Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone


This was the first of the Harry Potter series.
Harry, aged twelve, finds out that he is a wizard and goes to study at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is meets the school’s headmaster Albus Dumbledore, and begins to idolize him. He also finds out that eleven years ago, his family was attacked by the darkest wizard of all times, Lord Voldemort. In the attack, his mother (Lily Evans Potter) and father (James Potter) died trying to protect him. But when Voldemort had tried to attack him, “something” had gone wrong and the Death Curse had bounced back from Harry, hitting Voldemort and almost killed him. Harry survived, but now bore a lightening shaped scar on his forehead. This scar and Voldemort’s defeat made Harry instantly famous at the age of one. So, Dumbledore sent Harry to live with his irritating aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and their son, Dudley.
Now at school, Harry tries to make new friends. He meets Ronald Weasley (sixth son of the Weasley family) and Hermione Granger (a muggle and clearly the brightest witch of her age) and they become close friends. Also, he meets Severus Snape. Snape, a teacher of Potions at Hogwarts, had a grudge against Harry’s father and never seems to like Harry.
In the climax, Harry finds out that Voldemort is trying to come back to power with the help of Professor Quirrell (the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts) and the Philosopher’s stone, the stone which could make the Elixir of Life, which will bring him completely back to life (Voldemort’s soul has lived on even though his body had been destroyed in that attack). Harry is able to stop Voldemort from stealing the stone but is unable to stop him from escaping.
It is my favourite amongst the other Harry Potters. I was very impressed by the way Rowling introduced her characters in the story. Although, the plot and the storyline was very predictable at times but the "parallel world of wizards" was beautifully created and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

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