Extract from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Year-5 English Day 1 Extract

Sep 15, 2026

An opening excerpt from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone follows Hagrid as he brings the firs'-years to Hogwarts and Professor McGonagall delivers their first instruction. The scene emphasizes the grandeur of the Entrance Hall and Great Hall, introduces the sorting into the four houses, and highlights the nerves of new students. Ghosts intrude briefly before the ceremony begins, setting anticipation for the test ahead.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

Arrival and briefing in the castle

Welcome to Hogwarts and house sorting

The Great Hall and the ceremony approaching

Extract from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door. The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Harry’s first thought was that this was not someone to cross. ‘The firs’-years, Professor McGonagall,’ said Hagrid.‘Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here.’ She pulled the door wide. The Entrance Hall was so big you could have fitted the whole of the Dursleys’ house init. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors. They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Harry could hear the drone of hundreds ofvoices from a doorway to the right – the rest of the school must already be here – but Professor McGonagall showed the first-years into a small empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously. ‘Welcome to Hogwarts,’ said Professor McGonagall.‘The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. ‘The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each ofyou will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. ‘The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest ofthe school. I suggest you allsmarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting.’ Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville’s cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron’s smudged nose. Harry nervously tried to flatten his hair. ‘I shall return when we are ready for you,’ said Professor McGonagall.‘Please wait quietly.’She left the chamber. Harry swallowed. ‘How exactly do they sort us into houses?’ he asked Ron. ‘Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking.’ Harry’s heart gave a horrible jolt. A test? In front of the whole school? But he didn’t know any magic yet – what on earth would he have to do? He hadn’t expected something like this the moment they arrived. He looked around anxiously and saw that everyone else looked terrified too. No one was talking much except Hermione Granger, who was whispering very fast about all the spells she’d learnt and wondering which one she’d need. Harry tried hard not to listen to her. He’d never been more nervous, never, not even when he’d had to take a school report home to the Dursleys saying that he’d somehow turned his teacher’s wig blue. He kept his eyes fixed on the door. Any second now, Professor McGonagall would come back and lead him to his doom. Then something happened which made him jump about a foot in the air – several people behind him screamed. ‘What the –?’ He gasped. So did the people around him. About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to each other and hardly glancing at the first-years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying,‘Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance –’ ‘My dear Friar, haven’t we given Peeves all the chanceshe deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you

FAQs

Who brings the first-years to Hogwarts, and who takes over from him?

Hagrid brings the firs'-years to the castle door, and Professor McGonagall takes them from there.

What is the Sorting Ceremony, and why is it important?

The Sorting Ceremony places students into one of four houses. The house becomes like their family at Hogwarts and determines classes, dormitory, and where they spend free time.

What happens just before the Sorting starts in the chamber?

Several ghosts stream through the back wall and begin arguing, after which Professor McGonagall returns and orders the first-years to form a line.

Sep 15, 2026

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