Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the first volume in a series of seven books by British author J. K. Rowling and featuring the fictional character, Harry Potter, a young wizard. The first book was published 30 June 1997 by Bloomsbury in London, and has also been made into a feature-length film of the same name. This is also the most popular of the books by far, selling an estimated 107 million copies worldwide. The book today is Number 9 on the Best Selling Book List of all time.
Lord Voldemort, an evil and powerful wizard, has just been defeated. When he tried to kill an infant boy, Harry Potter, the killing curse rebounded upon him. Harry is left an orphan (Voldemort having killed his parents Lily and James Potter) with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead. His cruel Muggle (non-magical) relatives, the Dursleys, take him in, concealing his magical heritage from him. Shortly before Harry's eleventh birthday, he is invited to study magic at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry enters the wizarding world (a district called Diagon Alley) for the first time, learns that he is famous, and meets the new Hogwarts Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Quirrell. He takes the train to Hogwarts from Platform Nine and three-quarters, befriending Ron Weasley, and meeting Hermione Granger, a muggle-born witch.
Upon arrival, the Sorting Hat places Harry, Ron and Hermione in Gryffindor House. Draco Malfoy, an arrogant and elitist student, gets placed in Slytherin. Harry discovers he has a talent for riding broomsticks, and joins Gryffindor's Quidditch team as Seeker, the youngest in many years.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville Longbottom, exploring Hogwarts late at night, accidentally stumble across the door to a corridor. A three-headed dog, christened Fluffy by Hagrid, guards a trapdoor. On Halloween, Quirell informs everyone that a troll has entered the castle; it gets locked in the girls' bathroom, where Hermione is crying after Ron insulted her. Harry and Ron fight the troll to save Hermione, and the three become best friends. At Harry's first Quidditch match, Harry's broom becomes possessed, nearly knocking him off. Hermione sees Snape staring at Harry and mouthing words, making her believe that Snape caused the broom to misbehave. At Christmas, Harry receives an Invisibility Cloak, which once belonged to his father. He uses it to explore the Restricted Section in the library to research information on Nicolas Flamel, a name Hagrid lets slip when confronted about Fluffy. Eventually he learns that Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone, which produces the Elixir of Life, and will make the drinker immortal.".
Harry sees Snape trying to get information from Quirrel about getting past Fluffy; Quirrel says he doesn't know what's he's talking about. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are sure that Severus Snape, the sinister Potions master, is trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone in order to restore Lord Voldemort to power, but Hagrid denies it. Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco are caught out late at night, and forced to serve detention with Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest. Harry sees a hooded figure drink the blood of an injured unicorn, which sets Harry's scar bursting into flames. Firenze, a centaur, tells Harry that it is a monsterous thing to slay a unicorn, let alone drink its blood. Harry realises that unicorn blood is like Elixir of Life, and that Voldemort is still around.
Harry, Hermione and Ron realize Hagrid gave away how to get past Fluffy, and believe the theft of the Stone is imminent. That night, they go through the trapdoor to get to it first. They negotiate the security system set up by the school's staff, and Harry makes it to the inner chamber. There Harry finds that meek Professor Quirrell, not Snape, is attempting to steal the Stone, and realises that Snape was trying to protect him from harm all along. Harry confronts Quirrell and survives a second encounter with Lord Voldemort, who has been possessing Quirrell (appearing as a ghastly face on the back of Quirrell's head). Quirrell gets blisters when he touches Harry's skin; Dumbledore arrives to rescue Harry. Voldemort then pitilessly abandons Quirrell, who dies as a result of his possession.
Dumbledore reveals that Harry's mother died to protect Harry. Her sacrifice of pure love provided Harry an ancient magical protection from Voldemort's lethal spells. Dumbledore also says that the Stone has been destroyed to prevent future attempts by Voldemort to steal it. At the end-of-year feast, the House Points totals are given: Gryffindor is in last place. However, Dumbledore gives a few "last-minute additions", granting points to Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville, so that Gryffindor wins the House Cup, and are crowned champions.
