PSS/SS: Chapter One: The Boy Who Lived

[Eileen Rebstock]

I've been planning to go through the HP books again for a while. The
first four I read countless times during that long wait between GoF and
OotP. OotP and HBP, I've only read once, which is a sad admission to
make for a Potter fan. OotP just wasn't my thing (though there were bits
I quite liked), and though I adored HBP, I've somehow not got back to
rereading it. I suspect that it's because I've done less re-reading in
general these last few years, and more devouring of whole series at
once. This is partly the fault of the HP fandom, whose fans introduced
me to all sorts of authors that I've grown to love. Lois McMaster
Bujold. Garth Nix. Terry Pratchett. Neil Gaiman. Diana Wynne-Jones. Sean
Stewart. Gene Wolfe. Jasper Fforde. Connie Willis. Etc. etc. etc.

Anyway, here I am revisiting the HP series, an I've decided to listen to
it in audio, since we have the audiobooks. I also feel like jotting down
my thoughts about the chapters as I listened to them. Nothing fancy
here, but for what it's worth, here are my thoughts on the first
chapter.

I'm listening to the Jim Dale reading, since that was the one
commercially available in Canada, even though we have the British
editions of the books. It's kind of a weird experience to hear it begin,
"Listening Library presents Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone."

And  Dumbledore says "Lemon drop" when he offers McGonagall the sweet!
That bit confused me the first time I read it, because 'sorbet' to me
was a frozen dessert, like ice-cream but made of fruit juice. So I can
see why the American edition changed it, but on the other hand, I don't
really like changes. I survived perfectly well until someone on HPFGU a
year or so later explained what it meant, and I learnt something
interesting about British English that I wouldn't have otherwise. 

Gosh, I love this chapter. It's like coming home again from the
holidays. Re-entering the magical world. Not just because I haven't read
it for so long, but because it's narratively a slow, careful approach
into the magical world. Starting with Vernon, the most unmagical
character in the whole series, and ending with the image of hundreds of
people across the country in hiding raising their glasses in a toast to
Harry Potter. 

It struck me listening that it's also our only unfiltered look at the
Dursleys. Well, filtered only by the narrator/JKR. Later we see
everything about them through Harry's eyes. I think they're more
caricatured that way. Vernon's an idiot in this first chapter, but you
do get to see all his worries and fears, and he's much more real that
way. I keep wondering how much Petunia's actually let him know about the
magical world. It's odd, but he comes across as somewhat bullied by his
wife here, afraid to even ask basic questions lest she become angry.
It's convention to regard Vernon as the bigger bully of the two, because
he's loud and stupid, but I think it's Petunia who really calls the
shots in that family. 

By the way, I do hope there was some thought given to protecting the
Dursleys. Offing James Potter's Muggle in-laws sounds right up the alley
of someone like Bellatrix. And by the way, I think Petunia has thought
about the possibility that the Potters' enemies might come after her
family. When she hears in OotP that Voldemort is back, she sure freaks
out, doesn't she? 

And, of course, what would reading HP be without coming up with
theories? I've got a new one. It's that pesky timeline again,
particularly, why does Hagrid get to Godric's Hollow almost immediately,
then take a whole day to meet up with Dumbledore? They haven't spoken
since Hagrid left because Hagrid has to fill Dumbledore in on the
condition of the house, and borrowing Sirius Black's motorcycle. Yet,
Dumbledore is certain Harry is safe very early on. Perhaps this will
never be resolved to the fans' satisfaction, but firstly, I think there
was something Dumbledore could do magically to know Harry had survived. 

Secondly, I propose time travel on a very limited basis, just to get
Hagrid right back to where he could pick up Harry before the place was
descended on. A matter of hours is easy enough work with a timeturner,
and I'm sure Dumbledore has access to one. Anyway, time travels kill my
brain, but Hagrid couldn't then go back to where he'd already been, at
Dumbledore's side, so he would have had the need to hang out somewhere
with Harry for a bit. Not that I think he repeated the whole 24 hours.
Several hours perhaps, and the necessity to lie low somewhere was
converted into a plan to meet up the next night, when they could dispose
properly of Harry. 

In this scenario, the Ministry or the Order arrives at Godric's Hollow,
finds it already swarming with Muggles, and James and Lily dead. But no
Harry and Dumbledore knows on his own that Harry's alive. Something
twigs him that he's going to send Hagrid back in time, the same way he
reads the signs correctly in PoA, so he does dispatch him with
instructions for the rendez-vous, and is already sure of the result
because he's seen the evidence that it happens, same as in PoA. 

Well, at least it makes me happy.