Harry Potter, #1
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
by J.K. Rowling
Contents
Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback
Overview
Harry, Ron, and Hermione discover Hagrid has illegally obtained a dragon egg and watch Norbert hatch. As Norbert grows and Malfoy learns the secret, the trio arrange for Charlie Weasley’s friends to take the dragon away. Though Malfoy is caught, Harry and Hermione are seized by Filch after forgetting the Invisibility Cloak.
Summary
As exams loom, Hermione drives heavy studying while Harry and Ron worry about the Sorcerer’s Stone and watch Quirrell grow paler. Spotting Hagrid researching dragons, they visit his hut and coax out that multiple teachers—Sprout, Flitwick, McGonagall, Quirrell, Snape—and Dumbledore set protections around the Stone. They then discover Hagrid has a dragon’s egg he won in a card game.
Hagrid keeps the egg in his fire until it hatches into a Norwegian Ridgeback, which he adoringly names Norbert. Malfoy spies on the scene, raising the risk that Hagrid will be exposed. Norbert rapidly grows, wrecking Hagrid’s duties and surroundings, while Hagrid refuses to release him.
Harry proposes sending Norbert to Ron’s brother Charlie in Romania. Charlie’s letter offers a pickup from the tallest tower at midnight, but Ron is bitten by Norbert and hospitalized; Malfoy steals the book containing Charlie’s letter, likely learning the plan. With no time to change it, Harry and Hermione decide to proceed under the Invisibility Cloak.
On Saturday night, they haul the crated Norbert to the tower. En route, Professor McGonagall catches Malfoy out of bed and punishes him, dismissing his claims about a dragon. Charlie’s friends arrive on broomsticks, strap Norbert in, and fly off with him, ending the immediate danger.
Relieved, Harry and Hermione descend—only to find Filch waiting. They realize they left the Invisibility Cloak atop the tower, and Filch prepares to punish them for being out of bounds.
Who Appears
- HagridGamekeeper who secretly hatches an illegal Norwegian Ridgeback and dotes on it, risking exposure.
- Harry PotterHelps uncover Hagrid’s dragon, devises plan to send Norbert to Charlie, and is caught by Filch.
- Hermione GrangerObsessed with exam prep; coaxes Hagrid’s secrets; helps transport Norbert; celebrates Malfoy’s detention.
- Ron WeasleyIdentifies dragon laws; contacts Charlie; bitten by Norbert and hospitalized; worries Malfoy knows the plan.
- Draco MalfoySpies on Norbert, steals Ron’s book with the plan, but is caught and punished by McGonagall.
- Professor McGonagallIntercepts Malfoy at night, gives detention and point loss, dismisses his dragon claims.
- Argus FilchCaretaker who catches Harry and Hermione returning from the tower without the Invisibility Cloak.
- NorbertNewly hatched Norwegian Ridgeback; grows fast, bites Ron, and is flown to Romania.
- Professor QuirrellAppears pale and strained; listed among teachers who protected the Stone.