if they can’t deliver them they’ll 
+just give up.” 
+
+“I’m not sure that’ll work, Vernon.” 
+
+“Oh, these peoples minds work in strange ways, 
+Petunia, they’re not like you and me,” said Uncle 
+
+Page | 43 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone -J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Vernon, trying to knock in a nail with the piece of 
+fruitcake Aunt Petunia had just brought him. 
+
+On Friday, no less than twelve letters arrived for 
+Harry. As they couldn’t go through the mail slot they 
+had been pushed under the door, slotted through the 
+sides, and a few even forced through the small 
+window in the downstairs bathroom. 
+
+Uncle Vernon stayed at home again. After burning all 
+the letters, he got out a hammer and nails and 
+boarded up the cracks around the front and back 
+doors so no one could go out. He hummed “Tiptoe 
+Through the Tulips” as he worked, and jumped at 
+small noises. 
+
+On Saturday, things began to get out of hand. 
+Twenty-four letters to Harry found their way into the 
+house, rolled up and hidden inside each of the two 
+dozen eggs that their very confused milkman had 
+handed Aunt Petunia through the living room 
+window. While Uncle Vernon made furious telephone 
+calls to the post office and the dairy trying to find 
+someone to complain to, Aunt Petunia shredded the 
+letters in her food processor. 
+
+“Who on earth wants to talk to you this badly?” 
+Dudley asked Harry in amazement. 
+
+
+
+•k k k 
+
+
+
+On Sunday morning, Uncle Vernon sat down at the 
+breakfast table looking tired and rather ill, but happy. 
+
+“No post on Sundays,” he reminded them cheerfully 
+as he spread marmalade on his newspapers, “no 
+damn letters today — ” 
+
+
+
+Page | 44 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Something came whizzing down the kitchen chimney 
+as he spoke and caught him sharply on the back of 
+the head. Next moment, thirty or forty letters came 
+pelting out of the fireplace like bullets. The Dursleys 
+ducked, but Harry leapt into the air trying to catch 
+one — 
+
+“Out! OUT!” 
+
+Uncle Vernon seized Harry around the waist and 
+threw him into the hall. When Aunt Petunia and 
+Dudley had run out with their arms over their faces, 
+Uncle Vernon slammed the door shut. They could 
+hear the letters still streaming into the room, 
+bouncing off the walls and floor. 
+
+“That does it,” said Uncle Vernon, trying to speak 
+calmly but pulling great tufts out of his mustache at 
+the same time. “I want you all back here in five 
+minutes ready to leave. We’re going away. Just pack 
+some clothes. No arguments!” 
+
+He looked so dangerous with half his mustache 
+missing that no one dared argue. Ten minutes later 
+they had wrenched their way through the boarded-up 
+doors and were in the car, speeding toward the 
+highway. Dudley was sniffling in the back seat; his 
+father had hit him round the head for holding them 
+up while he tried to pack his television, VCR, and 
+computer in his sports bag. 
+
+They drove. And they drove. Even Aunt Petunia didn’t 
+dare ask where they were going. Every now and then 
+Uncle Vernon would take a sharp turn and drive in 
+the opposite direction for a while. 
+
+“Shake ’em off ... shake ’em off,” he would mutter 
+whenever he did this. 
+
+
+
+Page | 45 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+They didn’t stop to eat or drink all day. By nightfall 
+Dudley was howling. He’d never had such a bad day 
+in his life. He was hungry, he’d missed five television 
+programs he’d wanted to see, and he’d never gone so 
+long without blowing up an alien on his computer. 
+
+Uncle Vernon stopped at last outside a gloomy- 
+looking hotel on the outskirts of a big city. Dudley 
+and Harry shared a room with twin beds and damp, 
+musty sheets. Dudley snored but Harry stayed awake, 
+sitting on the windowsill, staring down at the lights of 
+passing cars and wondering... 
+
+They ate stale cornflakes and cold tinned tomatoes on 
+toast for breakfast the next day. They had just 
+finished when the owner of the hotel came over to 
+their table. 
+
+“ ’Scuse me, but is one of you Mr. H. Potter? Only I 
+got about an ’undred of these at the front desk.” 
+
+She held up a letter so they could read the green ink 
+address: 
+
+Mr. H. Potter 
+
+Room 1 7 
+
+Railview Hotel 
+
+Cokeworth 
+
+Harry made a grab for the letter but Uncle Vernon 
+knocked his hand out of the way. The woman stared. 
+
+“I’ll take them,” said Uncle Vernon, standing up 
+quickly and following her from the dining room. 
+
+•k k k 
+
+Page | 46 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Wouldn’t it be better just to go home, dear?” Aunt 
+Petunia suggested timidly, hours later, but Uncle 
+Vernon didn’t seem to hear her. Exactly what he was 
+looking for, none of them knew. He drove them into 
+the middle of a forest, got out, looked around, shook 
+his head, got back in the car, and off they went again. 
+The same thing happened in the middle of a plowed 
+field, halfway across a suspension bridge, and at the 
+top of a multilevel parking garage. 
+
+“Daddy’s gone mad, hasn’t he?” Dudley asked Aunt 
+Petunia dully late that afternoon. Uncle Vernon had 
+parked at the coast, locked them all inside the car, 
+and disappeared. 
+
+It started to rain. Great drops beat on the roof of the 
+car. Dudley sniveled. 
+
+“It’s Monday,” he told his mother. “The Great 
+Humberto’s on tonight. I want to stay somewhere with 
+a television.” 
+
+Monday. This reminded Harry of something. If it was 
+Monday — and you could usually count on Dudley to 
+know the days of the week, because of television — 
+then tomorrow, Tuesday, was Harry’s eleventh 
+birthday. Of course, his birthdays were never exactly 
+fun — last year, the Dursleys had given him a coat 
+hanger and a pair of Uncle Vernon’s old socks. Still, 
+you weren’t eleven every day. 
+
+Uncle Vernon was back and he was smiling. He was 
+also carrying a long, thin package and didn’t answer 
+Aunt Petunia when she asked what he’d bought. 
+
+“Found the perfect place!” he said. “Come on! 
+
+Everyone out!” 
+
+
+
+Page | 47 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+It was very cold outside the car. Uncle Vernon was 
+pointing at what looked like a large rock way out at 
+sea. Perched on top of the rock was the most 
+miserable little shack you could imagine. One thing 
+was certain, there was no television in there. 
+
+“Storm forecast for tonight!” said Uncle Vernon 
+gleefully, clapping his hands together. “And this 
+gentleman’s kindly agreed to lend us his boat!” 
+
+A toothless old man came ambling up to them, 
+pointing, with a rather wicked grin, at an old rowboat 
+bobbing in the iron-gray water below them. 
+
+“I’ve already got us some rations,” said Uncle Vernon, 
+“so all aboard!” 
+
+It was freezing in the boat. Icy sea spray and rain 
+crept down their necks and a chilly wind whipped 
+their faces. After what seemed like hours they 
+reached the rock, where Uncle Vernon, slipping and 
+sliding, led the way to the broken-down house. 
+
+The inside was horrible; it smelled strongly of 
+seaweed, the wind whistled through the gaps in the 
+wooden walls, and the fireplace was damp and empty. 
+There were only two rooms. 
+
+Uncle Vernon’s rations turned out to be a bag of chips 
+each and four bananas. He tried to start a fire but the 
+empty chip bags just smoked and shriveled up. 
+
+“Could do with some of those letters now, eh?” he said 
+cheerfully. 
+
+He was in a very good mood. Obviously he thought 
+nobody stood a chance of reaching them here in a 
+storm to deliver mail. Harry privately agreed, though 
+the thought didn’t cheer him up at all. 
+
+Page | 48 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+As night fell, the promised storm blew up around 
+them. Spray from the high waves splattered the walls 
+of the hut and a fierce wind rattled the filthy 
+windows. Aunt Petunia found a few moldy blankets in 
+the second room and made up a bed for Dudley on 
+the moth-eaten sofa. She and Uncle Vernon went off 
+to the lumpy bed next door, and Harry was left to find 
+the softest bit of floor he could and to curl up under 
+the thinnest, most ragged blanket. 
+
+The storm raged more and more ferociously as the 
+night went on. Harry couldn’t sleep. He shivered and 
+turned over, trying to get comfortable, his stomach 
+rumbling with hunger. Dudley’s snores were drowned 
+by the low rolls of thunder that started near midnight. 
+The lighted dial of Dudley’s watch, which was 
+dangling over the edge of the sofa on his fat wrist, told 
+Harry he’d be eleven in ten minutes’ time. He lay and 
+watched his birthday tick nearer, wondering if the 
+Dursleys would remember at all, wondering where the 
+letter writer was now. 
+
+Five minutes to go. Harry heard something creak 
+outside. He hoped the roof wasn’t going to fall in, 
+although he might be warmer if it did. Four minutes 
+to go. Maybe the house in Privet Drive would be so 
+full of letters when they got back that he’d be able to 
+steal one somehow. 
+
+Three minutes to go. Was that the sea, slapping hard 
+on the rock like that? And (two minutes to go) what 
+was that funny crunching noise? Was the rock 
+crumbling into the sea? 
+
+One minute to go and he’d be eleven. Thirty seconds 
+... twenty ... ten ... nine — maybe he’d wake Dudley 
+up, just to annoy him — three ... two ... one ... 
+
+BOOM. 
+
+Page | 49 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+The whole shack shivered and Harry sat bolt upright, 
+staring at the door. Someone was outside, knocking 
+to come in. 
+
+
+
+Page | 50 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE KEEPER OF THE KEYS 
+
+BOOM. They knocked again. Dudley jerked awake. 
+
+“Where’s the cannon?” he said stupidly. 
+
+There was a crash behind them and Uncle Vernon 
+came skidding into the room. He was holding a rifle in 
+his hands — now they knew what had been in the 
+long, thin package he had brought with them. 
+
+“Who’s there?” he shouted. “I warn you — I’m armed!” 
+
+There was a pause. Then — 
+
+SMASH! 
+
+The door was hit with such force that it swung clean 
+off its hinges and with a deafening crash landed flat 
+on the floor. 
+
+A giant of a man was standing in the doorway. His 
+face was almost completely hidden by a long, shaggy 
+mane of hair and a wild, tangled beard, but you could 
+
+Page | 51 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+make out his eyes, glinting like black beetles under 
+all the hair. 
+
+The giant squeezed his way into the hut, stooping so 
+that his head just brushed the ceiling. He bent down, 
+picked up the door, and fitted it easily back into its 
+frame. The noise of the storm outside dropped a little. 
+He turned to look at them all. 
+
+“Couldn’t make us a cup o’ tea, could yeh? It’s not 
+been an easy journey. ...” 
+
+He strode over to the sofa where Dudley sat frozen 
+with fear. 
+
+“Budge up, yeh great lump,” said the stranger. 
+
+Dudley squeaked and ran to hide behind his mother, 
+who was crouching, terrified, behind Uncle Vernon. 
+
+“An’ here’s Harry!” said the giant. 
+
+Harry looked up into the fierce, wild, shadowy face 
+and saw that the beetle eyes were crinkled in a smile. 
+
+“Las’ time I saw you, you was only a baby,” said the 
+giant. “Yeh look a lot like yer dad, but yeh’ve got yer 
+mom’s eyes.” 
+
+Uncle Vernon made a funny rasping noise. 
+
+“I demand that you leave at once, sir!” he said. “You 
+are breaking and entering!” 
+
+“Ah, shut up, Dursley, yeh great prune,” said the 
+giant; he reached over the back of the sofa, jerked the 
+gun out of Uncle Vernon’s hands, bent it into a knot 
+as easily as if it had been made of rubber, and threw 
+it into a corner of the room. 
+
+Page | 52 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Uncle Vernon made another funny noise, like a 
+mouse being trodden on. 
+
+“Anyway — Harry,” said the giant, turning his back 
+on the Dursleys, “a very happy birthday to yeh. Got 
+summat fer yeh here — I mighta sat on it at some 
+point, but it’ll taste all right.” 
+
+From an inside pocket of his black overcoat he pulled 
+a slightly squashed box. Harry opened it with 
+trembling fingers. Inside was a large, sticky chocolate 
+cake with Happy Birthday Harry written on it in green 
+icing. 
+
+Harry looked up at the giant. He meant to say thank 
+you, but the words got lost on the way to his mouth, 
+and what he said instead was, “Who are you?” 
+
+The giant chuckled. 
+
+“True, I haven’t introduced meself. Rubeus Hagrid, 
+Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts.” 
+
+He held out an enormous hand and shook Harry’s 
+whole arm. 
+
+“What about that tea then, eh?” he said, rubbing his 
+hands together. “I’d not say no ter summat stronger if 
+yeh’ve got it, mind.” 
+
+His eyes fell on the empty grate with the shriveled 
+chip bags in it and he snorted. He bent down over the 
+fireplace; they couldn’t see what he was doing but 
+when he drew back a second later, there was a 
+roaring fire there. It filled the whole damp hut with 
+flickering light and Harry felt the warmth wash over 
+him as though he’d sunk into a hot bath. 
+
+
+
+Page | 53 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+The giant sat back down on the sofa, which sagged 
+under his weight, and began taking all sorts of things 
+out of the pockets of his coat: a copper kettle, a 
+squashy package of sausages, a poker, a teapot, 
+several chipped mugs, and a bottle of some amber 
+liquid that he took a swig from before starting to 
+make tea. Soon the hut was full of the sound and 
+smell of sizzling sausage. Nobody said a thing while 
+the giant was working, but as he slid the first six fat, 
+juicy, slightly burnt sausages from the poker, Dudley 
+fidgeted a little. Uncle Vernon said sharply, “Don’t 
+touch anything he gives you, Dudley.” 
+
+The giant chuckled darkly. 
+
+“Yer great puddin’ of a son don’ need fattenin’ 
+anymore, Dursley, don’ worry.” 
+
+He passed the sausages to Harry, who was so hungry 
+he had never tasted anything so wonderful, but he 
+still couldn’t take his eyes off the giant. Finally, as 
+nobody seemed about to explain anything, he said, 
+“I’m sorry, but I still don’t really know who you are.” 
+
+The giant took a gulp of tea and wiped his mouth with 
+the back of his hand. 
+
+“Call me Hagrid,” he said, “everyone does. An’ like I 
+told yeh, I’m Keeper of Keys at Hogwarts — yeh’ll 
+know all about Hogwarts, o’ course.” 
+
+“Er — no,” said Harry. 
+
+Hagrid looked shocked. 
+
+“Sorry,” Harry said quickly. 
+
+“Sorry?” barked Hagrid, turning to stare at the 
+Dursleys, who shrank back into the shadows. “It’s 
+
+Page | 54 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+them as should be sorry! I knew yeh weren’t gettin’ 
+yer letters but I never thought yeh wouldn’t even 
+know abou’ Hogwarts, fer cryin’ out loud! Did yeh 
+never wonder where yer parents learned it all?” 
+
+“All what?” asked Harry. 
+
+“ALL WHAT?” Hagrid thundered. “Now wait jus’ one 
+second!” 
+
+He had leapt to his feet. In his anger he seemed to fill 
+the whole hut. The Dursleys were cowering against 
+the wall. 
+
+“Do you mean ter tell me,” he growled at the Dursleys, 
+“that this boy — this boy! — knows nothin’ abou’ — 
+about ANYTHING?” 
+
+Harry thought this was going a bit far. He had been to 
+school, after all, and his marks weren’t bad. 
+
+“I know some things,” he said. “I can, you know, do 
+math and stuff.” 
+
+But Hagrid simply waved his hand and said, “About 
+our world, I mean. Your world. My world. Yer parents’ 
+world.” 
+
+“What world?” 
+
+Hagrid looked as if he was about to explode. 
+“DURSLEY!” he boomed. 
+
+Uncle Vernon, who had gone very pale, whispered 
+something that sounded like “Mimblewimble.” Hagrid 
+stared wildly at Harry. 
+
+
+
+Page | 55 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“But yeh must know about yer mom and dad,” he 
+said. “I mean, they’re famous. You’re famous.” 
+
+“What? My — my mom and dad weren’t famous, were 
+they?” 
+
+“Yeh don’ know ... yeh don’ know ...” Hagrid ran his 
+fingers through his hair, fixing Harry with a 
+bewildered stare. 
+
+“Yeh don’ know what yeh are?” he said finally. 
+
+Uncle Vernon suddenly found his voice. 
+
+“Stop!” he commanded. “Stop right there, sir! I forbid 
+you to tell the boy anything!” 
+
+A braver man than Vernon Dursley would have 
+quailed under the furious look Hagrid now gave him; 
+when Hagrid spoke, his every syllable trembled with 
+rage. 
+
+“You never told him? Never told him what was in the 
+letter Dumbledore left fer him? I was there! I saw 
+Dumbledore leave it, Dursley! An’ you’ve kept it from 
+him all these years?” 
+
+“Kept what from me?” said Harry eagerly. 
+
+“STOP! I FORBID YOU!” yelled Uncle Vernon in panic. 
+
+Aunt Petunia gave a gasp of horror. 
+
+“Ah, go boil yer heads, both of yeh,” said Hagrid. 
+“Harry — yer a wizard.” 
+
+There was silence inside the hut. Only the sea and 
+the whistling wind could be heard. 
+
+
+
+Page | 56 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“I’m a what?” gasped Harry. 
+
+
+
+“A wizard, o’ course,” said Hagrid, sitting back down 
+on the sofa, which groaned and sank even lower, “an’ 
+a thumpin’ good’un, I’d say, once yeh’ve been trained 
+up a bit. With a mum an’ dad like yours, what else 
+would yeh be? An’ I reckon it’s abou’ time yeh read 
+yer letter.” 
+
+Harry stretched out his hand at last to take the 
+yellowish envelope, addressed in emerald green to Mr. 
+H. Potter, The Floor, Hut-on-the-Rock, The Sea. He 
+pulled out the letter and read: 
+
+HOGWARTS SCHOOL 
+o/WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY 
+
+Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE 
+
+(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sore., Chf. 
+
+Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of 
+Wizards) 
+
+Dear Mr. Potter, 
+
+We are pleased to inform you that you have been 
+accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and 
+Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary 
+books and equipment. 
+
+Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no 
+later than July 31. 
+
+Yours sincerely, 
+
+Minerva McGonagall, 
+
+Deputy Headmistress 
+
+
+
+Page | 57 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Questions exploded inside Harry’s head like fireworks 
+and he couldn’t decide which to ask first. After a few 
+minutes he stammered, “What does it mean, they 
+await my owl?” 
+
+“Gallopin’ Gorgons, that reminds me,” said Hagrid, 
+clapping a hand to his forehead with enough force to 
+knock over a cart horse, and from yet another pocket 
+inside his overcoat he pulled an owl — a real, live, 
+rather ruffled-looking owl — a long quill, and a roll of 
+parchment. With his tongue between his teeth he 
+scribbled a note that Harry could read upside down: 
+
+Dear Professor Dumbledore, 
+
+Given Harry his letter. 
+
+Taking him to buy his things tomorrow. 
+
+Weather’s horrible. Hope you’re well. 
+
+Hagrid 
+
+Hagrid rolled up the note, gave it to the owl, which 
+clamped it in its beak, went to the door, and threw 
+the owl out into the storm. Then he came back and 
+sat down as though this was as normal as talking on 
+the telephone. 
+
+Harry realized his mouth was open and closed it 
+quickly. 
+
+“Where was I?” said Hagrid, but at that moment, 
+
+Uncle Vernon, still ashen-faced but looking very 
+angry, moved into the firelight. 
+
+“He’s not going,” he said. 
+
+Hagrid grunted. 
+
+Page | 58 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“I’d like ter see a great Muggle like you stop him,” he 
+said. 
+
+
+
+“A what?” said Harry, interested. 
+
+“A Muggle,” said Hagrid, “it’s what we call nonmagic 
+folk like them. An’ it’s your bad luck you grew up in a 
+family o’ the biggest Muggles I ever laid eyes on.” 
+
+“We swore when we took him in we’d put a stop to 
+that rubbish,” said Uncle Vernon, “swore we’d stamp 
+it out of him! Wizard indeed!” 
+
+“You knew?” said Harry. “You knew I’m a — a 
+wizard?” 
+
+“Knew!” shrieked Aunt Petunia suddenly. “Knew\ Of 
+course we knew! How could you not be, my dratted 
+sister being what she was? Oh, she got a letter just 
+like that and disappeared off to that — that school — 
+and came home every vacation with her pockets full 
+of frog spawn, turning teacups into rats. I was the 
+only one who saw her for what she was — a freak! 
+
+But for my mother and father, oh no, it was Lily this 
+and Lily that, they were proud of having a witch in 
+the family!” 
+
+She stopped to draw a deep breath and then went 
+ranting on. It seemed she had been wanting to say all 
+this for years. 
+
+“Then she met that Potter at school and they left and 
+got married and had you, and of course I knew you’d 
+be just the same, just as strange, just as — as — 
+abnormal — and then, if you please, she went and got 
+herself blown up and we got landed with you!” 
+
+
+
+Page | 59 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Harry had gone very white. As soon as he found his 
+voice he said, “Blown up? You told me they died in a 
+car crash!” 
+
+“CAR CRASH!” roared Hagrid, jumping up so angrily 
+that the Dursleys scuttled back to their corner. “How 
+could a car crash kill Lily an’ James Potter? It’s an 
+outrage! A scandal! Harry Potter not knowin’ his own 
+story when every kid in our world knows his name!” 
+
+“But why? What happened?” Harry asked urgently. 
+
+The anger faded from Hagrid’s face. He looked 
+suddenly anxious. 
+
+“I never expected this,” he said, in a low, worried 
+voice. “I had no idea, when Dumbledore told me there 
+might be trouble gettin’ hold of yeh, how much yeh 
+didn’t know. Ah, Harry, I don’ know if I’m the right 
+person ter tell yeh — but someone’s gotta — yeh can’t 
+go off ter Hogwarts not knowin’.” 
+
+He threw a dirty look at the Dursleys. 
+
+“Well, it’s best yeh know as much as I can tell yeh — 
+mind, I can’t tell yeh everythin’, it’s a great myst’ry, 
+parts of it. ...” 
+
+He sat down, stared into the fire for a few seconds, 
+and then said, “It begins, I suppose, with — with a 
+person called — but it’s incredible yeh don’t know his 
+name, everyone in our world knows — ” 
+
+“Who?” 
+
+“Well — I don’ like sayin’ the name if I can help it. No 
+one does.” 
+
+“Why not?” 
+
+Page | 60 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Gulpin’ gargoyles, Harry, people are still scared. 
+Blimey, this is difficult. See, there was this wizard 
+who went ... bad. As bad as you could go. Worse. 
+Worse than worse. His name was ...” 
+
+Hagrid gulped, but no words came out. 
+
+“Could you write it down?” Harry suggested. 
+
+“Nah — can’t spell it. All right — Voldemort.” Hagrid 
+shuddered. “Don’ make me say it again. Anyway, this 
+— this wizard, about twenty years ago now, started 
+lookin’ fer followers. Got ’em, too — some were afraid, 
+some just wanted a bit o’ his power, ’cause he was 
+gettin’ himself power, all right. Dark days, Harry. 
+Didn’t know who ter trust, didn’t dare get friendly 
+with strange wizards or witches . . . terrible things 
+happened. He was takin’ over. ’Course, some stood up 
+to him — an’ he killed ’em. Horribly. One o’ the only 
+safe places left was Hogwarts. Reckon Dumbledore’s 
+the only one You-Know-Who was afraid of. Didn’t dare 
+try takin’ the school, not jus’ then, anyway. 
+
+“Now, yer mum an’ dad were as good a witch an’ 
+wizard as I ever knew. Head boy an’ girl at Hogwarts 
+in their day! Suppose the myst’ry is why You-Know- 
+Who never tried to get ’em on his side before . . . 
+probably knew they were too close ter Dumbledore ter 
+want anythin’ ter do with the Dark Side. 
+
+“Maybe he thought he could persuade ’em ... maybe 
+he just wanted ’em outta the way. All anyone knows 
+is, he turned up in the village where you was all 
+living, on Halloween ten years ago. You was just a 
+year old. He came ter yer house an’ — an’ — ” 
+
+Hagrid suddenly pulled out a very dirty, spotted 
+handkerchief and blew his nose with a sound like a 
+foghorn. 
+
+Page | 61 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Sorry,” he said. “But it’s that sad — knew yer mum 
+an’ dad, an’ nicer people yeh couldn’t find — anyway 
+
+
+
+“You-Know-Who killed ’em. An’ then — an’ this is the 
+real myst’ry of the thing — he tried to kill you, too. 
+Wanted ter make a clean job of it, I suppose, or 
+maybe he just liked killin’ by then. But he couldn’t do 
+it. Never wondered how you got that mark on yer 
+forehead? That was no ordinary cut. That’s what yeh 
+get when a powerful, evil curse touches yeh — took 
+care of yer mum an’ dad an’ yer house, even — but it 
+didn’t work on you, an’ that’s why yer famous, Harry. 
+No one ever lived after he decided ter kill ’em, no one 
+except you, an’ he’d killed some o’ the best witches 
+an’ wizards of the age — the McKinnons, the Bones, 
+the Prewetts — an’ you was only a baby, an’ you 
+lived.” 
+
+Something very painful was going on in Harry’s mind. 
+As Hagrid’s story came to a close, he saw again the 
+blinding flash of green light, more clearly than he had 
+ever remembered it before — and he remembered 
+something else, for the first time in his life: a high, 
+cold, cruel laugh. 
+
+Hagrid was watching him sadly. 
+
+“Took yeh from the ruined house myself, on 
+Dumbledore’s orders. Brought yeh ter this lot ...” 
+
+“Load of old tosh,” said Uncle Vernon. Harry jumped; 
+he had almost forgotten that the Dursleys were there. 
+Uncle Vernon certainly seemed to have got back his 
+courage. He was glaring at Hagrid and his fists were 
+clenched. 
+
+“Now, you listen here, boy,” he snarled, “I accept 
+there’s something strange about you, probably 
+
+Page | 62 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+nothing a good beating wouldn’t have cured — and as 
+for all this about your parents, well, they were 
+weirdos, no denying it, and the world’s better off 
+without them in my opinion — asked for all they got, 
+getting mixed up with these wizarding types — just 
+what I expected, always knew they’d come to a sticky 
+end — ” 
+
+But at that moment, Hagrid leapt from the sofa and 
+drew a battered pink umbrella from inside his coat. 
+Pointing this at Uncle Vernon like a sword, he said, 
+“I’m warning you, Dursley — I’m warning you — one 
+more word ...” 
+
+In danger of being speared on the end of an umbrella 
+by a bearded giant, Uncle Vernon’s courage failed 
+again; he flattened himself against the wall and fell 
+silent. 
+
+“That’s better,” said Hagrid, breathing heavily and 
+sitting back down on the sofa, which this time sagged 
+right down to the floor. 
+
+Harry, meanwhile, still had questions to ask, 
+hundreds of them. 
+
+“But what happened to Vol-, sorry — I mean, You- 
+Know-Who?” 
+
+“Good question, Harry. Disappeared. Vanished. Same 
+night he tried ter kill you. Makes yeh even more 
+famous. That’s the biggest myst’ry, see ... he was 
+gettin’ more an’ more powerful — why’d he go? 
+
+“Some say he died. Codswallop, in my opinion. Dunno 
+if he had enough human left in him to die. Some say 
+he’s still out there, bidin’ his time, like, but I don’ 
+believe it. People who was on his side came back ter 
+
+
+
+Page | 63 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+ours. Some of ’em came outta kinda trances. Don’ 
+reckon they could’ve done if he was cornin’ back. 
+
+“Most of us reckon he’s still out there somewhere but 
+lost his powers. Too weak to carry on. ’Cause 
+somethin’ about you finished him, Harry. There was 
+somethin’ goin’ on that night he hadn’t counted on — 
+/ dunno what it was, no one does — but somethin’ 
+about you stumped him, all right.” 
+
+Hagrid looked at Harry with warmth and respect 
+blazing in his eyes, but Harry, instead of feeling 
+pleased and proud, felt quite sure there had been a 
+horrible mistake. A wizard? Him? How could he 
+possibly be? He’d spent his life being clouted by 
+Dudley, and bullied by Aunt Petunia and Uncle 
+Vernon; if he was really a wizard, why hadn’t they 
+been turned into warty toads every time they’d tried 
+to lock him in his cupboard? If he’d once defeated the 
+greatest sorcerer in the world, how come Dudley had 
+always been able to kick him around like a football? 
+
+“Hagrid,” he said quietly, “I think you must have 
+made a mistake. I don’t think I can be a wizard.” 
+
+To his surprise, Hagrid chuckled. 
+
+“Not a wizard, eh? Never made things happen when 
+you was scared or angry?” 
+
+Harry looked into the fire. Now he came to think 
+about it . . . every odd thing that had ever made his 
+aunt and uncle furious with him had happened when 
+he, Harry, had been upset or angry ... chased by 
+Dudley’s gang, he had somehow found himself out of 
+their reach . . . dreading going to school with that 
+ridiculous haircut, he’d managed to make it grow 
+back . . . and the very last time Dudley had hit him, 
+
+
+
+Page | 64 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+hadn’t he got his revenge, without even realizing he 
+was doing it? Hadn’t he set a boa constrictor on him? 
+
+
+
+Harry looked back at Hagrid, smiling, and saw that 
+Hagrid was positively beaming at him. 
+
+“See?” said Hagrid. “Harry Potter, not a wizard — you 
+wait, you’ll be right famous at Hogwarts.” 
+
+But Uncle Vernon wasn’t going to give in without a 
+fight. 
+
+“Haven’t I told you he’s not going?” he hissed. “He’s 
+going to Stonewall High and he’ll be grateful for it. I’ve 
+read those letters and he needs all sorts of rubbish — 
+spell books and wands and — ” 
+
+“If he wants ter go, a great Muggle like you won’t stop 
+him,” growled Hagrid. “Stop Lily an’ James Potter’s 
+son goin’ ter Hogwarts! Yer mad. His name’s been 
+down ever since he was born. He’s off ter the finest 
+school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world. Seven 
+years there and he won’t know himself. He’ll be with 
+youngsters of his own sort, fer a change, an’ he’ll be 
+under the greatest headmaster Hogwarts ever had, 
+Albus Dumbled — ” 
+
+“I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD 
+FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!” yelled Uncle 
+Vernon. 
+
+But he had finally gone too far. Hagrid seized his 
+umbrella and whirled it over his head, “NEVER — ” he 
+thundered, “— INSULT — ALBUS — DUMBLEDORE 
+— IN — FRONT — OF — ME!” 
+
+He brought the umbrella swishing down through the 
+air to point at Dudley — there was a flash of violet 
+light, a sound like a firecracker, a sharp squeal, and 
+
+Page | 65 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+the next second, Dudley was dancing on the spot with 
+his hands clasped over his fat bottom, howling in 
+pain. When he turned his back on them, Harry saw a 
+curly pig’s tail poking through a hole in his trousers. 
+
+Uncle Vernon roared. Pulling Aunt Petunia and 
+Dudley into the other room, he cast one last terrified 
+look at Hagrid and slammed the door behind them. 
+
+Hagrid looked down at his umbrella and stroked his 
+beard. 
+
+“Shouldn’ta lost me temper,” he said ruefully, “but it 
+didn’t work anyway. Meant ter turn him into a pig, 
+but I suppose he was so much like a pig anyway there 
+wasn’t much left ter do.” 
+
+He cast a sideways look at Harry under his bushy 
+eyebrows. 
+
+“Be grateful if yeh didn’t mention that ter anyone at 
+Hogwarts,” he said. “I’m — er — not supposed ter do 
+magic, strictly speakin’. I was allowed ter do a bit ter 
+follow yeh an’ get yer letters to yeh an’ stuff — one o’ 
+the reasons I was so keen ter take on the job — ” 
+
+“Why aren’t you supposed to do magic?” asked Harry. 
+
+“Oh, well — I was at Hogwarts meself but I — er — 
+got expelled, ter tell yeh the truth. In me third year. 
+They snapped me wand in half an’ everything. But 
+Dumbledore let me stay on as gamekeeper. Great 
+man, Dumbledore.” 
+
+“Why were you expelled?” 
+
+“It’s gettin’ late and we’ve got lots ter do tomorrow,” 
+said Hagrid loudly. “Gotta get up ter town, get all yer 
+books an’ that.” 
+
+Page | 66 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+He took off his thick black coat and threw it to Harry. 
+
+
+
+“You can kip under that,” he said. “Don’ mind if it 
+wriggles a bit, I think I still got a couple o’ dormice in 
+one o’ the pockets.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 67 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+
+DIAGON ALLY 
+
+Harry woke early the next morning. Although he 
+could tell it was daylight, he kept his eyes shut tight. 
+
+“It was a dream,” he told himself firmly. “I dreamed a 
+giant called Hagrid came to tell me I was going to a 
+school for wizards. When I open my eyes I’ll be at 
+home in my cupboard.” 
+
+There was suddenly a loud tapping noise. 
+
+And there’s Aunt Petunia knocking on the door, Harry 
+thought, his heart sinking. But he still didn’t open his 
+eyes. It had been such a good dream. 
+
+Tap. Tap. Tap. 
+
+“All right,” Harry mumbled, “I’m getting up.” 
+
+He sat up and Hagrid ’s heavy coat fell off him. The 
+hut was full of sunlight, the storm was over, Hagrid 
+himself was asleep on the collapsed sofa, and there 
+
+
+
+Page | 68 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+was an owl rapping its claw on the window, a 
+newspaper held in its beak. 
+
+Harry scrambled to his feet, so happy he felt as 
+though a large balloon was swelling inside him. He 
+went straight to the window and jerked it open. The 
+owl swooped in and dropped the newspaper on top of 
+Hagrid, who didn’t wake up. The owl then fluttered 
+onto the floor and began to attack Hagrid ’s coat. 
+
+“Don’t do that.” 
+
+Harry tried to wave the owl out of the way, but it 
+snapped its beak fiercely at him and carried on 
+savaging the coat. 
+
+“Hagrid!” said Harry loudly. “There’s an owl — ” 
+
+“Pay him,” Hagrid grunted into the sofa. 
+
+“What?” 
+
+“He wants payin’ fer deliverin’ the paper. Look in the 
+pockets.” 
+
+Hagrid ’s coat seemed to be made of nothing but 
+pockets — bunches of keys, slug pellets, balls of 
+string, peppermint humbugs, teabags ... finally, Harry 
+pulled out a handful of strange-looking coins. 
+
+“Give him five Knuts,” said Hagrid sleepily. 
+
+“Knuts?” 
+
+“The little bronze ones.” 
+
+Harry counted out five little bronze coins, and the owl 
+held out his leg so Harry could put the money into a 
+
+
+
+Page | 69 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+small leather pouch tied to it. Then he flew off 
+through the open window. 
+
+Hagrid yawned loudly, sat up, and stretched. 
+
+“Best be off, Harry, lots ter do today, gotta get up ter 
+London an’ buy all yer stuff fer school.” 
+
+Harry was turning over the wizard coins and looking 
+at them. He had just thought of something that made 
+him feel as though the happy balloon inside him had 
+got a puncture. 
+
+“Urn — Hagrid?” 
+
+“Mm?” said Hagrid, who was pulling on his huge 
+boots. 
+
+“I haven’t got any money — and you heard Uncle 
+Vernon last night ... he won’t pay for me to go and 
+learn magic.” 
+
+“Don’t worry about that,” said Hagrid, standing up 
+and scratching his head. “D’yeh think yer parents 
+didn’t leave yeh anything?” 
+
+“But if their house was destroyed — ” 
+
+“They didn’ keep their gold in the house, boy! Nah, 
+first stop fer us is Gringotts. Wizards’ bank. Have a 
+sausage, they’re not bad cold — an’ I wouldn’ say no 
+teh a bit o’ yer birthday cake, neither.” 
+
+“Wizards have banks?” 
+
+“Just the one. Gringotts. Run by goblins.” 
+
+Harry dropped the bit of sausage he was holding. 
+
+
+
+Page | 70 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Goblins?” 
+
+
+
+“Yeah — so yeh’d be mad ter try an’ rob it, I’ll tell yeh 
+that. Never mess with goblins, Harry. Gringotts is the 
+safest place in the world fer anything yeh want ter 
+keep safe — ’cept maybe Hogwarts. As a matter o’ 
+fact, I gotta visit Gringotts anyway Fer Dumbledore. 
+Hogwarts business.” Hagrid drew himself up proudly. 
+“He usually gets me ter do important stuff fer him. 
+Fetchin’ you — gettin’ things from Gringotts — knows 
+he can trust me, see. 
+
+“Got everythin’? Come on, then.” 
+
+Harry followed Hagrid out onto the rock. The sky was 
+quite clear now and the sea gleamed in the sunlight. 
+The boat Uncle Vernon had hired was still there, with 
+a lot of water in the bottom after the storm. 
+
+“How did you get here?” Harry asked, looking around 
+for another boat. 
+
+“Flew,” said Hagrid. 
+
+“Flew?” 
+
+“Yeah — but we’ll go back in this. Not s’pposed ter 
+use magic now I’ve got yeh.” 
+
+They settled down in the boat, Harry still staring at 
+Hagrid, trying to imagine him flying. 
+
+“Seems a shame ter row, though,” said Hagrid, giving 
+Harry another of his sideways looks. “If I was ter — er 
+— speed things up a bit, would yeh mind not 
+mentionin’ it at Hogwarts?” 
+
+“Of course not,” said Harry, eager to see more magic. 
+Hagrid pulled out the pink umbrella again, tapped it 
+
+Page | 71 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+twice on the side of the boat, and they sped off toward 
+land. 
+
+“Why would you be mad to try and rob Gringotts?” 
+Harry asked. 
+
+“Spells — enchantments,” said Hagrid, unfolding his 
+newspaper as he spoke. “They say there’s dragons 
+guardin’ the high-security vaults. And then yeh gotta 
+find yer way — Gringotts is hundreds of miles under 
+London, see. Deep under the Underground. Yeh’d die 
+of hunger tryin’ ter get out, even if yeh did manage ter 
+get yer hands on summat.” 
+
+Harry sat and thought about this while Hagrid read 
+his newspaper, the Daily Prophet Harry had learned 
+from Uncle Vernon that people liked to be left alone 
+while they did this, but it was very difficult, he’d 
+never had so many questions in his life. 
+
+“Ministry o’ Magic messin’ things up as usual,” Hagrid 
+muttered, turning the page. 
+
+“There’s a Ministry of Magic?” Harry asked, before he 
+could stop himself. 
+
+“ ’Course,” said Hagrid. “They wanted Dumbledore fer 
+Minister, o’ course, but he’d never leave Hogwarts, so 
+old Cornelius Fudge got the job. Bungler if ever there 
+was one. So he pelts Dumbledore with owls every 
+morning, askin’ fer advice.” 
+
+“But what does a Ministry of Magic do?” 
+
+“Well, their main job is to keep it from the Muggles 
+that there’s still witches an’ wizards up an’ down the 
+country.” 
+
+“Why?” 
+
+Page | 72 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Why? Blimey, Harry, everyone ’d be wantin’ magic 
+solutions to their problems. Nah, we’re best left 
+alone.” 
+
+At this moment the boat bumped gently into the 
+harbor wall. Hagrid folded up his newspaper, and 
+they clambered up the stone steps onto the street. 
+
+Passersby stared a lot at Hagrid as they walked 
+through the little town to the station. Harry couldn’t 
+blame them. Not only was Hagrid twice as tall as 
+anyone else, he kept pointing at perfectly ordinary 
+things like parking meters and saying loudly, “See 
+that, Harry? Things these Muggles dream up, eh?” 
+
+“Hagrid,” said Harry, panting a bit as he ran to keep 
+up, “did you say there are dragons at Gringotts?” 
+
+“Well, so they say,” said Hagrid. “Crikey, I’d like a 
+dragon.” 
+
+“You’d like one?” 
+
+“Wanted one ever since I was a kid — here we go.” 
+
+They had reached the station. There was a train to 
+London in five minutes’ time. Hagrid, who didn’t 
+understand “Muggle money,” as he called it, gave the 
+bills to Harry so he could buy their tickets. 
+
+People stared more than ever on the train. Hagrid 
+took up two seats and sat knitting what looked like a 
+canary-yellow circus tent. 
+
+“Still got yer letter, Harry?” he asked as he counted 
+stitches. 
+
+Harry took the parchment envelope out of his pocket. 
+
+
+
+Page | 73 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Good,” said Hagrid. “There’s a list there of everything 
+yeh need.” 
+
+
+
+Harry unfolded a second piece of paper he hadn’t 
+noticed the night before, and read: 
+
+HOGWARTS SCHOOL 
+o/WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY 
+
+UNIFORM 
+
+
+
+First-year students will require: 
+
+1 . Three sets of plain work robes (black) 
+
+2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear 
+
+3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or 
+similar) 
+
+4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings) 
+
+Please note that all pupils’ clothes should carry name 
+tags 
+
+
+
+COURSE BOOKS 
+
+
+
+All students should have a copy of each of the 
+following: 
+
+The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda 
+Goshawk 
+
+A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot 
+
+Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling 
+
+A Beginners’ Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric 
+Switch 
+
+Page | 74 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida 
+Spore 
+
+Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger 
+
+Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt 
+Scamander 
+
+The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin 
+Trimble 
+
+
+
+OTHER EQUIPMENT 
+
+
+
+1 wand 
+
+1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2) 
+
+1 set glass or crystal phials 
+1 telescope 
+1 set brass scales 
+
+Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad 
+
+PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE 
+NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS 
+
+“Can we buy all this in London?” Harry wondered 
+aloud. 
+
+“If yeh know where to go,” said Hagrid. 
+
+Harry had never been to London before. Although 
+Hagrid seemed to know where he was going, he was 
+obviously not used to getting there in an ordinary 
+way. He got stuck in the ticket barrier on the 
+Underground, and complained loudly that the seats 
+were too small and the trains too slow. 
+
+Page | 75 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“I don’t know how the Muggles manage without 
+magic,” he said as they climbed a broken-down 
+escalator that led up to a bustling road lined with 
+shops. 
+
+Hagrid was so huge that he parted the crowd easily; 
+all Harry had to do was keep close behind him. They 
+passed book shops and music stores, hamburger 
+restaurants and cinemas, but nowhere that looked as 
+if it could sell you a magic wand. This was just an 
+ordinary street full of ordinary people. Could there 
+really be piles of wizard gold buried miles beneath 
+them? Were there really shops that sold spell books 
+and broomsticks? Might this not all be some huge 
+joke that the Dursleys had cooked up? If Harry hadn’t 
+known that the Dursleys had no sense of humor, he 
+might have thought so; yet somehow, even though 
+everything Hagrid had told him so far was 
+unbelievable, Harry couldn’t help trusting him. 
+
+“This is it,” said Hagrid, coming to a halt, “the Leaky 
+Cauldron. It’s a famous place.” 
+
+It was a tiny, grubby-looking pub. If Hagrid hadn’t 
+pointed it out, Harry wouldn’t have noticed it was 
+there. The people hurrying by didn’t glance at it. Their 
+eyes slid from the big book shop on one side to the 
+record shop on the other as if they couldn’t see the 
+Leaky Cauldron at all. In fact, Harry had the most 
+peculiar feeling that only he and Hagrid could see it. 
+Before he could mention this, Hagrid had steered him 
+inside. 
+
+For a famous place, it was very dark and shabby. A 
+few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny 
+glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long 
+pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the old 
+bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a 
+toothless walnut. The low buzz of chatter stopped 
+Page | 76 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+when they walked in. Everyone seemed to know 
+Hagrid; they waved and smiled at him, and the 
+bartender reached for a glass, saying, “The usual, 
+Hagrid?” 
+
+“Can’t, Tom, I’m on Hogwarts business,” said Hagrid, 
+clapping his great hand on Harry’s shoulder and 
+making Harry’s knees buckle. 
+
+“Good Lord,” said the bartender, peering at Harry, “is 
+this — can this be — ?” 
+
+The Leaky Cauldron had suddenly gone completely 
+still and silent. 
+
+“Bless my soul,” whispered the old bartender, “Harry 
+Potter ... what an honor.” 
+
+He hurried out from behind the bar, rushed toward 
+Harry and seized his hand, tears in his eyes. 
+
+“Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome back.” 
+
+Harry didn’t know what to say. Everyone was looking 
+at him. The old woman with the pipe was puffing on it 
+without realizing it had gone out. Hagrid was 
+beaming. 
+
+Then there was a great scraping of chairs and the 
+next moment, Harry found himself shaking hands 
+with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron. 
+
+“Doris Crockford, Mr. Potter, can’t believe I’m meeting 
+you at last.” 
+
+“So proud, Mr. Potter, I’m just so proud.” 
+
+“Always wanted to shake your hand — I’m all of a 
+flutter.” 
+
+Page | 77 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Delighted, Mr. Potter, just can’t tell you, Diggle’s the 
+name, Dedalus Diggle.” 
+
+“I’ve seen you before!” said Harry, as Dedalus Diggle’s 
+top hat fell off in his excitement. “You bowed to me 
+once in a shop.” 
+
+“He remembers!” cried Dedalus Diggle, looking 
+around at everyone. “Did you hear that? He 
+remembers me!” 
+
+Harry shook hands again and again — Doris 
+Crockford kept coming back for more. 
+
+A pale young man made his way forward, very 
+nervously. One of his eyes was twitching. 
+
+“Professor Quirrell!” said Hagrid. “Harry, Professor 
+Quirrell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts.” 
+
+“P-P-Potter,” stammered Professor Quirrell, grasping 
+Harry’s hand, “c-can’t t-tell you how p-pleased I am to 
+meet you.” 
+
+“What sort of magic do you teach, Professor Quirrell?” 
+
+“D-Defense Against the D-D-Dark Arts,” muttered 
+Professor Quirrell, as though he’d rather not think 
+about it. “N-not that you n-need it, eh, P-P-Potter?” 
+
+He laughed nervously. “You’ll be g-getting all your 
+equipment, I suppose? I’ve g-got to p-pick up a new b- 
+book on vampires, m-myself.” He looked terrified at 
+the very thought. 
+
+But the others wouldn’t let Professor Quirrell keep 
+Harry to himself. It took almost ten minutes to get 
+away from them all. At last, Hagrid managed to make 
+himself heard over the babble. 
+
+
+
+Page | 78 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Must get on — lots ter buy. Come on, Harry.” 
+
+Doris Crockford shook Harry’s hand one last time, 
+and Hagrid led them through the bar and out into a 
+small, walled courtyard, where there was nothing but 
+a trash can and a few weeds. 
+
+Hagrid grinned at Harry. 
+
+“Told yeh, didn’t I? Told yeh you was famous. Even 
+Professor Quirrell was tremblin’ ter meet yeh — mind 
+you, he’s usually tremblin’.” 
+
+“Is he always that nervous?” 
+
+“Oh, yeah. Poor bloke. Brilliant mind. He was fine 
+while he was studyin’ outta books but then he took a 
+year off ter get some firsthand experience. ... They say 
+he met vampires in the Black Forest, and there was a 
+nasty bit o’ trouble with a hag — never been the same 
+since. Scared of the students, scared of his own 
+subject — now, where’s me umbrella?” 
+
+Vampires? Hags? Harry’s head was swimming. 
+
+Hagrid, meanwhile, was counting bricks in the wall 
+above the trash can. 
+
+“Three up ... two across ...” he muttered. “Right, 
+stand back, Harry.” 
+
+He tapped the wall three times with the point of his 
+umbrella. 
+
+The brick he had touched quivered — it wriggled — in 
+the middle, a small hole appeared — it grew wider 
+and wider — a second later they were facing an 
+archway large enough even for Hagrid, an archway 
+onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of 
+sight. 
+
+Page | 79 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Welcome,” said Hagrid, “to Diagon Alley.” 
+
+He grinned at Harry’s amazement. They stepped 
+through the archway. Harry looked quickly over his 
+shoulder and saw the archway shrink instantly back 
+into solid wall. 
+
+The sun shone brightly on a stack of cauldrons 
+outside the nearest shop. Cauldrons — All Sizes — 
+Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver — Self-Stirring — 
+Collapsible, said a sign hanging over them. 
+
+“Yeah, you’ll be needin’ one,” said Hagrid, “but we 
+gotta get yer money first.” 
+
+Harry wished he had about eight more eyes. He 
+turned his head in every direction as they walked up 
+the street, trying to look at everything at once: the 
+shops, the things outside them, the people doing their 
+shopping. A plump woman outside an Apothecary 
+was shaking her head as they passed, saying, 
+
+“Dragon liver, sixteen Sickles an ounce, they’re mad.” 
+
+A low, soft hooting came from a dark shop with a sign 
+saying Eeylops Owl Emporium — Tawny, Screech, 
+Barn, Brown, and Snowy. Several boys of about 
+Harry’s age had their noses pressed against a window 
+with broomsticks in it. “Look,” Harry heard one of 
+them say, “the new Nimbus Two Thousand — fastest 
+ever — ” There were shops selling robes, shops selling 
+telescopes and strange silver instruments Harry had 
+never seen before, windows stacked with barrels of 
+bat spleens and eels’ eyes, tottering piles of spell 
+books, quills, and rolls of parchment, potion bottles, 
+globes of the moon. ... 
+
+“Gringotts,” said Hagrid. 
+
+
+
+Page | 80 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+They had reached a snowy white building that 
+towered over the other little shops. Standing beside 
+its burnished bronze doors, wearing a uniform of 
+scarlet and gold, was — 
+
+“Yeah, that’s a goblin,” said Hagrid quietly as they 
+walked up the white stone steps toward him. The 
+goblin was about a head shorter than Harry. He had a 
+swarthy, clever face, a pointed beard and, Harry 
+noticed, very long fingers and feet. He bowed as they 
+walked inside. Now they were facing a second pair of 
+doors, silver this time, with words engraved upon 
+them: 
+
+Enter, stranger, but take heed 
+
+Of what awaits the sin of greed, 
+
+For those who take, but do not earn, 
+
+Must pay most dearly in their turn. 
+
+So if you seek beneath our floors 
+
+A treasure that was never yours, 
+
+Thief, you have been warned, beware 
+
+Of finding more than treasure there. 
+
+“Like I said, yeh’d be mad ter try an’ rob it,” said 
+Hagrid. 
+
+A pair of goblins bowed them through the silver doors 
+and they were in a vast marble hall. About a hundred 
+more goblins were sitting on high stools behind a long 
+counter, scribbling in large ledgers, weighing coins in 
+brass scales, examining precious stones through 
+eyeglasses. There were too many doors to count 
+Page | 81 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+leading off the hall, and yet more goblins were 
+showing people in and out of these. Hagrid and Harry 
+made for the counter. 
