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

by J.K. Rowling

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 ...

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 —

He smiled and popped the golden-brown bean into his mouth. Then he choked and said, “Alas! Ear wax!”

“You let Professor Dumbledore in. . . .” “Well, of course, that was the headmaster, quite different. You need rest.”

Oh, go on, Madam Pomfrey . . .” “Oh, very well,” she said. “But five minutes only.”

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.

“The whole school’s talking about it,”

It was one of those rare occasions when the true story is even more strange and exciting than the wild rumors.

Ron and Hermione were a very good audience; they gasped in all the right places, and when Harry told them what was under Quirrell’...

“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,

“Well, I got back all right,” said Hermione. “I brought Ron round — that took a while

he already knew — he just said, ‘Harry’s gone after him, hasn’t he?’ and hurtled off to the third floor.”

“Well,” Hermione exploded, “if he did — I mean to say — that’s terrible — you could have been killed.”

“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.

he just taught us enough to help. I don’t think it was an accident he let me find o...

“Yeah, Dumbledore’s off his rocker, all right,” said Ron proudly.

you missed the last Quidditch match, we were steamrollered by Ravenclaw without you —

“You’ve had nearly fifteen minutes, now OUT,” she said firmly.

“I want to go to the feast,” he told Madam Pomfrey as she straightened his many candy boxes. “I can, can’t I?”

“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.

“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!

I should be chucked out an’ made ter live...

“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.”

“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. . . .”

“It’s not a stoat sandwich, is it?” said Harry anxiously, and at last Hagrid gave a weak chuckle.

It seemed to be a handsome, leather-covered book. Harry opened it curiously. It was full of wizard photographs.

“Sent owls off ter all yer parents’ old school friends, askin’ fer photos . . .

He had been held up by Madam Pomfrey’s fussing about, insisting on giving him one last checkup,

Slytherin colors of green and silver to celebrate Slytherin’s winning the House Cup for the seventh year in a row.

When Harry walked in there was a sudden hush, and then everybody started talking loudly at once.

tried to ignore the fact that people were standing up to look at him.

“Another year gone!” Dumbledore said cheerfully. “And I must trouble you with an old man’s wheezing waffle

Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they were . . . you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts. . . .

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.”

Harry could see Draco Malfoy banging his goblet on the table. It was a sickening sight.

“However, recent events must be taken ...

The Slytherins’ smiles fade...

“I have a few last-minute points to dish o...

“First — to Mr. Ronald Wea...

“. . . for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor House fifty points.”

Percy could be heard telling the other prefects, “My brother, you know! My youngest brother! Got past McGonagall’s giant chess set!”

“Second — to Miss Hermione Granger . . . for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor House fifty points.”

“Third — to Mr. Harry Potter . . .”

“. . . for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor House sixty points.”

Those who could add up while yelling themselves hoarse knew that Gryffindor now had four hundred and seventy-two point...

“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.

Neville, white with shock, disappeared under a pile of p...

Harry, still cheering, nudged Ron in the ribs and pointed at Malfoy, who couldn’t have looked more stunned and horrified if he’d jus...