75 Fun Facts About Harry Potter Book 1 Trivia: Sorcerer's Stone

What is the name of caretaker Argus Filch's cat?

Mrs Norris is Argus Filch's scrawny, dust-coloured cat; she prowls the corridors and fetches the caretaker whenever she catches students breaking the rules.

Which publisher released Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in the UK on 26 June 1997?

Bloomsbury published the book after editor Barry Cunningham backed it; chairman Nigel Newton's eight-year-old daughter Alice had loved the sample chapter.

How many hardback copies were in the book's first UK print run?

The first UK hardback print run was just 500 copies, about 300 of which went to libraries, which is why surviving first editions sell for huge sums.

How much was the advance Rowling received for her debut novel?

Bloomsbury paid Rowling an advance of £2,500; a later £8,000 grant from the Scottish Arts Council helped her keep writing the sequels.

Scholastic bought the American rights at the Bologna Book Fair in 1997 for how much?

Scholastic's Arthur Levine paid US$105,000 for the American rights, an unusually high sum for a children's book by a first-time author.

Between which cities was Rowling on the delayed 1990 train when the Harry Potter idea 'fell into her head'?

She had been flat-hunting in Manchester and was heading back to London alone.

Who painted the cover of the first UK edition?

Thomas Taylor painted the first UK cover, showing Harry beside the Hogwarts Express; Mary GrandPré did the American jackets and Cliff Wright the next two UK ones.

Which children's-choice award gave the novel a gold medal in 1997 and made it famous within six months?

The Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, voted on by children, gave the novel its 9-11 years gold award in 1997, the first of many children's-choice prizes it collected.

The UK publisher has released the first book in which two classical languages?

Bloomsbury issued Peter Needham's Latin translation in 2003 and Andrew Wilson's Ancient Greek version in 2004, the latter hailed as a landmark of modern Ancient Greek prose.

Roughly how many copies has the first Harry Potter book sold worldwide?

The first Harry Potter book has sold about 120 million copies worldwide, putting it among the best-selling single novels ever published.

Which artist illustrated the full-colour illustrated edition of the book released in 2015?

It carries more than 100 illustrations, and Kay went on to illustrate the later books too.

In the book, Harry lives with the Dursleys in which fictional English town?

Little Whinging is a fictional town in Surrey, south-west of London; its cat-loving old neighbour Mrs Figg minds Harry whenever the Dursleys go out without him.

What is the Dursleys' house number on Privet Drive?

The Dursleys live at number 4, Privet Drive, where Harry sleeps in the cupboard under the stairs until the Hogwarts letters start arriving.

On which birthday does Harry learn that he is a wizard?

Rowling gave Harry her own birthday, 31 July.

What is the name of the snowy owl Hagrid gives Harry in Diagon Alley?

Hedwig is the snowy owl Hagrid buys Harry at Eeylops Owl Emporium for his eleventh birthday; Harry picks her name out of A History of Magic.

The Leaky Cauldron, the pub that hides the entrance to Diagon Alley, stands on which real London street?

The Leaky Cauldron sits on Charing Cross Road, a tiny grubby pub that Muggles' eyes slide past; its back courtyard hides the archway into Diagon Alley.

How many times must the brick behind the Leaky Cauldron be tapped to open the way to Diagon Alley?

Knockturn Alley, the seedy side street, runs diagonally off the main shopping street.

From which platform does the Hogwarts Express leave King's Cross?

Platform Nine and Three-Quarters is reached by walking through the barrier between platforms nine and ten; the real King's Cross marks it with a plaque and a half-vanished luggage trolley.

Which House does the Sorting Hat seriously consider putting Harry in before choosing Gryffindor?

Harry's plea of "not Slytherin" is one of the book's turning points.

Which position does Harry play on the Gryffindor Quidditch team?

Harry is made Gryffindor's Seeker after Professor McGonagall watches him pull off a fifty-foot dive on a school broom, becoming the youngest House player in a century.

How many points does catching the Golden Snitch earn in Quidditch?

Catching the Golden Snitch earns 150 points and ends the match, which is why the Seeker so often decides the result single-handed.

How many players are on a Quidditch team?

Three Chasers, two Beaters, a Keeper and one player who hunts the Snitch.

Which magical object does Neville's grandmother send him because he is so forgetful?

The Remembrall is a glass ball full of white smoke that turns red when its holder has forgotten something, though it never says what.

Harry and Ron become friends with Hermione after saving her from what?

On Hallowe'en the boys knock out a twelve-foot mountain troll in the girls' toilets with its own club; Hermione lies to cover for them and the three become friends.

What does the Mirror of Erised show the person looking into it?

"Erised" is "desire" spelled backwards, and its inscription reads the same way.