+
+“Morning,” said Hagrid to a free goblin. “We’ve come 
+ter take some money outta Mr. Harry Potter’s safe.” 
+
+“You have his key, sir?” 
+
+“Got it here somewhere,” said Hagrid, and he started 
+emptying his pockets onto the counter, scattering a 
+handful of moldy dog biscuits over the goblins book of 
+numbers. The goblin wrinkled his nose. Harry 
+watched the goblin on their right weighing a pile of 
+rubies as big as glowing coals. 
+
+“Got it,” said Hagrid at last, holding up a tiny golden 
+key. 
+
+The goblin looked at it closely. 
+
+“That seems to be in order.” 
+
+“An’ I’ve also got a letter here from Professor 
+Dumbledore,” said Hagrid importantly, throwing out 
+his chest. “It’s about the You-Know-What in vault 
+seven hundred and thirteen.” 
+
+The goblin read the letter carefully. 
+
+“Very well,” he said, handing it back to Hagrid, “I will 
+have someone take you down to both vaults. 
+Griphook!” 
+
+Griphook was yet another goblin. Once Hagrid had 
+crammed all the dog biscuits back inside his pockets, 
+he and Harry followed Griphook toward one of the 
+doors leading off the hall. 
+
+
+
+Page | 82 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“What’s the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred 
+and thirteen?” Harry asked. 
+
+“Can’t tell yeh that,” said Hagrid mysteriously. “Very 
+secret. Hogwarts business. Dumbledore’s trusted me. 
+More’n my job’s worth ter tell yeh that.” 
+
+Griphook held the door open for them. Harry, who 
+had expected more marble, was surprised. They were 
+in a narrow stone passageway lit with flaming 
+torches. It sloped steeply downward and there were 
+little railway tracks on the floor. Griphook whistled 
+and a small cart came hurtling up the tracks toward 
+them. They climbed in — Hagrid with some difficulty 
+— and were off. 
+
+At first they just hurtled through a maze of twisting 
+passages. Harry tried to remember, left, right, right, 
+left, middle fork, right, left, but it was impossible. The 
+rattling cart seemed to know its own way, because 
+Griphook wasn’t steering. 
+
+Harry’s eyes stung as the cold air rushed past them, 
+but he kept them wide open. Once, he thought he saw 
+a burst of fire at the end of a passage and twisted 
+around to see if it was a dragon, but too late — they 
+plunged even deeper, passing an underground lake 
+where huge stalactites and stalagmites grew from the 
+ceiling and floor. 
+
+“I never know,” Harry called to Hagrid over the noise 
+of the cart, “what’s the difference between a 
+stalagmite and a stalactite?” 
+
+“Stalagmite’s got an ‘m’ in it,” said Hagrid. “An’ don’ 
+ask me questions just now, I think I’m gonna be 
+sick.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 83 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+He did look very green, and when the cart stopped at 
+last beside a small door in the passage wall, Hagrid 
+got out and had to lean against the wall to stop his 
+knees from trembling. 
+
+Griphook unlocked the door. A lot of green smoke 
+came billowing out, and as it cleared, Harry gasped. 
+Inside were mounds of gold coins. Columns of silver. 
+Heaps of little bronze Knuts. 
+
+“All yours,” smiled Hagrid. 
+
+All Harry’s — it was incredible. The Dursleys couldn’t 
+have known about this or they’d have had it from him 
+faster than blinking. How often had they complained 
+how much Harry cost them to keep? And all the time 
+there had been a small fortune belonging to him, 
+buried deep under London. 
+
+Hagrid helped Harry pile some of it into a bag. 
+
+“The gold ones are Galleons,” he explained. 
+
+“Seventeen silver Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine 
+Knuts to a Sickle, it’s easy enough. Right, that should 
+be enough fer a couple o’ terms, we’ll keep the rest 
+safe for yeh.” He turned to Griphook. “Vault seven 
+hundred and thirteen now, please, and can we go 
+more slowly?” 
+
+“One speed only,” said Griphook. 
+
+They were going even deeper now and gathering 
+speed. The air became colder and colder as they 
+hurtled round tight corners. They went rattling over 
+an underground ravine, and Harry leaned over the 
+side to try to see what was down at the dark bottom, 
+but Hagrid groaned and pulled him back by the scruff 
+of his neck. 
+
+
+
+Page | 84 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Vault seven hundred and thirteen had no keyhole. 
+
+“Stand back,” said Griphook importantly. He stroked 
+the door gently with one of his long fingers and it 
+simply melted away. 
+
+“If anyone but a Gringotts goblin tried that, they’d be 
+sucked through the door and trapped in there,” said 
+Griphook. 
+
+“How often do you check to see if anyone’s inside?” 
+Harry asked. 
+
+“About once every ten years,” said Griphook with a 
+rather nasty grin. 
+
+Something really extraordinary had to be inside this 
+top security vault, Harry was sure, and he leaned 
+forward eagerly, expecting to see fabulous jewels at 
+the very least — but at first he thought it was empty. 
+Then he noticed a grubby little package wrapped up 
+in brown paper lying on the floor. Hagrid picked it up 
+and tucked it deep inside his coat. Harry longed to 
+know what it was, but knew better than to ask. 
+
+“Come on, back in this infernal cart, and don’t talk to 
+me on the way back, it’s best if I keep me mouth 
+shut,” said Hagrid. 
+
+
+
+One wild cart ride later they stood blinking in the 
+sunlight outside Gringotts. Harry didn’t know where 
+to run first now that he had a bag full of money. He 
+didn’t have to know how many Galleons there were to 
+a pound to know that he was holding more money 
+than he’d had in his whole life — more money than 
+even Dudley had ever had. 
+
+
+
+Page | 85 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Might as well get yer uniform,” said Hagrid, nodding 
+toward Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions. 
+“Listen, Harry, would yeh mind if I slipped off fer a 
+pick-me-up in the Leaky Cauldron? I hate them 
+Gringotts carts.” He did still look a bit sick, so Harry 
+entered Madam Malkin’s shop alone, feeling nervous. 
+
+Madam Malkin was a squat, smiling witch dressed all 
+in mauve. 
+
+“Hogwarts, dear?” she said, when Harry started to 
+speak. “Got the lot here — another young man being 
+fitted up just now, in fact.” 
+
+In the back of the shop, a boy with a pale, pointed 
+face was standing on a footstool while a second witch 
+pinned up his long black robes. Madam Malkin stood 
+Harry on a stool next to him, slipped a long robe over 
+his head, and began to pin it to the right length. 
+
+“Hello,” said the boy, “Hogwarts, too?” 
+
+“Yes,” said Harry. 
+
+“My father’s next door buying my books and mother’s 
+up the street looking at wands,” said the boy. He had 
+a bored, drawling voice. “Then I’m going to drag them 
+off to look at racing brooms. I don’t see why first years 
+can’t have their own. I think I’ll bully father into 
+getting me one and I’ll smuggle it in somehow.” 
+
+Harry was strongly reminded of Dudley. 
+
+“Have you got your own broom?” the boy went on. 
+
+“No,” said Harry. 
+
+“Play Quidditch at all?” 
+
+
+
+Page | 86 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“No,” Harry said again, wondering what on earth 
+Quidditch could be. 
+
+“ I do — Father says it’s a crime if I’m not picked to 
+play for my House, and I must say, I agree. Know 
+what House you 11 be in yet?” 
+
+“No,” said Harry, feeling more stupid by the minute. 
+
+“Well, no one really knows until they get there, do 
+they, but I know I’ll be in Slytherin, all our family 
+have been — imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I’d 
+leave, wouldn’t you?” 
+
+“Mmm,” said Harry, wishing he could say something a 
+bit more interesting. 
+
+“I say, look at that man!” said the boy suddenly, 
+nodding toward the front window. Hagrid was 
+standing there, grinning at Harry and pointing at two 
+large ice creams to show he couldn’t come in. 
+
+“That’s Hagrid,” said Harry, pleased to know 
+something the boy didn’t. “He works at Hogwarts.” 
+
+“Oh,” said the boy, “I’ve heard of him. He’s a sort of 
+servant, isn’t he?” 
+
+“He’s the gamekeeper,” said Harry. He was liking the 
+boy less and less every second. 
+
+“Yes, exactly. I heard he’s a sort of savage — lives in a 
+hut on the school grounds and every now and then he 
+gets drunk, tries to do magic, and ends up setting fire 
+to his bed.” 
+
+“I think he’s brilliant,” said Harry coldly. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Do you?” said the boy, with a slight sneer. “Why is he 
+with you? Where are your parents?” 
+
+“They’re dead,” said Harry shortly. He didn’t feel 
+much like going into the matter with this boy. 
+
+“Oh, sorry,��� said the other, not sounding sorry at all. 
+“But they were our kind, weren’t they?” 
+
+“They were a witch and wizard, if that’s what you 
+mean.” 
+
+“I really don’t think they should let the other sort in, 
+do you? They’re just not the same, they’ve never been 
+brought up to know our ways. Some of them have 
+never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, 
+imagine. I think they should keep it in the old 
+wizarding families. What’s your surname, anyway?” 
+
+But before Harry could answer, Madam Malkin said, 
+“That’s you done, my dear,” and Harry, not sorry for 
+an excuse to stop talking to the boy, hopped down 
+from the footstool. 
+
+“Well, I’ll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose,” said the 
+drawling boy. 
+
+Harry was rather quiet as he ate the ice cream Hagrid 
+had bought him (chocolate and raspberry with 
+chopped nuts). 
+
+“What’s up?” said Hagrid. 
+
+“Nothing,” Harry lied. They stopped to buy parchment 
+and quills. Harry cheered up a bit when he found a 
+bottle of ink that changed color as you wrote. When 
+they had left the shop, he said, “Hagrid, what’s 
+Quidditch?” 
+
+
+
+Page | 88 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Blimey, Harry, I keep forgettin’ how little yeh know — 
+not knowin’ about Quidditch!” 
+
+“Don’t make me feel worse,” said Harry. He told 
+Hagrid about the pale boy in Madam Malkin’s. 
+
+“ — and he said people from Muggle families shouldn’t 
+even be allowed in — ” 
+
+“Yer not from a Muggle family. If he’d known who yeh 
+were — he’s grown up knowin’ yer name if his 
+parents are wizardin’ folk. You saw what everyone in 
+the Leaky Cauldron was like when they saw yeh. 
+Anyway, what does he know about it, some o’ the best 
+I ever saw were the only ones with magic in ’em in a 
+long line o’ Muggles — look at yer mum! Look what 
+she had fer a sister!” 
+
+“So what is Quidditch?” 
+
+“It’s our sport. Wizard sport. It’s like — like soccer in 
+the Muggle world — everyone follows Quidditch — 
+played up in the air on broomsticks and there’s four 
+balls — sorta hard ter explain the rules.” 
+
+“And what are Slytherin and Hufflepuff?” 
+
+“School Houses. There’s four. Everyone says 
+Hufflepuff are a lot o’ duffers, but — ” 
+
+“I bet I’m in Hufflepuff,” said Harry gloomily. 
+
+“Better Hufflepuff than Slytherin,” said Hagrid darkly. 
+“There’s not a single witch or wizard who went bad 
+who wasn’t in Slytherin. You-Know-Who was one.” 
+
+“Vol-, sorry — You-Know-Who was at Hogwarts?” 
+
+“Years an’ years ago,” said Hagrid. 
+
+Page | 89 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+They bought Harry’s school books in a shop called 
+Flourish and Blotts where the shelves were stacked to 
+the ceiling with books as large as paving stones 
+bound in leather; books the size of postage stamps in 
+covers of silk; books full of peculiar symbols and a 
+few books with nothing in them at all. Even Dudley, 
+who never read anything, would have been wild to get 
+his hands on some of these. Hagrid almost had to 
+drag Harry away from Curses and Counter-curses 
+(Bewitch Your Friends and Befuddle Your Enemies 
+with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss, Jelly-Legs, 
+Tongue-Tying and Much, Much More) by Professor 
+Vindictus Viridian. 
+
+“I was trying to find out how to curse Dudley.” 
+
+“I’m not sayin’ that’s not a good idea, but yer not ter 
+use magic in the Muggle world except in very special 
+circumstances,” said Hagrid. “An’ anyway, yeh 
+couldn’ work any of them curses yet, yeh’ll need a lot 
+more study before yeh get ter that level.” 
+
+Hagrid wouldn’t let Harry buy a solid gold cauldron, 
+either (“It says pewter on yer list”), but they got a nice 
+set of scales for weighing potion ingredients and a 
+collapsible brass telescope. Then they visited the 
+Apothecary, which was fascinating enough to make 
+up for its horrible smell, a mixture of bad eggs and 
+rotted cabbages. Barrels of slimy stuff stood on the 
+floor; jars of herbs, dried roots, and bright powders 
+lined the walls; bundles of feathers, strings of fangs, 
+and snarled claws hung from the ceiling. While 
+Hagrid asked the man behind the counter for a 
+supply of some basic potion ingredients for Harry, 
+Harry himself examined silver unicorn horns at 
+twenty-one Galleons each and minuscule, glittery- 
+black beetle eyes (five Knuts a scoop). 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+Outside the Apothecary, Hagrid checked Harry’s list 
+again. 
+
+“Just yer wand left — oh yeah, an’ I still haven’t got 
+yeh a birthday present.” 
+
+Harry felt himself go red. 
+
+“You don’t have to — ” 
+
+“I know I don’t have to. Tell yeh what, I’ll get yer 
+animal. Not a toad, toads went outta fashion years 
+ago, yeh’d be laughed at — an’ I don’ like cats, they 
+make me sneeze. I’ll get yer an owl. All the kids want 
+owls, they’re dead useful, carry yer mail an’ 
+everythin’.” 
+
+Twenty minutes later, they left Eeylops Owl 
+Emporium, which had been dark and full of rustling 
+and flickering, jewel-bright eyes. Harry now carried a 
+large cage that held a beautiful snowy owl, fast asleep 
+with her head under her wing. He couldn’t stop 
+stammering his thanks, sounding just like Professor 
+Quirrell. 
+
+“Don’ mention it,” said Hagrid gruffly. “Don’ expect 
+you’ve had a lotta presents from them Dursleys. Just 
+Ollivanders left now — only place fer wands, 
+Ollivanders, and yeh gotta have the best wand.” 
+
+A magic wand . . . this was what Harry had been really 
+looking forward to. 
+
+The last shop was narrow and shabby. Peeling gold 
+letters over the door read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine 
+Wands since 382b. c. A single wand lay on a faded 
+purple cushion in the dusty window. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the 
+shop as they stepped inside. It was a tiny place, 
+empty except for a single, spindly chair that Hagrid 
+sat on to wait. Harry felt strangely as though he had 
+entered a very strict library; he swallowed a lot of new 
+questions that had just occurred to him and looked 
+instead at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly 
+right up to the ceiling. For some reason, the back of 
+his neck prickled. The very dust and silence in here 
+seemed to tingle with some secret magic. 
+
+“Good afternoon,” said a soft voice. Harry jumped. 
+Hagrid must have jumped, too, because there was a 
+loud crunching noise and he got quickly off the 
+spindly chair. 
+
+An old man was standing before them, his wide, pale 
+eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the 
+shop. 
+
+“Hello,” said Harry awkwardly. 
+
+“Ah yes,” said the man. “Yes, yes. I thought I’d be 
+seeing you soon. Harry Potter.” It wasn’t a question. 
+“You have your mother’s eyes. It seems only yesterday 
+she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten 
+and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. 
+Nice wand for charm work.” 
+
+Mr. Ollivander moved closer to Harry. Harry wished 
+he would blink. Those silvery eyes were a bit creepy. 
+
+“Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany 
+wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and 
+excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father 
+favored it — it’s really the wand that chooses the 
+wizard, of course.” 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+Mr. Ollivander had come so close that he and Harry 
+were almost nose to nose. Harry could see himself 
+reflected in those misty eyes. 
+
+“And that’s where ...” 
+
+Mr. Ollivander touched the lightning scar on Harry’s 
+forehead with a long, white finger. 
+
+“I’m sorry to say I sold the wand that did it,” he said 
+softly. “Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful 
+wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands ... well, 
+if I’d known what that wand was going out into the 
+world to do. ...” 
+
+He shook his head and then, to Harry’s relief, spotted 
+Hagrid. 
+
+“Rubeus! Rubeus Hagrid! How nice to see you again. 
+
+... Oak, sixteen inches, rather bendy, wasn’t it?” 
+
+“It was, sir, yes,” said Hagrid. 
+
+“Good wand, that one. But I suppose they snapped it 
+in half when you got expelled?” said Mr. Ollivander, 
+suddenly stern. 
+
+“Er — yes, they did, yes,” said Hagrid, shuffling his 
+feet. “I’ve still got the pieces, though,” he added 
+brightly. 
+
+“But you don’t use them?” said Mr. Ollivander 
+sharply. 
+
+“Oh, no, sir,” said Hagrid quickly. Harry noticed he 
+gripped his pink umbrella very tightly as he spoke. 
+
+“Hmmm,” said Mr. Ollivander, giving Hagrid a 
+piercing look. “Well, now — Mr. Potter. Let me see.” 
+
+Page | 93 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings 
+out of his pocket. “Which is your wand arm?” 
+
+“Er — well, I’m right-handed,” said Harry. 
+
+“Hold out your arm. That’s it.” He measured Harry 
+from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder 
+to floor, knee to armpit and round his head. As he 
+measured, he said, “Every Ollivander wand has a core 
+of a powerful magical substance, Mr. Potter. We use 
+unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the 
+heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are 
+the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or 
+phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will 
+never get such good results with another wizard’s 
+wand.” 
+
+Harry suddenly realized that the tape measure, which 
+was measuring between his nostrils, was doing this 
+on its own. Mr. Ollivander was flitting around the 
+shelves, taking down boxes. 
+
+“That will do,” he said, and the tape measure 
+crumpled into a heap on the floor. “Right then, Mr. 
+Potter. Try this one. Beech-wood and dragon 
+heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. Just take 
+it and give it a wave.” 
+
+Harry took the wand and (feeling foolish) waved it 
+around a bit, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of his 
+hand almost at once. 
+
+“Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite 
+whippy. Try — ” 
+
+Harry tried — but he had hardly raised the wand 
+when it, too, was snatched back by Mr. Ollivander. 
+
+
+
+Page | 94 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“No, no — here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a 
+half inches, springy. Go on, go on, try it out.” 
+
+Harry tried. And tried. He had no idea what Mr. 
+Ollivander was waiting for. The pile of tried wands 
+was mounting higher and higher on the spindly chair, 
+but the more wands Mr. Ollivander pulled from the 
+shelves, the happier he seemed to become. 
+
+“Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, well find the 
+perfect match here somewhere — I wonder, now — 
+yes, why not — unusual combination — holly and 
+phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple.” 
+
+Harry took the wand. He felt a sudden warmth in his 
+fingers. He raised the wand above his head, brought it 
+swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of 
+red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, 
+throwing dancing spots of light on to the walls. Hagrid 
+whooped and clapped and Mr. Ollivander cried, “Oh, 
+bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well ... 
+how curious ... how very curious ...” 
+
+He put Harry’s wand back into its box and wrapped it 
+in brown paper, still muttering, “Curious . . . curious 
+
+
+
+“Sorry,” said Harry, “but what’s curious?” 
+
+Mr. Ollivander fixed Harry with his pale stare. 
+
+“I remember every wand I’ve ever sold, Mr. Potter. 
+Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix 
+whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another 
+feather — just one other. It is very curious indeed 
+that you should be destined for this wand when its 
+brother — why, its brother gave you that scar.” 
+
+
+
+Harry swallowed. 
+
+Page | 95 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Yes, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Curious indeed 
+how these things happen. The wand chooses the 
+wizard, remember. ... I think we must expect great 
+things from you, Mr. Potter. ... After all, He-Who- 
+Must-Not-Be-Named did great things — terrible, yes, 
+but great.” 
+
+Harry shivered. He wasn’t sure he liked Mr. 
+
+Ollivander too much. He paid seven gold Galleons for 
+his wand, and Mr. Ollivander bowed them from his 
+shop. 
+
+The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Harry 
+and Hagrid made their way back down Diagon Alley, 
+back through the wall, back through the Leaky 
+Cauldron, now empty. Harry didn’t speak at all as 
+they walked down the road; he didn’t even notice how 
+much people were gawking at them on the 
+Underground, laden as they were with all their funny- 
+shaped packages, with the snowy owl asleep in its 
+cage on Harry’s lap. Up another escalator, out into 
+Paddington station; Harry only realized where they 
+were when Hagrid tapped him on the shoulder. 
+
+“Got time fer a bite to eat before yer train leaves,” he 
+said. 
+
+He bought Harry a hamburger and they sat down on 
+plastic seats to eat them. Harry kept looking around. 
+Everything looked so strange, somehow. 
+
+“You all right, Harry? Yer very quiet,” said Hagrid. 
+
+Harry wasn’t sure he could explain. He’d just had the 
+best birthday of his life — and yet — he chewed his 
+hamburger, trying to find the words. 
+
+“Everyone thinks I’m special,” he said at last. “All 
+those people in the Leaky Cauldron, Professor 
+
+Page | 96 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Quirrell, Mr. Ollivander ... but I don’t know anything 
+about magic at all. How can they expect great things? 
+I’m famous and I can’t even remember what I’m 
+famous for. I don’t know what happened when Vol-, 
+sorry — I mean, the night my parents died.” 
+
+Hagrid leaned across the table. Behind the wild beard 
+and eyebrows he wore a very kind smile. 
+
+“Don’ you worry, Harry. You’ll learn fast enough. 
+Everyone starts at the beginning at Hogwarts, you’ll 
+be just fine. Just be yerself. I know it’s hard. Yeh’ve 
+been singled out, an’ that’s always hard. But yeh’ll 
+have a great time at Hogwarts — I did — still do, 
+’smatter of fact.” 
+
+Hagrid helped Harry on to the train that would take 
+him back to the Dursleys, then handed him an 
+envelope. 
+
+“Yer ticket fer Hogwarts,” he said. “First o’ September 
+— King’s Cross — it’s all on yer ticket. Any problems 
+with the Dursleys, send me a letter with yer owl, she’ll 
+know where to find me. ... See yeh soon, Harry.” 
+
+The train pulled out of the station. Harry wanted to 
+watch Hagrid until he was out of sight; he rose in his 
+seat and pressed his nose against the window, but he 
+blinked and Hagrid had gone. 
+
+
+
+Page | 97 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE JOURNEY FROM PLATFORM 
+NINE AND THREE-QUARTERS 
+
+Harry’s last month with the Dursleys wasn’t fun. 
+True, Dudley was now so scared of Harry he wouldn’t 
+stay in the same room, while Aunt Petunia and Uncle 
+Vernon didn’t shut Harry in his cupboard, force him 
+to do anything, or shout at him — in fact, they didn’t 
+speak to him at all. Half terrified, half furious, they 
+acted as though any chair with Harry in it were 
+empty. Although this was an improvement in many 
+ways, it did become a bit depressing after a while. 
+
+Harry kept to his room, with his new owl for 
+company. He had decided to call her Hedwig, a name 
+he had found in A History of Magic. His school books 
+were very interesting. He lay on his bed reading late 
+into the night, Hedwig swooping in and out of the 
+open window as she pleased. It was lucky that Aunt 
+Petunia didn’t come in to vacuum anymore, because 
+Hedwig kept bringing back dead mice. Every night 
+before he went to sleep, Harry ticked off another day 
+
+
+
+Page | 98 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+on the piece of paper he had pinned to the wall, 
+counting down to September the first. 
+
+On the last day of August he thought he’d better 
+speak to his aunt and uncle about getting to King’s 
+Cross station the next day, so he went down to the 
+living room where they were watching a quiz show on 
+television. He cleared his throat to let them know he 
+was there, and Dudley screamed and ran from the 
+room. 
+
+“Er — Uncle Vernon?” 
+
+Uncle Vernon grunted to show he was listening. 
+
+“Er — I need to be at King’s Cross tomorrow to — to 
+go to Hogwarts.” 
+
+Uncle Vernon grunted again. 
+
+“Would it be all right if you gave me a lift?” 
+
+Grunt. Harry supposed that meant yes. 
+
+“Thank you.” 
+
+He was about to go back upstairs when Uncle Vernon 
+actually spoke. 
+
+“Funny way to get to a wizards’ school, the train. 
+Magic carpets all got punctures, have they?” 
+
+Harry didn’t say anything. 
+
+“Where is this school, anyway?” 
+
+“I don’t know,” said Harry, realizing this for the first 
+time. He pulled the ticket Hagrid had given him out of 
+his pocket. 
+
+Page | 99 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“I just take the train from platform nine and three- 
+quarters at eleven o’clock,” he read. 
+
+His aunt and uncle stared. 
+
+“Platform what?” 
+
+“Nine and three-quarters.” 
+
+“Don’t talk rubbish,” said Uncle Vernon. “There is no 
+platform nine and three-quarters.” 
+
+“It’s on my ticket.” 
+
+“Barking,” said Uncle Vernon, “howling mad, the lot of 
+them. You 11 see. You just wait. All right, we’ll take 
+you to King’s Cross. We’re going up to London 
+tomorrow anyway, or I wouldn’t bother.” 
+
+“Why are you going to London?” Harry asked, trying 
+to keep things friendly. 
+
+“Taking Dudley to the hospital,” growled Uncle 
+Vernon. “Got to have that ruddy tail removed before 
+he goes to Smeltings.” 
+
+Harry woke at five o’clock the next morning and was 
+too excited and nervous to go back to sleep. He got up 
+and pulled on his jeans because he didn’t want to 
+walk into the station in his wizard’s robes — he’d 
+change on the train. He checked his Hogwarts list yet 
+again to make sure he had everything he needed, saw 
+that Hedwig was shut safely in her cage, and then 
+paced the room, waiting for the Dursleys to get up. 
+Two hours later, Harry’s huge, heavy trunk had been 
+loaded into the Dursleys’ car, Aunt Petunia had 
+talked Dudley into sitting next to Harry, and they had 
+set off. 
+
+
+
+Page | 100 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+They reached King’s Cross at half past ten. Uncle 
+Vernon dumped Harry’s trunk onto a cart and 
+wheeled it into the station for him. Harry thought this 
+was strangely kind until Uncle Vernon stopped dead, 
+facing the platforms with a nasty grin on his face. 
+
+“Well, there you are, boy. Platform nine — platform 
+ten. Your platform should be somewhere in the 
+middle, but they don’t seem to have built it yet, do 
+they?” 
+
+He was quite right, of course. There was a big plastic 
+number nine over one platform and a big plastic 
+number ten over the one next to it, and in the middle, 
+nothing at all. 
+
+“Have a good term,” said Uncle Vernon with an even 
+nastier smile. He left without another word. Harry 
+turned and saw the Dursleys drive away. All three of 
+them were laughing. Harry’s mouth went rather dry. 
+What on earth was he going to do? He was starting to 
+attract a lot of funny looks, because of Hedwig. He’d 
+have to ask someone. 
+
+He stopped a passing guard, but didn’t dare mention 
+platform nine and three-quarters. The guard had 
+never heard of Hogwarts and when Harry couldn’t 
+even tell him what part of the country it was in, he 
+started to get annoyed, as though Harry was being 
+stupid on purpose. Getting desperate, Harry asked for 
+the train that left at eleven o’clock, but the guard said 
+there wasn’t one. In the end the guard strode away, 
+muttering about time wasters. Harry was now trying 
+hard not to panic. According to the large clock over 
+the arrivals board, he had ten minutes left to get on 
+the train to Hogwarts and he had no idea how to do it; 
+he was stranded in the middle of a station with a 
+trunk he could hardly lift, a pocket full of wizard 
+money, and a large owl. 
+
+Page | 101 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Hagrid must have forgotten to tell him something you 
+had to do, like tapping the third brick on the left to 
+get into Diagon Alley. He wondered if he should get 
+out his wand and start tapping the ticket inspector’s 
+stand between platforms nine and ten. 
+
+At that moment a group of people passed just behind 
+him and he caught a few words of what they were 
+saying. 
+
+“ — packed with Muggles, of course — ” 
+
+Harry swung round. The speaker was a plump 
+woman who was talking to four boys, all with flaming 
+red hair. Each of them was pushing a trunk like 
+Harry’s in front of him — and they had an owl. 
+
+Heart hammering, Harry pushed his cart after them. 
+They stopped and so did he, just near enough to hear 
+what they were saying. 
+
+“Now, what’s the platform number?” said the boys’ 
+mother. 
+
+“Nine and three-quarters!” piped a small girl, also red- 
+headed, who was holding her hand, “Mom, can’t I go 
+
+
+
+“You’re not old enough, Ginny, now be quiet. All right, 
+Percy, you go first.” 
+
+What looked like the oldest boy marched toward 
+platforms nine and ten. Harry watched, careful not to 
+blink in case he missed it — but just as the boy 
+reached the dividing barrier between the two 
+platforms, a large crowd of tourists came swarming in 
+front of him and by the time the last backpack had 
+cleared away, the boy had vanished. 
+
+
+
+Page | 102 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Fred, you next,” the plump woman said. 
+
+
+
+“I’m not Fred, I’m George,” said the boy. “Honestly, 
+woman, you call yourself our mother? Can’t you tell 
+I’m George?” 
+
+“Sorry, George, dear.” 
+
+“Only joking, I am Fred,” said the boy, and off he 
+went. His twin called after him to hurry up, and he 
+must have done so, because a second later, he had 
+gone — but how had he done it? 
+
+Now the third brother was walking briskly toward the 
+barrier — he was almost there — and then, quite 
+suddenly, he wasn’t anywhere. 
+
+There was nothing else for it. 
+
+“Excuse me,” Harry said to the plump woman. 
+
+“Hello, dear,” she said. “First time at Hogwarts? Ron’s 
+new, too.” 
+
+She pointed at the last and youngest of her sons. He 
+was tall, thin, and gangling, with freckles, big hands 
+and feet, and a long nose. 
+
+“Yes,” said Harry. “The thing is — the thing is, I don’t 
+know how to — ” 
+
+“How to get onto the platform?” she said kindly, and 
+Harry nodded. 
+
+“Not to worry,” she said. “All you have to do is walk 
+straight at the barrier between platforms nine and 
+ten. Don’t stop and don’t be scared you’ll crash into 
+it, that’s very important. Best do it at a bit of a run if 
+you’re nervous. Go on, go now before Ron.” 
+
+Page | 103 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Er — okay,” said Harry. 
+
+He pushed his trolley around and stared at the 
+barrier. It looked very solid. 
+
+He started to walk toward it. People jostled him on 
+their way to platforms nine and ten. Harry walked 
+more quickly. He was going to smash right into that 
+barrier and then he’d be in trouble — leaning forward 
+on his cart, he broke into a heavy run — the barrier 
+was coming nearer and nearer — he wouldn’t be able 
+to stop — the cart was out of control — he was a foot 
+away — he closed his eyes ready for the crash — 
+
+It didn’t come ... he kept on running ... he opened his 
+eyes. 
+
+A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform 
+packed with people. A sign overhead said Hogwarts 
+Express, eleven o’clock. Harry looked behind him and 
+saw a wrought-iron archway where the barrier had 
+been, with the words Platform Nine and Three- 
+Quarters on it. He had done it. 
+
+Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the 
+chattering crowd, while cats of every color wound 
+here and there between their legs. Owls hooted to one 
+another in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble 
+and the scraping of heavy trunks. 
+
+The first few carriages were already packed with 
+students, some hanging out of the window to talk to 
+their families, some fighting over seats. Harry pushed 
+his cart off down the platform in search of an empty 
+seat. He passed a round-faced boy who was saying, 
+“Gran, I’ve lost my toad again.” 
+
+“Oh, Neville,” he heard the old woman sigh. 
+
+
+
+Page | 104 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+A boy with dreadlocks was surrounded by a small 
+crowd. 
+
+
+
+“Give us a look, Lee, go on.” 
+
+The boy lifted the lid of a box in his arms, and the 
+people around him shrieked and yelled as something 
+inside poked out a long, hairy leg. 
+
+Harry pressed on through the crowd until he found 
+an empty compartment near the end of the train. He 
+put Hedwig inside first and then started to shove and 
+heave his trunk toward the train door. He tried to lift 
+it up the steps but could hardly raise one end and 
+twice he dropped it painfully on his foot. 
+
+“Want a hand?” It was one of the red-haired twins 
+he’d followed through the barrier. 
+
+“Yes, please,” Harry panted. 
+
+“Oy, Fred! C’mere and help!” 
+
+With the twins’ help, Harry’s trunk was at last tucked 
+away in a corner of the compartment. 
+
+“Thanks,” said Harry, pushing his sweaty hair out of 
+his eyes. 
+
+“What’s that?” said one of the twins suddenly, 
+pointing at Harry’s lightning scar. 
+
+“Blimey,” said the other twin. “Are you — ?” 
+
+“He is,” said the first twin. “Aren’t you?” he added to 
+Harry. 
+
+“What?” said Harry. 
+
+Page | 105 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“ Harry Potter,” chorused the twins. 
+
+“Oh, him,” said Harry. “I mean, yes, I am.” 
+
+The two boys gawked at him, and Harry felt himself 
+turning red. Then, to his relief, a voice came floating 
+in through the train’s open door. 
+
+“Fred? George? Are you there?” 
+
+“Coming, Mom.” 
+
+With a last look at Harry, the twins hopped off the 
+train. 
+
+Harry sat down next to the window where, half 
+hidden, he could watch the red-haired family on the 
+platform and hear what they were saying. Their 
+mother had just taken out her handkerchief. 
+
+“Ron, you’ve got something on your nose.” 
+
+The youngest boy tried to jerk out of the way, but she 
+grabbed him and began rubbing the end of his nose. 
+
+“Mom — geroff.” He wriggled free. 
+
+“Aaah, has ickle Ronnie got somefink on his nosie?” 
+said one of the twins. 
+
+“Shut up,” said Ron. 
+
+“Where’s Percy?” said their mother. 
+
+“He’s coming now.” 
+
+The oldest boy came striding into sight. He had 
+already changed into his billowing black Hogwarts 
+
+
+
+Page | 106 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+robes, and Harry noticed a shiny red and gold badge 
+on his chest with the letter P on it. 
+
+“Can’t stay long, Mother,” he said. “I’m up front, the 
+prefects have got two compartments to themselves — ” 
+
+“Oh, are you a prefect, Percy?” said one of the twins, 
+with an air of great surprise. “You should have said 
+something, we had no idea.” 
+
+“Hang on, I think I remember him saying something 
+about it,” said the other twin. “Once — ” 
+
+“Or twice — ” 
+
+“A minute — ” 
+
+“All summer — ” 
+
+“Oh, shut up,” said Percy the Prefect. 
+
+“How come Percy gets new robes, anyway?” said one 
+of the twins. 
+
+“Because he’s a prefect,” said their mother fondly. “All 
+right, dear, well, have a good term — send me an owl 
+when you get there.” 
+
+She kissed Percy on the cheek and he left. Then she 
+turned to the twins. 
+
+“Now, you two — this year, you behave yourselves. If I 
+get one more owl telling me you’ve — you’ve blown up 
+a toilet or — ” 
+
+“Blown up a toilet? We’ve never blown up a toilet.” 
+“Great idea though, thanks, Mom.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 107 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“It’s not funny. And look after Ron.” 
+
+“Don’t worry, ickle Ronniekins is safe with us.” 
+
+“Shut up,” said Ron again. He was almost as tall as 
+the twins already and his nose was still pink where 
+his mother had rubbed it. 
+
+“Hey, Mom, guess what? Guess who we just met on 
+the train?” 
+
+Harry leaned back quickly so they couldn’t see him 
+looking. 
+
+“You know that black-haired boy who was near us in 
+the station? Know who he is?” 
+
+“Who?” 
+
+“ Harry Potted” 
+
+Harry heard the little girl’s voice. 
+
+“Oh, Mom, can I go on the train and see him, Mom, 
+oh please. ...” 
+
+“You’ve already seen him, Ginny, and the poor boy 
+isn’t something you goggle at in a zoo. Is he really, 
+Fred? How do you know?” 
+
+“Asked him. Saw his scar. It’s really there — like 
+lightning.” 
+
+“Poor dear — no wonder he was alone, I wondered. He 
+was ever so polite when he asked how to get onto the 
+platform.” 
+
+“Never mind that, do you think he remembers what 
+You-Know-Who looks like?” 
+
+Page | 108 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Their mother suddenly became very stern. 
+
+
+
+“I forbid you to ask him, Fred. No, don’t you dare. As 
+though he needs reminding of that on his first day at 
+school.” 
+
+“All right, keep your hair on.” 
+
+A whistle sounded. 
+
+“Hurry up!” their mother said, and the three boys 
+clambered onto the train. They leaned out of the 
+window for her to kiss them good-bye, and their 
+younger sister began to cry. 
+
+“Don’t, Ginny, we’ll send you loads of owls.” 
+
+“Well send you a Hogwarts toilet seat.” 
+
+“ Georg e\” 
+
+“Only joking, Mom.” 
+
+The train began to move. Harry saw the boys’ mother 
+waving and their sister, half laughing, half crying, 
+running to keep up with the train until it gathered too 
+much speed, then she fell back and waved. 
+
+Harry watched the girl and her mother disappear as 
+the train rounded the corner. Houses flashed past the 
+window. Harry felt a great leap of excitement. He 
+didn’t know what he was going to — but it had to be 
+better than what he was leaving behind. 
+
+The door of the compartment slid open and the 
+youngest redheaded boy came in. 
+
+“Anyone sitting there?” he asked, pointing at the seat 
+opposite Harry. “Everywhere else is full.” 
+
+Page | 109 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Harry shook his head and the boy sat down. He 
+glanced at Harry and then looked quickly out of the 
+window, pretending he hadn’t looked. Harry saw he 
+still had a black mark on his nose. 
+
+“Hey, Ron.” 
+
+The twins were back. 
+
+“Listen, we’re going down the middle of the train — 
+
+Lee Jordan’s got a giant tarantula down there.” 
+
+“Right,” mumbled Ron. 
+
+“Harry,” said the other twin, “did we introduce 
+ourselves? Fred and George Weasley. And this is Ron, 
+our brother. See you later, then.” 
+
+“Bye,” said Harry and Ron. The twins slid the 
+compartment door shut behind them. 
+
+“Are you really Harry Potter?” Ron blurted out. 
+
+Harry nodded. 
+
+“Oh — well, I thought it might be one of Fred and 
+George’s jokes,” said Ron. “And have you really got — 
+you know ...” 
+
+He pointed at Harry’s forehead. 
+
+Harry pulled back his bangs to show the lightning 
+scar. Ron stared. 
+
+“So that’s where You-Know-Who — ?” 
+
+“Yes,” said Harry, “but I can’t remember it.” 
+
+“Nothing?” said Ron eagerly. 
+
+Page | 110 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Well — I remember a lot of green light, but nothing 
+else.” 
+
+
+
+“Wow,” said Ron. He sat and stared at Harry for a few 
+moments, then, as though he had suddenly realized 
+what he was doing, he looked quickly out of the 
+window again. 
+
+“Are all your family wizards?” asked Harry, who found 
+Ron just as interesting as Ron found him. 
+
+“Er — yes, I think so,” said Ron. “I think Mom’s got a 
+second cousin who’s an accountant, but we never talk 
+about him.” 
+
+“So you must know loads of magic already.” 
+
+The Weasleys were clearly one of those old wizarding 
+families the pale boy in Diagon Alley had talked 
+about. 
+
+“I heard you went to live with Muggles,” said Ron. 
+“What are they like?” 
+
+“Horrible — well, not all of them. My aunt and uncle 
+and cousin are, though. Wish I’d had three wizard 
+brothers.” 
+
+“Five,” said Ron. For some reason, he was looking 
+gloomy. “I’m the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts. 
+You could say I’ve got a lot to live up to. Bill and 
+Charlie have already left — Bill was head boy and 
+Charlie was captain of Quidditch. Now Percy’s a 
+prefect. Fred and George mess around a lot, but they 
+still get really good marks and everyone thinks they’re 
+really funny. Everyone expects me to do as well as the 
+others, but if I do, it’s no big deal, because they did it 
+first. You never get anything new, either, with five 
+
+Page | 111 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+brothers. I’ve got Bill’s old robes, Charlie’s old wand, 
+and Percy’s old rat.” 
+
+Ron reached inside his jacket and pulled out a fat 
+gray rat, which was asleep. 
+
+“His name’s Scabbers and he’s useless, he hardly ever 
+wakes up. Percy got an owl from my dad for being 
+made a prefect, but they couldn’t aff — I mean, I got 
+Scabbers instead.” 
+
+Ron’s ears went pink. He seemed to think he’d said 
+too much, because he went back to staring out of the 
+window. 
+
+Harry didn’t think there was anything wrong with not 
+being able to afford an owl. After all, he’d never had 
+any money in his life until a month ago, and he told 
+Ron so, all about having to wear Dudley’s old clothes 
+and never getting proper birthday presents. This 
+seemed to cheer Ron up. 
+
+"... and until Hagrid told me, I didn’t know anything 
+about being a wizard or about my parents or 
+Voldemort — ” 
+
+Ron gasped. 
+
+“What?” said Harry. 
+
+“ You said You-Know-Who’s name\” said Ron, sounding 
+both shocked and impressed. “I’d have thought you, 
+of all people — ” 
+
+“I’m not trying to be brave or anything, saying the 
+name,” said Harry, “I just never knew you shouldn’t. 
+See what I mean? I’ve got loads to learn. ... I bet,” he 
+added, voicing for the first time something that had 
+
+
+
+Page | 112 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+been worrying him a lot lately, “I bet I’m the worst in 
+the class.” 
+
+“You won’t be. There’s loads of people who come from 
+Muggle families and they learn quick enough.” 
+
+While they had been talking, the train had carried 
+them out of London. Now they were speeding past 
+fields full of cows and sheep. They were quiet for a 
+time, watching the fields and lanes flick past. 
+
+Around half past twelve there was a great clattering 
+outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman 
+slid back their door and said, “Anything off the cart, 
+dears?” 
+
+Harry, who hadn’t had any breakfast, leapt to his feet, 
+but Ron’s ears went pink again and he muttered that 
+he’d brought sandwiches. Harry went out into the 
+corridor. 
+
+He had never had any money for candy with the 
+Dursleys, and now that he had pockets rattling with 
+gold and silver he was ready to buy as many Mars 
+Bars as he could carry — but the woman didn’t have 
+Mars Bars. What she did have were Bertie Bott’s 
+Every Flavor Beans, Drooble’s Best Blowing Gum, 
+Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, 
+Licorice Wands, and a number of other strange things 
+Harry had never seen in his life. Not wanting to miss 
+anything, he got some of everything and paid the 
+woman eleven silver Sickles and seven bronze Knuts. 
+
+Ron stared as Harry brought it all back in to the 
+compartment and tipped it onto an empty seat. 
+
+“Hungry, are you?” 
+
+
+
+Page | 113 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Starving,” said Harry, taking a large bite out of a 
+pumpkin pasty. 
+
+Ron had taken out a lumpy package and unwrapped 
+it. There were four sandwiches inside. He pulled one 
+of them apart and said, “She always forgets I don’t 
+like corned beef.” 
+
+“Swap you for one of these,” said Harry, holding up a 
+pasty. “Go on — ” 
+
+“You don’t want this, it’s all dry,” said Ron. “She 
+hasn’t got much time,” he added quickly, “you know, 
+with five of us.” 
+
+“Go on, have a pasty,” said Harry, who had never had 
+anything to share before or, indeed, anyone to share 
+it with. It was a nice feeling, sitting there with Ron, 
+eating their way through all Harry’s pasties, cakes, 
+and candies (the sandwiches lay forgotten). 
+
+“What are these?” Harry asked Ron, holding up a 
+pack of Chocolate Frogs. “They’re not really frogs, are 
+they?” He was starting to feel that nothing would 
+surprise him. 
+
+“No,” said Ron. “But see what the card is. I’m missing 
+Agrippa.” 
+
+“What?” 
+
+“Oh, of course, you wouldn’t know — Chocolate Frogs 
+have cards inside them, you know, to collect — 
+famous witches and wizards. I’ve got about five 
+hundred, but I haven’t got Agrippa or Ptolemy.” 
+
+Harry unwrapped his Chocolate Frog and picked up 
+the card. It showed a man’s face. He wore half-moon 
+glasses, had a long, crooked nose, and flowing silver 
+
+Page | 114 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+hair, beard, and mustache. Underneath the picture 
+was the name Albus Dumbledore. 
+
+
+
+“So this is Dumbledore!” said Harry. 
+
+“Don’t tell me you’d never heard of Dumbledore!” said 
+Ron. “Can I have a frog? I might get Agrippa — thanks 
+
+
+
+Harry turned over his card and read: 
+
+ALBUS DUMBLEDORE 
+
+CURRENTLY HEADMASTER OF HOGWARTS 
+
+Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern 
+times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his 
+defeat of the Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the 
+discovery of the twelve uses of dragon’s blood, and his 
+work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. 
+Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and ten 
+pin bowling. 
+
+Harry turned the card back over and saw, to his 
+astonishment, that Dumbledore ’s face had 
+disappeared. 
+
+“He’s gone!” 
+
+“Well, you can’t expect him to hang around all day,” 
+said Ron. “He’ll be back. No, I’ve got Morgana again 
+and I’ve got about six of her ... do you want it? You 
+can start collecting.” 
+
+Ron’s eyes strayed to the pile of Chocolate Frogs 
+waiting to be unwrapped. 
+
+“Help yourself,” said Harry. “But in, you know, the 
+Muggle world, people just stay put in photos.” 
+
+Page | 115 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Do they? What, they don’t move at all?” Ron sounded 
+amazed. “Weird).” 
+
+
+
+Harry stared as Dumbledore sidled back into the 
+picture on his card and gave him a small smile. Ron 
+was more interested in eating the frogs than looking 
+at the Famous Witches and Wizards cards, but Harry 
+couldn’t keep his eyes off them. Soon he had not only 
+Dumbledore and Morgana, but Hengist of Woodcraft, 
+Alberic Grunnion, Circe, Paracelsus, and Merlin. He 
+finally tore his eyes away from the druidess Cliodna, 
+who was scratching her nose, to open a bag of Bertie 
+Bott’s Every Flavor Beans. 
+
+“You want to be careful with those,” Ron warned 
+Harry. ���When they say every flavor, they mean every 
+flavor — you know, you get all the ordinary ones like 
+chocolate and peppermint and marmalade, but then 
+you can get spinach and liver and tripe. George 
+reckons he had a booger-flavored one once.” 
+
+Ron picked up a green bean, looked at it carefully, 
+and bit into a corner. 
+
+“Bleaaargh — see? Sprouts.” 
+
+They had a good time eating the Every Flavor Beans. 
+Harry got toast, coconut, baked bean, strawberry, 
+curry, grass, coffee, sardine, and was even brave 
+enough to nibble the end off a funny gray one Ron 
+wouldn’t touch, which turned out to be pepper. 
+
+The countryside now flying past the window was 
+becoming wilder. The neat fields had gone. Now there 
+were woods, twisting rivers, and dark green hills. 
+
+There was a knock on the door of their compartment 
+and the round-faced boy Harry had passed on 
+
+Page | 116 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+platform nine and three-quarters came in. He looked 
+tearful. 
+
+
+
+“Sorry,” he said, “but have you seen a toad at all?” 
+
+When they shook their heads, he wailed, “I’ve lost 
+him! He keeps getting away from me!” 
+
+“Hell turn up,” said Harry. 
+
+“Yes,” said the boy miserably. “Well, if you see him ...” 
+He left. 
+
+“Don’t know why he’s so bothered,” said Ron. “If I’d 
+brought a toad I’d lose it as quick as I could. Mind 
+you, I brought Scabbers, so I can’t talk.” 
+
+The rat was still snoozing on Ron’s lap. 
+
+“He might have died and you wouldn’t know the 
+difference,” said Ron in disgust. “I tried to turn him 
+yellow yesterday to make him more interesting, but 
+the spell didn’t work. I’ll show you, look ...” 
+
+He rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out a 
+very battered-looking wand. It was chipped in places 
+and something white was glinting at the end. 
+
+“Unicorn hair’s nearly poking out. Anyway — ” 
+
+He had just raised his wand when the compartment 
+door slid open again. The toadless boy was back, but 
+this time he had a girl with him. She was already 
+wearing her new Hogwarts robes. 
+
+“Has anyone seen a toad? Neville’s lost one,” she said. 
+She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown 
+hair, and rather large front teeth. 
+
+Page | 117 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“We’ve already told him we haven’t seen it,” said Ron, 
+but the girl wasn’t listening, she was looking at the 
+wand in his hand. 
+
+“Oh, are you doing magic? Let’s see it, then.” 
+
+She sat down. Ron looked taken aback. 
+
+“Er — all right.” 
+
+He cleared his throat. 
+
+“ Sunshine , daisies, butter mellow, 
+
+Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow.” 
+
+He waved his wand, but nothing happened. Scabbers 
+stayed gray and fast asleep. 
+
+“Are you sure that’s a real spell?” said the girl. “Well, 
+it’s not very good, is it? I’ve tried a few simple spells 
+just for practice and it’s all worked for me. Nobody in 
+my family’s magic at all, it was ever such a surprise 
+when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of 
+course, I mean, it’s the very best school of witchcraft 
+there is, I’ve heard — I’ve learned all our course books 
+by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough — I’m 
+Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?” 
+
+She said all this very fast. 
+
+Harry looked at Ron, and was relieved to see by his 
+stunned face that he hadn’t learned all the course 
+books by heart either. 
+
+“I’m Ron Weasley,” Ron muttered. 
+
+“Harry Potter,” said Harry. 
+
+
+
+Page | 118 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Are you really?” said Hermione. “I know all about 
+you, of course — I got a few extra books for 
+background reading, and you’re in Modern Magical 
+History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and 
+Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century.” 
+
+“Am I?” said Harry, feeling dazed. 
+
+“Goodness, didn’t you know, I’d have found out 
+everything I could if it was me,” said Hermione. “Do 
+either of you know what House you’ll be in? I’ve been 
+asking around, and I hope I’m in Gryffindor, it sounds 
+by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, 
+but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn’t be too bad. ... 
+Anyway, we’d better go and look for Neville’s toad. 
+
+You two had better change, you know, I expect we’ll 
+be there soon.” 
