CONTEXT

Lord Voldemort, an evil wizard, needs to kill the child of Mr. and Mrs. Potter, for he is special. Harry’s parents die trying to protect him, but Voldemort is unable to kill the baby, and loses his power.

The wizard community takes the orphaned Harry to live with his Uncle and Aunt Dursley.  For the next eleven years, Harry endures a horrid childhood at the hands of his Aunt and Uncle, and also being bullied by their son, Dudley. 

At the age of eleven, he receives an invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft.

Although he has not been brought up in a wizard family, he soon finds he has a natural ability for riding a broomstick and he immediately gets a position in his house Quidditch team.  He soon becomes a firm favorite of his contemporaries and he lives up to the fame that preceded him.

The Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, possesses the Sorcerer’s Stone, which provides the Elixir of Life and turns metal into gold.  The stone is protected by several spells and a giant 3-headed dog, but Voldemort has regained some of his power and is determined to steal the stone. He possesses one of the teacher’s bodies in order to achieve this aim.

Harry and some of his fellow first year students discover this plot, but are unable to convince any of the adults to assist.  They must face up to Voldemort themselves.  Their plan is to capture the stone before he does, so they have to face the perils of the 3-headed dog and the enchantments that surround the stone.

Harry, after losing his friends on the way eventually arrives at the stone’s hiding place, only to be confronted alone by Voldemort. He successfully defeats Voldemort and the future of the stone remains with the forces of good who decide to destroy it.

Voldemort is not destroyed, however, and he may return.