Harry was guided further to his destiny on 1 September, 1991, when he was dropped off by the Dursleys

King's Cross Station. Vernon helped Harry wheel his things to the platforms and left laughing about how
Platform Nine and Three-Quarters hadn't been built yet. The family then drove off leaving Harry at the
busy station all alone. With only ten minutes left until the train's departure at eleven a.m., Harry was
panicking when he overheard a red-headed family complaining about the station being packed with
Muggles and he noticed they had an owl with their belongings.

Harry-potter1-platform

Harry meets the Weasleys for the first time while at King's Cross Station

Harry watched as the older boys magically passed through the barrier between platforms nine and ten.
Harry nervously interrupted them and was introduced to the youngest son Ron, who was starting his
first year as well. Molly (Ron's mother) kindly gave him instructions on how to board the platform. Harry
quickly ran through the barrier, followed by Ron, and arrived on the Platform, catching his first sight of
the Hogwarts Express. As most of the compartments were full, Harry pushed his things to near the end
of the train, and with some help from twins from the red-headed family, was able to get his things
aboard.[78]

While helping, the twins noticed his scar and recognised that he must be Harry Potter. While Harry sat
near the window in his compartment watching the family, the twins Fred Weasley and George reported
this discovery to the amazement of their little sister Ginny and their older brother Percy who was a
Prefect and had already changed into his robes. After boarding, the train soon departed and Ron asked if
he could sit with Harry, who agreed. Ron asked Harry about his scar, and Harry asked if Ron's whole
family were wizards, which they are except for his mother’s second cousin, who was an accountant.
When the Trolley witch came by around half-past twelve, Harry bought some of all the treats from the
cart and shared them with Ron.

Trio meet

The trio meet for the first time aboard the Hogwarts Express

Neville Longbottom soon came by searching for his lost toad, Trevor. While Ron was attempting a magic
spell to change his rat Scabbers, Hermione Granger interrupted trying to help find Trevor. After Ron's
spell failed, Hermione introduced herself and upon learning Harry's name, informed him that he was in
several books on magical history. While speculating which house they might be in, Harry and Ron were
interrupted by Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle. Although Draco attempted to
ingratiate himself, Harry refused to shake his hand after he insulted Ron and his family. When Goyle
attempted to take some of their Chocolate Frog Cards, Scabbers bit his finger and helped drive them off.
Ron afterwards explained that the Malfoy family were on Voldemort's side, but came back saying they
had been bewitched, although his father didn't believe it.[78]
Upon arriving, Hagrid gathered all the first years together and they followed a path down to the edge of
a Great Lake. In groups of no more than four, they climbed aboard a little fleet of small boats, and sailed
across the lake to an underground harbour. Helping to remind Neville to take his toad, Hagrid took them
up a passageway to the gates of the castle.[78]

The Sorting ceremony

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

—Harry's choice to be Sorted into Gryffindor[src]

The new students were greeted at the castle door by Professor Minerva McGonagall, who explained the
four houses of Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, as well as the rules of the
House Cup. McGonagall led the first years into a small room off the Entrance Hall and told them to wait
until she returned. When she did, they were led into the Great Hall, where they were greeted by the rest
of the students, and more importantly, a shabby wizard's hat on a small stool.

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Harry Potter being Sorted during the Start-of-Term Feast

Harry was particularly anxious, as he did not feel that any of the Houses as they were described in the
Hat's song were right for him. Harry noted that Draco Malfoy, whom Harry had met in Diagon Alley, was
instantly placed in Slytherin, and remembered what Hagrid and Ron had told him about Slytherin's
reputation for turning out Dark Wizards, and that Voldemort had been in Slytherin. When Harry put on
the Hat, it slipped down past his eyes, and the hat told him that he "would do well in Slytherin". Thinking
of Voldemort, Harry desperately repeated the phrase "not Slytherin". The Hat heeded Harry's request
and placed Harry in Gryffindor along with Ron and Hermione Granger. In his second year during a visit to
Dumbledore's office, the Sorting Hat re-emphasized the idea that Harry "would do well in Slytherin".

The Sorting Ceremony was followed by the Welcoming Feast. Harry, who had never been allowed to eat
as much as he wanted, was overwhelmed by the sheer variety of foods in front of him. Dessert arrived,
and talk turned to the first years' families. Neville Longbottom told the others how his family thought he
was a Squib until his Great-Uncle accidentally dropped him out of a window, and he bounced.

