The story opens with the conspicuous
celebration of a normally secretive wizarding world. For many years,
it had been terrorised by the evil wizard, Lord Voldemort. The previous
night, on 31 October, Voldemort discovers the Potter family's hidden
refuge, killing Lily and James Potter. However, when he attempts to
murder their infant son, Harry, the Avada Kedavra killing curse he casts
rebounds upon him. Voldemort's body is destroyed, but his spirit survives:
he is neither dead nor alive. Meanwhile, the orphaned Harry is left
with a distinctive lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead, the only
physical sign of Voldemort's curse. Harry is the only known survivor
of the killing curse, and Voldemort's mysterious defeat causes the wizarding
community to dub Harry "The Boy Who Lived".
On November 1, Hagrid, a 'half-giant', delivers Harry to his only living
relatives, the cruel and magic-phobic Dursleys, comprising Uncle Vernon,
a bad-tempered uncle with hardly any neck; Aunt Petunia, a long-necked
woman who appears to absolutely loathe Harry; and Dudley, their spoiled,
overweight son. They attempt in vain to rid him of his magical powers,
hide his magical heritage, and severely punish him after any strange
occurrences.
However, as his eleventh birthday approaches, Harry has his first contact
with the magical world when he receives letters from Hogwarts School
of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which are delivered by owls. However, his
uncle intercepts the letters. On his birthday, Hagrid, Hogwarts' gamekeeper,
appears and informs Harry that he is a wizard and has been invited to
attend the school. Each book chronicles one year in Harry's life, which
is mostly spent at Hogwarts. There he learns to use magic and brew potions.
Harry also learns to overcome many magical, social, and emotional hurdles
as he struggles through his adolescence, Voldemort's second rise to
power, and the Ministry of Magic's corruption and incompetence. After
facing many obstacles, making countless friends, and losing loved ones,
Harry Potter confronts the Dark Lord for the last time.
Series |
Date |
|
 |
Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer's Stone |
26 June 1997
|
 |
Harry Potter
and the Chamber of Secrets |
2 July 1998 |
 |
Harry Potter
and the Prisoner of Azkaban |
8 July 1999
|
 |
Harry Potter
and the Goblet of Fire |
8 July 2000
|
 |
Harry Potter
and the Order of the Phoenix |
21 June
2003 |
 |
Harry Potter
and the Half-Blood Prince |
16 July 2005
|
 |
Harry Potter
and the Deathly Hallows |
21 July 2007
|