+
+And she left, taking the toadless boy with her. 
+
+“Whatever House I’m in, I hope she’s not in it,” said 
+Ron. He threw his wand back into his trunk. “Stupid 
+spell — George gave it to me, bet he knew it was a 
+dud.” 
+
+“What House are your brothers in?” asked Harry. 
+
+“Gryffindor,” said Ron. Gloom seemed to be settling 
+on him again. “Mom and Dad were in it, too. I don’t 
+know what they’ll say if I’m not. I don’t suppose 
+Ravenclaw would be too bad, but imagine if they put 
+me in Slytherin.” 
+
+“That’s the House Vol-, I mean, You-Know-Who was 
+in?” 
+
+
+
+“Yeah,” said Ron. He flopped back into his seat, 
+looking depressed. 
+
+
+
+Page | 119 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“You know, I think the ends of Scabbers’ whiskers are 
+a bit lighter,” said Harry, trying to take Ron’s mind off 
+Houses. “So what do your oldest brothers do now that 
+they’ve left, anyway?” 
+
+Harry was wondering what a wizard did once he’d 
+finished school. 
+
+“Charlie’s in Romania studying dragons, and Bill’s in 
+Africa doing something for Gringotts,” said Ron. “Did 
+you hear about Gringotts? It’s been all over the Daily 
+Prophet, but I don’t suppose you get that with the 
+Muggles — someone tried to rob a high security 
+vault.” 
+
+Harry stared. 
+
+“Really? What happened to them?” 
+
+“Nothing, that’s why it’s such big news. They haven’t 
+been caught. My dad says it must’ve been a powerful 
+Dark wizard to get round Gringotts, but they don’t 
+think they took anything, that’s what’s odd. ’Course, 
+everyone gets scared when something like this 
+happens in case You-Know-Who’s behind it.” 
+
+Harry turned this news over in his mind. He was 
+starting to get a prickle of fear every time You-Know- 
+Who was mentioned. He supposed this was all part of 
+entering the magical world, but it had been a lot more 
+comfortable saying “Voldemort” without worrying. 
+
+“What’s your Quidditch team?” Ron asked. 
+
+“Er — I don’t know any,” Harry confessed. 
+
+“What!” Ron looked dumbfounded. “Oh, you wait, it’s 
+the best game in the world — ” And he was off, 
+explaining all about the four balls and the positions of 
+
+Page | 120 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+the seven players, describing famous games he’d been 
+to with his brothers and the broomstick he’d like to 
+get if he had the money. He was just taking Harry 
+through the finer points of the game when the 
+compartment door slid open yet again, but it wasn’t 
+Neville the toadless boy, or Hermione Granger this 
+time. 
+
+Three boys entered, and Harry recognized the middle 
+one at once: It was the pale boy from Madam Malkin’s 
+robe shop. He was looking at Harry with a lot more 
+interest than he’d shown back in Diagon Alley. 
+
+“Is it true?” he said. “They’re saying all down the train 
+that Harry Potter’s in this compartment. So it’s you, is 
+it?” 
+
+
+
+“Yes,” said Harry. He was looking at the other boys. 
+Both of them were thickset and looked extremely 
+mean. Standing on either side of the pale boy, they 
+looked like bodyguards. 
+
+“Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle,” said the pale 
+boy carelessly, noticing where Harry was looking. 
+
+“And my names Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.” 
+
+Ron gave a slight cough, which might have been 
+hiding a snigger. Draco Malfoy looked at him. 
+
+“Think my name’s funny, do you? No need to ask who 
+you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red 
+hair, freckles, and more children than they can 
+afford.” 
+
+He turned back to Harry. “You’ll soon find out some 
+wizarding families are much better than others, 
+
+Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the 
+wrong sort. I can help you there.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 121 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+He held out his hand to shake Harry’s, but Harry 
+didn’t take it. 
+
+“I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, 
+thanks,” he said coolly. 
+
+Draco Malfoy didn’t go red, but a pink tinge appeared 
+in his pale cheeks. 
+
+“I’d be careful if I were you, Potter,” he said slowly. 
+“Unless you’re a bit politer you’ll go the same way as 
+your parents. They didn’t know what was good for 
+them, either. You hang around with riffraff like the 
+Weasleys and that Hagrid, and it’ll rub off on you.” 
+
+Both Harry and Ron stood up. 
+
+“Say that again,” Ron said, his face as red as his hair. 
+
+“Oh, you’re going to fight us, are you?” Malfoy 
+sneered. 
+
+“Unless you get out now,” said Harry, more bravely 
+than he felt, because Crabbe and Goyle were a lot 
+bigger than him or Ron. 
+
+“But we don’t feel like leaving, do we, boys? We’ve 
+eaten all our food and you still seem to have some.” 
+
+Goyle reached toward the Chocolate Frogs next to 
+Ron — Ron leapt forward, but before he’d so much as 
+touched Goyle, Goyle let out a horrible yell. 
+
+Scabbers the rat was hanging off his finger, sharp 
+little teeth sunk deep into Goyle ’s knuckle — Crabbe 
+and Malfoy backed away as Goyle swung Scabbers 
+round and round, howling, and when Scabbers finally 
+flew off and hit the window, all three of them 
+disappeared at once. Perhaps they thought there were 
+Page | 122 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+more rats lurking among the sweets, or perhaps 
+they’d heard footsteps, because a second later, 
+Hermione Granger had come in. 
+
+“What has been going on?” she said, looking at the 
+sweets all over the floor and Ron picking up Scabbers 
+by his tail. 
+
+“I think he’s been knocked out,” Ron said to Harry. 
+
+He looked closer at Scabbers. “No — I don’t believe it 
+— he’s gone back to sleep.” 
+
+And so he had. 
+
+“You’ve met Malfoy before?” 
+
+Harry explained about their meeting in Diagon Alley. 
+
+“I’ve heard of his family,” said Ron darkly. “They were 
+some of the first to come back to our side after You- 
+Know-Who disappeared. Said they’d been bewitched. 
+My dad doesn’t believe it. He says Malfoy’s father 
+didn’t need an excuse to go over to the Dark Side.” He 
+turned to Hermione. “Can we help you with 
+something?” 
+
+“You’d better hurry up and put your robes on, I’ve 
+just been up to the front to ask the conductor, and he 
+says we’re nearly there. You haven’t been fighting, 
+have you? You’ll be in trouble before we even get 
+there!” 
+
+“Scabbers has been fighting, not us,” said Ron, 
+scowling at her. “Would you mind leaving while we 
+change?” 
+
+“All right — I only came in here because people 
+outside are behaving very childishly, racing up and 
+down the corridors,” said Hermione in a sniffy voice. 
+
+Page | 123 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“And you’ve got dirt on your nose, by the way, did you 
+know?” 
+
+
+
+Ron glared at her as she left. Harry peered out of the 
+window. It was getting dark. He could see mountains 
+and forests under a deep purple sky. The train did 
+seem to be slowing down. 
+
+He and Ron took off their jackets and pulled on their 
+long black robes. Ron’s were a bit short for him, you 
+could see his sneakers underneath them. 
+
+A voice echoed through the train: “We will be reaching 
+Hogwarts in five minutes’ time. Please leave your 
+luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school 
+separately.” 
+
+Harry’s stomach lurched with nerves and Ron, he 
+saw, looked pale under his freckles. They crammed 
+their pockets with the last of the sweets and joined 
+the crowd thronging the corridor. 
+
+The train slowed right down and finally stopped. 
+People pushed their way toward the door and out on 
+to a tiny, dark platform. Harry shivered in the cold 
+night air. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads 
+of the students, and Harry heard a familiar voice: 
+“Firs’ years! Firs’ years over here! All right there, 
+Harry?” 
+
+Hagrid’s big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads. 
+
+“C’mon, follow me — any more firs’ years? Mind yer 
+step, now! Firs’ years follow me!” 
+
+Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down 
+what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so 
+dark on either side of them that Harry thought there 
+must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke much. 
+
+Page | 124 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Neville, the boy who kept losing his toad, sniffed once 
+or twice. 
+
+
+
+“Yeh’ll get yer firs’ sight o’ Hogwarts in a sec,” Hagrid 
+called over his shoulder, “jus’ round this bend here.” 
+
+There was a loud “Oooooh!” 
+
+The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge 
+of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain 
+on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry 
+sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. 
+
+“No more’n four to a boat!” Hagrid called, pointing to 
+a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. 
+Harry and Ron were followed into their boat by Neville 
+and Hermione. 
+
+“Everyone in?” shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to 
+himself. “Right then — FORWARD!” 
+
+And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, 
+gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as 
+glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great 
+castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed 
+nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood. 
+
+“Heads down!” yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached 
+the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats 
+carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide 
+opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a 
+dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right 
+underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of 
+underground harbor, where they clambered out onto 
+rocks and pebbles. 
+
+“Oy, you there! Is this your toad?” said Hagrid, who 
+was checking the boats as people climbed out of 
+them. 
+
+Page | 125 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Trevor!” cried Neville blissfully, holding out his 
+hands. Then they clambered up a passageway in the 
+rock after Hagrid’s lamp, coming out at last onto 
+smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. 
+
+They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded 
+around the huge, oak front door. 
+
+“Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?” 
+
+Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times 
+on the castle door. 
+
+
+
+Page | 126 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+7 
+
+
+
+
+THE SORTING HAT 
+
+The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired 
+witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a 
+very stern face and Harry’s first thought was that this 
+was not someone to cross. 
+
+“The firs’ years, Professor McGonagall,” said Hagrid. 
+
+“Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here.” 
+
+She pulled the door wide. The entrance hall was so 
+big you could have fit the whole of the Dursleys’ 
+house in it. The stone walls were lit with flaming 
+torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too 
+high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase 
+facing them led to the upper floors. 
+
+They followed Professor McGonagall across the 
+flagged stone floor. Harry could hear the drone of 
+hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right — the 
+rest of the school must already be here — but 
+Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a 
+small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, 
+Page | 127 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone -J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+standing rather closer together than they would 
+usually have done, peering about nervously. 
+
+“Welcome to Hogwarts,” said Professor McGonagall. 
+“The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but 
+before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will 
+be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very 
+important ceremony because, while you are here, 
+your House will be something like your family within 
+Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your 
+House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend free 
+time in your House common room. 
+
+“The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, 
+Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own 
+noble history and each has produced outstanding 
+witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your 
+triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule- 
+breaking will lose House points. At the end of the 
+year, the House with the most points is awarded the 
+House cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a 
+credit to whichever House becomes yours. 
+
+“The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few 
+minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest 
+you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can 
+while you are waiting.” 
+
+Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville’s cloak, 
+which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron’s 
+smudged nose. Harry nervously tried to flatten his 
+hair. 
+
+“I shall return when we are ready for you,” said 
+Professor McGonagall. “Please wait quietly.” 
+
+She left the chamber. Harry swallowed. 
+
+
+
+Page | 128 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“How exactly do they sort us into Houses?” he asked 
+Ron. 
+
+
+
+“Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but 
+I think he was joking.” 
+
+Harry’s heart gave a horrible jolt. A test? In front of 
+the whole school? But he didn’t know any magic yet 
+— what on earth would he have to do? He hadn’t 
+expected something like this the moment they 
+arrived. He looked around anxiously and saw that 
+everyone else looked terrified, too. No one was talking 
+much except Hermione Granger, who was whispering 
+very fast about all the spells she’d learned and 
+wondering which one she’d need. Harry tried hard not 
+to listen to her. He’d never been more nervous, never, 
+not even when he’d had to take a school report home 
+to the Dursleys saying that he’d somehow turned his 
+teachers wig blue. He kept his eyes fixed on the door. 
+Any second now, Professor McGonagall would come 
+back and lead him to his doom. 
+
+Then something happened that made him jump about 
+a foot in the air — several people behind him 
+screamed. 
+
+“What the — ?” 
+
+He gasped. So did the people around him. About 
+twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back 
+wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they 
+glided across the room talking to one another and 
+hardly glancing at the first years. They seemed to be 
+arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was 
+saying: “Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give 
+him a second chance — ” 
+
+“My dear Friar, haven’t we given Peeves all the 
+chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and 
+
+Page | 129 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+you know, he’s not really even a ghost — I say, what 
+are you all doing here?” 
+
+
+
+A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly 
+noticed the first years. 
+
+Nobody answered. 
+
+“New students!” said the Fat Friar, smiling around at 
+them. “About to be Sorted, I suppose?” 
+
+A few people nodded mutely. 
+
+“Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!” said the Friar. “My old 
+House, you know.” 
+
+“Move along now,” said a sharp voice. “The Sorting 
+Ceremony’s about to start.” 
+
+Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the 
+ghosts floated away through the opposite wall. 
+
+“Now, form a line,” Professor McGonagall told the first 
+years, “and follow me.” 
+
+Feeling oddly as though his legs had turned to lead, 
+Harry got into line behind a boy with sandy hair, with 
+Ron behind him, and they walked out of the chamber, 
+back across the hall, and through a pair of double 
+doors into the Great Hall. 
+
+Harry had never even imagined such a strange and 
+splendid place. It was lit by thousands and thousands 
+of candles that were floating in midair over four long 
+tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. 
+These tables were laid with glittering golden plates 
+and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long 
+table where the teachers were sitting. Professor 
+McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they 
+Page | 130 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+came to a halt in a line facing the other students, 
+with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces 
+staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the 
+flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among 
+the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Mainly to 
+avoid all the staring eyes, Harry looked upward and 
+saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. He heard 
+Hermione whisper, “It’s bewitched to look like the sky 
+outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History.” 
+
+It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, 
+and that the Great Hall didn’t simply open on to the 
+heavens. 
+
+Harry quickly looked down again as Professor 
+McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front 
+of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed 
+wizard’s hat. This hat was patched and frayed and 
+extremely dirty. Aunt Petunia wouldn’t have let it in 
+the house. 
+
+Maybe they had to try and get a rabbit out of it, Harry 
+thought wildly, that seemed the sort of thing — 
+noticing that everyone in the hall was now staring at 
+the hat, he stared at it, too. For a few seconds, there 
+was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip 
+near the brim opened wide like a mouth — and the 
+hat began to sing: 
+
+“Oh, you may not think I’m pretty, 
+
+But don’t judge on what you see, 
+
+I’ll eat myself if you can find 
+
+A smarter hat than me. 
+
+You can keep your bowlers black, 
+
+
+
+Page | 131 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Your top hats sleek and tall, 
+
+For I’m the Hogwarts Sorting Hat 
+And I can cap them all. 
+
+There’s nothing hidden in your head 
+The Sorting Hat can’t see, 
+
+So try me on and I will tell you 
+Where you ought to be. 
+
+You might belong in Gryffindor, 
+
+Where dwell the brave at heart, 
+
+Their daring, nerve, and chivalry 
+Set Gryffindors apart; 
+
+You might belong in Hufflepuff, 
+
+Where they are just and loyal, 
+
+Those patient Hufflepuffs are true 
+And unafraid of toil; 
+
+Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, 
+
+If you’ve a ready mind, 
+
+Where those of wit and learning, 
+
+Will always find their kind; 
+
+Or perhaps in Slytherin 
+
+Page | 132 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+You’ll make your real friends, 
+
+Those cunning folk use any means 
+To achieve their ends. 
+
+So put me on! Don’t be afraid l\ 
+
+And don’t get in a flap\ 
+
+You’re in safe hands (though I have none) 
+
+For I’m a Thinking Cap\” 
+
+The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished 
+its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then 
+became quite still again. 
+
+“So we’ve just got to try on the hat!” Ron whispered to 
+Harry. “I’ll kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling 
+a troll.” 
+
+Harry smiled weakly. Yes, trying on the hat was a lot 
+better than having to do a spell, but he did wish they 
+could have tried it on without everyone watching. The 
+hat seemed to be asking rather a lot; Harry didn’t feel 
+brave or quick-witted or any of it at the moment. If 
+only the hat had mentioned a House for people who 
+felt a bit queasy, that would have been the one for 
+him. 
+
+Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a 
+long roll of parchment. 
+
+“When I call your name, you will put on the hat and 
+sit on the stool to be sorted,” she said. “Abbott, 
+Hannah!” 
+
+
+
+Page | 133 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of 
+line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her 
+eyes, and sat down. A moment’s pause — 
+
+“HUFFLEPUFF!” shouted the hat. 
+
+The table on the right cheered and clapped as 
+Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. 
+
+Harry saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at 
+her. 
+
+“Bones, Susan!” 
+
+“HUFFLEPUFF!” shouted the hat again, and Susan 
+scuttled off to sit next to Hannah. 
+
+“Boot, Terry!” 
+
+“RAVENCLAW!” 
+
+The table second from the left clapped this time; 
+several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with 
+Terry as he joined them. 
+
+“Brocklehurst, Mandy” went to Ravenclaw too, but 
+“Brown, Lavender” became the first new Gryffindor, 
+and the table on the far left exploded with cheers; 
+Harry could see Ron’s twin brothers catcalling. 
+
+“Bulstrode, Millicent��� then became a Slytherin. 
+Perhaps it was Harry’s imagination, after all he’d 
+heard about Slytherin, but he thought they looked 
+like an unpleasant lot. 
+
+He was starting to feel definitely sick now. He 
+remembered being picked for teams during gym at his 
+old school. He had always been last to be chosen, not 
+because he was no good, but because no one wanted 
+Dudley to think they liked him. 
+
+Page | 134 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Finch-Fletchley, Justin!” 
+
+
+
+“HUFFLEPUFF!” 
+
+Sometimes, Harry noticed, the hat shouted out the 
+House at once, but at others it took a little while to 
+decide. “Finnigan, Seamus,” the sandy-haired boy 
+next to Harry in the line, sat on the stool for almost a 
+whole minute before the hat declared him a 
+Gryffindor. 
+
+“Granger, Hermione!” 
+
+Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat 
+eagerly on her head. 
+
+“GRYFFINDOR!” shouted the hat. Ron groaned. 
+
+A horrible thought struck Harry, as horrible thoughts 
+always do when you’re very nervous. What if he 
+wasn’t chosen at all? What if he just sat there with 
+the hat over his eyes for ages, until Professor 
+McGonagall jerked it off his head and said there had 
+obviously been a mistake and he’d better get back on 
+the train? 
+
+When Neville Longbottom, the boy who kept losing his 
+toad, was called, he fell over on his way to the stool. 
+The hat took a long time to decide with Neville. When 
+it finally shouted, “GRYFFINDOR,” Neville ran off still 
+wearing it, and had to jog back amid gales of laughter 
+to give it to “MacDougal, Morag.” 
+
+Malfoy swaggered forward when his name was called 
+and got his wish at once: the hat had barely touched 
+his head when it screamed, “SLYTHERIN!” 
+
+Malfoy went to join his friends Crabbe and Goyle, 
+looking pleased with himself. 
+
+Page | 135 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+There weren’t many people left now. 
+
+
+
+“Moon” , “Nott” ... , “Parkinson” ... , then a pair of 
+twin girls, “Path” and “Path” ... , then “Perks, Sally- 
+Anne” . . . , and then, at last — 
+
+“Potter, Harry!” 
+
+As Harry stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke 
+out like little hissing fires all over the hall. 
+
+“ Potter , did she say?” 
+
+“ The Harry Potter?” 
+
+The last thing Harry saw before the hat dropped over 
+his eyes was the hall full of people craning to get a 
+good look at him. Next second he was looking at the 
+black inside of the hat. He waited. 
+
+“Hmm,” said a small voice in his ear. “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?” 
+
+Harry gripped the edges of the stool and thought, Not 
+Slytherin, not Slytherin. 
+
+“Not Slytherin, eh?” said the small voice. “Are you 
+sure? You could be great, you know, it’s all here in 
+your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to 
+greatness, no doubt about that — no? Well, if you’re 
+sure — better be GRYFFINDOR!” 
+
+Harry heard the hat shout the last word to the whole 
+hall. He took off the hat and walked shakily toward 
+the Gryffindor table. He was so relieved to have been 
+chosen and not put in Slytherin, he hardly noticed 
+
+Page | 136 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+that he was getting the loudest cheer yet. Percy the 
+Prefect got up and shook his hand vigorously, while 
+the Weasley twins yelled, “We got Potter! We got 
+Potter!” Harry sat down opposite the ghost in the ruff 
+he’d seen earlier. The ghost patted his arm, giving 
+Harry the sudden, horrible feeling he’d just plunged it 
+into a bucket of ice-cold water. 
+
+He could see the High Table properly now. At the end 
+nearest him sat Hagrid, who caught his eye and gave 
+him the thumbs up. Harry grinned back. And there, 
+in the center of the High Table, in a large gold chair, 
+sat Albus Dumbledore. Harry recognized him at once 
+from the card he’d gotten out of the Chocolate Frog on 
+the train. Dumbledore’s silver hair was the only thing 
+in the whole hall that shone as brightly as the ghosts. 
+Harry spotted Professor Quirrell, too, the nervous 
+young man from the Leaky Cauldron. He was looking 
+very peculiar in a large purple turban. 
+
+And now there were only four people left to be sorted. 
+“Thomas, Dean,” a Black boy even taller than Ron, 
+joined Harry at the Gryffindor table. “Turpin, Lisa,” 
+became a Ravenclaw and then it was Ron’s turn. He 
+was pale green by now. Harry crossed his fingers 
+under the table and a second later the hat had 
+shouted, “GRYFFINDOR!” 
+
+Harry clapped loudly with the rest as Ron collapsed 
+into the chair next to him. 
+
+“Well done, Ron, excellent,” said Percy Weasley 
+pompously across Harry as “Zabini, Blaise,” was 
+made a Slytherin. Professor McGonagall rolled up her 
+scroll and took the Sorting Hat away. 
+
+Harry looked down at his empty gold plate. He had 
+only just realized how hungry he was. The pumpkin 
+pasties seemed ages ago. 
+
+Page | 137 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was 
+beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if 
+nothing could have pleased him more than to see 
+them all there. 
+
+“Welcome!” he said. “Welcome to a new year at 
+Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like 
+to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! 
+
+Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! 
+
+“Thank you!” 
+
+He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered. 
+Harry didn’t know whether to laugh or not. 
+
+“Is he — a bit mad?” he asked Percy uncertainly. 
+
+“Mad?” said Percy airily. “He’s a genius! Best wizard 
+in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes. Potatoes, 
+Harry?” 
+
+Harry’s mouth fell open. The dishes in front of him 
+were now piled with food. He had never seen so many 
+things he liked to eat on one table: roast beef, roast 
+chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, 
+bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, 
+fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, 
+ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint 
+humbugs. 
+
+The Dursleys had never exactly starved Harry, but 
+he’d never been allowed to eat as much as he liked. 
+Dudley had always taken anything that Harry really 
+wanted, even if it made him sick. Harry piled his plate 
+with a bit of everything except the peppermints and 
+began to eat. It was all delicious. 
+
+“That does look good,” said the ghost in the ruff sadly, 
+watching Harry cut up his steak. 
+
+Page | 138 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Can’t you — ?” 
+
+
+
+“I haven’t eaten for nearly five hundred years,” said 
+the ghost. “I don’t need to, of course, but one does 
+miss it. I don’t think I’ve introduced myself? Sir 
+Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. 
+Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower.” 
+
+“I know who you are!” said Ron suddenly. “My 
+brothers told me about you — you’re Nearly Headless 
+Nick!” 
+
+“I would prefer you to call me Sir Nicholas de Mimsy 
+— ” the ghost began stiffly, but sandy-haired Seamus 
+Finnigan interrupted. 
+
+“Nearly Headless? How can you be nearly headless?” 
+
+Sir Nicholas looked extremely miffed, as if their little 
+chat wasn’t going at all the way he wanted. 
+
+“Like this,” he said irritably. He seized his left ear and 
+pulled. His whole head swung off his neck and fell 
+onto his shoulder as if it was on a hinge. Someone 
+had obviously tried to behead him, but not done it 
+properly. Looking pleased at the stunned looks on 
+their faces, Nearly Headless Nick flipped his head 
+back onto his neck, coughed, and said, “So — new 
+Gryffindors! I hope you’re going to help us win the 
+House Championship this year? Gryffindors have 
+never gone so long without winning. Slytherins have 
+got the cup six years in a row! The Bloody Baron’s 
+becoming almost unbearable — he’s the Slytherin 
+ghost.” 
+
+Harry looked over at the Slytherin table and saw a 
+horrible ghost sitting there, with blank staring eyes, a 
+gaunt face, and robes stained with silver blood. He 
+was right next to Malfoy who, Harry was pleased to 
+
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+
+
+
+
+see, didn’t look too pleased with the seating 
+arrangements. 
+
+“How did he get covered in blood?” asked Seamus 
+with great interest. 
+
+“I’ve never asked,” said Nearly Headless Nick 
+delicately. 
+
+When everyone had eaten as much as they could, the 
+remains of the food faded from the plates, leaving 
+them sparkling clean as before. A moment later the 
+desserts appeared. Blocks of ice cream in every flavor 
+you could think of, apple pies, treacle tarts, chocolate 
+eclairs and jam doughnuts, trifle, strawberries, Jell- 
+0, rice pudding ... 
+
+As Harry helped himself to a treacle tart, the talk 
+turned to their families. 
+
+“I’m half-and-half,” said Seamus. “Me dad’s a Muggle. 
+Mom didn’t tell him she was a witch ’til after they 
+were married. Bit of a nasty shock for him.” 
+
+The others laughed. 
+
+“What about you, Neville?” said Ron. 
+
+“Well, my gran brought me up and she’s a witch,” 
+said Neville, “but the family thought I was all- Muggle 
+for ages. My Great Uncle Algie kept trying to catch me 
+off my guard and force some magic out of me — he 
+pushed me off the end of Blackpool pier once, I nearly 
+drowned — but nothing happened until I was eight. 
+Great Uncle Algie came round for dinner, and he was 
+hanging me out of an upstairs window by the ankles 
+when my Great Auntie Enid offered him a meringue 
+and he accidentally let go. But I bounced — all the 
+way down the garden and into the road. They were all 
+Page | 140 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone -J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+really pleased, Gran was crying, she was so happy. 
+And you should have seen their faces when I got in 
+here — they thought I might not be magic enough to 
+come, you see. Great Uncle Algie was so pleased he 
+bought me my toad.” 
+
+On Harry’s other side, Percy Weasley and Hermione 
+were talking about lessons (“I do hope they start right 
+away, there’s so much to learn, I’m particularly 
+interested in Transfiguration, you know, turning 
+something into something else, of course, it’s 
+supposed to be very difficult — “You’ll be starting 
+small, just matches into needles and that sort of 
+thing — ”). 
+
+
+
+Harry, who was starting to feel warm and sleepy, 
+looked up at the High Table again. Hagrid was 
+drinking deeply from his goblet. Professor McGonagall 
+was talking to Professor Dumbledore. Professor 
+Quirrell, in his absurd turban, was talking to a 
+teacher with greasy black hair, a hooked nose, and 
+sallow skin. 
+
+It happened very suddenly. The hook-nosed teacher 
+looked past Quirrell’s turban straight into Harry’s 
+eyes — and a sharp, hot pain shot across the scar on 
+Harry’s forehead. 
+
+“Ouch!” Harry clapped a hand to his head. 
+
+“What is it?” asked Percy. 
+
+“N-nothing.” 
+
+The pain had gone as quickly as it had come. Harder 
+to shake off was the feeling Harry had gotten from the 
+teacher’s look — a feeling that he didn’t like Harry at 
+all. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Who’s that teacher talking to Professor Quirrell?” he 
+asked Percy. 
+
+“Oh, you know Quirrell already, do you? No wonder 
+he’s looking so nervous, that’s Professor Snape. He 
+teaches Potions, but he doesn’t want to — everyone 
+knows he’s after Quirrell’s job. Knows an awful lot 
+about the Dark Arts, Snape.” 
+
+Harry watched Snape for a while, but Snape didn’t 
+look at him again. 
+
+At last, the desserts too disappeared, and Professor 
+Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent. 
+
+“Ahem — just a few more words now that we are all 
+fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to 
+give you. 
+
+“First years should note that the forest on the 
+grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our 
+older students would do well to remember that as 
+well.” 
+
+Dumbledore ’s twinkling eyes flashed in the direction 
+of the Weasley twins. 
+
+“I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to 
+remind you all that no magic should be used between 
+classes in the corridors. 
+
+“Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of 
+the term. Anyone interested in playing for their House 
+teams should contact Madam Hooch. 
+
+“And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third- 
+floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds 
+to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful 
+death.” 
+
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+
+
+
+
+Harry laughed, but he was one of the few who did. 
+
+
+
+“He’s not serious?” he muttered to Percy. 
+
+“Must be,” said Percy, frowning at Dumbledore. “It’s 
+odd, because he usually gives us a reason why we’re 
+not allowed to go somewhere — the forest’s full of 
+dangerous beasts, everyone knows that. I do think he 
+might have told us prefects, at least.” 
+
+“And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school 
+song!” cried Dumbledore. Harry noticed that the other 
+teachers’ smiles had become rather fixed. 
+
+Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was 
+trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden 
+ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables 
+and twisted itself, snakelike, into words. 
+
+“Everyone pick their favorite tune,” said Dumbledore, 
+“and off we go!” 
+
+And the school bellowed: 
+
+“Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts, 
+
+Teach us something please, 
+
+Whether we be old and bald 
+Or young with scabby knees, 
+
+Our heads could do with filling 
+With some interesting stuff, 
+
+For now they’re bare and full of air, 
+
+Dead flies and bits of fluff, 
+
+Page | 143 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone -J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+So teach us things worth knowing, 
+
+Bring back what we’ve forgot, 
+
+Just do your best, we’ll do the rest, 
+
+And learn until our brains all rot.” 
+
+Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, 
+only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a 
+very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their 
+last few lines with his wand and when they had 
+finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest. 
+
+“Ah, music,” he said, wiping his eyes. “A magic 
+beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you 
+trot!” 
+
+The Gryffindor first years followed Percy through the 
+chattering crowds, out of the Great Hall, and up the 
+marble staircase. Harry’s legs were like lead again, 
+but only because he was so tired and full of food. He 
+was too sleepy even to be surprised that the people in 
+the portraits along the corridors whispered and 
+pointed as they passed, or that twice Percy led them 
+through doorways hidden behind sliding panels and 
+hanging tapestries. They climbed more staircases, 
+yawning and dragging their feet, and Harry was just 
+wondering how much farther they had to go when 
+they came to a sudden halt. 
+
+A bundle of walking sticks was floating in midair 
+ahead of them, and as Percy took a step toward them 
+they started throwing themselves at him. 
+
+“Peeves,” Percy whispered to the first years. “A 
+poltergeist.” He raised his voice, “Peeves — show 
+yourself.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 144 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+A loud, rude sound, like the air being let out of a 
+balloon, answered. 
+
+“Do you want me to go to the Bloody Baron?” 
+
+There was a pop, and a little man with wicked, dark 
+eyes and a wide mouth appeared, floating cross- 
+legged in the air, clutching the walking sticks. 
+
+“Oooooooh!” he said, with an evil cackle. “Ickle 
+Firsties! What fun!” 
+
+He swooped suddenly at them. They all ducked. 
+
+“Go away, Peeves, or the Baron’ll hear about this, I 
+mean it!” barked Percy. 
+
+Peeves stuck out his tongue and vanished, dropping 
+the walking sticks on Neville’s head. They heard him 
+zooming away, rattling coats of armor as he passed. 
+
+“You want to watch out for Peeves,” said Percy, as 
+they set off again. “The Bloody Baron’s the only one 
+who can control him, he won’t even listen to us 
+prefects. Here we are.” 
+
+At the very end of the corridor hung a portrait of a 
+very fat woman in a pink silk dress. 
+
+“Password?” she said. 
+
+“Caput Draconis,” said Percy, and the portrait swung 
+forward to reveal a round hole in the wall. They all 
+scrambled through it — Neville needed a leg up — 
+and found themselves in the Gryffindor common 
+room, a cozy, round room full of squashy armchairs. 
+
+Percy directed the girls through one door to their 
+dormitory and the boys through another. At the top of 
+
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+
+
+
+
+a spiral staircase — they were obviously in one of the 
+towers — they found their beds at last: five four- 
+posters hung with deep red, velvet curtains. Their 
+trunks had already been brought up. Too tired to talk 
+much, they pulled on their pajamas and fell into bed. 
+
+“Great food, isn’t it?” Ron muttered to Harry through 
+the hangings. “Get off Scabbers! He’s chewing my 
+sheets.” 
+
+Harry was going to ask Ron if he’d had any of the 
+treacle tart, but he fell asleep almost at once. 
+
+Perhaps Harry had eaten a bit too much, because he 
+had a very strange dream. He was wearing Professor 
+Quirrell’s turban, which kept talking to him, telling 
+him he must transfer to Slytherin at once, because it 
+was his destiny. Harry told the turban he didn’t want 
+to be in Slytherin; it got heavier and heavier; he tried 
+to pull it off but it tightened painfully — and there 
+was Malfoy, laughing at him as he struggled with it — 
+then Malfoy turned into the hook-nosed teacher, 
+Snape, whose laugh became high and cold — there 
+was a burst of green light and Harry woke, sweating 
+and shaking. 
+
+He rolled over and fell asleep again, and when he 
+woke next day, he didn’t remember the dream at all. 
+
+
+
+Page | 146 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE POTIONS MASTER 
+
+“There, look.” 
+
+“Where?” 
+
+“Next to the tall kid with the red hair.” 
+
+“Wearing the glasses?” 
+
+“Did you see his face?” 
+
+“Did you see his scar?” 
+
+Whispers followed Harry from the moment he left his 
+dormitory the next day. People lining up outside 
+classrooms stood on tiptoe to get a look at him, or 
+doubled back to pass him in the corridors again, 
+staring. Harry wished they wouldn’t, because he was 
+trying to concentrate on finding his way to classes. 
+
+There were a hundred and forty-two staircases at 
+Hogwarts: wide, sweeping ones; narrow, rickety ones; 
+some that led somewhere different on a Friday; some 
+
+Page | 147 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone -J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+with a vanishing step halfway up that you had to 
+remember to jump. Then there were doors that 
+wouldn’t open unless you asked politely, or tickled 
+them in exactly the right place, and doors that weren’t 
+really doors at all, but solid walls just pretending. It 
+was also very hard to remember where anything was, 
+because it all seemed to move around a lot. The 
+people in the portraits kept going to visit each other, 
+and Harry was sure the coats of armor could walk. 
+
+The ghosts didn’t help, either. It was always a nasty 
+shock when one of them glided suddenly through a 
+door you were trying to open. Nearly Headless Nick 
+was always happy to point new Gryffindors in the 
+right direction, but Peeves the Poltergeist was worth 
+two locked doors and a trick staircase if you met him 
+when you were late for class. He would drop 
+wastepaper baskets on your head, pull rugs from 
+under your feet, pelt you with bits of chalk, or sneak 
+up behind you, invisible, grab your nose, and screech, 
+“GOT YOUR CONK!” 
+
+Even worse than Peeves, if that was possible, was the 
+caretaker, Argus Filch. Harry and Ron managed to get 
+on the wrong side of him on their very first morning. 
+Filch found them trying to force their way through a 
+door that unluckily turned out to be the entrance to 
+the out-of-bounds corridor on the third floor. He 
+wouldn’t believe they were lost, was sure they were 
+trying to break into it on purpose, and was 
+threatening to lock them in the dungeons when they 
+were rescued by Professor Quirrell, who was passing. 
+
+Filch owned a cat called Mrs. Norris, a scrawny, dust- 
+colored creature with bulging, lamplike eyes just like 
+Filch’s. She patrolled the corridors alone. Break a rule 
+in front of her, put just one toe out of line, and she’d 
+whisk off for Filch, who’d appear, wheezing, two 
+seconds later. Filch knew the secret passageways of 
+Page | 148 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone -J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+the school better than anyone (except perhaps the 
+Weasley twins) and could pop up as suddenly as any 
+of the ghosts. The students all hated him, and it was 
+the dearest ambition of many to give Mrs. Norris a 
+good kick. 
+
+And then, once you had managed to find them, there 
+were the classes themselves. There was a lot more to 
+magic, as Harry quickly found out, than waving your 
+wand and saying a few funny words. 
+
+They had to study the night skies through their 
+telescopes every Wednesday at midnight and learn 
+the names of different stars and the movements of the 
+planets. Three times a week they went out to the 
+greenhouses behind the castle to study Herbology, 
+with a dumpy little witch called Professor Sprout, 
+where they learned how to take care of all the strange 
+plants and fungi, and found out what they were used 
+for. 
+
+Easily the most boring class was History of Magic, 
+which was the only one taught by a ghost. Professor 
+Binns had been very old indeed when he had fallen 
+asleep in front of the staff room fire and got up next 
+morning to teach, leaving his body behind him. Binns 
+droned on and on while they scribbled down names 
+and dates, and got Emeric the Evil and Uric the 
+Oddball mixed up. 
+
+Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, was a tiny 
+little wizard who had to stand on a pile of books to 
+see over his desk. At the start of their first class he 
+took the roll call, and when he reached Harry’s name 
+he gave an excited squeak and toppled out of sight. 
+
+Professor McGonagall was again different. Harry had 
+been quite right to think she wasn’t a teacher to 
+
+
+
+Page | 149 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+cross. Strict and clever, she gave them a talking- to 
+the moment they sat down in her first class. 
+
+“Transfiguration is some of the most complex and 
+dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts,” she 
+said. “Anyone messing around in my class will leave 
+and not come back. You have been warned.” 
+
+Then she changed her desk into a pig and back again. 
+They were all very impressed and couldn’t wait to get 
+started, but soon realized they weren’t going to be 
+changing the furniture into animals for a long time. 
+After taking a lot of complicated notes, they were each 
+given a match and started trying to turn it into a 
+needle. By the end of the lesson, only Hermione 
+Granger had made any difference to her match; 
+Professor McGonagall showed the class how it had 
+gone all silver and pointy and gave Hermione a rare 
+smile. 
+
+The class everyone had really been looking forward to 
+was Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Quirrell’s 
+lessons turned out to be a bit of a joke. His classroom 
+smelled strongly of garlic, which everyone said was to 
+ward off a vampire he’d met in Romania and was 
+afraid would be coming back to get him one of these 
+days. His turban, he told them, had been given to him 
+by an African prince as a thank-you for getting rid of 
+a troublesome zombie, but they weren’t sure they 
+believed this story. For one thing, when Seamus 
+Finnigan asked eagerly to hear how Quirrell had 
+fought off the zombie, Quirrell went pink and started 
+talking about the weather; for another, they had 
+noticed that a funny smell hung around the turban, 
+and the Weasley twins insisted that it was stuffed full 
+of garlic as well, so that Quirrell was protected 
+wherever he went. 
+
+
+
+Page | 150 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Harry was very relieved to find out that he wasn’t 
+miles behind everyone else. Lots of people had come 
+from Muggle families and, like him, hadn’t had any 
+idea that they were witches and wizards. There was so 
+much to learn that even people like Ron didn’t have 
+much of a head start. 
+
+Friday was an important day for Harry and Ron. They 
+finally managed to find their way down to the Great 
+Hall for breakfast without getting lost once. 
+
+“What have we got today?” Harry asked Ron as he 
+poured sugar on his porridge. 
+
+“Double Potions with the Slytherins,” said Ron. 
+“Snape’s Head of Slytherin House. They say he always 
+favors them — we’ll be able to see if it’s true.” 
+
+“Wish McGonagall favored us,” said Harry. Professor 
+McGonagall was head of Gryffindor House, but it 
+hadn’t stopped her from giving them a huge pile of 
+homework the day before. 
+
+Just then, the mail arrived. Harry had gotten used to 
+this by now, but it had given him a bit of a shock on 
+the first morning, when about a hundred owls had 
+suddenly streamed into the Great Hall during 
+breakfast, circling the tables until they saw their 
+owners, and dropping letters and packages onto their 
+laps. 
+
+Hedwig hadn’t brought Harry anything so far. She 
+sometimes flew in to nibble his ear and have a bit of 
+toast before going off to sleep in the owlery with the 
+other school owls. This morning, however, she 
+fluttered down between the marmalade and the sugar 
+bowl and dropped a note onto Harry’s plate. Harry 
+tore it open at once. It said, in a very untidy scrawl: 
+
+
+
+Page | 151 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Dear Harry, 
+
+
+
+I know you get Friday afternoons off so would you like 
+to come and have a cup of tea with me around three? 
+
+I want to hear all about your first week. Send us an 
+answer back with Hedwig. 
+
+Hagrid 
+
+Harry borrowed Ron’s quill, scribbled Yes, please, see 
+you later on the back of the note, and sent Hedwig off 
+again. 
+
+It was lucky that Harry had tea with Hagrid to look 
+forward to, because the Potions lesson turned out to 
+be the worst thing that had happened to him so far. 
+
+At the start-of-term banquet, Harry had gotten the 
+idea that Professor Snape disliked him. By the end of 
+the first Potions lesson, he knew he’d been wrong. 
+Snape didn’t dislike Harry — he hated him. 
+
+Potions lessons took place down in one of the 
+dungeons. It was colder here than up in the main 
+castle, and would have been quite creepy enough 
+without the pickled animals floating in glass jars all 
+around the walls. 
+
+Snape, like Flitwick, started the class by taking the 
+roll call, and like Flitwick, he paused at Harry’s name. 
+
+“Ah, yes,” he said softly, “Harry Potter. Our new — 
+celebrity.” 
+
+Draco Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle 
+sniggered behind their hands. Snape finished calling 
+the names and looked up at the class. His eyes were 
+black like Hagrid ’s, but they had none of Hagrid ’s 
+
+Page | 152 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+warmth. They were cold and empty and made you 
+think of dark tunnels. 
+
+“You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art 
+of potion-making,” he began. He spoke in barely more 
+than a whisper, but they caught every word — like 
+Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a 
+class silent without effort. “As there is little foolish 
+wand- waving here, many of you will hardly believe 
+this is magic. I don’t expect you will really understand 
+the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its 
+shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that 
+creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, 
+ensnaring the senses. ... I can teach you how to bottle 
+fame, brew glory, even stopper death — if you aren’t 
+as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to 
+teach.” 
+
+More silence followed this little speech. Harry and 
+Ron exchanged looks with raised eyebrows. Hermione 
+Granger was on the edge of her seat and looked 
+desperate to start proving that she wasn’t a 
+dunderhead. 
+
+“Potter!” said Snape suddenly. “What would I get if I 
+added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of 
+wormwood?” 
+
+Powdered root of what to an infusion of what? Harry 
+glanced at Ron, who looked as stumped as he was; 
+Hermione ’s hand had shot into the air. 
+
+“I don’t know, sir,” said Harry. 
+
+Snape ’s lips curled into a sneer. 
+
+“Tut, tut — fame clearly isn’t everything.” 
+
+He ignored Hermione ’s hand. 
+
+Page | 153 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Let’s try again. Potter, where would you look if I told 
+you to find me a bezoar?” 
+
+Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as it 
+would go without her leaving her seat, but Harry 
+didn’t have the faintest idea what a bezoar was. He 
+tried not to look at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who 
+were shaking with laughter. 
+
+“I don’t know, sir.” 
+
+“Thought you wouldn’t open a book before coming, 
+eh, Potter?” 
+
+Harry forced himself to keep looking straight into 
+those cold eyes. He had looked through his books at 
+the Dursleys’, but did Snape expect him to remember 
+everything in One Thousand Magical Herbs and 
+Fungi ? 
+
+Snape was still ignoring Hermione’s quivering hand. 
+
+“What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood 
+and wolfsbane?” 
+
+At this, Hermione stood up, her hand stretching 
+toward the dungeon ceiling. 
+
+“I don’t know,” said Harry quietly. “I think Hermione 
+does, though, why don’t you try her?” 
+
+A few people laughed; Harry caught Seamus’s eye, 
+and Seamus winked. Snape, however, was not 
+pleased. 
+
+“Sit down,” he snapped at Hermione. “For your 
+information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a 
+sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the 
+Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken 
+
+Page | 154 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from 
+most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they 
+are the same plant, which also goes by the name of 
+aconite. Well? Why aren’t you all copying that down?” 
+
+There was a sudden rummaging for quills and 
+parchment. Over the noise, Snape said, “And a point 
+will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, 
+Potter.” 
+
+Things didn’t improve for the Gryffindors as the 
+Potions lesson continued. Snape put them all into 
+pairs and set them to mixing up a simple potion to 
+cure boils. He swept around in his long black cloak, 
+watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake 
+fangs, criticizing almost everyone except Malfoy, 
+whom he seemed to like. He was just telling everyone 
+to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his 
+horned slugs when clouds of acid green smoke and a 
+loud hissing filled the dungeon. Neville had somehow 
+managed to melt Seamus’s cauldron into a twisted 
+blob, and their potion was seeping across the stone 
+floor, burning holes in people’s shoes. Within 
+seconds, the whole class was standing on their stools 
+while Neville, who had been drenched in the potion 
+when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as 
+angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs. 
+
+“Idiot boy!” snarled Snape, clearing the spilled potion 
+away with one wave of his wand. “I suppose you 
+added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron 
+off the fire?” 
+
+Neville whimpered as boils started to pop up all over 
+his nose. 
+
+“Take him up to the hospital wing,” Snape spat at 
+Seamus. Then he rounded on Harry and Ron, who 
+had been working next to Neville. 
+
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+
+
+
+
+“You — Potter — why didn’t you tell him not to add 
+the quills? Thought he’d make you look good if he got 
+it wrong, did you? That’s another point you’ve lost for 
+Gryffindor.” 
+
+This was so unfair that Harry opened his mouth to 
+argue, but Ron kicked him behind their cauldron. 
+
+“Don’t push it,” he muttered, “I’ve heard Snape can 
+turn very nasty.” 
+
+As they climbed the steps out of the dungeon an hour 
+later, Harry’s mind was racing and his spirits were 
+low. He’d lost two points for Gryffindor in his very 
+first week — why did Snape hate him so much? 
+
+“Cheer up,” said Ron, “Snape’s always taking points 
+off Fred and George. Can I come and meet Hagrid 
+with you?” 
+
+At five to three they left the castle and made their way 
+across the grounds. Hagrid lived in a small wooden 
+house on the edge of the forbidden forest. A crossbow 
+and a pair of galoshes were outside the front door. 
+
+When Harry knocked they heard a frantic scrabbling 
+from inside and several booming barks. Then Hagrid ’s 
+voice rang out, saying, “Back, Fang — back.” 
+
+Hagrid ’s big, hairy face appeared in the crack as he 
+pulled the door open. 
+
+“Hang on,” he said. “Back, Fang.” 
+
+He let them in, struggling to keep a hold on the collar 
+of an enormous black boarhound. 
+
+There was only one room inside. Hams and pheasants 
+were hanging from the ceiling, a copper kettle was 
+
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+
+
+
+
+boiling on the open fire, and in the corner stood a 
+massive bed with a patchwork quilt over it. 
+
+“Make yerselves at home,” said Hagrid, letting go of 
+Fang, who bounded straight at Ron and started 
+licking his ears. Like Hagrid, Fang was clearly not as 
+fierce as he looked. 
+
+“This is Ron,” Harry told Hagrid, who was pouring 
+boiling water into a large teapot and putting rock 
+cakes onto a plate. 
+
+“Another Weasley, eh?” said Hagrid, glancing at Ron’s 
+freckles. “I spent half me life chasin’ yer twin brothers 
+away from the forest.” 
+
+The rock cakes were shapeless lumps with raisins 
+that almost broke their teeth, but Harry and Ron 
+pretended to be enjoying them as they told Hagrid all 
+about their first lessons. Fang rested his head on 
+Harry’s knee and drooled all over his robes. 
+
+Harry and Ron were delighted to hear Hagrid call 
+Filch “that old git.” 
+
+“An’ as fer that cat, Mrs. Norris, I’d like ter introduce 
+her to Fang sometime. D’yeh know, every time I go up 
+ter the school, she follows me everywhere? Can’t get 
+rid of her — Filch puts her up to it.” 
+
+Harry told Hagrid about Snape’s lesson. Hagrid, like 
+Ron, told Harry not to worry about it, that Snape 
+liked hardly any of the students. 
+
+“But he seemed to really hate me.” 
+
+“Rubbish!” said Hagrid. “Why should he?” 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+Yet Harry couldn’t help thinking that Hagrid didn’t 
+quite meet his eyes when he said that. 
+
+“How’s yer brother Charlie?” Hagrid asked Ron. “I 
+liked him a lot — great with animals.” 
+
+Harry wondered if Hagrid had changed the subject on 
+purpose. While Ron told Hagrid all about Charlie’s 
+work with dragons, Harry picked up a piece of paper 
+that was lying on the table under the tea cozy. It was 
+a cutting from the Daily Prophet : 
+
+GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST 
+
+Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts 
+on 3 1 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark 
+wizards or witches unknown. 
+
+Gringotts goblins today insisted that nothing had 
+been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact 
+been emptied the same day. 
+
+“But we’re not telling you what was in there, so keep 
+your noses out if you know what’s good for you,” said 
+a Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon. 
+
+Harry remembered Ron telling him on the train that 
+someone had tried to rob Gringotts, but Ron hadn’t 
+mentioned the date. 
+
+“Hagrid!” said Harry, “that Gringotts break-in 
+happened on my birthday! It might’ve been happening 
+while we were there!” 
+
+There was no doubt about it, Hagrid definitely didn’t 
+meet Harry’s eyes this time. He grunted and offered 
+him another rock cake. Harry read the story again. 
+
+The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied 
+earlier that same day. Hagrid had emptied vault seven 
+Page | 158 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+hundred and thirteen, if you could call it emptying, 
+taking out that grubby little package. Had that been 
+what the thieves were looking for? 
+
+As Harry and Ron walked back to the castle for 
+dinner, their pockets weighed down with rock cakes 
+they’d been too polite to refuse, Harry thought that 
+none of the lessons he’d had so far had given him as 
+much to think about as tea with Hagrid. Had Hagrid 
+collected that package just in time? Where was it 
+now? And did Hagrid know something about Snape 
+that he didn’t want to tell Harry? 
+
+
+
+Page | 159 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+9 
+
+
+
+
+THE MIDNIGHT DUEL 
+
+Harry had never believed he would meet a boy he 
+hated more than Dudley, but that was before he met 
+Draco Malfoy. Still, first-year Gryffindors only had 
+Potions with the Slytherins, so they didn’t have to put 
+up with Malfoy much. Or at least, they didn’t until 
+they spotted a notice pinned up in the Gryffindor 
+common room that made them all groan. Flying 
+lessons would be starting on Thursday — and 
+Gryffindor and Slytherin would be learning together. 
