Chapter One: The Boy Who Lived

• Mr. and Mrs. Dursley are introduced. Obviously they play a small role in the story, and an imaginary large role in turning Harry into who he is.

• Rowling uses one sentence to describe Vernon’s physical appearance.

• She also uses one sentence to describe Petunia’s physical appearance.

• She uses a paragraph to describe their dislike of the Potters.

• “None of them noticed a large, tawny owl flutter past the window.” Now obviously the first time reader would not understand the significance of owls to the wizarding community. These details are only caught on a second read, but I can’t help but wonder what effect these details have on planting subconscious stuff in the first time reader’s mind.

• I feel like Rowling’s writing style, especially what we see in this first chapter, is very well done for a young audience. It has that feel of a picture book or a young readers chapter book like Magic Treehouse, but not in a condescending way. It is fun to read, even as an adult.

• We are shown, not told, how the Dursley’s feel about Dudley through actions and responses.

• Vernon sees the cat. Rowling makes Vernon take enough notice of the cat that we will remember it later. We will soon learn that this is actually McGonagall.

• Rowling writes as if she only knows what Vernon does, but also writes in things like the owl, as if she simultaneously knows more…

• Rowling uses words like “stupid” and “weirdos” as if they come from Vernon, but she uses them in sentences where she describes him observing them. Chris does not do this.

• The way she writes is like third person for Vernon, but many things are phrased as if it is what is actually going through his head. Like his thoughts are being broadcast through the narration.

• I love the way she describes Vernon, such as saying he had a great day because he yelled at people.

• Vernon rationalizes all of the weird behavior he sees…this is a very common, although not entirely desirable, human trait. We just don’t get to see it in black and white when we do it.

• Harry is mentioned by the weirdos we will soon know to be wizards, and Vernon overhears. This is the first mention of the main character by name.

• We, through our perspective on Vernon, hear he word “muggle” used. The first time reader will not yet know what this means.

• Throughout the chapter we learn more about what Vernon is like. Rowling tells us, but always in context. “Hoping he was imagining things, which he had never hoped before, because he did not approve of imagination.”

• THE villain is mentioned for the first time. This villain carries from here, the first chapter, though the entire series to the end.

• “It just gave him a stern look.” McGonagall’s character is set up before we even ever learn who she is!

• It is as if every sentence about a character has their character in it, every one of their actions is written in a way that speaks to who they are.

• The owl comments get very heavy handed. If a first time reader hasn’t picked up that they have some significance yet, then they are dense.

• My partner (a huge Harry Potter nerd) pointed out that this first chapter is one of the few chapter in the series not written from Harry’s point of view. The rest of the series is written in third person limited point of view, following Harry.

• There are a lot of references to wizards, but a first time reader doesn’t know them to be wizards yet. Rowling does not explain or hand hold the reader. I feel as if first time readers are taken care of, but they can’t possibly understand what is going on yet. This does however, set the book up to be just as exciting on a second read, as you realize all of the things you didn’t understand before. You probably forgot them because you had no context to help you remember them the first time. It also makes it seem as if the story is real, because that minor thing in book one is important in book seven. I am only guessing here since I have the curse of knowledge. You read it as if Rowling wrote each book not knowing where the seventh would end up, because YOU don’t, but in fact it was all laid out ahead of time. You (the author) just have to write it to appear you don’t know.

• All of Vernon’s rationalizing is dead wrong opposite of what is actually going on. He is lying to himself, and I get the feeling he knows it in his subconscious.

• Dumbledore is introduced, obviously another important character.

• I noticed that almost all of the main players in this series are introduced in this first book, and very early on in it.

• The cat turns into a woman, McGonagall. We do not yet know the word for it, but she is an animangus. This particular magical trait is very important in the third book.

• Dumbledore uses the put-outer. This is a gift to Ron in the last book.

• Dumbledore gets a whole four sentence paragraph of description.

• Rowling never says that McGonagall was the cat, nor do we see it happen. Rather, we know it because of how she described the cat earlier, and the woman now.

• All of the character’s physical descriptions also describe their personalities. Their physical bodies reveal who they are. This is one of the ways Rowling writes that makes this feel like a kid’s picture book.

• Dedalus Diggle is mentioned, with no real value given to his name. He is a character who is important to the world of this book, but not to the novel or series as an acting character. We will see him a few times through the series.

• Dumbledore says, “We’ve had precious little to celebrate for eleven years.” He is referring to a dark past that Rowling neither describes or explains right now, only alludes to.

• So funny thing here. My notes said “Sherbet Lemon” but when I referenced my book it said “Lemon Drop”. Turns out the book I read while I took my original hand notes was the British version, whereas the book I am referencing now is the American one. I still wish they hadn’t done that. I wonder if this is a common thing authors must deal with.

• Dumbledore offers a lemon drop/sherbet lemon to McGonagall. Through the series Dumbledore uses different candies as his password to his office. He has a bit of a sweet tooth, and we see it come out right here in chapter one of book one.

• Dumbledore berates MaGonagall for saying “You-know-who” instead of his real name. Dumbledore is the first person to say Voldemort in the series. The whole thing about people not wanting to say his name is a mini theme in this series, and it starts here, right away.

• Voldemort’s fear of Dumbledore is mentioned here.

• The conversation Dumbledore and McGonagall have could fit in anywhere in the series. It is written as if we already know what is going on, which is what makes 2nd reads so good. She Does Not Spoon Feed.

• When Dumbledore and McGonagall are talking, it is not specifically from either’s point of view, but from a true third person point of view.

• Godric’s Hollow is mentioned. We will eventually end up there in book seven.

• The death of Harry’s parents happened, presumably the night before. The event that set the entire story in motion happened in this chapter.

• Harry’s survival of the killing curse is crucial to the plot in the end of book 7.

• Dumbledore says he doesn’t know why Voldemort couldn’t kill Harry. This is either a straight up lie, or he is only guessing.

• Dumbledore is meddling already. He explains why he wants Harry with the Dursleys. Regardless of if there is good intention, or he already knows what Harry will have to do in book 7, he is meddling.

• McGonagall refers to Hagrid’s bumblyness, and Dumbledore replies with, “ I would trust Hagrid with my life.” I believe this, and the way Hagrid acts through the series backs it up. And, in book two we will learn why Hagrid is so devoted to Dumbledore.

• The motorbike comes in. It will come back in book 6.

• Hagrid gets 3 sentences of description.

• Serious Black is referred to. He is immensely important in and after book three.

• We see the lightning bolt cut, one of the main symbols of this franchise along with the glasses. The scar this cut leaves is also a major recurring plot point through the series.

• Dumbledore says scars can prove to be useful. This is kind of funny…mostly because he tries to get harry to stop using it in one of the later books, but also because it “is” the final horcrux.

• Hagrid shows care for Harry. This is who Hagrid is, and we see it reinforced constantly.

• Hagrid has a very distinct way that he talks, like in his word and sentence structure, and written accent. Not many characters have this in this series…Dobby obviously comes to mind.

• By the end of this chapter Harry’s fame is established, as well as his ignorance of it. We are shown some of what will make him who he is; humble, lacking self confidence…but also why he will be so happy about his new life.

• Every single sentence either reinforces something or provides info that is important later.

• Dumbledore always says he is guessing or he doesn’t know…but he is always right…?

• There is a lot to unpack in this first chapter, it is very calorie dense. Rowling sets up all of the important stuff Right Away. All the main players, what those people are like, how the book will feel, magic, so many little tidbits and hints that will be important through the whole series.