Harry Potter Books Ranked

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Harry Potter, Book 3

Harry Potter, Libro 3

On the eve of his thirteenth birthday, Harry Potter receives presents from his school friends through Owl Post. The following day, news breaks of a prison escapee named Black, just as Aunt Marge arrives for a visit. After an argument results in Harry unintentionally inflating her, he runs away, encountering a large, ominous black dog before being picked up by the Knight Bus. Once in Diagon Alley, he's introduced to Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, and reunites with his friends Ron and Hermione. Hermione acquires a cat named Crookshanks, who relentlessly pursues Ron's old rat, Scabbers. Before heading to Hogwarts School, Harry overhears a conversation revealing that the escaped prisoner, Sirius Black, is targeting him.

Once at Hogwarts, Harry experiences fainting spells due to the chilling presence of Dementors, entities tasked with recapturing Black. Professor Lupin, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, revives him. In Divination class, a prophecy of Harry's death is made after the symbol of a Grim, a large black dog signifying death, is spotted. Meanwhile, a Hippogriff named Buckbeak injures Malfoy, causing a fiasco that threatens Hagrid, the creature's caretaker, with job loss, and Buckbeak with death. During a tea with Lupin, Harry learns the reason he wasn't allowed to face a Boggart, a creature embodying one's greatest fear, in class was due to Lupin's concern that it would morph into Voldemort. Soon after, Black infiltrates Hogwarts and destroys the portrait protecting Gryffindor Tower. 

With the assistance of the Marauder's Map provided by the Weasley twins, Harry secretly enters Hogsmeade, where he learns of Black's involvement in his parents' death. After a series of events, including receiving a suspiciously sent Firebolt broomstick and reconciling with his friends, Harry, Ron, and Hermione confront Black in the Shrieking Shack. They discover Lupin's werewolf nature and that Black is innocent. Instead, Peter Pettigrew, who had been hiding as Scabbers the rat, is the real traitor. Lupin's transformation into a werewolf amidst the full moon leads to chaos, with Black assuming his dog form to protect the children, and Harry being saved from the Dementors by a Patronus charm. Dumbledore later advises Harry and Hermione to use a time-turner to rescue both Black and Buckbeak. After successfully doing so and losing Lupin as a professor, Harry receives a letter from Black, lifting his spirits as he heads back to the Dursleys for the summer.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter y el Prisionero de Azkaban

Harry Potter, Book 2

Harry Potter, Libro 2

During a dreary summer spent with his sole remaining relatives, the Dursleys, Harry is warned by Dobby, a house-elf, against returning to his magical school, Hogwarts. Ignoring the warning, Harry causes chaos in the kitchen, inciting the Dursleys' rage and leading to his confinement for the summer. However, Harry's friend, Ron Weasley, rescues him with a flying car, and Harry spends the rest of the summer with the welcoming Weasley family. On their return to Hogwarts, Harry and Ron encounter obstacles and take the flying car all the way to the school, landing haphazardly and thus earning detention.

Upon their return to Hogwarts, Harry and Ron become embroiled in a mystery when strange petrifications begin occurring. During a Quidditch match, Harry is hit by a bewitched ball, causing him to lose all the bones in his arm. In an unexpected twist, Harry discovers he can speak Parseltongue, a rare ability to communicate with snakes, traditionally linked with the Slytherin family. As more students are petrified, suspicion falls on Harry due to his newly unveiled ability.

Aware of their need to find the true culprit, Harry, Ron, and Hermione utilise a potion known as Polyjuice to impersonate Slytherin students and question their suspect, Malfoy. Learning that he is not the heir of Slytherin, they find themselves at a dead end. However, Harry's discovery of a mysterious diary leads to a shocking revelation about the Chamber of Secrets, its monster, and its true perpetrator. Braving the Chamber, Harry defeats a basilisk with the help of a phoenix and a magical sword, saving Ron's sister Ginny and destroying the diary, which turns out to be a vessel for a younger version of the evil Voldemort. After emerging victorious, Harry manages to free Dobby from his master, Lucius Malfoy, bringing the tumultuous school year to a satisfying end.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter y la Cámara de los Secretos

Harry Potter, Book 4

Harry Potter, Libro 4

The narrative commences with an incident occurring half a century ago, revolving around the unexplained murders of the Riddle family and the subsequent suspicion and acquittal of their groundskeeper, Frank Bryce. Fast forward to the present, Bryce, now elderly, investigates a light in the Riddle house, inadvertently overhearing a plot to murder a boy named Harry Potter by Voldemort and his accomplice, Wormtail. This discovery leads to his tragic death. Meanwhile, Harry Potter experiences pain in his scar, given to him by Voldemort, and pens a letter to his godfather, Sirius Black, about it. Soon afterwards, he is whisked away to the Weasley household before attending the Quidditch World Cup with them, where they witness Ireland's victory, despite Viktor Krum catching the Snitch for Bulgaria. The festivities, however, are interrupted by the Death Eaters, leading to panic and confusion. 

