Vernon Dursley

Married to Petunia Dursley, with one son called Dudley. He works in Grunnings, a drill manufacturer. He and his wife took their nephew Harry Potter in after his parents’ death in October 1981, but mistreated him from the moment he arrived. He constantly asserts his dominance over Harry, locking him in his cupboard for long periods of time. On Harry’s receiving the letters from Hogwarts, he tries his best to escape by taking his family to a hut in the middle of the sea, but his plans are foiled when Hagrid comes to tell Harry about Hogwarts in person. He drives Harry to King’s Cross Station in London on 1st September, and picks him up again at the end of the year.

Petunia Dursley

Married to Vernon Dursley, with one son named Dudley. She is the sister of Lily Potter, Harry Potter’s mother, and takes Harry in on Lily and James Potter’s death. She spoils her own son horrifically, and aids her husband in his attempt to hide Harry’s true background, but reveals her antipathy towards her sister and the Wizarding World in the hut on the rock. She accompanies Vernon to take Harry to King’s Cross.

Dudley Dursley

The son of Vernon and Petunia, and Harry Potter’s cousin. He is obscenely spoiled by his parents, and celebrates his birthday by going to London Zoo with his friend Piers Polkiss and Harry in tow. He is established early on as a bully, and frequently attacks Harry. When dragged along by his father trying to escape Harry’s letters, however, he shows a weaker side as he complains about missing his favourite television programmes. During the confrontation in the hut, Hagrid tries to turn him into a pig, which doesn’t quite work, and he ends up sprouting a pig’s tail instead. He has this removed in a private hospital in London on 1st September.

Lily Potter

Mother of Harry Potter; already dead at the beginning of the book

James Potter

Father of Harry Potter; already dead at the beginning of the book

Harry Potter

Initially known as the Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter defeated the Dark Lord, Voldemort, as a baby. His parents were killed before Voldemort turned to him, so he now lives with his aunt, uncle and cousin in Little Whinging, Surrey. By the age of ten, he has suffered the abuse of a bullying family who hold no affection for him, and is completely friendless. During the summer holidays of 1991 he receives mysterious letters, which his family continually prevent him from reading. It isn’t until his eleventh birthday, which is spent hiding in a hut in the middle of the sea, that he finds out he is a wizard. He is told by Hagrid that he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and they go to buy his school supplies from Diagon Alley. It is then that he discovers he is famous in the wizarding world for defeating Voldemort. He buys a wand that is said to share its Phoenix feather core with one other: the wand of Lord Voldemort.

Harry is taken to King’s Cross Station by his aunt and uncle on 1st September, and boards the train to Hogwarts. There he meets many other first years, including his two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. When they arrive at Hogwarts they are sorted into houses, and Harry, Ron and Hermione are all sorted into Gryffindor. Term starts, and Harry experiences life in the magical world. He is picked to play Seeker on the Gryffindor Quidditch team: the youngest player in a century. On a night-time excursion, he, Ron, Hermione and Neville Longbottom accidentally enter a forbidden corridor, and come face to face with a three-headed dog. They find out that the dog is guarding the Philosopher’s Stone. Over Christmas, he receives the first presents of his life, including an Invisibility Cloak which used to belong to his father. He uses this to sneak around the school, trying to find out who the mysterious Nicholas Flamel is, but instead finds a strange mirror that shows him his dead parents and family. It is revealed by Albus Dumbledore that this is the Mirror of Erised, and will show the viewer’s deepest desires.

The year continues, and Harry discovers that Hagrid is hiding a dragon egg in his hut. He and Hermione arrange to have it taken away, but are caught out of bed at night, and are given detention along with Neville and Draco Malfoy. They are taken to the Forbidden Forest, where Harry and Draco find a dead Unicorn, with a strange hooded figure drinking its blood. Harry realises that Lord Voldemort must be after the Philosopher’s Stone, which gives eternal life. He believes Professor Snape, the Potions Master, is working for him.

Harry Ron and Hermione go on a quest to save the Stone, and after overcoming many challenges, Harry discovers Professor Quirrell was working with Voldemort. He manages to stop them both, and is then awarded house points by Professor Dumbledore for his admirable courage. He returns to Privet Drive at the end of the year.

