The Beginning and The Last Lines: The Harry Potter Book Series

Sirius Black and Harry Potter

Have you been captivated in reading a book because of the first few lines or even by taking a peek at the last page? 

My love affair with the Harry Potter universe started in July 2000. I bought the first two books (Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets) in Powerbooks Megamall. And what captured my interest was reading the first few lines of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. It got me hooked. I spent the entire weekend reading the two books. But, I had to wait a few months later before I could buy books 3 and 4 (Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire) since they run out of stocks. 

Oh, wow! I just realized that it's been twenty years since I first bought these books. Even though the spines are full of lines, the pages browned and brittle --- I could not count the number of times I've read through them --- I cherish every page. 

For this post, I've collated the first and last lines of all seven books in the series. Amidst the recent controversies of British author, J.K. Rowling, the emotions and memories of the characters, stories, and places will forever be ingrained on my mind.  

The photos of the Harry Potter Funko Pops are part of my collection. 

Relive the magic of the Potter universe.

Harry Potter and cookies

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Author: J.K. Rowling

Publishing Date: June 26, 1997

The Beginning:

Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious because they just didn't hold with such nonsense.

The Last Line:

"Oh, I will," said Harry, and they were surprised at the grin that was spreading over his face. "They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer..."

Harry Potter with a broken arm

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Author: J. K. Rowling

Publishing Date: July 2, 1998

The Beginning: 

Not for the first time, an argument had broken out over breakfast at number four, Privet Drive. Mr. Vernon Dursley had been woken in the early hours of the morning by a loud, hooting noise from his nephew Harry’s room.

The Last Line: 

"Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward the enchanted barrier. "When they hear what you did this year?"

“Proud?” said Harry. “Are you crazy? All those times I could’ve died, and I didn’t manage it? They’ll be furious…”

And together they walked back through the gateway to the Muggle world.

Professor Albus Dumbeldore

Book Title:  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Author:  J.K. Rowling

Publishing Date: July 8, 1999

The Beginning: Harry Potter was a highly unusual boy in many ways. For one thing, he hated the summer holidays more than any other time of year. For another, he really wanted to do his homework but was forced to do it in secret, in the dead of the night. And he also happened to be a wizard.

The Last Line: And, grinning broadly at the look of horror on Uncle Vernon's face, Harry set off toward the station exit, Hedwig rattling along in front of him, for what looked like a much better summer than the last.

Professor Remus Lupin

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Author: J.K. Rowling

Publishing Date: July 8, 2000

The Beginning:

The villagers of Little Hangleton still called it "the Riddle House," even though it had been many years since the Riddle family had lived there. It stood on a hill overlooking the village, some of its windows boarded, tiles missing from its roof, and ivy spreading unchecked over its face. once a fine-looking manor, and easily the largest and grandest building for miles around, the Riddle House was now damp, derelict, and unoccupied.

The Last Line:

Harry winked at them, turned to uncle Vernon, and followed him silently from the station. There was no point worrying yet, he told himself, as he got into the back of the Dursleys' car.

As Hagrid had said, what would come, would come ... and he would have to meet it when it did.

Harry and Hedwig

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix

Author: J.K. Rowling

Publishing Date: June 21, 2003

The Beginning:

The hottest day of the summer so far was drawing to a close and a drowsy silence lay over the large, square houses of Privet Drive. Cars that were usually gleaming stood dusty in their drives and lawns that were once emerald green lay parched and yellowing; the use of hosepipes had been banned due to drought. Deprived of their usual car-washing and lawn-mowing pursuits, the inhabitants of Privet Drive had retreated into the shade of their cool houses, windows thrown wide in the hope of tempting in a nonexistent breeze. The only person left outdoors was a teenage boy who was lying flat on his back in a flower bed outside number four.

The Last Line:

Harry nodded. He somehow could not find words to tell them what it meant to him, to see them all ranged there, on his side. Instead he smiled, raised a hand in farewell, turned around, and led the way out of the station toward the sunlit street, with Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley hurrying along in his wake. 

Fred and George Weasley

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Author: J. K. Rowling 
Publishing Date: July 16, 2005

The Beginning:

It was nearing midnight and the Prime Minister was sitting alone in his office, reading a long memo that was slipping through his brain without leaving the slightest trace of meaning behind. He was waiting for a call from the President of a far distant country, and between wondering when the wretched man would telephone, and trying to suppress unpleasant memories of what had been a very long, tiring, and difficult week, there was not much space in his head for anything else. The more he attempted to focus on the print on the page before him, the more clearer the Prime Minister could see the gloating face of one of his political opponents.

The Last Line:

His hand closed automatically around the fake horcrux, but in spite of everything, in spite of the dark and twisting path he saw stretching ahead for himself, in spite of the final meeting with Voldemort he knew must come, whether in a month, in a year, or in ten, he felt his heart lift at the thought that there was still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione. 

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Author: J. K. Rowling 
Publishing Date: July 21, 2007

The Beginning: 

The two men appeared out of nowhere, a few yards apart in the narrow, moonlit lane. For a second they stood quite still, wands directed at each other’s chest; then, recognizing each other, they stowed their wands beneath their cloaks and started walking briskly in the same direction.

The Last Line: 

The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All is well.

Harry Potter with Marauder's Map and wand