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

by J.K. Rowling

‘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...