Harry Potter, #1
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
by J.K. Rowling
Contents
The Midnight Duel
Overview
Harry’s natural flying talent emerges when he recovers Neville’s Remembrall, leading Professor McGonagall to recruit him as Gryffindor’s Seeker. Draco Malfoy’s baited midnight duel draws Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville into danger with Filch and Peeves, culminating in the discovery of a three-headed dog guarding a trapdoor, hinting at a protected secret within Hogwarts.
Summary
News that Gryffindor and Slytherin will share flying lessons puts Harry on edge about showing weakness before Draco Malfoy. At breakfast, Neville receives a Remembrall, which Malfoy later snatches. During their first flying class, Neville panics, falls, and breaks his wrist; after Madam Hooch escorts him away, Malfoy taunts the Gryffindors with the Remembrall.
Provoked, Harry takes off against instructions, demonstrating instinctive control and executing a steep dive to catch the Remembrall. Professor McGonagall intercepts Harry and, instead of expelling him, introduces him to Oliver Wood and appoints him Gryffindor Seeker, planning to bend the first-year rule. Harry learns his father was an excellent Quidditch player and begins to grasp his own aptitude.
At dinner, Ron and the Weasley twins celebrate the news, but Malfoy challenges Harry to a midnight wizard’s duel, clearly intending a trap. Hermione warns them not to go, yet ends up locked out of the common room and reluctantly joins Harry and Ron; Neville, stranded without the password, tags along.
At the trophy room, instead of Malfoy, the group encounters Filch and Mrs. Norris, confirming the setup. They flee through corridors and a hidden passage, only to be betrayed by Peeves, then narrowly escape Filch when Hermione unlocks a door with “Alohomora.”
Inside, they realize they have entered the forbidden third-floor corridor and confront a gigantic three-headed dog. Choosing Filch over the beast, they slam the door and sprint back to safety. Later, Hermione points out the dog was guarding a trapdoor, and Harry connects this protection to Hagrid’s Gringotts withdrawal, suspecting the hidden package is now at Hogwarts.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterShows exceptional flying skill, becomes Gryffindor Seeker, and later discovers the three-headed dog guarding a trapdoor.
- Ron WeasleySupports Harry, agrees to be his second for the duel, helps evade Filch, and processes Hermione’s clue.
- Hermione GrangerWarns against breaking rules, joins unwillingly, unlocks a door with Alohomora, deduces the dog guards a trapdoor.
- Draco MalfoySteals Neville’s Remembrall, baits Harry into flying, and sets a fake midnight duel to sic Filch on them.
- Neville LongbottomFalls and breaks his wrist in flying class; later, lost and scared, he tags along during the midnight escapade.
- Professor McGonagallCatches Harry after his flight but recruits him as Seeker, arranging to bend the first-year rule.
- Madam HoochLeads first flying lesson; takes injured Neville to the hospital wing and orders others to stay grounded.
- Argus FilchResponds to a tip, hunts the students at night with Mrs. Norris through the corridors.
- PeevesPoltergeist who exposes the students’ presence, shouting to alert Filch.
- Oliver WoodGryffindor Quidditch captain who eagerly accepts Harry as the team’s new Seeker.
- Vincent Crabbe and Gregory GoyleMalfoy’s hulking companions who back his bullying and appear during the fake duel setup.
- Parvati PatilDefends Neville after Malfoy mocks him during flying class.
- Pansy ParkinsonMocks Neville and taunts Parvati while siding with Malfoy.