Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)

by J.K. Rowling

‘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 fringe 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. ‘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 realised 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 Mum’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, t...