When J.K. Rowling first wrote the Sorcerer's Stone was the first entry in the series, hitting bookshelves around the globe back in September 1998.
While Rowling's books are beloved, they still contain the odd mistake, sometimes revealing how the series changed, sometimes showing a lack of research, and sometimes just illuminating a detail that must have gone overlooked. Fans, of course, having combed the title over and over, have discovered many in the pages of the first Harry Potter book.
The Beginning
The Sorcerer's Stone starts off in 1981 and, unlike the movie, begins with Vernon Dursley. He spends the whole day having his feathers ruffled, noting the appearance of strange-dressing people around him and even overhearing the word Potter, something that strikes fear into him. After this, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, and Rubeus Hagrid all drop baby Harry off at the house of the family who despise both him and his parents, James and Lily.
It's claimed it's a dull, grey Tuesday. However, November 1 was actually a Sunday. It seems Rowling forgot this little detail and, while it's not a big deal, it's still an interesting detail nonetheless.
Dumbledore's Claim
Also in the first chapter of the novel, Dumbledore meets McGonagall outside Number 4 Privet Drive, relaying the news of Lily and James' death and revealing that he'll be leaving Harry with the last family he's got left - even if they're a rather horrible bunch of people.
While this happens, Dumbledore reveals he ed many parties on his way there. Yet he landed in the spot via Apparition, a direct mode of transport. Therefore, he wouldn't have encountered anybody at all. Maybe he was just dropping a hint that he and Minerva should get their drink on after their business is done?
The Winking Snake
In Chapter Two, The Vanishing Glass, Harry upsets the Dursleys by freeing a Boa Constrictor at London Zoo. Of course, he doesn't mean to do this, it kind of just happens. Afterward, the snake, who has been talking to the Boy Who Lived, winks at him and says thanks as he journeys back to his homeland of Brazil.
But Boa Constrictors can't wink, because snakes don't have eyelids. Fans completely get this is a fantasy story but, given this snake lived in the muggle world instead of being amongst the wizarding community, it's definitely worth pointing out.
Petunia And The Train
When Harry reveals to the Dursleys that his train to Hogwarts leaves from three family - Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley - are all seen laughing mockingly as they cruise away shortly after dropping him off. They only do this because they're going to London anyway to get Dudley's new tail removed.
However, fans of the source material will know that Petunia actually stepped foot on this platform during her youth. She was in tears as sister Lily left for Hogwarts, having been desperate to attend the school herself. It's possible she could have just been playing along but the way she reacted suggests this wasn't the case, and Rowling did indeed make a slight mistake when it came to writing Deathly Hallows many years later.
Mrs. Weasley Asks About The Platform
Mrs. Weasley and her husband, Arthur, have seven children - with Charlie Weasley being the only character not to appear in the movies. So one would think that, by the time it gets to Ron, they'd what platform the Hogwarts Express leaves at.
It's always 11 am in the morning at Platform Nine And Three-Quarters and, barring when Dobby intervened, usually goes without a hitch. This is obviously just an oversight because she's actually pretty sharp. Getting all of them to be on time was always a nightmare, however, so that makes it understandable. She probably had a million things going through her mind at once.
Dumbledore And The Dormitries
On Halloween night in The Sorcerer's Stone, Hogwarts' celebrations are halted when Professor Quirrell runs into the Great Hall revealing there to be a troll in the dungeon - in one of the most memorable quotes from the movie. In the aftermath, Albus Dumbledore calls for calm. And the Hogwarts heaster also tells students to return to their dormitories, with Prefects responsible for escorting them to safety.
This, however, is a big mistake. As revealed in The Chamber of Secrets, the Slytherin dormitory is located in the dungeons - meaning Dumbledore would have been ordering for pupils to be put in harm's way. They'd have been much safer staying where they were, rather than being led towards such a formidable creature.
Charlie's Letter
In the first novel of the series, Harry, Ron, and Hermione write a letter to Charlie Weasley about Hagrid's new pet dragon, Norbert. They inform Ron's sibling that they'll need his help to get rid of the creature, which is in danger of burning the Hogwarts groundskeeper's hut to the ground. The trio then receives a letter back at midnight on a Wednesday when other students are asleep, making plans to take Norbert - who ends up being renamed Norberta - away.
But it's revealed earlier on that Astronomy classes take place at midnight on a Wednesday, meaning they were either playing truant or Rowling forgot about this. Other pupils wouldn't be asleep, either, if they had a class to attend.
Charlie Entering Hogwarts
As mentioned, in order to whisk Norbert/Norberta away, Charlie Weasley and his friends arrange to meet on the top of the Astronomy Tower itself. Once there, they swoop in on broomsticks and take the dragon to Romania where it can be with its own kind. But, later in the series, it's explained that no one can simply fly into the castle at their own leisure.
Albus Dumbledore does numerous enchantments in the Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes. Therefore, Charlie would have had to do the same - and he doesn't appear to do that in any way whatsoever. Of course, it's possible Dumbledore knew about the operation and took measures to make it as straightforward as possible. But, given fans don't have any truth, they don't know for sure.
Drinking The Potion
Omitted from The Sorcerer's Stone movie, the book of the same name contains an added quest before Harry's epic showdown with Professor Quirrell and Lord Voldemort. Harry and Hermione, after leaving Ron behind, walk into a room where there are seven potions - all of which do something different. One will send the drinker forward, another back. Some will poison whoever drinks it - and some will merely be wine.
With there being just one bottle to send them through, Harry goes forth. However, given Professor Quirrell was there beforehand, the duo would surely have found the vial to be empty by the time they got there, their Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher having beaten them to it. It's possible Quirrell would have left just enough behind but this seems unlikely given his sole mission was to get the stone - something that would have been far easier without Harry in the picture. Perhaps the potions refill periodically, but again, there is little clarity on this point, and if that were the case, Hermione could have eventually followed as well.
Dumbledore's Logic
Harry is surprised when he finds himself in possession of the stone during his confrontation with Quirrell. Albus Dumbledore later explains that the Mirror of Erised was only designed so that the person who wants the object but doesn't intend to use it, will be granted their wish. Clever, right?
Except, Quirrell didn't want the stone for himself. He didn't want to use it, rather, Lord Voldemort did. Of course, it would be reasonable to think that the teacher and the Dark Lord were counted as the same person given they shared the same body at the time. Yet given this is something fans don't have clarity on, it certainly deserves to make this list.