When read backwards, the inscription on the Mirror of Erised says what?

The carved line 'Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi' reverses to 'I show not your face but your heart's desire'; Dumbledore warns that men have wasted away before it.

What is the name of the three-headed dog guarding the trapdoor on the third floor?

Fluffy is Hagrid's three-headed dog, bought from 'a Greek chappie' in a pub and lent to Dumbledore to guard the trapdoor on the third-floor corridor.

How do the trio get past the three-headed dog?

Hagrid had carved the flute for Harry as a Christmas present.

What does Hagrid trade to a hooded stranger in exchange for a dragon egg?

The stranger was a disguised professor working for Voldemort.

What is the baby dragon that hatches in Hagrid's hut called?

Hagrid names the Norwegian Ridgeback Norbert; Charlie Weasley's friends collect him from the tallest tower at midnight to fly him to a dragon reserve abroad.

To which country is Hagrid's baby dragon sent?

Norbert goes to Romania, where Charlie Weasley works with dragons; Hagrid is heartbroken to part with him and packs a teddy bear into the crate.

Which magical creature warns Harry in the Forbidden Forest that Voldemort wants the Stone?

Firenze later becomes a Divination teacher at Hogwarts.

Which alchemist owns the Philosopher's Stone in the book?

Flamel was a real 14th-century Parisian scribe whom legend later credited with the elixir of life.

Besides granting immortality through the Elixir of Life, what else can the Philosopher's Stone do?

Both powers come straight from the medieval alchemists' idea of the stone.

Which obstacle on the way to the Stone does Ron get the trio through?

He sacrifices himself as a knight, and Dumbledore later awards him fifty House points for it.

Which plant does Hermione defeat on the way to the Stone?

Devil's Snare loosens its coils when Hermione conjures her bluebell flames, once Ron has shouted at her to stop panicking; the plant hates light and warmth.

How many House points does Dumbledore give Ron for his chess game at the end-of-year feast?

The last-minute points swing the House Cup to Gryffindor.

Which teacher turns out to be hiding Voldemort under his turban?

Professor Quirrell, the stammering Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, carries Voldemort's face on the back of his head beneath the turban, and he was the one jinxing Harry's broom.

Why can't the villain touch Harry in the final confrontation?

Voldemort abandons his host to die once the plan collapses.

Which teacher seems to hate Harry throughout the first book but secretly protects him during the Quidditch match?

Snape was muttering a counter-curse to keep Harry on his broom while Hermione, sure he was the jinxer, set his robes alight; he was repaying a life debt to James Potter.

Which studio, a former Rolls-Royce aero-engine works, was the film's production base?

Leavesden Studios, a converted Rolls-Royce aero-engine factory in Hertfordshire, was the film's base; the Great Hall and the other Hogwarts interiors were built there.

Which actor was the original choice to play the Potions master but turned it down for Planet of the Apes?

Alan Rickman was confirmed in August 2000 instead.

Which American star was barred from playing Hagrid by the British-and-Irish-only rule?

Rosie O'Donnell was turned away from the role of Molly Weasley for the same reason.

Which two historic buildings were the principal filming locations for Hogwarts?

Alnwick Castle and Gloucester Cathedral provided the main Hogwarts exteriors and cloisters; Durham Cathedral supplied corridors and a classroom, and Oxford's Bodleian became the library.

Which London building stood in for Gringotts Wizarding Bank in the film?

The Reptile House at London Zoo was used for the scene where Harry frees the snake.

Which real steam locomotive played the Hogwarts Express in the films?

Taw Valley had been repainted to promote the books but the director rejected it as too modern.

Who composed the film's score, including the owl-named theme that recurs through the whole series?

John Williams wrote the score and 'Hedwig's Theme', the celesta motif heard in all eight films; he had already scored Chris Columbus's Home Alone and Stepmom.

Who voices the Sorting Hat in the film?

Leslie Phillips, the Carry On veteran, voices the Sorting Hat; Warwick Davis plays Flitwick and also dubbed Griphook, whom Verne Troyer played on screen.

Which Monty Python member plays Nearly Headless Nick?

John Cleese plays the Gryffindor ghost Nearly Headless Nick, whose head hangs by a strip of skin after a botched beheading; he reprised the role in Chamber of Secrets.

Which Irish actor played Dumbledore in the first film?

Rowling allowed Irish casting; Michael Gambon took over after Harris died in 2002.

Roughly how much did the film gross worldwide on its original release?

The film took about $974 million worldwide on its first run, the highest gross of 2001; re-releases later lifted it past $1 billion.

Where did the film hold its world premiere on 4 November 2001?

The world premiere was at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on 4 November 2001; the film opened in UK and US cinemas on 16 November.