Lord Voldemort

Otherwise known as the Dark Lord, He Who Must Not Be Named, and You-Know-Who, Voldemort is a powerful evil wizard who had control of the wizarding world when Harry was a baby. He tried to kill Harry for as yet unknown reasons, but Harry defeated him due to Lily Potter’s sacrifice. Lord Voldemort went into hiding, where he met Professor Quirrel, and possessed him, lodging at the back of his head. Together they tried to steal the Philosopher’s Stone in order to obtain eternal life. He confronts Harry at the end of the book, but Harry again defeats him.

Albus Dumbledore

Dumbledore is present at the handing over of Harry to the Dursleys, leaving a letter to explain the situation. He is the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and is next seen welcoming the students at the start of the new year. His presence is limited in Philosopher’s Stone, but he does hand down James Potter’s Invisibility Cloak to Harry at Christmas. He also finds Harry in front of the Mirror of Erised, and persuades him that what lies in the real world is worth living for more than dreams. He temporarily leaves Hogwarts on the night Quirrell attempts to steal the Stone, but returns just in time to reach Harry. He is there when Harry comes round again, and divulges information about the Stone, Lord Voldemort, and the reason why Harry survived the Killing Curse. At the end of the year, he awards Gryffindor House an extra 170 house points, enabling them to win the House Cup.

Minerva McGonagall

Present during the day of the handing over of Harry to the Dursleys, in the form of a cat. She is the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, and also Head of Gryffindor house. She teaches Transfiguration, and is known to be a strict, but fair teacher. After seeing Harry’s skills on a broomstick, she bends the rules and allows him onto the Gryffindor Quidditch team, playing in the position of Seeker. She discovers Draco Malfoy sneaking around out of bed on the same night Harry and Hermione are caught, and she issues them and Neville Longbottom detention, and deducts fifty points apiece from their Houses. Later in the year, Harry warns her that he thinks someone is trying to steal the Stone. She dismisses his assertions.

Rubeus Hagrid

Hagrid is the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. Hagrid delivered Harry from Godric’s Hollow to Privet Drive when Harry was a baby, and came to tell Harry that he was a wizard on his eleventh birthday. He takes Harry to Diagon Alley, at the same time withdrawing the Philosopher’s Stone from its vault in Gringotts Bank, and takes it back to Hogwarts. He is present as a source of comfort for Harry as he gets used to Hogwarts, but is also a source of information, as he does have a propensity to let slip secrets. He has a soft spot for dangerous creatures, leading him to take care of a dragon egg. The dragon hatches, and he calls it Norbert, but eventually concedes that it must be taken to a safer environment. He conducts the detention for Harry, Hermione, Neville and Draco, and tells them they are looking for an injured unicorn. It is he who lets slip to Quirrell how to get past Fluffy the three-headed dog, and he is guilt-ridden by this when it means that Harry nearly gets killed. At the end of the book, he gives Harry a book of photographs of his parents, which Harry treasures.

Sirius Black

Lends Hagrid his flying motorbike on the night of the Potters murder.

Marge Dursley

Sends Vernon a postcard from the Isle of Wight saying that she has been taken ill after eating a funny whelk.

Mrs. Figg

An old neighbour who looks after Harry when the Dursleys go out. She is a great cat-lover, and apparently takes many photographs of them, which she shows to Harry on his visits.

Piers Polkiss

A close friend of Dudley Dursley who is said to hold Dudley’s victims whilst Dudley hits them. He accompanies the Dursleys and Harry to London Zoo, and tells them that Harry spoke to the Boa Constrictor, earning Harry a long confinement in his cupboard.

Cornelius Fudge

Mentioned only as Minister for Magic.

Tom the Barman

Works as a barman in the Leaky Cauldron, gateway to Diagon Alley.

Dedalus Diggle

Bowed to Harry in a Muggle shop; accused by Minerva McGonagall in Chapter One of causing an outburst of shooting stars; shakes Harry’s hand in the Leaky Cauldron.

Professor Quirell

First meets Harry in the Leaky Cauldron, where he is introduced as the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts. When Harry sees him at school he is wearing a strange turban. He is very nervous, and has a stutter. On Halloween night he runs into the Great Hall, announcing that a mountain troll has somehow got into the castle. Harry begins to realise that he and Professor Snape have a strange relationship, and begins to suspect Snape of using Quirrell to obtain the Philosopher’s Stone. When Harry tries to stop Snape, he comes face-to-face with Quirrell, and discovers that it was Quirrell all along, working with Lord Voldemort, who resided all year on the back of Quirrell’s head. In the final confrontation between Harry and Voldemort, Quirrell dies, leaving Voldemort’s soul to find another refuge.

