Harry Potter: Profile of a teenage wizard

Harry Potter, as created by author J.K. Rowling, is a teenage wizard.

His parents, both wizards themselves, are killed by the evil Lord Voldemort when Harry is only a year old. Harry somehow survives the attack but receives a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead as a result.

He is subsequently brought up by his muggle (non-wizard) aunt and uncle, Marge and Vernon Dursley, and their oafish son Dudley.

On his 11th birthday, Harry, who has up to that point been unaware of his magical heritage, discovers his true identity and is whisked away to begin training at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry under the headmastership of Albus Dumbledore.

Here he meets his two closest friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, and strikes up a relationship with Hagrid, the giant Hogwarts gamekeeper. He also discovers an aptitude for Quidditch, a high-speed wizard sport played on broomsticks.

All is not fun and spells, however. Harry makes enemies of brooding potions master Severus Snape and fellow pupil Draco Malfoy.

And always in the background is lurking arch-villain Lord Voldemort ("You-know-who"), waiting for the opportunity to finish the business he began when Harry was just a baby.

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