By: J.K. Rowling
*Fantasy
“We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry”
Happy 11th Birthday to poor, unliked Harry Potter. Orphaned as a baby after his parents died, given to his Aunt Patunia and Uncle Vernon, tucked away under the stairs and forced to wear hand-me-downs from his “bigger” cousin Dudley. Harry Potter is a nobody, a nothing, a misfit to say the least. No one expects anything from him… Until he turns 11! In a magical wizarding world, when you turn 11, you get invited to a magical school full of witches and wizards to learn the arts of magic. Harry, to Uncle Vernon’s dismay, receives his letter after many attempts to keep his wizard life a secret. The Dursleys HATE magic. Aunt Patunia is a muggle (non magical folk), while her sister, Harry’s mom, was a powerful witch. Patunia Hates anything magical. However thanks to a half giant named Hagrid, Harry is able to get his ticket to the Hargwarts Express to go to school. On his way he befriends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. As they all get sorted into their houses by the sorting hat, Harry gets his first glimpse of Severus Snape. Not someone to run into in the dark. It is known that Snape wants to be the dark arts teacher but is teaching positions for now. He also meets professor Quirrell along the way. Harry was told by Hagrid about how his parents died fighting He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named (Lord Voldemort), but somehow when Voldemort went to kill Harry his spell rebounded and killed himself. However some people say he will rise again! This book follows Harry in his first year at Hogwarts. The friends and enemies he makes along the way and the sport he learns to love, Quidditch, as he becomes the youngest seeker in Hogwarts history. Unfortunately, Hargwarts has a secret hidden under the castle. Who would be brave enough to steal it and can Harry and his friends face the magical enchantments protecting it to save the day. Who will he come against and how will he ever get out of trouble.
****SPOILERS****
Now that summer at the Dursleys is over it is time for Harry’s second year at Hogwarts. A magical place he has learned to call home. Harry was visited by a house elf named Dobby, who came to visit him during the summer warning Harry not to come to school this year because of “impending danger”. For Harry’s 12th birthday, Ron and the Weasley twins Fred and George rescue him form the Dursley’s who had locked up hedwig and put bars on Harry’s windows. On his way to Platform 9 3/4 with the Weasley family, everyone is allowed through besides Ron and Harry, leaving the only “reasonable” thing to do but FLY Rons father’s enchanted car to Hogwarts. Of course muggles are not allowed to know about or see magic! Harry meets up with Hermione at Diagon Alley and meets their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Gilderoy Lockhart. A notable wizard and author of many books about himself defeating different dark magical creatures. When Harry finally makes it to Hogwarts he comes to learn that there is a dark presence about the school. A rumor that a “Chamber of Secrets” has been opened after 50’s years leaves everyone on edge. Claiming whatever lies within will kill all half bloods. Harry learns that he is a parselmouth and becomes the lead suspect in who ever can open the hidden chamber and release this dark creature. It doesn’t help that Harry is the only person who can hear this creature and hears when it is trying to kill. When Ginny is taken by the monster into the chamber Harry and Ron team up with Lockheart, who seems to be on edge. Will The trio find Ginny and will they be to late. What is the fate of Hogwarts and why does it seem Harry must save the day again.
****SPOILERS****
It has been another dreadful summer with the Dursleys. Although he has now been moved to Dudley’s second bedroom, Harry still wishes to be at Hogwarts. When Uncle Vernon’s sister arrives, Harry is made to serve dinner and drinks to the family. During this time Marge has horrible things to say about Harry’s parents. This enrages Harry and he magically inflates Marge and she goes flying out of the doors. Harry quickly grabs his things and runs out of the house. Harry takes the night bus to The Leaky Cauldron, and there Ron and Hermione tell him about Sirius Black. A proud supporter of Voldemort! Harry comes face to face with a Dementor, one of Azkaban’s guards. He then meets his new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher professor Lupin and sees his first Patronus Charm. When they get to Hogwarts, they learn that Hagrid is the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher. In Hagrid’s first class he shows off Buckbeak. However Malfoy, being his normal self, provokes Buckbeak and gets scratched. Harry finds out news about Sirius that makes him wish he was dead. What will Harry do to make sure he kills Sirius, and how far will he go to save him? How does Hermione make it to all her classes and why does Crookshanks want to kill Ron’s rat Scabbers so much? What will happen to Buckbeak and Sirius? Will there be enough Time?
****SPOILERS****
This book opens with Harry Potter Having a nightmare about Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew and an unnamed man killing a caretaker at the Riddle House. When he is woken up, it is time to head to the Quidditch world Cup with Hermione and the Weasley family. The Twins of course have an ulterior motive, and a way to get some money. This is where you meet Viktor Krum, the Seeker for the Bulgarian Quidditch team, and student for Durmstrang Wizard school. After the World Cup, everyone is celebrating. That night Death Eaters attack the camp grounds and everyone flees. Harry is separated from the group and sees the unnamed man from his dreams produce the “Dark Mark” and is questioned by a Ministry of Magic official. When the gang returns to Hogwarts for their forth year, they learn that They will be the hosts of the Triwizard Tournament. A competition between 3 magical schools. The new rule this year leads to upset as they announce that you must be 17 to enter the tournament. Ron is very disappointed as they are only 14. The Goblet of Fire chooses one participant from each school. As the schools celebrate their “Champions”, the goblet spits out Harry’s name, thus binding him to a magical contract to participate. Ron, sides with the rest of the school believing Harry cheated and avoided Harry all together. As the Tasks begin, Ron realizes that Harry must be mad to have entered himself into the tournament. Harry fights through the Tasks with a little help from Professor Alastor Moody, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year, As he was told to keep an eye on him by Professor Dumbledore. How many tasks will Harry and the Champions face and how will he survive these life or death trials alone. Who is this unnamed man from Harry’s dream and what does he have to do with anything. Who will make new friends and fight their enemies. Where Do Harry, Ron and Hermione go from here?
