Book Summary for J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”

Jason Puccio
6 min readDec 27, 2023

--

Introduction

J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” introduces readers to Harry Potter, a young orphan brought up by his harsh aunt and uncle. Harry finds out he is a wizard on his eleventh birthday and is accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry discovers secrets about his history as he sets off on an exciting expedition to explore the wizarding realm.

Chapter 1: The Boy Who Lived

Harry’s cruel and uncaring family, the Dursleys, are first introduced at the start of the novel. Harry, who is ignorant of his magical background, resides with them and their son Dudley. The Dursleys are startled by an odd string of occurrences, including enigmatic letters addressed to Harry. The family hides in a secluded cottage to avoid the letters, but at midnight, a giant named Hagrid breaks in and reveals Harry’s actual nature as a wizard.

Chapter 2: The Vanishing Glass

Ten years after the tragic death of his parents, Harry is treated as a servant by the Dursleys. During a trip to the zoo, strange occurrences happen when Harry communicates with a snake. Feeling a connection to the reptile, Harry unknowingly uses his magical abilities, causing the glass in the snake’s enclosure to disappear.

Claim Your Free Copy of “Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone” Here

Chapter 3: The Letters from No One

Following Hagrid’s revelation, the Dursleys try to prevent Harry from reading the flood of letters inviting him to attend Hogwarts. Their efforts are futile as more letters arrive through increasingly bizarre means. In desperation, the family flees to a remote island to escape the letters.

Chapter 4: The Keeper of the Keys

On Harry’s eleventh birthday, the giant Hagrid arrives to deliver his acceptance letter to Hogwarts. Hagrid enlightens Harry about his parents’ magical history and their demise at the hands of the dark wizard, Voldemort. Hagrid also gives Harry a birthday cake and an invitation to attend Hogwarts.

Chapter 5: Diagon Alley

Hagrid takes Harry shopping for school supplies in Diagon Alley, the magical hub hidden within London. Harry gets his wand from Ollivanders, visits Gringotts Wizarding Bank, and purchases his school supplies. He meets Draco Malfoy, a fellow student, and receives an owl, whom he names Hedwig, as a birthday gift.

Chapter 6: The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

On September 1st, Harry heads to King’s Cross Station to board the Hogwarts Express. With guidance from the Weasley family, particularly Ron Weasley, Harry learns about the magical platform, Nine and Three-Quarters, and boards the train to Hogwarts.

Chapter 7: The Sorting Hat

Upon arriving at Hogwarts, the students are sorted into one of the four houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin. Harry, Ron, Hermione Granger, and others are sorted into Gryffindor. Harry discovers the Sorting Hat considered placing him in Slytherin but ultimately decided on Gryffindor.

Chapter 8: The Potions Master

Classes begin, and Harry attends various subjects, including Potions taught by Professor Snape. Snape exhibits a hostile attitude towards Harry, causing him to distrust the professor. During his first flying lesson, Harry displays exceptional talent on a broomstick.

Chapter 9: The Midnight Duel

After an altercation with Draco Malfoy, Harry, Ron, and Hermione confront him. Malfoy challenges Harry to a midnight duel, leading them into a forbidden duel with Filch, the caretaker, hot on their heels. In their attempt to avoid Filch, they stumble upon a three-headed dog guarding a trapdoor.

Chapter 10: Halloween

Halloween arrives, and tension rises as Quidditch, a wizarding sport, takes center stage. During the game, Harry’s broomstick goes berserk, endangering his life. Hermione notices Professor Snape uttering a curse and stops him using a spell, subsequently protecting Harry.

Chapter 11: Quidditch

Harry joins the Gryffindor Quidditch team as a Seeker. He partakes in his first Quidditch match against Slytherin and displays remarkable skills, leading Gryffindor to victory despite interference from Snape.

Claim Your Free Copy of “Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone” Here

Chapter 12: The Mirror of Erised

Harry discovers the Mirror of Erised, which reflects one’s deepest desires. Harry becomes obsessed with the mirror, frequently returning to see his deceased parents. Professor Dumbledore advises Harry on the mirror’s nature and warns against becoming fixated on its illusions.

Chapter 13: Nicolas Flamel

Hagrid accidentally reveals the name “Nicholas Flamel” to Harry, sparking curiosity about Flamel’s significance. Harry, Ron, and Hermione research Flamel in the Hogwarts library and learn that he is the alchemist who created the Sorcerer’s Stone, capable of producing the Elixir of Life.

Chapter 14: Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback

Hagrid obtains an illegal dragon egg, which hatches into a Norwegian Ridgeback named Norbert. Concerned for Norbert’s safety, Harry and Hermione devise a plan to send the dragon to Ron’s brother, Charlie, who works with dragons in Romania.

Chapter 15: The Forbidden Forest

As part of their punishment for breaking school rules, Harry, Hermione, Draco, and Neville join Hagrid on a detention excursion into the Forbidden Forest. While exploring, they encounter a hooded figure drinking unicorn blood. Harry rescues Draco from a terrifying creature, and a centaur named Firenze saves Harry from the figure.

Chapter 16: Through the Trapdoor

With suspicions rising about someone attempting to steal the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry, Ron, and Hermione resolve to protect it. They believe Snape is after the Stone and decide to intervene by sneaking through a trapdoor guarded by various enchantments.

Chapter 17: The Man with Two Faces

Harry and his friends pass the enchantments guarding the Sorcerer’s Stone. In the final chamber, they encounter Professor Quirrell, who reveals that he was serving Voldemort and seeks the Stone to revive him. Harry’s touch repels Quirrell due to the protection from his mother’s love, causing Quirrell to disintegrate when he tries to touch Harry. In doing so, Harry saves the Stone and prevents Voldemort’s return.

Conclusion

In this succinct synopsis of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” each chapter is summarized in its entirety, including Harry’s introduction to the wizarding world, his experiences at Hogwarts, and his conflict with the evil forces vying for the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Claim Your Free Copy of “Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone” Here

This book summary contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission after you click on any of these links

--

--