Griphook

Griphook is a goblin working in Gringotts bank who shows Harry to his vault and then leads him and Hagrid to vault 713, the residence of the Philosopher’s Stone.

Madam Malkin

Owns Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions in Diagon Alley, and fits Harry for his school robes. It is here that he first encounters Draco Malfoy.

Draco Malfoy

A fellow first year, sorted into Slytherin, he is Harry’s enemy. Prejudiced against part-humans and anyone not of wizarding heritage, he continually tries to best Harry, and taunts the other students: namely Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom. A favourite of Professor Snape, he usually gets away with such antics, however after getting wind of Harry and Hermione’s attempt to give away Hagrid’s dragon, he is caught out. He serves detention with them and Neville, and shows his Slytherin colours by fleeing when he and Harry see the dead unicorn and the figure looming over it. He is exceedingly angry at Gryffindor’s victory in the House Cup.

Hedwig

Harry Potter’s snowy owl who delivers him letters.

Mr. Ollivander

A wand-maker and seller, Mr Ollivander owns a shop in Diagon Alley. He sells Harry his wand, stressing that it is the wand that chooses the wizard, and revealing the connection between the cores of Harry’s and Lord Voldemort’s wands.

Mrs. Weasley

T he mother of the extensive Weasley family helps Harry to get through to Platform nine and three-quarters. She bids her children goodbye at the station, warning Fred and George to behave themselves, and forbidding them to ask Harry about the night Voldemort disappeared. She sends Harry a ‘Wealsey jumper’ for Christmas, and appears briefly again when she is waiting to pick her children up at the end of the year.

Ginny Weasley

The youngest Weasley child, and only girl, Ginny is only seen at King’s Cross station. She is desperate to go to Hogwarts, and very excited at the prospect of seeing Harry Potter.

Percy Weasley

The oldest Weasley child at Hogwarts, Percy has just been made a Prefect and has no qualms about flaunting this. He sticks rigidly to the rules throughout, often attempting to restore order to an otherwise rowdy common room.

Fred and George Weasley

The two mischievous Weasley twins are rarely seen apart. They are fellow Gryffindors, but are in their third year at Hogwarts. They are both Beaters on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and like to cause as much trouble as they possibly can. Their best friend and cohort in magical misdeeds is Lee Jordan.

Ron Weasley

Harry Potter’s best friend and the last boy in the Weasley family, Ron Weasley stands for everything that Dudley doesn’t. He is loyal and humorous, and comes from a large, loving (but not too loving) family. He befriends Harry on the Hogwarts Express, where they share stories and sweets. He is also sorted into Gryffindor, and sticks up for Harry whenever he is needed. Constantly taunted by Draco Malfoy about his family’s lack of wealth, it is perhaps not surprising that he often snaps, but his temper is calmed by Harry and Hermione. He helps Harry in his attempts to work out the mystery of the Philosopher’s Stone, and accompanies him and Hermione through the trapdoor to save it. He sacrifices himself in a human-sized game of Wizard’s chess, enabling Harry to go on to stop Voldemort.

Neville Longbottom

Neville is a fellow Gryffindor first year, and is notorious for his forgetfulness and apparent lack of great magical ability. Picked on by Draco Malfoy and Professor Snape, he doesn’t think he deserves to be in Gryffindor. However, he does venture out into the castle at night in an attempt to find Harry and Hermione, to warn them that Draco was going to get them into trouble for carrying a dragon’s egg. For this he gets detention in the Forbidden Forest, along with the others. When Harry, Ron and Hermione go out again to save the Philosopher’s Stone, Neville stands up to them, telling them they shouldn’t go out, as they’ll lose Gryffindor house more points. Dumbledore awards him ten house points for this, saying that it is just as difficult to stand up to friends as it is enemies.

Augusta Longbottom

Although this name is not revealed in this book, Neville’s Grandmother (“Gran”) raised him apparently alone. She appears quite disparaging of his forgetfulness, and sends him a Remembrall to try and help this.

Lee Jordan

Lee is the Weasley twins’ best friend, aiding them in their rule-breaking shenanigans. He is also the commentator for the Quidditch games, but is certainly not an objective one.

Bill Weasley

Mentioned in passing as Ron’s oldest brother who works for Gringotts in Africa.