School continues with the introduction of Mad-Eye Moody as the new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher and the announcement of the Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts. The selection of Harry as a competitor, despite his young age, causes a rift between him and his friend, Ron. Meanwhile, Hermione starts a campaign to free house-elves, and Harry learns to defend himself against the Imperius Curse. The champions of the tournament face their first task - dragons - and Harry manages to successfully retrieve the golden egg. Following this, the Yule Ball is announced, leading to a series of romantic entanglements and misunderstandings among the students. Harry's encounter with Cedric about the first task's clue leads him to prepare for the second task, which involves rescuing hostages from a lake. Despite emerging last, he gains high marks for his moral fiber.

The tournament's final challenge involves a maze, which Harry and Cedric navigate successfully, only to be transported to a far-off graveyard. There, Cedric is immediately killed, and Harry is bound and used in a ritual to restore Voldemort to his full power. A duel ensues, during which Harry manages to escape with Cedric's body. Back at the school, he is confronted by Moody, who reveals himself to be a Death Eater in disguise. However, before he can harm Harry further, Dumbledore and other professors intervene. As the school year concludes, Dumbledore makes an announcement about the return of Voldemort, a claim the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, vehemently refuses to believe. Despite the grim circumstances, Harry finds a way to help his friends, the Weasleys, by funding their joke shop, and he returns to spend his summer with the Dursleys.

Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire

Harry Potter y el Cáliz de Fuego

Harry Potter, Book 5

Harry Potter, Libro 5

The young wizard Harry Potter once again endures a dull summer with his unpleasant relatives until he is ambushed by malevolent entities known as "dementors." After defending himself with magic, he is escorted by a group of wizards to a secret location in London, the residence of his godfather, Sirius Black. This location also serves as the base for the Order of the Phoenix, a clandestine organization of wizards devoted to combating the infamous Lord Voldemort and his followers, led by the wise Albus Dumbledore. The organization operates covertly due to the Ministry of Magic's refusal to acknowledge Voldemort's return, led by the obtuse Cornelius Fudge.

After defending himself against the dementors using magic, Harry must attend a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic as use of magic is forbidden for underage wizards outside school premises. With Dumbledore's support, Harry is acquitted and allowed to recommence his studies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Upon his return, Harry learns his new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is Dolores Umbridge, a Ministry employee. As she refuses to instruct students in defense spells, Harry, along with his best friends Hermione and Ron, form their own group known as the D.A., or Dumbledore's Army, to learn and practice defensive spells. Despite obstacles and persecution from Umbridge, they press on, their determination only further fueled by unjust articles in the wizard newspaper and the ban on Harry from the Gryffindor Quidditch team. 

Throughout this period, Harry is haunted by recurring dreams about the Department of Mysteries inside the Ministry of Magic, particularly a room full of glass spheres. The disturbing dreams culminate in a vision of him attacking Ron's father as a snake, which leads to Harry being taught Occlumency by Professor Snape to safeguard his mind against Voldemort. The struggle continues with the D.A. being discovered, Dumbledore's resignation, and the onset of their O.W.L. exams. Harry's decision to save Sirius from a vision of torture leads to a confrontation at the Ministry with Death Eaters where Sirius is tragically killed. Despite the grief, the prophecy contained in the sphere reveals that Harry possesses a power unknown to Voldemort: love. He learns that he must remain with his disagreeable relatives during the summers as his mother's sacrificial love provides him protection. With this revelation, he returns to his relatives for another arduous summer.

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix

Harry Potter y la Orden del Fénix

Harry Potter, Book 6

Harry Potter, Libro 6

Voldemort has regained his power, causing havoc in both the Muggle and Wizarding worlds. Severus Snape, known as an adversary of Voldemort and part of the Order of the Phoenix, associates himself with Narcissa Malfoy, mother of Draco and wife of the captured Death Eater, Lucius. He pledges to protect Draco through an Unbreakable Vow. Dumbledore retrieves Harry from his relatives, stopping on the way to persuade Horace Slughorn to resume his teaching post at Hogwarts. Harry suspects Draco to be a Death Eater, following an encounter in a shop where Draco was heard threatening a shopkeeper to repair an unknown item. Upon returning to Hogwarts, they are surprised to learn that Snape is the new professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts. 

