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Books from A to Z: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

If you’ve been too busy to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, or if you have no plans of ever reading it, then keep reading to learn some fun facts about the book and become the ringer at your local pub’s next Harry Potter Trivia Night.

A – Albus Dumbledore

The headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Albus Dumbledore, along with Professor McGonagall and Hagrid, leave Harry with The Dursleys after Voldemort killed Harry’s parents.

Albus Dumbledore Clapping

B – Badger, Eagle, Lion, Snake

The animal mascots that represent the four houses at Hogwarts. Badger represents Hufflepuff, Eagle represents Ravenclaw, Lion represents Gryffindor, and Snake represents Slytherin.

C – Chess

Ron, Harry, and Hermione have to play Wizard’s Chess in order to proceed through the second of the underground chambers that protect the Philosopher’s Stone from intruders.

D – Diagon Alley

The street that houses establishments like Gringott’s, Mr. Ollivander’s Wand Shop, and Madam Malkin’s Robes for all Occasions, where Harry gets all the supplies he needs for school.

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The inscription on the Mirror of Erised with states, “ I show not your face, but your hearts desire.” backwards. Harry sees his parents standing behind him when he looks in the mirror.

F – Four Privet Drive

The Dursleys live at Four Privet Drive. Harry Potter lives at Four Privet Drive in the cupboard under the stairs until Hogwarts accepts him as a student.

G – Gringott’s Wizarding Bank

The bank ran by goblins that holds Harry’s fortune and an item from Vault 713 that Hagrid has been ordered to retrieve by Dumbledore.

H – Harry Potter

The hero and protagonist of the story who is the boy who lived because he is the only person to survive an attack by Lord Voldemort, but is left with a scar in the shape of a lightening bolt on his forehead.

Harry Potter Receiving Hogwarts Letter

I – Invisibility Cloak

On Christmas, Harry receives an invisibility cloak with an anonymous note saying the cloak belonged to his father and to “use it well”.

J – James and Lily Potter

The parents of Harry Potter who are killed by Lord Voldemort when Harry was a baby. Lily placed a protection spell on Harry, which allowed him to survive Voldemort’s attack.

K – King’s Cross Station

In order to get to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry must board the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station, which is located between Platforms 9 and 10.

L – Lord Voldemort

Lord Voldemort is the dark wizard also known as “He Who Should Not Be Named” and “You Know Who.” He has not been seen after unsuccessfully attempting to kill Harry Potter.

M – Muggle

In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, British term in the wizarding world for a person born from two non-magical parents who has no magical abilities. Harry Potter is definitely not a Muggle. However, for 11 years, he lived with 3 muggles who treated him terribly.

N – Nemesis

Of course, Lord Voldemort is Harry’s arch-nemesis ( *SPOILER ALERT* 😛 ), but he also gains an enemy at Hogwarts in Draco Malfoy.

O – Owls

Owls are used as messengers in the wizarding world and is how Harry receives his Hogwarts acceptance letter. Harry receives an owl named Hedwig for his birthday from Hagrid.

P – Philosopher’s Stone

Nicholas Flamel, the famous alchemist, created The Philosopher’s Stone (or Sorcerer’s Stone for the American audience). The powers of the Philospher’s Stone include turning any metal into gold and producing the Elixir of Life, which makes the drinker immortal.

Q – Quidditch

Quidditch is a popular wizarding sport played on broomsticks. The game ends when the Golden Snitch is caught. in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry is recruited to the Gryffindor’s Quidditch team as the Seeker.

R – Rubeus Hagrid

Known as Hagrid by all who know and love him, he is the Keeper of the Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Hagrid Cheering Harry Potter

S – Sorting Hat

Hogwarts places new students in one of the four houses at Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin by the Sorting Hat, which analyzes the student and announces their house.

T – Three-Headed Dog

Fluffy, the three-headed dog, guards the Philosopher’s Stone hidden under a trapdoor located in the third floor forbidden area.

U – Unicorn Blood

It can keep you alive, but it curses you with a half-life. Within the Forbidden Forest, Harry and Malfoy come across Voldemort drinking blood from a dead unicorn.

V – Vernon and Petunia Dursley

Harry’s uncle and aunt with whom he lives after he becomes an orphan. They have a son name Dudley who enjoys tormenting Harry. Petunia is Lily’s sister.

W – Wand

The wand picks the wizard, and the wand that picks Harry is the brother of the wand that gave Harry his scar.

X – Xtra Points

Gryffindor wins the House Cup over Slytherin thanks to Dumbledore giving points to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville Longbottom at the end of term feast.

Y – Year One

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone chronicles Harry Potter’s first year at Hogwarts. Harry makes two new friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. He becomes a student in the House of Gryffindor, learns how to play Quidditch, and keeps the Philosopher’s Stone out of the hands of Voldemort.

Z – Zoo

Harry joins the Dursleys for a trip to the zoo for Dudley’s birthday when their neighbor is unable to watch Harry. At the zoo, Harry speaks to a Boa constrictor who is able to understand him.