Chapter Two The Vanishing Glass

Summary

(Ten years later, Harry speaks to a snake at the zoo on Dudley's birthday.)

Ten years later, Harry wakes up from a dream about a flying motorcycle. It is DudleyÂ’s birthday and the occasion makes HarryÂ’s mistreatment by the Dursleys that much more obvious. Harry is forced to get out of his bedroom (the spider-ridden cupboard under the stairs) to go fix DudleyÂ’s breakfast. Dudley throws a tantrum when he gets only thirty- six presents--two fewer than the year before. His parents immediately give in to his demands and compliment his insatiability as the sign of a good future businessman.

Over breakfast Mr. and Mrs. Dursley break it to their son that Harry is going to have to come with them on their birthday excursion to the zoo because the woman who usually baby- sits Harry while the family goes on fun trips has a broken leg. Dudley throws a tantrum, but the Dursley have no choice but to take Harry. Harry is very excited about the zoo, his first real trip anywhere.

Back at home, Dudley accuses Harry of talking with the snake and a suspicious Mr. Dursley sends Harry to his room under the stairs. Alone in his room, Harry reflects upon the oddities of his life. He constantly dreams of a blinding crash of green light and a burning pain on his forehead, which he assumes was the car crash in which his parents died. He also finds it odd that the occasional stranger on the street seems to know him and acts very friendly to him. But at school Harry has no friends because DudleyÂ’s gang hates him, and no one wants to cross DudleyÂ’s gang.

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