Preliminary clarification: I am choosing to study "Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone" on its own. I will not take into consideration the fact that there are instalments to follow ...which obviously indicates that the heroes will survive this book's adventures.
What struck me early on during the reading of this book was the strange sense of chronology (for want of a better word). Harry is talked about before he actually makes his appearance. Not only that, but he is already held in (very high) esteem by the Hogwarths establishment and, a few pages later, every member of the magician world.
Infant Harry has a past, and this past is that he was the only survivor of Voldemort's crimes. He is the son of the highly popular and gifted Potter couple, and he is already considered to be special, endowed with unique skills.
In other words, he has a destiny to fulfil. He is primed to accomplish amazing things, and he is already admired for victories / miracles to come. The magician world see this self-unaware little boy for what hero he is expected to become.
This theme of assured victory runs throughout the book.
For example, we are told that first years are not supposed to own flying brooms -guess what? Harry receives one and instantly exceeds at flying. Quidditch is described as a complex sport requiring practice and dexterity - guess what? Harry becomes a star in his very first attempt. The villainous house of Whatever-It's-Called wins every year - guess what? The House of Harry knocks it off its perch.
I talked elsewhere of a distinct lack of genuine danger -that confirms this point. You never expect Harry and his little friends to fail. Faced with a challenge, they can rely on a wide panel of assets: knowledge (from Hermione), solidarity (from Wesley), strength (Hagrid), benevolence (Dumblebore) -and resourcefulness (that will be Harry).
This is all highly reassuring, and very comforting for the young readers.
In terms of structure and dynamics, I like to see plans set in motion. Judging from the brief appearances and cryptic messages of Dumblebore, you get the feeling that the authority on all things magic has seen the future and / or, at the very least, is convinced of Harry's legendary destiny to come: the boy is special, he is not going to disappoint.
The author clearly had her ending in mind when she got to commit the story down to paper. It's ever so slightly easier to set a scene when you know how it will conclude.
Which brings us back to our opening remark: no wonder then that "the Philosopher's Stone" is but a first episode in a series of adventures to come.
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