HP1-1294

Harry's scar hurts during his Sorting ceremony when he makes eye contact with Severus Snape
It was during the Feast that Harry's scar hurt for the first time: Harry was looking up at the staff table at
Professor Quirrell when the hook-nosed teacher Quirrell was talking to looked past Quirrell at Harry,
who immediately felt a sharp pain in his scar. This is because Lord Voldemort was inhabiting Quirrell's
body as anytime Voldemort is near Harry's scar hurt. After the last morsels melted from the golden
plates and goblets, Dumbledore gave a speech welcoming the new students to the school and the old
students back. He added a few warnings about staying away from the Forbidden Forest, and avoiding
the third-floor corridor before leading the school in singing the School Song and sending everyone off to
their dormitories.

First years lessons/classes

Severus Snape: "What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

Harry: "I don't know. I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?"

Severus Snape: "...And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter"

— From this first interaction Harry deduces Snape's hatred of him[src]

In his first ever Potions class, Harry discovered that Professor Snape hated him, mocking him as the
school's "new celebrity" before teaching the class how to brew a Boil-Cure Potion. Harry and Ron went
down to Hagrid’s hut for tea, where they met Hagrid's huge and fierce-looking dog, Fang. Hagrid told
Harry that he was overreacting to Snape’s treatment, asserting that he would have no reason to hate
him. Hagrid and Ron began to talk about Ron's brother older Charlie Weasley. While they were talking,
Harry picked up a cutting from the Daily Prophet that was lying on the table. The article detailed a
break-in that occurred on Harry's birthday at Gringotts. The vault that was broken into was number 713,
the same vault Hagrid visited with Harry on their trip to Diagon Alley.

Flying class in 1991

Flying class

One of the things Harry had been looking forward to was learning to fly until he found out that the
Gryffindors would be taking flying lessons with the Slytherins. Malfoy had been bragging about his skill
to anyone who would listen. Madam Rolanda Hooch taught the class by starting with basic broom
control. After learning the theory, the students were told to hover gently off the ground on Madam
Hooch's go-ahead. Neville, terrified of being left behind, panicked and kicked off before anyone else,
rising fifty feet in the air before falling off and breaking his wrist. Madam Hooch took Neville to the
Hospital Wing after warning the other students to stay on the ground until she got back.

Draco Malfoy nicked Neville's Remembrall from off the ground and was told to give it to Harry, jeering
that he'd leave it "up a tree" unless Harry stopped him and took off on his broom. Harry mounted his
broom and kicked off after him. As much to his surprise as everyone else's, he discovered that he could
not only fly, but that it was something he didn't need to be taught. Bending low on the broom handle,
he shot toward Draco, who realised that Harry was a better flyer and threw the Remembrall into the air,
daring the famous boy to catch it. Harry raced the ball towards the ground, catching it and coming out of
his dive a foot from the ground. He toppled lightly onto the grass amidst the cheers of the Gryffindors,
grinning wildly.

Harry-potter1-seeker harry

Harry becomes the new Gryffindor Seeker

His euphoria did not last long however, as Professor McGonagall quickly arrived on the scene. Having
seen the dive, she ordered Harry to follow her. Harry, expecting punishment, was instead introduced to
Oliver Wood, whom she pulled out of a Charms class. Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Wood's
confusion at being introduced to a first year quickly turned to excitement and ecstasy upon hearing
McGonagall recount the dive. He told her that Harry would need a decent broom if they were to
compete, and explained to Harry that he would make an excellent Seeker, perhaps rivalling the
legendary Charlie Weasley.

The Midnight Duel

Harry: "You're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground and you've got your little friends with
you."

Draco Malfoy: "I'd take you on anytime on my own. Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only —
no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel before, I suppose?"

— Malfoy challenging Harry to a one-on-one duel[src]

Harry told Ron about everything that happened after he left with McGonagall over dinner that night, but
warned him that Wood wanted to keep it a secret. Much calmer on the ground, and with his cronies
Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle flanking him, Draco came over to taunt Harry about getting in trouble
earlier. Enraged that Harry not only escaped trouble, but was instead rewarded, he challenged Harry to
a wizard’s duel. In spite of Hermione’s attempt to dissuade them from breaking the school rules, (or
perhaps because of it), Harry accepted the challenge.

