Mr.andMrs.Dursley,ofnumberfour,PrivetDrive,wereproudtosaythattheywereperfectlynormal,thankyouverymuch.
家住女贞路四号的德思礼夫妇总是得意地说他们是非常规矩的人家。拜托,拜托了。
Theywerethelastpeopleyoudexpecttobeinvolvedinanythingstrangeormysterious,becausetheyjustdidntholdwithsuchnonsense.
他们从来跟神秘古怪的事不沾边,因为他们根本不相信那些邪门歪道。
Mr.DursleywasthedirectorofafirmcalledGrunnings,whichmadedrills.Hewasabig,beefymanwithhardlyanyneck,althoughhedidhaveaverylargemustache.
弗农德思礼先生在一家名叫格朗宁的公司做主管,公司生产钻机。他高大魁梧,胖得几乎连脖子都没了,却蓄着一脸大胡子。
Mrs.Dursleywasthinandblondeandhadnearlytwicetheusualamountofneck,whichcameinveryusefulasshespentsomuchofhertimecraningovergardenfences,spyingontheneighbors.
德思礼太太是个瘦削的金发女人。她的脖子几乎比正常人长一倍。这样每当她花许多时间隔着篱墙引颈而望、窥探左邻右舍时,她的长脖子可就派上了大用场。
TheDursleyshadasmallsoncalledDudleyandintheiropiniontherewasnofinerboyanywhere.
德思礼夫妇有一个小儿子,名叫达力。在他们看来,人世间没有比达力更好的孩子了。
TheDursleyshadeverythingtheywanted,buttheyalsohadasecret,andtheirgreatestfearwasthatsomebodywoulddiscoverit.TheydidntthinktheycouldbearitifanyonefoundoutaboutthePotters.
德思礼一家什么都不缺,但他们拥有一个秘密,他们最害怕的就是这秘密会被人发现。他们想,一旦有人发现波特一家的事,他们会承受不住的。
Mrs.PotterwasMrs.Dursleyssister,buttheyhadntmetforseveralyears;infact,Mrs.Dursleypretendedshedidnthaveasister,becausehersisterandhergood-for-nothinghusbandwereasunDursleyishasitwaspossibletobe.
波特太太是德思礼太太的妹妹,不过她们已经有好几年不见面了;实际上,德思礼太太佯装自己根本没有这么个妹妹,因为她妹妹和她那一无是处的妹夫与德思礼一家的为人处世完全不一样。
第一章:大难不死的男孩TheBoyWhoLived
TheDursleysshudderedtothinkwhattheneighborswouldsayifthePottersarrivedinthestreet.
一想到邻居们会说波特夫妇来到了,德思礼夫妇会吓得胆战心惊。
TheDursleysknewthatthePottershadasmallson,too,buttheyhadneverevenseenhim.ThisboywasanothergoodreasonforkeepingthePottersaway;theydidntwantDudleymixingwithachildlikethat.
他们知道波特也有个儿子,只是他们从来没有见过。这孩子也是他们不与波特夫妇来往的一个很好的借口;他们不愿让达力跟这种孩子厮混。
WhenMr.andMrs.Dursleywokeuponthedull,grayTuesdayourstorystarts,therewasnothingaboutthecloudyskyoutsidetosuggestthatstrangeandmysteriousthingswouldsoonbehappeningalloverthecountry.
我们的故事开始于一个晦暗、阴沉的星期二,德思礼夫妇一早醒来,窗外浓云低垂的天空并没有丝毫迹象预示这地方即将发生神秘古怪的事情。
Mr.Dursleyhummedashepickedouthismostboringtieforwork,andMrs.DursleygossipedawayhappilyasshewrestledascreamingDudleyintohishighchair.
德思礼先生哼着小曲,挑出一条最不喜欢的领带戴着上班,德思礼太太高高兴兴,一直絮絮叨叨,把唧哇乱叫的达力塞到了儿童椅里。
Noneofthemnoticedalarge,tawnyowlflutterpastthewindow.
他们谁也没留意一只黄褐色的猫头鹰扑扇着翅膀从窗前飞过。
Athalfpasteight,Mr.Dursleypickeduphisbriefcase,peckedMrs.Dursleyonthecheek,andtriedtokissDudleygood-byebutmissed,becauseDudleywasnowhavingatantrumandthrowinghiscerealatthewalls.Littletyke,chortledMr.Dursleyasheleftthehouse.Hegotintohiscarandbackedoutofnumberfoursdrive.
八点半,德思礼先生拿起公文包,在德思礼太太面颊上亲了一下,正要亲达力,跟这个小家伙道别,可是没有亲成,小家伙正在发脾气,把麦片往墙上摔。“臭小子。”德思礼先生嘟哝了一句,咯咯笑着走出家门,坐进汽车,倒出四号车道。