+
+“Typical,” said Harry darkly. “Just what I always 
+wanted. To make a fool of myself on a broomstick in 
+front of Malfoy.” 
+
+He had been looking forward to learning to fly more 
+than anything else. 
+
+“You don’t know that you’ll make a fool of yourself,” 
+said Ron reasonably. “Anyway, I know Malfoy’s always 
+going on about how good he is at Quidditch, but I bet 
+that’s all talk.” 
+
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+
+
+
+Malfoy certainly did talk about flying a lot. He 
+complained loudly about first years never getting on 
+the House Quidditch teams and told long, boastful 
+stories that always seemed to end with him narrowly 
+escaping Muggles in helicopters. He wasn’t the only 
+one, though: the way Seamus Finnigan told it, he’d 
+spent most of his childhood zooming around the 
+countryside on his broomstick. Even Ron would tell 
+anyone who’d listen about the time he’d almost hit a 
+hang glider on Charlie’s old broom. Everyone from 
+wizarding families talked about Quidditch constantly. 
+Ron had already had a big argument with Dean 
+Thomas, who shared their dormitory, about soccer. 
+Ron couldn’t see what was exciting about a game with 
+only one ball where no one was allowed to fly. Harry 
+had caught Ron prodding Dean’s poster of West Ham 
+soccer team, trying to make the players move. 
+
+Neville had never been on a broomstick in his life, 
+because his grandmother had never let him near one. 
+Privately, Harry felt she’d had good reason, because 
+Neville managed to have an extraordinary number of 
+accidents even with both feet on the ground. 
+
+Hermione Granger was almost as nervous about 
+flying as Neville was. This was something you couldn’t 
+learn by heart out of a book — not that she hadn’t 
+tried. At breakfast on Thursday she bored them all 
+stupid with flying tips she’d gotten out of a library 
+book called Quidditch Through the Ages. Neville was 
+hanging on to her every word, desperate for anything 
+that might help him hang on to his broomstick later, 
+but everybody else was very pleased when Hermione ’s 
+lecture was interrupted by the arrival of the mail. 
+
+Harry hadn’t had a single letter since Hagrid’s note, 
+something that Malfoy had been quick to notice, of 
+course. Malfoy ’s eagle owl was always bringing him 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+packages of sweets from home, which he opened 
+gloatingly at the Slytherin table. 
+
+A barn owl brought Neville a small package from his 
+grandmother. He opened it excitedly and showed 
+them a glass ball the size of a large marble, which 
+seemed to be full of white smoke. 
+
+“It’s a Remembrall!” he explained. “Gran knows I 
+forget things — this tells you if there’s something 
+you’ve forgotten to do. Look, you hold it tight like this 
+and if it turns red — oh ...” His face fell, because the 
+Remembrall had suddenly glowed scarlet, “... you’ve 
+forgotten something ...” 
+
+Neville was trying to remember what he’d forgotten 
+when Draco Malfoy, who was passing the Gryffindor 
+table, snatched the Remembrall out of his hand. 
+
+Harry and Ron jumped to their feet. They were half 
+hoping for a reason to fight Malfoy, but Professor 
+McGonagall, who could spot trouble quicker than any 
+teacher in the school, was there in a flash. 
+
+“What’s going on?” 
+
+“Malfoy’s got my Remembrall, Professor.” 
+
+Scowling, Malfoy quickly dropped the Remembrall 
+back on the table. 
+
+“Just looking,” he said, and he sloped away with 
+Crabbe and Goyle behind him. 
+
+At three-thirty that afternoon, Harry, Ron, and the 
+other Gryffindors hurried down the front steps onto 
+the grounds for their first flying lesson. It was a clear, 
+breezy day, and the grass rippled under their feet as 
+they marched down the sloping lawns toward a 
+Page | 162 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+smooth, flat lawn on the opposite side of the grounds 
+to the forbidden forest, whose trees were swaying 
+darkly in the distance. 
+
+The Slytherins were already there, and so were twenty 
+broomsticks lying in neat lines on the ground. Harry 
+had heard Fred and George Weasley complain about 
+the school brooms, saying that some of them started 
+to vibrate if you flew too high, or always flew slightly 
+to the left. 
+
+Their teacher, Madam Hooch, arrived. She had short, 
+gray hair, and yellow eyes like a hawk. 
+
+“Well, what are you all waiting for?” she barked. 
+“Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry 
+up.” " 
+
+Harry glanced down at his broom. It was old and 
+some of the twigs stuck out at odd angles. 
+
+“Stick out your right hand over your broom,” called 
+Madam Hooch at the front, “and say ‘Up!’ ” 
+
+“UP!” everyone shouted. 
+
+Harry’s broom jumped into his hand at once, but it 
+was one of the few that did. Hermione Granger’s had 
+simply rolled over on the ground, and Neville’s hadn’t 
+moved at all. Perhaps brooms, like horses, could tell 
+when you were afraid, thought Harry; there was a 
+quaver in Neville’s voice that said only too clearly that 
+he wanted to keep his feet on the ground. 
+
+Madam Hooch then showed them how to mount their 
+brooms without sliding off the end, and walked up 
+and down the rows correcting their grips. Harry and 
+Ron were delighted when she told Malfoy he’d been 
+doing it wrong for years. 
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the 
+ground, hard,” said Madam Hooch. “Keep your 
+brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight 
+back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle 
+— three — two — ” 
+
+But Neville, nervous and jumpy and frightened of 
+being left on the ground, pushed off hard before the 
+whistle had touched Madam Hooch’s lips. 
+
+“Come back, boy!” she shouted, but Neville was rising 
+straight up like a cork shot out of a bottle — twelve 
+feet — twenty feet. Harry saw his scared white face 
+look down at the ground falling away, saw him gasp, 
+slip sideways off the broom and — 
+
+WHAM — a thud and a nasty crack and Neville lay 
+facedown on the grass in a heap. His broomstick was 
+still rising higher and higher, and started to drift 
+lazily toward the forbidden forest and out of sight. 
+
+Madam Hooch was bending over Neville, her face as 
+white as his. 
+
+“Broken wrist,” Harry heard her mutter. “Come on, 
+boy — it’s all right, up you get.” 
+
+She turned to the rest of the class. 
+
+“None of you is to move while I take this boy to the 
+hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are 
+or you’ll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 
+‘Quidditch.’ Come on, dear.” 
+
+Neville, his face tear-streaked, clutching his wrist, 
+hobbled off with Madam Hooch, who had her arm 
+around him. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+No sooner were they out of earshot than Malfoy burst 
+into laughter. 
+
+“Did you see his face, the great lump?” 
+
+The other Slytherins joined in. 
+
+“Shut up, Malfoy,” snapped Parvati Patil. 
+
+“Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom?” said Pansy 
+Parkinson, a hard-faced Slytherin girl. “Never thought 
+you’d like fat little crybabies, Parvati.” 
+
+“Look!” said Malfoy, darting forward and snatching 
+something out of the grass. “It’s that stupid thing 
+Longbottom’s gran sent him.” 
+
+The Remembrall glittered in the sun as he held it up. 
+
+“Give that here, Malfoy,” said Harry quietly. Everyone 
+stopped talking to watch. 
+
+Malfoy smiled nastily. 
+
+“I think I’ll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find 
+— how about — up a tree?” 
+
+“Give it here!” Harry yelled, but Malfoy had leapt onto 
+his broomstick and taken off. He hadn’t been lying, he 
+could fly well. Hovering level with the topmost 
+branches of an oak he called, “Come and get it, 
+Potter!” 
+
+Harry grabbed his broom. 
+
+“iVo!” shouted Hermione Granger. “Madam Hooch told 
+us not to move — you’ll get us all into trouble.” 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+Harry ignored her. Blood was pounding in his ears. 
+
+He mounted the broom and kicked hard against the 
+ground and up, up he soared; air rushed through his 
+hair, and his robes whipped out behind him — and in 
+a rush of fierce joy he realized he’d found something 
+he could do without being taught — this was easy, 
+this was wonderful. He pulled his broomstick up a 
+little to take it even higher, and heard screams and 
+gasps of girls back on the ground and an admiring 
+whoop from Ron. 
+
+He turned his broomstick sharply to face Malfoy in 
+midair. Malfoy looked stunned. 
+
+“Give it here,” Harry called, “or I’ll knock you off that 
+broom!” 
+
+“Oh, yeah?” said Malfoy, trying to sneer, but looking 
+worried. 
+
+Harry knew, somehow, what to do. He leaned forward 
+and grasped the broom tightly in both hands, and it 
+shot toward Malfoy like a javelin. Malfoy only just got 
+out of the way in time; Harry made a sharp about- 
+face and held the broom steady. A few people below 
+were clapping. 
+
+“No Crabbe and Goyle up here to save your neck, 
+Malfoy,” Harry called. 
+
+The same thought seemed to have struck Malfoy. 
+
+“Catch it if you can, then!” he shouted, and he threw 
+the glass ball high into the air and streaked back 
+toward the ground. 
+
+Harry saw, as though in slow motion, the ball rise up 
+in the air and then start to fall. He leaned forward 
+and pointed his broom handle down — next second 
+
+Page | 166 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+he was gathering speed in a steep dive, racing the ball 
+— wind whistled in his ears, mingled with the 
+screams of people watching — he stretched out his 
+hand — a foot from the ground he caught it, just in 
+time to pull his broom straight, and he toppled gently 
+onto the grass with the Remembrall clutched safely in 
+his fist. 
+
+“HARRY POTTER!” 
+
+His heart sank faster than he’d just dived. Professor 
+McGonagall was running toward them. He got to his 
+feet, trembling. 
+
+“Never — in all my time at Hogwarts — ” 
+
+Professor McGonagall was almost speechless with 
+shock, and her glasses flashed furiously, “ — how dare 
+you — might have broken your neck — ” 
+
+“It wasn’t his fault, Professor — ” 
+
+“Be quiet, Miss Patil — ” 
+
+“But Malfoy — ” 
+
+“That’s enough, Mr. Weasley. Potter, follow me, now.” 
+
+Harry caught sight of Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle’s 
+triumphant faces as he left, walking numbly in 
+Professor McGonagall’s wake as she strode toward the 
+castle. He was going to be expelled, he just knew it. 
+
+He wanted to say something to defend himself, but 
+there seemed to be something wrong with his voice. 
+Professor McGonagall was sweeping along without 
+even looking at him; he had to jog to keep up. Now 
+he’d done it. He hadn’t even lasted two weeks. He’d be 
+packing his bags in ten minutes. What would the 
+Dursleys say when he turned up on the doorstep? 
+Page | 167 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Up the front steps, up the marble staircase inside, 
+and still Professor McGonagall didn’t say a word to 
+him. She wrenched open doors and marched along 
+corridors with Harry trotting miserably behind her. 
+Maybe she was taking him to Dumbledore. He 
+thought of Hagrid, expelled but allowed to stay on as 
+gamekeeper. Perhaps he could be Hagrid’s assistant. 
+His stomach twisted as he imagined it, watching Ron 
+and the others becoming wizards while he stumped 
+around the grounds carrying Hagrid’s bag. 
+
+Professor McGonagall stopped outside a classroom. 
+She opened the door and poked her head inside. 
+
+“Excuse me, Professor Flitwick, could I borrow Wood 
+for a moment?” 
+
+Wood? thought Harry, bewildered; was Wood a cane 
+she was going to use on him? 
+
+But Wood turned out to be a person, a burly fifth-year 
+boy who came out of Flitwick’s class looking 
+confused. 
+
+“Follow me, you two,” said Professor McGonagall, and 
+they marched on up the corridor, Wood looking 
+curiously at Harry. 
+
+“In here.” 
+
+Professor McGonagall pointed them into a classroom 
+that was empty except for Peeves, who was busy 
+writing rude words on the blackboard. 
+
+“Out, Peeves!” she barked. Peeves threw the chalk 
+into a bin, which clanged loudly, and he swooped out 
+cursing. Professor McGonagall slammed the door 
+behind him and turned to face the two boys. 
+
+
+
+Page | 168 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Potter, this is Oliver Wood. Wood — I’ve found you a 
+Seeker.” 
+
+Wood’s expression changed from puzzlement to 
+delight. 
+
+“Are you serious, Professor?” 
+
+“Absolutely,” said Professor McGonagall crisply. “The 
+boy’s a natural. I’ve never seen anything like it. Was 
+that your first time on a broomstick, Potter?” 
+
+Harry nodded silently. He didn’t have a clue what was 
+going on, but he didn’t seem to be being expelled, and 
+some of the feeling started coming back to his legs. 
+
+“He caught that thing in his hand after a fifty-foot 
+dive,” Professor McGonagall told Wood. “Didn’t even 
+scratch himself. Charlie Weasley couldn’t have done 
+it.” 
+
+Wood was now looking as though all his dreams had 
+come true at once. 
+
+“Ever seen a game of Quidditch, Potter?” he asked 
+excitedly. 
+
+“Wood’s captain of the Gryffindor team,” Professor 
+McGonagall explained. 
+
+“He’s just the build for a Seeker, too,” said Wood, now 
+walking around Harry and staring at him. “Light — 
+speedy — we’ll have to get him a decent broom, 
+Professor — a Nimbus Two Thousand or a 
+Cleansweep Seven, I’d say.” 
+
+“I shall speak to Professor Dumbledore and see if we 
+can’t bend the first-year rule. Heaven knows, we need 
+a better team than last year. Flattened in that last 
+
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+
+
+
+
+match by Slytherin, I couldn’t look Severus Snape in 
+the face for weeks. ...” 
+
+Professor McGonagall peered sternly over her glasses 
+at Harry. 
+
+“I want to hear you’re training hard, Potter, or I may 
+change my mind about punishing you.” 
+
+Then she suddenly smiled. 
+
+“Your father would have been proud,” she said. “He 
+was an excellent Quidditch player himself.” 
+
+“You’re joking.” 
+
+It was dinnertime. Harry had just finished telling Ron 
+what had happened when he’d left the grounds with 
+Professor McGonagall. Ron had a piece of steak and 
+kidney pie halfway to his mouth, but he’d forgotten all 
+about it. 
+
+“Seeker?” he said. “But first years never — you must 
+be the youngest House player in about — ” 
+
+“ — a century,” said Harry, shoveling pie into his 
+mouth. He felt particularly hungry after the 
+excitement of the afternoon. “Wood told me.” 
+
+Ron was so amazed, so impressed, he just sat and 
+gaped at Harry. 
+
+“I start training next week,” said Harry. “Only don’t 
+tell anyone, Wood wants to keep it a secret.” 
+
+Fred and George Weasley now came into the hall, 
+spotted Harry, and hurried over. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Well done,” said George in a low voice. “Wood told us. 
+We’re on the team too — Beaters.” 
+
+“I tell you, we’re going to win that Quidditch Cup for 
+sure this year,” said Fred. “We haven’t won since 
+Charlie left, but this year’s team is going to be 
+brilliant. You must be good, Harry, Wood was almost 
+skipping when he told us.” 
+
+“Anyway, we’ve got to go, Lee Jordan reckons he’s 
+found a new secret passageway out of the school.” 
+
+“Bet it’s that one behind the statue of Gregory the 
+Smarmy that we found in our first week. See you.” 
+
+Fred and George had hardly disappeared when 
+someone far less welcome turned up: Malfoy, flanked 
+by Crabbe and Goyle. 
+
+“Having a last meal, Potter? When are you getting the 
+train back to the Muggles?” 
+
+“You’re a lot braver now that you’re back on the 
+ground and you’ve got your little friends with you,” 
+said Harry coolly. There was of course nothing at all 
+little about Crabbe and Goyle, but as the High Table 
+was full of teachers, neither of them could do more 
+than crack their knuckles and scowl. 
+
+“I’d take you on anytime on my own,” said Malfoy. 
+“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?” 
+
+“Of course he has,” said Ron, wheeling around. “I’m 
+his second, who’s yours?” 
+
+Malfoy looked at Crabbe and Goyle, sizing them up. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Crabbe,” he said. “Midnight all right? Well meet you 
+in the trophy room; that’s always unlocked.” 
+
+When Malfoy had gone, Ron and Harry looked at each 
+other. 
+
+“What is a wizard’s duel?” said Harry. “And what do 
+you mean, you’re my second?” 
+
+“Well, a second’s there to take over if you die,” said 
+Ron casually, getting started at last on his cold pie. 
+Catching the look on Harry’s face, he added quickly, 
+“But people only die in proper duels, you know, with 
+real wizards. The most you and Malfoy’ll be able to do 
+is send sparks at each other. Neither of you knows 
+enough magic to do any real damage. I bet he 
+expected you to refuse, anyway.” 
+
+“And what if I wave my wand and nothing happens?” 
+
+“Throw it away and punch him on the nose,” Ron 
+suggested. 
+
+“Excuse me.” 
+
+They both looked up. It was Hermione Granger. 
+
+“Can’t a person eat in peace in this place?” said Ron. 
+
+Hermione ignored him and spoke to Harry. 
+
+“I couldn’t help overhearing what you and Malfoy 
+were saying — ” 
+
+“Bet you could,” Ron muttered. 
+
+“ — and you mustn’t go wandering around the school 
+at night, think of the points you’ll lose Gryffindor if 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+you’re caught, and you’re bound to be. It’s really very 
+selfish of you.” 
+
+“And it’s really none of your business,” said Harry. 
+“Good-bye,” said Ron. 
+
+All the same, it wasn’t what you’d call the perfect end 
+to the day, Harry thought, as he lay awake much later 
+listening to Dean and Seamus falling asleep (Neville 
+wasn’t back from the hospital wing). Ron had spent 
+all evening giving him advice such as “If he tries to 
+curse you, you’d better dodge it, because I can’t 
+remember how to block them.” There was a very good 
+chance they were going to get caught by Filch or Mrs. 
+Norris, and Harry felt he was pushing his luck, 
+breaking another school rule today. On the other 
+hand, Malfoy’s sneering face kept looming up out of 
+the darkness — this was his big chance to beat 
+Malfoy face-to-face. He couldn’t miss it. 
+
+“Half-past eleven,” Ron muttered at last, “we’d better 
+go.” 
+
+They pulled on their bathrobes, picked up their 
+wands, and crept across the tower room, down the 
+spiral staircase, and into the Gryffindor common 
+room. A few embers were still glowing in the fireplace, 
+turning all the armchairs into hunched black 
+shadows. They had almost reached the portrait hole 
+when a voice spoke from the chair nearest them, “I 
+can’t believe you’re going to do this, Harry.” 
+
+A lamp flickered on. It was Hermione Granger, 
+wearing a pink bathrobe and a frown. 
+
+“You!” said Ron furiously. “Go back to bed!” 
+
+
+
+Page | 173 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“I almost told your brother,” Hermione snapped, 
+
+“Percy — he’s a prefect, he’d put a stop to this.” 
+
+Harry couldn’t believe anyone could be so interfering. 
+
+“Come on,” he said to Ron. He pushed open the 
+portrait of the Fat Lady and climbed through the hole. 
+
+Hermione wasn’t going to give up that easily. She 
+followed Ron through the portrait hole, hissing at 
+them like an angry goose. 
+
+“Don’t you care about Gryffindor, do you only care 
+about yourselves, / don’t want Slytherin to win the 
+House Cup, and you’ll lose all the points I got from 
+Professor McGonagall for knowing about Switching 
+Spells.” 
+
+“Go away.” 
+
+“All right, but I warned you, you just remember what 
+I said when you’re on the train home tomorrow, 
+you’re so — ” 
+
+But what they were, they didn’t find out. Hermione 
+had turned to the portrait of the Fat Lady to get back 
+inside and found herself facing an empty painting. 
+
+The Fat Lady had gone on a nighttime visit and 
+Hermione was locked out of Gryffindor Tower. 
+
+“Now what am I going to do?” she asked shrilly. 
+
+“That’s your problem,” said Ron. “We’ve got to go, 
+we’re going to be late.” 
+
+They hadn’t even reached the end of the corridor 
+when Hermione caught up with them. 
+
+“I’m coming with you,” she said. 
+
+Page | 174 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“You are not.” 
+
+
+
+“D’you think I’m going to stand out here and wait for 
+Filch to catch me? If he finds all three of us I’ll tell 
+him the truth, that I was trying to stop you, and you 
+can back me up.” 
+
+“You’ve got some nerve — ” said Ron loudly. 
+
+“Shut up, both of you!” said Harry sharply. “I heard 
+something.” 
+
+It was a sort of snuffling. 
+
+“Mrs. Norris?” breathed Ron, squinting through the 
+dark. 
+
+It wasn’t Mrs. Norris. It was Neville. He was curled up 
+on the floor, fast asleep, but jerked suddenly awake 
+as they crept nearer. 
+
+“Thank goodness you found me! I’ve been out here for 
+hours, I couldn’t remember the new password to get 
+in to bed.” 
+
+“Keep your voice down, Neville. The password’s ‘Pig 
+snout’ but it won’t help you now, the Fat Lady’s gone 
+off somewhere.” 
+
+“How’s your arm?” said Harry. 
+
+“Fine,” said Neville, showing them. “Madam Pomfrey 
+mended it in about a minute.” 
+
+���Good — well, look, Neville, we’ve got to be 
+somewhere, we’ll see you later — ” 
+
+
+
+Page | 175 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Don’t leave me!” said Neville, scrambling to his feet, 
+
+“I don’t want to stay here alone, the Bloody Baron’s 
+been past twice already.” 
+
+Ron looked at his watch and then glared furiously at 
+Hermione and Neville. 
+
+“If either of you get us caught, I’ll never rest until I’ve 
+learned that Curse of the Bogies Quirrell told us 
+about, and used it on you.” 
+
+Hermione opened her mouth, perhaps to tell Ron 
+exactly how to use the Curse of the Bogies, but Harry 
+hissed at her to be quiet and beckoned them all 
+forward. 
+
+They flitted along corridors striped with bars of 
+moonlight from the high windows. At every turn Harry 
+expected to run into Filch or Mrs. Norris, but they 
+were lucky. They sped up a staircase to the third floor 
+and tiptoed toward the trophy room. 
+
+Malfoy and Crabbe weren’t there yet. The crystal 
+trophy cases glimmered where the moonlight caught 
+them. Cups, shields, plates, and statues winked silver 
+and gold in the darkness. They edged along the walls, 
+keeping their eyes on the doors at either end of the 
+room. Harry took out his wand in case Malfoy leapt in 
+and started at once. The minutes crept by. 
+
+“He’s late, maybe he’s chickened out,” Ron whispered. 
+
+Then a noise in the next room made them jump. 
+
+Harry had only just raised his wand when they heard 
+someone speak — and it wasn’t Malfoy. 
+
+“Sniff around, my sweet, they might be lurking in a 
+corner.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 176 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+It was Filch speaking to Mrs. Norris. Horror-struck, 
+Harry waved madly at the other three to follow him as 
+quickly as possible; they scurried silently toward the 
+door, away from Filch’s voice. Neville’s robes had 
+barely whipped round the corner when they heard 
+Filch enter the trophy room. 
+
+“They’re in here somewhere,” they heard him mutter, 
+“probably hiding.” 
+
+“This way!” Harry mouthed to the others and, 
+petrified, they began to creep down a long gallery full 
+of suits of armor. They could hear Filch getting 
+nearer. Neville suddenly let out a frightened squeak 
+and broke into a run — he tripped, grabbed Ron 
+around the waist, and the pair of them toppled right 
+into a suit of armor. 
+
+The clanging and crashing were enough to wake the 
+whole castle. 
+
+“RUN!” Harry yelled, and the four of them sprinted 
+down the gallery, not looking back to see whether 
+Filch was following — they swung around the 
+doorpost and galloped down one corridor then 
+another, Harry in the lead, without any idea where 
+they were or where they were going — they ripped 
+through a tapestry and found themselves in a hidden 
+passageway, hurtled along it and came out near their 
+Charms classroom, which they knew was miles from 
+the trophy room. 
+
+“I think we’ve lost him,” Harry panted, leaning against 
+the cold wall and wiping his forehead. Neville was 
+bent double, wheezing and spluttering. 
+
+“I — told — you,” Hermione gasped, clutching at the 
+stitch in her chest, “I — told — you.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 177 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“We’ve got to get back to Gryffindor Tower,” said Ron, 
+“quickly as possible.” 
+
+“Malfoy tricked you,” Hermione said to Harry. “You 
+realize that, don’t you? He was never going to meet 
+you — Filch knew someone was going to be in the 
+trophy room, Malfoy must have tipped him off.” 
+
+Harry thought she was probably right, but he wasn’t 
+going to tell her that. 
+
+“Let’s go.” 
+
+It wasn’t going to be that simple. They hadn’t gone 
+more than a dozen paces when a doorknob rattled 
+and something came shooting out of a classroom in 
+front of them. 
+
+It was Peeves. He caught sight of them and gave a 
+squeal of delight. 
+
+“Shut up, Peeves — please — you’ll get us thrown 
+out.” 
+
+Peeves cackled. 
+
+“Wandering around at midnight, Ickle Firsties? Tut, 
+tut, tut. Naughty, naughty, you’ll get caughty.” 
+
+“Not if you don’t give us away, Peeves, please.” 
+
+“Should tell Filch, I should,” said Peeves in a sanity 
+voice, but his eyes glittered wickedly. “It’s for your 
+own good, you know.” 
+
+“Get out of the way,” snapped Ron, taking a swipe at 
+Peeves — this was a big mistake. 
+
+
+
+Page | 178 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“STUDENTS OUT OF BED!” Peeves bellowed, 
+“STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE CHARMS 
+CORRIDOR!” 
+
+Ducking under Peeves, they ran for their lives, right 
+to the end of the corridor where they slammed into a 
+door — and it was locked. 
+
+“This is it!” Ron moaned, as they pushed helplessly at 
+the door, “We’re done for! This is the end!” 
+
+They could hear footsteps, Filch running as fast as he 
+could toward Peeves ’s shouts. 
+
+��Oh, move over,” Hermione snarled. She grabbed 
+Harry’s wand, tapped the lock, and whispered, 
+“Alohomora\” 
+
+The lock clicked and the door swung open — they 
+piled through it, shut it quickly, and pressed their 
+ears against it, listening. 
+
+“Which way did they go, Peeves?” Filch was saying. 
+“Quick, tell me.” 
+
+“Say ‘please.’ ” 
+
+“Don’t mess with me, Peeves, now where did they go?” 
+
+“Shan’t say nothing if you don’t say please,” said 
+Peeves in his annoying singsong voice. 
+
+“All right — please.” 
+
+“NOTHING! Ha haaa! Told you I wouldn’t say nothing 
+if you didn’t say please! Ha ha! Haaaaaa!” And they 
+heard the sound of Peeves whooshing away and Filch 
+cursing in rage. 
+
+
+
+Page | 179 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“He thinks this door is locked,” Harry whispered. “I 
+think well be okay — get off Neville!” For Neville had 
+been tugging on the sleeve of Harry’s bathrobe for the 
+last minute. “What?” 
+
+Harry turned around — and saw, quite clearly, what. 
+For a moment, he was sure he’d walked into a 
+nightmare — this was too much, on top of everything 
+that had happened so far. 
+
+They weren’t in a room, as he had supposed. They 
+were in a corridor. The forbidden corridor on the third 
+floor. And now they knew why it was forbidden. 
+
+They were looking straight into the eyes of a 
+monstrous dog, a dog that filled the whole space 
+between ceiling and floor. It had three heads. Three 
+pairs of rolling, mad eyes; three noses, twitching and 
+quivering in their direction; three drooling mouths, 
+saliva hanging in slippery ropes from yellowish fangs. 
+
+It was standing quite still, all six eyes staring at them, 
+and Harry knew that the only reason they weren’t 
+already dead was that their sudden appearance had 
+taken it by surprise, but it was quickly getting over 
+that, there was no mistaking what those thunderous 
+growls meant. 
+
+Harry groped for the doorknob — between Filch and 
+death, he’d take Filch. 
+
+They fell backward — Harry slammed the door shut, 
+and they ran, they almost flew, back down the 
+corridor. Filch must have hurried off to look for them 
+somewhere else, because they didn’t see him 
+anywhere, but they hardly cared — all they wanted to 
+do was put as much space as possible between them 
+and that monster. They didn’t stop running until they 
+
+
+
+Page | 180 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+reached the portrait of the Fat Lady on the seventh 
+floor. 
+
+“Where on earth have you all been?” she asked, 
+looking at their bathrobes hanging off their shoulders 
+and their flushed, sweaty faces. 
+
+“Never mind that — pig snout, pig snout,” panted 
+Harry, and the portrait swung forward. They 
+scrambled into the common room and collapsed, 
+trembling, into armchairs. 
+
+It was a while before any of them said anything. 
+Neville, indeed, looked as if he’d never speak again. 
+
+“What do they think they’re doing, keeping a thing 
+like that locked up in a school?” said Ron finally. “If 
+any dog needs exercise, that one does.” 
+
+Hermione had got both her breath and her bad 
+temper back again. 
+
+“You don’t use your eyes, any of you, do you?” she 
+snapped. “Didn’t you see what it was standing on?” 
+
+“The floor?” Harry suggested. “I wasn’t looking at its 
+feet, I was too busy with its heads.” 
+
+“No, not the floor. It was standing on a trapdoor. It’s 
+obviously guarding something.” 
+
+She stood up, glaring at them. 
+
+“I hope you’re pleased with yourselves. We could all 
+have been killed — or worse, expelled. Now, if you 
+don’t mind, I’m going to bed.” 
+
+Ron stared after her, his mouth open. 
+
+
+
+Page | 181 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“No, we don’t mind,” he said. “You’d think we dragged 
+her along, wouldn’t you?” 
+
+But Hermione had given Harry something else to 
+think about as he climbed back into bed. The dog was 
+guarding something. . . . What had Hagrid said? 
+Gringotts was the safest place in the world for 
+something you wanted to hide — except perhaps 
+Hogwarts. 
+
+It looked as though Harry had found out where the 
+grubby little package from vault seven hundred and 
+thirteen was. 
+
+
+
+Page | 182 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+10 
+
+
+
+
+HALLOWEEN 
+
+Malfoy couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw that 
+Harry and Ron were still at Hogwarts the next day, 
+looking tired but perfectly cheerful. Indeed, by the 
+next morning Harry and Ron thought that meeting 
+the three-headed dog had been an excellent 
+adventure, and they were quite keen to have another 
+one. In the meantime, Harry filled Ron in about the 
+package that seemed to have been moved from 
+Gringotts to Hogwarts, and they spent a lot of time 
+wondering what could possibly need such heavy 
+protection. 
+
+“It’s either really valuable or really dangerous,” said 
+Ron. 
+
+“Or both,” said Harry. 
+
+But as all they knew for sure about the mysterious 
+object was that it was about two inches long, they 
+didn’t have much chance of guessing what it was 
+without further clues. 
+
+Page | 183 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone -J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+Neither Neville nor Hermione showed the slightest 
+interest in what lay underneath the dog and the 
+trapdoor. All Neville cared about was never going near 
+the dog again. 
+
+Hermione was now refusing to speak to Harry and 
+Ron, but she was such a bossy know-it-all that they 
+saw this as an added bonus. All they really wanted 
+now was a way of getting back at Malfoy, and to their 
+great delight, just such a thing arrived in the mail 
+about a week later. 
+
+As the owls flooded into the Great Hall as usual, 
+everyone’s attention was caught at once by a long, 
+thin package carried by six large screech owls. Harry 
+was just as interested as everyone else to see what 
+was in this large parcel, and was amazed when the 
+owls soared down and dropped it right in front of him, 
+knocking his bacon to the floor. They had hardly 
+fluttered out of the way when another owl dropped a 
+letter on top of the parcel. 
+
+Harry ripped open the letter first, which was lucky, 
+because it said: 
+
+
+
+DO NOT OPEN THE PARCEL AT THE TABLE. 
+
+It contains your new Nimbus Two Thousand, but I 
+don’t want everybody knowing you’ve got a 
+broomstick or they’ll all want one. Oliver Wood will 
+meet you tonight on the Quidditch field at seven 
+o’clock for your first training session. 
+
+Professor M. McGonagall 
+
+Harry had difficulty hiding his glee as he handed the 
+note to Ron to read. 
+
+Page | 184 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“A Nimbus Two Thousand!” Ron moaned enviously. 
+“I’ve never even touched one.” 
+
+They left the hall quickly, wanting to unwrap the 
+broomstick in private before their first class, but 
+halfway across the entrance hall they found the way 
+upstairs barred by Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy seized 
+the package from Harry and felt it. 
+
+“That’s a broomstick,” he said, throwing it back to 
+Harry with a mixture of jealousy and spite on his face. 
+“You’ll be in for it this time, Potter, first years aren’t 
+allowed them.” 
+
+Ron couldn’t resist it. 
+
+“It’s not any old broomstick,” he said, “it’s a Nimbus 
+Two Thousand. What did you say you’ve got at home, 
+Malfoy, a Comet Two Sixty?” Ron grinned at Harry. 
+“Comets look flashy, but they’re not in the same 
+league as the Nimbus.” 
+
+“What would you know about it, Weasley, you 
+couldn’t afford half the handle,” Malfoy snapped back. 
+“I suppose you and your brothers have to save up 
+twig by twig.” 
+
+Before Ron could answer, Professor Flitwick appeared 
+at Malfoy’s elbow. 
+
+“Not arguing, I hope, boys?” he squeaked. 
+
+“Potters been sent a broomstick, Professor,” said 
+Malfoy quickly. 
+
+“Yes, yes, that’s right,” said Professor Flitwick, 
+beaming at Harry. “Professor McGonagall told me all 
+about the special circumstances, Potter. And what 
+model is it?” 
+
+Page | 185 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir,” said Harry, fighting 
+not to laugh at the look of horror on Malfoy’s face. 
+“And it’s really thanks to Malfoy here that I’ve got it,” 
+he added. 
+
+Harry and Ron headed upstairs, smothering their 
+laughter at Malfoy’s obvious rage and confusion. 
+
+“Well, it’s true,” Harry chortled as they reached the 
+top of the marble staircase, “If he hadn’t stolen 
+Neville’s Remembrall I wouldn’t be on the team. ...” 
+
+“So I suppose you think that’s a reward for breaking 
+rules?” came an angry voice from just behind them. 
+Hermione was stomping up the stairs, looking 
+disapprovingly at the package in Harry’s hand. 
+
+“I thought you weren’t speaking to us?” said Harry. 
+
+“Yes, don’t stop now,” said Ron, “it’s doing us so 
+much good.” 
+
+Hermione marched away with her nose in the air. 
+
+Harry had a lot of trouble keeping his mind on his 
+lessons that day. It kept wandering up to the 
+dormitory where his new broomstick was lying under 
+his bed, or straying off to the Quidditch field where 
+he’d be learning to play that night. He bolted his 
+dinner that evening without noticing what he was 
+eating, and then rushed upstairs with Ron to unwrap 
+the Nimbus Two Thousand at last. 
+
+“Wow,” Ron sighed, as the broomstick rolled onto 
+Harry’s bedspread. 
+
+Even Harry, who knew nothing about the different 
+brooms, thought it looked wonderful. Sleek and 
+shiny, with a mahogany handle, it had a long tail of 
+
+Page | 186 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+neat, straight twigs and Nimbus Two Thousand 
+written in gold near the top. 
+
+As seven o’clock drew nearer, Harry left the castle and 
+set off in the dusk toward the Quidditch field. He’d 
+never been inside the stadium before. Hundreds of 
+seats were raised in stands around the field so that 
+the spectators were high enough to see what was 
+going on. At either end of the field were three golden 
+poles with hoops on the end. They reminded Harry of 
+the little plastic sticks Muggle children blew bubbles 
+through, except that they were fifty feet high. 
+
+Too eager to fly again to wait for Wood, Harry 
+mounted his broomstick and kicked off from the 
+ground. What a feeling — he swooped in and out of 
+the goal posts and then sped up and down the field. 
+The Nimbus Two Thousand turned wherever he 
+wanted at his lightest touch. 
+
+“Hey, Potter, come down!” 
+
+Oliver Wood had arrived. He was carrying a large 
+wooden crate under his arm. Harry landed next to 
+him. 
+
+“Very nice,” said Wood, his eyes glinting. “I see what 
+McGonagall meant ... you really are a natural. I’m 
+just going to teach you the rules this evening, then 
+you’ll be joining team practice three times a week.” 
+
+He opened the crate. Inside were four different-sized 
+balls. 
+
+“Right,” said Wood. “Now, Quidditch is easy enough to 
+understand, even if it’s not too easy to play. There are 
+seven players on each side. Three of them are called 
+Chasers.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 187 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Three Chasers,” Harry repeated, as Wood took out a 
+bright red ball about the size of a soccer ball. 
+
+“This ball’s called the Quaffle,” said Wood. “The 
+Chasers throw the Quaffle to each other and try and 
+get it through one of the hoops to score a goal. Ten 
+points every time the Quaffle goes through one of the 
+hoops. Follow me?” 
+
+“The Chasers throw the Quaffle and put it through 
+the hoops to score,” Harry recited. “So — that’s sort of 
+like basketball on broomsticks with six hoops, isn’t 
+it?” 
+
+
+
+“What’s basketball?” said Wood curiously. 
+
+“Never mind,” said Harry quickly. 
+
+“Now, there’s another player on each side who’s called 
+the Keeper — I’m Keeper for Gryffindor. I have to fly 
+around our hoops and stop the other team from 
+scoring.” 
+
+“Three Chasers, one Keeper,” said Harry, who was 
+determined to remember it all. “And they play with 
+the Quaffle. Okay, got that. So what are they for?” He 
+pointed at the three balls left inside the box. 
+
+“I’ll show you now,” said Wood. “Take this.” 
+
+He handed Harry a small club, a bit like a short 
+baseball bat. 
+
+“I’m going to show you what the Bludgers do,” Wood 
+said. “These two are the Bludgers.” 
+
+He showed Harry two identical balls, jet black and 
+slightly smaller than the red Quaffle. Harry noticed 
+
+
+
+Page | 188 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+that they seemed to be straining to escape the straps 
+holding them inside the box. 
+
+“Stand back,” Wood warned Harry. He bent down and 
+freed one of the Bludgers. 
+
+At once, the black ball rose high in the air and then 
+pelted straight at Harry’s face. Harry swung at it with 
+the bat to stop it from breaking his nose, and sent it 
+zigzagging away into the air — it zoomed around their 
+heads and then shot at Wood, who dived on top of it 
+and managed to pin it to the ground. 
+
+“See?” Wood panted, forcing the struggling Bludger 
+back into the crate and strapping it down safely. “The 
+Bludgers rocket around, trying to knock players off 
+their brooms. That’s why you have two Beaters on 
+each team — the Weasley twins are ours — it’s their 
+job to protect their side from the Bludgers and try and 
+knock them toward the other team. So — think you’ve 
+got all that?” 
+
+“Three Chasers try and score with the Quaffle; the 
+Keeper guards the goal posts; the Beaters keep the 
+Bludgers away from their team,” Harry reeled off. 
+
+“Very good,” said Wood. 
+
+“Er — have the Bludgers ever killed anyone?” Harry 
+asked, hoping he sounded offhand. 
+
+“Never at Hogwarts. We’ve had a couple of broken 
+jaws but nothing worse than that. Now, the last 
+member of the team is the Seeker. That’s you. And 
+you don’t have to worry about the Quaffle or the 
+Bludgers — ” 
+
+“ — unless they crack my head open.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 189 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Don’t worry, the Weasleys are more than a match for 
+the Bludgers — I mean, they’re like a pair of human 
+Bludgers themselves.” 
+
+Wood reached into the crate and took out the fourth 
+and last ball. Compared with the Quaffle and the 
+Bludgers, it was tiny, about the size of a large walnut. 
+It was bright gold and had little fluttering silver 
+wings. 
+
+“This,” said Wood, “is the Golden Snitch, and it’s the 
+most important ball of the lot. It’s very hard to catch 
+because it’s so fast and difficult to see. It’s the 
+Seeker’s job to catch it. You’ve got to weave in and out 
+of the Chasers, Beaters, Bludgers, and Quaffle to get 
+it before the other team’s Seeker, because whichever 
+Seeker catches the Snitch wins his team an extra 
+hundred and fifty points, so they nearly always win. 
+That’s why Seekers get fouled so much. A game of 
+Quidditch only ends when the Snitch is caught, so it 
+can go on for ages — I think the record is three 
+months, they had to keep bringing on substitutes so 
+the players could get some sleep. 
+
+“Well, that’s it — any questions?” 
+
+Harry shook his head. He understood what he had to 
+do all right, it was doing it that was going to be the 
+problem. 
+
+“We won’t practice with the Snitch yet,” said Wood, 
+carefully shutting it back inside the crate, “it’s too 
+dark, we might lose it. Let’s try you out with a few of 
+these.” 
+
+He pulled a bag of ordinary golf balls out of his pocket 
+and a few minutes later, he and Harry were up in the 
+air, Wood throwing the golf balls as hard as he could 
+in every direction for Harry to catch. 
+
+Page | 190 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Harry didn’t miss a single one, and Wood was 
+delighted. After half an hour, night had really fallen 
+and they couldn’t carry on. 
+
+“That Quidditch Cup’ll have our name on it this year,” 
+said Wood happily as they trudged back up to the 
+castle. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you turn out better 
+than Charlie Weasley, and he could have played for 
+England if he hadn’t gone off chasing dragons.” 
+
+Perhaps it was because he was now so busy, what 
+with Quidditch practice three evenings a week on top 
+of all his homework, but Harry could hardly believe it 
+when he realized that he’d already been at Hogwarts 
+two months. The castle felt more like home than 
+Privet Drive ever had. His lessons, too, were becoming 
+more and more interesting now that they had 
+mastered the basics. 
+
+On Halloween morning they woke to the delicious 
+smell of baking pumpkin wafting through the 
+corridors. Even better, Professor Flitwick announced 
+in Charms that he thought they were ready to start 
+making objects fly, something they had all been dying 
+to try since they’d seen him make Neville’s toad zoom 
+around the classroom. Professor Flitwick put the 
+class into pairs to practice. Harry’s partner was 
+Seamus Finnigan (which was a relief, because Neville 
+had been trying to catch his eye). Ron, however, was 
+to be working with Hermione Granger. It was hard to 
+tell whether Ron or Hermione was angrier about this. 
+She hadn’t spoken to either of them since the day 
+Harry’s broomstick had arrived. 
+
+“Now, don’t forget that nice wrist movement we’ve 
+been practicing!” squeaked Professor Flitwick, 
+perched on top of his pile of books as usual. “Swish 
+and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the 
+magic words properly is very important, too — never 
+Page | 191 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+forget Wizard Baruffio, who said ‘s’ instead of ‘f and 
+found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his 
+chest.” 
+
+It was very difficult. Harry and Seamus swished and 
+flicked, but the feather they were supposed to be 
+sending skyward just lay on the desktop. Seamus got 
+so impatient that he prodded it with his wand and set 
+fire to it — Harry had to put it out with his hat. 
+
+Ron, at the next table, wasn’t having much more 
+luck. 
+
+“Wingardium Leviosal” he shouted, waving his long 
+arms like a windmill. 
+
+“You’re saying it wrong,” Harry heard Hermione snap. 
+“It’s Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the ‘gar’ nice and 
+long.” 
+
+“You do it, then, if you’re so clever,” Ron snarled. 
+
+Hermione rolled up the sleeves of her gown, flicked 
+her wand, and said, “Wingardium LeviosaV’ 
+
+Their feather rose off the desk and hovered about four 
+feet above their heads. 
+
+“Oh, well done!” cried Professor Flitwick, clapping. 
+“Everyone see here, Miss Granger’s done it!” 
+
+Ron was in a very bad mood by the end of the class. 
+
+“It’s no wonder no one can stand her,” he said to 
+Harry as they pushed their way into the crowded 
+corridor, “she’s a nightmare, honestly.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 192 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past 
+him. It was Hermione. Harry caught a glimpse of her 
+face — and was startled to see that she was in tears. 
+
+“I think she heard you.” 
+
+“So?” said Ron, but he looked a bit uncomfortable. 
+“She must’ve noticed she’s got no friends.” 
+
+Hermione didn’t turn up for the next class and wasn’t 
+seen all afternoon. On their way down to the Great 
+Hall for the Halloween feast, Harry and Ron overheard 
+Parvati Patil telling her friend Lavender that Hermione 
+was crying in the girls’ bathroom and wanted to be 
+left alone. Ron looked still more awkward at this, but 
+a moment later they had entered the Great Hall, 
+where the Halloween decorations put Hermione out of 
+their minds. 
+
+A thousand live bats fluttered from the walls and 
+ceiling while a thousand more swooped over the 
+tables in low black clouds, making the candles in the 
+pumpkins stutter. The feast appeared suddenly on 
+the golden plates, as it had at the start-of-term 
+banquet. 
+
+Harry was just helping himself to a baked potato 
+when Professor Quirrell came sprinting into the hall, 
+his turban askew and terror on his face. Everyone 
+stared as he reached Professor Dumbledore’s chair, 
+slumped against the table, and gasped, “Troll — in 
+the dungeons — thought you ought to know.” 
+
+He then sank to the floor in a dead faint. 
+
+There was an uproar. It took several purple 
+firecrackers exploding from the end of Professor 
+Dumbledore’s wand to bring silence. 
+
+
+
+Page | 193 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Prefects,” he rumbled, “lead your Houses back to the 
+dormitories immediately!” 
+
+Percy was in his element. 
+
+“Follow me! Stick together, first years! No need to fear 
+the troll if you follow my orders! Stay close behind 
+me, now. Make way, first years coming through! 
+Excuse me, I’m a prefect!” 
+
+“How could a troll get in?” Harry asked as they 
+climbed the stairs. 
+
+“Don’t ask me, they’re supposed to be really stupid,” 
+said Ron. “Maybe Peeves let it in for a Halloween 
+joke.” 
+
+They passed different groups of people hurrying in 
+different directions. As they jostled their way through 
+a crowd of confused Hufflepuffs, Harry suddenly 
+grabbed Ron’s arm. 
+
+“I’ve just thought — Hermione.” 
+
+“What about her?” 
+
+“She doesn’t know about the troll.” 
+
+Ron bit his lip. 
+
+“Oh, all right,” he snapped. “But Percy’d better not 
+see us.” 
+
+Ducking down, they joined the Hufflepuffs going the 
+other way, slipped down a deserted side corridor, and 
+hurried off toward the girls’ bathroom. They had just 
+turned the corner when they heard quick footsteps 
+behind them. 
+
+
+
+Page | 194 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Percy!” hissed Ron, pulling Harry behind a large 
+stone griffin. 
+
+Peering around it, however, they saw not Percy but 
+Snape. He crossed the corridor and disappeared from 
+view. 
+
+“What’s he doing?” Harry whispered. “Why isn’t he 
+down in the dungeons with the rest of the teachers?” 
+
+“Search me.” 
+
+Quietly as possible, they crept along the next corridor 
+after Snape ’s fading footsteps. 
+
+“He’s heading for the third floor,” Harry said, but Ron 
+held up his hand. 
+
+“Can you smell something?” 
+
+Harry sniffed and a foul stench reached his nostrils, a 
+mixture of old socks and the kind of public toilet no 
+one seems to clean. 
+
+And then they heard it — a low grunting, and the 
+shuffling footfalls of gigantic feet. Ron pointed — at 
+the end of a passage to the left, something huge was 
+moving toward them. They shrank into the shadows 
+and watched as it emerged into a patch of moonlight. 
+
+It was a horrible sight. Twelve feet tall, its skin was a 
+dull, granite gray, its great lumpy body like a boulder 
+with its small bald head perched on top like a 
+coconut. It had short legs thick as tree trunks with 
+flat, horny feet. The smell coming from it was 
+incredible. It was holding a huge wooden club, which 
+dragged along the floor because its arms were so long. 
+
+
+
+Page | 195 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+The troll stopped next to a doorway and peered inside. 
+It waggled its long ears, making up its tiny mind, then 
+slouched slowly into the room. 
+
+“The key’s in the lock,” Harry muttered. “We could 
+lock it in.” 
+
+“Good idea,” said Ron nervously. 
+
+They edged toward the open door, mouths dry, 
+praying the troll wasn’t about to come out of it. With 
+one great leap, Harry managed to grab the key, slam 
+the door, and lock it. 
+
+“Yes!” 
+
+Flushed with their victory, they started to run back 
+up the passage, but as they reached the corner they 
+heard something that made their hearts stop — a 
+high, petrified scream — and it was coming from the 
+chamber they’d just chained up. 
+
+“Oh, no,” said Ron, pale as the Bloody Baron. 
+
+“It’s the girls’ bathroom!” Harry gasped. 
+
+“ Hermionel” they said together. 
+
+It was the last thing they wanted to do, but what 
+choice did they have? Wheeling around, they sprinted 
+back to the door and turned the key, fumbling in their 
+panic. Harry pulled the door open and they ran 
+inside. 
+
+Hermione Granger was shrinking against the wall 
+opposite, looking as if she was about to faint. The troll 
+was advancing on her, knocking the sinks off the 
+walls as it went. 
+
+
+
+Page | 196 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Confuse it!” Harry said desperately to Ron, and, 
+seizing a tap, he threw it as hard as he could against 
+the wall. 
+
+The troll stopped a few feet from Hermione. It 
+lumbered around, blinking stupidly, to see what had 
+made the noise. Its mean little eyes saw Harry. It 
+hesitated, then made for him instead, lifting its club 
+as it went. 
+
+“Oy, pea-brain!” yelled Ron from the other side of the 
+chamber, and he threw a metal pipe at it. The troll 
+didn’t even seem to notice the pipe hitting its 
+shoulder, but it heard the yell and paused again, 
+turning its ugly snout toward Ron instead, giving 
+Harry time to run around it. 
+
+“Come on, run, run\” Harry yelled at Hermione, trying 
+to pull her toward the door, but she couldn’t move, 
+she was still flat against the wall, her mouth open 
+with terror. 
+
+The shouting and the echoes seemed to be driving the 
+troll berserk. It roared again and started toward Ron, 
+who was nearest and had no way to escape. 
+
+Harry then did something that was both very brave 
+and very stupid: He took a great running jump and 
+managed to fasten his arms around the troll’s neck 
+from behind. The troll couldn’t feel Harry hanging 
+there, but even a troll will notice if you stick a long bit 
+of wood up its nose, and Harry’s wand had still been 
+in his hand when he’d jumped — it had gone straight 
+up one of the troll’s nostrils. 
