HBO’s Harry Potter Season 1 MUST Include These 8 Often Ignored Sorcerer’s Stone Book Details
HBO’s Harry Potter remake will bring the story of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone to the screen yet again, but this time, some often overlooked book moments must make the cut. Warner Bros movie adaptations of Harry’s first year at Hogwarts hit theaters back in 2001, so we have had 24 years to complain about some of the big aspects of the story that weren’t included. We all hope Peeves will be added in the Harry Potter remake, or Norbert’s full story will finally be brought to the screen. However, some of the most important details are hardly discussed.
The first season of HBO’s new Harry Potter series will cover the first book in its entirety. Max has already announced that season 1 will have eight episodes, which means we will have around eight hours to cover Harry’s first full year at Hogwarts. Given the Sorcerer’s Stone movie’s 152-minute runtime, this is rather exciting. Said and done, all seven seasons of the Harry Potter remake should come out to at least 56 hours long. There isn’t much reason for anything from the Harry Potter books to be missed, including these minor Sorcerer’s Stone moments.
8
Vernon Dursley’s Point Of View On The Day Voldemort Fell
A Muggle’s Perspective Eased Us Into The Wizarding World
The start of the first chapter of the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone book is told from Vernon Dursley’s point of view. This was a rather odd choice, so it’s no surprise that Warner Bros movies chose to skip that part of the story. The first Harry Potter movie instead picked right up with Dumbledore delivering a young Harry to the Dursleys’ doorstep. Though this is logical, Mr. Dursley’s POV would be valuable to the remake.
Audiences are eased into the Wizarding World through Mr. Dursley’s POV in the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone book. He is a Muggle, but his chapter slowly reveals that he secretly knows that there is a magical world that exists within his own. Since HBO’s Harry Potter remake starts the clock over from the beginning, it makes sense to allow Vernon to serve this purpose again. Moreover, this would be a nostalgic way to kick things off.
7
Hagrid Mentions Sirius Black For The First Time
This Detail Helps With Series-Wide Continuity
We all know now that Sirius Black is a deeply important character in Harry’s story. However, when we first read his name in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, we had no idea that this was any more than a throw-away reference. When Hagrid landed on Number 4 Privet Drive to leave Harry with Dumbledore, he mentioned getting the flying motorcycle from a young Sirius Black. This detail became important later, but the Harry Potter movies left it out.
Hagrid doesn’t need to go into the specifics in HBO’s Harry Potter remake, but it would be meaningful if the series included the character’s brief reveal about where his flying motorcycle came from. It’s ultimately meaningful within the story that Hagrid saw Sirius Black that night, and even a subtle reference would aid in the Harry Potter TV show’s cohesiveness.
6
Draco & Harry’s True First Meetings At Diagon Alley & The Hogwarts Express
Draco Didn’t Know Who Harry Was At First
In the Sorcerer’s Stone movie, Harry met Draco Malfoy for the first time at Hogwarts. Draco knew exactly who Harry was, and that was why he approached him and offered friendship. This was fine for the movies, but since HBO’s Harry Potter remake has the luxury of more time, it would be better if Harry and Draco’s previous interactions were included as well.
Though this meeting was similar to the on-screen version, the Hogwarts Express location is important since it parallels the meeting between James Potter and Severus Snape.
In the books, Harry first met Draco at Diagon Alley. The Malfoy boy had no idea who Harry was and immediately began to prattle on about his various prejudices. This was Harry’s first exposure to hate against Muggles, and it made him immediately self-conscious. Later, Draco introduced himself to Harry on the Hogwarts Express, this time understanding who Harry was. Though this meeting was similar to the on-screen version, the location is important since it parallels the meeting between James Potter and Severus Snape.
5
The Sorting Hat’s Song
It’s A Hogwarts Tradition
At the start of every year at Hogwarts, the Sorting Hat sings a song. It’s a tradition in the Harry Potter books, but the movies left it out entirely. Though Harry didn’t witness every year’s song (he had a habit of missing the start-of-school feast), he was lucky enough to hear the Sorting Hat sing its song in Sorcerer’s Stone. During this year, the Hat pretty simply explained its origin and function, and this would be valuable to HBO’s Harry Potter remake.
