Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Hermione Granger is a Muggle-born whose parents are “dentists” (158). To make up for her prior lack of knowledge about the wizarding world, Hermione has read non-stop to become the best in her year. She is an extremely hard worker and an intelligent and eager student. Though these are admirable qualities, Hermione occasionally comes across as an insufferable know-it-all. When Harry and Ron first meet her, they find her very annoying. After she attempts to stop them from confronting Malfoy, “Harry couldn’t believe anyone could be so interfering” (123). Hermione is described as having “a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair, and rather large front teeth” (83).

Hermione is a strict rule follower. Hermione is more worried about getting in trouble than anything else throughout the novel. After they encounter Fluffy, she tells the boys, “I hope you’re pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed—or worse, expelled. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to bed” (129). It is understandable why Hermione is so nervous about being expelled; as a Muggle-born, she must feel like an imposter in the wizarding world. In moments of panic, she even forgets that she can do magic. When she remembers that Devil’s Snare fears light and fire, she frets because she does not have wood or kindling. Ron has to snap her out of it by shouting, “HAVE YOU GONE MAD? ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?” (223).

Hermione’s vast knowledge about the wizarding world and her work ethic make up for her lack of personal experience with magic. Her cleverness becomes invaluable to Harry and Ron. She helps them study for exams and research Quidditch and Flamel, and she solves the logic puzzle at the end of the novel. Ron is initially peeved by her bookishness, telling Harry, “she’s a nightmare, honestly. […] She must’ve noticed she’s got no friends” (137). Despite Hermione’s intelligence, she is not sorted into Ravenclaw. Like Harry, Hermione might also have been better suited in another house. However, Hermione is also loyal, kind, and brave—key Gryffindor traits. She consistently helps Neville when he gets in trouble. When Malfoy curses Neville, “Everyone fell over laughing except Hermione, who leapt up and performed the countercurse” (174). Though Hermione is clever, she prizes other things over intelligence, and what she sees as more important determines her house. At the end of the novel, she tells Harry, “Books! And cleverness! There are more important things – friendship and bravery and—oh Harry—be careful!” (231). Hermione values friendship and bravery more than intelligence. Hermione’s kindness translates into worry for her friends. Though she respects professors, she also believes Dumbledore endangered Harry’s life. Hermione’s kindness, loyalty, bravery, and cleverness make her an irreplaceable part of the trio.

The first time Ron Weasley meets Harry, he tells him gloomily, “I’m the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts. You could say I’ve got a lot to live up to” (79). Ron is Harry’s first best friend at Hogwarts. He comes from a long line of pureblood wizards, but his family is looked down upon by wizards like Malfoy, who mock them for being poor. Ron has five older brothers, all of whom have achieved greatness in their own way. Ron’s character is defined by the desperate desire to prove himself to his family and the world. He tells Harry, “Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it’s no big deal, because they did it first. You never get anything new, either, with five brothers. I’ve got Bill’s old robes, Charlie’s old wand, and Percy’s old rat” (79). Distinguishing himself is Ron’s primary motivator, which explains why he occasionally gets jealous of those around him later in the series. When Ron looks into the Mirror of Erised, he does not see his family like Harry does. Instead, he says, “I am—I’m wearing the badge like Bill used to—and I’m holding the house cup and the Quidditch cup—I’m Quidditch captain, too” (168). Ron’s dreams are mediated through his brothers having already achieved them before.

When he first meets Harry, Ron—with his red hair and dirt-covered face—is quick to reassure and comfort the other boy about his worries. Ron tells Harry, “You won’t be. There’s loads of people who come from Muggle families and they learn quick enough” (79). Despite coming from a pureblood wizarding family, Ron does not share the Malfoys’ prejudices against Muggle families. Ron is the quintessential Gryffindor from a long line of Gryffindors. He tempers some of Harry’s rash behavior and helps provide much-needed context about the wizarding world. Though his intelligence is often overlooked, Ron is brilliant, as displayed by his excellence at wizard’s chess. During the challenges on the way to retrieve the Stone, Ron does not hesitate to sacrifice himself, saying, “That’s chess…You’ve got to make some sacrifices! I take one step forward and she’ll take me—that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!” (227). Ron’s strategic thinking, bravery, and compassion are key parts of his character. Though Ron may frequently be written off as a mere sidekick, he is an integral part of the trio that will save the wizarding world. 

