discovers that the school is hiding a special jewel called the Sorcerer’s Stone, made by an alchemist named Nicholas Flamel, which “will make the drinker immortal” (Ch. 13). It is being guarded in a secret part of the castle.

Harry heard two of his teachers, Snape and Quirrel, discussing the Stone. Since Quirrell was a sniveling wimp and Snape was overbearing and seemed to not like Harry, Harry assumed that Snape was the enemy. He had also seen Snape with scratches on his leg, and assumed that he had tangled with the Three-headed dog guarding the Stone ("Fluffy").

"Blasted thing," Snape was saying. "How are you supposed to keep your eyes on all three heads at once?" (Ch. 11)

It does look suspicious. Snape is also plenty mad when he sees Harry. You can see how Harry would come to the conclusion that Snape is the one trying to get the Stone. Harry and Hermione also think that Snape is trying to curse Harry during a Quidditch match, but Snape is trying to perform a counter-curse (Ch. 17).

Harry and his two friends, Ron and Hermione, had to undergo a series of tests to get to the stone. These included a killer plant, a chess match, a Quidditch test with flying keys, and a potion riddle, before Harry finally got to the end.

Once reaching the end, he found himself faced with Professor Quirrell and the Mirror of Erised. This mirror was something that Harry was familiar with. He knew that it showed a person what he desired most. (“Erised” is “desire” spelled backwards, because the mirror twists our desire).

Quirrell had passed all of the other tests, but was flummoxed by this one. It turned out that the evil Dark Wizard Lord Voldemort was using him for a host.

Quirrell came back out from behind the mirror and stared hungrily into it.
"I see the Stone... I'm presenting it to my master... but where is it?" (Ch. 17)

Since Quirrell does not have an innocent motive, he will never get the Stone. This was Dumbledore, the Headmaster’s plan. The mirror is the final test. Harry has it and is able to keep it safe. Voldemort and Quirrell can’t get him, or the Stone. Dumbledore and the others are able to come and rescue Harry after he passes out. Dumbledore explains to him when he wakes up that only someone who wanted to find the Stone and protect it, but not use it, would be able to get it. He tells him the stone has been destroyed.

This is a conflict that did not get entirely resolved. It was not really Quirrell that Harry was battling, it was Voldemort. Harry will have to face him again and again, because he is the determined to rule the world, and Harry is determined to stop him.  

At the beginning of the novel, the main conflict is the conflict between Harry Potter and the family with which he lives. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley treat Harry like an animal or a slave. He is forced to live in a small cupboard under the stairs, and he is given just enough food to keep him from starving. He is also bullied relentlessly by Mr. and Mrs. Dursley's large son, Dudley.

Later in the story, when Harry arrives at Hogwarts, the main conflicts are the conflicts between Harry and Professor Snape on the one hand, and Harry and another schoolboy, Draco Malfoy, on the other. Professor Snape seems to have an irrational hatred of Harry and even bullies Harry in his lessons. Malfoy, meanwhile, taunts Harry about his dead parents, telling him at one point,

I'd be careful if I were you Potter ... Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as you parents. They didn't know what was good for them either.

While all of these conflicts are important, the most important conflict in this book, and throughout all of the subsequent books, is the conflict between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort. Early in the story we learn that Lord Voldemort tried to kill Harry when Harry was just a baby. We also learn that in trying to kill Harry, Lord Voldemort killed Harry's parents. Harry and Voldemort meet at the end of the book. Lord Voldemort, having possessed the body of Professor Quirrell, tries to kill Harry again. Harry manages to escape, but Voldemort lives on, and the conflict is resumed in the subsequent books.

The conflict between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort is the main conflict in the book because it epitomizes the conflict between good and evil. It is also the main conflict because it is the most consequential. Harry wants to defeat Lord Voldemort to get revenge for his parents' deaths, but he also needs to defeat Lord Voldemort in order to save the whole world. Lord Voldemort, on the other hand, needs to defeat Harry Potter in order to eliminate the only real threat to his power and to thus consolidate that power.

[eNotes editors are only permitted to answer one question per posting. Additional questions need to be posted separately. For additional information, visit the links at the bottom of this posting.]

This is the first of the Harry Potter books. J.K. Rowling's first novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone introduces the audience to Harry Potter who is left as a foundling on a doorstep, and his life with the Dursley's (whom he grows up with) is not pleasant for him. However, once he is of age, Hagrid comes to take Harry to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Once there he makes friends and begins his formal education in learning about spells and magic.

The main conflict revolves around Voldemort who wants the Sorcerer's Stone and all the power it can afford him. At one point Voldemort attacks Harry in the woods. A centaur Harry meets there tells him about Voldemort's desire to obtain the Sorcerer's Stone, and Harry decides he will get it first.

Toward the end of the novel, Harry goes up to the third-floor corridor that is forbidden to the students. Here Voldemort while in control of Quirrell's body tries to kill Harry. Harry resists Quirrell, and Voldemort demands to see Harry: Voldemort's face is on the back of Quirrell's head. Harry and Voldemort begin to fight.

It is Dumbledore who saves Harry, and he tells Harry that the Sorcerer's Stone will be destroyed. This ends the main conflict of the story.