From that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. There are some things you can’t share without liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.

Although Harry and Ron initially dislike Hermione and she in turn disapproves of them, the three students are forced to acknowledge their shared experience gives them reason to befriend each other. After fending off a mountain troll together, they are better able to appreciate each other’s strengths and forgive their weaknesses. Their near-death experience helps them humbly look past their initial impressions of each other to find human value and gratitude for the ways their strengths help each other out.

Only someone who wanted to find the stone – find it but not use it – would be able to get it.

In the climax of the novel, Harry is able to find the Sorcerer’s Stone because he wants to keep it out of Voldemort’s hands. The Stone’s promises of eternal wealth and youth do not appeal to Harry when he’s in the final chamber with Quirrell. Instead, Harry’s priority is protecting the wizarding world from the return of its most dangerous wizard. This selfless desire is ultimately what allows Harry to solve Dumbledore’s enchantment and grants him the Stone. Quirrell, on the other hand, wanted to further Voldemort’s greed for power and therefore would never have been able to get the Stone from the mirror.

Father says it’s a crime if I’m not picked to play for my House, and I must say I agree.

From his first introduction, Draco Malfoy holds an attitude of arrogance and entitlement. He believes himself an expert Quidditch player and expects to make the team, despite the fact that first year students are not allowed to have their own brooms. He pridefully assumes he will be in Slytherin because of his family connection, and his belief in his family’s superiority.

Harry and Draco are consistently contrasted by their attitudes in the book. Harry triumphs because he knows he has more to learn, works hard to earn his success, and accepts help from his friends. Draco relies repeatedly on his family’s money and reputation, and he taunts his fellow students. The only success Draco achieves in the book is a small praise from Professor Snape, who does so to discourage the Gryffindors rather than to build Draco up.

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