Trio third floor

The trio trespassing in the restricted third-floor corridor

As they left the tower, the trio found Neville (whose wrist had been fixed by Madam Pomfrey) waiting
outside, having forgotten the password. Neville decided to go with them and the four arrived at the
Trophy Room (the site of the duel), but Malfoy was nowhere to be found. They speculated that he may
have chickened out and were deciding what to do next when they heard the school caretaker Argus Filch
and his cat, Mrs Norris, enter the room. Realising that Draco tricked them and told Filch their location,
they attempted to quietly exit the room. A nearby doorknob rattled and Peeves, Hogwarts' resident
poltergeist, burst into the hallway, threatening to expose them.[79]

Fluffy PM B1C9M3 ForbiddenCorridorFluffy Moment

The trio encounter Fluffy a three-headed dog guarding a trap door

Growing desperate, Ron took a swipe at Peeves, who began to bellow their whereabouts as loud as he
could, attracting Filch. The four kids ran right to the end of the corridor, where they found themselves
stopped by a locked door, which Hermione opened with the Unlocking Charm using Harry's wand. They
hurried inside, thinking themselves out of danger until turning around and coming face-to-face with a
monstrous sight: a giant three-headed dog. Choosing Filch over death, the children ran for it, somehow
managing to get back to their dormitory without running into anyone along the way. Though shaken by
the night’s events, Harry’s interest in exploring was piqued by Hermione’s pointing out that the dog was
standing on a trapdoor.

The Nimbus 2000

"Wood — I've found you a Seeker. The boy's a natural. I've never seen anything like it. Was that your
first time on a broomstick, Potter?"

—Harry becomes Gryffindor's new Seeker[src]

Broomstick PS

Harry receives a Nimbus 2000, a gift from Professor McGonagall

Over breakfast the next morning, Harry and Ron were discussing what Fluffy could be guarding when the
mail arrived. Harry, who had received no mail apart from Hagrid’s letter, was intrigued as everyone else
by the long, oddly-shaped package in the mail that morning, and was even more surprised than the
others when he discovered what was inside: a Nimbus 2000, and with a note from Professor McGonagall
warning him not to open the package at the table and that he was to meet Wood that night for
Quidditch practise. Taking the broom up to their dormitory, Harry and Ron were stopped by Malfoy,
who seized the package and told Harry that first-year students are not allowed their own brooms. When
Professor Flitwick walked up to them, he tried to report Harry, but Flitwick, who had been told of Harry’s
special permission, just expressed admiration for Harry’s talent.

Hallowe'en
"But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. There are some things you can't
share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of
them."

—Harry and Ron form a friendship with Hermione[src]

Harry-potter1-harry seamus charm lesson

A Hallowe'en lesson on the Levitation Charm

On Hallowe'en, Professor Flitwick began teaching his students how to perform the Levitation Charm.
Only Hermione succeeded; Ron, offended by her air of superiority, later made a nasty comment that she
overheard. The comment was about her lack of friends, causing her to run off to lock herself in the girl's
bathroom in tears and making him and Harry feel slightly guilty. When the two went down to the
Hallowe'en feast later, their guilt was forgotten amidst the splendour of the decorations.

Partway into the feast, Quirrell arrived to announce that there was a twelve-foot mountain troll in the
dungeons before fainting where he stood. The prefects led the students back to their dorms, but Harry
realised that Hermione did not know about the troll and convinced Ron to help save her, since they
were responsible. They snuck off to the girl’s bathroom to warn Hermione, locking the troll inside.
However, they didn't realise their mistake until they heard Hermione's terrified scream emanate from
the bathroom. A horrified Harry and Ron ran back into the bathroom to rescue her. After a brief
skirmish, during which Harry stuck his wand up the trolls nose. Ron finally knocked the troll out, by
levitating the troll's own club to smash into it' head.

B1C10M3 Troll in First-Floor Girls' Toilets

The mountain troll in the bathroom, where Hermione is hiding

The teachers arrived, attracted by the troll’s yells, to find Harry, Ron, and Hermione covered in dust, and
the bathroom in disarray. Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor, began scolding the boys for not
going straight to their dormitories with the rest of their house, but instead putting themselves in grave
danger. Much to Harry and Ron’s surprise, Hermione lied to McGonagall and told her that she had gone
looking for the troll, as she thought she could handle them. She claimed that Harry and Ron were
looking for her, (which was true), and she would most likely be dead if the boys had failed to rescue her
(also true). The three bonded over the shared experience, and were friends thereafter.

Quidditch

Harry: "I've got the Snitch!"

Marcus Flint: "He didn't catch it, he nearly swallowed it!"