Where did the BBC's 2003 Big Read survey of favourite books place the first Harry Potter?

The Big Read ranked Philosopher's Stone 22nd, while Goblet of Fire reached number 5; The Lord of the Rings took the top spot.

What real first name did British copies print on the copyright page until September 1999?

Joanne Rowling is her real name; Bloomsbury asked for initials so boys would not be put off, and she borrowed the K from her grandmother Kathleen.

Which actress made her screen debut as Hermione Granger in the film?

Emma Watson, then ten, was cast as Hermione after her Oxford drama teacher put her forward; the film was her first professional acting job.

Who plays Professor McGonagall in the film?

Maggie Smith plays Professor McGonagall, the stern Transfiguration teacher who heads Gryffindor; Smith already had two Oscars, for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and California Suite.

Which director wanted to make the film as an animated feature with Haley Joel Osment voicing Harry?

Steven Spielberg pitched an animated version voiced by Haley Joel Osment, then left to make A.I. Artificial Intelligence, calling Potter 'shooting ducks in a barrel'.

Who plays Ron Weasley in the film?

Rupert Grint won the part of Ron Weasley after sending in a video audition in which he rapped about why he should be chosen; it was his first film.

Which Diagon Alley shop sells Harry his wand?

Ollivanders, 'Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC', sells Harry a holly and phoenix-feather wand whose twin core sits in the wand that gave him his scar.

Which piece does Harry play in the giant chess game beneath the trapdoor?

Harry takes the place of a bishop, Hermione a castle and Ron a knight; Ron's sacrifice lets Harry step three squares to the left and checkmate the white king.

Which future Draco Malfoy auditioned for both Harry and Ron?

Tom Felton read for Harry and Ron before being cast as Draco Malfoy; Daniel Radcliffe was announced as Harry on 21 August 2000 alongside the other two child leads.

Why does the film's Harry have blue eyes rather than the book's colour?

Rowling agreed to the change; Radcliffe said the glasses set off his allergies the first time he wore them.

Which famous church turned down the chance to be Hogwarts because of the film's 'pagan' theme?

Canterbury Cathedral's dean refused the filmmakers because of the story's pagan themes; Gloucester Cathedral took the cloister scenes instead.

In which Berkshire town was the real Privet Drive street filmed?

Picket Post Close in Martins Heron, Bracknell, played Privet Drive in the first film; a cheaper studio set replaced it for the sequels.

Which character was cast, filmed, and then cut entirely from the film?

Rik Mayall was cast as Peeves the poltergeist and shot his scenes, but every one of them was cut before the film's release.

Who is the Hogwarts librarian who chases Harry out of the library?

Madam Pince, the librarian, is a thin, irritable woman 'like an underfed vulture' who shoos Harry out when he cannot say what he is looking for.

What was the film's record-breaking opening weekend in the U.S. and Canada?

The film opened to $90.3 million in the U.S. and Canada, beating The Lost World's $72.1 million record and holding it until Spider-Man the following May.

Who plays Professor Quirrell in the film?

Ian Hart plays the stammering Professor Quirrell and also supplied the voice of Voldemort's face beneath the turban; Richard Bremmer played Voldemort's body in the flashback.

Rowling herself was considered for which role in the first film before turning it down?

Rowling was asked to play Lily Potter for the Mirror of Erised scene but declined; Geraldine Somerville was cast as Harry's mother instead.

Which comedian met Chris Columbus about playing Molly Weasley but was turned away by the British-only rule?

Rosie O'Donnell met Columbus about Molly Weasley but, as an American, fell foul of Rowling's casting rule; Julie Walters got the part.

Which North Yorkshire railway station was used for filming on 2 October 2000, days after production began?

Goathland station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway played Hogsmeade station, shot on 2 October 2000, three days after principal photography began at Leavesden.

Judianna Makovsky's Quidditch kit paired preppie sweaters with legwear borrowed from which sport?

Makovsky gave the Quidditch kit preppie sweaters, 19th-century fencing breeches and arm guards, after judging the robes on the American cover 'a mess'.

Which effects company animated Norbert, Hagrid's baby dragon, in the first film?

Rhythm & Hues animated the baby dragon Norbert; ILM built Voldemort's face on the back of Quirrell's head, and Sony Pictures Imageworks handled the Quidditch match.

Roughly how many special effects shots does the first Harry Potter film contain?

The first film has nearly 600 special effects shots, from the Quidditch match to the troll in the girls' toilets, spread across several effects houses including ILM.

The first film was nominated for three Oscars: Original Score, Costume Design and which other?

The third nomination was Art Direction, for Stuart Craig's sets and Stephenie McMillan's set decoration; the film won none of its three Oscars.