History TearJerker / HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone

** Dumbledore comments that people have wasted away in front of the Mirror and even gone insane because of what it showed them, not knowing if what they saw was real or even possible. Witches and wizards we've never known have spent days and weeks staring into the Mirror, dying of hunger and thirst but not caring, just to be with empty reflections of dead or lost loved ones they'll never see again.

** A subtly sad moment occurs during Dumbledore's conversation with Harry, when he says that Harry has never known his family, but sees them when he looks into the Mirror. The Dursleys may be related to him by blood, but they've been nothing but cruel to him ever since was a baby. He's not part of their family, and they're not part of his.

** A subtly sad moment occurs during Dumbledore's conversation with Harry, when he says that Harry has never known his family. The Dursleys may be related to him by blood, but they've been nothing but cruel to him ever since was a baby. He's not part of their family, and they're not part of his.

** A subtle tearjerker occurs during Dumbledore's conversation with Harry, when he says that Harry has never known his family. The Dursleys may be related to him by blood, but they've never treated him as part of their family.

** A subtle tearjerker occurs during Dumbledore's conversation with Harry, when he says that Harry has never known his family. The Dursleys may be related to him by blood, but they've never treated him as one of the family.

* The Mirror of Erised. It shows the most inner desires of who is in front of it, and in Harry's case, it's what some kids take for granted: his parents, alive, and not just them, his whole family, several of his relatives from his extended family are in the mirror, smiling at him. Harry grew up with his aunt and uncle, but they were abusive and he grew up with no love and with an unhappy childhood for 10 years, and as we later find out at the end of the fourth book, he never even felt a mother's hug. For a few days, he even ends up obsessing over this mirror, going out late at night to see them again. In the movie, there's even a part where Lily puts an end on her son's shoulder, but Harry looks at himself and notices that it's only what's in the mirror. Poor kid...

* The Mirror of Erised. It shows the most inner desires of who is in front of it, and in Harry's case, it's what some kids take for granted: his parents, alive, and not just them, his whole family, several of his relatives from his extended family are in the mirror, smiling at him. Harry grew up with his aunt and uncle, but they were abusive and grew up with no love and with an unhappy childhood for 10 years, and as we later find out at the end of the fourth book, he never even felt a mother's hug. For a few days, he even ends up obsessing over this mirror, going out late at night to see them again. In the movie, there's even a part where Lily puts an end on her son's shoulder, but Harry looks at himself and notices that it's only what's in the mirror. Poor kid...

* After Harry is named the new Seeker of Gryffindor's Quidditch team, he's worried that he'll make a fool of himself, since he's never played Quidditch before. Hermione reassures him that he won't because it's "[[InTheBlood in his blood]]." She then shows him and Ron a trophy case for the school's past Quidditch teams, which reveals that Harry's father James was a Seeker as well. While this scene starts out as heartwarming, it quickly turns heartbreaking with one simple exchange between Harry and Ron, and it fully sinks in that, until he came to Hogwarts, Harry pretty much knew '''''nothing''''' about who his parents were and what they were like, no thanks to the Dursleys.

* It's also a bit of a tough read when the rest of the students (or so it seems) turns on Harry, Hermione and Neville after they lose 150 points for Gryffindor. Harry can hear Neville sobbing in his bed, [[ThisIsGonnaSuck knowing what awaits them the next day]]. The entire Quidditch team (including Fred and George Weasley) refuses to speak to Harry and only refer to him as 'the Seeker' if they need to speak about him - Harry even trying to resign in disgrace. Hermione likewise [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness stops drawing attention to herself in class]].

** Then in Chapters 2-3, you find out how right those misgivings were. The Dursleys, as much as possible, [[ParentalNeglect act as if Harry wasn't there]], keep him in the cupboard under the stairs so he takes up as little space as possible, give him only hand-me-downs from Dudley so they can spend as little on him as possible, and ignore/enable Dudley and his friends bullying him not only at home but even at school (with not a single classmate or schoolmate even trying to do anything because of how clearly Harry is their target) to the point where he had to run away from them often and once while running he ended up on the school roof. Not to mention, whenever something weird happens, they are quick to punish Harry.

