The biggest difference here is that contrary to the film, Harry stays with the Dursleys for an additional month before it’s time to go to Hogwarts. They are equally afraid and angry at him and mostly act like he isn’t there. Finally, with him having to be at King’s Cross Station the next day, Harry goes to talk to Uncle Vernon. Dudley screams when Harry clears his throat and runs from the room. However, Uncle Vernon agrees to take Harry to King’s Cross Station, since they are going to London to have Dudley’s tail removed.

Uncle Vernon thinks it’s funny to drop Harry at the station and leave him there with no idea where to go. They see Platform 9 and Platform 10, but no Platform 9 3/4. The Dursleys drive away, laughing at Harry’s predicament.

The movie depicts the scene with Harry meeting the Weasleys and Molly helping him perfectly. Once on the platform, a few recurring characters first appear, such as Neville Longbottom and Lee Jordan. George Weasley comes to Harry’s aid, getting his trunk on the train. Harry then observes the Weasley family a bit, and this gives readers a bit more insight into the family dynamic. Molly also seems to already be protective of Harry. While Fred and George act like they’ve met a celebrity, Molly seems more concerned about him as a human and warns the twins off of bothering him about Voldemort.

Ron does sit with Harry on the train, and their conversation has more depth. Even though Harry has now found out his parents left him a considerable amount of money, he can commiserate with Ron getting hand-me-downs from his brothers because Harry only had Dudley’s old clothes to wear until he went away to Hogwarts. Ron is shocked when Harry uses Voldemort’s name without even thinking about it.

“I’m not trying to be brave or anything, saying the name,” said Harry, “I just never knew you shouldn’t. See what I mean? I’ve got loads to learn… I bet,” he added, voicing for the first time something that had been worrying him a lot lately, “I bet I’m the worst in the class.

Ron is really the first friend Harry has had. Harry enjoys sharing the candy off the cart with him, just because he’s never had anyone to share with before.

“So what do your oldest brothers do now that they’ve left, anyway?” Harry was wondering what a wizard did once he’d finished school.

I’d wondered that myself. There doesn’t seem to be much work unless you’re a storekeeper or work for the Ministry of Magic.

There are more details to the train ride, and Harry being immersed int he Wizarding World for the first time. It makes for a richer story, but what was shown in the film was a good adaptation. Scabbers the rat saves the day before Ron and Harry come to blows with Draco Malfoy and his gang.

Hagrid arrives to escort the first-year students from the train. Harry, Ron, Hermoine, and Neville are together in one of the boats taking them to Hogwarts.

Overall, this chapter is well represented in the film and what was cut doesn’t detract from the overall story.

Previous chapter (link): Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s (Philosopher’s) Stone Chapter 5: Diagon Alley

Next chapter (link): Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s (Philosopher’s) Stone Chapter 7: The Sorting Hat