Voldemort, frequently referred to as You-Know-Who, is the novel’s primary antagonist. Because people of the wizarding world try to avoid mentioning him by name, he becomes almost like a ghost, haunting the text as an invisible but pervasive embodiment of fear. Due to his failed attempt to kill Harry as an infant, Voldemort is extremely weak, physically grafted onto the back of Quirrell’s head. Harry describes him as “the most terrible face Harry had ever seen. It was chalk white with glaring red eyes and slits for nostrils, like a snake” (236). Voldemort’s weakened state is connected to his physical form. Instead of having his own body, he is “mere shadow and vapor...I have form only when I can share another’s body...” (236). Voldemort is barely alive and barely human; he is more like a specter, possessing people and sustaining himself on unicorn blood until he can be fully resurrected.

Dumbledore describes Voldemort to Harry: “He is still out there somewhere, perhaps looking for another body to share...not being truly alive, he cannot be killed” (240). Voldemort states that his primary goal is “to create a body of my own” and return to the height of his power (236). He tells Harry, “there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and minds...” (236). As the embodiment of pure evil, Voldemort is a villain archetype. His ability to leech off the bodies of his followers represents evil’s ability to survive in people’s hearts and minds if they allow it to do so.

Voldemort tries to convince Harry to join his side. Evil courting good is a common trope in children’s literary texts. Voldemort tells him, “Better save your own life and join me...or you’ll meet the same end as your parents...They died begging me for mercy...” (237). Voldemort’s desperate attempt to regain his body and power also speaks to his ultimate fear of death. Even as a child, Harry does not have that fear. They are foils of each other, sharing the same type of wand with dual phoenix feather cores. While Voldemort is willing to do anything and everything to keep from dying, Harry fears only his failure to keep the people around him safe. The battle between good and evil is epitomized between Harry and Voldemort.

Albus Dumbledore is the powerful headmaster of Hogwarts and Harry’s mentor. Rowling describes Dumbledore as “tall, thin, and very old,” with “silver” beard and hair “which were both long enough to tuck into his belt” (6). His “blue eyes were light, bright, and sparkling behind half-moon spectacles and his nose was very long and crooked, as though it had been broken at least twice” (6). Dumbledore looks like the stereotypical image of a wizard, wearing “long robes, a purple cloak that swept the ground, and high-heeled, buckled boots” (6). Though Dumbledore dresses whimsically, he is described as one of the most powerful wizards alive. According to numerous characters, he is “the only one You-Know – oh, all right, Voldemort, was frightened of” (8). Dumbledore seems to have all the answers to Harry’s endless questions. He is the one who decides to leave Harry with the Dursleys and later gives the boy his father’s invisibility cloak. Even Harry realizes that Dumbledore has permitted, and perhaps silently encouraged, him to stop Voldemort. Harry tells his friends, “Instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help. I don’t think it was an accident he let me find out how the mirror worked. It’s almost like he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could...” (244). Rather than stopping Quirrell himself, Dumbledore correctly anticipates that Harry will feel motivated to do so.