Charlie Weasley

The second oldest Weasley, Charlie works in Romania studying dragons. His friends come to take Norbert, Hagrid’s dragon, to Romania with them.

Scabbers

Ron’s pet rat that used to belong to Percy, he attacks Goyle on the Hogwarts Express, but shows few signs of life afterwards, preferring to sleep.

Hermione Granger

Another Gryffindor first year. Hermione is initially found to be a bossy know-it-all, but Harry and Ron soon befriend her when they save her from a mountain troll on Halloween. She is a Muggle-born and is incredibly intelligent and studious, holding the rules above almost all other priorities. Harry and Ron seem to influence her a little, making her relax about breaking the odd rule, and the three break more and more as they try to unearth the mystery of Nicholas Flamel and the Philosopher’s Stone. Hermione provides unwavering support, and attends detention in the Forbidden Forest with Harry after being found out of bed one night. She proves monumental in reaching the Philosopher’s Stone, defeating the Devil’s Snare and solving Professor Snape’s riddle. She makes Harry go on to get the Stone whilst she goes back to revive Ron and alert Professor Dumbledore to what was happening.

Vincent Crabbe

One of Malfoy’s ‘henchmen’, Crabbe rarely leaves his side, and rarely speaks. He is very large and intimidating, and often helps Malfoy in his persecution of Neville Longbottom.

Gregory Goyle

The second ‘henchman’, Goyle resembles Crabbe in size and manner. The two are rarely seen apart.

The Fat Friar

The ghost of Hufflepuff house, and the only ghost willing to tolerate Peeves the poltergeist.

Nearly Headless Nick

The ghost of Gryffindor house, otherwise known as Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, Nick suffered a botched beheading, in which his executioner tried to sever his head from his body forty-five times.

The Sorting Hat

This is the magical object which looks into the minds of first-year students and sorts them into houses. It wavers between putting Harry in Slytherin and Gryffindor, but on Harry’s refusal to be put in Slytherin, he does sort him into Gryffindor.

Hannah Abbott

A first year sorted into Hufflepuff.

Susan Bones

A first year sorted into Hufflepuff.

Terry Boot

A first year sorted into Ravenclaw.

Lavender Brown

A Gryffindor first year, Lavender makes good friends with Parvati Patil, and the two are known as particularly giggly girls: much to the distaste of Hermione.

Seamus Finnigan

A Gryffindor first year from Ireland, Seamus is a half-blood and shares Harry’s dormitory. He makes good friends with Dean Thomas.

The Bloody Barron

The ghost of Slytherin house, whose robes are stained with blood. He is the only being able to control Peeves.

Severus Snape

Snape is perhaps the most loathed teacher at Hogwarts, and detests Harry. He deliberately singles him out in their first ever Potions lesson, and throughout the year bullies him. He is known to favour Slytherin house, of which he is the head, and when he referees a Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, the Gryffindors are sure he is going to try and fix the result to give Slytherin the best chance of winning. In Harry’s first ever Quidditch game, someone jinxes his broom, and Hermione thinks it is Snape. This, combined with his suspicious whereabouts and behaviour, make the trio believe that he is working for Voldemort, trying to obtain the Philosopher’s Stone. It isn’t until Harry finds Quirrell in the last chamber that he realises Snape simply didn’t like him, and wasn’t hiding an alliance with Voldemort. Dumbledore later tells Harry that Snape went to school with Harry’s father, and couldn’t stand him because James saved his life. All that year, he was trying to protect Harry as a way of paying James back.

Argus Filch

The Hogwarts caretaker, Filch and his cat Mrs Norris prowl the school corridors, checking that no one is misbehaving. He seems eternally sour, and hates every student. He catches Harry and Hermione at the bottom of the Astronomy Tower after they’ve given away the dragon, and takes them to Professor McGonagall. He then walks them down to Hagrid’s hut at the start of their detention. He has an on-going feud with Peeves.

Madam Hooch

In charge of flying lessons and referees the school Quidditch games.

Peeves

The resident Hogwarts poltergeist, Peeves rivals Fred and George in causing havoc, and delights in tormenting Filch. He becomes an obstacle for Harry at various times, but poses no real threat.

The Fat Lady

The woman in the portrait guarding Gryffindor Tower, only known as the Fat Lady, she lets people with the correct password through the hidden door. She does tend to wander out at night, meaning that students who have left their dormitories must wait for her to return before being able to enter the tower.