** Then in Chapters 2-3, you find out how right those misgivings were. The Dursleys, as much as possible, [[ParentalNeglect act as if Harry wasn't there]], keep him in the cupboard under the stairs so he takes up as little space as possible, give him only hand-me-downs from Dudley so they can spend as little on him as possible, and ignore/enable Dudley and his friends bullying him not only at home but even at school to the point where he had to run away from them often and once while running he ended up on the school roof. Not to mention, whenever something weird happens, they are quick to punish Harry.

* It's also a bit of a tough read when the rest of the students (or so it seems) turns on Harry, Hermione and Neville after they lose 150 points for Gryffindor. Harry can hear Neville sobbing in his bed, [[ThisIsGonnaSuck knowing what awaits them the next day]]. The entire Quidditch team refuses to speak to Harry and only refer to him as 'the Seeker' if they need to speak about him - Harry even trying to resign in disgrace. Hermione likewise [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness stops drawing attention to herself in class]].

* It's also a bit of a tough read when the rest of the students (or so it seems) turns on Harry, Hermione and Neville after they lose 150 points for Gryffindor. Harry can hear Neville sobbing his bed, [[ThisIsGonnaSuck knowing what awaits them the next day]]. The entire Quidditch team refuses to speak to Harry and only refer to him as 'the Seeker' if they need to speak about him - Harry even trying to resign in disgrace. Hermione likewise [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness stops drawing attention to herself in class]].

* Towards the end of chapter one, Dumbledore makes it clear to [=McGonagall=] that he does intend to leave Harry with relatives who will probably abuse him just for having magical powers, and she protests. When Hagrid arrives with the baby and Dumbledore gets Harry, the gentle giant actually whines and cries because of how sad it is and even [=McGonagall=] seems close to tears. After putting Harry down on the doorstep, Dumbledore himself also stares at him for a while from the distance before leaving.
** Then in chapters 2-3, you find out how right those misgivings were. The Dursleys, as much as possible, act as if Harry wasn't there, keep him in the cupboard under the stairs so he takes up as little space as possible, give him only hand-me-downs from Dudley so they can spend as little on him as possible, and ignore/enable Dudley and his friends bullying him not only at home but even at school to the point where he had to run away from them often and once while running he ended up on the school roof. Not to mention, whenever something weird happens, they are quick to punish Harry.
* Eleven-year-old Harry looking into the Mirror of Erised and seeing his dead family is a heartwarming and heartbreaking moment and somewhat iconic in terms of the series as a whole. Dumbledore's claim that the Mirror shows himself with socks is hard to read after you've read ''Deathly Hallows'' and know what he ''really'' sees. The same as Harry does, his family, alive and well.
* Ron's HeroicSacrifice during the chess game, he lives in the end though.
* The film's version of the Hut on the Rock. While his relatives sleep, Harry celebrates the coming of his 11th birthday... by drawing an image of his birthday cake out of soot on the floor, making a wish, and blowing out the candles as midnight passes. And considering how his life has been so far, you have to wonder whether this was the first time he's done this. (It does make the cake Hagrid gives him moments later that much [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments sweeter]], though.)

* Ron saying that Hermione didn't have any friends and, given her tearful reaction, it was rather harsh. She is just a good student and, being muggle born, likely has to deal with issues from all sorts of other students and not-so-nice teachers, so being mocked about her apparent lonliness could have [[HarsherInHindsight led her down the same path of another brainy Muggle-born girl with no-known friends.]]
* After Harry is named the new Seeker on Gryffindor’s Quidditch team, he’s worried that he’ll make a fool of himself, since he’s never played Quidditch before. Hermione reassures him that he won’t, because it’s “in his blood”. She then shows him and Ron a trophy case for the school’s past Quidditch teams, which reveals that Harry’s father was a Seeker as well. While this scene starts out as heartwarming, it quickly turns heartbreaking with one simple exchange between Harry and Ron, and it fully sinks in that until he came to Hogwarts, Harry pretty much knew '''''nothing''''' about who his parents were and what they were like, no thanks to the Dursleys.
-->'''Ron:''' Whoa... Harry, you didn’t tell me your father was a Seeker, too!\\
'''Harry:''' I... ''didn’t know''...

** Then in chapters 2-3 you find out how right those misgivings were. The Dursleys, as much as possible, act as if Harry wasn't there, keep him in the cupboard under the stairs so he takes up as little space as possible, give him only hand-me-downs from Dudley so they can spend as little on him as possible, and ignore/enable Dudley and his friends bullying him not only at home but even at school to the point where he had to run away from them often and once while running he ended up on the school roof. Not to mention, whenever something weird happens, they are quick to punish Harry.