— Harry catches the Golden Snitch with his mouth[src]

As the Quidditch season began Harry became increasingly nervous. The first match of the season was
against Slytherin. Harry was under increasing pressure to show that he was not just a famous name. In
an attempt to calm his nerves, Harry borrowed a book entitled Quidditch Through the Ages. A book that
was comprehensive history of the sport, that Hermione most have checked put from the library. During
break the day before the match, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were huddled together around a jar of
flames, which had been conjured by Hermione, to keep warm.

Harry-potter1-snape limp

Harry notices the blood on Snape's robes and a slight limp when he walks

Snape noticed their guilty faces, and looking for a reason to punish them, confiscated Harry’s book on
the feeble pretext that library books were not be taken outside. Harry noticed that Snape was limping,
as though his leg was injured, strengthening his suspicions that the Potions Master was after whatever it
was that Fluffy was guarding. Nervous about the next day's match, Harry decided to ask Snape for the
book back; realising that he would most likely be in the staffroom and that it would be harder for Snape
to bully him if there were other teachers around, Harry decided to confront him. Approaching the door,
Harry overheard Snape complaining to Filch about Fluffy. After opening the door Harry saw Filch helping
Snape to bandage his leg. He returned to the Common Room and then told his two friends everything he
had seen.

Main article: Gryffindor vs Slytherin Quidditch match (1991)

B1C11M2 Gryffindor vs Slytherin Quidditch match

Harry playing in his first Quidditch match against Slytherin

Harry had little time to dwell on Snape’s injury as the first Quidditch match began the very next
morning. Harry's job as being the Gryffindor Seeker was to catch the Golden Snitch. The snitch is a
walnut-sized gold ball, that is extremely fast and difficult to see. The entire match rested upon the
retrival of the Snitch. Harry’s first attempt to catch the Snitch was foiled when the Slytherin Seeker
blatched him. Though the Seeker was penalised, the move succeeded in stopping Harry from getting to
the Snitch.

Soon after, Harry’s broom began bucking uncontrollably as if trying to unseat him. The bucking became
even more violent with each passing second, until Harry was hanging from the broom with just one
hand. The crowd looked on with horror, some of the professors had their wands at the ready should he
fall. Ron and Hermione began to wonder if the other was at fault. That is until Hagrid, who had arrived
to watch the game, noted that it would take powerful dark magic to make a broomstick so hard to
manage. Magic that powerful is well above the level of a second year and therefore had to be cases by a
qualified wizard. This announcement did nothing to help the worried friends.

Harry catches the snitch

Harry catches the Snitch and wins the opening match against Slytherin

Hermione, who had turned her gaze away from Harry, and was scanning the stands, noticed that Snape
was staring unblinkingly at Harry and muttering nonstop under his breath. Thinking quickly, Hermione
took advantage of the fact that everyone’s attention was now focused on Harry (and the Weasley twins’
attempts to rescue him) to run around the entire stadium, knocking over Professor Quirrell, and ending
up behind Snape. Muttering a few "well-chosen words" Hermione lit Snape’s robes on fire with Bluebell
Flames; a yell of shock told her she had done her job and she scooped the fire into a jar. Suddenly, up in
the air, the spell on Harry’s broomstick was broken and he was once again able to control his broom.
The spectators watched in confusion as Harry dove towards the ground, only to clasp his hand to his
mouth as if he was being violently sick the instant he landed. In actuality Harry had caught the Snitch in
his mouth. His capture of the Snitch ended the match, thus Gryffindor won.

B1C14M1 Trio in the Hogwarts Library

The trio searching for information on Flamel in the Hogwarts Library

After the match, Hagrid took the three back to his hut. Ron and Hermione told Harry and Hagrid about
what was happening on the other side of the stands, and how Snape was cursing his broomstick. Hagrid,
however, did not believe them, asking why Snape would try to kill Harry; Harry told Hagrid about Snape
being bitten by the dog in the third-floor corridor. Hagrid, surprised by their knowledge, involuntarily
revealed that the dog belonged to him, and that what the dog was guarding did not concern them, as it
was a secret known only to Albus Dumbledore and a man named Nicolas Flamel.

Christmas season

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that."

—Albus Dumbledore warning Harry about the Mirror[src]

Impressed as they were with the fact that Harry had managed to hold onto a bucking broomstick,
Malfoy soon found that the rest of the school no longer found his taunts that Harry was to be replaced
amusing, and so reverted to teasing Harry about having to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays. Harry,
however, was looking forward to spending Christmas away from the Dursleys, especially in light of the
fact that Ron was also staying at Hogwarts, but also because it would give them some time to look up
Nicolas Flamel; they were certain that the librarian would be able to find a book on Flamel in an instant,
but were worried that it might be suspicious, and were thus forced to search for themselves.

