List of words in chapter 1.

drill=Bohrer; to shudder=zittern; to hum=summen; to peck=flüchtig küssen; tantrum=Wutanfall; tyke=Lümmel; to jerk=reßen; weirdos=komischer Kauz; enraged=wütend; to swoop past=vorbeischießen; to split=bersten; squeaky=quietschend; to rejoice=erfreuen; to rattle=durcheinander bringen; pattern=Verhaltensweise; oddly=merkwürdig; casually=lässig; nasty=ekelhaft; to quiver=zittern; to twitch=zucken; to chuckle=kichern; pinprick=Nadelstich; beady-eyed=Kulleraugen; distinctly ruffled=deutlich aufgeregt; irritably=gereizt; downright=ausgesprochen; sherbet lemon=Brauselimonade; to flinch=zurückschrecken; exasperated=verzweifelt; to flatter=schmeicheln; it was plain=es war klar; glumly=mürrisch; to dab=betupfen; to kick=treten; faintly=leise; to swallow=schlucken; grudgingly=ungern; rumbling=Rummeln; astride it=auf es; tangles=Wirrwarr; shaggy=strupig; scratchy=kratzend; gingerly=behutsam; gently=sanft; to tuck=stecken; muffled=verhüllt; to slink=schleichen; to ruffle=aufwühlen; neat=ordentlich; to prod=stoßen; to pinch=kneifen; hushed=verstummend

Summary of this chapter in five sentences

In this chapter you get to know the Dursleys, a absolutely normal family . On the day the story begins very abnormal things happen. At night Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore meet in front of the Dursleys' house and wait for Hagrid. Then Hagrid brings Harry on a motorbike and puts him in front of the door on the doorstep. Harry's parents - two wizards - are dead.

(by Katharina, 9a)

1. Why do the Dursleys consider themselves to be normal?
   The Dursleys consider themselves to be normal because they are not involved in anything strange, mysterious and non-standard. They live in a normal house, Mr Dursley has a good and normal job and they think they behave quite normally.

2. How familiar are they with the Potter family?
   Harry Potter is Dudley's cousin. Mrs Potter is Mrs Dursley's sister but she always pretends not to have a sister. The Dursleys don't want to talk about the Potters and they don't want their son Dudley mixing with the Potters' child Harry. The neighbours shouldn't know that Mrs Dursley has got a sister because she was unDursleyish and her husband was a good-for-nothing. In fact they don't know much about them, only that they were a special kind.

3. In what ways does Vernon Dursley ignore the strange people and animals he sees?
   Vernon Dursley tells himself that it is only a reflection of light when he sees the cat reading a map. He thinks the strange people, wearing cloaks and running through the street, are collecting for something. He doesn't want to see the owls swooping past in broad daylight although people in the street do. When he hears the name Potter he assures himself that Potter is quite a normal name. He hurries to his car and sets off home, hoping he is imagining things when an old man hugs him and says " ... even Muggles like you should be celebrating this happy, happy day." So he invents an explanation for everything unusual he sees.

4. Why couldn't Voldemort kill Harry?
   Voldemort couldn't kill Harry because his mother Lily defended him.

5. What is a conflict happening already between the Dursleys and the Potters - even before Harry is old enough to talk?
   There is already a conflict between the Dursleys and the Potters - even before Harry is old enough to talk: the Dursleys hate the Potters because they are "unDursleyish".

6. What's the meaning of "How very wrong he was" (p 8)?
   This statement means that Mr Dursley thought that night, before he fell asleep, that if the Potters were involved in those strange things that happened during that day, there was no reason for the Dursleys to be worried. The Potters knew what he and his wife thought about them and their kind. He thought things couldn't affect him. He was very wrong because everything happened because of Harry Potter who should be brought to them and should be raised by them.

7. What signs foretell of Harry's arrival at the Dursleys' when he's a little boy?
   There are a lot of signs that foretell of Harry's arrival at the Dursleys' when he is a little boy. There are flying owls by daylight, then there are shooting stars and mysterious people in the streets. Another sign is the cat reading a map.

8. Why do the wizards decide to leave Harry with his aunt's family?
   The wizards decide to leave Harry with his aunt's family because they want him to be sure there and they are his only relatives. Maybe they don't want Harry to know too early how famous he is.

9. This chapter was written to inspire questions that will be answered throughout the book (and later books) such as why people saw so many owls that day. What are at least two other questions left unanswered so far, especially about the characters and the conflicts?
   Two other questions left unanswered so far, especially about the characters and the conflicts are:
   Why is Voldemort afraid of Dumbledore?
   Why did Voldemort kill Harry's parents?

   (by Clarissa, Alexander, Carla, Annesuse, 9a)

Task: collect unusual names from chapter one.

Dumbledore - unDursleyish - Put-Outer - McGonagall - Dedalus Diggle - Muggle - Voldemort

In the sentences below the underlined words are used in different ways.
Explain their different meanings. Use your dictionary.

1. D. D. liked to do things like smear grape jam all over the walls.
   Vernon D. got stuck in a traffic jam on the way to work.
   
2. V.D.'s job was being the director of a firm, which made drills.
   A. Dumbledore was firm about taking H. Potter to the Durleys.
   

Find five different verbs used instead of "to say" in chapter 1.
Write the verbs down and translate them into German. Use your dictionary.

Verbs used instead of 'to say' are:
'to yell'=schreien
'to grunt'=brummen
'to mumble'=murmeln
'to mutter'=murren
'to sniff'=schniefen
'to gasp'=keuchen
'to falter'=stocken
'to hiss'=zischen
'to sob'=schlucksen