6 Sorcerer's Stone Movie Scenes That J.K. Rowling Didn't Write

Translating a book to the screen usually involves using different techniques to show some parts of the story.

This is what happened when J.K. Rowling's book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was made into a film. Here are six scenes that appeared in the film but were never in the book:

1. Harry plays with toys

Early in the film, we see Harry playing with toys. It's a fleeting moment, but it shows the soon-to-be wizard as a normal boy and places him very clearly as a child doing normal child things. It's likely that you didn't take any notice of this brief scene when you first saw it. But subconsciously, you'd have picked up on what it meant.

2. Harry makes a birthday wish

This scene is heart-wrenching. But it's also necessary. Once again, it shows Harry's human side. But it also displays his loneliness. While we never find out what he wished for, it seems almost certain that, at that moment, Harry wanted what we all wanted for him – friends and a place to belong.

3. Harry looks out of his dormitory window

In J.K. Rowling's book, Harry is out like a light as soon as his head hits the pillow. Given the day he's had up until then, that seems pretty normal. But giving us those few moments to contemplate things with him after all that had gone on was something we as viewers needed, even if book Harry couldn't keep his eyes open long enough.

4. Prof. McGonagall transforms into a cat

The entire story unravelled more slowly (and in more depth) in the books. And it wasn't until the Prisoner of Azkaban that readers first witnessed Prof. McGonagall's transformative powers. The moviemakers knew the series would be too far underway by then, so they showed what McGonagall could do right from the start, while we were still getting to grips with this wonderful new world.

5. Seamus blows up everything

In the books, Seamus has a single mishap when he inadvertently sets fire to a feather. In the movies, he blew up almost everything he touched, almost every time he appeared on screen. It was a nice little aside to the main plot and added a few moments of recurring humour.

6. Hagrid plays 'Hedwig's Theme'

It would have been weird if J.K. Rowling had written about how Hagrid played the theme tune to a film she didn't yet know would ever exist. So it should come as no surprise that his little ditty on the flute was made up for the screen. But it was a great little addition.