Harry Potter, #1
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
by J.K. Rowling
Contents
Quidditch
Overview
As Harry readies for his first Quidditch match, he discovers Snape’s injured leg and suspects Snape tried to get past the three-headed dog. During the game, Harry’s broom is jinxed until Hermione disrupts Snape. Harry still wins by catching the Snitch. Later, Hagrid confirms the dog is his and inadvertently names Nicolas Flamel, deepening the mystery.
Summary
Cold November brings Harry’s first Quidditch match against Slytherin. While studying and training, Harry notices Snape limping and later glimpses Snape’s bloody, mauled leg in the staffroom as Snape mentions watching “all three heads,” confirming a link to the guarded trapdoor. Harry, Ron, and Hermione suspect Snape tried to pass the three-headed dog on Halloween.
On match day, Gryffindor takes an early lead as Harry follows Wood’s plan to stay clear until he spots the Snitch. Marcus Flint fouls Harry to stop his first dive. Soon after, Harry’s Nimbus 2000 begins violently bucking and carrying him upward, nearly unseating him, which Hagrid says only powerful Dark magic could cause.
Hermione scans the stands, sees Snape staring and muttering, and concludes he’s jinxing the broom. She fights through the crowd, accidentally toppling Professor Quirrell, then sets Snape’s robes ablaze with blue fire, breaking his concentration. Harry regains control, dives, and wins by catching—nearly swallowing—the Snitch, securing Gryffindor’s victory.
Afterward in Hagrid’s hut, Ron and Hermione insist Snape cursed the broom, but Hagrid refuses to believe Snape would harm a student. When Harry reveals they know about the three-headed dog, Hagrid slips, calling it Fluffy and admitting he lent it to Dumbledore, then accidentally mentions Nicolas Flamel before clamming up, leaving the trio with a new lead.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterGryffindor Seeker; suspects Snape after seeing his injured leg; survives a jinxed broom and wins the match.
- Hermione GrangerSupports Harry; identifies Snape’s muttering; sets his robes on fire to break the jinx; learns of Fluffy and Nicolas Flamel.
- Ron WeasleyBacks Harry’s suspicions of Snape; watches the match anxiously; debriefs with Hagrid afterward.
- Severus SnapeLimping and injured; caught tending a mauled leg; seen staring and muttering during the match; denies involvement indirectly.
- Rubeus HagridDefends Snape; reveals the three-headed dog is his (Fluffy); accidentally mentions Nicolas Flamel.
- Madam HoochReferees the match; penalizes Marcus Flint after his foul on Harry.
- Oliver WoodGryffindor Captain; sets strategy for Harry to avoid danger until spotting the Snitch.
- Marcus FlintSlytherin Captain; deliberately fouls Harry and scores amid chaos; protests Harry’s Snitch catch.
- Lee JordanMatch commentator; biased toward Gryffindor under McGonagall’s stern oversight.
- Professor McGonagallMonitors Lee Jordan’s commentary; present at the match.
- Fred WeasleyGryffindor Beater; protects teammates and tries to help Harry during the broom crisis.
- George WeasleyGryffindor Beater; bats Bludgers and attempts to assist Harry mid-air.
- Professor QuirrellKnocked forward by Hermione as she races to disrupt Snape.
- Argus FilchAssists Snape in bandaging his mauled leg in the staffroom.