+
+Howling with pain, the troll twisted and flailed its 
+club, with Harry clinging on for dear life; any second, 
+the troll was going to rip him off or catch him a 
+terrible blow with the club. 
+
+Page | 197 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Hermione had sunk to the floor in fright; Ron pulled 
+out his own wand — not knowing what he was going 
+to do he heard himself cry the first spell that came 
+into his head: “Wingardium Leviosal” 
+
+The club flew suddenly out of the troll’s hand, rose 
+high, high up into the air, turned slowly over — and 
+dropped, with a sickening crack, onto its owner’s 
+head. The troll swayed on the spot and then fell flat 
+on its face, with a thud that made the whole room 
+tremble. 
+
+Harry got to his feet. He was shaking and out of 
+breath. Ron was standing there with his wand still 
+raised, staring at what he had done. 
+
+It was Hermione who spoke first. 
+
+“Is it — dead?” 
+
+“I don’t think so,” said Harry, “I think it’s just been 
+knocked out.” 
+
+He bent down and pulled his wand out of the troll’s 
+nose. It was covered in what looked like lumpy gray 
+glue. 
+
+“Urgh — troll boogers.” 
+
+He wiped it on the troll’s trousers. 
+
+A sudden slamming and loud footsteps made the 
+three of them look up. They hadn’t realized what a 
+racket they had been making, but of course, someone 
+downstairs must have heard the crashes and the 
+troll’s roars. A moment later, Professor McGonagall 
+had come bursting into the room, closely followed by 
+Snape, with Quirrell bringing up the rear. Quirrell 
+
+
+
+Page | 198 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+took one look at the troll, let out a faint whimper, and 
+sat quickly down on a toilet, clutching his heart. 
+
+Snape bent over the troll. Professor McGonagall was 
+looking at Ron and Harry. Harry had never seen her 
+look so angry. Her lips were white. Hopes of winning 
+fifty points for Gryffindor faded quickly from Harry’s 
+mind. 
+
+“What on earth were you thinking of?” said Professor 
+McGonagall, with cold fury in her voice. Harry looked 
+at Ron, who was still standing with his wand in the 
+air. “You’re lucky you weren’t killed. Why aren’t you 
+in your dormitory?” 
+
+Snape gave Harry a swift, piercing look. Harry looked 
+at the floor. He wished Ron would put his wand down. 
+
+Then a small voice came out of the shadows. 
+
+“Please, Professor McGonagall — they were looking for 
+me.” 
+
+“Miss Granger!” 
+
+Hermione had managed to get to her feet at last. 
+
+“I went looking for the troll because I — I thought I 
+could deal with it on my own — you know, because 
+I’ve read all about them.” 
+
+Ron dropped his wand. Hermione Granger, telling a 
+downright lie to a teacher? 
+
+“If they hadn’t found me, I’d be dead now. Harry 
+stuck his wand up its nose and Ron knocked it out 
+with its own club. They didn’t have time to come and 
+fetch anyone. It was about to finish me off when they 
+arrived.” 
+
+Page | 199 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Harry and Ron tried to look as though this story 
+wasn’t new to them. 
+
+“Well — in that case ...” said Professor McGonagall, 
+staring at the three of them, “Miss Granger, you 
+foolish girl, how could you think of tackling a 
+mountain troll on your own?” 
+
+Hermione hung her head. Harry was speechless. 
+Hermione was the last person to do anything against 
+the rules, and here she was, pretending she had, to 
+get them out of trouble. It was as if Snape had started 
+handing out sweets. 
+
+“Miss Granger, five points will be taken from 
+Gryffindor for this,” said Professor McGonagall. “I’m 
+very disappointed in you. If you’re not hurt at all, 
+you’d better get off to Gryffindor Tower. Students are 
+finishing the feast in their Houses.” 
+
+Hermione left. 
+
+Professor McGonagall turned to Harry and Ron. 
+
+“Well, I still say you were lucky, but not many first 
+years could have taken on a full-grown mountain 
+troll. You each win Gryffindor five points. Professor 
+Dumbledore will be informed of this. You may go.” 
+
+They hurried out of the chamber and didn’t speak at 
+all until they had climbed two floors up. It was a relief 
+to be away from the smell of the troll, quite apart from 
+anything else. 
+
+“We should have gotten more than ten points,” Ron 
+grumbled. 
+
+“Five, you mean, once she’s taken off Hermione ’s.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 200 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Good of her to get us out of trouble like that,” Ron 
+admitted. “Mind you, we did save her.” 
+
+“She might not have needed saving if we hadn’t 
+locked the thing in with her,” Harry reminded him. 
+
+They had reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. 
+
+“Pig snout,” they said and entered. 
+
+The common room was packed and noisy. Everyone 
+was eating the food that had been sent up. Hermione, 
+however, stood alone by the door, waiting for them. 
+There was a very embarrassed pause. Then, none of 
+them looking at each other, they all said “Thanks,” 
+and hurried off to get plates. 
+
+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. 
+
+
+
+Page | 201 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+
+QUIDDITCH 
+
+As they entered November, the weather turned very 
+cold. The mountains around the school became icy 
+gray and the lake like chilled steel. Every morning the 
+ground was covered in frost. Hagrid could be seen 
+from the upstairs windows defrosting broomsticks on 
+the Quidditch field, bundled up in a long moleskin 
+overcoat, rabbit fur gloves, and enormous beaverskin 
+boots. 
+
+The Quidditch season had begun. On Saturday, Harry 
+would be playing in his first match after weeks of 
+training: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. If Gryffindor 
+won, they would move up into second place in the 
+House Championship. 
+
+Hardly anyone had seen Harry play because Wood 
+had decided that, as their secret weapon, Harry 
+should be kept, well, secret. But the news that he was 
+playing Seeker had leaked out somehow, and Harry 
+didn’t know which was worse — people telling him 
+he’d be brilliant or people telling him they’d be 
+running around underneath him holding a mattress. 
+Page | 202 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+It was really lucky that Harry now had Hermione as a 
+friend. He didn’t know how he’d have gotten through 
+all his homework without her, what with all the last- 
+minute Quidditch practice Wood was making them 
+do. She had also lent him Quidditch Through the Ages, 
+which turned out to be a very interesting read. 
+
+Harry learned that there were seven hundred ways of 
+committing a Quidditch foul and that all of them had 
+happened during a World Cup match in 1473; that 
+Seekers were usually the smallest and fastest players, 
+and that most serious Quidditch accidents seemed to 
+happen to them; that although people rarely died 
+playing Quidditch, referees had been known to vanish 
+and turn up months later in the Sahara Desert. 
+
+Hermione had become a bit more relaxed about 
+breaking rules since Harry and Ron had saved her 
+from the mountain troll, and she was much nicer for 
+it. The day before Harry’s first Quidditch match the 
+three of them were out in the freezing courtyard 
+during break, and she had conjured them up a bright 
+blue fire that could be carried around in a jam jar. 
+They were standing with their backs to it, getting 
+warm, when Snape crossed the yard. Harry noticed at 
+once that Snape was limping. Harry, Ron, and 
+Hermione moved closer together to block the fire from 
+view; they were sure it wouldn’t be allowed. 
+Unfortunately, something about their guilty faces 
+caught Snape’s eye. He limped over. He hadn’t seen 
+the fire, but he seemed to be looking for a reason to 
+tell them off anyway. 
+
+“What’s that you’ve got there, Potter?” 
+
+It was Quidditch Through the Ages. Harry showed him. 
+
+
+
+Page | 203 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Library books are not to be taken outside the 
+school,” said Snape. “Give it to me. Five points from 
+Gryffindor.” 
+
+“He’s just made that rule up,” Harry muttered angrily 
+as Snape limped away. “Wonder what’s wrong with 
+his leg?” 
+
+“Dunno, but I hope it’s really hurting him,” said Ron 
+bitterly. 
+
+The Gryffindor common room was very noisy that 
+evening. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat together next 
+to a window. Hermione was checking Harry and Ron’s 
+Charms homework for them. She would never let 
+them copy (“How will you learn?”), but by asking her 
+to read it through, they got the right answers anyway. 
+
+Harry felt restless. He wanted Quidditch Through the 
+Ages back, to take his mind off his nerves about 
+tomorrow. Why should he be afraid of Snape? Getting 
+up, he told Ron and Hermione he was going to ask 
+Snape if he could have it. 
+
+“Better you than me,” they said together, but Harry 
+had an idea that Snape wouldn’t refuse if there were 
+other teachers listening. 
+
+He made his way down to the staffroom and knocked. 
+There was no answer. He knocked again. Nothing. 
+
+Perhaps Snape had left the book in there? It was 
+worth a try. He pushed the door ajar and peered 
+inside — and a horrible scene met his eyes. 
+
+Snape and Filch were inside, alone. Snape was 
+holding his robes above his knees. One of his legs was 
+bloody and mangled. Filch was handing Snape 
+bandages. 
+
+Page | 204 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Blasted thing,” Snape was saying. “How are you 
+supposed to keep your eyes on all three heads at 
+once?” 
+
+Harry tried to shut the door quietly, but — 
+
+“POTTER!” 
+
+Snape ’s face was twisted with fury as he dropped his 
+robes quickly to hide his leg. Harry gulped. 
+
+“I just wondered if I could have my book back.” 
+
+“GET OUT! OUT!” 
+
+Harry left, before Snape could take any more points 
+from Gryffindor. He sprinted back upstairs. 
+
+“Did you get it?” Ron asked as Harry joined them. 
+“What’s the matter?” 
+
+In a low whisper, Harry told them what he’d seen. 
+
+“You know what this means?” he finished 
+breathlessly. “He tried to get past that three-headed 
+dog at Halloween! That’s where he was going when we 
+saw him — he’s after whatever it’s guarding! And I’d 
+bet my broomstick he let that troll in, to make a 
+diversion!” 
+
+Hermione’s eyes were wide. 
+
+“No — he wouldn’t,” she said. “I know he’s not very 
+nice, but he wouldn’t try and steal something 
+Dumbledore was keeping safe.” 
+
+“Honestly, Hermione, you think all teachers are saints 
+or something,” snapped Ron. “I’m with Harry. I 
+
+
+
+Page | 205 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+wouldn’t put anything past Snape. But what’s he 
+after? What’s that dog guarding?” 
+
+Harry went to bed with his head buzzing with the 
+same question. Neville was snoring loudly, but Harry 
+couldn’t sleep. He tried to empty his mind — he 
+needed to sleep, he had to, he had his first Quidditch 
+match in a few hours — but the expression on 
+Snape’s face when Harry had seen his leg wasn’t easy 
+to forget. 
+
+The next morning dawned very bright and cold. The 
+Great Hall was full of the delicious smell of fried 
+sausages and the cheerful chatter of everyone looking 
+forward to a good Quidditch match. 
+
+“You’ve got to eat some breakfast.” 
+
+“I don’t want anything.” 
+
+“Just a bit of toast,” wheedled Hermione. 
+
+“I’m not hungry.” 
+
+Harry felt terrible. In an hour’s time he’d be walking 
+onto the field. 
+
+“Harry, you need your strength,” said Seamus 
+Finnigan. “Seekers are always the ones who get 
+clobbered by the other team.” 
+
+“Thanks, Seamus,” said Harry, watching Seamus pile 
+ketchup on his sausages. 
+
+By eleven o’clock the whole school seemed to be out 
+in the stands around the Quidditch pitch. Many 
+students had binoculars. The seats might be raised 
+high in the air, but it was still difficult to see what 
+was going on sometimes. 
+
+Page | 206 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Ron and Hermione joined Neville, Seamus, and Dean 
+the West Ham fan up in the top row. As a surprise for 
+Harry, they had painted a large banner on one of the 
+sheets Scabbers had ruined. It said Potter for 
+President, and Dean, who was good at drawing, had 
+done a large Gryffindor lion underneath. Then 
+Hermione had performed a tricky little charm so that 
+the paint flashed different colors. 
+
+Meanwhile, in the locker room, Harry and the rest of 
+the team were changing into their scarlet Quidditch 
+robes (Slytherin would be playing in green) . 
+
+Wood cleared his throat for silence. 
+
+“Okay, men,” he said. 
+
+“And women,” said Chaser Angelina Johnson. 
+
+“And women,” Wood agreed. “This is it.” 
+
+“The big one,” said Fred Weasley. 
+
+“The one we’ve all been waiting for,” said George. 
+
+“We know Oliver’s speech by heart,” Fred told Harry, 
+“we were on the team last year.” 
+
+“Shut up, you two,” said Wood. “This is the best team 
+Gryffindor’s had in years. We’re going to win. I know 
+it.” 
+
+He glared at them all as if to say, “Or else.” 
+
+“Right. It’s time. Good luck, all of you.” 
+
+Harry followed Fred and George out of the locker 
+room and, hoping his knees weren’t going to give way, 
+walked onto the field to loud cheers. 
+
+Page | 207 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Madam Hooch was refereeing. She stood in the 
+middle of the field waiting for the two teams, her 
+broom in her hand. 
+
+“Now, I want a nice fair game, all of you,” she said, 
+once they were all gathered around her. Harry noticed 
+that she seemed to be speaking particularly to the 
+Slytherin Captain, Marcus Flint, a fifth year. Harry 
+thought Flint looked as if he had some troll blood in 
+him. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the fluttering 
+banner high above, flashing Potter for President over 
+the crowd. His heart skipped. He felt braver. 
+
+“Mount your brooms, please.” 
+
+Harry clambered onto his Nimbus Two Thousand. 
+
+Madam Hooch gave a loud blast on her silver whistle. 
+
+Fifteen brooms rose up, high, high into the air. They 
+were off. 
+
+“And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina 
+Johnson of Gryffindor — what an excellent Chaser 
+that girl is, and rather attractive, too — ” 
+
+“JORDAN!” 
+
+“Sorry, Professor.” 
+
+The Weasley twins’ friend, Lee Jordan, was doing the 
+commentary for the match, closely watched by 
+Professor McGonagall. 
+
+“And she’s really belting along up there, a neat pass 
+to Alicia Spinnet, a good find of Oliver Wood’s, last 
+year only a reserve — back to Johnson and — no, the 
+Slytherins have taken the Quaffle, Slytherin Captain 
+Marcus Flint gains the Quaffle and off he goes — Flint 
+Page | 208 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+flying like an eagle up there — he’s going to sc- no, 
+stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor Keeper 
+Wood and the Gryffindors take the Quaffle — that’s 
+Chaser Katie Bell of Gryffindor there, nice dive 
+around Flint, off up the field and — OUCH — that 
+must have hurt, hit in the back of the head by a 
+Bludger — Quaffle taken by the Slytherins — that’s 
+Adrian Pucey speeding off toward the goal posts, but 
+he’s blocked by a second Bludger — sent his way by 
+Fred or George Weasley, can’t tell which — nice play 
+by the Gryffindor Beater, anyway, and Johnson back 
+in possession of the Quaffle, a clear field ahead and 
+off she goes — she’s really flying — dodges a speeding 
+Bludger — the goal posts are ahead — come on, now, 
+Angelina — Keeper Bletchley dives — misses — 
+GRYFFINDORS SCORE!” 
+
+Gryffindor cheers filled the cold air, with howls and 
+moans from the Slytherins. 
+
+“Budge up there, move along.” 
+
+“Hagrid!” 
+
+Ron and Hermione squeezed together to give Hagrid 
+enough space to join them. 
+
+“Bin watchin’ from me hut,” said Hagrid, patting a 
+large pair of binoculars around his neck, “But it isn’t 
+the same as bein’ in the crowd. No sign of the Snitch 
+yet, eh?” 
+
+“Nope,” said Ron. “Harry hasn’t had much to do yet.” 
+
+“Kept outta trouble, though, that’s somethin’,” said 
+Hagrid, raising his binoculars and peering skyward at 
+the speck that was Harry. 
+
+
+
+Page | 209 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Way up above them, Harry was gliding over the game, 
+squinting about for some sign of the Snitch. This was 
+part of his and Wood’s game plan. 
+
+“Keep out of the way until you catch sight of the 
+Snitch,” Wood had said. “We don’t want you attacked 
+before you have to be.” 
+
+When Angelina had scored, Harry had done a couple 
+of loop-the-loops to let off his feelings. Now he was 
+back to staring around for the Snitch. Once he caught 
+sight of a flash of gold, but it was just a reflection 
+from one of the Weasleys’ wristwatches, and once a 
+Bludger decided to come pelting his way, more like a 
+cannonball than anything, but Harry dodged it and 
+Fred Weasley came chasing after it. 
+
+“All right there, Harry?” he had time to yell, as he 
+beat the Bludger furiously toward Marcus Flint. 
+
+“Slytherin in possession,” Lee Jordan was saying, 
+“Chaser Pucey ducks two Bludgers, two Weasleys, 
+and Chaser Bell, and speeds toward the — wait a 
+moment — was that the Snitch?” 
+
+A murmur ran through the crowd as Adrian Pucey 
+dropped the Quaffle, too busy looking over his 
+shoulder at the flash of gold that had passed his left 
+ear. 
+
+Harry saw it. In a great rush of excitement he dived 
+downward after the streak of gold. Slytherin Seeker 
+Terence Higgs had seen it, too. Neck and neck they 
+hurtled toward the Snitch — all the Chasers seemed 
+to have forgotten what they were supposed to be 
+doing as they hung in midair to watch. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+Harry was faster than Higgs — he could see the little 
+round ball, wings fluttering, darting up ahead — he 
+put on an extra spurt of speed — 
+
+WHAM! A roar of rage echoed from the Gryffindors 
+below — Marcus Flint had blocked Harry on purpose, 
+and Harry’s broom spun off course, Harry holding on 
+for dear life. 
+
+“Foul!” screamed the Gryffindors. 
+
+Madam Hooch spoke angrily to Flint and then ordered 
+a free shot at the goal posts for Gryffindor. But in all 
+the confusion, of course, the Golden Snitch had 
+disappeared from sight again. 
+
+Down in the stands, Dean Thomas was yelling, “Send 
+him off, ref! Red card!” 
+
+“What are you talking about, Dean?” said Ron. 
+
+“Red card!” said Dean furiously. “In soccer you get 
+shown the red card and you’re out of the game!” 
+
+“But this isn’t soccer, Dean,” Ron reminded him. 
+
+Hagrid, however, was on Dean’s side. 
+
+“They oughta change the rules. Flint coulda knocked 
+Harry outta the air.” 
+
+Lee Jordan was finding it difficult not to take sides. 
+
+“So — after that obvious and disgusting bit of 
+cheating — ” 
+
+“Jordan!” growled Professor McGonagall. 
+
+“I mean, after that open and revolting foul — ” 
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Jordan, I’m warning you — ” 
+
+
+
+“All right, all right. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor 
+Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I’m sure, so a 
+penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinnet, who puts it 
+away, no trouble, and we continue play, Gryffindor 
+still in possession.” 
+
+It was as Harry dodged another Bludger, which went 
+spinning dangerously past his head, that it happened. 
+His broom gave a sudden, frightening lurch. For a 
+split second, he thought he was going to fall. He 
+gripped the broom tightly with both his hands and 
+knees. He’d never felt anything like that. 
+
+It happened again. It was as though the broom was 
+trying to buck him off. But Nimbus Two Thousands 
+did not suddenly decide to buck their riders off. Harry 
+tried to turn back toward the Gryffindor goal posts — 
+he had half a mind to ask Wood to call time-out — 
+and then he realized that his broom was completely 
+out of his control. He couldn’t turn it. He couldn’t 
+direct it at all. It was zigzagging through the air, and 
+every now and then making violent swishing 
+movements that almost unseated him. 
+
+Lee was still commentating. 
+
+“Slytherin in possession — Flint with the Quaffle — 
+passes Spinnet — passes Bell — hit hard in the face 
+by a Bludger, hope it broke his nose — only joking, 
+Professor — Slytherins score — oh no ...” 
+
+The Slytherins were cheering. No one seemed to have 
+noticed that Harry’s broom was behaving strangely It 
+was carrying him slowly higher, away from the game, 
+jerking and twitching as it went. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Dunno what Harry thinks he’s doing,” Hagrid 
+mumbled. He stared through his binoculars. “If I 
+didn’ know better, I’d say he’d lost control of his 
+broom ... but he can’t have. ...” 
+
+Suddenly, people were pointing up at Harry all over 
+the stands. His broom had started to roll over and 
+over, with him only just managing to hold on. Then 
+the whole crowd gasped. Harry’s broom had given a 
+wild jerk and Harry swung off it. He was now dangling 
+from it, holding on with only one hand. 
+
+“Did something happen to it when Flint blocked him?” 
+Seamus whispered. 
+
+“Can’t have,” Hagrid said, his voice shaking. “Can’t 
+nothing interfere with a broomstick except powerful 
+Dark magic — no kid could do that to a Nimbus Two 
+Thousand.” 
+
+At these words, Hermione seized Hagrid ’s binoculars, 
+but instead of looking up at Harry, she started 
+looking frantically at the crowd. 
+
+“What are you doing?” moaned Ron, gray-faced. 
+
+“I knew it,” Hermione gasped, “Snape — look.” 
+
+Ron grabbed the binoculars. Snape was in the middle 
+of the stands opposite them. He had his eyes fixed on 
+Harry and was muttering nonstop under his breath. 
+
+“He’s doing something — jinxing the broom,” said 
+Hermione. 
+
+“What should we do?” 
+
+“Leave it to me.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 213 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Before Ron could say another word, Hermione had 
+disappeared. Ron turned the binoculars back on 
+Harry. His broom was vibrating so hard, it was almost 
+impossible for him to hang on much longer. The 
+whole crowd was on its feet, watching, terrified, as the 
+Weasleys flew up to try and pull Harry safely onto one 
+of their brooms, but it was no good — every time they 
+got near him, the broom would jump higher still. They 
+dropped lower and circled beneath him, obviously 
+hoping to catch him if he fell. Marcus Flint seized the 
+Quaffle and scored five times without anyone 
+noticing. 
+
+“Come on, Hermione,” Ron muttered desperately. 
+
+Hermione had fought her way across to the stand 
+where Snape stood, and was now racing along the row 
+behind him; she didn’t even stop to say sorry as she 
+knocked Professor Quirrell headfirst into the row in 
+front. Reaching Snape, she crouched down, pulled 
+out her wand, and whispered a few, well-chosen 
+words. Bright blue flames shot from her wand onto 
+the hem of Snape ’s robes. 
+
+It took perhaps thirty seconds for Snape to realize 
+that he was on fire. A sudden yelp told her she had 
+done her job. Scooping the fire off him into a little jar 
+in her pocket, she scrambled back along the row — 
+Snape would never know what had happened. 
+
+It was enough. Up in the air, Harry was suddenly able 
+to clamber back on to his broom. 
+
+“Neville, you can look!” Ron said. Neville had been 
+sobbing into Hagrid’s jacket for the last five minutes. 
+
+Harry was speeding toward the ground when the 
+crowd saw him clap his hand to his mouth as though 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+he was about to be sick — he hit the field on all fours 
+— coughed — and something gold fell into his hand. 
+
+“I’ve got the Snitch!” he shouted, waving it above his 
+head, and the game ended in complete confusion. 
+
+“He didn’t catch it, he nearly swallowed it,” Flint was 
+still howling twenty minutes later, but it made no 
+difference — Harry hadn’t broken any rules and Lee 
+Jordan was still happily shouting the results — 
+Gryffindor had won by one hundred and seventy 
+points to sixty. Harry heard none of this, though. He 
+was being made a cup of strong tea back in Hagrid’s 
+hut, with Ron and Hermione. 
+
+“It was Snape,” Ron was explaining, “Hermione and I 
+saw him. He was cursing your broomstick, muttering, 
+he wouldn’t take his eyes off you.” 
+
+“Rubbish,” said Hagrid, who hadn’t heard a word of 
+what had gone on next to him in the stands. “Why 
+would Snape do somethin’ like that?” 
+
+Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at one another, 
+wondering what to tell him. Harry decided on the 
+truth. 
+
+“I found out something about him,” he told Hagrid. 
+“He tried to get past that three-headed dog on 
+Halloween. It bit him. We think he was trying to steal 
+whatever it’s guarding.” 
+
+Hagrid dropped the teapot. 
+
+“How do you know about Fluffy?” he said. 
+
+“ Fluffy ?” 
+
+
+
+Page | 215 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Yeah — he’s mine — bought him off a Greek chappie 
+I met in the pub las’ year — I lent him to Dumbledore 
+to guard the — ” 
+
+“Yes?” said Harry eagerly. 
+
+“Now, don’t ask me anymore,” said Hagrid gruffly. 
+“That’s top secret, that is.” 
+
+“But Snape’s trying to steal it.” 
+
+“Rubbish,” said Hagrid again. “Snape’s a Hogwarts 
+teacher, he’d do nothin’ of the sort.” 
+
+“So why did he just try and kill Harry?” cried 
+Hermione. 
+
+The afternoon’s events certainly seemed to have 
+changed her mind about Snape. 
+
+“I know a jinx when I see one, Hagrid, I’ve read all 
+about them! You’ve got to keep eye contact, and 
+Snape wasn’t blinking at all, I saw him!” 
+
+“I’m tellin’ yeh, yer wrong!” said Hagrid hotly. “I don’ 
+know why Harry’s broom acted like that, but Snape 
+wouldn’ try an’ kill a student! Now, listen to me, all 
+three of yeh — yer meddlin’ in things that don’ 
+concern yeh. It’s dangerous. You forget that dog, an’ 
+you forget what it’s guardin’, that’s between Professor 
+Dumbledore an’ Nicolas Flamel — ■” 
+
+“Aha!” said Harry, “so there’s someone called Nicolas 
+Flamel involved, is there?” 
+
+Hagrid looked furious with himself. 
+
+
+
+Page | 216 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MIRROR OF ERISED 
+
+Christmas was coming. One morning in mid- 
+December, Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in 
+several feet of snow. The lake froze solid and the 
+Weasley twins were punished for bewitching several 
+snowballs so that they followed Quirrell around, 
+bouncing off the back of his turban. The few owls that 
+managed to battle their way through the stormy sky 
+to deliver mail had to be nursed back to health by 
+Hagrid before they could fly off again. 
+
+No one could wait for the holidays to start. While the 
+Gryffindor common room and the Great Hall had 
+roaring fires, the drafty corridors had become icy and 
+a bitter wind rattled the windows in the classrooms. 
+Worst of all were Professor Snape’s classes down in 
+the dungeons, where their breath rose in a mist 
+before them and they kept as close as possible to 
+their hot cauldrons. 
+
+“I do feel so sorry,” said Draco Malfoy, one Potions 
+class, “for all those people who have to stay at 
+
+
+
+Page | 217 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+Hogwarts for Christmas because they’re not wanted 
+at home.” 
+
+He was looking over at Harry as he spoke. Crabbe and 
+Goyle chuckled. Harry, who was measuring out 
+powdered spine of lion-fish, ignored them. Malfoy had 
+been even more unpleasant than usual since the 
+Quidditch match. Disgusted that the Slytherins had 
+lost, he had tried to get everyone laughing at how a 
+wide-mouthed tree frog would be replacing Harry as 
+Seeker next. Then he’d realized that nobody found 
+this funny, because they were all so impressed at the 
+way Harry had managed to stay on his bucking 
+broomstick. So Malfoy, jealous and angry, had gone 
+back to taunting Harry about having no proper 
+family. 
+
+It was true that Harry wasn’t going back to Privet 
+Drive for Christmas. Professor McGonagall had come 
+around the week before, making a list of students 
+who would be staying for the holidays, and Harry had 
+signed up at once. He didn’t feel sorry for himself at 
+all; this would probably be the best Christmas he’d 
+ever had. Ron and his brothers were staying, too, 
+because Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were going to Romania 
+to visit Charlie. 
+
+When they left the dungeons at the end of Potions, 
+they found a large fir tree blocking the corridor ahead. 
+Two enormous feet sticking out at the bottom and a 
+loud puffing sound told them that Hagrid was behind 
+it. 
+
+“Hi, Hagrid, want any help?” Ron asked, sticking his 
+head through the branches. 
+
+“Nah, I’m all right, thanks, Ron.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 218 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Would you mind moving out of the way?” came 
+Malfoy’s cold drawl from behind them. “Are you trying 
+to earn some extra money, Weasley? Hoping to be 
+gamekeeper yourself when you leave Hogwarts, I 
+suppose — that hut of Hagrid’s must seem like a 
+palace compared to what your family’s used to.” 
+
+Ron dived at Malfoy just as Snape came up the stairs. 
+
+“WEASLEY!” 
+
+Ron let go of the front of Malfoy’s robes. 
+
+“He was provoked, Professor Snape,” said Hagrid, 
+sticking his huge hairy face out from behind the tree. 
+“Malfoy was insultin’ his family.” 
+
+“Be that as it may, fighting is against Hogwarts rules, 
+Hagrid,” said Snape silkily. “Five points from 
+Gryffindor, Weasley, and be grateful it isn’t more. 
+Move along, all of you.” 
+
+Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle pushed roughly past the 
+tree, scattering needles everywhere and smirking. 
+
+“I’ll get him,” said Ron, grinding his teeth at Malfoy’s 
+back, “one of these days, I’ll get him — ” 
+
+“I hate them both,” said Harry, “Malfoy and Snape.” 
+
+“Come on, cheer up, it’s nearly Christmas,” said 
+Hagrid. “Tell yeh what, come with me an’ see the 
+Great Hall, looks a treat.” 
+
+So the three of them followed Hagrid and his tree off 
+to the Great Hall, where Professor McGonagall and 
+Professor Flitwick were busy with the Christmas 
+decorations. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Ah, Hagrid, the last tree — put it in the far corner, 
+would you?” 
+
+The hall looked spectacular. Festoons of holly and 
+mistletoe hung all around the walls, and no less than 
+twelve towering Christmas trees stood around the 
+room, some sparkling with tiny icicles, some glittering 
+with hundreds of candles. 
+
+“How many days you got left until yer holidays?” 
+Hagrid asked. 
+
+“Just one,” said Hermione. “And that reminds me — 
+Harry, Ron, we’ve got half an hour before lunch, we 
+should be in the library.” 
+
+“Oh yeah, you’re right,” said Ron, tearing his eyes 
+away from Professor Flitwick, who had golden 
+bubbles blossoming out of his wand and was trailing 
+them over the branches of the new tree. 
+
+“The library?” said Hagrid, following them out of the 
+hall. “Just before the holidays? Bit keen, aren’t yeh?” 
+
+“Oh, we’re not working,” Harry told him brightly. 
+
+“Ever since you mentioned Nicolas Flamel we’ve been 
+trying to find out who he is.” 
+
+“You what?” Hagrid looked shocked. “Listen here — 
+I’ve told yeh — drop it. It’s nothin’ to you what that 
+dog’s guardin’.” 
+
+“We just want to know who Nicolas Flamel is, that’s 
+all,” said Hermione. 
+
+“Unless you’d like to tell us and save us the trouble?” 
+Harry added. “We must’ve been through hundreds of 
+books already and we can’t find him anywhere — just 
+
+
+
+Page | 220 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+give us a hint — I know I’ve read his name 
+somewhere.” 
+
+“I’m sayin’ nothin’,” said Hagrid flatly. 
+
+“Just have to find out for ourselves, then,” said Ron, 
+and they left Hagrid looking disgruntled and hurried 
+off to the library. 
+
+They had indeed been searching books for Flamel’s 
+name ever since Hagrid had let it slip, because how 
+else were they going to find out what Snape was 
+trying to steal? The trouble was, it was very hard to 
+know where to begin, not knowing what Flamel might 
+have done to get himself into a book. He wasn’t in 
+Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century, or Notable 
+Magical Names of Our Time ; he was missing, too, from 
+Important Modern Magical Discoveries, and A Study of 
+Recent Developments in Wizardry. And then, of 
+course, there was the sheer size of the library; tens of 
+thousands of books; thousands of shelves; hundreds 
+of narrow rows. 
+
+Hermione took out a list of subjects and titles she had 
+decided to search while Ron strode off down a row of 
+books and started pulling them off the shelves at 
+random. Harry wandered over to the Restricted 
+Section. He had been wondering for a while if Flamel 
+wasn’t somewhere in there. Unfortunately, you 
+needed a specially signed note from one of the 
+teachers to look in any of the restricted books, and he 
+knew he’d never get one. These were the books 
+containing powerful Dark Magic never taught at 
+Hogwarts, and only read by older students studying 
+advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts. 
+
+“What are you looking for, boy?” 
+
+“Nothing,” said Harry. 
+
+Page | 221 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Madam Pince the librarian brandished a feather 
+duster at him. 
+
+“You’d better get out, then. Go on — out!” 
+
+Wishing he’d been a bit quicker at thinking up some 
+story, Harry left the library. He, Ron, and Hermione 
+had already agreed they’d better not ask Madam 
+Pince where they could find Flamel. They were sure 
+she’d be able to tell them, but they couldn’t risk 
+Snape hearing what they were up to. 
+
+Harry waited outside in the corridor to see if the other 
+two had found anything, but he wasn’t very hopeful. 
+They had been looking for two weeks, after all, but as 
+they only had odd moments between lessons it wasn’t 
+surprising they’d found nothing. What they really 
+needed was a nice long search without Madam Pince 
+breathing down their necks. 
+
+Five minutes later, Ron and Hermione joined him, 
+shaking their heads. They went off to lunch. 
+
+“You will keep looking while I’m away, won’t you?” 
+said Hermione. “And send me an owl if you find 
+anything.” 
+
+“And you could ask your parents if they know who 
+Flamel is,” said Ron. “It’d be safe to ask them.” 
+
+“Very safe, as they’re both dentists,” said Hermione. 
+
+Once the holidays had started, Ron and Harry were 
+having too good a time to think much about Flamel. 
+They had the dormitory to themselves and the 
+common room was far emptier than usual, so they 
+were able to get the good armchairs by the fire. They 
+sat by the hour eating anything they could spear on a 
+toasting fork — bread, English muffins, 
+
+Page | 222 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+marshmallows — and plotting ways of getting Malfoy 
+expelled, which were fun to talk about even if they 
+wouldn’t work. 
+
+Ron also started teaching Harry wizard chess. This 
+was exactly like Muggle chess except that the figures 
+were alive, which made it a lot like directing troops in 
+battle. Ron’s set was very old and battered. Like 
+everything else he owned, it had once belonged to 
+someone else in his family — in this case, his 
+grandfather. However, old chessmen weren’t a 
+drawback at all. Ron knew them so well he never had 
+trouble getting them to do what he wanted. 
+
+Harry played with chessmen Seamus Finnigan had 
+lent him, and they didn’t trust him at all. He wasn’t a 
+very good player yet and they kept shouting different 
+bits of advice at him, which was confusing. “Don’t 
+send me there, can’t you see his knight? Send him, we 
+can afford to lose him.” 
+
+On Christmas Eve, Harry went to bed looking forward 
+to the next day for the food and the fun, but not 
+expecting any presents at all. When he woke early in 
+the morning, however, the first thing he saw was a 
+small pile of packages at the foot of his bed. 
+
+“Merry Christmas,” said Ron sleepily as Harry 
+scrambled out of bed and pulled on his bathrobe. 
+
+“You, too,” said Harry. “Will you look at this? I’ve got 
+some presents!” 
+
+“What did you expect, turnips?” said Ron, turning to 
+his own pile, which was a lot bigger than Harry’s. 
+
+Harry picked up the top parcel. It was wrapped in 
+thick brown paper and scrawled across it was To 
+Harry, from Hagrid. Inside was a roughly cut wooden 
+
+Page | 223 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+flute. Hagrid had obviously whittled it himself. Harry 
+blew it — it sounded a bit like an owl. 
+
+A second, very small parcel contained a note. 
+
+We received your message and enclose your Christmas 
+present. From Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. Taped 
+to the note was a fifty-pence piece. 
+
+“That’s friendly,” said Harry. 
+
+Ron was fascinated by the fifty pence. 
+
+“ Weird\ ” he said, “What a shape! This is money?” 
+
+“You can keep it,” said Harry, laughing at how 
+pleased Ron was. “Hagrid and my aunt and uncle — 
+so who sent these?” 
+
+“I think I know who that one’s from,” said Ron, 
+turning a bit pink and pointing to a very lumpy 
+parcel. “My mom. I told her you didn’t expect any 
+presents and — oh, no,” he groaned, “she’s made you 
+a Weasley sweater.” 
+
+Harry had torn open the parcel to find a thick, hand- 
+knitted sweater in emerald green and a large box of 
+homemade fudge. 
+
+“Every year she makes us a sweater,” said Ron, 
+unwrapping his own, “and mine’s always maroon.” 
+
+“That’s really nice of her,” said Harry, trying the 
+fudge, which was very tasty. 
+
+His next present also contained candy — a large box 
+of Chocolate Frogs from Hermione. 
+
+
+
+Page | 224 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+This only left one parcel. Harry picked it up and felt 
+it. It was very light. He unwrapped it. 
+
+Something fluid and silvery gray went slithering to the 
+floor where it lay in gleaming folds. Ron gasped. 
+
+“I’ve heard of those,” he said in a hushed voice, 
+dropping the box of Every Flavor Beans he’d gotten 
+from Hermione. “If that’s what I think it is — they’re 
+really rare, and really valuable.” 
+
+“What is it?” 
+
+Harry picked the shining, silvery cloth off the floor. It 
+was strange to the touch, like water woven into 
+material. 
+
+“It’s an Invisibility Cloak,” said Ron, a look of awe on 
+his face. “I’m sure it is — try it on.” 
+
+Harry threw the cloak around his shoulders and Ron 
+gave a yell. 
+
+“It is! Look down!” 
+
+Harry looked down at his feet, but they were gone. He 
+dashed to the mirror. Sure enough, his reflection 
+looked back at him, just his head suspended in 
+midair, his body completely invisible. He pulled the 
+cloak over his head and his reflection vanished 
+completely. 
+
+“There’s a note!” said Ron suddenly. “A note fell out of 
+it!” 
+
+
+
+Harry pulled off the cloak and seized the letter. 
+Written in narrow, loopy writing he had never seen 
+before were the following words: 
+
+
+
+Page | 225 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Your father left this in my possession before he died. It 
+is time it was returned to you. 
+
+Use it well. 
+
+A Very Merry Christmas to you. 
+
+There was no signature. Harry stared at the note. Ron 
+was admiring the cloak. 
+
+“I’d give anuthinq for one of these,” he said. “Anuthinq. 
+What’s the matter?” 
+
+“Nothing,” said Harry. He felt very strange. Who had 
+sent the cloak? Had it really once belonged to his 
+father? 
+
+Before he could say or think anything else, the 
+dormitory door was flung open and Fred and George 
+Weasley bounded in. Harry stuffed the cloak quickly 
+out of sight. He didn’t feel like sharing it with anyone 
+else yet. 
+
+“Merry Christmas!” 
+
+“Hey, look — Harry’s got a Weasley sweater, too!” 
+
+Fred and George were wearing blue sweaters, one 
+with a large yellow F on it, the other a G. 
+
+“Harry’s is better than ours, though,” said Fred, 
+holding up Harry’s sweater. “She obviously makes 
+more of an effort if you’re not family.” 
+
+“Why aren’t you wearing yours, Ron?” George 
+demanded. “Come on, get it on, they’re lovely and 
+warm.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 226 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“I hate maroon,” Ron moaned halfheartedly as he 
+pulled it over his head. 
+
+“You haven’t got a letter on yours,” George observed. 
+
+“I suppose she thinks you don’t forget your name. But 
+we’re not stupid — we know we’re called Gred and 
+Forge.” 
+
+“What’s all this noise?” 
+
+Percy Weasley stuck his head through the door, 
+looking disapproving. He had clearly gotten halfway 
+through unwrapping his presents as he, too, carried a 
+lumpy sweater over his arm, which Fred seized. 
+
+“P for prefect! Get it on, Percy, come on, we’re all 
+wearing ours, even Harry got one.” 
+
+“I — don’t — want — ” said Percy thickly, as the twins 
+forced the sweater over his head, knocking his glasses 
+askew. 
+
+“And you’re not sitting with the prefects today, 
+either,” said George. “Christmas is a time for family.” 
+
+They frog-marched Percy from the room, his arms 
+pinned to his side by his sweater. 
+
+Harry had never in all his life had such a Christmas 
+dinner. A hundred fat, roast turkeys; mountains of 
+roast and boiled potatoes; platters of chipolatas; 
+tureens of buttered peas, silver boats of thick, rich 
+gravy and cranberry sauce — and stacks of wizard 
+crackers every few feet along the table. These 
+fantastic party favors were nothing like the feeble 
+Muggle ones the Dursleys usually bought, with their 
+little plastic toys and their flimsy paper hats inside. 
+Harry pulled a wizard cracker with Fred and it didn’t 
+just bang, it went off with a blast like a cannon and 
+Page | 227 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+engulfed them all in a cloud of blue smoke, while from 
+the inside exploded a rear admiral’s hat and several 
+live, white mice. Up at the High Table, Dumbledore 
+had swapped his pointed wizard’s hat for a flowered 
+bonnet, and was chuckling merrily at a joke Professor 
+Flitwick had just read him. 
+
+Flaming Christmas puddings followed the turkey. 
+Percy nearly broke his teeth on a silver Sickle 
+embedded in his slice. Harry watched Hagrid getting 
+redder and redder in the face as he called for more 
+wine, finally kissing Professor McGonagall on the 
+cheek, who, to Harry’s amazement, giggled and 
+blushed, her top hat lopsided. 
+
+When Harry finally left the table, he was laden down 
+with a stack of things out of the crackers, including a 
+pack of non-explodable, luminous balloons, a Grow- 
+Your-Own-Warts kit, and his own new wizard chess 
+set. The white mice had disappeared and Harry had a 
+nasty feeling they were going to end up as Mrs. 
+Norris’s Christmas dinner. 
+
+Harry and the Weasleys spent a happy afternoon 
+having a furious snowball fight on the grounds. Then, 
+cold, wet, and gasping for breath, they returned to the 
+fire in the Gryffindor common room, where Harry 
+broke in his new chess set by losing spectacularly to 
+Ron. He suspected he wouldn’t have lost so badly if 
+Percy hadn’t tried to help him so much. 
+
+After a meal of turkey sandwiches, crumpets, trifle, 
+and Christmas cake, everyone felt too full and sleepy 
+to do much before bed except sit and watch Percy 
+chase Fred and George all over Gryffindor Tower 
+because they’d stolen his prefect badge. 
+
+It had been Harry’s best Christmas day ever. Yet 
+something had been nagging at the back of his mind 
+
+Page | 228 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+all day. Not until he climbed into bed was he free to 
+think about it: the Invisibility Cloak and whoever had 
+sent it. 
+
+Ron, full of turkey and cake and with nothing 
+mysterious to bother him, fell asleep almost as soon 
+as he’d drawn the curtains of his four-poster. Harry 
+leaned over the side of his own bed and pulled the 
+cloak out from under it. 
+
+His father’s ... this had been his father’s. He let the 
+material flow over his hands, smoother than silk, light 
+as air. Use it well, the note had said. 
+
+He had to try it, now. He slipped out of bed and 
+wrapped the cloak around himself. Looking down at 
+his legs, he saw only moonlight and shadows. It was a 
+very funny feeling. 
+
+Use it well. 
+
+Suddenly, Harry felt wide-awake. The whole of 
+Hogwarts was open to him in this cloak. Excitement 
+flooded through him as he stood there in the dark 
+and silence. He could go anywhere in this, anywhere, 
+and Filch would never know. 
+
+Ron grunted in his sleep. Should Harry wake him? 
+Something held him back — his father’s cloak — he 
+felt that this time — the first time — he wanted to use 
+it alone. 
+
+He crept out of the dormitory, down the stairs, across 
+the common room, and climbed through the portrait 
+hole. 
+
+“Who’s there?” squawked the Fat Lady. Harry said 
+nothing. He walked quickly down the corridor. 
+
+
+
+Page | 229 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Where should he go? He stopped, his heart racing, 
+and thought. And then it came to him. The Restricted 
+Section in the library. He’d be able to read as long as 
+he liked, as long as it took to find out who Flamel 
+was. He set off, drawing the Invisibility Cloak tight 
+around him as he walked. 
+
+The library was pitch-black and very eerie. Harry lit a 
+lamp to see his way along the rows of books. The 
+lamp looked as if it was floating along in midair, and 
+even though Harry could feel his arm supporting it, 
+the sight gave him the creeps. 
+
+The Restricted Section was right at the back of the 
+library. Stepping carefully over the rope that 
+separated these books from the rest of the library, he 
+held up his lamp to read the titles. 
+
+They didn’t tell him much. Their peeling, faded gold 
+letters spelled words in languages Harry couldn’t 
+understand. Some had no title at all. One book had a 
+dark stain on it that looked horribly like blood. The 
+hairs on the back of Harry’s neck prickled. Maybe he 
+was imagining it, maybe not, but he thought a faint 
+whispering was coming from the books, as though 
+they knew someone was there who shouldn’t be. 
+
+He had to start somewhere. Setting the lamp down 
+carefully on the floor, he looked along the bottom 
+shelf for an interesting-looking book. A large black 
+and silver volume caught his eye. He pulled it out 
+with difficulty, because it was very heavy, and, 
+balancing it on his knee, let it fall open. 
+
+A piercing, bloodcurdling shriek split the silence — 
+the book was screaming! Harry snapped it shut, but 
+the shriek went on and on, one high, unbroken, 
+earsplitting note. He stumbled backward and knocked 
+over his lamp, which went out at once. Panicking, he 
+Page | 230 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+heard footsteps coming down the corridor outside — 
+stuffing the shrieking book back on the shelf, he ran 
+for it. He passed Filch in the doorway; Filch’s pale, 
+wild eyes looked straight through him, and Harry 
+slipped under Filch’s outstretched arm and streaked 
+off up the corridor, the book’s shrieks still ringing in 
+his ears. 
+
+He came to a sudden halt in front of a tall suit of 
+armor. He had been so busy getting away from the 
+library, he hadn’t paid attention to where he was 
+going. Perhaps because it was dark, he didn’t 
+recognize where he was at all. There was a suit of 
+armor near the kitchens, he knew, but he must be 
+five floors above there. 
+
+“You asked me to come directly to you, Professor, if 
+anyone was wandering around at night, and 
+somebody’s been in the library — Restricted Section.” 
+
+Harry felt the blood drain out of his face. Wherever he 
+was, Filch must know a shortcut, because his soft, 
+greasy voice was getting nearer, and to his horror, it 
+was Snape who replied, “The Restricted Section? Well, 
+they can’t be far, we’ll catch them.” 
+
+Harry stood rooted to the spot as Filch and Snape 
+came around the corner ahead. They couldn’t see 
+him, of course, but it was a narrow corridor and if 
+they came much nearer they’d knock right into him — 
+the cloak didn’t stop him from being solid. 
+
+He backed away as quietly as he could. A door stood 
+ajar to his left. It was his only hope. He squeezed 
+through it, holding his breath, trying not to move it, 
+and to his relief he managed to get inside the room 
+without their noticing anything. They walked straight 
+past, and Harry leaned against the wall, breathing 
+deeply, listening to their footsteps dying away. That 
+Page | 231 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+had been close, very close. It was a few seconds 
+before he noticed anything about the room he had 
+hidden in. 
+
+
+
+It looked like an unused classroom. The dark shapes 
+of desks and chairs were piled against the walls, and 
+there was an upturned wastepaper basket — but 
+propped against the wall facing him was something 
+that didn’t look as if it belonged there, something that 
+looked as if someone had just put it there to keep it 
+out of the way. 
+
+It was a magnificent mirror, as high as the ceiling, 
+with an ornate gold frame, standing on two clawed 
+feet. There was an inscription carved around the top: 
+Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. 
+
+His panic fading now that there was no sound of Filch 
+and Snape, Harry moved nearer to the mirror, 
+wanting to look at himself but see no reflection again. 
+He stepped in front of it. 
+
+He had to clap his hands to his mouth to stop himself 
+from screaming. He whirled around. His heart was 
+pounding far more furiously than when the book had 
+screamed — for he had seen not only himself in the 
+mirror, but a whole crowd of people standing right 
+behind him. 
+
+But the room was empty. Breathing very fast, he 
+turned slowly back to the mirror. 
+
+There he was, reflected in it, white and scared- 
+looking, and there, reflected behind him, were at least 
+ten others. Harry looked over his shoulder — but still, 
+no one was there. Or were they all invisible, too? Was 
+he in fact in a room full of invisible people and this 
+mirrors trick was that it reflected them, invisible or 
+not? 
+
+Page | 232 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+He looked in the mirror again. A woman standing 
+right behind his reflection was smiling at him and 
+waving. He reached out a hand and felt the air behind 
+him. If she was really there, he’d touch her, their 
+reflections were so close together, but he felt only air 
+— she and the others existed only in the mirror. 
+
+She was a very pretty woman. She had dark red hair 
+and her eyes — her eyes are just like mine, Harry 
+thought, edging a little closer to the glass. Bright 
+green — exactly the same shape, but then he noticed 
+that she was crying; smiling, but crying at the same 
+time. The tall, thin, black-haired man standing next 
+to her put his arm around her. He wore glasses, and 
+his hair was very untidy. It stuck up at the back, just 
+as Harry’s did. 
+
+Harry was so close to the mirror now that his nose 
+was nearly touching that of his reflection. 
+
+“Mom?” he whispered. “Dad?” 
+
+They just looked at him, smiling. And slowly, Harry 
+looked into the faces of the other people in the mirror, 
+and saw other pairs of green eyes like his, other noses 
+like his, even a little old man who looked as though 
+he had Harry’s knobbly knees — Harry was looking at 
+his family, for the first time in his life. 
+
+The Potters smiled and waved at Harry and he stared 
+hungrily back at them, his hands pressed flat against 
+the glass as though he was hoping to fall right 
+through it and reach them. He had a powerful kind of 
+ache inside him, half joy, half terrible sadness. 
+
+How long he stood there, he didn’t know. The 
+reflections did not fade and he looked and looked 
+until a distant noise brought him back to his senses. 
+He couldn’t stay here, he had to find his way back to 
+
+Page | 233 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+bed. He tore his eyes away from his mother’s face, 
+whispered, “I’ll come back,” and hurried from the 
+room. 
+
+“You could have woken me up,” said Ron, crossly. 
+
+“You can come tonight, I’m going back, I want to show 
+you the mirror.” 
+
+“I’d like to see your mom and dad,” Ron said eagerly. 
+
+“And I want to see all your family, all the Weasleys, 
+you’ll be able to show me your other brothers and 
+everyone.” 
