- "He couldn't know that at this very moment, people meeting up in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices: 'To Harry Potter - the boy who lived!'"
- — J.K. Rowling[src]
The Boy Who Lived is the opening chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and the entire Harry Potter book series.
The chapter is named for Harry Potter. It is the first of four chapters that doesn't include Harry's point of view.
Events[]
Vernon and Petunia Dursley are living a perfect, normal life raising their only child, Dudley at 4 Privet Drive. While out for work one day, Vernon notices strange things going on around him throughout the day. He notices a cat reading a road sign, people walking around dressed in cloaks and at lunch, he hears people talking about James and Lily Potter and their only child, Harry Potter. He panics and wonders whether they are speaking of Petunia's sister and nephew but decides that he has probably misheard it.
However, he is not wrong. He mentions it to Petunia that evening but she refuses to give it another thought. While they are sleeping that night, Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall gather in Privet Drive and talk about the celebrations in the wizarding world due to the downfall of Voldemort at Godric's Hollow. He has killed James and Lily Potter the night before he disappeared, which many believe is evidence of his death, when he attempted to kill their one-year old son.
Rubeus Hagrid brings Harry to Privet Drive who is to be left in the care of the Dursley family given that Petunia is Harry's aunt. McGonagall protests because she has observed the family throughout the day, telling Dumbledore they are not nice people. Dumbledore tells her they have to leave him there away from his newfound celebrity so he can have a normal upbringing. They say their goodbyes to Harry and put him on the doorstep of Petunia's house with a letter. The next day, Petunia opens the door and screams when she finds Harry.
Chapter Guide[]
| Chapters in Harry Potter books | |
|---|---|
| Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 16 • 17 |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 16 • 17 • 18 |
| Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 21 • 22 |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 |
| Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | Companion novels |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 Epilogue |
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them • Quidditch Through the Ages • The Tales of Beedle the Bard |