Harry Potter is an orphane raised by his uncle and aunt , Dursley , who lead a tough life . They lives in Little Whinging , Surrey , England . One summer , shortly before his eleventh birthday , Harry recived a letter inviting him to appear at the start of classes at the school of Witchcraft Hogwarts , Scotland . Despite the manoeuvres of his uncle and aunt to prevent him from going there , Rubeus Hagrid , a half-giant sent by Albus Dumbledore , the head of Hogwarts , will discover the world of Harry and sorcerers and go with him to King ' s Cross station in London , wher he will take the Hogwarts Express which will lead up to his new school . Harry discovers not only the existence of sorcerers , who live among the ' Muggle ' (people without any magical power ) while being concealed from them , but also the immense fame he enjoys : he is considering as the ' Survivor ' since , ten years earlier , his parents , wizards Lily Evans and James Potter , were killed by Voldemort , a powerful black magician who are then taken to Harry , the latter having survived , while Voldemort disappeared mysteriously . Once at Hogwarts , Harry will learnt to master and used the magic powers he has , and will make two inseparable friends : Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger , who will accompany him in all his vicissitudes .