Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3)

by J.K. Rowling

‘I always stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas and Easter holidays,’ he said, ‘and I don’t ever want to go back to Privet Drive.’

And without even removing his glasses, he slumped back onto his pillows and fell asleep.

Gobstones

‘Probably ’cause it’s you, isn’t it?’ shrugged Ron, still chuckling. ‘Famous Harry Potter and all that. I’d hate to see what the Ministry’d do to me if I blew up an aunt. Mind you, they’d have to dig me up first, because Mum would’ve killed me.

‘Are you planning to eat or sleep at all this year, Hermione?’ asked Harry, while

‘You bought that monster?’ said Ron, his mouth hanging open.

‘I wonder why,’ said Ron sarcastically,

‘I don’t go looking for trouble,’ said Harry, nettled. ‘Trouble usually finds me.’

‘A Dementor,’ said Lupin, who was now giving chocolate to everyone else. ‘One of the Dementors of Azkaban.’

Professor McGonagall had a way of making him feel he must have done something wrong.

They reached their familiar, circular dormitory with its five four-poster beds and Harry, looking around, felt he was home at last.

I mean, I know you’re good, Hermione, but no one’s that good. How’re you supposed to be in three classes at once?’

At these words, both Harry and Ron glanced, grinning, at Hermione, who looked startled at the news that books wouldn’t be much help in this subject.

scalding tea

had to stifle their laughs

‘My dear,’ Professor Trelawney’s huge eyes opened dramatically, ‘you have the Grim.’

‘The giant, spectral dog that haunts churchyards! My dear boy, it is an omen – the worst omen – of death!’

Seeing death omens is her favourite way of greeting a new class.

‘You didn’t seem quite so confident when you were telling Harry it was a sheep,’ said Hermione coolly.

You just don’t like being rubbish at something for a change!’

‘Now, firs’ thing yeh gotta know abou’ Hippogriffs is they’re proud,’ said Hagrid. ‘Easily offended, Hippogriffs are. Don’t never insult one, ’cause it might be the last thing yeh do.’

they were cooking up their own version

Trust Malfoy to milk it for all it’s worth.’

‘I think you’ve had enough to drink, Hagrid,’ said Hermione firmly.

‘It’s a shape-shifter,’ she said. ‘It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us most.’

‘What would it have been for you?’ said Ron, sniggering. ‘A piece of homework that only got nine out of ten?’

‘Don’t mind Hermione, Lavender,’ said Ron loudly, ‘she doesn’t think other people’s pets matter very much.’

And I am telling you all to turn to page three hundred and ninety-four.’

‘Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.’

‘You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don’t want to be told?’

(he called Snape something that made Hermione say ‘Ron!’)

Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present THE MARAUDER’S MAP

‘Noble men, working tirelessly to help a new generation of law-breakers,’ said Fred solemnly.

‘Not many people are aware that the Potters knew You-Know-Who was after them. Dumbledore, who was of course working tirelessly against You-Know-Who, had a number of useful spies. One of them tipped him off, and he alerted James and Lily at once. He advised them to go into hiding. Well, of course, You-Know-Who wasn’t an easy person to hide from. Dumbledore told them that their best chance was the Fidelius Charm.’

‘An immensely complex spell,’ he said squeakily, ‘involving the magical concealment of a secret inside a single, living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person, or Secret Keeper, and is henceforth impossible to find – unless, of course, the Secret Keeper chooses to divulge it. As long as the Secret Keeper refused to speak, You-Know-Who could search the village where Lily and James were staying for years and never find them, not even if he had his nose pressed against their sitting-room window!’

‘James Potter told Dumbledore that Black would die rather than tell where they were, that Black was planning to go into hiding himself … and yet, Dumbledore remained worried. I remember him offering to be the Potters’ Secret Keeper himself.’ ‘He suspected Black?’ gasped Madam Rosmerta. ‘He was sure that somebody close to the Potters had been keeping You-Know-Who informed of their movements,’ said Professor McGonagall darkly. ‘Indeed, he had suspected for some time that someone on our side had turned traitor and was passing a lot of information to You-Know-Who.’ ‘But James Potter insisted on using Black?’ ‘He did,’ said Fudge heavily. ‘And then, barely a week after the Fidelius Charm had been performed –’ ‘Black betrayed them?’ breathed Madam Rosmerta. ‘He did indeed. Black was tired of his double-agent role, he was ready to declare his support openly for You-Know-Who, and he seems to have planned this for the moment of the Potters’ death. But, as we all know, You-Know-Who met his downfall in little Harry Potter. Powers gone, horribly weakened, he fled. And this left Black in a very nasty position indeed. His Master had fallen at the very moment when he, Black, had shown his true colours as a traitor. He had no choice but to run for it –’ ‘Filthy, stinkin’ turncoat!’ Hagrid said, so loudly that half the bar went quiet. ‘Shh!’ said Professor McGonagall. ‘I met him!’ growled Hagrid. ‘I musta bin the last ter see him before he killed all them people! It was me what rescued Har...

‘Alas, if only we had,’ said Fudge bitterly. ‘It was not we who found him. It was little Peter Pettigrew – another of the Potters’ friends. Maddened by grief, no doubt, and knowing that Black had been the Potters’ Secret Keeper, he went after Black himself.’

‘There, now, Minerva,’ said Fudge kindly, ‘Pettigrew died a hero’s death. Eye-witnesses – Muggles, of course, we wiped their memories later – told us how Pettigrew cornered Black. They say he was sobbing. “Lily and James, Sirius! How could you!” And then he went for his wand. Well, of course, Black was quicker. Blew Pettigrew to smithereens …’

Pettigrew received the Order of Merlin, First Class,

‘I’ll never know what they’d have wanted because, thanks to Black, I’ve never spoken to them,’ said Harry shortly.

On Christmas morning, Harry was woken by Ron throwing his pillow at him. ‘Oy! Presents!’

apprehensive

‘OK, side with Ron, I knew you would!’ she said shrilly. ‘First the Firebolt, now Scabbers, everything’s my fault, isn’t it! Just leave me alone, Harry, I’ve got a lot of work to do!’

‘He bit Goyle for us once!’ Ron said miserably. ‘Remember, Harry?’ ‘Yeah, that’s true,’ said Harry. ‘His finest hour,’ said Fred, unable to keep a straight face.

‘Did you even come to the match?’ he asked her.

‘Anyway …’ she glanced over at Ron, too, ‘he doesn’t want me to join in.’

‘Can’t you give her a break?’ Harry asked Ron quietly. ‘No,’ said Ron flatly. ‘If she just acted like she was sorry – but she’ll never admit she’s wrong, Hermione. She’s still acting like Scabbers has gone on holiday or something.’

‘Can you hear someone talking, Harry?’ growled Ron,

‘How extraordinarily like your father you are, Potter,’ Snape said suddenly, his eyes glinting. ‘He, too, was exceedingly arrogant. A small amount of talent on the Quidditch pitch made him think he was a cut above the rest of us, too. Strutting around the place with his friends and admirers … the resemblance between you is uncanny.’

Hermione flung her arms around Ron’s neck and broke down completely. Ron, looking quite terrified, patted her very awkwardly on the top of the head. Finally, Hermione drew away.