HarryPotterandtheSorcerer'sStone 　　CHAPTERONE 　　THEBOYWHOLIVED 　　Mr.andMrs.Dursley,ofnumberfour,PrivetDrive,wereproud 　　tosaythattheywereperfectlynormal,thankyouverymuch.They 　　werethelastpeopleyou'dexpecttobeinvolvedinanythingstrange 　　ormysterious,becausetheyjustdidn'tholdwithsuchnonsense. 　　Mr.DursleywasthedirectorofafirmcalledGrunnings,which 　　madedrills.Hewasabig,beefymanwithhardlyanyneck,although 　　hedidhaveaverylargemustache.Mrs.Dursleywasthinandblonde 　　andhadnearlytwicetheusualamountofneck,whichcameinvery 　　usefulasshespentsomuchofhertimecraningovergardenfences, 　　spyingontheneighbors.TheDursleyshadasmallsoncalledDudley 　　andintheiropiniontherewasnofinerboyanywhere. 　　TheDursleyshadeverythingtheywanted,buttheyalsohada 　　secret,andtheirgreatestfearwasthatsomebodywoulddiscover 　　it.Theydidn'tthinktheycouldbearitifanyonefoundoutabout 　　thePotters.Mrs.PotterwasMrs.Dursley'ssister,buttheyhadn't 　　metforseveralyears;infact,Mrs.Dursleypretendedshedidn't 　　haveasister,becausehersisterandhergood-for-nothinghusband 　　wereasunDursleyishasitwaspossibletobe.TheDursleysshuddered 　　tothinkwhattheneighborswouldsayifthePottersarrivedinthe 　　street.TheDursleysknewthatthePottershadasmallson,too, 　　buttheyhadneverevenseenhim.Thisboywasanothergoodreason 　　forkeepingthePottersaway;theydidn'twantDudleymixingwith 　　achildlikethat. 　　WhenMr.andMrs.Dursleywokeuponthedull,grayTuesday 　　ourstorystarts,therewasnothingaboutthecloudyskyoutsideto 　　suggestthatstrangeandmysteriousthingswouldsoonbehappening 　　alloverthecountry.Mr.Dursleyhummedashepickedouthismost 　　boringtieforwork,andMrs.Dursleygossipedawayhappilyasshe 　　wrestledascreamingDudleyintohishighchair. 　　Noneofthemnoticedalarge,tawnyowlflutterpastthewindow. 　　Athalfpasteight,Mr.Dursleypickeduphisbriefcase,pecked 　　Mrs.Dursleyonthecheek,andtriedtokissDudleygood-byebut 　　missed,becauseDudleywasnowhavingatantrumandthrowinghis 　　cerealatthewalls."Littletyke,"chortledMr.Dursleyasheleft 　　thehouse.Hegotintohiscarandbackedoutofnumberfour'sdrive. 　　Itwasonthecornerofthestreetthathenoticedthefirst 　　signofsomethingpeculiar--acatreadingamap.Forasecond, 　　Mr.Dursleydidn'trealizewhathehadseen--thenhejerkedhis 　　headaroundtolookagain.Therewasatabbycatstandingonthe 　　cornerofPrivetDrive,buttherewasn'tamapinsight.What 　　couldhehavebeenthinkingof?Itmusthavebeenatrickof 　　thelight.Mr.Dursleyblinkedandstaredatthecat.Itstared 　　back.AsMr.Dursleydrovearoundthecorneranduptheroad,he 　　watchedthecatinhismirror.Itwasnowreadingthesignthat 　　saidPrivetDrive--no,lookingatthesign;catscouldn'tread 　　mapsorsigns.Mr.Dursleygavehimselfalittleshakeandputthe 　　catoutofhismind.Ashedrovetowardtownhethoug