Summary
- Harry's first year at Hogwarts sets the stage for major plot twists and revelations throughout the entire Harry Potter series.
- The seemingly insignificant moments and details in Philosopher's Stone foreshadow significant events and character developments in later books.
- Dumbledore's secrets and revelations, such as his possession of the Invisibility Cloak and his refusal to divulge certain information to Harry, hint at the complexities and hidden truths surrounding the wizarding world.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was full of moments that, though seemingly unimportant at the time, would significantly impact Harry's overall story. As the first installment in the iconic series, Philosopher's Stone was far more lighthearted than some books and movies that would follow. It was Harry and the audience's introduction to the wizarding world, but that isn't to say that the events of this first year at Hogwarts weren't important. In fact, some of the biggest plot twists of Harry Potter found their roots here.
By the end of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry still had no idea what adventures awaited him in the wizarding world. He would go on to defy Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters several more times, learn more about the mysteries surrounding the wizarding generations before him, and, unfortunately, experience the loss of even more loved ones. Plot twists from Snape's involvement in Lily Potter's life to Dumbledore's quest for the Deathly Hallows would blindside the Boy Who Lived. However, looking back to this first year of Harry Potter, there are several signs of these impactful moments and more.
10 Hagrid Revealing That He Had Seen Sirius Black
One of the first scenes of the Harry Potter books was when Harry first arrived at Little Whinging. He was brought there by Rubeus Hagrid at the command of Albus Dumbledore, but the giant had revealed it hadn't been a straightforward task. After retrieving the infant from the Potters' destroyed house, Hagrid ran into young Sirius Black, who handed over his flying motorcycle to ensure Harry's safe transport. Though this name meant nothing when readers first saw it in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the fact that Sirius was in Godric's Hallow and willingly allowed Hagrid to take Harry would later Sirius' innocence in Harry Potter.
9 Harry Receiving His Phoenix Feather Wand At Ollivander's
There was no question that Harry's wand would become important in Harry Potter. When the Boy Who Lived purchased the item from Ollivander, the old wizard commented that it was curious that he would be chosen by the holly and Phoenix feather wand when its brother had belonged to Lord Voldemort. The shared cores would go on to save Harry's life in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and would fuel Voldemort's search for the Elder Wand in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
8 Snape Explaining The Purpose Of A Bezoar In Potions Class
Snape's every move in Philosopher's Stone was vital since it all pointed to his complicated connection with Harry. The boy frequently noticed the professor's eyes on him, which makes sense considering this year was Snape's first time seeing the son of his childhood friend, Lily Evans. Still, other moments involving Snape would wind up being important, such as Harry's very first Potions lesson. During his monologue, Snape explained that a bezoar could serve as an antidote to most poisons. Harry disregarded this information at the time, but in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, this same tidbit (this time read from Snape's old potions book) would help Harry save Ron's life from the poisoned mead.
7 Harry Catching His First Snitch In Quidditch
Quidditch would continue to be an important part of Harry's time at Hogwarts throughout the Harry Potter series, but no match was more significant than his first. During this game in Philosopher's Stone, Harry caught his very first Golden Snitch with his mouth. Little did he know that, years later, Albus Dumbledore would leave this winged ball to Harry in his will. Moreover, Harry couldn't have known that Snitches have flesh memory, which allowed Dumbledore to hide the Resurrection Stone within. This became a significant tool in Harry's self-sacrifice in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
6 Dumbledore Having Possession Of James Potter's Invisibility Cloak
During Harry's first Christmas at Hogwarts, he received a mysterious package containing his father's Invisibility Cloak and a note that explained how it had been left in the gifter's possession when James died. Later, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Dumbledore would it that he had ed this on to Harry, but he didn't explain why he had had it to begin with. It wouldn't be until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that Harry would learn that Dumbledore had borrowed the Invisibility Cloak out of fascination for the fact that it was another of the coveted Deathly Hallows.
5 Dumbledore Lying About What He Saw In The Mirror Of Erised
Dumbledore was always a secretive man, and it didn't take Harry long to learn this. After he had found the Mirror of Erised in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the Boy Who Lived asked Dumbledore what he saw in the mirror, to which the heaster replied that he saw himself holding a good pair of woolen socks. Harry immediately guessed that Dumbledore was lying, but it would be several years before he knew the truth. Though it's hard to say, the information learned about Dumbeldore later in Harry Potter indicates that he would have seen his deceased family —and maybe even a reformed Gellert Grindelwald.
4 The Centaurs' Hinting At Harry's Ending In The Forbidden Forest
One of the more subtle moments of foreshadowing in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was Harry's interaction with the centaurs in the Forbidden Forrest. During this scene, Firenze the centaur saved Harry's life from the spectral Lord Voldemort, much to his people's disapproval. The centaur leader, Bane, noted that they had read Harry's fate in the stars and that Firenze had gotten in the way by saving Harry's life. Of course, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows revealed that it truly was Harry's fate to be murdered by Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest. Though the centaurs didn't know when, they knew it was inevitable.
3 Dumbledore Telling Harry About Snape & James' Rivalry
Harry had believed that Severus Snape was the villain of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but it had, of course, been Professor Quirrell instead. In a way, this parallels the overall ending of Harry Potter since Snape was once again revealed to be on Dumbledore's side. Still, the most significant reveal regarding Snape in the first book was that he had had a rivalry with James Potter. Dumbledore told Harry this to explain why Snape hated Harry so much. However, the reason he gave for why the Potions Master protected Harry was a lie. He claimed it was because James had saved Snape's life. Of course, it was really because the man had loved Lily Potter.
2 Harry Learning About Lily's Love Protection
Another reveal of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was that Lily Potter had left a mark on her son when she sacrificed her life. This same fact would continue to have a massive impact going forward in the Harry Potter series, but as of the end of his first year at Hogwarts, Harry still didn't understand why. By this point, Dumbledore already suspected the answer—that since Voldemort had given Lily the choice to live and she chose death anyway, she had enacted a rare form of protective magic—but he couldn't tell Harry this without revealing far more than the boy was ready for. So, the answers would be given bit by bit until the whole picture came together in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
1 Dumbledore Refusing To Tell Harry Why Voldemort Tried To Kill Him
Another big mystery that Philosopher's Stone addressed was why Lord Voldemort had attacked the baby Harry Potter to begin with. Harry asked Dumbledore this question in the Hospital Wing after his confrontation with Quirrel and Voldemort, but the heaster refused to answer. He had determined that Harry wasn't quite ready for the truth. Thus, the first Harry Potter book left this riddle unanswered. It wouldn't be until Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix that Dumbledore would finally divulge that Harry had been part of a prophecy regarding the Dark Lord's downfall. He hadn't wanted the Boy Who Lived to know that either he or the Dark Lord of Harry Potter were destined to die.
