Today is day seventeen of my challenge to post each day about Harry Potter.  Quotes, books, films and silliness.  Today I’m linking up my Harry Potter post with Top 5 Wednesday which is a great meme hosted over on this GoodReads group.  The choice of topic this week is favourite first sentences so with that in mind here we go:

‘Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.  They were the last people you’d expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn’t hold with such nonsense.’  Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

‘Not for the first time, an argument had broken out over breakfast at number four, Privet Drive.  Mr Vernon Dursley had been woken in the early hours of the morning by a loud, hooting noise from his nephew Harry’s room.’  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

‘Harry Potter was a highly unusual boy in many ways.  For one thing, he hated the summer holidays more than any other time of year.  For another, he really wanted to do his homework, but was forced to do it in secret, in the dead of night.  And he also happened to be a wizard.’  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Akaban

‘The villagers of Little Hangleton still called it ‘the Riddle House’, even though it had been many years since the Riddle family had lived there.  It stood on a hill overlooking the village, some of its windows boarded, tiles missing from its roof and ivy spreading unchecked over its face.  Once a fine-looking manor, and easily the largest and grandest building for miles around, the Riddle House was now damp, derelict and unoccupied.’ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

‘The hottest day of the summer so far was drawing to a close and a drowsy silence lay over the large, square house of Privet Drive.  Cars that were usually gleaming stood dusty in their drives and lawns that were once emerald green lay parched and yellowing – for the use of hosepipes had been banned due to drought.  Deprived of their usual car washing and lawn-mowing pursuits, the inhabitants of Privet Drive had retreated into the shade of their cool houses, windows thrown wide in the hope of tempting in a non-existent breeze. The only person left outdoors was a teenage boy who was lying flat on his back in a flowerbed outside number four.’  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

What’s your favourite starter?  Actually putting the first sentences (okay first paras – I cheated slightly) all together like this made me realise how often we started with the Dursleys!  Funnily enough, and i’m not trying to be contrary but I like the Goblet of Fire opening paragraph.  And with that I leave you with a picture of Privet Drive: