Summary/Questions: PS/SS Chapter One

[Mrs. G. Weasley]

No: HPFGUIDX 27053

Hey!  This is my first time doing a chapter summary with questions, 
so please don't run me out of the fandom if it sucks.  Just let me 
know that it does and I shall take care of shutting my own ears in 
the oven.  I hope this spurs some conversation.  I'm sorry it's so 
late.  Enjoy reading!

*****

HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S (OR, BY A STUPID EDITOR'S 
DECISION, "SORCERER'S") STONE

(Am I bitter?  No...)

Chapter One Summary

"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to 
say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much..."

The first chapter continues, following Mr. Dursley to work at a drill 
company called Grunnings.  After leaving his son in a middle of a 
temper tantrum and his wife to deal with it, he heads for his place 
of employment.  The first thing that catches his attention is a cat 
reading a map -- after a double take, there's no map... right?  and 
the cat was merely glancing at the sign... not reading it.

He spots several people rushing about in cloaks (the getups you saw 
on young people!) and hurries into his office before more strangeness 
fills his morning.  On the way home, he hears mention of "the 
Potters" and "their son, Harry..."  Could it be the same people he 
and his wife pretend not to be related to?  After affirming this at 
home, a shanken Mr. Dursley keeps it to himself and dirfts uneasily 
to sleep that night.

Some time later, out on the sidewalk, Albus Dumbledore extinguishes 
the lights on Privet Drive and greets Animagus Professor McGonagall.  
McGonagall confesses her annoyance with the celebrating witches and 
wizards who are in danger of letting the secret of the magical world 
come into the Muggle world.  Finally, she has Dumbledore confirm the 
inevitable: James and Lily Potter died at the hands of Voldemort, but 
Harry was spared and LV was reduced to a shell.

After words of consolation, Dumbledore tells her that Harry will be 
staying with the Dursleys.  McGonagall reacts with indignation, 
telling Dumbledore that it's the best place for him.  Hagrid shows up 
with baby Harry and Dumbledore slips a letter into the baby's basket, 
explaining what happened the previous night.

"... at this very moment, people meeting in secret all over the 
country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed 
voices: 'To Harry Potter -- the boy who lived!'"

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. JKR has a tendency to foreshadow and plant things early on in the 
series that she uses later.  As any screenwriter will tell you, you 
can almost always get away with anything if you foreshadow it 
properly.  For example, Sirius Black appears as early as chapter one 
of the first book, but is not important until book three.  What 
things in this chapter do you see as foreshadowing to the coming 
books?  Why do you feel these things are pertinent to the series?

2. Many believe the series will come full circle, with everything 
trailing back to that fateful night on  31 October 1981.  Do you 
agree?  What clues are in this chapter that might have an effect on 
the upcoming novels?

3. A speculation on what might have been: How would Harry's life be 
different if he had spent his childhood growing up in the wizarding 
world?  Would it be better or worse?  Would be have the ego of 
Gilderoy Lockhart or would he be as insecure as he had been coming 
out of the shelter of the Dursleys?

4.  If George had been in this chapter, how might he have affected 
the story?  No, really. :-D

*ducks tomatoes*

Jana