+
+“You can see them any old time,” said Ron. “Just 
+come round my house this summer. Anyway, maybe 
+it only shows dead people. Shame about not finding 
+Flamel, though. Have some bacon or something, why 
+aren’t you eating anything?” 
+
+Harry couldn’t eat. He had seen his parents and 
+would be seeing them again tonight. He had almost 
+forgotten about Flamel. It didn’t seem very important 
+anymore. Who cared what the three-headed dog was 
+guarding? What did it matter if Snape stole it, really? 
+
+“Are you all right?” said Ron. “You look odd.” 
+
+What Harry feared most was that he might not be 
+able to find the mirror room again. With Ron covered 
+in the cloak, too, they had to walk much more slowly 
+the next night. They tried retracing Harry’s route from 
+the library, wandering around the dark passageways 
+for nearly an hour. 
+
+“I’m freezing,” said Ron. “Let’s forget it and go back.” 
+
+“IVo!” Harry hissed. “I know it’s here somewhere.” 
+
+Page | 234 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+They passed the ghost of a tall witch gliding in the 
+opposite direction, but saw no one else. Just as Ron 
+started moaning that his feet were dead with cold, 
+Harry spotted the suit of armor. 
+
+“It’s here — just here — yes!” 
+
+They pushed the door open. Harry dropped the cloak 
+from around his shoulders and ran to the mirror. 
+
+There they were. His mother and father beamed at the 
+sight of him. 
+
+“See?” Harry whispered. 
+
+“I can’t see anything.” 
+
+“Look! Look at them all ... there are loads of them. ...” 
+“I can only see you.” 
+
+“Look in it properly, go on, stand where I am.” 
+
+Harry stepped aside, but with Ron in front of the 
+mirror, he couldn’t see his family anymore, just Ron 
+in his paisley pajamas. 
+
+Ron, though, was staring transfixed at his image. 
+“Look at me!” he said. 
+
+“Can you see all your family standing around you?” 
+
+“No — I’m alone — but I’m different — I look older — 
+and I’m Head Boy!” 
+
+“What?” 
+
+
+
+Page | 235 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“I am — I’m wearing the badge like Bill used to — and 
+I’m holding the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup — 
+I’m Quidditch captain, too!” 
+
+Ron tore his eyes away from this splendid sight to 
+look excitedly at Harry. 
+
+“Do you think this mirror shows the future?” 
+
+“How can it? All my family are dead — let me have 
+another look — ” 
+
+“You had it to yourself all last night, give me a bit 
+more time.” 
+
+“You’re only holding the Quidditch Cup, what’s 
+interesting about that? I want to see my parents.” 
+
+“Don’t push me — ” 
+
+A sudden noise outside in the corridor put an end to 
+their discussion. They hadn’t realized how loudly they 
+had been talking. 
+
+“Quick!” 
+
+Ron threw the cloak back over them as the luminous 
+eyes of Mrs. Norris came round the door. Ron and 
+Harry stood quite still, both thinking the same thing 
+— did the cloak work on cats? After what seemed an 
+age, she turned and left. 
+
+“This isn’t safe — she might have gone for Filch, I bet 
+she heard us. Come on.” 
+
+And Ron pulled Harry out of the room. 
+
+The snow still hadn’t melted the next morning. 
+
+
+
+Page | 236 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Want to play chess, Harry?” said Ron. 
+
+
+
+“No.” 
+
+“Why don’t we go down and visit Hagrid?” 
+
+“No ... you go ...” 
+
+“I know what you’re thinking about, Harry, that 
+mirror. Don’t go back tonight.” 
+
+“Why not?” 
+
+“I dunno, I’ve just got a bad feeling about it — and 
+anyway, you’ve had too many close shaves already. 
+Filch, Snape, and Mrs. Norris are wandering around. 
+So what if they can’t see you? What if they walk into 
+you? What if you knock something over?” 
+
+“You sound like Hermione.” 
+
+“I’m serious, Harry, don’t go.” 
+
+But Harry only had one thought in his head, which 
+was to get back in front of the mirror, and Ron wasn’t 
+going to stop him. 
+
+That third night he found his way more quickly than 
+before. He was walking so fast he knew he was 
+making more noise than was wise, but he didn’t meet 
+anyone. 
+
+And there were his mother and father smiling at him 
+again, and one of his grandfathers nodding happily. 
+Harry sank down to sit on the floor in front of the 
+mirror. There was nothing to stop him from staying 
+here all night with his family. Nothing at all. 
+
+Except — 
+
+Page | 237 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“So — back again, Harry?” 
+
+Harry felt as though his insides had turned to ice. He 
+looked behind him. Sitting on one of the desks by the 
+wall was none other than Albus Dumbledore. Harry 
+must have walked straight past him, so desperate to 
+get to the mirror he hadn’t noticed him. 
+
+“I — I didn’t see you, sir.” 
+
+“Strange how nearsighted being invisible can make 
+you,” said Dumbledore, and Harry was relieved to see 
+that he was smiling. 
+
+“So,” said Dumbledore, slipping off the desk to sit on 
+the floor with Harry, “you, like hundreds before you, 
+have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised.” 
+
+“I didn’t know it was called that, sir.” 
+
+“But I expect you’ve realized by now what it does?” 
+
+“It — well — it shows me my family — ” 
+
+“And it showed your friend Ron himself as Head Boy.” 
+
+“How did you know — ?” 
+
+“I don’t need a cloak to become invisible,” said 
+Dumbledore gently. “Now, can you think what the 
+Mirror of Erised shows us all?” 
+
+Harry shook his head. 
+
+“Let me explain. The happiest man on earth would be 
+able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, 
+that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly 
+as he is. Does that help?” 
+
+
+
+Page | 238 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Harry thought. Then he said slowly, “It shows us 
+what we want ... whatever we want ...” 
+
+“Yes and no,” said Dumbledore quietly. “It shows us 
+nothing more or less than the deepest, most 
+desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never 
+known your family, see them standing around you. 
+Ronald Weasley, who has always been overshadowed 
+by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best 
+of all of them. However, this mirror will give us 
+neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away 
+before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been 
+driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or 
+even possible. 
+
+“The Mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, 
+Harry, and I ask you not to go looking for it again. If 
+you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared. It 
+does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, 
+remember that. Now, why don’t you put that 
+admirable cloak back on and get off to bed?” 
+
+Harry stood up. 
+
+“Sir — Professor Dumbledore? Can I ask you 
+something?” 
+
+“Obviously, you’ve just done so,” Dumbledore smiled. 
+“You may ask me one more thing, however.” 
+
+“What do you see when you look in the mirror?” 
+
+“I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks.” 
+
+Harry stared. 
+
+“One can never have enough socks,” said 
+Dumbledore. “Another Christmas has come and gone 
+
+
+
+Page | 239 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+and I didn’t get a single pair. People will insist on 
+giving me books.” 
+
+It was only when he was back in bed that it struck 
+Harry that Dumbledore might not have been quite 
+truthful. But then, he thought, as he shoved 
+Scabbers off his pillow, it had been quite a personal 
+question. 
+
+
+
+Page | 240 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+
+
+NICHOLAS FLAMBL 
+
+Dumbledore had convinced Harry not to go looking 
+for the Mirror of Erised again, and for the rest of the 
+Christmas holidays the Invisibility Cloak stayed 
+folded at the bottom of his trunk. Harry wished he 
+could forget what he’d seen in the mirror as easily, 
+but he couldn’t. He started having nightmares. Over 
+and over again he dreamed about his parents 
+disappearing in a flash of green light, while a high 
+voice cackled with laughter. 
+
+“You see, Dumbledore was right, that mirror could 
+drive you mad,” said Ron, when Harry told him about 
+these dreams. 
+
+Hermione, who came back the day before term 
+started, took a different view of things. She was torn 
+between horror at the idea of Harry being out of bed, 
+roaming the school three nights in a row (“If Filch had 
+caught you!”), and disappointment that he hadn’t at 
+least found out who Nicolas Flamel was. 
+
+
+
+Page | 241 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+They had almost given up hope of ever finding Flamel 
+in a library book, even though Harry was still sure 
+he’d read the name somewhere. Once term had 
+started, they were back to skimming through books 
+for ten minutes during their breaks. Harry had even 
+less time than the other two, because Quidditch 
+practice had started again. 
+
+Wood was working the team harder than ever. Even 
+the endless rain that had replaced the snow couldn’t 
+dampen his spirits. The Weasleys complained that 
+Wood was becoming a fanatic, but Harry was on 
+Wood’s side. If they won their next match, against 
+Hufflepuff, they would overtake Slytherin in the 
+House Championship for the first time in seven years. 
+Quite apart from wanting to win, Harry found that he 
+had fewer nightmares when he was tired out after 
+training. 
+
+Then, during one particularly wet and muddy practice 
+session, Wood gave the team a bit of bad news. He’d 
+just gotten very angry with the Weasleys, who kept 
+dive-bombing each other and pretending to fall off 
+their brooms. 
+
+“Will you stop messing around!” he yelled. “That’s 
+exactly the sort of thing that’ll lose us the match! 
+Snape’s refereeing this time, and he’ll be looking for 
+any excuse to knock points off Gryffindor!” 
+
+George Weasley really did fall off his broom at these 
+words. 
+
+“ Snape’s refereeing?” he spluttered through a 
+mouthful of mud. “When’s he ever refereed a 
+Quidditch match? He’s not going to be fair if we might 
+overtake Slytherin.” 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+The rest of the team landed next to George to 
+complain, too. 
+
+“It’s not my fault,” said Wood. “We’ve just got to make 
+sure we play a clean game, so Snape hasn’t got an 
+excuse to pick on us.” 
+
+Which was all very well, thought Harry, but he had 
+another reason for not wanting Snape near him while 
+he was playing Quidditch. ... 
+
+The rest of the team hung back to talk to one another 
+as usual at the end of practice, but Harry headed 
+straight back to the Gryffindor common room, where 
+he found Ron and Hermione playing chess. Chess was 
+the only thing Hermione ever lost at, something Harry 
+and Ron thought was very good for her. 
+
+“Don’t talk to me for a moment,” said Ron when Harry 
+sat down next to him, “I need to concern” He caught 
+sight of Harry’s face. “What’s the matter with you? 
+
+You look terrible.” 
+
+Speaking quietly so that no one else would hear, 
+
+Harry told the other two about Snape ’s sudden, 
+sinister desire to be a Quidditch referee. 
+
+“Don’t play,” said Hermione at once. 
+
+“Say you’re ill,” said Ron. 
+
+“Pretend to break your leg,” Hermione suggested. 
+
+“ Really break your leg,” said Ron. 
+
+“I can’t,” said Harry. “There isn’t a reserve Seeker. If I 
+back out, Gryffindor can’t play at all.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 243 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+At that moment Neville toppled into the common 
+room. How he had managed to climb through the 
+portrait hole was anyone’s guess, because his legs 
+had been stuck together with what they recognized at 
+once as the Leg-Locker Curse. He must have had to 
+bunny hop all the way up to Gryffindor Tower. 
+
+Everyone fell over laughing except Hermione, who 
+leapt up and performed the countercurse. Neville’s 
+legs sprang apart and he got to his feet, trembling. 
+
+“What happened?” Hermione asked him, leading him 
+over to sit with Harry and Ron. 
+
+“Malfoy,” said Neville shakily. “I met him outside the 
+library. He said he’d been looking for someone to 
+practice that on.” 
+
+“Go to Professor McGonagall!” Hermione urged 
+Neville. “Report him!” 
+
+Neville shook his head. 
+
+“I don’t want more trouble,” he mumbled. 
+
+“You’ve got to stand up to him, Neville!” said Ron. 
+“He’s used to walking all over people, but that’s no 
+reason to lie down in front of him and make it easier.” 
+
+“There’s no need to tell me I’m not brave enough to be 
+in Gryffindor, Malfoy’s already done that,” Neville 
+choked out. 
+
+Harry felt in the pocket of his robes and pulled out a 
+Chocolate Frog, the very last one from the box 
+Hermione had given him for Christmas. He gave it to 
+Neville, who looked as though he might cry. 
+
+
+
+Page | 244 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“You’re worth twelve of Malfoy,” Harry said. “The 
+Sorting Hat chose you for Gryffindor, didn’t it? And 
+where’s Malfoy? In stinking Slytherin.” 
+
+Neville’s lips twitched in a weak smile as he 
+unwrapped the frog. 
+
+“Thanks, Harry ... I think I’ll go to bed. ... D’you want 
+the card, you collect them, don’t you?” 
+
+As Neville walked away, Harry looked at the Famous 
+Wizard card. 
+
+“Dumbledore again,” he said, “He was the first one I 
+ever — ” 
+
+He gasped. He stared at the back of the card. Then he 
+looked up at Ron and Hermione. 
+
+“I’ve found him\” he whispered. “I’ve found Flamel! I 
+told you I’d read the name somewhere before, I read it 
+on the train coming here — listen to this: 
+
+‘Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of 
+the Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the 
+discovery of the twelve uses of dragon’s blood, and his 
+work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel’V’ 
+
+Hermione jumped to her feet. She hadn’t looked so 
+excited since they’d gotten back the marks for their 
+very first piece of homework. 
+
+“Stay there!” she said, and she sprinted up the stairs 
+to the girls’ dormitories. Harry and Ron barely had 
+time to exchange mystified looks before she was 
+dashing back, an enormous old book in her arms. 
+
+“I never thought to look in here!” she whispered 
+excitedly. “I got this out of the library weeks ago for a 
+bit of light reading.” 
+
+Page | 245 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Light?” said Ron, but Hermione told him to be quiet 
+until she’d looked something up, and started flicking 
+frantically through the pages, muttering to herself. 
+
+At last she found what she was looking for. 
+
+“I knew it! I knew it!” 
+
+“Are we allowed to speak yet?” said Ron grumpily. 
+Hermione ignored him. 
+
+“Nicolas Flamel,” she whispered dramatically, “is the 
+only known maker of the Sorcerer’s Stone\” 
+
+This didn’t have quite the effect she’d expected. 
+
+“The what?” said Harry and Ron. 
+
+“Oh, honestly , don’t you two read? Look — read that, 
+there.” 
+
+She pushed the book toward them, and Harry and 
+Ron read: 
+
+The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with 
+making the Sorcerer’s Stone, a legendary substance 
+with astonishing powers. The Stone will transform 
+any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of 
+Life, which will make the drinker immortal. 
+
+There have been many reports of the Sorcerer’s Stone 
+over the centuries, but the only Stone currently in 
+existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel, the noted 
+alchemist and opera lover. Mr. Flamel, who celebrated 
+his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, 
+enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Perenelle 
+(six hundred and fifty-eight). 
+
+
+
+Page | 246 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“See?” said Hermione, when Harry and Ron had 
+finished. “The dog must be guarding Flamel’s 
+Sorcerer’s Stone! I bet he asked Dumbledore to keep 
+it safe for him, because they’re friends and he knew 
+someone was after it, that’s why he wanted the Stone 
+moved out of Gringotts!” 
+
+“A stone that makes gold and stops you from ever 
+dying!” said Harry. “No wonder Snape’s after it! 
+
+Anyone would want it.” 
+
+“And no wonder we couldn’t find Flamel in that Study 
+of Recent Developments in Wizardry,” said Ron. “He’s 
+not exactly recent if he’s six hundred and sixty-five, is 
+he?” 
+
+The next morning in Defense Against the Dark Arts, 
+while copying down different ways of treating werewolf 
+bites, Harry and Ron were still discussing what they’d 
+do with a Sorcerer’s Stone if they had one. It wasn’t 
+until Ron said he’d buy his own Quidditch team that 
+Harry remembered about Snape and the coming 
+match. 
+
+“I’m going to play,” he told Ron and Hermione. “If I 
+don’t, all the Slytherins will think I’m just too scared 
+to face Snape. I’ll show them ... it’ll really wipe the 
+smiles off their faces if we win.” 
+
+“Just as long as we’re not wiping you off the field,” 
+said Hermione. 
+
+As the match drew nearer, however, Harry became 
+more and more nervous, whatever he told Ron and 
+Hermione. The rest of the team wasn’t too calm, 
+either. The idea of overtaking Slytherin in the House 
+Championship was wonderful, no one had done it for 
+seven years, but would they be allowed to, with such 
+a biased referee? 
+
+Page | 247 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Harry didn’t know whether he was imagining it or not, 
+but he seemed to keep running into Snape wherever 
+he went. At times, he even wondered whether Snape 
+was following him, trying to catch him on his own. 
+Potions lessons were turning into a sort of weekly 
+torture, Snape was so horrible to Harry. Could Snape 
+possibly know they’d found out about the Sorcerer’s 
+Stone? Harry didn’t see how he could — yet he 
+sometimes had the horrible feeling that Snape could 
+read minds. 
+
+Harry knew, when they wished him good luck 
+outside the locker rooms the next afternoon, that Ron 
+and Hermione were wondering whether they’d ever 
+see him alive again. This wasn’t what you’d call 
+comforting. Harry hardly heard a word of Wood’s pep 
+talk as he pulled on his Quidditch robes and picked 
+up his Nimbus Two Thousand. 
+
+Ron and Hermione, meanwhile, had found a place in 
+the stands next to Neville, who couldn’t understand 
+why they looked so grim and worried, or why they had 
+both brought their wands to the match. Little did 
+Harry know that Ron and Hermione had been secretly 
+practicing the Leg-Locker Curse. They’d gotten the 
+idea from Malfoy using it on Neville, and were ready 
+to use it on Snape if he showed any sign of wanting to 
+hurt Harry. 
+
+“Now, don’t forget, it’s Locomotor Mortis,” Hermione 
+muttered as Ron slipped his wand up his sleeve. 
+
+“I know,” Ron snapped. “Don’t nag.” 
+
+Back in the locker room, Wood had taken Harry 
+aside. 
+
+“Don’t want to pressure you, Potter, but if we ever 
+need an early capture of the Snitch it’s now. Finish 
+
+Page | 248 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+the game before Snape can favor Hufflepuff too 
+much.” 
+
+“The whole school’s out there!” said Fred Weasley, 
+peering out of the door. “Even — blimey — 
+Dumbledore’s come to watch!” 
+
+Harry’s heart did a somersault. 
+
+“Dumbledore?” he said, dashing to the door to make 
+sure. Fred was right. There was no mistaking that 
+silver beard. 
+
+Harry could have laughed out loud with relief. He was 
+safe. There was simply no way that Snape would dare 
+to try to hurt him if Dumbledore was watching. 
+
+Perhaps that was why Snape was looking so angry as 
+the teams marched onto the field, something that Ron 
+noticed, too. 
+
+“I’ve never seen Snape look so mean,” he told 
+Hermione. “Look — they’re off. Ouch!” 
+
+Someone had poked Ron in the back of the head. It 
+was Malfoy. 
+
+“Oh, sorry, Weasley, didn’t see you there.” 
+
+Malfoy grinned broadly at Crabbe and Goyle. 
+
+“Wonder how long Potter’s going to stay on his broom 
+this time? Anyone want a bet? What about you, 
+Weasley?” 
+
+Ron didn’t answer; Snape had just awarded 
+Hufflepuff a penalty because George Weasley had hit 
+a Bludger at him. Hermione, who had all her fingers 
+crossed in her lap, was squinting fixedly at Harry, 
+
+Page | 249 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+who was circling the game like a hawk, looking for the 
+Snitch. 
+
+“You know how I think they choose people for the 
+Gryffindor team?” said Malfoy loudly a few minutes 
+later, as Snape awarded Hufflepuff another penalty 
+for no reason at all. “It’s people they feel sorry for. 
+
+See, there’s Potter, who’s got no parents, then there’s 
+the Weasleys, who’ve got no money — you should be 
+on the team, Longbottom, you’ve got no brains.” 
+
+Neville went bright red but turned in his seat to face 
+Malfoy. 
+
+“I’m worth twelve of you, Malfoy,” he stammered. 
+
+Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle howled with laughter, but 
+Ron, still not daring to take his eyes from the game, 
+said, “You tell him, Neville.” 
+
+“Longbottom, if brains were gold you’d be poorer than 
+Weasley, and that’s saying something.” 
+
+Ron’s nerves were already stretched to the breaking 
+point with anxiety about Harry. 
+
+“I’m warning you, Malfoy — one more word — ” 
+
+“Ron!” said Hermione suddenly, “Harry — !” 
+
+“What? Where?” 
+
+Harry had suddenly gone into a spectacular dive, 
+which drew gasps and cheers from the crowd. 
+Hermione stood up, her crossed fingers in her mouth, 
+as Harry streaked toward the ground like a bullet. 
+
+“You’re in luck, Weasley, Potter’s obviously spotted 
+some money on the ground!” said Malfoy. 
+
+Page | 250 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Ron snapped. Before Malfoy knew what was 
+happening, Ron was on top of him, wrestling him to 
+the ground. Neville hesitated, then clambered over the 
+back of his seat to help. 
+
+“Come on, Harry!” Hermione screamed, leaping onto 
+her seat to watch as Harry sped straight at Snape — 
+she didn’t even notice Malfoy and Ron rolling around 
+under her seat, or the scuffles and yelps coming from 
+the whirl of fists that was Neville, Crabbe, and Goyle. 
+
+Up in the air, Snape turned on his broomstick just in 
+time to see something scarlet shoot past him, missing 
+him by inches — the next second, Harry had pulled 
+out of the dive, his arm raised in triumph, the Snitch 
+clasped in his hand. 
+
+The stands erupted; it had to be a record, no one 
+could ever remember the Snitch being caught so 
+quickly. 
+
+“Ron! Ron! Where are you? The game’s over! Harry’s 
+won! We’ve won! Gryffindor is in the lead!” shrieked 
+Hermione, dancing up and down on her seat and 
+hugging Parvati Patil in the row in front. 
+
+Harry jumped off his broom, a foot from the ground. 
+He couldn’t believe it. He’d done it — the game was 
+over; it had barely lasted five minutes. As Gryffindors 
+came spilling onto the field, he saw Snape land 
+nearby, white-faced and tight-lipped — then Harry felt 
+a hand on his shoulder and looked up into 
+Dumbledore’s smiling face. 
+
+“Well done,” said Dumbledore quietly, so that only 
+Harry could hear. “Nice to see you haven’t been 
+brooding about that mirror . . . been keeping busy . . . 
+excellent ...” 
+
+
+
+Page | 251 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Snape spat bitterly on the ground. 
+
+
+
+Jc Jc Jc 
+
+
+
+Harry left the locker room alone some time later, to 
+take his Nimbus Two Thousand back to the 
+broomshed. He couldn’t ever remember feeling 
+happier. He’d really done something to be proud of 
+now — no one could say he was just a famous name 
+any more. The evening air had never smelled so 
+sweet. He walked over the damp grass, reliving the 
+last hour in his head, which was a happy blur: 
+Gryffindors running to lift him onto their shoulders; 
+Ron and Hermione in the distance, jumping up and 
+down, Ron cheering through a heavy nosebleed. 
+
+Harry had reached the shed. He leaned against the 
+wooden door and looked up at Hogwarts, with its 
+windows glowing red in the setting sun. Gryffindor in 
+the lead. He’d done it, he’d shown Snape. ... 
+
+And speaking of Snape . . . 
+
+A hooded figure came swiftly down the front steps of 
+the castle. Clearly not wanting to be seen, it walked 
+as fast as possible toward the forbidden forest. 
+Harry’s victory faded from his mind as he watched. 
+He recognized the figure’s prowling walk. Snape, 
+sneaking into the forest while everyone else was at 
+dinner — what was going on? 
+
+Harry jumped back on his Nimbus Two Thousand 
+and took off. Gliding silently over the castle he saw 
+Snape enter the forest at a run. He followed. 
+
+The trees were so thick he couldn’t see where Snape 
+had gone. He flew in circles, lower and lower, 
+brushing the top branches of trees until he heard 
+
+
+
+Page | 252 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+voices. He glided toward them and landed noiselessly 
+in a towering beech tree. 
+
+He climbed carefully along one of the branches, 
+holding tight to his broomstick, trying to see through 
+the leaves. 
+
+Below, in a shadowy clearing, stood Snape, but he 
+wasn’t alone. Quirrell was there, too. Harry couldn’t 
+make out the look on his face, but he was stuttering 
+worse than ever. Harry strained to catch what they 
+were saying. 
+
+"... d-don’t know why you wanted t-t-to meet here of 
+all p-places, Severus ...” 
+
+“Oh, I thought we’d keep this private,” said Snape, his 
+voice icy. “Students aren’t supposed to know about 
+the Sorcerer’s Stone, after all.” 
+
+Harry leaned forward. Quirrell was mumbling 
+something. Snape interrupted him. 
+
+“Have you found out how to get past that beast of 
+Hagrid’s yet?” 
+
+“B-b-but Severus, I — ” 
+
+“You don’t want me as your enemy, Quirrell,” said 
+Snape, taking a step toward him. 
+
+“I-I don’t know what you — ” 
+
+“You know perfectly well what I mean.” 
+
+An owl hooted loudly, and Harry nearly fell out of the 
+tree. He steadied himself in time to hear Snape say, 
+
+“ — your little bit of hocus-pocus. I’m waiting.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 253 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“B-but I d-d-don’t — ” 
+
+
+
+“Very well,” Snape cut in. “Well have another little 
+chat soon, when you’ve had time to think things over 
+and decided where your loyalties lie.” 
+
+He threw his cloak over his head and strode out of the 
+clearing. It was almost dark now, but Harry could see 
+Quirrell, standing quite still as though he was 
+petrified. 
+
+
+
+Jc Jc Jc 
+
+
+
+“Harry, where have you been?” Hermione squeaked. 
+
+“We won! You won! We won!” shouted Ron, thumping 
+Harry on the back. “And I gave Malfoy a black eye, 
+and Neville tried to take on Crabbe and Goyle single- 
+handed! He’s still out cold but Madam Pomfrey says 
+he’ll be all right — talk about showing Slytherin! 
+Everyone’s waiting for you in the common room, we’re 
+having a party, Fred and George stole some cakes and 
+stuff from the kitchens.” 
+
+“Never mind that now,” said Harry breathlessly. “Let’s 
+find an empty room, you wait ’til you hear this. ...” 
+
+He made sure Peeves wasn’t inside before shutting 
+the door behind them, then he told them what he’d 
+seen and heard. 
+
+“So we were right, it is the Sorcerer’s Stone, and 
+Snape’s trying to force Quirrell to help him get it. He 
+asked if he knew how to get past Fluffy — and he said 
+something about Quirrell’s ‘hocus-pocus’ — I reckon 
+there are other things guarding the stone apart from 
+Fluffy, loads of enchantments, probably, and Quirrell 
+
+
+
+Page | 254 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+would have done some anti-Dark Arts spell that 
+Snape needs to break through — ” 
+
+“So you mean the Stone’s only safe as long as Quirrell 
+stands up to Snape?” said Hermione in alarm. 
+
+“It’ll be gone by next Tuesday,” said Ron. 
+
+
+
+Page | 255 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+
+
+NORBERT THE NORWEGIAN 
+RIDGEBACK 
+
+Quirrell, however, must have been braver than they’d 
+thought. In the weeks that followed he did seem to be 
+getting paler and thinner, but it didn’t look as though 
+he’d cracked yet. 
+
+Every time they passed the third-floor corridor, Harry, 
+Ron, and Hermione would press their ears to the door 
+to check that Fluffy was still growling inside. Snape 
+was sweeping about in his usual bad temper, which 
+surely meant that the Stone was still safe. Whenever 
+Harry passed Quirrell these days he gave him an 
+encouraging sort of smile, and Ron had started telling 
+people off for laughing at Quirrell’s stutter. 
+
+Hermione, however, had more on her mind than the 
+Sorcerer’s Stone. She had started drawing up study 
+schedules and color-coding all her notes. Harry and 
+Ron wouldn’t have minded, but she kept nagging 
+them to do the same. 
+
+
+
+Page | 256 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+“Hermione, the exams are ages away.” 
+
+“Ten weeks,” Hermione snapped. “That’s not ages, 
+that’s like a second to Nicolas Flamel.” 
+
+“But we’re not six hundred years old,” Ron reminded 
+her. “Anyway, what are you studying for, you already 
+know it all.” 
+
+“What am I studying for? Are you crazy? You realize 
+we need to pass these exams to get into the second 
+year? They’re very important, I should have started 
+studying a month ago, I don’t know what’s gotten into 
+me.” 
+
+Unfortunately, the teachers seemed to be thinking 
+along the same lines as Hermione. They piled so 
+much homework on them that the Easter holidays 
+weren’t nearly as much fun as the Christmas ones. It 
+was hard to relax with Hermione next to you reciting 
+the twelve uses of dragon’s blood or practicing wand 
+movements. Moaning and yawning, Harry and Ron 
+spent most of their free time in the library with her, 
+trying to get through all their extra work. 
+
+“I’ll never remember this,” Ron burst out one 
+afternoon, throwing down his quill and looking 
+longingly out of the library window. It was the first 
+really fine day they’d had in months. The sky was a 
+clear, forget-me-not blue, and there was a feeling in 
+the air of summer coming. 
+
+Harry, who was looking up “Dittany” in One Thousand 
+Magical Herbs and Fungi, didn’t look up until he 
+heard Ron say, “Hagrid! What are you doing in the 
+library?” 
+
+
+
+Page | 257 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Hagrid shuffled into view, hiding something behind 
+his back. He looked very out of place in his moleskin 
+overcoat. 
+
+“Jus’ lookin’,” he said, in a shifty voice that got their 
+interest at once. “An’ what’re you lot up ter?” He 
+looked suddenly suspicious. “Yer not still lookin’ fer 
+Nicolas Flamel, are yeh?” 
+
+“Oh, we found out who he is ages ago,” said Ron 
+impressively. “And we know what that dog’s guarding, 
+it’s a Sorcerer’s St — ” 
+
+“Shhhh\” Hagrid looked around quickly to see if 
+anyone was listening. “Don’ go shoutin’ about it, 
+what’s the matter with yeh?” 
+
+“There are a few things we wanted to ask you, as a 
+matter of fact,” said Harry, “about what’s guarding 
+the Stone apart from Fluffy — ” 
+
+“SHHHH!” said Hagrid again. “Listen — come an’ see 
+me later, I’m not promisin’ I’ll tell yeh anythin’, mind, 
+but don’ go rabbitin’ about it in here, students aren’ 
+s’pposed ter know. They’ll think I’ve told yeh — ” 
+
+“See you later, then,” said Harry. 
+
+Hagrid shuffled off. 
+
+“What was he hiding behind his back?” said 
+Hermione thoughtfully. 
+
+“Do you think it had anything to do with the Stone?” 
+
+“I’m going to see what section he was in,” said Ron, 
+who’d had enough of working. He came back a 
+minute later with a pile of books in his arms and 
+slammed them down on the table. 
+
+Page | 258 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Dragons'.” he whispered. “Hagrid was looking up stuff 
+about dragons! Look at these: Dragon Species of Great 
+Britain and Ireland; From Egg to Inferno, A Dragon 
+Keeper’s Guide.” 
+
+“Hagrid ’s always wanted a dragon, he told me so the 
+first time I ever met him,” said Harry. 
+
+“But it’s against our laws,” said Ron. “Dragon 
+breeding was outlawed by the Warlocks’ Convention 
+of 1709, everyone knows that. It’s hard to stop 
+Muggles from noticing us if we’re keeping dragons in 
+the back garden — anyway, you can’t tame dragons, 
+it’s dangerous. You should see the burns Charlie’s got 
+off wild ones in Romania.” 
+
+“But there aren’t wild dragons in Britain?” said Harry. 
+
+“Of course there are,” said Ron. “Common Welsh 
+Green and Hebridean Blacks. The Ministry of Magic 
+has a job hushing them up, I can tell you. Our kind 
+have to keep putting spells on Muggles who’ve spotted 
+them, to make them forget.” 
+
+“So what on earth’s Hagrid up to?” said Hermione. 
+
+When they knocked on the door of the gamekeeper’s 
+hut an hour later, they were surprised to see that all 
+the curtains were closed. Hagrid called “Who is it?” 
+before he let them in, and then shut the door quickly 
+behind them. 
+
+It was stifling hot inside. Even though it was such a 
+warm day, there was a blazing fire in the grate. 
+
+Hagrid made them tea and offered them stoat 
+sandwiches, which they refused. 
+
+“So — yeh wanted to ask me somethin’?” 
+
+
+
+Page | 259 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Yes,” said Harry. There was no point beating around 
+the bush. “We were wondering if you could tell us 
+what’s guarding the Sorcerer’s Stone apart from 
+Fluffy.” 
+
+Hagrid frowned at him. 
+
+“O’ course I can’t,” he said. “Number one, I don’ know 
+meself. Number two, yeh know too much already, so I 
+wouldn’ tell yeh if I could. That Stone’s here fer a good 
+reason. It was almost stolen outta Gringotts — I 
+s’ppose yeh’ve worked that out an’ all? Beats me how 
+yeh even know abou’ Fluffy.” 
+
+“Oh, come on, Hagrid, you might not want to tell us, 
+but you do know, you know everything that goes on 
+round here,” said Hermione in a warm, flattering 
+voice. Hagrid ’s beard twitched and they could tell he 
+was smiling. “We only wondered who had done the 
+guarding, really.” Hermione went on. “We wondered 
+who Dumbledore had trusted enough to help him, 
+apart from you.” 
+
+Hagrid ’s chest swelled at these last words. Harry and 
+Ron beamed at Hermione. 
+
+“Well, I don’ s’pose it could hurt ter tell yeh that ... 
+let’s see ... he borrowed Fluffy from me ... then some 
+o’ the teachers did enchantments ... Professor Sprout 
+— Professor Flitwick — Professor McGonagall — ” he 
+ticked them off on his fingers, “Professor Quirrell — 
+an’ Dumbledore himself did somethin’, o’ course. 
+
+Hang on, I’ve forgotten someone. Oh yeah, Professor 
+Snape.” 
+
+“Snape?” 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Yeah — yer not still on abou’ that, are yeh? Look, 
+Snape helped protect the Stone, he’s not about ter 
+steal it.” 
+
+Harry knew Ron and Hermione were thinking the 
+same as he was. If Snape had been in on protecting 
+the Stone, it must have been easy to find out how the 
+other teachers had guarded it. He probably knew 
+everything — except, it seemed, Quirrell’s spell and 
+how to get past Fluffy. 
+
+“You’re the only one who knows how to get past 
+Fluffy, aren’t you, Hagrid?” said Harry anxiously. 
+
+“And you wouldn’t tell anyone, would you? Not even 
+one of the teachers?” 
+
+“Not a soul knows except me an’ Dumbledore,” said 
+Hagrid proudly. 
+
+“Well, that’s something,” Harry muttered to the 
+others. “Hagrid, can we have a window open? I’m 
+boiling.” 
+
+“Can’t, Harry, sorry,” said Hagrid. Harry noticed him 
+glance at the fire. Harry looked at it, too. 
+
+“Hagrid — what’s that?” 
+
+But he already knew what it was. In the very heart of 
+the fire, underneath the kettle, was a huge, black egg. 
+
+“Ah,” said Hagrid, fiddling nervously with his beard, 
+“That’s — er ...” 
+
+“Where did you get it, Hagrid?” said Ron, crouching 
+over the fire to get a closer look at the egg. “It must’ve 
+cost you a fortune.” 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Won it,” said Hagrid. “Las’ night. I was down in the 
+village havin’ a few drinks an’ got into a game o’ cards 
+with a stranger. Think he was quite glad ter get rid of 
+it, ter be honest.” 
+
+“But what are you going to do with it when it’s 
+hatched?” said Hermione. 
+
+“Well, I’ve bin doin’ some readin’,” said Hagrid, pulling 
+a large book from under his pillow. “Got this outta the 
+library — Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit — 
+it’s a bit outta date, o’ course, but it’s all in here. Keep 
+the egg in the fire, ’cause their mothers breathe on 
+’em, see, an’ when it hatches, feed it on a bucket o’ 
+brandy mixed with chicken blood every half hour. An’ 
+see here — how ter recognize diff’rent eggs — what I 
+got there’s a Norwegian Ridge-back. They’re rare, 
+them.” 
+
+He looked very pleased with himself, but Hermione 
+didn’t. 
+
+“Hagrid, you live in a wooden house,” she said. 
+
+But Hagrid wasn’t listening. He was humming merrily 
+as he stoked the fire. 
+
+So now they had something else to worry about: what 
+might happen to Hagrid if anyone found out he was 
+hiding an illegal dragon in his hut. 
+
+“Wonder what it’s like to have a peaceful life,” Ron 
+sighed, as evening after evening they struggled 
+through all the extra homework they were getting. 
+Hermione had now started making study schedules 
+for Harry and Ron, too. It was driving them nuts. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+Then, one breakfast time, Hedwig brought Harry 
+another note from Hagrid. He had written only two 
+words: It’s hatching. 
+
+Ron wanted to skip Herbology and go straight down to 
+the hut. Hermione wouldn’t hear of it. 
+
+“Hermione, how many times in our lives are we going 
+to see a dragon hatching?” 
+
+“We’ve got lessons, we’ll get into trouble, and that’s 
+nothing to what Hagrid ’s going to be in when someone 
+finds out what he’s doing — ” 
+
+“Shut up!” Harry whispered. 
+
+Malfoy was only a few feet away and he had stopped 
+dead to listen. How much had he heard? Harry didn’t 
+like the look on Malfoy’s face at all. 
+
+Ron and Hermione argued all the way to Herbology 
+and in the end, Hermione agreed to run down to 
+Hagrid’s with the other two during morning break. 
+When the bell sounded from the castle at the end of 
+their lesson, the three of them dropped their trowels 
+at once and hurried through the grounds to the edge 
+of the forest. Hagrid greeted them, looking flushed 
+and excited. 
+
+“It’s nearly out.” He ushered them inside. 
+
+The egg was lying on the table. There were deep 
+cracks in it. Something was moving inside; a funny 
+clicking noise was coming from it. 
+
+They all drew their chairs up to the table and watched 
+with bated breath. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+All at once there was a scraping noise and the egg 
+split open. The baby dragon flopped onto the table. It 
+wasn’t exactly pretty; Harry thought it looked like a 
+crumpled, black umbrella. Its spiny wings were huge 
+compared to its skinny jet body, it had a long snout 
+with wide nostrils, the stubs of horns and bulging, 
+orange eyes. 
+
+It sneezed. A couple of sparks flew out of its snout. 
+
+“Isn’t he beautiful?” Hagrid murmured. He reached 
+out a hand to stroke the dragon’s head. It snapped at 
+his fingers, showing pointed fangs. 
+
+“Bless him, look, he knows his mommy!” said Hagrid. 
+
+“Hagrid,” said Hermione, “how fast do Norwegian 
+Ridgebacks grow, exactly?” 
+
+Hagrid was about to answer when the color suddenly 
+drained from his face — he leapt to his feet and ran to 
+the window. 
+
+“What’s the matter?” 
+
+“Someone was lookin’ through the gap in the curtains 
+— it’s a kid — he’s runnin’ back up ter the school.” 
+
+Harry bolted to the door and looked out. Even at a 
+distance there was no mistaking him. 
+
+Malfoy had seen the dragon. 
+
+Something about the smile lurking on Malfoy’s face 
+during the next week made Harry, Ron, and Hermione 
+very nervous. They spent most of their free time in 
+Hagrid ’s darkened hut, trying to reason with him. 
+
+“Just let him go,” Harry urged. “Set him free.” 
+
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+
+
+
+
+“I can’t,” said Hagrid. “He’s too little. He’d die.” 
+
+
+
+They looked at the dragon. It had grown three times 
+in length in just a week. Smoke kept furling out of its 
+nostrils. Hagrid hadn’t been doing his gamekeeping 
+duties because the dragon was keeping him so busy. 
+There were empty brandy bottles and chicken 
+feathers all over the floor. 
+
+“I’ve decided to call him Norbert,” said Hagrid, looking 
+at the dragon with misty eyes. “He really knows me 
+now, watch. Norbert! Norbert! Where’s Mommy?” 
+
+“He’s lost his marbles,” Ron muttered in Harry’s ear. 
+
+“Hagrid,” said Harry loudly, “give it two weeks and 
+Norbert’s going to be as long as your house. Malfoy 
+could go to Dumbledore at any moment.” 
+
+Hagrid bit his lip. 
+
+“I — I know I can’t keep him forever, but I can’t jus’ 
+dump him, can’t.” 
+
+Harry suddenly turned to Ron. 
+
+“Charlie,” he said. 
+
+“You’re losing it, too,” said Ron. “I’m Ron, remember?” 
+
+“No — Charlie — your brother, Charlie. In Romania. 
+Studying dragons. We could send Norbert to him. 
+Charlie can take care of him and then put him back 
+in the wild!” 
+
+“Brilliant!” said Ron. “How about it, Hagrid?” 
+
+And in the end, Hagrid agreed that they could send 
+an owl to Charlie to ask him. 
+
+Page | 265 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+The following week dragged by. Wednesday night 
+found Hermione and Harry sitting alone in the 
+common room, long after everyone else had gone to 
+bed. The clock on the wall had just chimed midnight 
+when the portrait hole burst open. Ron appeared out 
+of nowhere as he pulled off Harry’s Invisibility Cloak. 
+He had been down at Hagrid’s hut, helping him feed 
+Norbert, who was now eating dead rats by the crate. 
+
+“It bit me!” he said, showing them his hand, which 
+was wrapped in a bloody handkerchief. “I’m not going 
+to be able to hold a quill for a week. I tell you, that 
+dragon’s the most horrible animal I’ve ever met, but 
+the way Hagrid goes on about it, you’d think it was a 
+fluffy little bunny rabbit. When it bit me he told me off 
+for frightening it. And when I left, he was singing it a 
+lullaby.” 
+
+There was a tap on the dark window. 
+
+“It’s Hedwig!” said Harry, hurrying to let her in. “She’ll 
+have Charlie’s answer!” 
+
+The three of them put their heads together to read the 
+note. 
+
+Dear Ron, 
+
+How are you? Thanks for the letter — I’d be glad to 
+take the Norwegian Ridgeback, but it won’t be easy 
+getting him here. I think the best thing will be to send 
+him over with some friends of mine who are coming to 
+visit me next week. Trouble is, they mustn’t be seen 
+carrying an illegal dragon. 
+
+Could you get the Ridgeback up the tallest tower at 
+midnight on Saturday? They can meet you there and 
+take him away while it’s still dark. 
+
+
+
+Page | 266 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Send me an answer as soon as possible. 
+
+
+
+Love, 
+
+Charlie 
+
+They looked at one another. 
+
+“We’ve got the Invisibility Cloak,” said Harry. “It 
+shouldn’t be too difficult — I think the cloak’s big 
+enough to cover two of us and Norbert.” 
+
+It was a mark of how bad the last week had been that 
+the other two agreed with him. Anything to get rid of 
+Norbert — and Malfoy. 
+
+There was a hitch. By the next morning, Ron’s bitten 
+hand had swollen to twice its usual size. He didn’t 
+know whether it was safe to go to Madam Pomfrey — 
+would she recognize a dragon bite? By the afternoon, 
+though, he had no choice. The cut had turned a nasty 
+shade of green. It looked as if Norbert’s fangs were 
+poisonous. 
+
+Harry and Hermione rushed up to the hospital wing 
+at the end of the day to find Ron in a terrible state in 
+bed. 
+
+“It’s not just my hand,” he whispered, “although that 
+feels like it’s about to fall off. Malfoy told Madam 
+Pomfrey he wanted to borrow one of my books so he 
+could come and have a good laugh at me. He kept 
+threatening to tell her what really bit me — I’ve told 
+her it was a dog, but I don’t think she believes me — I 
+shouldn’t have hit him at the Quidditch match, that’s 
+why he’s doing this.” 
+
+Harry and Hermione tried to calm Ron down. 
+
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+
+
+
+
+“It’ll all be over at midnight on Saturday,” said 
+Hermione, but this didn’t soothe Ron at all. On the 
+contrary, he sat bolt upright and broke into a sweat. 
+
+“Midnight on Saturday!” he said in a hoarse voice. 
+
+“Oh no — oh no — I’ve just remembered — Charlie’s 
+letter was in that book Malfoy took, he’s going to 
+know we’re getting rid of Norbert.” 
+
+Harry and Hermione didn’t get a chance to answer. 
+Madam Pomfrey came over at that moment and made 
+them leave, saying Ron needed sleep. 
+
+“It’s too late to change the plan now,” Harry told 
+Hermione. “We haven’t got time to send Charlie 
+another owl, and this could be our only chance to get 
+rid of Norbert. We’ll have to risk it. And we have got 
+the Invisibility Cloak, Malfoy doesn’t know about 
+that.” 
+
+They found Fang the boarhound sitting outside with a 
+bandaged tail when they went to tell Hagrid, who 
+opened a window to talk to them. 
+
+“I won’t let you in,” he puffed. “Norbert’s at a tricky 
+stage — nothin’ I can’t handle.” 
+
+When they told him about Charlie’s letter, his eyes 
+filled with tears, although that might have been 
+because Norbert had just bitten him on the leg. 
+
+“Aargh! It’s all right, he only got my boot — jus’ 
+playin’ — he’s only a baby, after all.” 
+
+The baby banged its tail on the wall, making the 
+windows rattle. Harry and Hermione walked back to 
+the castle feeling Saturday couldn’t come quickly 
+enough. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+They would have felt sorry for Hagrid when the time 
+came for him to say good-bye to Norbert if they hadn’t 
+been so worried about what they had to do. It was a 
+very dark, cloudy night, and they were a bit late 
+arriving at Hagrid ’s hut because they’d had to wait for 
+Peeves to get out of their way in the entrance hall, 
+where he’d been playing tennis against the wall. 
+
+Hagrid had Norbert packed and ready in a large crate. 
+
+“He’s got lots o’ rats an’ some brandy fer the journey,” 
+said Hagrid in a muffled voice. “An’ I’ve packed his 
+teddy bear in case he gets lonely.” 
+
+From inside the crate came ripping noises that 
+sounded to Harry as though the teddy was having his 
+head torn off. 
+
+“Bye-bye, Norbert!” Hagrid sobbed, as Harry and 
+Hermione covered the crate with the Invisibility Cloak 
+and stepped underneath it themselves. “Mommy will 
+never forget you!” 
+
+How they managed to get the crate back up to the 
+castle, they never knew. Midnight ticked nearer as 
+they heaved Norbert up the marble staircase in the 
+entrance hall and along the dark corridors. Up 
+another staircase, then another — even one of Harry’s 
+shortcuts didn’t make the work much easier. 
+
+“Nearly there!” Harry panted as they reached the 
+corridor beneath the tallest tower. 
+
+Then a sudden movement ahead of them made them 
+almost drop the crate. Forgetting that they were 
+already invisible, they shrank into the shadows, 
+staring at the dark outlines of two people grappling 
+with each other ten feet away. A lamp flared. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+Professor McGonagall, in a tartan bathrobe and a hair 
+net, had Malfoy by the ear. 
+
+
+
+“Detention!” she shouted. “And twenty points from 
+Slytherin! Wandering around in the middle of the 
+night, how dare you — ” 
+
+“You don’t understand, Professor. Harry Potter’s 
+coming — he’s got a dragon!” 
+
+“What utter rubbish! How dare you tell such lies! 
+Come on — I shall see Professor Snape about you, 
+Malfoy!” 
+
+The steep spiral staircase up to the top of the tower 
+seemed the easiest thing in the world after that. Not 
+until they’d stepped out into the cold night air did 
+they throw off the cloak, glad to be able to breathe 
+properly again. Hermione did a sort of jig. 
+
+“Malfoy’s got detention! I could sing!” 
+
+“Don’t,” Harry advised her. 
+
+Chuckling about Malfoy, they waited, Norbert 
+thrashing about in his crate. About ten minutes later, 
+four broomsticks came swooping down out of the 
+darkness. 
+
+Charlie’s friends were a cheery lot. They showed 
+Harry and Hermione the harness they’d rigged up, so 
+they could suspend Norbert between them. They all 
+helped buckle Norbert safely into it and then Harry 
+and Hermione shook hands with the others and 
+thanked them very much. 
+
+At last, Norbert was going ... going ... gone. 
+
+
+
+Page | 270 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+They slipped back down the spiral staircase, their 
+hearts as light as their hands, now that Norbert was 
+off them. No more dragon — Malfoy in detention — 
+what could spoil their happiness? 
+
+The answer to that was waiting at the foot of the 
+stairs. As they stepped into the corridor, Filch’s face 
+loomed suddenly out of the darkness. 
+
+“Well, well, well,” he whispered, “we are in trouble.” 
+
+They’d left the Invisibility Cloak on top of the tower. 
+
+
+
+Page | 271 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE FORBIDDEN FOREST 
+
+Things couldn’t have been worse. 
+
+Filch took them down to Professor McGonagall’s 
+study on the first floor, where they sat and waited 
+without saying a word to each other. Hermione was 
+trembling. Excuses, alibis, and wild cover-up stories 
+chased each other around Harry’s brain, each more 
+feeble than the last. He couldn’t see how they were 
+going to get out of trouble this time. They were 
+cornered. How could they have been so stupid as to 
+forget the cloak? There was no reason on earth that 
+Professor McGonagall would accept for their being out 
+of bed and creeping around the school in the dead of 
+night, let alone being up the tallest Astronomy Tower, 
+which was out-of-bounds except for classes. Add 
+Norbert and the Invisibility Cloak, and they might as 
+well be packing their bags already. 
+
+Had Harry thought that things couldn’t have been 
+worse? He was wrong. When Professor McGonagall 
+appeared, she was leading Neville. 
+
+
+
+Page | 272 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+“Harry!” Neville burst out, the moment he saw the 
+other two. “I was trying to find you to warn you, I 
+heard Malfoy saying he was going to catch you, he 
+said you had a drag — ” 
+
+Harry shook his head violently to shut Neville up, but 
+Professor McGonagall had seen. She looked more 
+likely to breathe fire than Norbert as she towered over 
+the three of them. 
+
+“I would never have believed it of any of you. Mr. Filch 
+says you were up in the Astronomy Tower. It’s one 
+o’clock in the morning. Explain yourselves.” 
+
+It was the first time Hermione had ever failed to 
+answer a teacher’s question. She was staring at her 
+slippers, as still as a statue. 
+
+“I think I’ve got a good idea of what’s been going on,” 
+said Professor McGonagall. “It doesn’t take a genius 
+to work it out. You fed Draco Malfoy some cock-and- 
+bull story about a dragon, trying to get him out of bed 
+and into trouble. I’ve already caught him. I suppose 
+you think it’s funny that Longbottom here heard the 
+story and believed it, too?” 