Dumbledore prepares Harry to become the wizarding world’s hero, gradually providing him with information and tools to assist him as he faces Voldemort. He tells Harry about the Mirror, “If you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared” (171). Instead of giving Harry any actual information, Dumbledore leaves clues for Harry to find, like returning his invisibility cloak with a note that says “just in case” (209). While Dumbledore knows almost everything about Harry, the boy does not get much information in return. When Harry asks Dumbledore about what he sees in the Mirror of Erised, Dumbledore appears to lie about receiving socks. More importantly, Dumbledore refuses to tell Harry about Voldemort, appearing to do so at least partly because of Harry’s youth and immaturity. When Harry asks about how he survived Voldemort’s attempt to kill him as an infant, Dumbledore says, “Alas, the first thing you ask me, I cannot tell you. Not today. Not now. You will know, one day...put it from your mind for now, Harry. When you are older...I know you hate to hear this...when you are ready, you will know” (241). This moment epitomizes Dumbledore’s character and his relationship with Harry throughout the series. Dumbledore appears to have all the answers but is unable, or unwilling, to share them with Harry.

Hagrid is Harry’s guide to the wizarding world. He is the first person to show Harry kindness and love, giving him a cake and owl on his eleventh birthday. Hagrid is described as “almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide” with “wild-long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face” and “hands the size of trash can lids,” with “feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins” and “vast, muscular arms” (11). Despite his rough and gruff-looking exterior, Hagrid is warm and affectionate. In his third year at Hogwarts, he was expelled and had his wand snapped in “half an’ everything. But Dumbledore let me stay on as gamekeeper” (46). The reason for his expulsion is not revealed until the second book in the series. Hagrid is loyal to Dumbledore and reacts protectively when anyone speaks poorly about the headmaster. They both trust each other implicitly, which is why Hagrid is tasked with fetching the Sorcerer’s Stone from Gringott’s.

Hagrid rescued Harry from the “ruined house” as an infant to bring him to the Dursleys (43), and he cries when he must leave the baby on the Dursleys’ doorstep. Hagrid’s affection for Harry is much like the love he has for all other magical creatures. When Hagrid must give up Norbert the dragon, he is devastated: “I—I know I can’t keep him forever, but I can’t jus’ dump him, I can’t” (189). Hagrid is extremely paternal and feels responsible both for the creatures in his care and Harry himself. When he learns that Harry faced Voldemort, Hagrid becomes emotional, blaming himself for putting him in harm’s way. Hagrid tells Harry, “It’s—all—my—ruddy—fault! […] Yeh could’ve died! All fer a dragon egg! I’ll never drink again! I should be chucked out an’ made ter live as a Muggle!” (245). Hagrid represents family and acceptance for Harry.

Draco Malfoy is one of the novel’s secondary antagonists and Harry’s schoolyard rival. While getting his robes, Harry meets Malfoy and is “strongly reminded of Dudley” (60). Malfoy is described as having a “pale, pointed face” (60). At their first meeting, he comes across as spoiled, and he is entitled and prejudiced against people who are different from him. Malfoy tells Harry, “I really don’t think they should let the other sort in, do you? They’re just not the same, they’ve never been brought up to know our ways” (61). Malfoy’s family does not think that Muggle-borns should be admitted to Hogwarts. Malfoy is proud of his family and Slytherin house, believing that all other houses and people are inferior. His superiority complex is a vital part of his character. When Harry refuses to be his friend, Malfoy lashes out by becoming crueler to Ron, Neville, and the other Gryffindors.

He is as cunning and sly—the perfect Slytherin. Malfoy tries to get Harry into trouble throughout the novel. He schemes to get Harry caught out of bed at night numerous times instead of confronting him in person. He bullies Neville endlessly and is needlessly cruel to those around him, making fun of Harry for being an orphan, Ron for being poor, and Neville for being clumsy (178). Though Malfoy tries to come across as better than the Gryffindors, he is just a bratty child. When they are summoned to detention in the forest, Malfoy tries to use his father’s influence to get out of it. He tells Filch, “But this is servant stuff, it’s not for students to do. I thought we’d be copying lines or something, if my father knew I was doing this, he’d—” (199). Malfoy represents the petty cruelties of schoolyard bullies.

