The Boy Who Lived (PS)
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The Boy Who Lived is the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
Contents |
The Dursleys
The book starts with the introduction of Vernon and Petunia Dursley, who live in number four, Privet Drive. They are "perfectly normal". Mr. Dursley, a large man, is the director of a firm called Grunnings; Mrs. Dursley is a thin, blonde and nosy woman. The two have a son called Dudley.
The Dursleys' biggest and darkest secret was the existence of Petunia's sister, with whom she hadn't spoken in years. The odd woman and her husband had a son, whom the Dursleys had never met. The couple usually pretended that the Potters didn't exist.
Thursday, November 1, 1981
Vernon went to work. Petunia stayed at home taking care of Dudley. Ouside their house, a tabby cat with markings around its eyes read a map.
All around London, strange things were happening: owls flying around, lots of odd men and women of all ages wearing cloaks (a few of them whispering about 'the Potters' and 'their son, Harry'), shooting stars...
Vernon is apprehensive when he arrives at home, and tentatively suggest to his wife that the day's events may have had something to do with her sister's "lot"; Petunia doesn't appreciate the thought. The couple goes to bed.
Albus Dumbledore
The cat outside the couple's house continues waiting until an old man suddenly appears on the corner of the street. Nothing like this man has ever been seen in Privet Drive: he is tall, thin, with grey hair and beard tucked into his belt. He has a crooked nose, bright blue eyes and half-moon spectacles. He is Albus Dumbledore.
He uses a Put-Outer to turn off the streetlights, and greets the cat, "Fancy seeing you here, Professor McGonagall."
The cat is in fact a witch, and she transforms back into her regular self: a severe-looking woman with hair drawn in a tight bun. She laments their kind's lack of care in their celebrations, pointing out that even Muggles have realised that something is going on. McGonagall attributes the shooting stars in Kent to Dedalus Diggle.
"What everybody's saying"
Minerva waits for confirmation from Dumbledore himself before she believes "what everybody's saying": "that last night Voldemort turned up in Godric's Hollow. He went to find the Potters. The rumour is that Lily and James are — are — that they're — dead."
Dumbledore, visibly shaken, confirms this. He also confirms that Voldemort was unable to kill the Potters' son, Harry.
McGonagall is horrified at the purpose which brought Albus to Privet Drive: he will leave Harry with his Muggle aunt and uncle—away from the wizarding world, from people similar to him and from the fame that will inevitably follow, but safe.
Albus checks his watch, and notes that Rubeus Hagrid is late. When McGonagall points out Hagrid's carelessness, Dumbledore assures her that he would trust the man with his life.
Hagrid's arrival
Hagrid arrives shortly afterwards on a motorcycle he borrowed from Sirius Black. He is a huge ("twice as tall as a normal man, and at least five times as wide") and wild-looking giant, with bushy black hair and beard. Baby Harry is asleep on his arms; the lightning bolt scar on the baby's forehead, where the curse hit him, is visible and fresh.
Hagrid says he left the Potters' nearly destroyed house at Godric's Hollow shortly before the place became full of Muggles.
Before the three leave the baby on the Dursleys' doorstep, Hagrid has a tearful goodbye moment. He is also very affected by Lily and James' death ("I c-c-can't stand it — Lily an' James dead — an' poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles —").
Dumbledore tucks a letter he'd previously written in the bundle, and leaves Harry by the door of Number Four. The three sadly watch the scene in silence for a few moments before Hagrid leaves to return Sirius' motorcycle. Dumbledore uses the Put-Outer once more to return the streetlights to normal, and leaves. McGonagall stays behind a while longer, still in her Animagus form.
November 2, 1981
A few hours later, in the morning of November 2, 1981, Petunia Dursley is astonished to find Harry on her doorstep when she leaves the house to put the milk bottles outside.
All over the country, witches and wizards were still celebrating the downfall of Lord Voldemort, and raising their glasses "[to] Harry Potter — the boy who lived!"
Trivia
- "You can't blame them," says Dumbledore. "We've had precious little to celebrate for eleven years." (see First War)
- McGonagall calls Voldemort 'You-Know-Who'. Dumbledore, obviously, doesn't. She mentions the fact that Albus is the only wizard Voldemort's ever feared.
- Dumbledore's love for sherbet lemons is introduced in this chapter, and so is the scar on his knee in the shape of the London Underground.
- Albus' golden watch has twelve hands and no numbers; instead, small planets move around the edge.
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| start of book | The Boy Who Lived | The Vanishing Glass |
