The election is around the corner, so it is only a matter of time until Harry Potter will ascend to the magical premiership. The youngest minister ever, the shining light of our people, but in so many ways a complete enigma. Where does he come from, what makes him tick and what really happened during the tri-wizard-tournament? Join Rita Skeeter, special correspondent, in her new weekly series “Anatomy of a Leader”, one writer’s attempt to retrace the trail Harry Potter blazed through the world ever since that fateful night 17 years ago.

“Anatomy of a Leader”

by Rita Skeeter

Part one “Beginnings”

Much has been made of Harry Potter’s disappearance mere hours after his first, and some say most important, act of heroism. He was, taken in by his surviving relatives, right after the Monster Voldemort made him an orphan. The fact that these relatives were muggles had led to unbridled speculation from the dingiest watering holes to the highest levels of government. The reality of the situation was both more outlandish and mundane that fantasy would allow.

Little Whinging, a small settlement outside Guilford, is unlike any place you might imagine. Instead of the organic qualities a real neighbourhood would have, it seems to have sprung forth from a children’s play-set. Rows of identical houses stand with identical gardens and identical autmobolies. An area devoid of magic and yet it is where the great unifier Harry Potter grew up. Privet Drive, distinguished by the street sign and nothing else, is where Petunia Dursley lives. She is the older sister of the late Lilly Potter (née Evans) and was—for the first time ever—willing to talk about Harry’s childhood.

“He was on our doorstep, before I had even heard that Lilly and [husband James] had [died]” is how the slim homemaker in her forties describes the night when Albus Dumbledore entrusted the infant Harry Potter to her care, “and I knew right away that there was something [magical] about him. I could see it in his eyes.”

The Dursley  house is clean and welcoming. The living room is filled with charming knickknacks, static photographs and an upright piano. They own the kind of technological implements muggles use to cope without magic—the tellyfusion is like the wireless with picture. The telephonor is like fire calling without. Sitting on an attractive sofa Petunia Dursley recalled that fateful November of 1981. With Harry came the news of her sister’s demise, so it is understandable that the memories are full of emotion.

“[My Husband] Vernon was beside himself,” she said tears glistening, but not yet falling. “He hated the [fact that Voldmort had killed] and wanted nothing more than [to find a safe place for little Harry]. When it was explained to us that our home was [the safest place] we [acquiesced].” Petunia and Vernon already had a son, Durdly, who was only a few month older than Harry. They were equipped and willing to take care of another infant and gave Harry a new home soon after he had lost his first.

We had hoped to see his room, but were informed that it is used as storage now. Mrs Dursley assured us that it was cozy and “cushioned” which is muggle-speak for “warm”. Harry’s infancy was unremarkable. A silent kid, content to play by himself, he was never ill. “Never took him to see a doctor. He was [happiest sitting] in his [room] while we [had to take] care of Durdly”. It seems clear that the boy Durdley was more than a handful and in constant need of attention. It is perhaps going too far to ascribe selflessness to an infant Harry Potter, but descriptions make him seem that way.

The Dursleys were very concerned about Harry’s safety. For his own protection he spent most of his time either inside the house, or with the so-called “group”. Descriptions make this group seem a brilliant institution, where “special” children could spend their time among each other and learn outside the confines of traditional muggle schools. Although descriptions make it obvious that the other children in the “group” were not magical, they seemed to share certain qualities with Harry. Unfortunately the building it had been hosted in burned to the ground two years ago. The head instructor from Harry’s days perished together with all the records so it was impossible to interview others about Harry’s childhood. Mrs Dursley was however more than candid.

“What would a [wizard] learn in a school for [non wizards]? He was better served with the other [special children]. He was either there or in front of the tellyfusion. I guess he was [a joy to have around].”

Between the Dursleys and other children like him Harry, orphaned by the darkest wizard, grew up a beloved child ready to take on new challenges. At that time the Dursleys were not yet aware that Harry was destined to begin at Hogwarts. While their boy Durdly was going to attend a boarding school called “Smeltings” Harry was headed for a (apparently Welsh) school called “Sidaftastrait”. That changed, when on Harry’s eleventh birthday, the Dursleys were visited by Hogwarts’s own gentle giant Hagrid.

“When [Gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid] came to take him away we were thrilled. I had not known that [magical people] had a special school for [wizards] but obviously you did. I was very glad that he was [cared for] for most of the year. Truthfully I [hoped] that he [would live with us] forever, but I’m glad that he’s your [hero] now.”

He is our tight-lipped hero. When asked to comment about this series of articles Harry Potter declined. He grinned and blessed us with his famous catch phrase. “I am Harry Potter!” he said and we cannot think of a better endorsement. Join us again next week when we follow Harry to Hogwarts and witness his triumphant return to the world of magic.