+
+Harry caught Neville’s eye and tried to tell him 
+without words that this wasn’t true, because Neville 
+was looking stunned and hurt. Poor, blundering 
+Neville — Harry knew what it must have cost him to 
+try and find them in the dark, to warn them. 
+
+“I’m disgusted,” said Professor McGonagall. “Four 
+students out of bed in one night! I’ve never heard of 
+such a thing before! You, Miss Granger, I thought you 
+had more sense. As for you, Mr. Potter, I thought 
+Gryffindor meant more to you than this. All three of 
+you will receive detentions — yes, you too, Mr. 
+Longbottom, nothing gives you the right to walk 
+Page | 273 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+around school at night, especially these days, it’s very 
+dangerous — and fifty points will be taken from 
+Gryffindor.” 
+
+“Fifty?” Harry gasped — they would lose the lead, the 
+lead he’d won in the last Quidditch match. 
+
+“Fifty points each,” said Professor McGonagall, 
+breathing heavily through her long, pointed nose. 
+
+“Professor — please — ” 
+
+“You can’t—” 
+
+“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do, Potter. Now get 
+back to bed, all of you. I’ve never been more ashamed 
+of Gryffindor students.” 
+
+A hundred and fifty points lost. That put Gryffindor in 
+last place. In one night, they’d ruined any chance 
+Gryffindor had had for the House Cup. Harry felt as 
+though the bottom had dropped out of his stomach. 
+How could they ever make up for this? 
+
+Harry didn’t sleep all night. He could hear Neville 
+sobbing into his pillow for what seemed like hours. 
+Harry couldn’t think of anything to say to comfort 
+him. He knew Neville, like himself, was dreading the 
+dawn. What would happen when the rest of 
+Gryffindor found out what they’d done? 
+
+At first, Gryffindors passing the giant hourglasses 
+that recorded the House points the next day thought 
+there ’d been a mistake. How could they suddenly 
+have a hundred and fifty points fewer than yesterday? 
+And then the story started to spread: Harry Potter, 
+the famous Harry Potter, their hero of two Quidditch 
+matches, had lost them all those points, him and a 
+couple of other stupid first years. 
+
+Page | 274 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+From being one of the most popular and admired 
+people at the school, Harry was suddenly the most 
+hated. Even Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs turned on 
+him, because everyone had been longing to see 
+Slytherin lose the House Cup. Everywhere Harry 
+went, people pointed and didn’t trouble to lower their 
+voices as they insulted him. Slytherins, on the other 
+hand, clapped as he walked past them, whistling and 
+cheering, “Thanks Potter, we owe you one!” 
+
+Only Ron stood by him. 
+
+“They’ll all forget this in a few weeks. Fred and George 
+have lost loads of points in all the time they’ve been 
+here, and people still like them.” 
+
+“They’ve never lost a hundred and fifty points in one 
+go, though, have they?” said Harry miserably. 
+
+“Well — no,” Ron admitted. 
+
+It was a bit late to repair the damage, but Harry 
+swore to himself not to meddle in things that weren’t 
+his business from now on. He’d had it with sneaking 
+around and spying. He felt so ashamed of himself that 
+he went to Wood and offered to resign from the 
+Quidditch team. 
+
+“Resign?” Wood thundered. “What good’ll that do? 
+
+How are we going to get any points back if we can’t 
+win at Quidditch?” 
+
+But even Quidditch had lost its fun. The rest of the 
+team wouldn’t speak to Harry during practice, and if 
+they had to speak about him, they called him “the 
+Seeker.” 
+
+Hermione and Neville were suffering, too. They didn’t 
+have as bad a time as Harry, because they weren’t as 
+
+Page | 275 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+well-known, but nobody would speak to them, either. 
+Hermione had stopped drawing attention to herself in 
+class, keeping her head down and working in silence. 
+
+Harry was almost glad that the exams weren’t far 
+away. All the studying he had to do kept his mind off 
+his misery. He, Ron, and Hermione kept to 
+themselves, working late into the night, trying to 
+remember the ingredients in complicated potions, 
+learn charms and spells by heart, memorize the dates 
+of magical discoveries and goblin rebellions. ... 
+
+Then, about a week before the exams were due to 
+start, Harry’s new resolution not to interfere in 
+anything that didn’t concern him was put to an 
+unexpected test. Walking back from the library on his 
+own one afternoon, he heard somebody whimpering 
+from a classroom up ahead. As he drew closer, he 
+heard Quirrell’s voice. 
+
+“No — no — not again, please — ” 
+
+It sounded as though someone was threatening him. 
+Harry moved closer. 
+
+“All right — all right — ” he heard Quirrell sob. 
+
+Next second, Quirrell came hurrying out of the 
+classroom straightening his turban. He was pale and 
+looked as though he was about to cry. He strode out 
+of sight; Harry didn’t think Quirrell had even noticed 
+him. He waited until Quirrell’s footsteps had 
+disappeared, then peered into the classroom. It was 
+empty, but a door stood ajar at the other end. Harry 
+was halfway toward it before he remembered what 
+he’d promised himself about not meddling. 
+
+All the same, he’d have gambled twelve Sorcerer’s 
+Stones that Snape had just left the room, and from 
+
+Page | 276 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+what Harry had just heard, Snape would be walking 
+with a new spring in his step — Quirrell seemed to 
+have given in at last. 
+
+Harry went back to the library, where Hermione was 
+testing Ron on Astronomy. Harry told them what he’d 
+heard. 
+
+“Snape’s done it, then!” said Ron. “If Quirrell’s told 
+him how to break his Anti-Dark Force spell — ” 
+
+“There’s still Fluffy, though,” said Hermione. 
+
+“Maybe Snape’s found out how to get past him 
+without asking Hagrid,” said Ron, looking up at the 
+thousands of books surrounding them. “I bet there’s a 
+book somewhere in here telling you how to get past a 
+giant three-headed dog. So what do we do, Harry?” 
+
+The light of adventure was kindling again in Ron’s 
+eyes, but Hermione answered before Harry could. 
+
+“Go to Dumbledore. That’s what we should have done 
+ages ago. If we try anything ourselves we’ll be thrown 
+out for sure.” 
+
+“But we’ve got no proof.” said Harry. “Quirrell’s too 
+scared to back us up. Snape’s only got to say he 
+doesn’t know how the troll got in at Halloween and 
+that he was nowhere near the third floor — who do 
+you think they’ll believe, him or us? It’s not exactly a 
+secret we hate him, Dumbledore ’ll think we made it 
+up to get him sacked. Filch wouldn’t help us if his life 
+depended on it, he’s too friendly with Snape, and the 
+more students get thrown out, the better, he’ll think. 
+And don’t forget, we’re not supposed to know about 
+the Stone or Fluffy. That’ll take a lot of explaining.” 
+
+Hermione looked convinced, but Ron didn’t. 
+
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+
+
+
+
+“If we just do a bit of poking around — ” 
+
+
+
+“No,” said Harry flatly, “we’ve done enough poking 
+around.” 
+
+He pulled a map of Jupiter toward him and started to 
+learn the names of its moons. 
+
+The following morning, notes were delivered to Harry, 
+Hermione, and Neville at the breakfast table. They 
+were all the same: 
+
+Your detention will take place at eleven o’clock 
+tonight. 
+
+Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall. 
+
+Professor M. McGonagall 
+
+Harry had forgotten they still had detentions to do in 
+the furor over the points they’d lost. He half expected 
+Hermione to complain that this was a whole night of 
+studying lost, but she didn’t say a word. Like Harry, 
+she felt they deserved what they’d got. 
+
+At eleven o’clock that night, they said good-bye to Ron 
+in the common room and went down to the entrance 
+hall with Neville. Filch was already there — and so 
+was Malfoy. Harry had also forgotten that Malfoy had 
+gotten a detention, too. 
+
+“Follow me,” said Filch, lighting a lamp and leading 
+them outside. 
+
+“I bet you’ll think twice about breaking a school rule 
+again, won’t you, eh?” he said, leering at them. “Oh 
+yes . . . hard work and pain are the best teachers if you 
+ask me. ... It’s just a pity they let the old 
+punishments die out . . . hang you by your wrists from 
+Page | 278 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+the ceiling for a few days, I’ve got the chains still in 
+my office, keep ’em well oiled in case they’re ever 
+needed. ... Right, off we go, and don’t think of running 
+off, now, it’ll be worse for you if you do.” 
+
+They marched off across the dark grounds. Neville 
+kept sniffing. Harry wondered what their punishment 
+was going to be. It must be something really horrible, 
+or Filch wouldn’t be sounding so delighted. 
+
+The moon was bright, but clouds scudding across it 
+kept throwing them into darkness. Ahead, Harry 
+could see the lighted windows of Hagrid’s hut. Then 
+they heard a distant shout. 
+
+“Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I want ter get started.” 
+
+Harry’s heart rose; if they were going to be working 
+with Hagrid it wouldn’t be so bad. His relief must 
+have showed in his face, because Filch said, “I 
+suppose you think you’ll be enjoying yourself with 
+that oaf? Well, think again, boy — it’s into the forest 
+you’re going and I’m much mistaken if you’ll all come 
+out in one piece.” 
+
+At this, Neville let out a little moan, and Malfoy 
+stopped dead in his tracks. 
+
+“The forest?” he repeated, and he didn’t sound quite 
+as cool as usual. “We can’t go in there at night — 
+there’s all sorts of things in there — werewolves, I 
+heard.” 
+
+Neville clutched the sleeve of Harry’s robe and made a 
+choking noise. 
+
+“That’s your problem, isn’t it?” said Filch, his voice 
+cracking with glee. “Should’ve thought of them 
+werewolves before you got in trouble, shouldn’t you?” 
+
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+
+
+
+
+Hagrid came striding toward them out of the dark, 
+Fang at his heel. He was carrying his large crossbow, 
+and a quiver of arrows hung over his shoulder. 
+
+“Abou’ time,” he said. “I bin waitin’ fer half an hour 
+already. All right, Harry, Hermione?” 
+
+“I shouldn’t be too friendly to them, Hagrid,” said 
+Filch coldly, “they’re here to be punished, after all.” 
+
+“That’s why yer late, is it?” said Hagrid, frowning at 
+Filch. “Bin lecturin’ them, eh? ’Snot your place ter do 
+that. Yeh’ve done yer bit, I’ll take over from here.” 
+
+“I’ll be back at dawn,” said Filch, “for what’s left of 
+them,” he added nastily, and he turned and started 
+back toward the castle, his lamp bobbing away in the 
+darkness. 
+
+Malfoy now turned to Hagrid. 
+
+“I’m not going in that forest,” he said, and Harry was 
+pleased to hear the note of panic in his voice. 
+
+“Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts,” said 
+Hagrid fiercely. “Yeh’ve done wrong an’ now yeh’ve got 
+ter pay fer it.” 
+
+“But this is servant stuff, it’s not for students to do. I 
+thought we’d be copying lines or something, if my 
+father knew I was doing this, he’d — ” 
+
+“ — tell yer that’s how it is at Hogwarts,” Hagrid 
+growled. “Copyin’ lines! What good’s that ter anyone? 
+Yeh’ll do summat useful or yeh’ll get out. If yeh think 
+yer father’d rather you were expelled, then get back 
+off ter the castle an’ pack. Go on!” 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+Malfoy didn’t move. He looked at Hagrid furiously, but 
+then dropped his gaze. 
+
+“Right then,” said Hagrid, “now, listen carefully, 
+
+’cause it’s dangerous what we’re gonna do tonight, an’ 
+I don’ want no one takin’ risks. Follow me over here a 
+moment.” 
+
+He led them to the very edge of the forest. Holding his 
+lamp up high, he pointed down a narrow, winding 
+earth track that disappeared into the thick black 
+trees. A light breeze lifted their hair as they looked 
+into the forest. 
+
+“Look there,” said Hagrid, “see that stuff shinin’ on 
+the ground? Silvery stuff? That’s unicorn blood. 
+There’s a unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summat. 
+This is the second time in a week. I found one dead 
+last Wednesday. We’re gonna try an’ find the poor 
+thing. We might have ter put it out of its misery.” 
+
+“And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us 
+first?” said Malfoy, unable to keep the fear out of his 
+voice. 
+
+“There’s nothin’ that lives in the forest that’ll hurt yeh 
+if yer with me or Fang,” said Hagrid. “An’ keep ter the 
+path. Right, now, we’re gonna split inter two parties 
+an’ follow the trail in diff’rent directions. There’s blood 
+all over the place, it must’ve bin staggerin’ around 
+since last night at least.” 
+
+“I want Fang,” said Malfoy quickly, looking at Fang’s 
+long teeth. 
+
+“All right, but I warn yeh, he’s a coward,” said Hagrid. 
+“So me, Harry, an’ Hermione’ll go one way an’ Draco, 
+Neville, an’ Fang’ll go the other. Now, if any of us 
+finds the unicorn, we’ll send up green sparks, right? 
+
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+
+
+
+
+Get yer wands out an’ practice now — that’s it — an’ 
+if anyone gets in trouble, send up red sparks, an’ we’ll 
+all come an’ find yeh — so, be careful — let’s go.” 
+
+The forest was black and silent. A little way into it 
+they reached a fork in the earth path, and Harry, 
+Hermione, and Hagrid took the left path while Malfoy, 
+Neville, and Fang took the right. 
+
+They walked in silence, their eyes on the ground. 
+Every now and then a ray of moonlight through the 
+branches above lit a spot of silver-blue blood on the 
+fallen leaves. 
+
+Harry saw that Hagrid looked very worried. 
+
+“ Could a werewolf be killing the unicorns?” Harry 
+asked. 
+
+“Not fast enough,” said Hagrid. “It’s not easy ter catch 
+a unicorn, they’re powerful magic creatures. I never 
+knew one ter be hurt before.” 
+
+They walked past a mossy tree stump. Harry could 
+hear running water; there must be a stream 
+somewhere close by. There were still spots of unicorn 
+blood here and there along the winding path. 
+
+“You all right, Hermione?” Hagrid whispered. “Don’ 
+worry, it can’t’ve gone far if it’s this badly hurt, an’ 
+then well be able ter — GET BEHIND THAT TREE!” 
+
+Hagrid seized Harry and Hermione and hoisted them 
+off the path behind a towering oak. He pulled out an 
+arrow and fitted it into his crossbow, raising it, ready 
+to fire. The three of them listened. Something was 
+slithering over dead leaves nearby: it sounded like a 
+cloak trailing along the ground. Hagrid was squinting 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+up the dark path, but after a few seconds, the sound 
+faded away. 
+
+“I knew it,” he murmured. “There’s summat in here 
+that shouldn’ be.” 
+
+“A werewolf?” Harry suggested. 
+
+“That wasn’ no werewolf an’ it wasn’ no unicorn, 
+neither,” said Hagrid grimly. “Right, follow me, but 
+careful, now.” 
+
+They walked more slowly, ears straining for the 
+faintest sound. Suddenly, in a clearing ahead, 
+something definitely moved. 
+
+“Who’s there?” Hagrid called. “Show yerself — I’m 
+armed!” 
+
+And into the clearing came — was it a man, or a 
+horse? To the waist, a man, with red hair and beard, 
+but below that was a horse’s gleaming chestnut body 
+with a long, reddish tail. Harry and Hermione’s jaws 
+dropped. 
+
+“Oh, it’s you, Ronan,” said Hagrid in relief. “How are 
+yeh?” 
+
+He walked forward and shook the centaur’s hand. 
+
+“Good evening to you, Hagrid,” said Ronan. He had a 
+deep, sorrowful voice. “Were you going to shoot me?” 
+
+“Can’t be too careful, Ronan,” said Hagrid, patting his 
+crossbow. “There’s summat bad loose in this forest. 
+This is Harry Potter an’ Hermione Granger, by the 
+way. Students up at the school. An’ this is Ronan, 
+you two. He’s a centaur.” 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“We’d noticed,” said Hermione faintly. 
+
+
+
+“Good evening,” said Ronan. “Students, are you? And 
+do you learn much, up at the school?” 
+
+“Erm — ” 
+
+“A bit,” said Hermione timidly. 
+
+“A bit. Well, that’s something.” Ronan sighed. He 
+flung back his head and stared at the sky. “Mars is 
+bright tonight.” 
+
+“Yeah,” said Hagrid, glancing up, too. “Listen, I’m glad 
+we’ve run inter yeh, Ronan, ’cause there’s a unicorn 
+bin hurt — you seen anythin’?” 
+
+Ronan didn’t answer immediately. He stared 
+unblinkingly upward, then sighed again. 
+
+“Always the innocent are the first victims,” he said. 
+
+“So it has been for ages past, so it is now.” 
+
+“Yeah,” said Hagrid, “but have yeh seen anythin’, 
+Ronan? Anythin’ unusual?” 
+
+“Mars is bright tonight,” Ronan repeated, while 
+Hagrid watched him impatiently. “Unusually bright.” 
+
+“Yeah, but I was meanin’ anythin’ unusual a bit 
+nearer home,” said Hagrid. “So yeh haven’t noticed 
+anythin’ strange?” 
+
+Yet again, Ronan took a while to answer. At last, he 
+said, “The forest hides many secrets.” 
+
+A movement in the trees behind Ronan made Hagrid 
+raise his bow again, but it was only a second centaur, 
+
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+
+
+
+
+black-haired and -bodied and wilder-looking than 
+Ronan. 
+
+
+
+“Hullo, Bane,” said Hagrid. “All right?” 
+
+“Good evening, Hagrid, I hope you are well?” 
+
+“Well enough. Look, I’ve jus’ bin askin’ Ronan, you 
+seen anythin’ odd in here lately? There’s a unicorn 
+bin injured — would yeh know anythin’ about it?” 
+
+Bane walked over to stand next to Ronan. He looked 
+skyward. 
+
+“Mars is bright tonight,” he said simply. 
+
+“We’ve heard,” said Hagrid grumpily. “Well, if either of 
+you do see anythin’, let me know, won’t yeh? We’ll be 
+off, then.” 
+
+Harry and Hermione followed him out of the clearing, 
+staring over their shoulders at Ronan and Bane until 
+the trees blocked their view. 
+
+“Never,” said Hagrid irritably, “try an’ get a straight 
+answer out of a centaur. Ruddy stargazers. Not 
+interested in anythin’ closer’n the moon.” 
+
+“Are there many of them in here?” asked Hermione. 
+
+“Oh, a fair few. . . . Keep themselves to themselves 
+mostly, but they’re good enough about turnin’ up if 
+ever I want a word. They’re deep, mind, centaurs ... 
+they know things ... jus’ don’ let on much.” 
+
+“D’you think that was a centaur we heard earlier?” 
+said Harry. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Did that sound like hooves to you? Nah, if yeh ask 
+me, that was what’s bin killin’ the unicorns — never 
+heard anythin’ like it before.” 
+
+They walked on through the dense, dark trees. Harry 
+kept looking nervously over his shoulder. He had the 
+nasty feeling they were being watched. He was very 
+glad they had Hagrid and his crossbow with them. 
+They had just passed a bend in the path when 
+Hermione grabbed Hagrid ’s arm. 
+
+“Hagrid! Look! Red sparks, the others are in trouble!” 
+
+“You two wait here!” Hagrid shouted. “Stay on the 
+path, I’ll come back for yeh!” 
+
+They heard him crashing away through the 
+undergrowth and stood looking at each other, very 
+scared, until they couldn’t hear anything but the 
+rustling of leaves around them. 
+
+“You don’t think they’ve been hurt, do you?” 
+whispered Hermione. 
+
+“I don’t care if Malfoy has, but if something’s got 
+Neville ... it’s our fault he’s here in the first place.” 
+
+The minutes dragged by. Their ears seemed sharper 
+than usual. Harry’s seemed to be picking up every 
+sigh of the wind, every cracking twig. What was going 
+on? Where were the others? 
+
+At last, a great crunching noise announced Hagrid’s 
+return. Malfoy, Neville, and Fang were with him. 
+Hagrid was fuming. Malfoy, it seemed, had sneaked 
+up behind Neville and grabbed him as a joke. Neville 
+had panicked and sent up the sparks. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Well be lucky ter catch anythin’ now, with the racket 
+you two were makin’. Right, we’re changin’ groups — 
+Neville, you stay with me an’ Hermione, Harry, you go 
+with Fang an’ this idiot. I’m sorry,” Hagrid added in a 
+whisper to Harry, “but he’ll have a harder time 
+frightenin’ you, an’ we’ve gotta get this done.” 
+
+So Harry set off into the heart of the forest with 
+Malfoy and Fang. They walked for nearly half an 
+hour, deeper and deeper into the forest, until the path 
+became almost impossible to follow because the trees 
+were so thick. Harry thought the blood seemed to be 
+getting thicker. There were splashes on the roots of a 
+tree, as though the poor creature had been thrashing 
+around in pain close by. Harry could see a clearing 
+ahead, through the tangled branches of an ancient 
+oak. 
+
+“Look — ” he murmured, holding out his arm to stop 
+Malfoy. 
+
+Something bright white was gleaming on the ground. 
+They inched closer. 
+
+It was the unicorn all right, and it was dead. Harry 
+had never seen anything so beautiful and sad. Its 
+long, slender legs were stuck out at odd angles where 
+it had fallen and its mane was spread pearly-white on 
+the dark leaves. 
+
+Harry had taken one step toward it when a slithering 
+sound made him freeze where he stood. A bush on 
+the edge of the clearing quivered. ... Then, out of the 
+shadows, a hooded figure came crawling across the 
+ground like some stalking beast. Harry, Malfoy, and 
+Fang stood transfixed. The cloaked figure reached the 
+unicorn, lowered its head over the wound in the 
+animals side, and began to drink its blood. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“AAAAAAAAAAARGH ! ” 
+
+
+
+Malfoy let out a terrible scream and bolted — so did 
+Fang. The hooded figure raised its head and looked 
+right at Harry — unicorn blood was dribbling down its 
+front. It got to its feet and came swiftly toward Harry 
+— he couldn’t move for fear. 
+
+Then a pain like he’d never felt before pierced his 
+head; it was as though his scar were on fire. Half 
+blinded, he staggered backward. He heard hooves 
+behind him, galloping, and something jumped clean 
+over Harry, charging at the figure. 
+
+The pain in Harry’s head was so bad he fell to his 
+knees. It took a minute or two to pass. When he 
+looked up, the figure had gone. A centaur was 
+standing over him, not Ronan or Bane; this one 
+looked younger; he had white-blond hair and a 
+palomino body. 
+
+“Are you all right?” said the centaur, pulling Harry to 
+his feet. 
+
+“Yes — thank you — what was that?” 
+
+The centaur didn’t answer. He had astonishingly blue 
+eyes, like pale sapphires. He looked carefully at 
+Harry, his eyes lingering on the scar that stood out, 
+livid, on Harry’s forehead. 
+
+“You are the Potter boy,” he said. “You had better get 
+back to Hagrid. The forest is not safe at this time — 
+especially for you. Can you ride? It will be quicker 
+this way. 
+
+“My name is Firenze,” he added, as he lowered 
+himself on to his front legs so that Harry could 
+clamber onto his back. 
+
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+
+
+
+
+There was suddenly a sound of more galloping from 
+the other side of the clearing. Ronan and Bane came 
+bursting through the trees, their flanks heaving and 
+sweaty. 
+
+“Firenze!” Bane thundered. “What are you doing? You 
+have a human on your back! Have you no shame? Are 
+you a common mule?” 
+
+“Do you realize who this is?” said Firenze. “This is the 
+Potter boy. The quicker he leaves this forest, the 
+better.” 
+
+“What have you been telling him?” growled Bane. 
+“Remember, Firenze, we are sworn not to set 
+ourselves against the heavens. Have we not read what 
+is to come in the movements of the planets?” 
+
+Ronan pawed the ground nervously. “I’m sure Firenze 
+thought he was acting for the best,” he said in his 
+gloomy voice. 
+
+Bane kicked his back legs in anger. 
+
+“For the best! What is that to do with us? Centaurs 
+are concerned with what has been foretold! It is not 
+our business to run around like donkeys after stray 
+humans in our forest!” 
+
+Firenze suddenly reared on to his hind legs in anger, 
+so that Harry had to grab his shoulders to stay on. 
+
+“Do you not see that unicorn?” Firenze bellowed at 
+Bane. “Do you not understand why it was killed? Or 
+have the planets not let you in on that secret? I set 
+myself against what is lurking in this forest, Bane, 
+yes, with humans alongside me if I must.” 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+And Firenze whisked around; with Harry clutching on 
+as best he could, they plunged off into the trees, 
+leaving Ronan and Bane behind them. 
+
+Harry didn’t have a clue what was going on. 
+
+“Why’s Bane so angry?” he asked. “What was that 
+thing you saved me from, anyway?” 
+
+Firenze slowed to a walk, warned Harry to keep his 
+head bowed in case of low-hanging branches, but did 
+not answer Harry’s question. They made their way 
+through the trees in silence for so long that Harry 
+thought Firenze didn’t want to talk to him anymore. 
+They were passing through a particularly dense patch 
+of trees, however, when Firenze suddenly stopped. 
+
+“Harry Potter, do you know what unicorn blood is 
+used for?” 
+
+“No,” said Harry, startled by the odd question. “We’ve 
+only used the horn and tail hair in Potions.” 
+
+“That is because it is a monstrous thing, to slay a 
+unicorn,” said Firenze. “Only one who has nothing to 
+lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a 
+crime. The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even 
+if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. 
+You have slain something pure and defenseless to 
+save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a 
+cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your 
+lips.” 
+
+Harry stared at the back of Firenze’s head, which was 
+dappled silver in the moonlight. 
+
+“But who’d be that desperate?” he wondered aloud. “If 
+you’re going to be cursed forever, death’s better, isn’t 
+it?” 
+
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+
+
+
+
+“It is,” Firenze agreed, “unless all you need is to stay 
+alive long enough to drink something else — 
+something that will bring you back to full strength 
+and power — something that will mean you can never 
+die. Mr. Potter, do you know what is hidden in the 
+school at this very moment?” 
+
+“The Sorcerer’s Stone! Of course — the Elixir of Life! 
+But I don’t understand who — ” 
+
+“Can you think of nobody who has waited many years 
+to return to power, who has clung to life, awaiting 
+their chance?” 
+
+It was as though an iron fist had clenched suddenly 
+around Harry’s heart. Over the rustling of the trees, 
+he seemed to hear once more what Hagrid had told 
+him on the night they had met: “Some say he died. 
+Codswallop, in my opinion. Dunno if he had enough 
+human left in him to die.” 
+
+“Do you mean,” Harry croaked, “that was VoZ — ” 
+
+“Harry! Harry, are you all right?” 
+
+Hermione was running toward them down the path, 
+Hagrid puffing along behind her. 
+
+“I’m fine,” said Harry, hardly knowing what he was 
+saying. “The unicorn’s dead, Hagrid, it’s in that 
+clearing back there.” 
+
+“This is where I leave you,” Firenze murmured as 
+Hagrid hurried off to examine the unicorn. “You are 
+safe now.” 
+
+Harry slid off his back. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Good luck, Harry Potter,” said Firenze. “The planets 
+have been read wrongly before now, even by centaurs. 
+I hope this is one of those times.” 
+
+He turned and cantered back into the depths of the 
+forest, leaving Harry shivering behind him. 
+
+Ron had fallen asleep in the dark common room, 
+waiting for them to return. He shouted something 
+about Quidditch fouls when Harry roughly shook him 
+awake. In a matter of seconds, though, he was wide- 
+eyed as Harry began to tell him and Hermione what 
+had happened in the forest. 
+
+Harry couldn’t sit down. He paced up and down in 
+front of the fire. He was still shaking. 
+
+“Snape wants the Stone for Voldemort ... and 
+Voldemort’s waiting in the forest ... and all this time 
+we thought Snape just wanted to get rich. ...” 
+
+“Stop saying the name!” said Ron in a terrified 
+whisper, as if he thought Voldemort could hear them. 
+
+Harry wasn’t listening. 
+
+“Firenze saved me, but he shouldn’t have done so. ... 
+Bane was furious ... he was talking about interfering 
+with what the planets say is going to happen. ... They 
+must show that Voldemort’s coming back. ... Bane 
+thinks Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me. ... I 
+suppose that’s written in the stars as well.” 
+
+“Will you stop saying the name\” Ron hissed. 
+
+“So all I’ve got to wait for now is Snape to steal the 
+Stone,” Harry went on feverishly, “then Voldemort will 
+be able to come and finish me off. ... Well, I suppose 
+Bane 11 be happy.” 
+
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+
+
+
+
+Hermione looked very frightened, but she had a word 
+of comfort. 
+
+“Harry, everyone says Dumbledore’s the only one 
+You-Know-Who was ever afraid of. With Dumbledore 
+around, You-Know-Who won’t touch you. Anyway, 
+who says the centaurs are right? It sounds like 
+fortune-telling to me, and Professor McGonagall says 
+that’s a very imprecise branch of magic.” 
+
+The sky had turned light before they stopped talking. 
+They went to bed exhausted, their throats sore. But 
+the night’s surprises weren’t over. 
+
+When Harry pulled back his sheets, he found his 
+Invisibility Cloak folded neatly underneath them. 
+There was a note pinned to it: 
+
+Just in case. 
+
+
+
+Page | 293 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THROUGH THE TRAPDOOR 
+
+In years to come, Harry would never quite remember 
+how he had managed to get through his exams when 
+he half expected Voldemort to come bursting through 
+the door at any moment. Yet the days crept by, and 
+there could be no doubt that Fluffy was still alive and 
+well behind the locked door. 
+
+It was sweltering hot, especially in the large 
+classroom where they did their written papers. They 
+had been given special, new quills for the exams, 
+which had been bewitched with an Anti-Cheating 
+spell. 
+
+They had practical exams as well. Professor Flitwick 
+called them one by one into his class to see if they 
+could make a pineapple tap-dance across a desk. 
+Professor McGonagall watched them turn a mouse 
+into a snuffbox — points were given for how pretty the 
+snuffbox was, but taken away if it had whiskers. 
+Snape made them all nervous, breathing down their 
+necks while they tried to remember how to make a 
+Forgetfulness potion. 
+
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+
+
+
+Harry did the best he could, trying to ignore the 
+stabbing pains in his forehead, which had been 
+bothering him ever since his trip into the forest. 
+Neville thought Harry had a bad case of exam nerves 
+because Harry couldn’t sleep, but the truth was that 
+Harry kept being woken by his old nightmare, except 
+that it was now worse than ever because there was a 
+hooded figure dripping blood in it. 
+
+Maybe it was because they hadn’t seen what Harry 
+had seen in the forest, or because they didn’t have 
+scars burning on their foreheads, but Ron and 
+Hermione didn’t seem as worried about the Stone as 
+Harry. The idea of Voldemort certainly scared them, 
+but he didn’t keep visiting them in dreams, and they 
+were so busy with their studying they didn’t have 
+much time to fret about what Snape or anyone else 
+might be up to. 
+
+Their very last exam was History of Magic. One hour 
+of answering questions about batty old wizards who’d 
+invented self-stirring cauldrons and they’d be free, 
+free for a whole wonderful week until their exam 
+results came out. When the ghost of Professor Binns 
+told them to put down their quills and roll up their 
+parchment, Harry couldn’t help cheering with the 
+rest. 
+
+“That was far easier than I thought it would be,” said 
+Hermione as they joined the crowds flocking out onto 
+the sunny grounds. “I needn’t have learned about the 
+1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct or the uprising of 
+Elfric the Eager.” 
+
+Hermione always liked to go through their exam 
+papers afterward, but Ron said this made him feel ill, 
+so they wandered down to the lake and flopped under 
+a tree. The Weasley twins and Lee Jordan were 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+tickling the tentacles of a giant squid, which was 
+basking in the warm shallows. 
+
+
+
+“No more studying,” Ron sighed happily, stretching 
+out on the grass. “You could look more cheerful, 
+
+Harry, we’ve got a week before we find out how badly 
+we’ve done, there’s no need to worry yet.” 
+
+Harry was rubbing his forehead. 
+
+“I wish I knew what this means\” he burst out angrily. 
+“My scar keeps hurting — it’s happened before, but 
+never as often as this.” 
+
+“Go to Madam Pomfrey,” Hermione suggested. 
+
+“I’m not ill,” said Harry. “I think it’s a warning ... it 
+means danger’s coming. ...” 
+
+Ron couldn’t get worked up, it was too hot. 
+
+“Harry, relax, Hermione ’s right, the Stone’s safe as 
+long as Dumbledore’s around. Anyway, we’ve never 
+had any proof Snape found out how to get past Fluffy. 
+He nearly had his leg ripped off once, he’s not going to 
+try it again in a hurry. And Neville will play Quidditch 
+for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down.” 
+
+Harry nodded, but he couldn’t shake off a lurking 
+feeling that there was something he’d forgotten to do, 
+something important. When he tried to explain this, 
+Hermione said, “That’s just the exams. I woke up last 
+night and was halfway through my Transfiguration 
+notes before I remembered we’d done that one.” 
+
+Harry was quite sure the unsettled feeling didn’t have 
+anything to do with work, though. He watched an owl 
+flutter toward the school across the bright blue sky, a 
+note clamped in its mouth. Hagrid was the only one 
+
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+
+
+
+
+who ever sent him letters. Hagrid would never betray 
+Dumbledore. Hagrid would never tell anyone how to 
+get past Fluffy . . . never . . . but — 
+
+Harry suddenly jumped to his feet. 
+
+“Where ’re you going?” said Ron sleepily. 
+
+“I’ve just thought of something,” said Harry. He had 
+turned white. “We’ve got to go and see Hagrid, now.” 
+
+“Why?” panted Hermione, hurrying to keep up. 
+
+“Don’t you think it’s a bit odd,” said Harry, 
+scrambling up the grassy slope, “that what Hagrid 
+wants more than anything else is a dragon, and a 
+stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg in 
+his pocket? How many people wander around with 
+dragon eggs if it’s against wizard law? Lucky they 
+found Hagrid, don’t you think? Why didn’t I see it 
+before?” 
+
+“What are you talking about?” said Ron, but Harry, 
+sprinting across the grounds toward the forest, didn’t 
+answer. 
+
+Hagrid was sitting in an armchair outside his house; 
+his trousers and sleeves were rolled up, and he was 
+shelling peas into a large bowl. 
+
+“Hullo,” he said, smiling. “Finished yer exams? Got 
+time fer a drink?” 
+
+“Yes, please,” said Ron, but Harry cut him off. 
+
+“No, we’re in a hurry. Hagrid, I’ve got to ask you 
+something. You know that night you won Norbert? 
+What did the stranger you were playing cards with 
+look like?” 
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Dunno said Hagrid casually, “he wouldn’ take his 
+cloak off.” 
+
+
+
+He saw the three of them look stunned and raised his 
+eyebrows. 
+
+“It’s not that unusual, yeh get a lot o’ funny folk in 
+the Hog’s Head — that’s one o’ the pubs down in the 
+village. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, mightn’ he? I 
+never saw his face, he kept his hood up.” 
+
+Harry sank down next to the bowl of peas. 
+
+“What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you 
+mention Hogwarts at all?” 
+
+“Mighta come up,” said Hagrid, frowning as he tried 
+to remember. “Yeah ... he asked what I did, an’ I told 
+him I was gamekeeper here. ... He asked a bit about 
+the sorta creatures I look after ... so I told him ... an’ I 
+said what I’d always really wanted was a dragon ... 
+an’ then ... I can’ remember too well, ’cause he kept 
+buyin’ me drinks. ... Let’s see ... yeah, then he said he 
+had the dragon egg an’ we could play cards fer it if I 
+wanted . . . but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he 
+didn’ want it ter go ter any old home. ... So I told him, 
+after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy. ...” 
+
+“And did he — did he seem interested in Fluffy?” 
+
+Harry asked, trying to keep his voice calm. 
+
+“Well — yeah — how many three-headed dogs d’yeh 
+meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy’s a 
+piece o’ cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus’ 
+play him a bit o’ music an’ he’ll go straight off ter 
+sleep — ” 
+
+Hagrid suddenly looked horrified. 
+
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+
+
+
+
+“I shouldn’ta told yeh that!” he blurted out. “Forget I 
+said it! Hey — where’re yeh goin’?” 
+
+Harry, Ron, and Hermione didn’t speak to each other 
+at all until they came to a halt in the entrance hall, 
+which seemed very cold and gloomy after the 
+grounds. 
+
+“We’ve got to go to Dumbledore,” said Harry. “Hagrid 
+told that stranger how to get past Fluffy, and it was 
+either Snape or Voldemort under that cloak — it 
+must’ve been easy, once he’d got Hagrid drunk. I just 
+hope Dumbledore believes us. Firenze might back us 
+up if Bane doesn’t stop him. Where’s Dumbledore’s 
+office?” 
+
+They looked around, as if hoping to see a sign 
+pointing them in the right direction. They had never 
+been told where Dumbledore lived, nor did they know 
+anyone who had been sent to see him. 
+
+“Well just have to — ” Harry began, but a voice 
+suddenly rang across the hall. 
+
+“What are you three doing inside?” 
+
+It was Professor McGonagall, carrying a large pile of 
+books. 
+
+“We want to see Professor Dumbledore,” said 
+Hermione, rather bravely, Harry and Ron thought. 
+
+“See Professor Dumbledore?” Professor McGonagall 
+repeated, as though this was a very fishy thing to 
+want to do. “Why?” 
+
+Harry swallowed — now what? 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“It’s sort of secret,” he said, but he wished at once he 
+hadn’t, because Professor McGonagall’s nostrils 
+flared. 
+
+“Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago,” she said 
+coldly. “He received an urgent owl from the Ministry 
+of Magic and flew off for London at once.” 
+
+“He’s gone?” said Harry frantically. “Now?” 
+
+“Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Potter, 
+he has many demands on his time — ” 
+
+“But this is important.” 
+
+“Something you have to say is more important than 
+the Ministry of Magic, Potter?” 
+
+“Look,” said Harry, throwing caution to the winds, 
+“Professor — it’s about the Sorcerer’s Stone — ” 
+
+Whatever Professor McGonagall had expected, it 
+wasn’t that. The books she was carrying tumbled out 
+of her arms, but she didn’t pick them up. 
+
+“How do you know — ?” she spluttered. 
+
+“Professor, I think — I know — that Sn — that 
+someone’s going to try and steal the Stone. I’ve got to 
+talk to Professor Dumbledore.” 
+
+She eyed him with a mixture of shock and suspicion. 
+
+“Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow,” she 
+said finally. “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.” 
+
+“But Professor — ” 
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Potter, I know what I’m talking about,” she said 
+shortly. She bent down and gathered up the fallen 
+books. “I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy 
+the sunshine.” 
+
+But they didn’t. 
+
+“It’s tonight,” said Harry, once he was sure Professor 
+McGonagall was out of earshot. “Snape’s going 
+through the trapdoor tonight. He’s found out 
+everything he needs, and now he’s got Dumbledore 
+out of the way. He sent that note, I bet the Ministry of 
+Magic will get a real shock when Dumbledore turns 
+up.” 
+
+“But what can we — ” 
+
+Hermione gasped. Harry and Ron wheeled round. 
+Snape was standing there. 
+
+“Good afternoon,” he said smoothly. 
+
+They stared at him. 
+
+“You shouldn’t be inside on a day like this,” he said, 
+with an odd, twisted smile. 
+
+“We were — ” Harry began, without any idea what he 
+was going to say. 
+
+“You want to be more careful,” said Snape. “Hanging 
+around like this, people will think you’re up to 
+something. And Gryffindor really can’t afford to lose 
+any more points, can it?” 
+
+Harry flushed. They turned to go outside, but Snape 
+called them back. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Be warned, Potter — any more nighttime wanderings 
+and I will personally make sure you are expelled. 
+
+Good day to you.” 
+
+He strode off in the direction of the staffroom. 
+
+Out on the stone steps, Harry turned to the others. 
+
+“Right, here’s what we’ve got to do,” he whispered 
+urgently. “One of us has got to keep an eye on Snape 
+— wait outside the staffroom and follow him if he 
+leaves it. Hermione, you’d better do that.” 
+
+“Why me?” 
+
+“It’s obvious,” said Ron. “You can pretend to be 
+waiting for Professor Flitwick, you know.” He put on a 
+high voice, “ ‘Oh Professor Flitwick, I’m so worried, I 
+think I got question fourteen b wrong. . . . ’ ” 
+
+“Oh, shut up,” said Hermione, but she agreed to go 
+and watch out for Snape. 
+
+“And we’d better stay outside the third-floor corridor,” 
+Harry told Ron. “Come on.” 
+
+But that part of the plan didn’t work. No sooner had 
+they reached the door separating Fluffy from the rest 
+of the school than Professor McGonagall turned up 
+again and this time, she lost her temper. 
+
+“I suppose you think you’re harder to get past than a 
+pack of enchantments!” she stormed. “Enough of this 
+nonsense! If I hear you’ve come anywhere near here 
+again, I’ll take another fifty points from Gryffindor! 
+
+Yes, Weasley, from my own House!” 
+
+Harry and Ron went back to the common room. Harry 
+had just said, “At least Hermione’s on Snape’s tail,” 
+
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+
+
+
+
+when the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open and 
+Hermione came in. 
+
+“I’m sorry, Harry!” she wailed. “Snape came out and 
+asked me what I was doing, so I said I was waiting for 
+Flitwick, and Snape went to get him, and I’ve only 
+just got away, I don’t know where Snape went.” 
+
+“Well, that’s it then, isn’t it?” Harry said. 
+
+The other two stared at him. He was pale and his eyes 
+were glittering. 
+
+“I’m going out of here tonight and I’m going to try and 
+get to the Stone first.” 
+
+“You’re mad!” said Ron. 
+
+“You can’t!” said Hermione. “After what McGonagall 
+and Snape have said? You’ll be expelled!” 
+
+“SO WHAT?” Harry shouted. “Don’t you understand? 
+If Snape gets hold of the Stone, Voldemort’s coming 
+back! Haven’t you heard what it was like when he was 
+trying to take over? There won’t be any Hogwarts to 
+get expelled from! He’ll flatten it, or turn it into a 
+school for the Dark Arts! Losing points doesn’t matter 
+anymore, can’t you see? D’you think he’ll leave you 
+and your families alone if Gryffindor wins the House 
+Cup? If I get caught before I can get to the Stone, well, 
+I’ll have to go back to the Dursleys and wait for 
+Voldemort to find me there, it’s only dying a bit later 
+than I would have, because I’m never going over to 
+the Dark Side! I’m going through that trapdoor 
+tonight and nothing you two say is going to stop me! 
+Voldemort killed my parents, remember?” 
+
+He glared at them. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“You’re right, Harry,” said Hermione in a small voice. 
+
+
+
+“I’ll use the Invisibility Cloak,” said Harry. “It’s just 
+lucky I got it back.” 
+
+“But will it cover all three of us?” said Ron. 
+
+“All — all three of us?” 
+
+“Oh, come off it, you don’t think we’d let you go 
+alone?” 
+
+“Of course not,” said Hermione briskly. “How do you 
+think you’d get to the Stone without us? I’d better go 
+and look through my books, there might be 
+something useful. ...” 
+
+“But if we get caught, you two will be expelled, too.” 
+
+“Not if I can help it,” said Hermione grimly. “Flitwick 
+told me in secret that I got a hundred and twelve 
+percent on his exam. They’re not throwing me out 
+after that.” 
+
+After dinner the three of them sat nervously apart in 
+the common room. Nobody bothered them; none of 
+the Gryffindors had anything to say to Harry any 
+more, after all. This was the first night he hadn’t been 
+upset by it. Hermione was skimming through all her 
+notes, hoping to come across one of the 
+enchantments they were about to try to break. Harry 
+and Ron didn’t talk much. Both of them were 
+thinking about what they were about to do. 
+
+Slowly, the room emptied as people drifted off to bed. 
+
+“Better get the cloak,” Ron muttered, as Lee Jordan 
+finally left, stretching and yawning. Harry ran 
+upstairs to their dark dormitory. He pulled out the 
+
+Page | 304 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+cloak and then his eyes fell on the flute Hagrid had 
+given him for Christmas. He pocketed it to use on 
+Fluffy — he didn’t feel much like singing. 
+
+He ran back down to the common room. 
+
+“We’d better put the cloak on here, and make sure it 
+covers all three of us — if Filch spots one of our feet 
+wandering along on its own — ” 
+
+“What are you doing?” said a voice from the corner of 
+the room. Neville appeared from behind an armchair, 
+clutching Trevor the toad, who looked as though he’d 
+been making another bid for freedom. 
+
+“Nothing, Neville, nothing,” said Harry, hurriedly 
+putting the cloak behind his back. 
+
+Neville stared at their guilty faces. 
+
+“You’re going out again,” he said. 
+
+“No, no, no,” said Hermione. “No, we’re not. Why don’t 
+you go to bed, Neville?” 
+
+Harry looked at the grandfather clock by the door. 
+They couldn’t afford to waste any more time, Snape 
+might even now be playing Fluffy to sleep. 
+
+“You can’t go out,” said Neville, “you’ll be caught 
+again. Gryffindor will be in even more trouble.” 
+
+“You don’t understand,” said Harry, “this is 
+important.” 
+
+But Neville was clearly steeling himself to do 
+something desperate. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“I won’t let you do it,” he said, hurrying to stand in 
+front of the portrait hole. “I’ll — I’ll fight you!” 
+
+“Neville,” Ron exploded, “get away from that hole and 
+don’t be an idiot — ” 
+
+“Don’t you call me an idiot!” said Neville. “I don’t 
+think you should be breaking any more rules! And 
+you were the one who told me to stand up to people!” 
+
+“Yes, but not to us,” said Ron in exasperation. 
+
+“Neville, you don’t know what you’re doing.” 
+
+He took a step forward and Neville dropped Trevor the 
+toad, who leapt out of sight. 
+
+“Go on then, try and hit me!” said Neville, raising his 
+fists. “I’m ready!” 
+
+Harry turned to Hermione. 
+
+“Do something,” he said desperately. 
+
+Hermione stepped forward. 
+
+“Neville,” she said, “I’m really, really sorry about this.” 
+She raised her wand. 
+
+“Petrificus Totalusl” she cried, pointing it at Neville. 
+
+Neville’s arms snapped to his sides. His legs sprang 
+together. His whole body rigid, he swayed where he 
+stood and then fell flat on his face, stiff as a board. 
+
+Hermione ran to turn him over. Neville’s jaws were 
+jammed together so he couldn’t speak. Only his eyes 
+were moving, looking at them in horror. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“What’ve you done to him?” Harry whispered. 
+
+
+
+“It’s the full Body-Bind,” said Hermione miserably. 
+“Oh, Neville, I’m so sorry.” 
+
+“We had to, Neville, no time to explain,” said Harry. 
+
+“You’ll understand later, Neville,” said Ron as they 
+stepped over him and pulled on the Invisibility Cloak. 
+
+But leaving Neville lying motionless on the floor didn’t 
+feel like a very good omen. In their nervous state, 
+every statue’s shadow looked like Filch, every distant 
+breath of wind sounded like Peeves swooping down on 
+them. 
+
+At the foot of the first set of stairs, they spotted Mrs. 
+Norris skulking near the top. 
+
+“Oh, let’s kick her, just this once,” Ron whispered in 
+Harry’s ear, but Harry shook his head. As they 
+climbed carefully around her, Mrs. Norris turned her 
+lamplike eyes on them, but didn’t do anything. 
+
+They didn’t meet anyone else until they reached the 
+staircase up to the third floor. Peeves was bobbing 
+halfway up, loosening the carpet so that people would 
+trip. 
+
+“Who’s there?” he said suddenly as they climbed 
+toward him. He narrowed his wicked black eyes. 
+“Know you’re there, even if I can’t see you. Are you 
+ghoulie or ghostie or wee student beastie?” 
+
+He rose up in the air and floated there, squinting at 
+them. 
+
+“Should call Filch, I should, if something’s a-creeping 
+around unseen.” 
+
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+
+
+
+
+Harry had a sudden idea. 
+
+
+
+“Peeves,” he said, in a hoarse whisper, “the Bloody 
+Baron has his own reasons for being invisible.” 
+
+Peeves almost fell out of the air in shock. He caught 
+himself in time and hovered about a foot off the 
+stairs. 
+
+“So sorry, your bloodiness, Mr. Baron, sir,” he said 
+greasily. “My mistake, my mistake — I didn’t see you 
+— of course I didn’t, you’re invisible — forgive old 
+Peevsie his little joke, sir.” 
+
+“I have business here, Peeves,” croaked Harry. “Stay 
+away from this place tonight.” 
+
+“I will, sir, I most certainly will,” said Peeves, rising up 
+in the air again. “Hope your business goes well, 
+
+Baron, I’ll not bother you.” 
+
+And he scooted off. 
+
+“Brilliant, Harry!” whispered Ron. 
+
+A few seconds later, they were there, outside the 
+third-floor corridor — and the door was already ajar. 
+
+“Well, there you are,” Harry said quietly, “Snape’s 
+already got past Fluffy.” 
+
+Seeing the open door somehow seemed to impress 
+upon all three of them what was facing them. 
+Underneath the cloak, Harry turned to the other two. 
+
+“If you want to go back, I won’t blame you,” he said. 
+“You can take the cloak, I won’t need it now.” 
+
+“Don’t be stupid,” said Ron. 
+
+Page | 308 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“We’re coming,” said Hermione. 
+
+Harry pushed the door open. 
+
+As the door creaked, low, rumbling growls met their 
+ears. All three of the dog’s noses sniffed madly in their 
+direction, even though it couldn’t see them. 
+
+“What’s that at its feet?” Hermione whispered. 
+
+“Looks like a harp,” said Ron. “Snape must have left it 
+there.” 
+
+“It must wake up the moment you stop playing,” said 
+Harry. “Well, here goes ...” 
+
+He put Hagrid’s flute to his lips and blew. It wasn’t 
+really a tune, but from the first note the beast’s eyes 
+began to droop. Harry hardly drew breath. Slowly, the 
+dog’s growls ceased — it tottered on its paws and fell 
+to its knees, then it slumped to the ground, fast 
+asleep. 
+
+“Keep playing,” Ron warned Harry as they slipped out 
+of the cloak and crept toward the trapdoor. They 
+could feel the dog’s hot, smelly breath as they 
+approached the giant heads. 
+
+“I think we’ll be able to pull the door open,” said Ron, 
+peering over the dog’s back. “Want to go first, 
+Hermione?” 
+
+“No, I don’t!” 
+
+“All right.” Ron gritted his teeth and stepped carefully 
+over the dog’s legs. He bent and pulled the ring of the 
+trapdoor, which swung up and open. 
