The Boy Who Lived: Magic, Difference, and Belonging

HPPS REVISIONS CHAPTER 1-3

CHAPTER 1 # THE BOY WHO LIVED THEME: MAGIC, DIFFERENCE AND BELONGINGS Epic battle between good and evil in the wizarding world

Mr. and Mrs. Dursley live perfectly normal lives. Vernon Dursley is a large, beefy man who works at a drilling firm. Petunia Dursley is thin and blonde and tall. Mrs. Dursley has a sister, Lily Potter, whom she pretends doesn t exist, because she and her husband are as unDursleyish as possible. After work, Vernon accidentally runs right into a man in a velvet cloak. He apologizes, but the man hugs Vernon and tells him not to worry nothing could upset him today because You-Know-Who has gone at last, and tells Vernon that even Muggles like himself should be celebrating. Vernon is stunned by the encounter and hurries home. On the street he again notices the cat that had been reading the map earlier. One day, Vernon starts to notice some strange and mysterious things: an owl fluttering by their window; a cat reading a map; people in cloaks whispering excitedly together. Vernon grows furious, thinking that it must be some silly stunt. Meanwhile, on the street in front of the house, a very old man with a long beard and long robes appears: Albus Dumbledore He looks at the cat on the street, which transforms into a woman with a tight black bun and an emerald cloak: Professor McGonagall. Professor McGonagall explains to Dumbledore that Lily and James Potter are dead, and that Voldemort tried to kill their son, Harry, as well, but he couldn t. Voldemort s power was broken when he tried to kill Harry. Dumbledore assures McGonagall that the Dursleys home is the best place for Harry, and he will leave a letter so that Vernon and Petunia can explain everything to Harry about what s happened when he s older. Dumbledore argues that this is why it s important to raise him away from the wizarding world, so that he doesn t have to deal with that kind of fame so young. At that moment, Hagrid, an enormous man with wild, bushy black hair and a beard, arrives on a flying motorcycle with a bundle in his arms baby Harry. Dumbledore tells McGonagall that Harry will be entrusted into the care of his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. McGonagall is appalled, saying she has been watching them all day, and that they couldn t be less like wizards. And their

CHAPTER 2: THE VANISHING GLASS THEME: LOVE FAMILY AND FRIENDSHIP: The importance of love from both family and friends.

Harry also has a unique scar in the shape of a lightning bolt on his forehead, which, according to Petunia, is from the car crash in which Harry s parents died. Harry has just woken up from a good dream: there had been a flying motorcycle in it. Petunia yells at him to get up and make bacon for Dudley. Dudley is disappointed to see that he has only thirty-seven one less than last year. He is about to throw a tantrum when Petunia tells him that they ll buy him two more presents when they go out later in the day. Harry, by contrast to Dudley, has always been small and skinny and he looks even smaller and skinnier because he wears Dudley s old clothes. It is then decided that Harry will go with the Dursleys to the zoo, because they don t want to leave him alone at home. Before they leave, Vernon warns Harry that there would be no funny business or Harry would stay in his cupboard from then until Christmas. Harry promises not to do anything, though he understands why Vernon doesn t believe him: strange things often happen around Harry. Once, Petunia had cut his hair to be almost bald, but his hair had miraculously grown back the next day Harry looks at the snake, which suddenly opens its eyes and winks. Harry thinks that he sees the snake roll its eyes at Vernon and Dudley. Harry tells the snake that it must be annoying, and the snake agrees. Harry asks the snake where it comes from, and the snake jabs its tail towards a sign saying it s from Brazil but has been bred in the zoo. he glass has vanished. The snake slides onto the floor, and Harry is certain he hears the snake thanking him as it slithers out of the reptile house. The group returns to the car and drives home. Back at the house, Vernon spits out the words, Go cupboard stay no meals.

CHAPTER # 3: THE LETTERS FROM NOONE THEME: HUMILITY AND SELF SACRIFICE

The snakes escape brings on Harrys longest punishment, ending as the summer holidays begin. Harry then spends as much time as possible out of the house, trying to avoid Dudley s gang and thinking about the new school he will be attending in the fall. Dudley s new uniform was bought as he was going to a new school. As the family sits down for breakfast, the mail arrives. Harry starts to open it, but Dudley shouts that Harry has a letter, and Vernon promptly snatches it away. He reads it, his face turning red. Petunia then reads it and nearly faints. They yell at the boys to get out, though Harry furiously protests that he deserves to read the letter, as it was addressed directly to him. The next day, Harry finds Petunia dyeing Dudley s old clothes gray for Harry s uniform. Harry worries that he will look like he s wearing bits of old elephant skin on his first day of school. Petunia says they should write back, but Vernon argues that they should ignore the letter. That evening, Harry again demands to see his letter. Instead, Vernon tells Harry that he s getting too big for his cupboard, and he and Petunia want Harry to move into Dudley s second bedroom, which Dudley has been using to store all of his toys. Over the next three days, the letters continue to arrive pushed under the door, inside the two dozen eggs that the milkman delivered, pelting out of the fireplace. After this final incident, Vernon declares that they re all leaving for a trip. Vernon is delighted, even as the storm grows stronger, thinking no one can deliver mail to this house in the middle of a storm. Since they were residing in the shack and claimed a single bed for them. Petunia makes Dudley a bed on the sofa, and Harry curls up on the floor under the thinnest blanket. He watches Dudley s wristwatch as his birthday ticks nearer. When midnight arrives, Harry hears the whole shack shake and someone outside, knocking to be let in.