Harry discovers a second-hand Potions textbook previously owned by "The Half-Blood Prince," filled with numerous spells and amendments. Using these notes, Harry excels in Potions. He also has regular meetings with Dumbledore, where they review memories of people who have encountered Voldemort, aiming to understand his history better. Throughout these sessions, Harry discovers that Voldemort has split his soul into seven Horcruxes, two of which have already been destroyed. Meanwhile, Ron starts dating Lavender, causing jealousy in Hermione. Harry eventually develops feelings for Ginny, Ron's sister, and after Ron and Lavender break up, Hermione is relieved. Harry spends his time juggling between his Quidditch captaincy and tracking Draco Malfoy. 

Harry and Dumbledore embark on a quest to destroy another of Voldemort's Horcruxes, Merope's locket. After overcoming several traps and challenges, they retrieve the locket and return to Hogwarts, only to find the Dark Mark hovering over the astronomy tower. The duo rushes towards the tower, where Draco Malfoy threatens Dumbledore's life. Snape appears, killing Dumbledore and escaping, leaving Harry devastated. Harry discovers that the locket they retrieved is not a Horcrux, but contains a note from someone named "R. A. B." He decides to leave Hogwarts and search for the remaining Horcruxes to defeat Voldemort, with Ron and Hermione vowing to join him.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter y el Príncipe Mestizo

Harry Potter, Book 1

Harry Potter, Libro 1

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal

Harry Potter, Book 7

Harry Potter, Libro 7

At the Malfoy residence, Snape shares with Voldemort the information regarding Harry's moving plans organized by his friends. Harry, who is preparing to leave his Privet Drive home, reads two obituaries for Dumbledore, sparking a realization that he may not have known him as intimately as he assumed. Given the increasing danger from Voldemort, the Dursleys have to disappear too. Harry's transfer to the Weasleys’ residence, the Burrow, is led by the Order of the Phoenix and involves six of Harry’s allies taking a potion to mimic his appearance as a decoy. Snape’s tip-off to the Death Eaters results in an attack on Harry and his friends. Despite Voldemort’s chase, Harry’s wand wards him off mysteriously. Upon landing at the Burrow, Harry is informed about Moody's death and George Weasley's injury. Harry then starts receiving visions of Voldemort’s actions.

Harry, along with Ron and Hermione, gather necessary resources for the quest that Dumbledore left them: locating and destroying the Horcruxes, into which Voldemort had split his soul to gain immortality. The three are handed items from Dumbledore's will by the Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour. The trio are initially clueless about the importance of these items. As the Weasleys host a wedding, it gets disrupted by Death Eaters announcing Voldemort’s control over the Ministry of Magic. On the run, the trio teleport to London only to be attacked by Death Eaters. They find refuge at Sirius Black’s enchanted house, where they make sense of the initials R.A.B. and the stolen Horcrux locket. They summon Kreacher, the house-elf, who reveals the locket's whereabouts.

Once they have the locket, the trio are forced to abandon the house due to a Death Eater threat. Moving from one spot to another, they remain clueless about the next Horcrux or how to destroy the locket. Harry continues to receive visions of Voldemort’s pursuits. In a forest, they learn about the real Sword of Gryffindor's power to destroy Horcruxes. After a brief falling out, Ron returns to the group, rescuing Harry and destroying the locket. They then learn about the Deathly Hallows from Xenophilius Lovegood but narrowly escape his attempt to betray them to the Death Eaters. They get caught and are taken to Malfoy Manor where they escape with the help of Dobby, the house-elf. Breaking into a Gringotts bank vault with the help of Griphook the goblin, they steal the Hufflepuff Cup. Harry, through a vision, learns about the final Horcrux at Hogwarts, leading to a huge battle as Voldemort and his followers attack the school. Snape's memories reveal Harry's destiny and his sacrifice leads to the final duel where Harry kills Voldemort. In the end, Harry, now married to Ginny, and Ron and Hermione, see their children off to Hogwarts.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter y las Reliquias de la Muerte

7 Best Harry Potter Books of All Time

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter, Book 3

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter, Book 2

Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire

Harry Potter, Book 4

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix

Harry Potter, Book 5

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter, Book 6

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter, Book 1

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter, Book 7

Sources

What To Read Next

7 Best Harry Potter Books of All Time

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter, Book 3

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter, Book 2

Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire

Harry Potter, Book 4

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix

Harry Potter, Book 5

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter, Book 6

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter, Book 1

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter, Book 7

Sources

What To Read Next

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