Early years
When the first novel of the series Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (published in some countries as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) opens, it is clear some remarkable event has taken place in the wizarding world, an event so very remarkable, even the Muggles notice signs of it. The full background to this event and to the person of Harry Potter is only revealed gradually, through the series. After the introductory chapter, the book leaps pasulong to a time shortly before Harry Potter's eleventh birthday, and it is at this point that his background begins to be revealed.
Harry's first contact with the wizarding world is through a half-giant, Rubeus Hagrid, keeper of grounds and keys at Hogwarts. Hagrid reveals some of Harry's history.[17] Harry learns that as a baby he witnessed his parents' murder sa pamamagitan ng the power-obsessed dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, who then attempted to kill him also.[17] For reasons not immediately revealed, the spell with which Voldemort tried to kill Harry rebounded. Harry survived with only a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead as a memento of the attack, and Voldemort disappeared. As its inadvertent saviour from Voldemort's reign of terror, Harry has become a living legend in the wizarding world. However, at the orders of the venerable and well-known wizard Albus Dumbledore, the orphaned Harry had been placed in the tahanan of his unpleasant Muggle (non-wizard) relatives, the Dursleys, who had him ligtas but hid his true heritage from him in hopes that he would grow up "normal".[17]
With Hagrid's help, Harry prepares for and undertakes his first taon of study at Hogwarts. As Harry begins to explore the magical world, the reader is introduced to many of the primary locations used throughout the series. Harry meets most of the main characters and gains his two closest friends: Ron Weasley, a fun-loving member of an ancient, large, happy, but hard-up wizarding family, and Hermione Granger, a gifted and hardworking witch of non-magical parentage.[17][18] Harry also encounters the school's potions master, Severus Snape, who displays a deep and abiding dislike for him. The plot concludes with Harry's segundo confrontation with Lord Voldemort, who in his quest for immortality, yearns to gain the power of the Philosopher's Stone, a substance that gives everlasting life.[17]
The series continues with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets describing Harry's segundo taon at Hogwarts. He and his mga kaibigan investigate a 50-year-old mystery that appears tied to kamakailan sinister events at the school. Ron's younger sister, Ginny Weasley, enrols in her first taon at Hogwarts, and finds a notebook which turns out to be Voldemort's diary from his school days. Ginny becomes possessed sa pamamagitan ng Voldemort through the diary and opens the "Chamber of Secrets", unleashing an ancient monster which begins attacking students at Hogwarts. The novel delves into the history of Hogwarts and a legend revolving around the Chamber. For the first time, Harry realises that racial prejudice exists in the wizarding world, and he learns that Voldemort's reign of terror was often directed at wizards who were descended from Muggles. Harry also learns that his ability to speak Parseltongue, the language of snakes, is rare and often associated with the Dark Arts. The novel ends after Harry saves Ginny's life sa pamamagitan ng destroying a basilisk and the enchanted diary which has been the pinagmulan of the problems.
The third novel, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, follows Harry in his third taon of magical education. It is the only book in the series which does not feature Voldemort. Instead, Harry must deal with the knowledge that he has been targeted sa pamamagitan ng Sirius Black, an escaped murderer believed to have assisted in the deaths of Harry's parents. As Harry struggles with his reaction to the dementors—dark creatures with the power to devour a human soul—which are ostensibly protecting the school, he reaches out to Remus Lupin, a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher who is eventually revealed to be a werewolf. Lupin teaches Harry defensive measures which are well above the level of magic generally shown sa pamamagitan ng people his age. Harry learns that both Lupin and Black were close mga kaibigan of his father and that Black was framed sa pamamagitan ng their fourth friend, Peter Pettigrew.[19] In this book, another recurring theme throughout the series is emphasised—in every book there is a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, none of whom lasts madami than one school year.
When the first novel of the series Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (published in some countries as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) opens, it is clear some remarkable event has taken place in the wizarding world, an event so very remarkable, even the Muggles notice signs of it. The full background to this event and to the person of Harry Potter is only revealed gradually, through the series. After the introductory chapter, the book leaps pasulong to a time shortly before Harry Potter's eleventh birthday, and it is at this point that his background begins to be revealed.
Harry's first contact with the wizarding world is through a half-giant, Rubeus Hagrid, keeper of grounds and keys at Hogwarts. Hagrid reveals some of Harry's history.[17] Harry learns that as a baby he witnessed his parents' murder sa pamamagitan ng the power-obsessed dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, who then attempted to kill him also.[17] For reasons not immediately revealed, the spell with which Voldemort tried to kill Harry rebounded. Harry survived with only a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead as a memento of the attack, and Voldemort disappeared. As its inadvertent saviour from Voldemort's reign of terror, Harry has become a living legend in the wizarding world. However, at the orders of the venerable and well-known wizard Albus Dumbledore, the orphaned Harry had been placed in the tahanan of his unpleasant Muggle (non-wizard) relatives, the Dursleys, who had him ligtas but hid his true heritage from him in hopes that he would grow up "normal".[17]
With Hagrid's help, Harry prepares for and undertakes his first taon of study at Hogwarts. As Harry begins to explore the magical world, the reader is introduced to many of the primary locations used throughout the series. Harry meets most of the main characters and gains his two closest friends: Ron Weasley, a fun-loving member of an ancient, large, happy, but hard-up wizarding family, and Hermione Granger, a gifted and hardworking witch of non-magical parentage.[17][18] Harry also encounters the school's potions master, Severus Snape, who displays a deep and abiding dislike for him. The plot concludes with Harry's segundo confrontation with Lord Voldemort, who in his quest for immortality, yearns to gain the power of the Philosopher's Stone, a substance that gives everlasting life.[17]
The series continues with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets describing Harry's segundo taon at Hogwarts. He and his mga kaibigan investigate a 50-year-old mystery that appears tied to kamakailan sinister events at the school. Ron's younger sister, Ginny Weasley, enrols in her first taon at Hogwarts, and finds a notebook which turns out to be Voldemort's diary from his school days. Ginny becomes possessed sa pamamagitan ng Voldemort through the diary and opens the "Chamber of Secrets", unleashing an ancient monster which begins attacking students at Hogwarts. The novel delves into the history of Hogwarts and a legend revolving around the Chamber. For the first time, Harry realises that racial prejudice exists in the wizarding world, and he learns that Voldemort's reign of terror was often directed at wizards who were descended from Muggles. Harry also learns that his ability to speak Parseltongue, the language of snakes, is rare and often associated with the Dark Arts. The novel ends after Harry saves Ginny's life sa pamamagitan ng destroying a basilisk and the enchanted diary which has been the pinagmulan of the problems.
The third novel, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, follows Harry in his third taon of magical education. It is the only book in the series which does not feature Voldemort. Instead, Harry must deal with the knowledge that he has been targeted sa pamamagitan ng Sirius Black, an escaped murderer believed to have assisted in the deaths of Harry's parents. As Harry struggles with his reaction to the dementors—dark creatures with the power to devour a human soul—which are ostensibly protecting the school, he reaches out to Remus Lupin, a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher who is eventually revealed to be a werewolf. Lupin teaches Harry defensive measures which are well above the level of magic generally shown sa pamamagitan ng people his age. Harry learns that both Lupin and Black were close mga kaibigan of his father and that Black was framed sa pamamagitan ng their fourth friend, Peter Pettigrew.[19] In this book, another recurring theme throughout the series is emphasised—in every book there is a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, none of whom lasts madami than one school year.
