The First and Last Lines of the Harry Potter Books Will Send You on a Roller Coaster of Emotions

The witches and wizards in the world of Harry Potter came a LONG way over the course of seven novels. If you're a hardcore fan, then it probably felt a bit like it was your own journey as well. Rereading the first line of The Sorcerer's Stone and the last line of The Deathly Hallows back to back will make you feel so many things. It's bittersweet, it's funny, it's nostalgic, and it will definitely make you smile. Or cry. Or both.

We put together the first and last sentences of all the books, and they'll remind you of everything, good and bad, that your favorite characters made it through (or didn't make it through; still not OK about the whole Fred thing, Rowling). Yet still, in the end, all was well.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

First line: "Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much."

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Warner Bros.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Last line: "I’m going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer . . ."

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

First line: "Not for the first time, an argument had broken out over breakfast at number four, Privet Drive."

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Last line: "And together they walked back through the gateway to the Muggle world."

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

First line: "Harry Potter was a highly unusual boy in many ways."

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Last line: "And, grinning broadly at the look of horror on Uncle Vernon’s face, Harry set off toward the station exit, Hedwig rattling along in front of him, for what looked like a much better summer than the last."

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

First line: "The villagers of Little Hangleton still called it 'the Riddle House,' even though it had been many years since the Riddle family had lived there."

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Warner Bros.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Last line: "As Hagrid had said, what would come, would come . . . and he would have to meet it when it did."

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

First line: "The hottest day of the summer so far was drawing to a close and a drowsy silence lay over the large, square houses of Privet Drive."

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Last line: "Instead he smiled, raised a hand in farewell, turned around, and led the way out of the station toward the sunlit street, with Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley hurrying along in his wake."

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

First line: "It was nearing midnight and the Prime Minister was sitting along in his office, reading a long memo that was slipping through his brain without leaving the slightest trace of meaning behind."

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Warner Bros.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Last line: "His hand closed automatically around the fake Horcrux, but in spite of everything, in spite of the dark and twisting path he saw stretching ahead for himself, in spite of the final meeting with Voldemort he knew must come, whether in a month, in a year, or in ten, he felt his heart lift at the thought that there was still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione."

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Warner Bros.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

First line: "The two men appeared out of nowhere, a few yards apart in the narrow, moonlit lane."