Harry Potter is an orphan living with the Dursleys in a cupboard under the stairs. The Dursleys (his aunt Petunia and his uncle Vernon with their sun, the spoilt Dudley) loath Harry und neglect him.

Harry's miserable life changes completely, when he gets a letter from Hogwarts, the famous school for witchcraft and wizardry, shortly before his 11th. birthday. The letter is delivered by the half giant Hagrid. From Hagrid Harry finally learns the truth about this past, which the Dursleys tried to hide from him for so long: Harry's parents were wizards and didn't die in a car crash, but were killed by the evil Lord Voldemort, commonly known as "You-know-who". Harry himself mysteriously survived Voldemort's attack and only kept a scar shaped like a bolt of lightening. Voldemort lost all his power after his failure und has vanished since. That's why Harry Potter - without knowing it for years - became famous in the wizarding world.

In the letter from Hogwarts Harry is informed, that he has been accepted at the school for witchcraft and wizardry to be trained as a wizard. Together with Hagrid Harry buys all necessarry equipment at Diagon Alley, the shopping mall for wizards: spell books, robes and of course a wand. Hagrid buys Harry a snow owl called Hedwig as a birthday present. Owls are not only popular pets, but also deliver mail in the magic world.

On September 1st, Harry's journey to Hogwarts starts from platform 9 3/4, King's Cross London. In the Hogwarts Express Harry meets for the first time his new friend Ron Weasley, who is also like Harry a first-year. Ron's brothers, the twins Fred and George, and Percy also attend Hogwarts school. Also on the train is Draco Malfoy, soon to become a worse enemy of Harry and Ron.

They are all welcomed to Hogwarts by headmaster Albus Dumbledore and the "Sorting Hat" puts them in the different houses. Harry and Ron get to Gryffindor, where Ron's brothers also live. Draco Malfoy becomes a Slytherin. Most dark wizards come from Slytherin, including Lord Voldemort. The other houses are Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.

Harry soon settles down at the fascinating magic world at Hogwarts, which is totally different from the "Muggle" world (wizards call all non-magic people "Muggles). For the first time in his life Harry gets to know security and friendship. On his timetable are so fantastic subjects like "Transfiguration" (with the strict Professor Minverva McGonagall) or Portions (taught by the most hated Professor Snape) or Defence against the Dark Arts (with stuttering Professor Quirrell). The thing Harry is really good at is Quidditch, a cross between rugby and basket ball on flying broomsticks.

After disliking her at first, Harry makes another friend: the clever Hermoine Granger, always on top of the class. The adventure at Hogwarts starts, when Harry discovers that the philosopher's stone is kept at Hogwarts and that Lord Voldemorts is trying to steal it to get back to power. Harry needs every support he can get from his friends Ron and Hermoine to stop the dark Lord.

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