'''Harry:''' I... ''didn’t know''…

* The film's version of the Hut on the Rock. While his relatives sleep, Harry celebrates the coming of his 11th birthday... by drawing an image of his birthday cake out of soot on the floor, making a wish, and blowing out the candles as midnight passes. And considering how his life has been so far, you have to wonder whether this was the first time he's done this. (It does make the cake Hagrid gives him moments later that much [[HeartwarmingMoments sweeter]], though.)

* After Harry is named the new Seeker on Gryffindor’s Quidditch team, he’s worried that he’ll make a fool of himself, since he’s never played Quidditch before. Hermione reassures him that he won’t, because it’s “in his blood”. She then shows him and Ron a trophy case for the school’s past Quidditch teams, whom Harry’s father was the Seeker of. While this scene starts out as heartwarming, it quickly turns heartbreaking with one simple exchange between Harry and Ron, and it fully sinks in that until he came to Hogwarts, Harry pretty much knew '''''nothing''''' about who his parents were and what they were like, no thanks to the Dursleys.

* After Harry is named the new Seeker on Gryffindor’s Quidditch team, he’s worried that he’ll make a fool of himself, since he’s never played Quidditch before. Hermione reassures him that he won’t, because it’s “in his blood”. She then shows him and Ron a trophy case for the school’s past Quidditch teams, whom Harry’s father was the Seeker of. While this scene starts out as Heartwarming, it quickly turns into this with one simple exchange between Harry and Ron, and it fully sinks in that until he came to Hogwarts, Harry pretty much knew '''''nothing''''' about who his parents were and what they were like, no thanks to the Dursleys.

* After Harry is named the new Seeker on Gryffindor’s Quidditch team, he’s worried that he’ll make a fool of himself,. Hermione reassures him that he won’t, because it’s “in his blood”. She then shows him and Ron a trophy case for the school’s past Quidditch teams, whom Harry’s father was the Seeker of. While this scene starts out as Heartwarming, it quickly turns into this with one simple exchange between Harry and Ron, and it fully sinks in that until he came to Hogwarts, Harry pretty much knew '''''nothing''''' about who his parents were and what they were like, no thanks to the Dursleys.

* Ron saying that Hermione didn't have any friends and, given her tearful reaction, it was rather harsh. She is just a good student and, being muggle born, likely has to deal with issues from all sorts of other students and not-so-nice teachers, so being mocked about her apparent lonliness could have [[HarsherInHindsight led her down the same path of another brainy Muggle-born girl with no-known friends.]]

* Eleven-year-old Harry looking into the Mirror of Erised and seeing his dead family is a heartwarming and heartbreaking moment and somewhat iconic in terms of the series as a whole. Dumbledore's claim that the Mirror shows himself with socks is hard to read after you've read ''Deathly Hallows'' and know what he ''really'' sees. [[spoiler:The same as Harry does, his family, alive and well]].

* Ron saying that Hermione didn't have any friends and, given her tearful reaction, it was rather harsh. She is just a good student and, being muggle born, likely has to deal with issues from all sorts of other students and not-so-nice teachers, so being mocked about her apparent lonliness could have made her [[HarsherInHindsight led her down the same path of another brainy Muggle-born girl with no-known friends.]]

* In the film's version of the Hut on the Rock, while his relatives sleep, Harry celebrates the coming of his 11th birthday by...drawing an image of his birthday cake in the dust on the floor, making a wish, and blowing out the candles as midnight passes. And considering how his life has been so far, you have to wonder whether this was the first time he's done this. (It does make the cake Hagrid gives him moments later that much [[HeartwarmingMoments sweeter]], though.)

* In the film's version of the Hut on the Rock, while his relatives sleep, Harry celebrates the coming of his 11th birthday by...drawing an image of his birthday cake in the dust on the floor, making a wish, and blowing out the candles as midnight passes. And considering how his life has been so far, you have to wonder whether this was the first time he's done this. (It does make the cake Hagrid gives him moments later that much [[HeartwarmingMoments sweeter]], though.)

[[caption-width-right:300:''"Mom....Dad?''"]]