Just to forewarn you, this discussion is going to have a lot of spoilers for the book and the entire series. So if you haven't read it, sorry but, shoo and go read them – then you can come back.

"'Welcome!' he said. 'Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!'"

It was good to be back at Hogwarts, to see all of the characters again, and to be back in this well-loved magical world. It was so great meeting Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, Dumbledore, Draco, Neville, Hedwig, Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, the Dursely's, fluffy, the Weasley's, and so many more. I don't think I've ever been so attached to a fictional cast of characters as much as I have in Harry Potter. It was amazing how many of the little details slipped my mind since I last read it.

I forgot how rude Ron and Harry were to Hermione for 3/4ths of this book.

"'It's no wonder no one can stand her,' he said to Harry as they pushed their way into the crowded corridor, 'she's a nightmare, honestly.'"

I forgot how much I love Hagrid. He is just the best person.

"Hagrid hadn't been doing his gamekeeper duties because the dragon was keeping him so busy.
'I've decided to call him Nobert,' said Hagrid, looking at the dragon with misty eyes. 'He really knows me now, watch. Nobert! Nobert! Where's mommy?'
'He's lost his marbles,' Ron muttered in Harry's ear."

I forgot how sassy Dumbledore is.

"'Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, 'and off we go!'"

I forgot that Hermione, Ron, and Harry are the ultimate friendship goals and no one can even compare.

"'I'll use the Invisibility Cloak,' said Harry. 'It's just lucky I got it back.'
'But will it cover all three of us?' said Ron.
'All - three of us?'
'Oh, come off it, you don't think we'd let you go alone?'
'Of course not,' said Hermione briskly. 'How'd do you think you'd get the Stone without us? I'd better go through my books, there might be something useful...'"

Now, I love this entire series with all my heart, and that's why I can't believe I never saw Snape's "plot twist" coming! I was so frustrated with myself; it is literally spelled out in the book and I totally missed it until the seventh book! There are so many times were it was right in front of my face... How did 12-year-old me understand that he was good the whole time?! I spent those first six books thinking that he was evil, and working with he-who-must-not-be-named. There are no words.

"'Your father did something Snape could never forgive.'
'What?'
'He saved his life.'"

"'I'd have managed it before then if Snape hadn't been muttering a countercurse, trying to save you.'
'Snape was trying to save me?'
'Of course,' said Quirrell coolly. 'Why do you think he wanted to referee your next match? He was trying to make sure I didn't do it again.'"

"'Look, Snape helped protect the Stone, he's not about ter steal it.'"

Honestly! Why would he attempt to steal the stone if he already knew how to get it? It would have been gone by then. How did this not tell me he wasn't evil??

ANYWAYS, moving on.

The end is so good... and compared to the movie adaption, it is so much better. The entire movie is fairly parallel except for the end, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione have to go through the trapdoor and complete all the challenges to obtain the Sorcerer's Stone. When reading, you can imagine the tension while they were going through each of the obstacles.

"'We've had Sprout's that was the Devil's Snare; Flitwick must've put charms on the keys; McGonagall transfigured the chessman t make them alive; that leaves Quirrell's spell, and Snape's...'"

One of the best scenes is on one of the very last pages, when Dumbelore awards Gryffindor house points. Ron for playing the best game of chest Hogwarts has ever seen (50 points), to Hermione for her use of logic in a desperate time (50 points), and to Harry for his courage (60 points). These points put Gryffindor in a tie with Slytherin, but Dumeldore, being the slick dude that he is, awarded Neville Longbottom 10 points for bravery. Putting them in the lead to win the house cup! Yes, Dumbeldore!

"'He's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes.'"

Thank you for reliving my childhood with me! On to book two...