Harry Potter, orphaned at age one, lives with his mother's sister, Petunia Dursley, and her husband Vernon and their son Dudley. The Dursleys hated Harry's parents, and therefore hate Harry. They put up with Harry only because they are his only living relatives and if the truth of his past ever came out they'd be mortified. And so the Dursley's gave Harry Dudley's old clothes to wear, a meager serving of food at each meal, and a room in the cupboard under the stairs.

As the years passed, the Dursley's treated Harry worse and worse. Then, a few weeks before his eleventh birthday, mysterious letters begin arriving at the Dursley's addressed to "Harry Potter, Cupboard Under the Stairs...." Vernon, horrified by the contents of the letter he stole from Harry before he could read it, rushes the family all over the country in hopes of "losing his trail." Finally, the day before his birthday, Harry recieves the letter. Hand-delivered by a giant man named Hagrid. Harry opens the letter and reads an acceptance into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry is a wizard.

From Hagrid, Harry learns the truth of his past. His mother and father were a witch and wizard, two of the best and most loved. During thier time, the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, whose name was feared to be said (and still is), reigned with an evil hand. One night, he came after Lily and James Potter and their one-year old son, Harry. You-Know-Who killed Lily and James, but was unable to kill young Harry. At this failure, You-Know-Who's powers vanished and he disappeared, barely alive. Harry was left with a lightning shaped scar on his forehead and became one of the most famous wizards for an event he couldn't even remember.

After learning the truth, Harry goes off to Hogwarts to learn how to use his magic. And that is where all the fun, and trouble, begins.

If you're worried I've spoiled everything for you, don't worry. This is most of the first few chapters of the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. But it's still plenty fun to read. And you have lots to learn about the world of magic. Have fun!!!