Harry Potter’s Development of Friendships The novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling, is a story about an orphan named Harry Potter who is sent to live with his relatives, the Dursleys. For the first ten years of his life, Harry is hated and ignored by his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. Harry has never experienced a friendship with anyone until the day he is sent to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Throughout the school year, Harry develops a balance of friendship between Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Neville Longbottom. Each of them, has a need to belong somewhere. Together, they form a balance that make them each feel wanted in way that they have never known until they meet each other. On the train ride to Hogwarts, Harry discovers a lot of similarities with Ron Weasley. Together, Harry and Ron help each other through the hard times and remain loyal friends without trouble. Harry’s first encounter with Ron took place on the train to the Hogwarts School where he realizes how alike the two are. Ron explains, “ ‘You never get anything new … I’ve got Bill’s old robes, Charlie’s old wand, and Percy’s old rat’” (100). Ron having five older brothers, knows the meaning of sharing, while Harry, a boy who has never had anything to share, now had access to money. Harry describes that “ ‘After all, he’d never had any money in his life until a month ago’”(100). Harry decides to buy candy and share it with Ron. For the first time, Harry can share something with a person and Ron gets something that is not handed down. The two boys become friends easily because they are comfortable around each other. During many occasions, Ron risks getting into trouble to help Harry out. When Malfoy dares Harry to a Wizard’s duel, Ron is there to sneak out with Harry risking getting into major trouble with...