Though the Sorting Hat’s instructions would be good for new viewers in Harry Potter season 1, the primary reason this should be included is that it would establish the trend going forward. Later in the series, the Sorting Hat begins to give warnings about what the students of Hogwarts will face in the coming year. This would be random without Harry Potter season 1 establishing the tradition of the Sorting Hat’s song.
4
Harry’s Dream During His First Night At Hogwarts
There Are Several Layers To Harry’s Dream
Harry had various important dreams throughout the Harry Potter series, but one of the more intriguing ones was the one he experienced on his first night at Hogwarts. After the feast, Harry fell asleep rather quickly despite his excitement. However, he ultimately had a nightmare in which he wore Professor Quirrell’s turban. The thing started whispering to Harry, telling him he would have done well in Slytherin House. It disturbed him, but there was, obviously, far more to it.
We know now that Harry’s dream was secretly a hint about Professor Quirrell.
We know now that Harry’s dream was secretly a hint about Professor Quirrell. Harry would eventually learn that Lord Voldemort lived beneath the turban, and that the villain truly did whisper to his wearer. This detail is even more critical considering the overarching story of Harry Potter. Though a small, overlooked moment, Harry’s first dream at Hogwarts doubled as our first hint about the piece of Voldemort’s soul that lived inside him.
3
Harry & Draco’s Midnight Duel
A Bit Of Hogwarts Trickery
In the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone book, Draco challenged Harry to a wizarding duel at midnight. However, it was revealed that this was a trap. Draco didn’t show up for the duel, intending for Harry to be caught out of bounds at night. This wasn’t a particularly important scene, so it’s understandable that the movie would cut it. However, Harry’s midnight duel would do wonders for his character in the TV show.
In the first Harry Potter movie, Harry was a bit quiet and innocent-seeming. He was certainly brave, but we didn’t see the many faults that the books laid out. Harry is hot-headed, mischievous, sassy, and eager to prove himself. His preparation to answer Draco’s challenge would demonstrate all of this in the Harry Potter remake. Moreover, it would provide an opportunity to actually see Harry practice magic—something that never happened in the Sorcerer’s Stone movie.
2
Harry’s Full Interaction With The Centaurs In The Forbidden Forest
The Centaurs Secretly Foreshadowed Harry’s Deathly Hallows Ending
The first Harry Potter movie included Harry’s trek into the Forbidden Forest and interaction with Firenze the centaur, but it left out all the most important parts. In the book, Firenze is confronted by the rest of his herd after he saves Harry. They scolded him for interfering, stating that the stars had already dictated how destiny should play out. The centaurs, as it turns out, are forbidden from interrupting events that the universe dictates are meant to happen.
After Voldemort technically killed Harry in the Forbidden Forest in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Firenze’s conversation made far more sense.
This didn’t mean much at the time. However, after Voldemort technically killed Harry in the Forbidden Forest in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Firenze’s conversation made far more sense. The centaurs had seen that Harry was destined to sacrifice himself to the Dark Lord at that very location, and they thought Firenze had gotten in the way. It’s a key moment of foreshadowing—far too delicious a parallel for the Harry Potter TV show to leave out.
1
All The Obstacles Protecting The Sorcerer’s Stone
The Exact Number Of Protections Is Actually Important
Harry, Ron, and Hermione getting through the obstacles protecting the Sorcerer’s Stone was a high point of the first book, and the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone movie managed it pretty remarkably. The giant chess game was unforgettable, but to make this moment really shine, the other protections had to be cut down. While this was acceptable for the films, the same won’t be true for HBO’s remake.
There were seven protections in total, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione each had their own moment to shine as they got past them. This parallels the Golden Trio’s hunt for the Horcruxes later in Deathly Hallows.
The protections guarding the Sorcerer’s Stone are another feature of the Harry Potter books that became even more meaningful later. There were seven protections in total, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione each had their own moment to shine as they got past them. This parallels the Golden Trio’s hunt for the Horcruxes later in Deathly Hallows. These subtle poetic details are all part of the charm of the Harry Potter books. Now, we finally have a chance to see them brought to the screen.
