Notes on Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Chapter 1: The Boy Who Lived

Key Characters

• Albus Dumbledore

  • Tall, thin, old man with long silver hair and beard
  • Wears robes and a purple cloak
  • Uses a device to extinguish street lights

• Professor McGonagall

  • Appears as a cat at first, later reveals herself as a woman in a green cloak
  • Concerned about the celebrations and the visibility of wizards to muggles

• Hagrid

  • A large man, rides a motorcycle
  • Brings baby Harry Potter to Dumbledore and McGonagall

• Harry Potter

  • Baby boy with a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead
  • Central to the story as the ‘Boy Who Lived’

Summary of Events

• Setting the Scene

  • A cat waits on a wall, observing Privet Drive.
  • Dumbledore arrives quietly at night, followed by McGonagall.

• Celebration and Danger

  • Dumbledore and McGonagall discuss the recent festivities regarding Voldemort's defeat.
  • McGonagall expresses concern over muggles noticing strange occurrences (owls, shooting stars).

• Discussion of Voldemort

  • Dumbledore insists on using Voldemort's real name rather than “You-Know-Who.”
  • They learn that Voldemort attacked the Potters and failed to kill Harry.
  • Dumbledore believes Voldemort's power vanished when he could not kill Harry.

• Harry's Arrival

  • Dumbledore intends to leave Harry with his aunt and uncle, the Dursleys, despite McGonagall’s objections.
  • Dumbledore believes it’s safer for Harry to grow up away from the wizarding world until he’s old enough.

• Hagrid's Entrance

  • Hagrid arrives on a large motorcycle carrying baby Harry.
  • Dumbledore comforts Hagrid, who is emotional about leaving Harry.

• Final Goodbye

  • Dumbledore places Harry on the Dursleys’ doorstep along with a letter explaining everything.
  • Hagrid and McGonagall express their sadness.
  • Dumbledore uses his device to restore the street lights and wishes Harry good luck before leaving.

Themes

• Celebration vs. Caution

  • The joy of Voldemort's defeat is overshadowed by the need for caution around muggles.

• Family and Belonging

  • Harry is left with his relatives despite their unkind nature for his safety.

• Mystery and Destiny

  • The chapter sets the stage for Harry’s significance in the wizarding world as “the Boy Who Lived.”

Conclusion

• The chapter introduces key characters and sets the tone for Harry's journey, highlighting the contrast between the ordinary world and the magical one.