Tumblr mqmdbxW40G1qag66no4 250

Harry receives his father's Cloak of Invisibility as a Christmas gift

On Christmas day, Harry and Ron awoke to a pile of presents each at the foot of their beds. At the
bottom of the pile, he found a package containing an Invisibility Cloak and an anonymous note telling
him only that the cloak once belonged to his father, and to "use it well". That night Harry, thoughts on
the Cloak and decided to try it out. Realising he could go anywhere, he snuck back to the library and
headed straight for the Restricted Section. Knowing he had to start somewhere, Harry pulled down one
of the heavier books, and let it fall open on his knee. To his shock and horror, the silence was rent by a
blood-curdling scream that issued from the book in front of him. He stuffed the book back in its place
and ran for the door, knocking over the lantern he brought with him in his haste. Ducking under Filch’s
outstretched arms, Harry ran down the dark corridors, away from the library, and away from Filch.

Thinking he had escaped, Harry was scared to hear Filch’s voice approaching, and horrified when he
realised who Filch was talking to: Snape. As Snape and Filch rounded the corner, Harry realised that
although his father’s cloak made him invisible, it did not stop him from being solid, and that he had no
chance of sneaking past them, as the corridor was particularly narrow. Thinking quickly, (and panicking
slightly), Harry noticed a door to his left; slipping inside, he found himself in an abandoned classroom.
After Filch and Snape passed his hiding place, Harry relaxed and took in more details about the room he
was in.

MirrorOfErised PM

Harry standing in front of the Mirror of Erised

In doing so, he noticed something he had missed the first time: an old, gilded mirror bearing the
inscription “Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi”. Stepping in front of the mirror, Harry very
nearly cried out in shock: inside the mirror he saw a large crowd of people standing behind him.
Shocked, Harry turned around to look at the room, but saw no one there. Turning back to the mirror and
looking more closely, Harry realised that the man and woman in the front looked oddly like him. The
man looked just like him, from his untidy hair to his glasses, and the woman, Harry saw, had the same
eyes he had. Understanding, Harry focused on other members of the crowd, and saw others who had his
untidy hair, his eyes, and even an old man who had Harry’s knees; Harry was looking at his family, for
the first time in his life.
The next night, Harry brought Ron with him to the mirror room. Ron did not see Harry’s family in the
mirror, but instead saw himself standing alone, tall, holding the House Cup, wearing badges indicating
he was Head Boy and Quidditch Captain. The two began arguing over who would be allowed to look in
the mirror; Mrs Norris, Filch’s prowling cat, entered the room, attracted by the sounds of their
argument. The next day, Ron, worried about being caught and about his friend’s obsession with the
mirror, warned Harry not to return; Harry, however, was not to be dissuaded.

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Dumbledore advising Harry from seeking out the mirror again

Going to the room that evening, Harry was ready to stay there all night, staring at the family he lost.
However, in his haste, he failed to notice Professor Dumbledore standing by the door until after he
removed his cloak. Dumbledore, who had been waiting for Harry, explained that the mirror, which was
known as the “Mirror of Erised”, displayed the deepest, most desperate desire of whomever looked into
it. Harry, who had never known his family, saw them standing around him; Ron, ever overshadowed by
his older brothers, saw himself standing alone, the best of them all.

Before sending Harry back to bed, however, Dumbledore warned him that the mirror was and a
dangerous object; men had been driven mad by what they saw in the mirror, not knowing if what they
saw was real, or even possible. He told Harry that the mirror was to be moved to a new location, and
warned Harry to not go looking for it. Before he left, Harry asked the headmaster what he saw in the
mirror. Much to his surprise, Dumbledore told Harry that he saw himself with a pair of woollen socks.
Despite his promise to Dumbledore, Harry found it difficult to forget the image of his parents, until
Wood told the team that Snape would be refereeing the next Quidditch match against Hufflepuff.

Neville got a Leg-Locker Curse (1991)

Harry cheers Neville up after the latter was bullied by Draco Malfoy

Shortly before the match, Malfoy, ever eager to pick on Neville, used the Leg-Locker Curse on Neville,
forcing him to bunny hop his way back to the Common Room. Harry told Neville he was "worth twelve
of Malfoy" and gave him a Chocolate Frog. Thanking Harry, Neville handed the card back to Harry for his
collection. Looking down, Harry noted it was Dumbledore's card, the first he ever got. He turned the
card over and suddenly remembered where he read the name Nicolas Flamel before: on the train on the
way to school.