Harry Potter by Scholastic – the American publisher of the books – as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", after Rowling had received US$105,000 for the American rights – a record amount for a children's book by an unknown author. Fearing that American readers would not associate the word "philosopher" with magic (although the Philosopher's Stone is an ancient tradition in alchemy), Scholastic insisted that the book be given the title "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" for the American market. The second book, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", was originally published in the UK on 2 July 1998 and
Harry Potter magic. I so understand why Voldemort wants to conquer death. We're all frightened of it." Rowling stated that ""Harry Potter" books have always, in fact, dealt explicitly with religious themes and questions" and that she did not reveal its Christian parallels in the beginning because doing so would have "give[n] too much away to fans who might then see the parallels." In the final book of the series "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", Rowling makes the book's Christian imagery more explicit, quoting both and when Harry visits his parents' graves. Hermione Granger teaches Harry Potter that the meaning of