Professor McGonagall is described as a “rather severe-looking woman who was wearing square glasses” in “exactly the shape of the markings the cat” she occasionally changes into (7). Her black hair is often “drawn into a tight bun” (7). She is the Head of Gryffindor and the professor of Transfiguration. She appears to care more about Harry than Dumbledore. When she discovers that Dumbledore intends on leaving Harry with the Dursleys, she protests, “You don’t mean—you can’t mean the people who live here? Dumbledore—you can’t” (10). Professor McGonagall sees how awful the Dursleys are and worries about Harry’s well-being should he be raised by them.

While at Hogwarts, McGonagall is a fair and strict professor. Though she tries to uphold the rules, she also occasionally bends them for the sake of her house. Instead of punishing Harry for flying, Professor McGonagall makes Harry the youngest Gryffindor seeker in a generation. Unlike Dumbledore, she insists on keeping Harry’s life as ordinary as possible. When Harry tries to interfere with the Sorcerer’s Stone, she tells him, “I don’t know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it’s too well protected” (214). Though Professor McGonagall will come to understand that Harry was right, she tries to protect Harry’s childhood innocence and relieve him of unnecessary responsibility.

Severus Snape is the Head of Slytherin and the Potions professor “with greasy black hair, a hooked nose, and sallow skin” (100). There is gossip about Snape that “he’s after Quirrell’s job” and “knows an awful lot about the Dark Arts” (101). Snape favors the Slytherins and openly dislikes the students from the other houses. Of all the students, Snape hates Harry the most. When he catches Harry around school, he tells him, “Be warned, Potter—any more nighttime wanderings, and I will personally make sure you are expelled” (215). Snape’s contempt for Harry leads the trio to suspect him of betraying the headmaster. Dumbledore later explains that Snape hates Harry’s father, “Not unlike yourself and Mr. Malfoy” especially when James Potter saved his life and “did something Snape could never forgive” (242).

Though initially perceived as suspicious, Snape’s actions are intended to keep Harry safe. When Harry struggles with his broom, “Snape had his eyes fixed on Harry and was muttering nonstop under his breath” (152). Though Hermione assumes that Snape is trying to jinx him, he is the only thing keeping the boy on his broom. Dumbledore explains that Snape “worked so hard to protect you this year because he felt that would make him and your father even. Then he could go back to hating your father’s memory in peace...” (242). While Snape has been a thorn in Harry’s side, he also has been thwarting Quirrell’s evil plans. Snape’s actions are not fully explained in this novel but will be later in the series when he emerges as one of the novel’s heroic characters. 

Quirrell, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, is the newest addition to the Hogwarts faculty. He wears an “absurd turban” that the students note smells very badly (100). Quirrell tells the students that “his turban…had been given to him by an African prince as a thank-you for getting rid of a troublesome zombie, but they weren’t sure they believed this story” (107). He appears to be a nervous, cowardly man. Hagrid tells Harry that Quirrell is “scared of the students, scared of his own subject now” (55). When Quirrell warns everyone about the troll, he faints in front of the entire school. Quirrell’s cowardice and stuttering is a façade, so no one suspects him of harboring Voldemort and betraying Dumbledore. Quirrell admits as much to Harry: “Who would suspect p-p-poor, st-stuttering P-Professor Quirrell?” (232). He also explains that Voldemort warped his “ridiculous ideas about good and evil” while he was young and exploring the world (234). Quirrell becomes obsessed with power and begins “serv[ing] him faithfully” (234). In the end, Quirrell is merely a puppet for Voldemort. When Voldemort is finished using him, he discards Quirrell and leaves him to die from his wounds.

Vernon and Petunia Dursley are Harry’s Muggle uncle and aunt. They are cruel and neglectful of Harry for the decade he has lived with them. Vernon is described as “a big, beefy man with hardly any neck” and “a very large mustache” (1). Petunia, on the other hand, is “thin and blonde and had nearly twice the usual amount of neck” and often spent “much of her time craning over garden fences, spying on the neighbors” (1). They are incredibly proud of their son, Dudley, believing there “was no finer boy anywhere” (1). The Dursleys kept away from the Potters as much as they could because Petunia “pretended she didn’t have a sister, because her sister and her good-for-nothing husband were as unDursleyish as it was possible to be” (1).

