ANXIETY

HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE : A SYNOPSIS

               J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is a must read if you want to get on reading. Harry Potter, an ordinary eleven year old boy lived with his uncle, Mr. Dursley, aunt, Petunia  Dursley and his pudgy cousin Dudley. Poor little Harry had to put up with the Dursley’s derisive behavior and haughtiness. Much to his surprise, Harry discovered that he can communicate with snakes and they perceived him. Stranger things unrolled … Letters came streaming in addressed to Harry, frantic about circumstances, the Dursley’s moved to an island. Rubeus Hagrid, half giant broke into the house, scaring everyone out of their wits and slipped Harry his letter from the Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry.   Harry Potter now a young wizard is escorted by Hagrid to the ‘Diagon Alley’, a Wizarding Street and Gringotts bank of wizards to get his school supplies and pet owl, Hedwig.  The truth dawns on Harry that his parents died protecting him from the most powerful and dark wizard, Lord Voldemort leaving him with only a lightening scar on his forehead.

         Harry potter embarked on the Hogwarts Express at platform 9 ¾ where he makes the acquaintance of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, two fellow first year students. He is sorted into Gryffindor house of the school along with Ron and Hermione, the rest being Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.   His flair for Quidditch, makes Harry’s the youngest seeker in the century much to the dismay of Professor Snape, Head of the Slytherin House and Draco Malfoy. His dislike for Malfoy grew stronger when Malfoy hoodwinked Ron and harry for a midnight duel. Hermione, determined to stop the duo joins them only to find the Draco had outwitted, landing them in trouble. Trying to run away they nearly bump into a mighty three- headed dog. Mayhem erupts at the school’s Halloween celebrations when a troll is let free and Hermione’s life is at stake. Ron and Harry vanquish the troll, thereby rescuing Hermione that forges their friendship. At the Quidditch game, Harry is knocked off his broom in air that Hermione suspects Snape is behind the scene due to his strange behavior. Soon, Hogwarts welcome Christmas as Harry receives an Invisibility cloak and finds The Mirror of Erised where he looks at his parents for the first time ever.

            They further comprehend that the giant dog, Fluffy is guarding the philosopher’s stone, which can turn any metal into gold and grant immortality. The trio suspects that Snape is trying to get the stone, not until a centaur tells Harry that Lord Voldemort is striving to recover using the stone. Accidentally, Hagrid spill the beans that Fluffy sleeps when music is played. Harry, Ron and Hermione dart to Dumbledore’s office only to find that he had left the school due to an urgent meeting. Perceiving the graveness of the situation and having no time left to squander, the trio gets into the trapdoor. They encounter a series of hurdle to be dealt with. Finally, Harry finds Quirrell who tells that it was he who tried to put Harry in danger and Snape was actually protecting Harry. Voldemort emerges from Quirrell’s head and Harry is compelled to pass on the philosopher’s stone which the Mirror of Erised deposits in his pocket. As Quirrell attempts to get the stone his skin is scorched when Harry touches him. Quirrell is doomed, the stone destroyed, Harry sustains some injuries and is in the infirmary. The year ends with Gryffindor winning the House Cup and Harry returns back home to spend his holidays.