Who has not heard of Harry Potter? Harry Potter and the
Philosopher''s
Stone is after all the eleventh best selling book
list of all
time, and as of January 2008 is the second best-selling non-religious, non-political work of fiction of all time. It has sold an estimated 120 million books worldwide. Wouldn’t you be surprised that the idea for a work of such epic proportions just popped out of J. K. Rowling’s head while she was on a crowded train going from Manchester to London.
The first Harry Potter book was published in the United Kingdom by Bloomsbury in July 1997 and in the United States by Scholastic in September of 1998, but not before Rowling had received $105,000 for the American rights – an unprecedented amount for a children''''s book by an unknown author. Fearing that American readers would either not understand the word "
philosopher" or not associate it with a magical theme, Scholastic insisted that the book be given the title, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer''s Stone for the American market.
The story starts with the wizarding world''s celebration of the downfall of Lord Voldemort, an evil Dark wizard who was the culprit in killing Harry Potter’s parents. He also attempted to to kill one-year-old Harry Potter, but the curse rebounded upon him, destroying his body and leaving a lightning-bolt scar on Harry''s forehead. Now orphaned, Dumbledore, McGonagall and Rubeus Hagrid leave Harry on the doorstep of his Muggle relatives, the Dursley family who mistreat him. Shortly before Harry''s eleventh birthday, he receives a mysterious letter and learns he has been invited to study magic at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry enters the wizarding world for the first time, and learns that he is famous for his defeat of Voldemort. He also encounters the new Hogwarts Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Quirrell.
A month later, he returns to the Dursleys and takes the train to Hogwarts from Platform Nine and Three Quarters at King''s Cross Station. There Harry as he meets and befriends Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom and Hermione Granger who all coincidentally end up with Harry in the Gryffindor House. On Halloween, Quirell informs everyone that a troll has entered the castle and is in the dungeon. Ron and Harry rescue Hermione from the troll but were confronted by Professor McGonagall over why they did not go back to their dorms when directed. Hermione defended them and the three became the best of friends.
The three suspected Professor Severus Snape of trying to steal the Philosopher''s Stone in order to restore Lord Voldemort to power.They soon find themselves trying to reach the stone first. The three make it through the rooms together and Harry enters the inner chamber alone. There he finds Professor Quirrell is the one attempting to steal the Stone and ironically Snape was trying to protect him from Quirrell all along. The final challenge protecting the Stone is the Mirror of Erised, and by looking in the mirror, the Stone falls into Harry''s pocket. Harry confronts Quirrell and survives a second encounter with Lord Voldemort, who has possessed Quirrell. Voldemort tells Harry that Lily Potter died protecting him. Quirrell feels severe pain when he touches Harry''s skin, and Harry''s scar feels immense pain because of his close proximity to Lord Voldemort. Dumbledore arrives just in time to rescue Harry.Voldemort then abandons Quirrell, who dies in the aftermath of his possession.Harry is welcomed as a hero in the year end feast and Gryffindor wins the House Cup, ending Slytherin''s six-year reign as house champion.