The Dursleys are worried about how they appear to the people around them—they want to be as normal as possible. Vernon, for example, is nervous that “if it got out that they were related to a pair of—well, he didn’t think he could bear it” (5). The Dursleys are inherently selfish, and over the entirety of Harry’s childhood, they treat him as less than human. The living room of the house “held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house, too” (13). They consistently insult Harry, his parents, and the magical world. The Dursleys only reluctantly allow Harry to go to Hogwarts because they do not have a choice in the matter. For Harry, they represent the mundane horrors of his life with Muggles.

Dudley is Harry’s cousin and the spoiled son of the Dursleys. As a baby, Dudley looks like a “large pink beach ball wearing different-colored bonnets,” but at the age of 11, he is described simply as a “large blond boy” (2). Dudley is a miniature version of Vernon, with “a large pink face, not much neck, small, watery blue eyes, and thick blond hair that lay smoothly on his thick, fat head” (15). Dudley is just as cruel as his father, too, and does not like exercise “unless, of course, it involved punching somebody (14). He bullies Harry at home while he tortures other children at school. Dudley is the opposite of Harry in almost every way. While Harry sleeps in a small cupboard under the stairs, Dudley has two bedrooms. He steals most of Harry’s food and tortures his cousin every opportunity that he can. Harry often thinks that Dudley looks “like a pig in a wig” and is especially delighted when Hagrid gives him a curly pig’s tail to reflect his greediness (15).

Like Harry, Neville is also an orphan. He is raised by his grandmother, who is a witch. According to Neville, most of his family believed that he “was all-Muggle for ages” (100). When Neville gets into Hogwarts, his family is delighted as they thought he “might not be magic enough to come” (100). Neville is clumsy, often falls, and frequently loses his toad, Trevor. He has low self-esteem and believes he’s “not brave enough to be in Gryffindor” (174). Neville is bullied by Malfoy consistently. It is only with Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s encouragement that Neville begins standing up for himself and against Malfoy. Despite often finding himself in trouble, Neville is a brave and loyal friend.

When he overhears Malfoy’s plan to trick Harry and get him in trouble, Neville risks getting told off himself to warn him. He is hurt when he thinks that his friends have tricked him too. Harry thinks, “Poor, blundering Neville—Harry knew what it must have cost him to try and find them in the dark, to warn them” (194). Neville gradually gets braver throughout the novel, even standing up to his friends when needed. He tries to stop the trio from going to get the Sorcerer’s Stone, insisting, “I don’t think you should be breaking any more rules! And you were the one who told me to stand up to people!” (218). Though Neville is terrified, he is prepared to fight his friends. Dumbledore acknowledges his bravery, announcing, “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends” (247). As a result, Neville, the boy initially too cowardly for Gryffindor, is the reason why his house wins the cup. 

Fred and George Weasley are Ron’s older brothers. They are also Gryffindors and play on the Quidditch team with Harry. They are the class clowns at Hogwarts, playing pranks on their classmates and teachers alike. They have an ongoing joke with their parents where they pretend to be each other. They give Harry a toilet seat at the novel’s end as a gag gift.

James and Lily Potter are Harry’s deceased parents. The Potters were both Gryffindors and were vital in the battle against Voldemort. Harry sees them for the first time in the Mirror of Erised. Lily Potter has “dark red hair and her eyes,” with eyes just like Harry’s, “bright green” and “exactly the same shape” (166). James is described as “tall, thin, black-haired,” just as unruly and untidy as Harry’s (166). He also wears “glasses,” just like Harry (166). Harry knows next to nothing about his parents and grew up believing that they were killed in a car crash. At the age of 11, “Harry was looking at his family, for the first time in his life” (166). Little information about James and Lily Potter is provided, but Harry slowly learns more about them throughout the series.