Chapter one-the boy who lived

[jammi567]

This chapter starts off by saying straightaway that the Dursley’s were normal and didn’t believe in magic. The description of them sets them up as being total opposites Whilst Mr Dursley is being set up as fat and strong looking; Mrs Dursley is thin and bony.

Why do you think this is?

The third paragraph then tells us that they have a secret, but we’re not told what it is yet, and that they would be shocked if the Potter’s ever came to visit them because they’re as unDursleyish as it was possible to be. They also know that the Potter’s have a small child, and that was another reason to keep away-they didn’t want Dudley mixing with a child like that.

How does Mrs Dursley know that they have a son around Dudley’s age if they haven’t met or spoken in several years?

We are then told of what happened on that “ordinary” Tuesday from Mr Dursley’s POV. As he’s travelling to work, he then sees a cat reading a map, and then reading the street sign, but, as we find out later, this is actually Professor McGonagall.

Why do you think she was reading a map and reading the street sign when she's going to sit there for the whole day and half the night?

As he is in the traffic jam, he notices a lot of people in cloaks, which he first thinks is a new fashion, then a charity thing. He then has a normal morning of making phone calls, and then shouting at people. However, the people on the street see all the owls about.

At this point of the book, what do you think is the significance of all the owls?

He then goes to the bakery and hears people talking about the Potter’s, and especially Harry.

How does the wizard world know that Voldemort is defeated and that the Potter’s are dead, and yet Harry survives?

When he leaves work, an old wizard tells him that you-know-who is defeated and that everyone should celebrate.

Do you think the Dursley’s know who you-know-who would even be? I only ask this because later on in the series, Patunia obviously knows who Voldemort is, but Vernon doesn't. (Book 5, Chapter 2).

He then gets home and sees the same cat on the wall. He then worries about what the wizards said, but acts normal for Mrs Dursley, who says that Dudley learnt a new word today. He then watches the late night news. Ted reports that hundreds of owls have been seen across the country, and “allowed himself a grin”. He also reported that there were shooting stars about.

Why do you think he does this? Is it because he is Ted Tonks, who married a witch, and so would know why there were loads of owls and shooting stars about.

Mr Dursley and his wife then talk about her sister, and how old Harry is, and what a horrible name it is.

We know that the Dursley’s don’t like anything unusual, so why pick a name like Dudley? After all, that name is a bit strange. From a surname which was originally from a place name meaning "Dudda's clearing" in Old English.

They both go to bed, but Mr Dursley thinks about why they wouldn’t come near his family. One they’re both asleep, Dumbledore Apperates onto the street. He then takes out a Put-Outer to put out the streetlights. He then walks over to Professor McGonagall, who says that she was sitting on that brick wall all day, and they talk about the celebrations and such. Then they talk about something that I think is really important:
“Voldemort had powers I will never have.”
“Only because you’re too-well-noble to use them”

Why do you think JKR uses the term Put-Outer? Why was McGonagall sitting on a brick wall all day? What did the people who had Transfiguration that day do, or had to see the headmaster? What is the significance of that statement? Dumbledore also says that he passed a dozen feasts that day. But if he was Apperating around, how could he have passed them?

He then says that James and Lily are dead, and she says about the curse rebounding off Harry. Then whilst she cries, he looks into his twelve handed watch with planets around the edges.

What is it? What do you think it tells?

It is only now why he tells her why he came there, to leave him (Harry) with his aunt and uncle (Mr and Mrs Dursley). In response, she tells him how bad they are, so he says that it’s best for Harry to remain there. We are then told that Hagrid is bringing him, and Dumbledore says “I would trust Hagrid with my life”.

Why the massive trust in him? As far as I can remember, we haven’t been given a reason yet.

Suddenly, a motorcycle comes down with Hagrid on it, carrying Harry.

This is the chance to go wild. You can now put down any theories you want to of why there is a missing day from when Voldemort was defeated (nearly midnight on 31st October) to now (nearly midnight on 1st November). Here is a theory to get you started. (Warning, contains spoilers. Note:is the same theory, just in six parts. Here, here, here, here, here and here).

Hagrid tells them that he managed to get Harry out of the house before Muggles swarmed the place, and he met Sirius Black who lent him the motorcycle. They all then say their goodbyes to Harry, and Dumbledore puts a letter explaining things to them. Dumbledore then puts the lights back into the lamps. They each then go their separate ways, and Privet Drive returns to normal.

Additional discussion points:

What was Dumbledore doing all that day?
What was Mrs Dursley doing that day?
How would Hagrid know where to go to pick up Harry?
What was in the letter that he wrote on the 1st November?
How did he know that Lily had used Love to defeat Voldemort?

If there are any more points to make, then please mention them. I hope this is good for a first timer.