+
+“What can you see?” Hermione said anxiously. 
+
+Page | 309 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Nothing — just black — there’s no way of climbing 
+down, we’ll just have to drop.” 
+
+Harry, who was still playing the flute, waved at Ron to 
+get his attention and pointed at himself. 
+
+“You want to go first? Are you sure?” said Ron. “I 
+don’t know how deep this thing goes. Give the flute to 
+Hermione so she can keep him asleep.” 
+
+Harry handed the flute over. In the few seconds’ 
+silence, the dog growled and twitched, but the 
+moment Hermione began to play, it fell back into its 
+deep sleep. 
+
+Harry climbed over it and looked down through the 
+trapdoor. There was no sign of the bottom. 
+
+He lowered himself through the hole until he was 
+hanging on by his fingertips. Then he looked up at 
+Ron and said, “If anything happens to me, don’t 
+follow. Go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to 
+Dumbledore, right?” 
+
+“Right,” said Ron. 
+
+“See you in a minute, I hope. ...” 
+
+And Harry let go. Cold, damp air rushed past him as 
+he fell down, down, down and — 
+
+FLUMP. With a funny, muffled sort of thump he 
+landed on something soft. He sat up and felt around, 
+his eyes not used to the gloom. It felt as though he 
+was sitting on some sort of plant. 
+
+“It’s okay!” he called up to the light the size of a 
+postage stamp, which was the open trapdoor, “it’s a 
+soft landing, you can jump!” 
+
+Page | 310 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Ron followed right away. He landed, sprawled next to 
+Harry. 
+
+“What’s this stuff?” were his first words. 
+
+“Dunno, some sort of plant thing. I suppose it’s here 
+to break the fall. Come on, Hermione!” 
+
+The distant music stopped. There was a loud bark 
+from the dog, but Hermione had already jumped. She 
+landed on Harry’s other side. 
+
+“We must be miles under the school,” she said. 
+
+“Lucky this plant thing’s here, really,” said Ron. 
+
+“Lucky\” shrieked Hermione. “Look at you both!” 
+
+She leapt up and struggled toward a damp wall. She 
+had to struggle because the moment she had landed, 
+the plant had started to twist snakelike tendrils 
+around her ankles. As for Harry and Ron, their legs 
+had already been bound tightly in long creepers 
+without their noticing. 
+
+Hermione had managed to free herself before the 
+plant got a firm grip on her. Now she watched in 
+horror as the two boys fought to pull the plant off 
+them, but the more they strained against it, the 
+tighter and faster the plant wound around them. 
+
+“Stop moving!” Hermione ordered them. “I know what 
+this is — it’s Devil’s Snare!” 
+
+“Oh, I’m so glad we know what it’s called, that’s a 
+great help,” snarled Ron, leaning back, trying to stop 
+the plant from curling around his neck. 
+
+
+
+Page | 311 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Shut up, I’m trying to remember how to kill it!” said 
+Hermione. 
+
+“Well, hurry up, I can’t breathe!” Harry gasped, 
+wrestling with it as it curled around his chest. 
+
+“Devil’s Snare, Devil’s Snare ... what did Professor 
+Sprout say? — it likes the dark and the damp — ” 
+
+“So light a fire!” Harry choked. 
+
+“Yes — of course — but there’s no wood!” Hermione 
+cried, wringing her hands. 
+
+“HAVE YOU GONE MAD?” Ron bellowed. “ARE YOU A 
+WITCH OR NOT?” 
+
+“Oh, right!” said Hermione, and she whipped out her 
+wand, waved it, muttered something, and sent a jet of 
+the same bluebell flames she had used on Snape at 
+the plant. In a matter of seconds, the two boys felt it 
+loosening its grip as it cringed away from the light 
+and warmth. Wriggling and flailing, it unraveled itself 
+from their bodies, and they were able to pull free. 
+
+“Lucky you pay attention in Herbology, Hermione,” 
+said Harry as he joined her by the wall, wiping sweat 
+off his face. 
+
+“Yeah,” said Ron, “and lucky Harry doesn’t lose his 
+head in a crisis — ‘there’s no wood,’ honestly.” 
+
+“This way,” said Harry, pointing down a stone 
+passageway, which was the only way forward. 
+
+All they could hear apart from their footsteps was the 
+gentle drip of water trickling down the walls. The 
+passageway sloped downward, and Harry was 
+reminded of Gringotts. With an unpleasant jolt of the 
+
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+
+
+
+
+heart, he remembered the dragons said to be 
+guarding vaults in the wizards’ bank. If they met a 
+dragon, a fully-grown dragon — Norbert had been bad 
+enough ... 
+
+“Can you hear something?” Ron whispered. 
+
+Harry listened. A soft rustling and clinking seemed to 
+be coming from up ahead. 
+
+“Do you think it’s a ghost?” 
+
+“I don’t know ... sounds like wings to me.” 
+
+“There’s light ahead — I can see something moving.” 
+
+They reached the end of the passageway and saw 
+before them a brilliantly lit chamber, its ceiling 
+arching high above them. It was full of small, jewel- 
+bright birds, fluttering and tumbling all around the 
+room. On the opposite side of the chamber was a 
+heavy wooden door. 
+
+“Do you think they’ll attack us if we cross the room?” 
+said Ron. 
+
+“Probably,” said Harry. “They don’t look very vicious, 
+but I suppose if they all swooped down at once . . . 
+well, there’s no other choice ... I’ll run.” 
+
+He took a deep breath, covered his face with his arms, 
+and sprinted across the room. He expected to feel 
+sharp beaks and claws tearing at him any second, 
+but nothing happened. He reached the door 
+untouched. He pulled the handle, but it was locked. 
+
+The other two followed him. They tugged and heaved 
+at the door, but it wouldn’t budge, not even when 
+Hermione tried her Alohomora Charm. 
+
+Page | 313 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Now what?” said Ron. 
+
+
+
+“These birds ... they can’t be here just for decoration,” 
+said Hermione. 
+
+They watched the birds soaring overhead, glittering — 
+glittering? 
+
+“They’re not birds!” Harry said suddenly. “They’re 
+keys\ Winged keys — look carefully. So that must 
+mean ...” he looked around the chamber while the 
+other two squinted up at the flock of keys. "... yes — 
+look! Broomsticks! We’ve got to catch the key to the 
+door!” 
+
+“But there are hundreds of them!” 
+
+Ron examined the lock on the door. 
+
+“We’re looking for a big, old-fashioned one — probably 
+silver, like the handle.” 
+
+They each seized a broomstick and kicked off into the 
+air, soaring into the midst of the cloud of keys. They 
+grabbed and snatched, but the bewitched keys darted 
+and dived so quickly it was almost impossible to 
+catch one. 
+
+Not for nothing, though, was Harry the youngest 
+Seeker in a century. He had a knack for spotting 
+things other people didn’t. After a minute’s weaving 
+about through the whirl of rainbow feathers, he 
+noticed a large silver key that had a bent wing, as if it 
+had already been caught and stuffed roughly into the 
+keyhole. 
+
+“That one!” he called to the others. “That big one — 
+there — no, there — with bright blue wings — the 
+feathers are all crumpled on one side.” 
+
+Page | 314 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Ron went speeding in the direction that Harry was 
+pointing, crashed into the ceiling, and nearly fell off 
+his broom. 
+
+“We’ve got to close in on it!” Harry called, not taking 
+his eyes off the key with the damaged wing. “Ron, you 
+come at it from above — Hermione, stay below and 
+stop it from going down — and I’ll try and catch it. 
+Right, NOW!” 
+
+Ron dived, Hermione rocketed upward, the key 
+dodged them both, and Harry streaked after it; it sped 
+toward the wall, Harry leaned forward and with a 
+nasty, crunching noise, pinned it against the stone 
+with one hand. Ron and Hermione ’s cheers echoed 
+around the high chamber. 
+
+They landed quickly, and Harry ran to the door, the 
+key struggling in his hand. He rammed it into the lock 
+and turned — it worked. The moment the lock had 
+clicked open, the key took flight again, looking very 
+battered now that it had been caught twice. 
+
+“Ready?” Harry asked the other two, his hand on the 
+door handle. They nodded. He pulled the door open. 
+
+The next chamber was so dark they couldn’t see 
+anything at all. But as they stepped into it, light 
+suddenly flooded the room to reveal an astonishing 
+sight. 
+
+They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, 
+behind the black chessmen, which were all taller than 
+they were and carved from what looked like black 
+stone. Facing them, way across the chamber, were 
+the white pieces. Harry, Ron and Hermione shivered 
+slightly — the towering white chessmen had no faces. 
+
+“Now what do we do?” Harry whispered. 
+
+Page | 315 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” said Ron. “We’ve got to play our 
+way across the room.” 
+
+
+
+Behind the white pieces they could see another door. 
+
+“How?” said Hermione nervously. 
+
+“I think,” said Ron, “we’re going to have to be 
+chessmen.” 
+
+He walked up to a black knight and put his hand out 
+to touch the knights horse. At once, the stone sprang 
+to life. The horse pawed the ground and the knight 
+turned his helmeted head to look down at Ron. 
+
+“Do we — er — have to join you to get across?” 
+
+The black knight nodded. Ron turned to the other 
+two. 
+
+“This needs thinking about. ...” he said. “I suppose 
+we’ve got to take the place of three of the black pieces. 
+
+
+
+Harry and Hermione stayed quiet, watching Ron 
+think. Finally he said, “Now, don’t be offended or 
+anything, but neither of you are that good at chess — 
+
+
+
+“We’re not offended,” said Harry quickly. “Just tell us 
+what to do.” 
+
+“Well, Harry, you take the place of that bishop, and 
+Hermione, you go there instead of that castle.” 
+
+“What about you?” 
+
+“I’m going to be a knight,” said Ron. 
+
+Page | 316 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+The chessmen seemed to have been listening, because 
+at these words a knight, a bishop, and a castle turned 
+their backs on the white pieces and walked off the 
+board, leaving three empty squares that Harry, Ron, 
+and Hermione took. 
+
+“White always plays first in chess,” said Ron, peering 
+across the board. “Yes ... look ...” 
+
+A white pawn had moved forward two squares. 
+
+Ron started to direct the black pieces. They moved 
+silently wherever he sent them. Harry’s knees were 
+trembling. What if they lost? 
+
+“Harry — move diagonally four squares to the right.” 
+
+Their first real shock came when their other knight 
+was taken. The white queen smashed him to the floor 
+and dragged him off the board, where he lay quite 
+still, facedown. 
+
+“Had to let that happen,” said Ron, looking shaken. 
+“Leaves you free to take that bishop, Hermione, go 
+on.” 
+
+Every time one of their men was lost, the white pieces 
+showed no mercy. Soon there was a huddle of limp 
+black players slumped along the wall. Twice, Ron only 
+just noticed in time that Harry and Hermione were in 
+danger. He himself darted around the board, taking 
+almost as many white pieces as they had lost black 
+ones. 
+
+“We’re nearly there,” he muttered suddenly. “Let me 
+think — let me think ...” 
+
+The white queen turned her blank face toward him. 
+
+
+
+Page | 317 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Yes ...” said Ron softly, “it’s the only way ... I’ve got 
+to be taken.” 
+
+
+
+“NO!” Harry and Hermione shouted. 
+
+“That’s chess!” snapped Ron. “You’ve got to make 
+some sacrifices! I make my move and she’ll take me — 
+that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!” 
+
+“But — ” 
+
+“Do you want to stop Snape or not?” 
+
+“Ron — ” 
+
+“Look, if you don’t hurry up, hell already have the 
+Stone!” 
+
+There was no alternative. 
+
+“Ready?” Ron called, his face pale but determined. 
+“Here I go — now, don’t hang around once you’ve 
+won.” 
+
+He stepped forward, and the white queen pounced. 
+She struck Ron hard across the head with her stone 
+arm, and he crashed to the floor — Hermione 
+screamed but stayed on her square — the white 
+queen dragged Ron to one side. He looked as if he’d 
+been knocked out. 
+
+Shaking, Harry moved three spaces to the left. 
+
+The white king took off his crown and threw it at 
+Harry’s feet. They had won. The chessmen parted and 
+bowed, leaving the door ahead clear. With one last 
+desperate look back at Ron, Harry and Hermione 
+charged through the door and up the next 
+passageway. 
+
+Page | 318 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“What if he’s — ?” 
+
+
+
+“He’ll be all right,” said Harry, trying to convince 
+himself. “What do you reckon’s next?” 
+
+“We’ve had Sprout’s, that was the Devil’s Snare; 
+Flitwick must’ve put charms on the keys; McGonagall 
+transfigured the chessmen to make them alive; that 
+leaves Quirrell’s spell, and Snape’s ...” 
+
+They had reached another door. 
+
+“All right?” Harry whispered. 
+
+“Go on.” 
+
+Harry pushed it open. 
+
+A disgusting smell filled their nostrils, making both of 
+them pull their robes up over their noses. Eyes 
+watering, they saw, flat on the floor in front of them, a 
+troll even larger than the one they had tackled, out 
+cold with a bloody lump on its head. 
+
+“I’m glad we didn’t have to fight that one,” Harry 
+whispered as they stepped carefully over one of its 
+massive legs. “Come on, I can’t breathe.” 
+
+He pulled open the next door, both of them hardly 
+daring to look at what came next — but there was 
+nothing very frightening in here, just a table with 
+seven differently shaped bottles standing on it in a 
+line. 
+
+“Snape’s,” said Harry. “What do we have to do?” 
+
+They stepped over the threshold, and immediately a 
+fire sprang up behind them in the doorway. It wasn’t 
+ordinary fire either; it was purple. At the same 
+
+Page | 319 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+instant, black flames shot up in the doorway leading 
+onward. They were trapped. 
+
+“Look!” Hermione seized a roll of paper lying next to 
+the bottles. Harry looked over her shoulder to read it: 
+
+Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind, 
+
+Two of us will help you, whichever you would find, 
+
+One among us seven will let you move ahead, 
+
+Another will transport the drinker back instead, 
+
+Two among our number hold only nettle wine, 
+
+Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line. 
+
+Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore, 
+
+To help you in your choice, we give you these clues 
+four: 
+
+First, however slyly the poison tries to hide 
+
+You will always find some on nettle wine’s left side; 
+
+Second, different are those who stand at either end, 
+
+But if you would move onward, neither is your friend; 
+
+Third, as you see clearly, all are different size, 
+
+Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides; 
+
+Fourth, the second left and the second on the right 
+
+Are twins once you taste them, though different at first 
+sight 
+
+Page | 320 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Hermione let out a great sigh and Harry, amazed, saw 
+that she was smiling, the very last thing he felt like 
+doing. 
+
+“Brilliant,” said Hermione. “This isn’t magic — it’s 
+logic — a puzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards haven’t 
+got an ounce of logic, they’d be stuck in here forever.” 
+
+“But so will we, won’t we?” 
+
+“Of course not,” said Hermione. “Everything we need 
+is here on this paper. Seven bottles: three are poison; 
+two are wine; one will get us safely through the black 
+fire, and one will get us back through the purple.” 
+
+“But how do we know which to drink?” 
+
+“Give me a minute.” 
+
+Hermione read the paper several times. Then she 
+walked up and down the line of bottles, muttering to 
+herself and pointing at them. At last, she clapped her 
+hands. 
+
+“Got it,” she said. “The smallest bottle will get us 
+through the black fire — toward the Stone.” 
+
+Harry looked at the tiny bottle. 
+
+“There’s only enough there for one of us,” he said. 
+“That’s hardly one swallow.” 
+
+They looked at each other. 
+
+“Which one will get you back through the purple 
+flames?” 
+
+Hermione pointed at a rounded bottle at the right end 
+of the line. 
+
+Page | 321 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“You drink that,” said Harry. “No, listen, get back and 
+get Ron. Grab brooms from the flying-key room, 
+they’ll get you out of the trapdoor and past Fluffy — 
+go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to 
+Dumbledore, we need him. I might be able to hold 
+Snape off for a while, but I’m no match for him, 
+really.” 
+
+“But Harry — what if You-Know- Who’s with him?” 
+
+“Well — I was lucky once, wasn’t I?” said Harry, 
+pointing at his scar. “I might get lucky again.” 
+
+Hermione’s lip trembled, and she suddenly dashed at 
+Harry and threw her arms around him. 
+
+“Hermionel” 
+
+“Harry — you’re a great wizard, you know.” 
+
+“I’m not as good as you,” said Harry, very 
+embarrassed, as she let go of him. 
+
+“Me!” said Hermione. “Books! And cleverness! There 
+are more important things — friendship and bravery 
+and — oh Harry — be carefull” 
+
+“You drink first,” said Harry. “You are sure which is 
+which, aren’t you?” 
+
+“Positive,” said Hermione. She took a long drink from 
+the round bottle at the end, and shuddered. 
+
+“It’s not poison?” said Harry anxiously. 
+
+“No — but it’s like ice.” 
+
+“Quick, go, before it wears off.” 
+
+
+
+Page | 322 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Good luck — take care — ” 
+
+
+
+“GO!” 
+
+Hermione turned and walked straight through the 
+purple fire. 
+
+Harry took a deep breath and picked up the smallest 
+bottle. He turned to face the black flames. 
+
+“Here I come,” he said, and he drained the little bottle 
+in one gulp. 
+
+It was indeed as though ice was flooding his body. He 
+put the bottle down and walked forward; he braced 
+himself, saw the black flames licking his body, but 
+couldn’t feel them — for a moment he could see 
+nothing but dark fire — then he was on the other 
+side, in the last chamber. 
+
+There was already someone there — but it wasn’t 
+Snape. It wasn’t even Voldemort. 
+
+
+
+Page | 323 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MAN WITH TWO FACES 
+
+It was Quirrell. 
+
+“You\” gasped Harry. 
+
+Quirrell smiled. His face wasn’t twitching at all. 
+
+“Me,” he said calmly. “I wondered whether I’d be 
+meeting you here, Potter.” 
+
+“But I thought — Snape — ” 
+
+“Severus?” Quirrell laughed, and it wasn’t his usual 
+quivering treble, either, but cold and sharp. “Yes, 
+Severus does seem the type, doesn’t he? So useful to 
+have him swooping around like an overgrown bat. 
+
+Next to him, who would suspect p-p-poor, st- 
+stuttering P-Professor Quirrell?” 
+
+Harry couldn’t take it in. This couldn’t be true, it 
+couldn’t. 
+
+“But Snape tried to kill me!” 
+
+Page | 324 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+“No, no, no. / tried to kill you. Your friend Miss 
+Granger accidentally knocked me over as she rushed 
+to set fire to Snape at that Quidditch match. She 
+broke my eye contact with you. Another few seconds 
+and I’d have got you off that broom. I’d have managed 
+it before then if Snape hadn’t been muttering a 
+countercurse, trying to save you.” 
+
+“Snape was trying to save me?” 
+
+“Of course,” said Quirrell coolly. “Why do you think 
+he wanted to referee your next match? He was trying 
+to make sure I didn’t do it again. Funny, really ... he 
+needn’t have bothered. I couldn’t do anything with 
+Dumbledore watching. All the other teachers thought 
+Snape was trying to stop Gryffindor from winning, he 
+did make himself unpopular . . . and what a waste of 
+time, when after all that, I’m going to kill you tonight.” 
+
+Quirrell snapped his fingers. Ropes sprang out of thin 
+air and wrapped themselves tightly around Harry. 
+
+“You’re too nosy to live, Potter. Scurrying around the 
+school on Halloween like that, for all I knew you’d 
+seen me coming to look at what was guarding the 
+Stone.” 
+
+“ You let the troll in?” 
+
+“Certainly. I have a special gift with trolls — you must 
+have seen what I did to the one in the chamber back 
+there? Unfortunately, while everyone else was 
+running around looking for it, Snape, who already 
+suspected me, went straight to the third floor to head 
+me off — and not only did my troll fail to beat you to 
+death, that three-headed dog didn’t even manage to 
+bite Snape ’s leg off properly. 
+
+
+
+Page | 325 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Now, wait quietly, Potter. I need to examine this 
+interesting mirror.” 
+
+It was only then that Harry realized what was 
+standing behind Quirrell. It was the Mirror of Erised. 
+
+“This mirror is the key to finding the Stone,” Quirrell 
+murmured, tapping his way around the frame. “Trust 
+Dumbledore to come up with something like this . . . 
+but he’s in London ... I’ll be far away by the time he 
+gets back. ...” 
+
+All Harry could think of doing was to keep Quirrell 
+talking and stop him from concentrating on the 
+mirror. 
+
+“I saw you and Snape in the forest — ” he blurted out. 
+
+“Yes,” said Quirrell idly, walking around the mirror to 
+look at the back. “He was on to me by that time, 
+trying to find out how far I’d got. He suspected me all 
+along. Tried to frighten me — as though he could, 
+when I had Lord Voldemort on my side. ...” 
+
+Quirrell came back out from behind the mirror and 
+stared hungrily into it. 
+
+“I see the Stone ... I’m presenting it to my master ... 
+but where is it?” 
+
+Harry struggled against the ropes binding him, but 
+they didn’t give. He had to keep Quirrell from giving 
+his whole attention to the mirror. 
+
+“But Snape always seemed to hate me so much.” 
+
+“Oh, he does,” said Quirrell casually, “heavens, yes. 
+He was at Hogwarts with your father, didn’t you 
+
+
+
+Page | 326 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+know? They loathed each other. But he never wanted 
+you dead.” 
+
+“But I heard you a few days ago, sobbing — I thought 
+Snape was threatening you. 
+
+For the first time, a spasm of fear flitted across 
+Quirrell’s face. 
+
+“Sometimes,” he said, “I find it hard to follow my 
+master’s instructions — he is a great wizard and I am 
+weak — ” 
+
+“You mean he was there in the classroom with you?” 
+Harry gasped. 
+
+“He is with me wherever I go,” said Quirrell quietly. “I 
+met him when I traveled around the world. A foolish 
+young man I was then, full of ridiculous ideas about 
+good and evil. Lord Voldemort showed me how wrong 
+I was. There is no good and evil, there is only power, 
+and those too weak to seek it. ... Since then, I have 
+served him faithfully, although I have let him down 
+many times. He has had to be very hard on me.” 
+Quirrell shivered suddenly. “He does not forgive 
+mistakes easily. When I failed to steal the Stone from 
+Gringotts, he was most displeased. He punished me 
+. . . decided he would have to keep a closer watch on 
+me. ...” 
+
+Quirrell’s voice trailed away. Harry was remembering 
+his trip to Diagon Alley — how could he have been so 
+stupid? He’d seen Quirrell there that very day, shaken 
+hands with him in the Leaky Cauldron. 
+
+Quirrell cursed under his breath. 
+
+“I don’t understand ... is the Stone inside the mirror? 
+Should I break it?” 
+
+Page | 327 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+Harry’s mind was racing. 
+
+
+
+What I want more than anything else in the world at 
+the moment, he thought, is to find the Stone before 
+Quirrell does. So if I look in the mirror, I should see 
+my self finding it — which means I’ll see where it’s 
+hidden! But how can I look without Quirrell realizing 
+what I’m up to? 
+
+He tried to edge to the left, to get in front of the glass 
+without Quirrell noticing, but the ropes around his 
+ankles were too tight: he tripped and fell over. Quirrell 
+ignored him. He was still talking to himself. 
+
+“What does this mirror do? How does it work? Help 
+me, Master!” 
+
+And to Harry’s horror, a voice answered, and the voice 
+seemed to come from Quirrell himself. 
+
+“Use the boy ... Use the boy ...” 
+
+Quirrell rounded on Harry. 
+
+“Yes — Potter — come here.” 
+
+He clapped his hands once, and the ropes binding 
+Harry fell off. Harry got slowly to his feet. 
+
+“Come here,” Quirrell repeated. “Look in the mirror 
+and tell me what you see.” 
+
+Harry walked toward him. 
+
+I must lie, he thought desperately. I must look and lie 
+about what I see, that’s all. 
+
+Quirrell moved close behind him. Harry breathed in 
+the funny smell that seemed to come from Quirrell’s 
+
+Page | 328 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+turban. He closed his eyes, stepped in front of the 
+mirror, and opened them again. 
+
+He saw his reflection, pale and scared-looking at first. 
+But a moment later, the reflection smiled at him. It 
+put its hand into its pocket and pulled out a blood- 
+red stone. It winked and put the Stone back in its 
+pocket — and as it did so, Harry felt something heavy 
+drop into his real pocket. Somehow — incredibly — 
+he’d gotten the Stone. 
+
+“Well?” said Quirrell impatiently. “What do you see?” 
+Harry screwed up his courage. 
+
+“I see myself shaking hands with Dumbledore,” he 
+invented. “I — I’ve won the House Cup for Gryffindor.” 
+
+Quirrell cursed again. 
+
+“Get out of the way,” he said. As Harry moved aside, 
+he felt the Sorcerer’s Stone against his leg. Dare he 
+make a break for it? 
+
+But he hadn’t walked five paces before a high voice 
+spoke, though Quirrell wasn’t moving his lips. 
+
+“He lies ... He lies ...” 
+
+“Potter, come back here!” Quirrell shouted. “Tell me 
+the truth! What did you just see?” 
+
+The high voice spoke again. 
+
+“Let me speak to him ... face-to-face. ...” 
+
+“Master, you are not strong enough!” 
+
+“I have strength enough ... for this. ...” 
+
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+
+
+
+
+Harry felt as if Devil’s Snare was rooting him to the 
+spot. He couldn’t move a muscle. Petrified, he 
+watched as Quirrell reached up and began to unwrap 
+his turban. What was going on? The turban fell away. 
+Quirrell’s head looked strangely small without it. 
+
+Then he turned slowly on the spot. 
+
+Harry would have screamed, but he couldn’t make a 
+sound. Where there should have been a back to 
+Quirrell’s head, there was a face, the most terrible 
+face Harry had ever seen. It was chalk white with 
+glaring red eyes and slits for nostrils, like a snake. 
+
+“Harry Potter ...” it whispered. 
+
+Harry tried to take a step backward but his legs 
+wouldn’t move. 
+
+“See what I have become?” the face said. “Mere 
+shadow and vapor ... I have form only when I can 
+share another’s body . . . but there have always been 
+those willing to let me into their hearts and minds. ... 
+Unicorn blood has strengthened me, these past weeks 
+. . . you saw faithful Quirrell drinking it for me in the 
+forest ... and once I have the Elixir of Life, I will be 
+able to create a body of my own. ... Now ... why don’t 
+you give me that Stone in your pocket?” 
+
+So he knew. The feeling suddenly surged back into 
+Harry’s legs. He stumbled backward. 
+
+“Don’t be a fool,” snarled the face. “Better save your 
+own life and join me ... or you’ll meet the same end as 
+your parents. ... They died begging me for mercy. ...” 
+
+“LIAR!” Harry shouted suddenly. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+Quirrell was walking backward at him, so that 
+Voldemort could still see him. The evil face was now 
+smiling. 
+
+“How touching ...” it hissed. “I always value bravery. 
+
+... Yes, boy, your parents were brave. ... I killed your 
+father first, and he put up a courageous fight . . . but 
+your mother needn’t have died ... she was trying to 
+protect you. ... Now give me the Stone, unless you 
+want her to have died in vain.” 
+
+“NEVER!” 
+
+Harry sprang toward the flame door, but Voldemort 
+screamed “SEIZE HIM!” and the next second, Harry 
+felt Quirrell’s hand close on his wrist. At once, a 
+needle-sharp pain seared across Harry’s scar; his 
+head felt as though it was about to split in two; he 
+yelled, struggling with all his might, and to his 
+surprise, Quirrell let go of him. The pain in his head 
+lessened — he looked around wildly to see where 
+Quirrell had gone, and saw him hunched in pain, 
+looking at his fingers — they were blistering before his 
+eyes. 
+
+“Seize him! SEIZE HIM!” shrieked Voldemort again, 
+and Quirrell lunged, knocking Harry clean off his feet, 
+landing on top of him, both hands around Harry’s 
+neck — Harry’s scar was almost blinding him with 
+pain, yet he could see Quirrell howling in agony. 
+
+“Master, I cannot hold him — my hands — my 
+hands!” 
+
+And Quirrell, though pinning Harry to the ground 
+with his knees, let go of his neck and stared, 
+bewildered, at his own palms — Harry could see they 
+looked burned, raw, red, and shiny. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Then kill him, fool, and be done!” screeched 
+Voldemort. 
+
+Quirrell raised his hand to perform a deadly curse, 
+but Harry, by instinct, reached up and grabbed 
+Quirrell’s face — 
+
+“AAAARGH!” 
+
+Quirrell rolled off him, his face blistering, too, and 
+then Harry knew: Quirrell couldn’t touch his bare 
+skin, not without suffering terrible pain — his only 
+chance was to keep hold of Quirrell, keep him in 
+enough pain to stop him from doing a curse. 
+
+Harry jumped to his feet, caught Quirrell by the arm, 
+and hung on as tight as he could. Quirrell screamed 
+and tried to throw Harry off — the pain in Harry’s 
+head was building — he couldn’t see — he could only 
+hear Quirrell’s terrible shrieks and Voldemort’s yells 
+of, “KILL HIM! KILL HIM!” and other voices, maybe in 
+Harry’s own head, crying, “Harry! Harry!” 
+
+He felt Quirrell’s arm wrenched from his grasp, knew 
+all was lost, and fell into blackness, down ... down ... 
+down ... 
+
+Something gold was glinting just above him. The 
+Snitch! He tried to catch it, but his arms were too 
+heavy. 
+
+He blinked. It wasn’t the Snitch at all. It was a pair of 
+glasses. How strange. 
+
+He blinked again. The smiling face of Albus 
+Dumbledore swam into view above him. 
+
+“Good afternoon, Harry,” said Dumbledore. 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+Harry stared at him. Then he remembered: “Sir! The 
+Stone! It was Quirrell! He’s got the Stone! Sir, quick — 
+
+
+
+“Calm yourself, dear boy, you are a little behind the 
+times,” said Dumbledore. “Quirrell does not have the 
+Stone.” 
+
+“Then who does? Sir, I — ” 
+
+“Harry, please relax, or Madam Pomfrey will have me 
+thrown out.” 
+
+Harry swallowed and looked around him. He realized 
+he must be in the hospital wing. He was lying in a bed 
+with white linen sheets, and next to him was a table 
+piled high with what looked like half the candy shop. 
+
+“Tokens from your friends and admirers,” said 
+Dumbledore, beaming. “What happened down in the 
+dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a 
+complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school 
+knows. I believe your friends Misters Fred and George 
+Weasley were responsible for trying to send you a 
+toilet seat. No doubt they thought it would amuse 
+you. Madam Pomfrey, however, felt it might not be 
+very hygienic, and confiscated it.” 
+
+“How long have I been in here?” 
+
+“Three days. Mr. Ronald Weasley and Miss Granger 
+will be most relieved you have come round, they have 
+been extremely worried.” 
+
+“But sir, the Stone — ” 
+
+“I see you are not to be distracted. Very well, the 
+Stone. Professor Quirrell did not manage to take it 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+from you. I arrived in time to prevent that, although 
+you were doing very well on your own, I must say.” 
+
+“You got there? You got Hermione’s owl?” 
+
+“We must have crossed in midair. No sooner had I 
+reached London than it became clear to me that the 
+place I should be was the one I had just left. I arrived 
+just in time to pull Quirrell off you — ” 
+
+“It was you.” 
+
+“I feared I might be too late.” 
+
+“You nearly were, I couldn’t have kept him off the 
+Stone much longer — ” 
+
+“Not the Stone, boy, you — the effort involved nearly 
+killed you. For one terrible moment there, I was afraid 
+it had. As for the Stone, it has been destroyed.” 
+
+“Destroyed?” said Harry blankly. “But your friend — 
+Nicolas Flamel — ” 
+
+“Oh, you know about Nicolas?” said Dumbledore, 
+sounding quite delighted. “You did do the thing 
+properly, didn’t you? Well, Nicolas and I have had a 
+little chat, and agreed it’s all for the best.” 
+
+“But that means he and his wife will die, won’t they?” 
+
+“They have enough Elixir stored to set their affairs in 
+order and then, yes, they will die.” 
+
+Dumbledore smiled at the look of amazement on 
+Harry’s face. 
+
+“To one as young as you, I’m sure it seems incredible, 
+but to Nicolas and Perenelle, it really is like going to 
+
+Page | 334 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the well- 
+organized mind, death is but the next great 
+adventure. You know, the Stone was really not such a 
+wonderful thing. As much money and life as you 
+could want! The two things most human beings would 
+choose above all — the trouble is, humans do have a 
+knack of choosing precisely those things that are 
+worst for them.” 
+
+Harry lay there, lost for words. Dumbledore hummed 
+a little and smiled at the ceiling. 
+
+“Sir?” said Harry. “I’ve been thinking ... Sir — even if 
+the Stone’s gone, Vol-, I mean, You-Know-Who — ” 
+
+“Call him Voldemort, Harry. Always use the proper 
+name for things. Fear of a name increases fear of the 
+thing itself.” 
+
+“Yes, sir. Well, Voldemort’s going to try other ways of 
+coming back, isn’t he? I mean, he hasn’t gone, has 
+he?” 
+
+“No, Harry, he has not. He is still out there 
+somewhere, perhaps looking for another body to 
+share ... not being truly alive, he cannot be killed. He 
+left Quirrell to die; he shows just as little mercy to his 
+followers as his enemies. Nevertheless, Harry, while 
+you may only have delayed his return to power, it will 
+merely take someone else who is prepared to fight 
+what seems a losing battle next time — and if he is 
+delayed again, and again, why, he may never return 
+to power.” 
+
+Harry nodded, but stopped quickly, because it made 
+his head hurt. Then he said, “Sir, there are some 
+other things I’d like to know, if you can tell me ... 
+things I want to know the truth about. ...” 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“The truth.” Dumbledore sighed. “It is a beautiful and 
+terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with 
+great caution. However, I shall answer your questions 
+unless I have a very good reason not to, in which case 
+I beg you 11 forgive me. I shall not, of course, lie.” 
+
+“Well ... Voldemort said that he only killed my mother 
+because she tried to stop him from killing me. But 
+why would he want to kill me in the first place?” 
+
+Dumbledore sighed very deeply this time. 
+
+“Alas, the first thing you ask me, I cannot tell you. 
+
+Not today. Not now. You will know, one day ... put it 
+from your mind for now, Harry. When you are older . . . 
+I know you hate to hear this . . . when you are ready, 
+you will know.” 
+
+And Harry knew it would be no good to argue. 
+
+“But why couldn’t Quirrell touch me?” 
+
+“Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing 
+Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn’t 
+realize that love as powerful as your mother’s for you 
+leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign ... to 
+have been loved so deeply, even though the person 
+who loved us is gone, will give us some protection 
+forever. It is in your very skin. Quirrell, full of hatred, 
+greed, and ambition, sharing his soul with Voldemort, 
+could not touch you for this reason. It was agony to 
+touch a person marked by something so good.” 
+
+Dumbledore now became very interested in a bird out 
+on the windowsill, which gave Harry time to dry his 
+eyes on the sheet. When he had found his voice again, 
+Harry said, “And the Invisibility Cloak — do you know 
+who sent it to me?” 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Ah — your father happened to leave it in my 
+possession, and I thought you might like it.” 
+Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled. “Useful things ... your 
+father used it mainly for sneaking off to the kitchens 
+to steal food when he was here.” 
+
+“And there’s something else ...” 
+
+“Fire away.” 
+
+“Quirrell said Snape — ” 
+
+“Professor Snape, Harry.” 
+
+“Yes, him — Quirrell said he hates me because he 
+hated my father. Is that true?” 
+
+“Well, they did rather detest each other. Not unlike 
+yourself and Mr. Malfoy. And then, your father did 
+something Snape could never forgive.” 
+
+“What?” 
+
+“He saved his life.” 
+
+“What?” 
+
+“Yes ...” said Dumbledore dreamily. “Funny, the way 
+people’s minds work, isn’t it? Professor Snape 
+couldn’t bear being in your father’s debt. ... I do 
+believe he worked so hard to protect you this year 
+because he felt that would make him and your father 
+even. Then he could go back to hating your father’s 
+memory in peace. ...” 
+
+Harry tried to understand this but it made his head 
+pound, so he stopped. 
+
+“And sir, there’s one more thing ...” 
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Just the one?” 
+
+
+
+“How did I get the Stone out of the mirror?” 
+
+“Ah, now, I’m glad you asked me that. It was one of 
+my more brilliant ideas, and between you and me, 
+that’s saying something. You see, only one who 
+wanted to find the Stone — find it, but not use it — 
+would be able to get it, otherwise they’d just see 
+themselves making gold or drinking Elixir of Life. My 
+brain surprises even me sometimes. ... Now, enough 
+questions. I suggest you make a start on these 
+sweets. Ah! Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans! I was 
+unfortunate enough in my youth to come across a 
+vomit-flavored one, and since then I’m afraid I’ve 
+rather lost my liking for them — but I think I’ll be safe 
+with a nice toffee, don’t you?” 
+
+He smiled and popped the golden-brown bean into his 
+mouth. Then he choked and said, “Alas! Ear wax!” 
+
+Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, was a nice woman, but 
+very strict. 
+
+“Just five minutes,” Harry pleaded. 
+
+“Absolutely not.” 
+
+“You let Professor Dumbledore in. ...” 
+
+“Well, of course, that was the headmaster, quite 
+different. You need rest.” 
+
+“I am resting, look, lying down and everything. Oh, go 
+on, Madam Pomfrey ...” 
+
+“Oh, very well,” she said. “But five minutes only.” 
+
+And she let Ron and Hermione in. 
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Harryl” 
+
+
+
+Hermione looked ready to fling her arms around him 
+again, but Harry was glad she held herself in as his 
+head was still very sore. 
+
+“Oh, Harry, we were sure you were going to — 
+Dumbledore was so worried — ” 
+
+“The whole school’s talking about it,” said Ron. “What 
+really happened?” 
+
+It was one of those rare occasions when the true story 
+is even more strange and exciting than the wild 
+rumors. Harry told them everything: Quirrell; the 
+mirror; the Stone; and Voldemort. Ron and Hermione 
+were a very good audience; they gasped in all the 
+right places, and when Harry told them what was 
+under Quirrell’s turban, Hermione screamed out loud. 
+
+“So the Stone’s gone?” said Ron finally. “Flamel’s just 
+going to die?” 
+
+“That’s what I said, but Dumbledore thinks that — 
+what was it? — ‘to the well-organized mind, death is 
+but the next great adventure.’ ” 
+
+“I always said he was off his rocker,” said Ron, 
+looking quite impressed at how crazy his hero was. 
+
+“So what happened to you two?” said Harry. 
+
+“Well, I got back all right,” said Hermione. “I brought 
+Ron round — that took a while — and we were 
+dashing up to the owlery to contact Dumbledore when 
+we met him in the entrance hall — he already knew — 
+he just said, ‘Harry’s gone after him, hasn’t he?’ and 
+hurtled off to the third floor.” 
+
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+
+
+
+
+“D’you think he meant you to do it?” said Ron. 
+“Sending you your fathers cloak and everything?” 
+
+“Well,” Hermione exploded, “if he did — I mean to say 
+— that’s terrible — you could have been killed.” 
+
+“No, it isn’t,” said Harry thoughtfully. “He’s a funny 
+man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give 
+me a chance. I think he knows more or less 
+everything that goes on here, you know. I reckon he 
+had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and 
+instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to 
+help. I don’t think it was an accident he let me find 
+out how the mirror worked. It’s almost like he thought 
+I had the right to face Voldemort if I could. ...” 
+
+“Yeah, Dumbledore’s off his rocker, all right,” said 
+Ron proudly. “Listen, you’ve got to be up for the end- 
+of-year feast tomorrow. The points are all in and 
+Slytherin won, of course — you missed the last 
+Quidditch match, we were steamrollered by 
+Ravenclaw without you — but the food’ll be good.” 
+
+At that moment, Madam Pomfrey bustled over. 
+
+“You’ve had nearly fifteen minutes, now OUT,” she 
+said firmly. 
+
+
+
+•k k k 
+
+
+
+After a good night’s sleep, Harry felt nearly back to 
+normal. 
+
+“I want to go to the feast,” he told Madam Pomfrey as 
+she straightened his many candy boxes. “I can, can’t 
+I?” 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Professor Dumbledore says you are to be allowed to 
+go,” she said sniffily, as though in her opinion 
+Professor Dumbledore didn’t realize how risky feasts 
+could be. “And you have another visitor.” 
+
+“Oh, good,” said Harry. “Who is it?” 
+
+Hagrid sidled through the door as he spoke. As usual 
+when he was indoors, Hagrid looked too big to be 
+allowed. He sat down next to Harry, took one look at 
+him, and burst into tears. 
+
+“It’s — all — my — ruddy — fault!” he sobbed, his 
+face in his hands. “I told the evil git how ter get past 
+Fluffy! I told him! It was the only thing he didn’t 
+know, an’ I told him! Yeh could’ve died! All fer a 
+dragon egg! I’ll never drink again! I should be chucked 
+out an’ made ter live as a Muggle!” 
+
+“Hagrid!” said Harry, shocked to see Hagrid shaking 
+with grief and remorse, great tears leaking down into 
+his beard. “Hagrid, he’d have found out somehow, 
+this is Voldemort we’re talking about, he’d have found 
+out even if you hadn’t told him.” 
+
+“Yeh could’ve died!” sobbed Hagrid. “An’ don’ say the 
+name!” 
+
+“VOLDEMORT!” Harry bellowed, and Hagrid was so 
+shocked, he stopped crying. “I’ve met him and I’m 
+calling him by his name. Please cheer up, Hagrid, we 
+saved the Stone, it’s gone, he can’t use it. Have a 
+Chocolate Frog, I’ve got loads. ...” 
+
+Hagrid wiped his nose on the back of his hand and 
+said, “That reminds me. I’ve got yeh a present.” 
+
+“It’s not a stoat sandwich, is it?” said Harry 
+anxiously, and at last Hagrid gave a weak chuckle. 
+
+Page | 341 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+“Nah. Dumbledore gave me the day off yesterday ter 
+fix it. ’Course, he shoulda sacked me instead — 
+anyway, got y eh this ...” 
+
+It seemed to be a handsome, leather-covered book. 
+Harry opened it curiously. It was full of wizard 
+photographs. Smiling and waving at him from every 
+page were his mother and father. 
+
+“Sent owls off ter all yer parents’ old school friends, 
+askin’ fer photos ... knew yeh didn’ have any ... d’yeh 
+like it?” 
+
+Harry couldn’t speak, but Hagrid understood. 
+
+Harry made his way down to the end-of-year feast 
+alone that night. He had been held up by Madam 
+Pomfrey’s fussing about, insisting on giving him one 
+last checkup, so the Great Hall was already full. It 
+was decked out in the Slytherin colors of green and 
+silver to celebrate Slytherin ’s winning the House Cup 
+for the seventh year in a row. A huge banner showing 
+the Slytherin serpent covered the wall behind the 
+High Table. 
+
+When Harry walked in there was a sudden hush, and 
+then everybody started talking loudly at once. He 
+slipped into a seat between Ron and Hermione at the 
+Gryffindor table and tried to ignore the fact that 
+people were standing up to look at him. 
+
+Fortunately, Dumbledore arrived moments later. The 
+babble died away. 
+
+“Another year gone!” Dumbledore said cheerfully. 
+
+“And I must trouble you with an old man’s wheezing 
+waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious 
+feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads 
+are all a little fuller than they were . . . you have the 
+Page | 342 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty 
+before next year starts. ... 
+
+“Now, as I understand it, the House Cup here needs 
+awarding, and the points stand thus: In fourth place, 
+Gryffindor, with three hundred and twelve points; in 
+third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; 
+Ravenclaw has four hundred and twenty-six and 
+Slytherin, four hundred and seventy- two.” 
+
+A storm of cheering and stamping broke out from the 
+Slytherin table. Harry could see Draco Malfoy banging 
+his goblet on the table. It was a sickening sight. 
+
+“Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin,” said Dumbledore. 
+“However, recent events must be taken into account.” 
+
+The room went very still. The Slytherins’ smiles faded 
+a little. 
+
+“Ahem,” said Dumbledore. “I have a few last-minute 
+points to dish out. Let me see. Yes ... 
+
+“First — to Mr. Ronald Weasley ...” 
+
+Ron went purple in the face; he looked like a radish 
+with a bad sunburn. 
+
+"... for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has 
+seen in many years, I award Gryffindor House fifty 
+points.” 
+
+Gryffindor cheers nearly raised the bewitched ceiling; 
+the stars overhead seemed to quiver. Percy could be 
+heard telling the other prefects, “My brother, you 
+know! My youngest brother! Got past McGonagall’s 
+giant chess set!” 
+
+At last there was silence again. 
+
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+
+
+
+
+“Second — to Miss Hermione Granger . . . for the use of 
+cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor House 
+fifty points.” 
+
+Hermione buried her face in her arms; Harry strongly 
+suspected she had burst into tears. Gryffindors up 
+and down the table were beside themselves — they 
+were a hundred points up. 
+
+“Third — to Mr. Harry Potter ...” said Dumbledore. 
+
+The room went deadly quiet. "... for pure nerve and 
+outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor House sixty 
+points.” 
+
+The din was deafening. Those who could add up while 
+yelling themselves hoarse knew that Gryffindor now 
+had four hundred and seventy-two points — exactly 
+the same as Slytherin. They had tied for the House 
+Cup — if only Dumbledore had given Harry just one 
+more point. 
+
+Dumbledore raised his hand. The room gradually fell 
+silent. 
+
+“There are all kinds of courage,” said Dumbledore, 
+smiling. “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up 
+to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our 
+friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville 
+Longbottom.” 
+
+Someone standing outside the Great Hall might well 
+have thought some sort of explosion had taken place, 
+so loud was the noise that erupted from the 
+Gryffindor table. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood up 
+to yell and cheer as Neville, white with shock, 
+disappeared under a pile of people hugging him. He 
+had never won so much as a point for Gryffindor 
+before. Harry, still cheering, nudged Ron in the ribs 
+and pointed at Malfoy, who couldn’t have looked more 
+Page | 344 Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone - J.K. Rowling 
+
+
+
+
+stunned and horrified if he’d just had the Body-Bind 
+Curse put on him. 
+
+“Which means,” Dumbledore called over the storm of 
+applause, for even Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were 
+celebrating the downfall of Slytherin, “we need a little 
+change of decoration.” 
+
+He clapped his hands. In an instant, the green 
+hangings became scarlet and the silver became gold; 
+the huge Slytherin serpent vanished and a towering 
+Gryffindor lion took its place. Snape was shaking 
+Professor McGonagall’s hand, with a horrible, forced 
+smile. He caught Harry’s eye and Harry knew at once 
+that Snape ’s feelings toward him hadn’t changed one 
+jot. This didn’t worry Harry. It seemed as though life 
+would be back to normal next year, or as normal as it 
+ever was at Hogwarts. 
+
+It was the best evening of Harry’s life, better than 
+winning at Quidditch, or Christmas, or knocking out 
+mountain trolls ... he would never, ever forget tonight. 
+
+Harry had almost forgotten that the exam results 
+were still to come, but come they did. To their great 
+surprise, both he and Ron passed with good marks; 
+Hermione, of course, had the best grades of the first 
+years. Even Neville scraped through, his good 
+Herbology mark making up for his abysmal Potions 
+one. They had hoped that Goyle, who was almost as 
+stupid as he was mean, might be thrown out, but he 
+had passed, too. It was a shame, but as Ron said, you 
+couldn’t have everything in life. 
+
+And suddenly, their wardrobes were empty, their 
+trunks were packed, Neville’s toad was found lurking 
+in a corner of the toilets; notes were handed out to all 
+students, warning them not to use magic over the 
+holidays (“I always hope they’ll forget to give us 
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+
+
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+these,” said Fred Weasley sadly); Hagrid was there to 
+take them down to the fleet of boats that sailed across 
+the lake; they were boarding the Hogwarts Express; 
+talking and laughing as the countryside became 
+greener and tidier; eating Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor 
+Beans as they sped past Muggle towns; pulling off 
+their wizard robes and putting on jackets and coats; 
+pulling into platform nine and three-quarters at 
+King’s Cross station. 
+
+It took quite a while for them all to get off the 
+platform. A wizened old guard was up by the ticket 
+barrier, letting them go through the gate in twos and 
+threes so they didn’t attract attention by all bursting 
+out of a solid wall at once and alarming the Muggles. 
+
+“You must come and stay this summer,” said Ron, 
+“both of you — I’ll send you an owl.” 
+
+“Thanks,” said Harry, “I’ll need something to look 
+forward to.” 
+
+People jostled them as they moved forward toward the 
+gateway back to the Muggle world. Some of them 
+called: 
+
+“Bye, Harry!” 
+
+“See you, Potter!” 
+
+“Still famous,” said Ron, grinning at him. 
+
+“Not where I’m going, I promise you,” said Harry. 
+
+He, Ron, and Hermione passed through the gateway 
+together. 
+
+“There he is, Mom, there he is, look!” 
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+
+It was Ginny Weasley, Ron’s younger sister, but she 
+wasn’t pointing at Ron. 
+
+“Harry Potter!” she squealed. “Look, Mom! I can see 
+“Be quiet, Ginny, and it’s rude to point.” 
+
+Mrs. Weasley smiled down at them. 
+
+“Busy year?” she said. 
+
+“Very,” said Harry. “Thanks for the fudge and the 
+sweater, Mrs. Weasley.” 
+
+“Oh, it was nothing, dear.” 
+
+“Ready, are you?” 
+
+It was Uncle Vernon, still purple-faced, still 
+mustached, still looking furious at the nerve of Harry, 
+carrying an owl in a cage in a station full of ordinary 
+people. Behind him stood Aunt Petunia and Dudley, 
+looking terrified at the very sight of Harry. 
+
+“You must be Harry’s family!” said Mrs. Weasley. 
+
+“In a manner of speaking,” said Uncle Vernon. “Hurry 
+up, boy, we haven’t got all day.” He walked away. 
+
+Harry hung back for a last word with Ron and 
+Hermione. 
+
+“See you over the summer, then.” 
+
+“Hope you have — er — a good holiday,” said 
+Hermione, looking uncertainly after Uncle Vernon, 
+shocked that anyone could be so unpleasant. 
+
+
+
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+
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+
+
+“Oh, I will,” said Harry, and they were surprised at 
+the grin that was spreading over his face. “ They don’t 
+know we’re not allowed to use magic at home. I’m 
+going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer...” 
+
+
+
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