Hogwarts Herald

The Letters from No One is by far one of my favorite chapters in this book. It opens with Harry finishing up his punishment for the escape of the boa constrictor. The summer holidays have already started and Harry is doing his best to avoid Dudley and his gang. He is excited about only one thing. He will finally not be going to the same school as Dudley. It seems the little beast has been accepted at his fathers old school, Smeltings. Harry, of course, is not that special and is going to be attending the local public school. All is going as usual, until one day when Harry is sent to check the mail…

“Something came whizzing down the kitchen chimney as he spoke and caught him sharply on the back of the head. Next moment thirty or forty letters came pelting out of the fireplace like bullets.”

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The second chapter of the book starts out an astounding 10 years after the end of the first. It seems our fears of leaving poor Harry with the Dursleys are confirmed. There are no pictures of him, nor any sign that he lives in this house. But he is there, living in the cupboard under the stairs. With the spiders. Harry wakes up on the morning in question to his Aunt screeching at him to get out of bed. After all it’s “Duddykins” birthday, and everything needs to be perfect. Treated more like a servant than a relative, it is Harrys responsibility to watch the bacon while everything else is prepared. Uncle Vernon comes down to the kitchen and bellows at Harry to “Get a haircut”. Poor Harry. Can you imagine 10 years of being treated like this?

“Aunt Petunia often said that Dudley looked like a baby angel — Harry often said that Dudley looked like a pig in a wig.”

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Having finally borrowed a copy of Sorcerers Stone, (SS) since I can’t find mine, I have re-read chapter one of Book 1. That’s right, way back at the beginning. Since my predecessor on this blog has already written a darn fine synopsis of this first chapter for those who have read all the way to the end of the series, this will be my first chapter directed toward people who have not yet read the books, and maybe not even seen the movies. I know there are still a fair few of you out there, and I have hopes that you will enjoy these books as much as I did!!! I hope to recover the exact same wonder and magic I had reading it the very first time by looking at it through new eyes with you. Ok, on with the show.

“Harry Potter rolled over in his blankets without waking up. One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on, not knowing he was special, not knowing he was famous…”

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