Mrs. Norris

Argus Filch’s cat who seems to be able to sense trouble. It also seems the two have some kind of telepathic connection, because when one finds trouble, the other is there within seconds.

Professor Sprout

The Herbology Professor, and Head of Hufflepuff.

Professor Binns

The ghost who teaches History of Magic, and the most boring teacher in all of Hogwarts. He is said to have died one night, got up the next morning as a ghost, and continued to teach.

Professor Flitwick

Flitwick is a dwarf, and teaches Charms. He is head of Ravenclaw house. It is he who teaches the first years the Levitation Charm, which becomes pivotal in defeating the mountain troll. He awards Hermione one hundred and twelve per cent in her Charms exam.

Fang

Hagrid’s cowardly boarhound.

Dean Thomas

Another Gryffindor first year who shares Harry’s dormitory. Dean is a Muggleborn, and supports West Ham football team. He is particularly good at painting, so makes a large banner for Harry’s first Quidditch match, which Hermione enchants to flash different colours.

Parvati Patil

Sorted into Gryffindor, she makes good friends with Lavender. She has a twin called Padma, who is in Ravenclaw.

Pansy Parkinson

Sorted into Slytherin, and very deserving of the name. She is first seen teasing Parvati for sticking up for Neville, and is generally unpleasant, especially to Hermione.

Oliver Wood

Oliver is the Gryffindor Quidditch team captain, playing the position of Keeper. He is a Quidditch fanatic and trains the team hard, but this pays off as they play incredibly well. He welcomes Harry onto the team with excitement, hoping that this year they will actually win the House Cup. Harry is unconscious after his fight with Voldemort for their final match, but considering the circumstances, Wood doesn’t seem to be too angry about it.

Fluffy

Hagrid’s three-headed dog, Fluffy guards the trapdoor which leads to the Philosopher’s Stone. He can only be lulled asleep by music, so Harry, Ron and Hermione use a wooden flute to keep it at bay whilst they get through the trapdoor.

Angelina Johnson

Angelina is a Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and is in her third year at Hogwarts.

Marcus Flint

Marcus is the Slytherin Quidditch team captain, playing the position of Chaser, and is in his sixth year at Hogwarts.

Alicia Spinnett

Alicia is a Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

Katie Bell

Katie is a Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

Adrian Pucey

Adrian is a Chaser on the Slytherin Quidditch team.

Terence Higgs

Terence is the Seeker for the Slytherin Quidditch team.

Nicholas Flamel

H agrid lets slip that what Fluffy’s guarding is Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel’s business. Harry, Ron and Hermione try to find out who Nicholas Flamel is, but it isn’t until Harry gets a Chocolate Frog card from Neville, featuring Dumbledore and mentioning his work with Flamel, that Hermione knows where to look. She discovers that he is the inventor of the Philosopher’s Stone: an object which can turn all metal to gold and gives the possessor immortality.

Madam Pince

The Hogwarts librarian is described as vulture-like, and is very protective of her books. She makes sure no one is mistreating them, and that people behave in the library. She guards the Restricted Section closely.

Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback

The baby dragon that Hagrid hatches from an egg causes plenty of trouble. Draco Malfoy sees that Hagrid is in possession of it, and threatens to tell on him; it grows far too big for Hagrid’s wooden hut; it gives Ron a nasty bite; and when Harry and Hermione finally manage to give it away to some of Charlie Weasley’s friends, they get caught by Filch and are given detention.

Madam Pomfrey

The Hogwarts nurse who tends to Ron after his dragon bite, and Harry after his defeat of Voldemort. She is very strict about her patients getting rest, and is unwilling to allow too many visitors in.

Ronan

One of the centaurs of the Forbidden Forest who aggravates Hagrid by giving vague answers to his pressing questions. He tries to mediate between Bane and Firenze.

Bane

The second centaur is more aggressive, and berates Firenze for carrying Harry to safety, saying that centaurs should not go out of their way to help humans.

Firenze

This centaur finds Harry just as the mysterious figure drinking the blood of a unicorn is approaching him. Firenze scares off the figure and takes Harry back to Hagrid. On the way, he opposes Bane’s furious condemnation and reveals to Harry the true nature of unicorn blood: it gives the drinker life. He hints that whatever is in the forest will also be after the Philosopher’s Stone, and that this person is very likely Lord Voldemort.